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My husband had just bought a new washing machine for me. I decided to use it the other day and I washed a lot of things. Everything worked well, but I found one of my husband's socks missing. I looked everywhere for it, but I couldn't find it anywhere. The next morning, I got ready for school as usual. When the bell rang, the students came in, I greeted them and told them what we were going to do that day. When I turned around to write on the blackboard, the class burst out laughing. They laughed and laughed. They laughed so much, in fact, that I was afraid the headmaster would be in and see all this. I asked the class to stop, but the more I talked, the more they laughed. I decided to pay no attention to them and continued to write on the blackboard. When I did this, they laughed even more. Finally, the teacher who was in the next room came in to see what all the laughter was about. When he came in, he started laughing, too! "Good heavens," I said. "Will someone please tell me what is so funny?" "Oh, God," said the teacher. "You have a brown sock stuck to the back of your skirt!" So that's how I found my husband's missing sock. "Oh, well," I said to the class," Let's just say you have had an unforgettable lesson on static electricity ." What was the writer? Answer: A teacher On Friday, Japanese researchers announced a population clock that showed a dangerous situation that the Japanese nation would disappear in 1,000 years if the falling birth rate kept the present level. Researchers in the northern city of Sendai said that Japan's population of children aged up to 14, which now stands at 16.6 million, was falling at the rate of one child per 100 seconds. It would lead to a terrible result that there would be no children left in Japan in 1,000 years. "If the rate keeps falling at that rate in our country, there will only be one child who is able to enjoy the following Children's Day left on May 5th, 3011," said Hiroshi Yoshida, a professor at Toholu University. "But 100 seconds later, a national disaster that there are no children left in Japan will happen," he added, "The nation's people will disappear for the birth rate has fallen to the level that every woman has no more than two children, which started in 1975." Yoshida said they created the population clock to make Japanese people pay close attention to that problem for their nation's future. Another study showed that Japan's population was expected to fall to one third of the present population amount: 127.7 million in the next century. The Japanese government predicted that the birth rate would just become 1.35 children per parents within 50 years. At the same time, Japanese life expectancy which is expected to ascend from 86.93 years in 2010 to 90.93 years in 2060 for women and from 79.64 years to 84.19 years for men has already been one of the highest in the world. More than 20 percent of the Japanese are aged 65 or over. It means that Japan has become one of the countries with aging populations in the world. The problem of aging populations is a headache for the government and the Japanese economy because there are fewer and fewer workers who can make money for the country. However, the government has to face the terrible situation that it needs to offer a growing number of pensions. Why did researchers think Japanese people would disappear in 1,000 years? Answer: Because the birth rate of the nation is at a very low level. John had an accident while driving to town one day. He had his three ribs broken and Tally, his best friend, had one leg broken. With their car damaged and no one coming to their help, they had to foot for ten miles to the town hospital. "How have you got here all by yourself?" said the doctor when he saw John in hospital. "You have to stay in hospital at once," he said, "but the dog can't. It must leave the hospital. Dogs are not allowed here." "Please help my dog, doctor, she was hurt and she also needs a doctor!" John said eagerly, "or I'll leave with my dog." He added. He took up his coat and was ready to leave. "You must be mad!" the doctor shouted, "You are too ill to go out!" "Then you must take my dog." John said, touching the dog's nose, and went on. "This old dog has followed me through good times and bad times. Mostly bad times - watched me over for weeks when I was seriously ill, and once saved me from a burning house and another time she saved me from flood ...How can I leave her alone?" John said and fainted . When he came to, he looked around, "Where's my dog?" he asked eagerly. "Don't worry," the nurse answered, "It's in the yard. We have done something to help it." At last the doctor _ . Answer: kept both John and Tally in hospital Parents purchased a new mobile home from Seller. The mobile home was manufactured by Mobilco and had a ventilating system designed by Mobilco with both a heating unit and an air conditioner. Mobilco installed a furnace manufactured by Heatco and an air conditioning unit manufactured by Coolco. Each was controlled by an independent thermostat installed by Mobilco. Because of the manner in which Mobilco designed the ventilating system, the first time the ventilating system was operated by Parents, cold air was vented into Parents' bedroom to keep the temperature at 68Â°F (20Â°C). The cold air then activated the heater thermostat, and hot air was pumped into the bedroom of Child, the six-monthold child of Parents. The temperature in Child's room reached more than 170Â°F (77Â°C) before Child's mother became aware of the condition and shut the system off manually. As a result, Child suffered permanent physical injury. Claims have been asserted by Child, through a duly appointed guardian, against Mobilco, Seller, Heatco, and Coolco."If Child's claims against Mobilco, Heatco, and Coolco are based on strict liability in tort, Child will probably recover against Answer: Mobilco only, because the ventilating system was defectively designed by Mobilco. Most people feel lonely sometimes, but it usually only lasts between a few minutes and a few hours. This kind of loneliness is not serious. In fact, it is quite normal. For some people, though, loneliness can last for years. Now researchers say there are three different types of loneliness. The first kind of loneliness is temporary. This is the most common type. It usually disappears quickly and does not require any special attention. The second kind, situational loneliness, is a natural result of a particular situation -- for example, family problem, the death of a loved one, or moving to a new place. Although this kind of loneliness can cause physical problems, such as headaches and sleeplessness, it usually does not last for more than a year. The third kind of loneliness is the most severe. Unlike the second type, habitual loneliness usually lasts more than two years and has no specific cause. People who experience habitual loneliness have problems socializing and becoming close to others. Unfortunately, many chronically lonely people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition. Psychologists agree that one important factor in loneliness is a person's social contacts, e.g. friends, family members, co-workers, etc. We depend on various people for different reasons. For instance, our families give us emotional support, our parents and teachers give us guidance, and our friends share similar interests and activities. However, psychologists have found that, though lonely people may have many social contacts, they sometimes feel they should have more. They question their popularity. Psychologists are trying to find ways to help habitually lonely people for two reasons: they are unhappy and unable to socialize and there is a connection between habitual loneliness and serious illness such as heart disease. While temporary and situational loneliness can be a normal, healthy part of life, habitual loneliness can be a sad and sometimes dangerous condition. What is the best title for the passage? Answer: Three Types of Loneliness
Most people who experience bad service while traveling, shopping, or dining out do no complain. They accept bad services or products without making a sound. Why? Many feel complaining won't do any good. In fact, they're wrong, because companies don't want their customers unhappy. Not sure you can do it? Here are some ways to use when things go wrong. 1.If you have a complaint, do something about it right away. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to get your complaint solved. 2.First, complain to the servers. If they are not going to solve your problem, then ask politely to speak to a manager. And if that doesn't work, you can always request to speak to the manager's manager! 3.Demand a discount . Let's say you were promised a hotel room with an ocean view, but got a view of a brick wall instead; if you were promised a seat in the front of a plane, but got a seat in the back. You should do something about both of these situations. Ask a special discount. 4.Don't be passive. Offer ways you think the company can satisfy you. 5.Insist on the price you were told. If you are refused, get a manager's name and telephone number, and promise to follow up with a letter and a telephone call. 6.If all else fails, wait until you get home and take action. Call the company's head office, and speak to the most powerful person possible. Then follow up your call with a letter of complaint. If necessary, call the customer protection office in your city and complain. To complain about something, you should _ . Answer: try to solve the problem actively Tattoos and body piercings have moved up on the trend list in recent years. Around Western schools lots of teens are sporting new holes and flesh ink. Like all other subjects, we'll surely be faced with such situation. To get a better view of what has happened in the West, let's sit down and hear what they say. Kerstin Otto from Washington: The hotter it gets and the more layers of clothing disappear, the more tattoos and piercings appear on various places of the human body, I wouldn't be caught dead with a snake tattooed on my ankle or with a piece of metal stuck in my belly button. Erin from Indiana: I think body piercing is cool. In most situations, you don't really have to worry about it getting torn out. I go to Noblesville High School. I am a sophomore (that is the l0th grade). Body piercing can be cool, only if it is not taken to too much of an extent. I would not want to get my nose pierced, just because I think I'll look bad. But that is my personal opinion. I guess that type of thing is a cultural difference. Tiara from Indiana: I personally think body piercing is sickening. If there were supposed to be holes in your body, you would have been born with them. I do, however, think that ear piercing, is not wrong. There is a difference between ear piercing and belly button piercing. Ear piercing is not nearly as dangerous. I would be sick if someone stuck a needle in my belly button. Lee from Illinois: Hi! I live in Illinois. I am 23. I have 12 tattoos and three piercings. I love my tattoos and consider myself an art collector. You would be surprised at who has given me the thumbs-up on my art work. People on the street stop me to look at that on my leg. Most of them don't know what it is. They just think the work itself is great. Subotai from California: I'm not prohibitive of self-expression, but when I see high school students getting these piercings, I really wonder. In some cases, the drive is deeper and darker than mere fashion. A friend of mine tried piercing her own tongue with a safety pin. It got infected and she had a tongue the size of a cow's. Nagib from Washington: I wanted an earring. My friends had them and it looked like a cool thing. I wanted to get a nose ring, but my mum wouldn't let me. Now I'm glad I didn't get it. I just wanted a little stud, but I wouldn't have looked good with it. Jackson from Ohio: I don't think it's wrong, but when people do it all over the place like their face and everything --I think that's ridiculous. People who get the big dragons that cover your whole body--I don't think that's necessary. When I see naked chicks on guys, I think. "You have no respect for women." Brittney from New York: You don't want to do stuff to your body. You don t need to do that because you were made perfect. You don't need to add piercings. If it will make you feel beautiful and you really feel like you need to do it for yourself, then okay. If it really makes a big difference impacting your self-esteem and how you are towards others, then do it. But otherwise, don't mess with what you got. Maybe you should try something more substantial to find beauty in yourself. Who is wholeheartedly lost in tattoos and piercing? Answer: Lee. According to one story the idea for making the first teddy bear came from a newspaper cartoon drawn in 1904. This cartoon showed President Teddy Roosevelt on a hunting trip refusing to shoot a young bear. The young bear became a symbol for Teddy Roosevelt. Morris Michtom owned a small candy and toy store in New York City. He and his wife made many of the toys they sold. When he saw the cartoon,he had a wonderful idea. He decided to make a toy bear with eyes and legs and arms that moved. The bear was put in the store window next to a copy of the cartoon. Mr . Michtom called it "Teddy's Bear". Many of these bears were sold. The bears became so popular that Mr . Michtom thought he might need President Roosevelt' permission to use his name. He wrote to the president and sent him a "Teddy Bear". The president answered,saying that Mr. Michtom could use his name. Mr . Michtom borrowed money so that he could make thousands of toy bears. His company became the Ideal Toy Corporation. Today this is one of the biggest toy companies in the United States. The idea for making the first teddy bear came from _ Answer: a newspaper cartoon It is natural for young people to be critical of their parents at times and to blame them for most of the misunderstandings between them. They have always complained, more or less justly, that their parents are out of touch with modern ways; that they are possessive and dominant; that they do not trust their children to deal with problems; that they talk too much about certain problems--and that they have no sense of humor, at least in parent--child relationships. I think it is true that parents often underestimate their teenage children and also forget how they themselves felt when young. Young people often make their parents angry at their choices in clothes and hairstyles, in entertainers and music. This is not their motive. They feel cut off from the adult world into which they have not yet been accepted. So they create a culture and society of their own. Then, if it turns out that their music or entertainers or vocabulary or clothes or hairstyles make their parents angry, this gives them extra enjoyment. They feel they are superior, at least in a small way, and that they are leaders in style and taste. Sometimes you are resistant, and proud because you do not want your parents to agree what you do. If they agree, it looks as if you are betraying your own age group. But in that case, you are supposing that you are the underdog; you cannot win but at least you keep your honor. This is a passive way of looking at things. It is natural enough after long years of childhood, when you were completely under your parents' contro1. But it ignores the fact that you are now beginning to be responsible for yourself. If you plan to control your life, cooperation can be part of that plan. You can attract others, especially your parents, into doing things the way you want. You can impress others with your sense of responsibility, so that they will let you choose what you want to do. Teenagers tend to have strange clothes and hairstyles mainly because they _ . Answer: want to show their existence by creating a culture of their own Which type of energy in gasoline is transformed into mechanical energy in a motorcycle engine? Answer: chemical
When a person speaks into a telephone, sound energy is changed mostly into which form of energy? A. heat B. light C. electrical D. chemical Answer: C. electrical Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is also the most neglect . Common reasons for not eating breakfast include having no time, not feeling hungry, traditional dislike and dieting. Breakfast simply means "break the fast''. Your body spends at least 6 to 12 hours each night in a fasting state. In the morning your body needs energy for the day's work ahead. A good breakfast should provide 1/3 of your total calorie needs for the day. On average, we eat 400 less calories for breakfast than for dinner. If breakfast doesn't appeal to you in the morning, try eating a lighter dinner earlier in the evening or save half of your dinner for breakfast in the morning. If you still aren't hungry in the morning, start with something small like juice or toast or have a nutritious mid-morning snack later when you are hungry. So, you say you are on a diet. Some people fear that eating breakfast will make them hungrier during the day and they will eat more. It is true that eating breakfast is likely to make you feel hungry throughout the day. That is because your body is working correctly. Although you may feel as if you are eating more all day long, in reality you are probably not. Not eating breakfast can also cause you overeat, since a fall in blood sugar often makes you feel very hungry later. To make matters worse, since your body is in a slow state, it will not be able to burn those extra calories very efficiently . If you feed your body healthy snacks and meals throughout the day, you are less likely to become hungry and stuff yourself as soon as you begin to eat. Since breakfast is the first and most important meal of the day, choosing the right food is important. The best breakfast foods are fruits, juice, lean meat and grain products such as bread, rice, noodles and cereals. Eating breakfast, in fact, makes your body _ . A. work out of order B. produce too much energy C. work well D. feel hungry quicker Answer: C. work well Bigger-brained birds survive better than their feathered friends with smaller brains, according to a study published on Tuesday. Scientists have suspected that birds with large brains in relation to their body size lived longer because they were able to adapt their behavior to environmental challenges. Now they have provided evidence that it does. "We have tested the hypothesis that the brain can buffer animals against the environment and help them to survive when they face environmental challenges," said Daniel Sol of the Centre for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications in Barcelona, Spain. After comparing death rates, brain size and body mass of 236 species of birds from different regions of the world, Sol and scientists in Britain, Hungary and Canada discovered that the bigger the brain the better. Crows and parrots have the largest brains, while pheasants have a relatively small brain. Earlier studies have shown there is a relationship between the size of the brain and an animal's capacity to create new behavior and adapt more easily. "The idea is that if you have a big brain, you are more capable of adjusting behavior and responding to environmental changes. This can help you to survive," said Sol, who reported the finding in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. Tamas Szekely of the University of Bath in England and a co-author of the report, said birds were ideal to test the hypothesis because they are the only species in which brain size and behavioral response to environmental challenges such as climate and habitat destruction is understood. Scientists from _ countries have made the discovery. A. two B. three C. four D. five Answer: C. four Climate is the average weather usually taken over a 30-year time period for a particular region and time period. Climate is not the same as weather, but rather, it is the average pattern of weather for a particular region. Weather describes the short-term state of the atmosphere . The climate is changing. Many agreed that climate change may be one of the greatest threats facing the planet. Recent years show increasing temperatures in various regions, and/or increasing extremities in weather patterns. Is the Earth getting warmer? Yes! The Earth has warmed by about 1degF over the past 100 years. But why? Well, scientists are not exactly sure. The Earth could be getting warmer on its own, but many of the world's leading climate scientists think that things people do are helping to make the Earth warmer. Global Warming may be a big problem, but can you make a difference? Yes! There are several little things you can do to make a difference. Try carpooling. This will help reduce the amount of fossil fuels going into the atmosphere. Whenever you use electricity, you help put greenhouse gases into the air. Turn off lights, the television, and the computer when you are through with them. Also, planting trees is fun and a great way to reduce greenhouse gases. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the air. Finally, don't forget about recycling. The Earth has warmed by about 1degF over the past 100 years_. A. only because of human activities B. but scientists are not exactly sure of the reasons. C. and we can do nothing to it. D. and it's getting warmer on its own Answer: B. but scientists are not exactly sure of the reasons. Once there was a man who had two children, a boy and a girl. The boy was good-looking but the girl was not. One day they found a mirror for the first time and they saw what they looked like. The boy was very pleased and he said to his sister, "How handsome I am! I look much nicer than you!" The girl did not like what her brother said and gave him a hard push. "Go away!" she said. Their father saw what was happening. He went up to them and said to the boy, "You must always BE good as well as LOOK good." Then to the girl he said, "My dear, if you help everyone and do your best to please him, everyone will love you. It does not matter that you are not as good-looking as your brother." Once a man had _ . A. a good-looking boy B. an ugly girl C. two good-looking children D. a boy and a girl Answer: D. a boy and a girl
Question: Which color do you like best? Everyone has his own favorite color, but how do people feel about colors? It depends on their cultures. The same color sometimes has different meanings in different countries. In England, the right color for a bride to wear is white. But in China and other eastern countries, brides often wear red. Why? It is because the red color is a sign of good luck. Red is used as a sign of danger in England. Road signs are often in red. In eastern countries, red does not mean you have to be careful. In England and other western countries, black is the color of death. But in many eastern countries, most people think white is the color of death. In England, green is used in traffic lights to tell people that it is safe to go. Green is often seen as a lucky color, but wearing green at a wedding is unlucky. Many people like the color orange because it is bright and exciting. But some _ will not use orange in their ads because they believe it suggests that their products are cheap and perhaps not of high quality. As is known to all, red is the most popular color in China while in England it is blue. Most Chinese people like red because they think _ . A. it is safe to go B. it can bring good luck C. it is bright and exciting D. it has different meanings Answer: B. it can bring good luck Question: Franz Schubert was a well-known musician in the world. But he lived a very hard life and often went hungry. One day, being very hungry, he went into a small restaurant in Vienna, hoping he might meet some friends there. He looked around and saw nobody he could borrow any money from. Then his eyes fell on a paper on one of the tables. In it was a little poem. He took the paper with the poem. After he composed a piece of music for the poem, he took his work to the owner of the restaurant. He only received a dish of beef and potato for it. thirty years after his death, this manuscript by Schubert was sold for 40 00c francs. it was his famous berceuse . From the passage we didn't know that _ . A. where Schubert composed his famous berceuse B. why Schubert composed his famous berceuse C. whether it was hard for Schubert to make a living D. who bought his famous berceuse for 40 000 francs Answer: D. who bought his famous berceuse for 40 000 francs Question: A baby wants to move a ball, so it looks at the ball and it refuses to move. The baby takes its hand and touches the ball and A. motion occurs B. babies whine C. movement stops D. people cry Answer: A. motion occurs Question: Thirty years ago not many people would have dreamed of doing the repairs and decorations in their own homes. In those days labor was fairly cheap and most people would have thought it worthwhile to employ a professional painter and decorator, unless of course they were either very hand up or were in the trade themselves. Today, however, it is quite a different story. Men and women in all walks of life turn their hands to all sorts of jobs round the house including painting, papering, putting up shelves and wall units, and tiling walls and floors. Some people with no professional training of any kind have even successfully built their own houses. These jobs have been made easier today by the introduction of prepared materials, which require the minimum amount of skill to use. In every high street throughout Britain nowadays there is at least one "Do-It-Yourself" shop containing a vast range of timber, tiles, paints, wallpapers and floor coverings besides tools of every description including power drills and many accessories. "Do-It-Yourself" is a booming business; all these shops do a roaring trade and look like continuing to do so. Probably the main reason for the craze is the high cost of present-day labor and the shortage of building firms willing to do small jobs. What caused the DIY craze? A. Young people liked to follow the fashion. B. "Do-It-Yourself" is a booming business. C. There were fewer building companies. D. High cost of professional workers. Answer: D. High cost of professional workers. Question: Rene Descartes' explanation of pain has long been acknowledged in medicine. He proposed that pain is a purely physical phenomenon - that tissue injury makes specific nerves send a signal to the brain, causing the mind to notice pain. The phenomenon, he said, is like pulling on a rope to ring a bell in the brain. It is hard to overstate how deeply fixed this account has become. In medicine, doctors see pain in Descartes' terms-- as a physical process, a sign of tissue injury. The limitations of this explanation, however, have been apparent for some time, since people with obvious injuries sometimes report feeling no pain at all. Later, researchers proposed that Descartes' model be replaced with what they called the gate control theory of pain. They argued that before pain signals reach the brain, they must first go through a gating mechanism in the spinal cord . In some cases, this imaginary gate could simply stop pain signals from getting to the brain. Their most _ suggestion was that what controlled the gate was not just signals from sensory nerves but also emotions and other "output" from the brain. They were saying that pulling on the rope need not make the bell ring. The bell itself--the mind-- could stop it. This theory led to a great deal of research into how such factors as mood, gender, and beliefs influence the experience of pain. In a British study, for example, researchers measured pain threshold and tolerance levels in 53 ballet dancers and 53 university students by using a common measurement: after immersing your hand in body-temperature water for two minutes to establish a baseline condition, you put your hand in a bowl of ice water and start a clock running. You mark the time when it begins to hurt: that is your pain threshold. Then you mark the time when it hurts too much to keep your hand in the water: that is your pain tolerance. The test is always stopped at 120 seconds, to prevent injury. The results were striking. On average female students reported pain at 16 seconds and pulled their hands out of the ice water at 37 seconds. Female dancers were almost three times as long on both counts. Men in both groups had a higher threshold and tolerance for pain, but the difference between male dancers and male nondancers was nearly as large. What explains that difference? Probably it has something to do with the psychology of ballet dancers--a group known for self-discipline, physical fitness, and competitiveness, as well as by a high rate of chronic injury. Their driven personalities and competitive culture evidently accustom them to pain. Other studies along these lines have shown that outgoing people have greater pain tolerance and that, with training, one can reduce one's sensitivity to pain. There is also striking evidence that very simple kinds of mental suggestion can have powerful effects on pain. In one study of 500 patients undergoing dental procedures, those who were given a placebo injection and promised that it would relieve their pain had the least discomfort-- not only less than the patients who got a placebo and were told nothing but also less than the patients who got actual drug without any promise that it would work. Today it is abundantly evident that the brain is actively involved in the experience of pain and is no more bell on a string. Today every medical textbook teaches the gate control theory as fact. There's a problem with it, though. It explains people who have injuries but feel no pain, but it doesn't explain the reverse, which is far more common-- the millions of people who experience chronic pain, such as back pain, with no signs of injury whatsoever. So where does the pain come from? _ . The author implies that the reason why the gate control was "amazing" was that it _ A. offered an extremely new and original explanation B. was just opposite to people's everyday experiences C. was grounded in an ridiculous logic D. was so sensible it should have been proposed centuries before Answer: A. offered an extremely new and original explanation
Question: Researchers found that walking around with a forced smile and fake happiness simply leads to people feeling unhappier. So, putting a brave face on your sadness could be harmful. The research also found that women suffered more than men when pretending to be happy. Dr. Brent Scott, who led the study, said employers should take note because forcing workers to smile when dealing with the public can result in bad outcomes. He said, "Smiling for the sake of smiling can lead to emotional tiredness, and that's bad for the organization." He also said the research showed customer-service workers who had "fake smiles" throughout the day fell into a bad mood and didn't want to work, so their productivity dropped. The study is one of the first of its kind to examine emotional expressions over a period of time and compare the different effects on men and women. Dr. Scott's team examined the effects of "surface acting", or fake smiling, compared to "deep acting", or making people smile by thinking of peasant memories. Dr. Scott said, "Women were harmed more by surface acting, meaning their moods worsened even more than men's. However, they were helped more by deep acting, which means their moods improved more by thinking of pleasant memories. " According to Dr. Scott, women tend to suffer more when pretending to be happy because they are expected to be more emotionally expressive than men. Therefore, forcing a smile while feeling down is more likely to go against their normal behavior and cause more harmful feelings. Although deep acting can improve moods a little in the short term, Dr. Scott says, it's not a long-term solution to feeling unhappy. "There have been some suggestions that if you do this over a long period you start to feel unreal. You're trying to develop positive emotions, but at the end of the day you may not feel like yourself any more." According to the passage, Dr. Scott's study _ . A. is supported by some big employers in the USA B. is meaningful as there haven't been many similar ones C. examined more women than men for a long time D. aimed to make the employees more productive Answer: D. aimed to make the employees more productive Question: There are many things we need to know, but we do not learn them at school. For example, if we want to use our money wisely, we need to shop carefully. We need to know how to compare the prices of things in different shops. We need to be able to compare the quality of different brands . We need to know how to make _ choices when we shop. Knowing how to make such choices is a "life skill", and we need the skill if we want to lead a useful and happy life. Some of these choices are small. For example, will I have an apple for lunch or a pear? Will I take a bus to school today or will I walk? Will I wear the red T- shirt or the blue one to go to the movie? Other choices are more important. For example, will I eat healthy food for lunch or will I eat junk food? Will I work hard on all my classes or will I work hard only in the classes I enjoy? We make choices like these every day. Making wrong choices can cause unhappiness. We have to realize that the choices we make can affect the rest of our life. And our choices can also affect other people. If you decide to waste time in class, play a joke on someone or talk loudly at the movie, consider this: who else does your choice affect? ,A, B, C, D,(10). _ can help us use our money wisely when we shop. A. Choosing good brands B. Comparing the price and quality C. Going to big shops D. Learning business at school Answer: B. Comparing the price and quality Question: I try not to be biased but I had my doubts about hiring Stevie. His social worker assured me that he would be a good, reliable busboy. But I had never had a mentally handicapped employee. He was short, a little fat, with the smooth facial features and thick-togued speech of Down's Syndrome . I thought most of my customers would be uncomfortable around Stevie, so I closely watched him for the first few weeks. I shouldn't have worried. After the first week, Stevie had my staff wrapped around his stubby little finger, and within a month my regular trucker customers had adopted him as their official truck stop mascot. After that, I really didn't care what the rest of the customers thought of him. He was like a 21-year-old in blue jeans and Nikes, eager to laugh and eager to please, but fierce in his attention to his duties. Every salt and pepper shaker was exactly in its place, not a bread crumb or coffee spill was visible when Stevie got done with the table. Our only problem was persuading him to wait to clean a table until after the customers were finished. Over time, we learned that he lived with his mother, a widow who was disabled. Money was tight, and _ . That's why the restaurant was a gloomy place that morning last August, the first morning in three years that Stevie missed work. He was at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester getting a heart surgery. His social worker said that people with Downs Syndrome often had heart problems at an early age and there was a good chance he would come through the surgery in good shape and be back at work in a few months. A ripple of excitement ran through the staff later that morning when word came that he was out of surgery, in recovery, and doing fine. Frannie, my head waitress, did a little dance when she heard the good news. Belle Ringer, one of our regular trucker customers, stared at her and asked, "Okay, Frannie, what was that all about?" "We just got word that Stevie is out of surgery and going to be okay." "I was wondering where he was. I had a new joke to tell him. What was the surgery about?" Frannie quickly told Belle Ringer and the other two drivers sitting at his booth about Stevie's surgery, then sighed: "Yeah, I'm glad he is going to be OK," she said. "But I don't know how he and his Mom are going to handle all the bills. From what I hear, they're barely getting by as it is." Belle Ringer nodded thoughtfully, and Frannie hurried off to wait on the rest of her tables. After the morning rush, Frannie walked into my office. She had a couple of paper napkins in her hand. "What's up?" I asked. "I cleared off that table where Belle Ringer and his friends were sitting after they left, and I found this. This was folded and tucked under a coffee cup." She handed the napkin to me, and three $20 bills fell onto my desk when I opened it. On the outside, in big, bold letters, was printed "Something For Stevie". That was three months ago. Today is New Year's day , the first day Stevie is supposed to be back to work. His placement worker said he had been counting the days until the doctor said he could work, I arranged to have his mother bring him to work, met them in the parking lot and invited them both to celebrate his day back. I took him and his mother by their arms. "To celebrate you coming back, breakfast for you and your mother is on me." I led them toward a large corner booth. I could feel and hear truck customers and the rest of the staff following behind as we marched through the dining room. We stopped in front of the big table. Its surface was covered with coffee cups and dinner plates, all sitting slightly on dozens of folded paper napkins. "First thing you have to do, Stevie, is clean up this mess," I said. Stevie looked at me, and then pulled out one of the napkins. It had "Something for Stevie" printed on the outside. As he picked it up, two $10 bills fell onto the table. Stevie stared at the money, then at all the napkins peeking from beneath the tableware, each with his name printed on it. I turned to his mother. "There's more than $10,000 in cash and checks on that table, all from truckers and trucking companies that heard about your problems. Happy Thanksgiving!" While everybody else was busy shaking hands and hugging each other, Stevie, with a big, big smile on his face, was busy clearing all the cups and dishes from the table. What made Stevie popular among the staff and customers in the restaurant? A. His special appearance. B. His hard work and optimism. C. His funny speeches and actions. D. His kind-hearted behaviour. Answer: B. His hard work and optimism. Question: With both hands resting on top of the steering wheel, Oshima looks over at me: "That's where you will be living now, Kafka. In the room where Miss Saeki used to spend time with her boyfriend. As I said, there is some change to the library, but it's the very same room. " Silence on my part. "Miss Saeki's life stopped at age 20,when her lover died. No, maybe not age 20, maybe much earlier... I don't know the details, but you need to know of this. The hands of the clock inside her soul stopped then. Time outside, of course, flows on as always, but she isn't affected by it. For her, what we consider normal time is meaningless." "Meaningless?" Oshima nods. "Like it doesn't exist. " "What you're saying is Miss Saeki still lives in that frozen time?" "Exactly. When you get to know her better you'll understand." Oshima reaches out and lays a hand on my knee on a totally natural gesture. "Kafka,in everybody's life there's a point of no return. And in a very few cases, a point where you can't go forward any more. And when you reach that point, all we can do is quietly accept the fact. That's how we survive." We're about to get onto the main highway. "There's one other thing I'd like you to know of," he goes on. "Miss Saeki has a wounded heart. To some degree that's true of all of us. But Miss Saeki has a special wound that goes beyond the usual meaning of the term. Her soul moves in mysterious ways. I'm not saying she's dangerous-don't get me wrong. On a day-to-day level she's certainly got her act together, probably more than anyone else I know. She's attractive, deep, smart. But just don't let it worry you if you notice something strange about her sometimes." "Strange?" I can't help asking. Oshima shakes his head. "I really like Miss Saeki, and respect her. I'm sure you'll come to feel the same way." This doesn't really answer my question, but Oshima doesn't say anything. The writer wants to give us a feeling of_by giving readers the description of Saeki. A. mystery B. horror C. amazement D. danger Answer: A. mystery Question: It was Saturday and it was nice outside. I did not have school and my mom did not have work. When I woke up we ate breakfast and got ready for the day. My mom started to clean up the house so I went up to my room to play with my toys. My mom came upstairs and told me, "If you clean up your room there is a great surprise in it for you." I was very excited about what the surprise was but not very excited to clean my room. My mom left and closed the door. I looked around and saw how messy my room was. And I really did not want to clean it. So what I did was pick up all my stuff in my room and put it all in my closet. It did not take me very long so I hung out in my room for a little bit longer before heading downstairs to the basement to tell my mom I was ready for my surprise. She came upstairs to see how I did and immediately saw what I did. She was not happy about it. She said, "You either do it right, or Ill do it right and you won't get a surprise." That was enough to make me clean my room right. Finally, my mom told me the surprise when I was all finished. She told me we were going out to the park! But by the time we got there, I could only play for a little bit before it started getting dark. I wished I would have cleaned my room right the first time so I had more time at the park. where did he put his toys the first time? A. at the park B. in the closet C. downstairs D. under his bed Answer: B. in the closet
I didn't think I had a passion . I would sit in front of the TV all day, thinking about nothing but the next show. It was not long ago that I first learned how important having a passion is to life. That day I went with my mum to drive my sister to the gym. I was bored. Then, as my mum stopped at a red light, someone on the side of the road caught my eye . It was a man dressed in rags . He was homeless. That didn't interest me, for I had seen many like him before. But in some ways he was different. This man was not sitting down with a sad expression . He had a radio in his hand and was dancing happily to the music. The radio seemed to be the most precious thing he had. "Mum, why does that man have a radio even thought he's homeless?" I asked. "He bought it," she replied. I was still unable to understand. "But if he's homeless, why doesn't he use the money to buy food or clothes? He wasted it on something he doesn't need." "Well, Sarah, sometimes food and clothes aren't the most important things. We need happiness, too." The man must care too much about music to buy a radio instead of food clothes. I soon realized that happiness is the key to life. Without it, there's nothing to look forward to. Since then I've never gone a day without thinking of what's truly important. A home, a meal, clothes--these things are only part of the picture. What's often forgotten is that we all need a pleasure, a light in a dark day. We all need a passion. Who caught Sarah's eye when her mum stopped the car at a red light? Answer: Perhaps you have been told about some habits which stop a person reading fast, and have been strongly asked to break those habits which you might have. Do you still have any of these bad habits7 Check yourself by answering "yes" or "no" to these questions: 1. Do you move your lips when reading silently? 2. Do you point to words with your finger as you read? 3. Do you move your head from side to side as you read? 4. Do you read one word at a time? If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, start at once to break the habit. If you move your lips, hold your fingers over them, or hold a piece of paper between your lips while you are reading. Then if your lips move, you will know it and can stop them. If you point to words, hold the two sides of your book, one side with your left hand, the other side with your right hand. Then you will not have a free finger to use in pointing while reading. If you move your head, place your chin in one hand, and hold your head still(,). If you read no more than one or two or three words at a time, you need to work very hard in learning to take in more words at each glance as your eyes travel across the lines of words. When your eyes travel across the lines of words, _ Answer: When we buy a house, we all want to have nice neighbours, because most of us think that it is helpful to live with some good neighbours. But what kind of neighbour is good? The answers are different from people to people. Here are my answers. First, it is very important to respect each other. If our neighbours try to know more about our life, what will we feel? He or she may also talk with others about our life. Do you want to live with him or her any more? The answer is "No". We will feel very sad to have this kind of neighbour and move away quickly. Next, a good neighbour is always ready to give us a hand when we need him or her. For example, if we are not at home, our good neighbours will watch our house for us. Finally, a good neighbour should love the environment . He or she never puts rubbish here and there. Good neighbours should keep the place clean, because the good environment can make us comfortable and happy. I think we all should learn to be good neighbours, and I also hope everyone will have good neighbours and live a happy life. What is the best title for this passage? Answer: Everyone knows how a fishing calendar works: it tells you when you have the best chance of catching the most fish. This year, though, Kelson Poepoe, a conservationist on Hawaii's prefix = st1 /MolokaiIsland, helped publish an unusual version on this model. Poepoe and his colleagues decided to print a calendar telling people when not to fish. Many of the Homestead's residents still follow an existence lifestyle, gathering roughly one-third of their food by fishing in nearby Mo'omomi Bay. But, even though overfishing has exhausted fish populations throughout Hawaii, Mo'omomi Bay's fishery is booming, with a higher fish density than nearly anywhere else in the main islands. The new calendar is based on the ancient fishing practices that have helped keep those populations strong. Hawaiians have long known that carefully tended resources will renew themselves. To make this process easier, fishermen traditionally worked hard to understand and adapt to fish behavior. For example, they closely monitored where and when key species gathered to reproduce, and they prevented fishing during those times. By contrast, most of today's fishermen see spawning periods as a chance to get large numbers of fish, which can cause population break down. While these traditional methods have largely died out, they are still practiced by Poepoe and his fellow men at Mo'omomi Bay. "We have a rule of conduct that basically says, take only what you can eat fresh, don't stock your fridge, and don't take the fish when they spawn," Poepoe said. In 1993, Poepoe helped found the conservation group Hui Malama Mo'omomi to teach _ to new generations, and publishing the calendar is a key part of this move. It follows the lunar cycle, declaring when certain species are not available or "taboo." It also includes helpful hints about fish lifecycles, detailing exactly where in the bay certain kinds of fish like to gather, how to tell males from females, and which fishing methods are least likely to harm fish populations long-term. So far, these methods have helped keep Mo'omomi Bay's fish number totals far higher than elsewhere in the surrounding islands. With hopes of copying this success, a number of local groups are interested in creating similar calendars for other coastal areas. But that's a difficult project, partly because fish habits are highly local, meaning that the information in the calendar applies mainly to Mo'omomi Bay. Still, these groups believe the basic methods are transferable. According to the passage, Poepoe's new calendar _ . Answer: Maybe you never opened that account, but someone else did ----someone who used your name and personal information to commit fraud . When an imposter uses your name, your credit card number, or some other piece of your personal information for their own purpose -in short, when someone takes your personal information without your knowledge -it's a crime, pure and simple. The biggest problem is that you may not know your identity has been stolen until you notice that something's wrong: you may get bills for a credit card account you never opened, your credit report may include debts you never knew you had, a billing cycle may pass without your receiving a statement, or you may see charges on your bills that you didn't sign for, and even don't know anything about. If someone has stolen your identity, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) suggests that you take three actions immediately. First, contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit offices. Tell them to flag your file with a fraud alert including a statement that creditors should get your permission before opening any new accounts in your name. Then, ask the credit offices for copies of your credit reports. Credit offices must give you a free copy of your report if it is not correct because of fraud. Review your reports carefully to make sure no additional fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name or unauthorized changes made to your present accounts. In a few months, order new copies of your reports to check your corrections and changes, and to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred. What is the most difficult thing for people to deal with identity frauds? Answer:
Washington -- The largest ozone hole ever observed has opened up over Antarctica, according to the scientists of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). They believe it is a sign that ozone -- destroying gases produced years ago are just now causing the largest quantities of ozone to disappear. This year's South Pole ozone hole spreads over about 28.5 million square kilometers, an area three times larger than the landmass of the prefix = st1 /United States. Pictures of the hole have been offered by NASA. The hole appears as a giant blue mass, totally covering Antarctica and stretching to the southern tip of South America. "The last time the ozone hole was close to this size was in 1998, when it spread over about 27.2 million square kilometers," NASA said. Paul Newman, who works with NASA's Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) instrument on a NASA satellite, said ozone watchers had expected a big hole this year, but not this big. The Antarctica ozone hole, first observed in 1985, is caused by the depletion of Earth protecting ozone by human-made chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons, known as CFCs. "Even though these chemicals were not allowed to use from the beginning of 1987, they remain in the atmosphere and will continue to do so for years," Newman said. "This year's large hole may have been caused by a change in a swirling high-level air current over Antarctica, which circles the area and contains the zone hole," Newman said. The time 1985 was talked about in the text because it was when the Antarctica ozone hole _ . A. was watched by Newman B. was first closed C. disappeared D. was first watched Answer: D. was first watched A group of Mississippi hunters who shot and killed an alligator weighting 910 pounds on Sunday, were amazed when they discovered that the animal already bore injuries caused by musket from the Civil War era. A total of 9 bullets was found, and the various tests and analysis have confirmed that they were indeed fired at the animal in the 19th Century. Nine of the wounds on the animal are believed to have been caused by Enfield Pattern 1853 muskets. These old injuries were concentrated around the animals tail and hind legs, suggesting that the alligator could have possibly been used as a target for shooting practice by Confederate troops. The huge animal also bore five other bullet wounds from three different calibers of hunting guns, as well as many dents and scars, which shows that it survived many firearm injuries in the past. It did not however, survive the six 50-caliber bullets fired at him by the group of amateur hunters from Jackson, who were finally able to take it down. The bullets were confirmed as true musket from between 1850 and 1870. This incredible animal brings a whole new view on this large animal native to the southeastern United States. American alligators have been known for years to live well over 50 years and were thought capable of possibly living as long as 70 or 80 years, but this one was estimated to have been 185 years old at the time of its death. Others like turtles, have been known, to have lifespans of over 150 years, but it is the first of crocodile of such an old age ever found. It is also one of the biggest alligators ever killed in the United States. The heaviest ever recorded, weighing in at an unbelievable 1,011.5 lbs, was pulled out of a river in Alabama in August of this yea. Which of the following facts about the nine wounds is amazing ? A. They didn't cause death to the alligator. B. They were concentrated around the animals' tail and hind legs C. They left many dents and scars on the alligator. D. They were left by musket from the Civil War era. Answer: D. They were left by musket from the Civil War era. ScienceDaily (July 5, 2009) -- Researchers from the University of Haifa-Oranim have managed to make out the "self-irrigating" mechanism of the desert rhubarb , which enables it to harvest 16 times the amount of water collected by other plants in the Negev Desert. This is the first example of a self-irrigating plant worldwide. The desert rhubarb grows in the mountains of Israel's Negev desert, where average rainfall is particularly low (75 mm per year). Unlike most of the other desert plant species, which have small leaves so as to reduce water loss, this plant is unique in that its leaves are particularly large; each plant's rosette of one to four leaves reaches a total diameter of up to one meter. Prof. Simcha Lev-Yadun, Prof. Gidi Ne'eman and Prof. Gadi Katzir came across this unique plant while studying the field area with students of the Department of Science Education-Biology of the University of Haifa-Oranim, and noticed that its waxy leaves are unusually large. They observed an exceptionally ridged structure on each leaf. The scientists explained that these deep and wide depressions in the leaves create a "channeling" mountain-like system by which the rain water is channeled toward the ground surrounding the plant's deep root. Other desert plants simply absorb the rain water that goes through the ground in its immediate surroundings. The desert rhubarb is able to harvest quantities of water that are 16 times the amount of water harvested by the small-leafed plants of the Negev desert region. When the research team watered the plant artificially, they observed how the water flows along the course of the leave's depressions to the ground surrounding the plant's single root and then goes through the ground to a depth of 10 cm or more. Under the experimental conditions, water goes through the ground only as deep as 1 cm. "We know of no other plant in the deserts of the world that functions in this manner," the researchers concluded. Scientists discover the desert rhubarb can irrigate itself with its _ . A. leaves B. root C. flowers D. fruit Answer: A. leaves In almost every big university in the United States football is a favorite sport. American football is not like soccer. Players sometimes kick the ball, but they also throw the ball and run with it. They try to take it to the other end of the field. They have four chances to move the ball ten yards. They can carry it or throw it. If they move it to the end of the field, they receive six points. This is called a touch--down. It is difficult to move the ball. Eleven men on the team try to stop the man who has the ball. If the man does not move the ball ten yards, his team kicks the ball to the other team. Each university wants its team to win. Thousands of people come to watch. They all yell for their favorite team. Young men and women called cheerleaders come on the field to help the people yell more. They dance and jump while they yell. Each team plays ten or eleven games each season. The season begins in September and ends in November. If a team is very good, it may play another game after the season ends. The best teams play again on January 1st, the first day of the New Year. Many people go to see these games and many others watch them on television In American football players can _ . A. only kick the ball B. only throw the ball C. only carry the ball D. kick, throw and carry the ball Answer: D. kick, throw and carry the ball A beer bottle thrown from the stands landed near Usain Bolt in the moments before the 100-meter final Sunday night in London. As Bolt and seven other competitors ducked into their starting crouches, a bottle sailed from the first row of the stands at Olympic Stadium. It harmlessly bounced in the lane belonging to Yohan Blake and didn't appear to cause a distraction to the runners, who started a moment later. The thrower's lack of distance was a blessing. Had he gathered tips from the competitors of the hammer throw competition, which was taking place in the infield at the same time as the 100 final, the bottle could have hit one of the competitors. It ended up landing a few feet from Blake (lane5). Edith Bosch, a female Dutch judoka who won a bronze medal earlier during the Olympics, claimed that the man who threw the bottle was sitting near her and that she "beat" him. Whether that's true or the hyperbole of an aggravated athlete was unclear in the minutes after the incident. Pictures show a group of Dutch athletes sitting behind the starting area. Police took the man into custody . He will appear in court on Monday morning. Neither Bolt nor Blake said they knew of the incident until they were informed by reporters. "I don't know who would have done that," Bolt said. Gatlin was aware of it but implied it was only a slight distraction. "I didn't know what it was," he said, according to the BBC, "but when you're in those blocks, the whole stadium is so quiet that you can hear a pin drop." What's the writer's attitude towards the athletes for the 100-meter final? A. Critical B. Doubtful C. Disapproving D. Positive Answer: D. Positive
My uncle Mike is a music teacher. He never gets up very _ He usually gets up at five o'clock in the morning. After he brushes his teeth, he often plays baseball with my aunt. Then he eats his breakfast. After that, he often plays the violin. At about 7:50, he takes the Number 6 bus to his school. He has no classes on Thursday and Friday. He usually goes to the violin club. Then he helps kids with the violin. Oh, my brother plays the violin very well. Do you love to play the violin? Do you want to join the violin club? Please call my uncle at 1163886. After breakfast, Mike often _ Answer: plays the violin One day, a slave owner entered a local store and threatened a young boy who was his slave. At first, the slave refused to move and ran for the door. The slave owner reached for a heavy weight. He threw it at his slave. Instead, it hit Harriet on the head. Harriet almost died. For the rest of her life, she carried the mark of a deep wound on her head. Miser Brodas felt he never needed Harriet. He decided to sell her. Harriet thought of a way to prevent this. Each time she was shown to someone who might buy her, she acted as if she were falling asleep. After a while, Mister Brodas gave up the hope of selling Harriet. He sent her back to the fields. At 24 she married a free black man, John Tubman. By then, Harriet was sure she should escape. In 1849, Mister Brodas died. His slaves probably would be sold to further South. John Tubman tried to make Harriet forget about running away. Harriet decided she must end her marriage and that she needed to tell her family that she was leaving. Harriet escaped for Pennsylvania where slavery was banned there. Once she hid under hay that had been cut from the fields. Another time, she wore men's clothing. Finally, she arrived in Pennsylvania. Now that Harriet was free, she didn't forget other slaves in Maryland. During the next ten years, she freed her parents and other family members. She traveled back and forth eighteen times, helping about 300 slaves escape. She became an expert at hiding from slave hunters. At one time, anyone finding Harriet was promised 40,000dollars for catching her--dead or alive. The people she helped called her Moses. She had rescued them from slavery just as the biblical Moses rescued the Jews. After the Civil War began, Harriet started to spy for the North. She also served as a nurse. After four years of bloody fighting, the North won the war. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves in 1863. There was no longer any need for Harriet to be Moses. Harriet decided to end her marriage with John mainly because . Answer: he often stopped her running away "Can I see my baby?" the happy new mother asked. When the bundle was in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor turned quickly and looked out of the tall hospital window. The baby had been born without ears. Time proved that the baby' s hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that was imperfect. When he rushed home from school one day and threw himself into his mother's arms, she sighed , knowing that his life was to be unfortunate. He cried to his mum "A boy, a big boy... called me a freak ." He grew up, handsome. A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music. "But you might communicate with other young people," his mother blamed him, but felt a kindness in her heart. Two years went by. One day, his father said to the son, "You' re going to the hospital, son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need. But it' s a secret." The operation was a great success, and a new person appeared. Later he married and became a lawyer. One day, he asked his father, "Who gave me the ears? Who gave me so much? I could never do enough for him or her." "I do not believe you could," said the father, "but the agreement was that you are not to know... not yet." The years kept their secret, but the day did come. He stood with his father over his mother' s casket. Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish brown hair to show the mother had no outer ears. "Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut," his father whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought Mother less beautiful, did they?" Which word can describe Mother' s feeling when the son threw himself into her arms? Answer: Sympathetic. Chinese students aren't the only ones who have a sleep loss problem. In Australia, teenagers are also missing out on, on average, one hour's sleep every night during the school week. Organized activities and homework push bedtimes later, the first large-scale Australian study of children's sleeping habits has revealed . Their sleep deprivation is enough to cause "serious drop-offs in school performance, attention and memory", and governments should consider later or flexible school start times, said the study's leader, Tim Olds. ks5u His survey, of more than 4,000 children aged 9 to 18, found those who slept least did not watch more television but spent their time socializing with family or friends or listening to music. "Almost all children get up at 7 or 7:15 -- they have to get to school on time," said Olds. He favors a later start over an earlier finish because he believes organized sports and activities would still consume the latter end of the day. Olds' research also establishes lack of sleep as a cause of weight gain in children, and a possible source of future problems with depression, anxiety and increased susceptibility to illness. It was already known that overweight children sleep less, but Professor Olds found sleep duration was strongly linked to weight across the full range of body sizes. The thinnest children sleep 20 minutes more than the _ . This showed being overweight had no specific effect on sleep patterns, and it was more likely that shorter sleep times stimulate appetite and make kids hungry. The US National Sleep Foundation says teenagers aged 13 to 18 need eight to nine hours' sleep a night. Younger school-aged kids need 9 to 11 hours. On that basis, Professor Olds said, half of Australian children are under-sleeping on weekdays and a quarter on weekends. The Australian students surveyed don't sleep enough because they spend more time on the following EXCEPT _ . Answer: watching television programs Is crying good therapy? Experts say yes. Having a good weep at the weekend is becoming more popular among office workers in China. "I need to cry to let my feeling out," said 22-year-old Guo Meng, a smart-looking young woman. "I remember one day when I got home I felt so down but I had no one to talk to, so I just curled up with my teddy bear and cried myself to sleep," Guo said. The next day, she said, she felt much better and life seemed not so bad after all. Because crying is taken as a sign of weakness, people make a great show of being strong and not displaying emotion. Psychologists and medical practitioners agree that crying is beneficial for mental health but people still regard it as a sign of failure and bottle up their feelings. A famous Chinese author once said to cry is normal, and even brave. Those who display their emotions can deal with their troubles bravely after the tears dry, while those who soldier on let problems fester . In the Chaoyang district of Beijing, there is a special place for people to cry their sadness out. It is called "Cry Bar". On the door of each of its "cry rooms" there is a saying encouraging people to let the tears flow freely. "Crying is a kind of therapy, but it needs some direction," said Milulu, a psychologist. "People should realize the point of crying is to relieve pressure, but some of the young people who come to the Cry Bar simply sit and weep. The purpose of crying is to make it easier to improve your life after the tears dry, not to get lost in bad memories." Crying is only one way of relieving pressure, and we need to face problems squarely and solve them once the tears have dried, said Mululu. Crying _ made Guo Meng feel better. Answer: in bed before sleep
I think lots of students like the pop singer named Jay. I also like him very much. Do you know as a boy, Jay was called _ . But his mother noticed that the quiet, shy boy seemed to dance well when he heard the Western pop music. His mother sent him to a piano school when he was four. When he grows up, he has an ability for playing the piano beyond his years. I learned to play the piano from 7 years old to 13 years old. I often feel bored when I practice playing the piano. But Jay was always crazy about playing the piano. I think he really likes music. He is my hero.. I admire Jay. The real reason is when the others all denied him, he never gave up. He tried his best to change his life. I think it is good for everybody. I hope that everyone can learn from him--try our best to do everything. Then I think we will be the winners. What's Jay? A A singer. B A football star. C A film star. D My brother. Answer: A. A singer. Jack is an English boy. He is a good student. He is eleven. Now he is in a blue coat. Linda is Jack's sister. She is a nice girl. She is fourteen. Now she is in a green dress. Lucy and Lily are from the USA. They are students, too. They are in yellow coats. They look the same. Jack, Linda, Lucy and Lily are good friends. Jack, Lucy and Lily are in the same school. But Linda is not in the school. They all like China. ,. Linda is _ . A Lucy's sister B Lily's sister C Jack's sister D Jack's mom Answer: C. Jack's sister Seth owned a vacant lot known as Richacre. Seth entered into a written contract with Bobto build a house of stated specifications on Richacre and to sell the house and lot to Bob. The contract provided for an "inside date" of April 1, 1977, and an "outside date" of May 1, 1977, for completion of the house and delivery of a deed. Neither party tendered performance on the dates stated. On May 3, 1977, Bob notified Seth in writing of Bob's election to cancel the contract because of Seth's failure to deliver title by May 1. On May 12, Seth notified Bob that some unanticipated construction difficulties had been encountered but that Seth was entitled to a reasonable time to complete in any event. The notification also included a promise that Seth would be ready to perform by May 29 and that he was setting that date as an adjourned closing date. Seth obtained a certificate of occupancy and appropriate documents of title, and he tendered performance on May 29. Bob refused. Seth brought an action to recover damages for breach of contract. The decision in the case will most likely be determined by whether A Seth acted with due diligence in completing the house. B Bob can prove actual "undue hardship" caused by the delay. C the expressions "inside date" and "outside date" are construed to make time of the essence. D there is a showing of good faith in Bob's efforts to terminate the contract. Answer: C. the expressions "inside date" and "outside date" are construed to make time of the essence. Age has its special advantages inprefix = st1 /America. And one of the more impressive of them is the senior citizen discount . Anyone who has reached a certain age-- in some cases as low as 55 -- is automatically entitled to plenty of price reductions at nearly every level of commercial life . Eligibility is determined not by one's need but by the date on one's birth certificate . Practically the discounts have become a routine part of many businesses-- as common as color1 televisions in motel rooms and free coffee on airliners . People with array hair often are given the discounts without even asking for them ; yet , millions of Americans above age 60 are healthy and solvent . Businesses that would never dare offer discounts to college students or anyone under 30 freely offer them to older Americans . The practice is acceptable because of the widespread belief that " elderly " and " needy " are synonymous . Perhaps that once was true , but today , to be sure , there is economic variety within the elderly , and most of them aren't poor . It is impossible to determine the effect of the discounts on individual companies . For many firms , they are a stimulus to income . But in other cases the discounts are given at the expense , directly or indirectly , of younger Americans . Moreover , they directly annoy some politicians and scholars who consider it a coming conflict between the generations . Generational tensions are being fueled by continuing debate over Social Security benefits , which mostly involves a transfer of resources from the young to the old . Employment is another point . Supported by laws and court decisions , more and more older Americans are refusing the retirement dinner in favor of staying on the job-- thereby lessening employment and promotion opportunities for younger workers . Far from a kind of charity they once were , senior citizen discounts have become a powerful economic privilege to a group with millions of members who don't need them . It no longer makes sense to treat the elderly as a single group whose economic needs deserve priority over those of others . Senior citizen discounts only enrich the myth that older people can't take care of themselves and need special treatment ; and they threaten the creation of a new myth , that the elderly are ungrateful and taking for themselves at the expense of children and other age groups . Senior citizen discounts are the heart of the very thing older Americans are fighting against-- discrimination by age . What does the author think of the Social Security system ? A It encourages elderly people to retire in time B It opens up broad career chances for young people C It benefits the old at the expense of the young D It should be strengthened by laws and court decisions Answer: C. It benefits the old at the expense of the young Your brain isn't a muscle, but you can treat it like one Many people focus on physical fitness, but few know that brain fitness is also something you can work on. In fact, you can exercise your brain as often as you do to your arms or legs-and the results can be positive and empowering. To improve your brain, you can't simply repeat the same exercises over and over. Just as lifting a two-pound weight will stop challenging you, so will repetitive exercises such as crosswords or Sudoku. Once you master easy exercises, you must move on to harder ones in order to push your brain-like your muscles-to a new level. The science behind brain training Scientists once believed that your mental abilities were fixed in adulthood. Since studies have shown just the opposite, millions of people around the world have adopted the new practice of brain training. The most popular of these brain training products is made by the San Francisco-based Lumosity. Lumosity's scientists with an experienced team of game designers have developed a fun,effective online brain training program that measures, tracks, and adapts to your progress, so you'll always be challenged. Promising studies on the effects of brain training In a 2013 Stanford study, a treatment group of 21 breast cancer survivors used 12 weeks of Lumosity training to work on processing speed, mental flexibility, and working memory tasks. On average, those who trained improved on tests of these abilities, compared to a group that did not train with Lumosity. There is even some evidence suggesting that Lumosity may be beneficial to normal, healthy adults. In a 2011 study by Lumosity and San Francisco State University researchers. 13 people who trained over 5 weeks improved working memory scores by 10%and attention scores by 20%. Brain training is designed to meet real-life needs The design of brain train ing is targeted at real-life benefits instead of improving game scores. Better attention, for example, can mean greater focus in the classroom or at an important business meeting. With improved processing speed, you might react and adapt faster to the demands of a busy life. And a better memory could mean stronger, longer relationships with the people closest to you. What can we infer from the passage? A People should care more about physical health instead of mental health. B Brain training has been proved effective through scientific researches. C A bad memory is the only reason for weak relationships with people. D Playing online games is the best way of brain training. Answer: B. Brain training has been proved effective through scientific researches.
There is a big supermarket near Mrs. Green's home. She usually goes there to buy food. The shop assistants are polite and helpful. The things are cheap, too. One day, Mrs. Green goes to the supermarket. She buys some noodles. Biscuits are also their children's favorite food. And she buys some milk. Her children always have milk for breakfast. Mimi likes fish and Tim likes hot dogs. She buys some fish and sausages for them, too. Mrs. Green doesn't have any rice at home. So she buys a bag of rice, but she can't take it. It is very heavy. Her husband, Mr. Green is coming to the supermarket and carry the rice. . Mimi likes _ . 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 sunset, 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 regular customers . However, the dog came again at four o'clock. And the same thing happened once again. At six o'clock,, it came for more meat, 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 feed it with so much meat today?" Looking at the piece of paper, he found that there was a piece of blank paper. He laughed and phoned Mrs Smith. At the end of the story, you'll find _ . Answer: Barack Obama, Lady Gaga and Steve Jobs--what do they have in common? They are, of course, all Americans. And according to a survey by social networking site badoo. com, they all best illustrate the word "cool". But just what does it mean to say someone is "cool"? Most would answer that it is something to do with being independent-minded and not following the crowd. Yale University art professor Robert Farris Thompson says that the term "cool" goes back to 15th century West African philosophy . "Cool" relates to ideas of grace under pressure. "In Africa, " he writes, "coolness is a positive quality which combines calmness, silence, and life. " The modern idea of "cool" developed largely in the US in the period after World War II. "Post-war 'cool' was in part an expression of war-weariness . . . it went against the strict social rules of the time, " write sociologists Dick Pountain and David Robins in Cool Rules: Anatomy of an Attitude. But it was the American actor James Dean who became the symbol for "cool" in the hugely successful 1955 movie Rebel without a Cause. Dean plays a tough guy who disobeys his parents and the authorities . He always gets the girl, smokes cigarettes, wears a leather jacket and beats up bullies . In the movie, Dean showed what "cool" would mean to American young people for the next 60 years. Today the focus of "cool" has changed to athletics stars. Often in movies about schools, students gain popularity on the athletics field more than in the classroom. This can be seen quite clearly in movies like Varsity Blues and John Tucker Must Die. But many teenagers also think being smart is cool. Chess and other thinking games have been becoming more popular in schools. "Call it the Harry Potterization of America --a time when being smart is the new cool, " writes journalist Joe Sunnen. The heroes in Varsity Blues and John Tucker Must Die are likely to be those who _ . Answer: Everyone talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it. It is true. People usually begin their talks with"Isn't it a nice day?" Many people think they can tell what the weather is going to be like. But they hardly agree with each other. One man may say,"Do you see how cloudy it is in the east? It's going to rain tomorrow."Another man will say,"No, it's going to be fine tomorrow." People often look for the weather they want. When a farmer needs water, he looks for something to tell him it's going to rain; he won't believe anything else. When friends have a travel, they are sure the weather is going to clear up very quickly. Almost everyone listens to what the weatherman says, but he doesn't always tell us what we want, and sometimes he makes mistakes. Still , he probably comes closer to being right than anyone else. No one does anything about the weathermeans _ . Answer: Counterfeit medicines are a widespread problem in developing countries. Like other _ , they look like real products. But counterfeit drugs may contain too much, too little or none of the active ingredients of the real thing. People do not get the medicine they need. And in some cases the counterfeits cause death. Twenty children in Bangladesh died last year after being given acetaminophen . The medications contained ingredients that looked, smelled and tasted like the real thing. The medicine was produced by a local drug company that used a dangerous substitute to save money. The problem of counterfeit medicines is especially serious in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The WHO estimates that up to thirty percent of medicines on sale in many of those countries are counterfeits. The problem is less widespread among industrialized countries. The WHO says counterfeits make up less than one percent of the illegal drug market in countries like the United States, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand. But the agency also says as much as fifty percent of the medicine sold on the Internet is counterfeit. Much is being done to fight counterfeit drugs. Several companies are developing ways to make counterfeits easier to identify . And there are existing methods, like a machine that can quickly identify chemicals in pills to confirm if the pills are real. Other ideas include things like special tracking codes for drug packages. People could send a text message with the code and get a message back, which proves that what they bought is listed in a database. Some drug makers and other companies put three-dimensional images called holograms on their products as a security device. Last year twenty children in Bangladesh died because of _ . Answer:
Mouse potatoes joined couch potatoes (who spend much time watching TV on the couch), google officially became a verb and drama queens (extremely emotional persons) finally found the attention when they crossed over from popular culture to mainstream English language. The mouse potato, the himbo (attractive, empty-headed man) and drama queen were among 100 new words added to the 2006 update of America's best-selling dictionary, the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary<<>> . The Internet search engine Google also found its way into the dictionary for the first time as a verb, meaning to find information quickly on the worldwide web. New words and phrases from the fields of science, technology, pop culture and industry are chosen each year by Merriam-Webster's team of editors after months of looking through books, magazines and even food labels. "They are not tracking spoken language. They are looking for evidence that words have been used in the written English language," said Arthur Bicknell, senior editor of Merriam-Webster. Other words first coming into the dictionary this year were soul patch (a small growth of beard under a man's lower lip), unibrow (two eyebrows joining together) and supersize - the fast food industry phrase for extra large meals. The technology world contributed ringtones (changeable incoming cellphone call signals) and spyware (software installed in a computer to track a user's activities) while biodiesel and avian influenza came from the world of science. America's first dictionary - Noah Webster's A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language - was published 200 years ago and also introduced some fresh words that have now become familiar. Those "new" words in 1806 included slang, surf, psychology, naturally and Americanize. Which group of words and phrases is NOT the fresh words for the dictionary of this year? A mouse potatoes, google, supersize, drama queen. B himbo, soul patch, unibrow, supersize. C ringtones, spyware, biodiesel, avian influenza. D couch potatoes, surf, psychology, Americanize. Answer: D What do you do in a situation like this? You're calling dinner with friends at a nice restaurant. You're having a great time when a phone rings at the table next to you. A man takes out his phone and starts talking loudly about problems he's having with his girlfriend. He talks for almost ten minutes! This happens all the time-on buses, in restaurants, everywhere! Many people find cell phones useful in their daily lives. But we've all sat next to someone talking too loudly on a cell phone. You may want to tell the loudmouth to end the conversation, but let the management take care of those noisy customers. You can only control your own behavior. Here are a few rules: Off means off! Follow the rules of restaurants and other public places . If a sign says "turn off cell phones", don't use your phone. If you are allowed, speak softly and for a short time and try to move away form other people. Lights off, phone off! Never make calls in a theater or at the movies. Pay attention! Talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous. And watch where you're going when you're walking down the streets and talking on the phone. As more people use cell phones, things are only going to get worse. So, the next time you're getting ready to make a call, stop and consider the people around you. The man talking on the cell phone loudly in the restaurant will _ . A talk for half an hour B pay more for his meal C make other customers angry D be driven out by the boss Answer: C Dear friends, ladies and gentlemen, It's my honor to attend this conference. I hope to tell you, with my own experience, how I benefit from the rapidly developing information technology. I injured my neck and became disabled in a diving accident in May 1997. I was desperate then and even thought of killing myself. During that time, however, I met Ms. Yatani, a Japanese specialist, who was carrying out a teaching task there. She encouraged me and gave me an English copy of JONI before she returned to Japan. The book is the autobiography of Ms. Joni Earckson. Her experience was similar to mine. She injured her neck and became disabled in a diving accident in 1967. With a strong will, she tried very hard. Finally, she became a famous artist. From her story I found enlightenment and felt hopeful. My doctor, Dr. Guan, saw me reading the book. He suggested that I translate it into Chinese in order to benefit more disabled people in China. I agreed, and in one and a half months the translation was finished. Then I contacted Joni through the Internet for the copyright. It was then that I saw how useful modern information technology can be. Highly developed information technology brings me hope and makes my dreams come true. I am really lucky to live in the Age of Information. I could not imagine what my life would be like without it. It makes my life color1ful and more meaningful. I would like to give special thanks to Dr. Guan, and thanks to all of my friends who love and care for me. It is their love and efforts that helped to make my dreams come true. I hope to send my love and thanks to everyone in the world through the Internet. Thanks again! The speaker was greatly encouraged by _ . A what Dr. Guan had suggested B what Ms. Joni Earckson had told him C the story of Ms. Joni Earckson D what the specialist had done Answer: C Wealth is what you accumulate ,not what you spend.If you make $1 million a year and spend $1 million,you're not getting wealthier,you're just living high. The most successful accumulators of wealth spend less than they can afford on houses,cars,vacations and entertainment.Why? Because these things offer little or no return.The wealthy would rather put their money into investments or their businesses.It's an attitude. Millionaires understand that when you buy an expensive house,you buy an expensive life-style too.Your property taxes ,insurance,and the prices of nearby services tend to be higher. The rich man's attitude can also be seen in his car.many drive old cars.Sam Walton,billionaire founder of the Wal-Mart Store,Inc,drove a pickup truck. Most millionaires measure success by net worth ,not income.Instead of taking their money home,they put as much as they can into their businesses.Why? Because the government doesn't tax wealth;it taxes income you bring home for consumption . The person who piles up net worth fastest tends to put every dollar he can into investments,not consumption. The best wealth-builders pay careful attention to their money and seek professional advice. The self-made rich develop clear goals for their money.They may wish to retire early,or they may want to leave something to their children.The goals vary,but two things are consistent:they have a goal in mind-- the amount they want to save by age50,perhaps--and they work unceasingly toward that goal. One thing may surprise you.If you make wealth---not just income--your goal,the expensive house you've been dreaming about won't seem so attractive.you'll have the attitude. Which of the following statements is true? A Wealth is judged according to the life style one has. B Inheritance builds an important part in one's wealth. C Wealth is more of what one has made than anything else. D High income may make one live high and get rich at the same time. Answer: C The reading on a barometer rises when the air A pressure increases. B pressure decreases. C speed increases. D speed decreases. Answer: A
What's the meaning of "dark horse"? It's someone who wins when no one expects it. Han Xiaopeng took China's first gold on snow. He became an Olympic "dark horse" by winning the gold medal in men's freestyle aerial skiing at Turin in Italy. He made two almost perfect jumps for the highest score. Han had never won a world gold medal before, let alone in the Olympics! "I never thought this would happen," said the 23-year-old. "I feel like I'm in a dream." It's China's second gold medal at the Turin Olympics. But more important, Han's gold was the country's first ever in a snow sport. In 2002, China's Yang Yang won the gold for speed skating at the winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, US. That Han's win was unexpected doesn't mean that he didn't work hard. Han grew up in Jiangsu Province. Before he started his training on snow, he used to be an acrobat at a circus. In 1995, a coach found his talent . The coach, Yang Er'qi, said Han had the agility and courage to be a ski jumper. When Yang first took the 12-year-old to northern China, the boy couldn't swim, skate or ski. But he wasn't afraid of the high platform and kept on training. Han almost left the sport after hurting his knee months before the Salt Lake Games. In that Olympics he only got 24th. "I was hopeless at that time, but my family and the coach stood firmly behind me, helping me through," he recalled. Han Xiaopeng worked so hard that he won the gold medal in the Olympics at last. Because of his success, more and more people in China are becoming interested in skiing. We are proud of him and we hope he will have another big success in the next winter Olympics. Which of the following sentences is NOT TRUE according to the passage? A. He insisted on competing though hurting his knee in the game B. He made two almost perfect jumps and got the highest score. C. Someone had won the gold before Han Xiaopeng at the winter Olympics. D. He never gave up even though he had faced many difficulties. Answer: A. He insisted on competing though hurting his knee in the game English Language and Culture Program If you wish to improve your English-language skills as well as your understanding of the Canadian cultural context, the courses offered by ELC Evening are for you. Whether your goals are academic, business or immigration-related, there is a course to meet your needs. Evening course tuition:$490,0. All evening courses run for 10 weeks.A $50 discount is available to returning students or students attending two or more courses. ELC 550 Mondays, July 7 - September 22, 2008August 4 & September 11- HOLIDAY Mondays, October 6-December 15.2008 October 13-HOLIDAY This course is designed for non-native Englisli speakers who wish to take the 1ELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam.Each week, participants focus on specific modules of the test (speaking, reading, listening, and writing) to develop and improve the skills they need to succeed on the exam. ELC 552 Tuesdays, Aprils8-June 10,2008 Tuesdays, October 7 - December.16, 2008 November 11 - HOLIDAY This course is designed for participants who wish to improve their fluency and expressiveness in English.Production skills will be targeted, including pronunciation, intonation, rhythm, and stress.Participants are required to complete weekly in-class assignments , including speeches, monologues, interviews, and role-plays. ELC 554 Wednesdays, July 9 - September 10.2008 Wednesdays, October 8 -December 10.2008 This course is designed for non-native English-speaking university and college participants who wish to improve their academic leading and writing skills.This course gives participants the tools required for presenting information and building persuasive arguments in clear and cohesive written forms. ELC 555 Thursdays, July 10 - September 11, 2008 Thursdays, October 9 - December 11, 2008 This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are either working or planning to work in a business environment.Areas of focus include handling telephone conversations, networking, participating in meetings, negotiating, making presentations, and conducting interviews. ELC 554 is most suitable for _ . A. a newspaper reporter B. a university student C. a businessman D. a high school student Answer: B. a university student There are many places to go on safari in Africa, but riding a horse through the flooded waters of Botswana's Okavango Delta must rank as one of the world's most exciting wildlife journeys. Several safari camps operate as the base for this adventure, providing unique rides twice a day to explore deep into the delta. The camps have excellent horses, professional guides and lots of support workers. _ have a reputation for providing a great riding experience. The morning ride, when the guides take you to beautiful, shallow lakes full of water lilies, tends to be more active. It is unlike any other riding experience. With rainbows forming in the splashing water around you and the sound of huge drops of water bouncing off your body and face. It is truly exciting. You are very likely to come across large wild animals, too. On horseback it is possible to get quite close to elephants, giraffes and many other animals. The sense of excitement and tension levels rise suddenly though, as does your heart rate, as you move closer to them. In the evening, rides are usually at a more relaxed and unhurried pace. With golden light streaming across the grassy delta and the animals coming out to eat and drink. _ though they are, rides at this time of day are still very impressive. As the sun's rays pass through the dust kicked up by the horses, the romance of Africa comes to life. Back at the camp you can kick off your boots and enjoy excellent food and wine. Looking back on your day, you will find it hard to deny that a horseback Safari is as close as you will ever come to answering the call of the wild. What does the author find most exciting about a horse safari? A. Seeing and feeling the real African life. B. Enjoying good food and wine at the camp. C. Hunting large animals just as our ancestors did. D. Being part of the scene and getting close to animals. Answer: D. Being part of the scene and getting close to animals. We go shopping on Sunday. I often go to the supermarket with my mother on Sunday morning. Father likes fruit very much. We buy some bananas for him. Mother likes red apples, but the apples in the supermarket are green. We don't buy them. The strawberries are very nice. Mother likes them very much and buys some for herself . The oranges are very nice, too. Mother buys some for me. I like oranges very much. We need some vegetables. The vegetables in the supermarket are very good. We buy some broccoli. I don't like broccoli, but my parents like it. I like carrots very much. We buy lots of carrots. After shopping, mother and I have some salad, French fries and ice cream. Then we go back home with the fruit and vegetables. Mother buys some oranges for _ . A. herself B. father C. us D. me Answer: D. me There are two main kinds of sports. These two kinds of sports are team sports and individual sports. Team sports are such sports as baseball,basketball and volleyball. Team sports need two separate teams. The teams play against each other. They compete against each other in order to get the best score. For example, in a football game, if Team A gets 7 points and Team B gets 3 points,Team A wins the game. Team sports are sometimes called competitive sports. Besides team sports, there is another main type of sporting activity. It's individual sports. In individual sports there are no teams. People play individual sports such as swimming, skiing and running. Of course, it is possible to compete in individual sports. It is possible to keep a score in individual sports. The main difference, however, between team sports and individual sports is that team sports always require more than one person. The main difference between team sports and individual sports is that _ . A. people don't compete in individual sports B. people don't keep a score in individual sports C. individual sports are easier than team sports D. team sports can't be done alone but individual sports can Answer: D. team sports can't be done alone but individual sports can
Question: An American woman Anna Jervis was the first person to decide that mothers should have a holiday in their honor each year. Miss Jarvis started her campaign in 1906 in her home city Philadelphia. She wrote thousands of letters to congressmen ,city officials, teachers and newspaper publishers, proposing an official holiday for mothers. She traveled all over America, trying to get support for the idea. Her battle went on for years. In 1914 the Congress declared the second Sunday in May each year as Mother's Day. Anna Jarvis wanted Mother's Day to be a simple event. She thought children could honor their mothers by spending some time with them as an act of love and respect. However, the holiday turned out to be a major event for department stores, flower shops and greeting card industry, which Miss Jarvis didn't like. Americans spend millions of dollars on gifts for their mothers on this day. Younger children often try to prepare and serve breakfast for their mothers. Fathers may offer to take care of children so that mothers can enjoy themselves. The holiday becomes an important time for family fathering. Miss Jarvis proposed Mother's Day in order that people could show their love and respect to their mother by _ . A. .spending some time with them B. offering them precious gifts C. eating in restaurants together D. taking care of children for them Answer: A. .spending some time with them Question: Coal mines claim (...) more lives A COAL mine blast in Jixi, Helongjiang, left more than 100 miners dead on Thursday .Ten mines in Jixi were ordered to stop production. The government has tried to shut down thousands of small, illegal mines in the country that do not meet safety standards. MIDDLE EAST Bombers continues to kill PALESTINIANS killed 32 Israelis in three major attacks between Tuesday and Thursday. There were two suicide bombing and a militant attack on Jewish settlement . They yielded one of the highest Israeli death tolls ( ) in such a short period over the last two years. CHINA Young people stand tall THE average height of Chinese young people has risen by 6 centimeters compared to that of 20 years ago. This year far exceeds the word's average growth speed. A survey on health conducted by a panel of Chinese students found the results. According to the world average level, youths get taller by 1 cm every 10 years. CANADA Talking about world issue The Group of Eight (G8)--the US, Japan , Germany, Britain, France, Italy , Canada and Russia ---- will hold a summit on June26 and 27 in Kananaskis , Canada. The G8 are the richest and most powerful countries in the world. G8 leaders and some African presidents will discuss strengthening global economic growth and helping Africa. Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary General, will also attend. What's the purpose of the Summit ? A. to strengthen the global economic growth and helping some poor African countries. B. To make these eight countries much more powerful. C. To help some African president to strengthen their economic growth. D. Kofi Annan will have an important speech on world issues. Answer: A. to strengthen the global economic growth and helping some poor African countries. Question: Bai Yansong, a famous TV host, expressed his support for students wearing green scarves at a primary school in Xi'an. He wore a green tie on a TV program on October 19, 2011. "I just want the students to know that I'm also wearing green. And we are all great people and are as good as those wearing red scarves." The First Experimental Primary School in Xi'an made children with poor schoolwork and behavior wear green scarves. Parents whose children wore green scarves were angry. "The children still need their self-esteem even though they are very young, and they know the green scarf means something is not quite right," said one mother. Now, the school has stopped the practice. Educational expert Li Zhenxi said that primary and junior high school students have strong self-esteem. They are eager to be respected and understood. Punishment will hurt them. "It's better to encourage them rather than separating some 'bad' students," he said. A survey made by the Ministry of Education shows that 75 percent of students feel nervous and scared when the teacher is about to announce their grades. Some schools have done better in protecting students' privacy and encouraging them. In American schools, teachers post test results on the wall. Instead of using student names, they use secret numbers. This way, students know their secret numbers and can check their own grades only. Some teachers might call the students up to the desk and tell them their scores one at a time. But test scores are not the only measures of a student's ability. Everyone has his own strengths and everyone can make great progress by working hard. Which of the following may the writer agree with? A. The green scarves system can make students work hard. B. Student's ability should not be measured only by test scores. C. Students who get low marks should use secret numbers. D. Teachers should tell students their scores secretly one by one. Answer: B. Student's ability should not be measured only by test scores. Question: Book reports and book reviews are similar. Book reports tend to be a little more descriptive (What is this book about?) and book reviews are usually more persuasive (Why a reader should or shouldn't read this book?). They are both a way to think more deeply about a book you've read and to present your understanding. Most teachers have their own requirements they expect you to meet, so be sure to check, but the following general elements of a book report should be helpful. Introduction Here you want to provide basic information about the book, and a sense of what your report will be about. You should include: Title /Author Publication Information: publisher, year, number of pages Writing style A brief introduction to the book and the report. Body There are two main sections for this part. The first is an explanation of what the book is about. The second is your opinions about the book and how successful it is. There are some differences between reports on fiction or other imaginative writing and reports on non-fiction books. But for both, a good place to start is to explain the author's purpose and/or the main themes of the book. Then you can summarize. For fiction or other creative writing: Provide brief descriptions of the setting, the point of view, the leading character, and other major characters. If there is an obvious mood or tone, discuss that as well. Give a brief plot summary. Along with the order of major events, you may want to discuss the book's climax . For non-fiction: Provide a general overview of the author's topic, main points, and argument. What is the argument? What are the important conclusions? Don't try to summarize each chapter. Choose the ones that are most important and interesting to you. Analysis and comment In this second section you analyze the book. You can write about your own opinions; just be sure that you explain and support them with examples. Some questions you might want to consider: Did the author achieve his or her purpose? Is the writing effective, powerful or beautiful? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the book? For non-fiction, do you agree with the author's arguments and conclusions? What is your general response to the book? Did you find it interesting, moving or dull? Would you recommend it to others? Why or why not? Conclusion Briefly conclude by pulling your thoughts together. You may want to say what impression the book left you with, or emphasize what you want your reader to know about it. According to the passage, how many parts is a book report supposed to cover? A. 3 B. 4 C. 5 D. 6 Answer: A. 3 Question: Which is the most accurate statement? A. a stove can be used to make pasta B. a stove is used to store food in the kitchen C. a stove is used to store food underwater D. a stove is used to cook food underwater Answer: A. a stove can be used to make pasta
Bananas are one of the world' s most important food crops. They are also one of the most valuable exports. Bananas do not grow from seeds. Instead, they grow from existing plants. Bananas are threatened by disease because all the plants on a farm are copies of each other. They all share the same genetic weaknesses. For example, the Cavendish banana is most popular in North American and European markets. However,some kinds of fungus organisms easily infect the Cavendish. Black Sigatoka disease affects the leaves of Cavendish banana plants. The disease is controlled on large farms by putting chemicals on the plant' s leaves. Farmers put anti-fungal chemicals on their crops up to once a week. Another fungal disease is more serious. Panama disease attacks the roots of the banana plant. There is no chemical treatment for this disease. Infected plants must be destroyed. Panama disease has affected crops in Southeast Asia, Australia and South Africa. There is concern that it may spread to bananas grown in the Americas. This could threaten an important export product for Central and South America. The International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain supports research on bananas. The group has headquarters in France and other offices in the major banana-growing areas of the world. The group says that more research must be done to develop improved kinds of bananas. The group says that fungal diseases mainly affect only one kind of banana. In fact, there are five hundred different kinds of bananas. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has said that the Cavendish banana represents only 10% of world production. The U.N. agency says farmers should grow different kinds of bananas. This protects against diseases that affect only one kind. Experts warn that disease may cause the Cavendish banana to disappear. This happened earlier to another popular banana because of its genetic weakness against disease. According to the passage, which information is right? Answer: The Cavendish banana makes up only one tenth of world production. The "Occupy Wall Street" movement gained more support on Wednesday as unions and students joined in. With the protests developing from a group of young people's camping out near the New York Stock Exchange on September 17 to large-scale movements across the country and around the world, people can't help asking: What has led to "Occupy Wall Street?" Three years after the severe economic crisis, the U.S. economy now is stuck again. Protesters are not satisfied with the present economic situation since unemployment rate is above 9 percent and economic growth has slowed. The housing market is still struggling for a recovery three years after the bubble burst. People are losing their houses even after they have paid a large amount of mortgage . It is getting difficult for young people to find jobs. People feared that a similar crisis like the one in 2008 may be already on its way. It is Wall Street that possessed the most riches. It is Wall Street greed that, at least partly, led to the financial crisis in 2008. It was Wall Street's "fat cats" who take taxpayers' aid money as their own big bonus . With the growing economic crisis around the world, people realize that Wall Street is responsible for it. So they try to target people who created the crisis. The majority of the protesters are young people under 30. Many of them are unemployed. Some are students with mountains of loans . Some are hard-working people about to lose their houses even if they have paid a large amount of mortgage. They are complaining that the hard-working middle class is getting poor, yet Wall Street stays wealthy. William Cohan, author ofMoney and Power: How Goldman Sachs Came to Rule the world, wrote recently that Wall Street not only learned nothing from the 2008 crisis, they are also trying to kill all reforms that might "break this dangerous cycle in which bankers get very rich while the rest of working people suffer from their mistakes." We can infer that William Cohan _ . Answer: approves of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement Three Boys and a Dad Brad closed the door slowly as Sue left home to visit her mother.Expecting a whole day to relax,he was thinking whether to read the newspaper or watch his favourite TV talk show on his first day off in months."This will be like a walk in the park,"he'd told his wife."I'll look after the kids,and you can go visit your mom." Things started well,but just after eight o'clock,his three little "good kids"--Mike,Randy,and Alex--came down the stairs in their night clothes and shouted "breakfast,daddy."When food had not appeared within thirty seconds,Randy began using his spoon on Alex's head as if it were a drum.Alex started to shout loudly in time to the beat .Mike chanted "Where's my toast,where's my toast" in the background.Brad realised his newspaper would have to wait for a few seconds. Life became worse after breakfast.Mike wore Randy's underwear on his head.Randy locked himself in the bathroom,while Alex shouted again because he was going to wet his pants.Nobody could find clean socks,although they were before their very eyes.Someone named "Not Me" had spilled a whole glass of orange juice into the basket of clean clothes.Brad knew the talk show had already started. By ten o'clock,things were out of control.Alex was wondering why the fish in the jar refused his bread and butter.Mike was trying to show off his talent by decorating the kitchen wall with his colour pencils.Randy,thankfully,appeared to be reading quietly in the family room,but closer examination showed that he was eating apple jam straight from the bottle with his hands.Brad realised that the talk show was over and reading would be impossible. At exactly 11:17,Brad called the daycare centre ."I suddenly have to go into work and my wife's away.Can I bring the boys over in a few minutes?"The answer was obviously "yes" because Brad was smiling.(2012*,B) This text is developed _ . Answer: by time School education is very important and useful. The students both learn knowledge and get an education. Yet, no one can learn everything from school. The scientists,such as Edison,Newton,Galileo and Einstein, didn't learn everything from school. They learned a lot of knowledge outside school or in practice by themselves. A teacher, even he knows a lot, can't teach his students everything. The teacher's job is to show his students how to learn, how to read and how to think. A good teacher with rich experience in teaching can teach his students the methods(=" ways)of" study. Through these methods the students are able to learn and get a lot of things by themselves. Usually it is very easy for the students to remember some knowledge, but it is very difficult to use it for problems. If a teacher really shows the students the ability of how to use knowledge, it means the teacher has learned lots of knowledge by himself (or herself). The success in learning shows he or she knows how to study. A teacher's job is _ . Answer: to show the students how to study by themselves Children's allowance. Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance . The purpose is to let them learn from experience at an age when financial (;;)mistakes are not very costly. In any case, parents should make clear what the child is expected to pay for with the money. At first, young children may spend all of their allowance soon after they receive it. If so, they'll learn the hard way that spending must be done within a budget . Parents are usually advised not to offer more money until the next allowance. It is to show them that a budget demands choices between spending and saving. Many people who have written on the subject of allowances say it is not a good idea to pay your child for work around the home. These jobs are a normal part of family life. Paying children to do extra work around the house, however, can be useful. It can even provide an understanding of how a business works. Allowances give children a chance to experience what they can do with money. They can share it in the form of gifts or give it to a good cause. They can spend it by buying things they want. Or they can save it. Saving helps children understand that costly goals require sacrifice: They have to cut costs and plan for the future. Requiring children to save part of their allowance can also open the door to future saving and investing. Many banks offer services to help children learn about personal finance. Giving children an allowance can mostly help them _ . Answer: get some financial knowledge
Last week, I bought an alarm system for about $ 450. It consisted of a control unit with three small units. I put the control unit in the sitting-room and fastened the other units by the front door, back door and living-room windows. The instructions told us to choose three numbers, so we chose 491, the last three numbers of our telephone number. Now I will explain how the alarm works: 1. There is a power siren in the control unit. It makes a very loud noise. 2. Each of the small units sends out beams or rays in different directions. If anything moves, it breaks a beam. This sends signal to the control unit. The siren makes a noise which you can hear 50 meters away. 3. When we go to bed, I press the three buttons numbered 4, 9 and 1. Then we have 30 seconds to get out of the room before the alarm starts to work. That night I slept soundly because I was sure that no burglar could get into our house. However, at about 2:10 a. m. , I woke up and heard the siren. "There must be a burglar in the house?" Mary said, "What shall we do?" "I'll go and see who's there," I said, "Stay here. Don't make a noise. " I went down stairs quietly. When I reached the living-room, I switched on my torch and looked round the room. Then I turned the light on. I switched the siren off and searched the rooms downstairs. There was nothing wrong except that the back door was unlocked. I locked it, re-set the alarm and went back to bed. About an hour later, the alarm started again. I jumped out of bed, fell over a chair in the dark and bumped into the bedroom door. Mary woke up and started hitting me with a torch. "Hey! Wait a minute!" I whispered, "It's only me. I'm going downstairs to see what's wrong." I went down into the living-room and listened for a moment. The only sound I could hear was the siren. I tamed on the light and switched the siren off. As I did so, I glanced across at the curtains in front of the windows. I saw a house lizard (a kind of small animals) disappear behind the curtains. "Oh!" I said to myself. "That's our burglar." When the lizard moved, it started the siren. I guessed the alarm had been made in Europe, where there are no house lizards. Well, I won't finish this story but if you want an alarm system free of charge, let me know. I'll send you ours. We bought a dog this morning. It knows the difference between a lizard and a burglar . If the writer set the alarm and remained in the room for more than half a minute, _ . A. nothing would happen B. the control unit would not work C. the siren would make a noise D. the dog would bark Answer: C One day, Jack came to Mike's house and said , "Mike, you have so many good books. Can you lend me a book to read?" Mike didn't want to lend a book to his friend, and he said, "Why do you want to take my book home? You can read it here in my house." Jack found that his friend was very selfish, but he said nothing. The next day, Mike came to Jack's house and said, " Jack , you have a good garden-knife, I want to work in my garden tomorrow. Can I use it for two days?" Jack answered, "Why do you want to take my garden knife home? You can work with it in my garden." Mike is _ . A. a kind boy B. Jack's girlfriend C. a selfish girl D. selfish Answer: D The baby monkey is much more developed at brith than the human baby. Almost from the moment it is born,the baby monkey can move around and hold tightly to its mother. During the first few days of its life the baby will approach and hold onto almost any large,warm, and soft object in its environment , particularly if that object also gives it milk. After a week or so , however, the baby monkey begins to avoid newcomers and focuses its attentions on "mother"-----the real mother or the mother-substitute . During the first two weeks of its life warmth is perhaps the most important psychological thing that a monkey mother has to give to its baby. The Harlows, a couple who are both psychologists, discovered this fact by offering baby monkeys a choice of two types of mother-substitutes ----one covered with cloth and one make of bare wire. IF the two artificial mothers were both the same temperature, the little monkeys always preferred the cloth mother. However, if the wire model was heated, while the cloth model was cool, for the first two weeks after brith the baby monkeys picked the warm wire mother-substitutes as their favorites. Thereafter they switched and spent most of their time on the more comfortable cloth mother. Why is cloth preferable to bare wire? Sometime that the Harlows called contact comfort seems to be the answer, and a most powerful influence it is. Baby monkeys spend much of their time rubbing against their mothers' skins, putting themselves in as close contact with the parent as they can. Whenever the young animal is frightened, disturbed, or annoyed, it typically rushes to its mother and rubs itself against her body. Wire does n't "rub"as well as does soft cloth. Prolonged "contact comfort" with a cloth mother appears to give the babies confidence and is much more rewarding to them than is either warmth or milk. According to the Harlows, the basic quality of a baby's love for its mother is trust. If the baby is put into an unfamiliar playroom without its mother, the baby ignores the toys no matter how interesting they might be. It screams in terror and curls up into a furry little ball. If its cloth mother is now introduced into the playroom, the baby rushes to it and holds onto it for dear life. After a few minutes of contact comfort, it obviously begins to feel more secure. It then climbs down from the mother-substitute and begins to explore the toys, but often rushes back for a deep embrace as if to make sure that its mother is still there and that all is well. Bit by bit its fears of the new environment are gone and it spends more and more time playing with the toys and less and less time holding onto its mother". The main purpose of the passage is to _ . A. give the reasons for the experiment B. present the findings of the experiment. C. introduce the method of the experiment D. describe the process of the experiment Answer: B Could a grizzly bear move to your neighborhood? If you live in the U.S. West, the answer may be yes. People and grizzly bears are living closer together now. The grizzly bear is one of the largest meat-eating land animals in North America. In the early 1800s, about 50,000 grizzly bears lived there. Today there're far fewer bears. Settlers built cities and roads where bears lived. Many bears were hunted and killed. Now only 1,200 to 1,400 grizzly bears have remained. In and around Yellowstone National Park, grizzly bears have been making a comeback because of people's efforts to protect them. Some bears are moving to areas where people live. People are also moving into grizzly countries. People there have to learn how to live with their new, furry neighbors peacefully. If someone leaves their barbecue grill out overnight, or leaves their pet food or rubbish where a bear can get it, the bear will learn to come to their house for food. Grizzly bears that learn to eat people's food can become dangerous, and they often have to be killed or moved. Also, it's important not to surprise a grizzly. Besides, if you are hiking in a grizzly country, you should go with others and make a noise to make bears hear your coming and get out of the way. You may not want to invite grizzly bears to your next neighborhood party, but with a little effort, grizzly bears and people can live together peacefully. How many suggestions are made for people to live with bears peacefully? A. One. B. Two. C. Three. D. Four. Answer: C One student wrote a report about an investigation in which fertilizer was added to tomato plants. Which information from that student's report would most help a second student repeat the investigation? A. the amount of fertilizer added B. the height of the fertilized plants C. the size of each tomato produced D. the number of tomatoes produced Answer: A
Autumn and winter are cold and flu seasons. Will the old advice about dressing warmly help prevent a cold, or if you get sick, should you follow the old saying, "feed a cold and starve a fever?" And what about that fever? Should you take medicine to reduce your temperature, or is it better to let the body treat the fever itself? Everyone seems to have an answer. But is popular wisdom valuable? Doctor Nelson knows a lot about cold and flu seasons. Nelson says research may be just starting to provide proofs for long-held beliefs. For example, scientists for years were against the idea that getting cold and wet might cause colds or flu. But recent studies have shown that cold temperatures cause stress on the body, and that stress can create conditions more inviting to viruses. So maybe it does make sense to wrap up warmly before going outside. And what about feeding a cold and starving a fever? Nelson says if you have a cold and are hungry, you should eat. But a fever, especially a high one, suggests a more serious problem. He says people are usually not hungry when they have a high fever. Eating might even make a person sick. But drinking enough water is important. A fever easily makes the body lose water. Finally, when should you treat a fever? Nelson says a fever should be treated if it stays at 40degC or above for a day or more. A high temperature can damage brain cells. The doctor also believes in treating a fever if it prevents a person from sleeping. Medicine like aspirin, for example, can be used to reduce pain and fever. But aspirin should not be given to children because it can cause serious problems. According to Doctor Nelson, if someone catches a fever, he should _ . One night I was at my friend's house where he threw a party. We were enjoying our dinner at night when all of a sudden we heard a knock on the door. I opened the door and saw this guy who had scar on his face. I asked my friend "who is that guy?", and he told me that it was his friend. I didn't trust that guy because he looked very strange. After we had dinner the strange guy asked my friend to come outside because he wanted to talk to him. A few seconds later I heard a noise from outside and when I ran outside I saw that the strange guy was trying to beat my friend. I ran towards him and asked him to leave our house. He left the house but after half an hour he came back and this time he was dressed up as superhero and he also had a sword. As soon as I saw him I ran inside the house and called the cops. The cops came and the guy ran away as soon as he heard the cop car coming. We never found out what happened to that guy after that day. What was the strange guy doing with the friend? Sailors used to speak of a "Jack"when they meant a flag which was set near the bow of a sailing ship. The flag showed the country to which the ship belonged. The Union Jack became the flag of Great Britain. Australia's flag has the Union Jack in the top left hand corner together with the stars of the Southern Cross. They have kept this small part of Britain on their flag because their country was first settled by people from Britain. Australia's flag is the same color as the Union Jack--red, white and blue. The act of joining together is called a "Union". The Union Jack was the name of the flag made when England, Scotland and Ireland joined together to make one country. It all began in 1707 when England and Scotland joined together to become one nation. A flag was made using two crosses--one for the patron saint of each country. The word "patron" means protector. Many centuries before the English had taken St George as their patron saint, his emblem was a red cross on a white background. The Scottish patron saint was St Andrew. In memory of him, they used a white cross on a blue background. This cross was shaped like the letter "X". The new flag was a mixture of both flags with two sets of crosses. When Ireland joined England and Scotland in 1800, another cross was added. St Patrich's cross of Ireland was red and also shaped like an "X". All three flags now made up the Union Jack. Why does Australia have the Union Jack in its flag? Dear Carol, I wear braces and I know I look just terrible in them. Is there anything I can do to improve my appearance until they come off? Connie N. Philadelphia, PA Dear Connie, Start by thinking about how good you are going to look when your braces come off. If you are negative about your appearance, people will pick that up right away about you. In the meantime there are several things that you can do to lift your spirits: Change your hairstyle. Be sure to get a good cut so that the shape of your hair will be flattering to your face and also good for your type of hair (fine, thick, straight, curly, etc.) Choose a hairstyle that draws attention away from your face. Hair pulled back into a pony-tail or into a ball on top or slightly off-center can be attractive and practical for this purpose. Keep skin clean. If you choose to wear makeup , it should look natural. Blusher and lip gloss in light tones of peach or pink are best. Be well-groomed . Neatness really _ . People see a total look about you before they ever become aware of your braces. And first impressions are lasting ones! Carol tries to let Connie know that _ . At Japan's Studio Ghibli, which has produced extraordinary animated films since 1985, the best-known figure has always been one of the company's founders, Hayao Miyazaki. But an equally key figure is co-founder Isao Takahata, who has recently made a new feature, The Tale of Princess Kagnya. It is an unforgettable feature with an unusual hand-drawn aesthetic . The title character is a tiny baby girl who appears in a bamboo plant. She is found by a woodcutter, who takes her home and brings her up. He believes the little girl is a princess, and sets about preparing what he regards as a suitable world for her. This original story is the oldest work of fiction in Japan; every child knows it in its simplified folktale form. "It is a fascinating story with elements of wonder, humour, and sorrow,'' Takahata says, "but these three elements are scattered about." The chief challenge for anyone trying to adapt it is that "we are completely unable to comprehend what was in the heart of Princess Kaguya. Because of this, despite its being well known, few people consider it interesting. There have been several attempts at making a film out of the story, but they ended up being abandoned." He was connected with one of these attempts, but no one paid any attention to his concept. "Fifty-five years later, I thought my concept was still appealing, and used it as a basis for turning the story into a feature film." His concept involves the princess's origins, her expectations and her access to "the full range of human emotions". To realize his vision, Takahata says, "I needed to take the extremely individualistic brushwork and key designs of Osamu Tanabe and Kazuo Oga, two brilliantly talented artists, and have them permeate throughout the film. The two of them drew many pictures, but they weren't nearly enough. The most challenging part was to have all the other animation staff copy their styles in a free and easy way." The Tale of Princess Kaguya has been released, and people are saying that the two founders, now in their seventies, have directed their final films. But is it as clear-cut as that? When I ask Takahata about a scene of escape and urgency with a particularly distinctive visual style, he says he had intended to use "this type of rough-drawn, forceful animation, in a project before this film. "That project hasn't been realized yet, but if it comes to pass, this style is essential." A hint, perhaps, there's still more to come. From the Takahata version of The Tale of Princess Kaguya, we can expect the following except _ .
A newspaper, a publication usually issued on a daily or weekly basis, has the main function of reporting news. Many newspapers also _ their readers with other pieces of useful information, such as weather reports, television schedules, and stock prices. They provide commentary on politics, economics, and arts and culture. In nearly all cases and in varying degrees, newspapers depend on commercial advertising for their income. Newspaper publishers estimate that nearly six out of ten adults in the United States and Canada read a newspaper every day, and seven out of ten read a paper each weekend. By the time they see a newspaper; most people have already heard about breaking news stories on television or on the radio. Readers rely on newspapers to provide detailed background information and analysis which television and radio rarely offer. Newspapers not only inform readers that an event has happened but also help readers understand what led to the event and how it will affect the world. The staff of a large newspaper works under the constant pressure of deadlines to bring news to readers as quickly as their minds, bodies and the technology they use permit. Reporters, photographers, artists, and editors compile articles and graphics -- sometimes in just a few hours. Page designers combine articles, photos, advertisements, and eye-catching headlines into page layouts , then rush their work to the printer. Printing technicians may work through the night operating printing presses that can print out more than 60,000 copies per hour. According to the passage, why do people read newspapers? Sugar--free beets that still taste sweet, tastier tomatoes and brighter-colored fruits and vegetables that stay ripe longer are all foods that are being grown now. How can they carry traits, such as being tastier, brighter, and riper? They are genetically engineered. Genetic engineering is like making a change in a recipe. For example, when you make cakes, you mix together all of the usual ingredients. If you add an extra ingredient, like salt, the cakes will taste differently. Genes are ingredients in the recipe for life. They carry the traits of living things. Your genes dictate what color hair and eyes you'll have, how tall you'll be, as well as many other traits. Genes carry traits for plants, too. By adding genes to a plant, you can sometimes create new traits. For example, adding a certain gene to a potato plant can make the potato plant distasteful to bugs . This makes some farmers happy because they don't have to use chemicals to keep bugs away from their plants. It sounds great, but some people are opposed to the idea of food that is genetically engineered. Ronnie Cummins, from the Campaign for Food Safety, is against it. He says that one of the major concerns is allergies . Supermarkets don't always label foods that are genetically engineered. A customer could unknowingly buy food that has an added gene from another plant that he or she is allergic to. It could be dangerous. Gary Burton from Monsanto, a seed company that engineers food, disagrees. He says his company tests for allergies. Burton believes that genetic engineering is a valuable tool for making better food. The technology can help farmers use less insecticide and grow healthier crops. Burton thinks there are many advantages. But Cummins says that we just don't know what will happen in the future if we keep adding genes to foods. We could mistakenly create a monster. People have different opinions about genetic engineering. One side supports it and thinks it will only help us. The other side is opposed to playing with nature and fears health risks. Which side do you think is right? In general, who does not support the idea of genetic food? Some friends invite you over and serve you a delicious dinner. Someone lends you his car while there's something wrong with yours. You are sick, and a friend brings you a meal and cares for you. How do you show your gratitude ? Sometimes simply saying thank you is enough. At other times, it is thoughtful to say thank you in a more different way. Be sure to tell that person what you are grateful for and why you are grateful. Here are some common ways to say thank you. You can write a thank-you note. People are very busy these days. A handwritten note shows you took the time to tell someone you are grateful to him or her. Or you can call and thank the person. You would be surprised how this can _ . Another idea is to send a thank-you e- mail. This is not quite as personal, but it still shows your gratitude. There are many other ways to say thank you. To say thank you in a creative way, you can: Select some flowers from a shop. Write a thank-you note. Give the person a basket of fresh fruit or a homemade treat. Invite a friend to a movie, meal, snack or coffee. Give a gift card for a bookstore or a restaurant. That way the person can pick out a favourite book or eat out. Find out what the person likes and give something related to that. To say a big thank you to someone, have a party for that person. As you can see, there are many ways to say thank you. Think of some ways of your own. You will feel good trying one of the ideas, and the person being thanked will feel good too. It's a win-win situation ! Which of the following ways to say thank you is NOT talked about in the passage? Fifteen years ago, I entered the Boston Globe, which was a temple to me then. It wasn't easy getting hired. But once you were there, I found, you were in. Globe jobs were for life-guaranteed until retirement. For 15 years I had prospered there--moving from an ordinary reporter to senior editor. I would have a lifetime of security if I stuck with it. Instead, I had made a decision to leave. I entered my boss's office. Would he be angry? I wondered. He had a famous temper. "Matt, we have to have a talk," I began. "I came to the Globe when I was twenty-four. Now I' m forty. There' s a lot I want to do in life. I'm resigning. " "To another paper?" he asked. I reached into my coat pocket, but didn't say anything. I handed him a letter that explained everything. It said that I was leaving to start a new media company. We were at a rare turning point in history. I wanted to be directly engaged in the change. "I' m glad for you," he said, quite out of my expectation. "I just came from a board of directors meeting and it was seventy-five percent discouraging news. Some of that we can deal with. But much of it we can' t," he went on. "I wish you all the luck in the world," he concluded. "And if it doesn't work out, remember, there is always a place here for you." Then I went out of his office, walking through the newsroom for more good-byes. Everybody was saying congratulations. Everybody--even though I'd be risking all the financial security I had carefully built up. Later, I had a final talk with Bill Taylor, chairman and publisher of the Boston Globe. He had turned the Globe into a billion-dollar property. "I' m resigning, Bill," I said. He listened while I gave him the story. He wasn't looking angry either. After a pause, he said, "Golly, I wish I were in your shoes. " When the writer decided to resign, the Globe was faced with _ . The Danish capital is a year-round destination. Here are some of the city's best annual events. Roskilde Festival (July) The Danes love the outdoors and they love rock music; the Roskilde Festival is where they combine these passions for a weekend of drunken celebration. The four-day event is held about 30 minutes from the city completely, which means you can either go in for the full festival experience, or you can travel from the city to the festival each day. There are also day tickets if you don't have the power for the whole collection of facts. Kulturnatten (October) For something a little more high brow there's the Night of Culture. For one night only some 300 venues in the city stage theater performances, art exhibitions, concerts and poetry readings. Father Christmas Congress (July) One of the more bizarre fixtures in Copenhagen's calendar, the event is held in July--the slow season for Santas--at the Bakken amusement park, some 20 minutes north of the city. The most interesting of the event is a procession of Santas from all over the world along Stroget. Parents should be prepared for some embarrassed questions from the kids. Tivoli Gardens (November/December) These pleasure gardens make for a great day out any time of the year but to see them at their most attractive, visit from mid-November through December, when they are transformed into a fairy tale of lanterns and Christmas markets. There's also outdoor skating, a Christmas entertainment and the very Danish 'Nissekobing' village, home to more than 100 mechanical fairies. How does the author think of the procession of Santas?
When different species of birds flock together, their flight formations are determined by social dynamics both between and within species. New research from the Universities of Cambridge and Exeter reveals for the first time that, contrary to current models used to explain the movement of flocks, the differences between bird species and social relationships between individuals play a critical role in determining the dynamics of mixed-species flocks. The unified behaviour of bird flocks has puzzled scientists for hundreds of years. One naturalist from the turn of the century even suggested telepathy may be involved. There have since been more logical explanations, including mathematical models that show that repeated interactions among individuals following simple rules can _ coordinated group movements. However, these models usually rely on the assumption that individuals within groups are identical and interact independently, which may not reflect reality. Jolle Jolles, a PhD student at the University of Cambridge's Department of Zoology and author of the paper, said:"Spectacular collective behaviour can be found in a large range of animal species, and we now know that often these complex coordinated group movements may be the result of individuals following simple rules. However, rarely are the individual characteristics and social relationships within them taken into account. Our research highlights that these striking displays of group behaviour are much more complex." By analysing high-resolution photographs of mixed flocks of rooks and jackdaws (both from the corvid family), the researchers found that rather than individuals interacting in a consistent fashion throughout the flock, interactions depended on social dynamics between the different species as well as relationships within a species. The researchers discovered that birds prefer to fly close to members of their own species, and that the larger and more dominant rooks take the lead by flying near the front of flocks. Additionally, the lifelong, monogamous pair bonds that are characteristic of both species seem to be reflected in flight, as birds often fly particularly close to a single, same-species partner. Dr Alex Thornton, principal investigator of the Cambridge Jackdaw Project, now at the University of Exeter and author of the paper, said: "Together, our findings demonstrate that to understand the structure of groups -- such as bird flocks -- we need to consider the characteristics and relationships of the individuals within them." What is the main idea of the passage? A. How birds interact in simple rules. B. How birds of different feathers flock together. C. Why birds show preference to flocking. D. Why birds display the characteristics. Answer: B. How birds of different feathers flock together. Plankton are tiny ocean organisms. The role of one type of plankton is to use the energy from the Sun to produce food that other animals eat. Which organism has the same role in the ocean as this type of plankton? A. seaweed B. turtle C. dolphin D. crab Answer: A. seaweed Nearly half of elementary and high schools in the US use the Presidential Fitness Test. It checks kids' fitness levels. Students are tested at least twice a year. In 1956, US President Eisenhower created the test, and it has been a tradition in schools since 1966. There are five activities in the test: sit-ups , push-ups , sit and reach, endurance run or walk and shuttle run . Students who get scores at or above 85 percent on all the activities can get a Presidential Physical Fitness Award. The test encourages students to live a healthy and active life. Students taking the test are really testing their limits, according to the US National Association for Sport and Physical Education. China has a similar test: the physical education(PE) test. Beginning at the age of 7, students in China are tested twice a year to check if they are healthy and strong. They also finish activities like the endurance run, sit-ups and the shuttle run. However, unlike students in the US who get awards, Chinese students get points in PE tests. The highest score is 100. For junior school students, the PE test is more important because it is worth 30 to 40 points in the entrance exam for senior high school. In order to get a good score, most students begin to prepare for the test in their junior one year. Who can get a Presidential Physical Fitness Award? A. Students who finish all the activities. B. Students who finish first on the test. C. Students who make the greatest progress in the test. D. Students who get scores of 85 percent or above on all the activities. Answer: D. Students who get scores of 85 percent or above on all the activities. Coffee has become the most popular American drink. Today people in the United States drink more coffee than people in any of the other countries. People drink coffee at breakfast, at lunch, at dinner and between meals. They drink hot coffee or coffee with ice in it. They drink it at work and at home. They eat coffee ice-cream and coffee candy. Coffee is black and very _ . Different people like to drink it in different ways. Some people like coffee with cream or sugar in it. Other people like coffee with both cream and sugar in it. In all ways it is served. Coffee has become an international drink. _ is the most popular American drink. A. Black tea B. Coffee C. Water with ice D. Whisky Answer: B. Coffee More and more people think it necessary to study in an English-speaking country and it didn't take long at all for me to decide to come and study in UK. Having been in the school for 2 months, I'm getting used to school life, and I am starting to make the most of my time in here. School starts at 9 o'clock every morning, and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday we have long days, in which we have 9 lessons and school finishes at 4 o'clock. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays we have short days, in which we have only 6 lessons and finish at 1 o'clock. After lessons, we have two hours of activity time, when you can choose from a wide range of activities, including all the major sports, such as rugby and football, and also the minor sports such as basketball and tennis. As a boarder( ),the quality of food is something I consider very important, and Merchiston has not _ . The school kitchens are run by a professional food company, and the quality of food is very excellent and also they take the healthy diet very seriously: I remember once I was once asked to take more salad for my meal by a member of the kitchen staff for I didn't have enough vegetables. This brings another point of being a boarder: you need to learn how to look after yourself and be responsible for yourself. One of the huge advantages of being a boarder is that we can have breakfast in the school, which means we don't have to pull ourselves out of bed as early as the day pupils! As a boarder in the school, the author _ . A. is not used to the food there B. has learned to have healthy diets C. is specially taken good care of D. sleep as much as the day pupils Answer: B. has learned to have healthy diets
He felt faint again now but he held on the great fish all the strain that he could. I moved him, he thought. Maybe this time I can get him over. Pull, hands, he thought. Hold up, legs. Last for me, head. Last for me. You never went. This time I'll pull him over. But when he put all of his effort on, starting it well out before the fish came alongside and pulling with all his strength, the fish pulled part way over and then righted himself and swam away. "Fish," the old man said. "Fish, you are going to have to die anyway. Do you have to kill me too?" That way nothing is accomplished, he thought. His mouth was too dry to speak but he could not reach for the water now. I must get him alongside this time, he thought. I am not good for many more turns. Yes, you are, he told himself. You're good for ever. On the next turn, he nearly had him. But again the fish righted himself and swam slowly away. You are killing me, fish, the old man thought. But you have a right to. Never have I seen a greater, or more beautiful, or a calmer or more noble thing than you, brother. Come on and kill me. I do not care who kills who. Now you are getting confused in the head, he thought. You must keep your head clear. Keep your head clear and know how to suffer like a man. Or a fish, he thought. "Clear up, head," he said in a voice he could hardly hear. "Clear up." Twice more it was the same on the turns. I do not know, the old man thought. He had been on the point of feeling himself go each time. I do not know. But I will try it once more. He tried it once more and he felt himself going when he turned the fish. The fish righted himself and swam off again slowly with the great tail weaving in the air. I'll try it again, the old man promised, although his hands were mushy now and he could only see well in flashes. He tried it again and it was the same. So he thought, and he felt himself going before he started; I will try it once again. He took all his pain and what was left of his strength and his long gone pride and he put it against the fish's agony and the fish came over onto his side and swam gently on his side, his bill almost touching the planking of the skiff and started to pass the boat, long, deep, wide, silver and barred with purple and interminable in the water. The old man dropped the line and put his foot on it and lifted the harpoon as high as he could and drove it down with all his strength, and more strength he had just summoned, into the fish's side just behind the great chest fin that rose high in the air to the altitude of the man's chest. He felt the iron go in and he leaned on it and drove it further and then pushed all his weight after it. Then the fish came alive, with his death in him, and rose high out of the water showing all his great length and width and all his power and his beauty. He seemed to hang in the air above the old man in the skiff. Then he fell into the water with a crash that sent spray over the old man and over all of the skiff. Which of the following is the most suitable title for this passage? Dear Mr. Perkins, We would like to introduce ourselves. Our company was organized only two years ago, but we are one of the largest boat companies inprefix = st1 /California. As you know, your son has bought a boat from us recently, and I think you know how pleased be is with our product. Also, John Webb, one of your son's friends, has bought a boat from us and, we understand, is very happy with his boat. We are always happy to know that our customers are satisfied. We are writing to you now because, as you know, your son has decided to buy a larger boat, and we need your signature on the loan papers. The loan application has already been signed by Danny. As you will see, there is one form to fill out, and there are three _ to sign. Danny's 26-foot boat was returned to our San Pedro Dock yesterday, and we are pleased to say that the new 36-foot "Challenger" will be delivered in two weeks from today. It is being inspected by our manager right now. The auto-pilot has already been installed by our mechanic. It looks as though everything will be ready in time for delivery. All we need are the signed contracts from you. Thank you. Tony Valention The main aim of the letter Tony wrote to Mr. Perkins is to _ . Many people have tried to simplify the spelling of English words. Unlike other languages , English sometimes spells the same sounds in very different ways . For example , there is "light "but" white", "loan "but "phone" ,and there are at least seven different ways of pronouncing "ough": "though", "through ","bough". "cough" "enough ", "ought" and "thorough ". The American President Theodore Roosevelt almost succeeded in simplifying English spelling .In 1906, Andrew Carnegie started the Simplified Spelling Board .He was one of the richest men in the United States of America .The board's plan was to make the spelling of words nearer to the way they sound .For example , the word "though" would be spelt "tho" and "through "would become "thru". Other people on the board were Melvil Dewey , the head of the New York libraries , and Professor Brander Matthews of Columbia University . They explained their idea to President Roosevelt , who thought that it was indeed logical .He immediately asked the government printer to sue simplified spelling in all government letters . But people didn't like the change, even if it made life easier. So the new simpler spelling was not popular. More importantly, when the American politicians discussed the plan, they did not like it either. Because Roosevelt did not want to have any problems with the politicians, he changed his mind and told the printer to go back to the old way of spelling. Since then no one in any government has dared to simplify English spelling. However,people do simplify some words, mainly in advertisements. For example, we often see "tonite" instead of "tonight" and "thru" instead of "through". What was Theodore Roosevelt's attitude towards simplified spelling? The bicycling craze came in when we were just about at the right age to enjoy it. At first even "safety" bicycles were too dangerous and improper for ladies to ride, and they had to have tricycles. My mother had (I believe) the first female tricycle in Cambridge; and I had a little one, and we used to go out for family rides, all together; my father in front on a bicycle, and my poor brother Charles standing miserably on the bar behind my mother. I found it very hard work, pounding away on my hard tyres; a glorious, but not a pleasurable pastime. Then, one day at lunch, my father said he had just seen a new kind of tyre, filled up with air, and he thought it might be a success. And soon after that everyone had bicycles, ladies and all; and bicycling became the smart thing, and the lords and ladies had their pictures in the papers, riding along in the park, in straw hats. My mother must have fallen off her bicycle pretty often, for I remember seeing the most appalling cuts and bruises on her legs. But she never complained, and always kept these accidents to herself. However, the great Mrs. Phillips, our cook, always knew all about them; as indeed she knew practically everything that ever happened. She used to draw us into the servants' hall to tell us privately: "Her Ladyship had a nasty fall yesterday; she cut both her knees and sprained her wrist. But don't let her know I told you." So we never dared say anything. Similar little accidents used to occur when, at the age of nearly seventy, she insisted on learning to drive a car. She never mastered the art of reversing , and was in every way an unconventional and terrifying driver. Mrs. Phillips used then to tell us: "Her Ladyship ran into the back of a milk-cart yesterday; but it wasn't much hurt"; or "A policeman stopped her Ladyship because she was on the wrong side of the road; but she said she didn't know what the white line on the road meant, so he explained and let her go on." Mrs. Phillips must have had an excellent Intelligence Service at her command, for the stories were always true enough. The writer admired Mrs. Phillips because _ . Mr. Green is quiet and doesn't like talking with people. He likes reading newspapers and playing computer games. He never exercises. Sometimes he watches soccer or basketball games on TV. He likes milk very much and drinks it three times a day. Mrs. Green is a bank clerk .It's a busy but boring job. She works with people and money every day. So she is always tired after work. She likes to take a good rest and goes to bed early after dinner. Usually she goes to bed at 8:30 in the evening and gets up at 6:30 in the morning. Mr. Green is very happy with that. But Mrs. Green isn't, because Mr. Green always talks in her sleep. One morning, Mr. Green sat at table and had breakfast. Mrs. Green asked him,"Why do you always talk in your sleep?"Mr. Green said,"Because I have few chances to talk in the daytime " The next morning after their children all went to school, Mrs. Green asked Mr. Green angrily,"Why did you scold me in your sleep last night?""Because I'm afraid to do it when I'm awake ." Mrs.Green was angry with Mr. Green because he _
Question: In your body, what two organs work together to make sure that oxygen gets to all the other organs of your body? A. Lungs and kidneys B. Heart and lungs C. Brain and kidneys D. Heart and liver Answer: B. Heart and lungs Question: Twelve years ago, Rachel Miller was lost when it came to her son John. The 7-year-old was seriously disabled because of his autism . Unable to speak, he withdrew from people at school and, worse, from his family. In March 2003, Miller was introduced to Jeff Hancock, a one-on-one therapist for people with autism. Hancock was hired to be John's companion. The two would go people-watching at the mall on the weekend. Hancock chatted throughout their trips, even though John couldn't talk back. Their relationship developed when Hancock introduced John to the Special Olympics. Whenever John was running or being active, he was smiling. When John turned 12, Hancock introduced him to track at the Special Olympics. For the first three years, the pair just observed the sport by watching practices and events. Hancock worked daily with John, showing him everything, including where to sit, stand and walk, so he would understand the flow of the events. Eventually, the lessons clicked, and John was off doing 50-meter sprints. But as John got older, he got stronger and faster. At 16, he was jumping hurdles and doing 800-meter races. Miller started seeing her son as a serious athlete. In May 2014, John's training brought him to the Special Olympics State Summer Games in Orlando. The 18-year-old was competing in the 800 meters and the 110-meter hurdles. As the 800 was setting up, Miller remembered, she pressed her face against the fence, anxiously waiting for John to compete. But as soon as the race started, all Miller saw was an athlete, her athlete. "I just wanted to see the best performance. It seemed much more significant than whether he would ever speak or respond to me," she said. John ended up winning the gold medal for the 800. Sports completely changed John, and Miller said that is because of Hancock."A person with a disability can feel hopeless and isolated, and I think that can happen to parents, too. " Miller considered John to be a serious athlete _ . A. in 2011 B. in 2012 C. in 2013 D. in 2014 Answer: B. in 2012 Question: LOS ANGELES ----Disney's "The Lion King", one of the most successful animated films ever, will roar again this weekend with a 3D version that could put it back at the top of the box office with a very proud $12million. The 1994 version was the second highest box-office earning film of that year and ranks fourth on the all-time animated list with over $784 million. Hot on the heels of the box office success of "The Lion King 3D", Disney and Pixar are remaking four of their classic animated films in 3D versions for movie theaters. Encouraged by the success of "The Lion King 3D", the movie studio said it would release a 3D version of 1991 animated film. "Beauty and the Beast"in January 2012 for a limited run in movie theaters. It will be followed by Pixar's sea-adventure "Finding Nemo" in September 2012, the classic 1989 Disney romance "The Little Mermaid" in September 2013, following"Monsters, Inc." In January 2013. "Great stories and great characters are timeless, and at Disney we're lucky to have a treasure of both," said Alan Bergman, president of the Walt Disney Studios. "We're excited to give audiences of all ages the chance to experience these beloved stories in an exciting new way with 3D----and in the case of younger people, for the first time on the big screen," Bergman said in a statement. Since 1994, "The Lion King " has earned some $883 million at the worldwide box office, including recent sales from the 3D version of the beloved story of the African animal kingdom. Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Little Mermaid" have so far earned $380 million and $228 million worldwide. Pixar's 2001 hit"Monsters, Inc." made $526 million worldwide and the 2003 Oscar winning film "Finding Nemo" made more than $867million. By saying "Disney's 'The Lion King'...will roar again this weekend with a 3D version that..." , the author means the film _ . A. will be popular with young people B. will win success this weekend again C. will be awarded a big prize this weekend D. will shock the people for the huge production cost Answer: B. will win success this weekend again Question: Jane was running late. Jane, 25, had a lot to do at work, plus visitors on the way: her parents were coming in for Thanksgiving from her hometown. But as she hurried down the subway stairs, she started to feel uncomfortably warm. By the time she got to the platform, Jane felt weak and tired---maybe it hadn't been a good idea to give blood the night before, she thought. She rested herself against a post close to the tracks. Several yards away, Tom, 43, and his girlfriend, Jennifer, found a spot close to where the front of the train would stop. They were deep in discussion about a house they were thinking of buying. But when he heard the scream, followed by someone yelling, "Oh, my God, she fell in!" Tom didn't hesitate. He jumped down to the tracks and ran some 40 feet toward the body lying on the rails. "No! Not you!" his girlfriend screamed after him. She was right to be alarmed. By the time Tom reached Jane, he could feel the tracks shaking and see the light coming. The train was about 20 seconds from the station. It was hard to lift her. She was just out. But he managed to raise her the four feet to the platform so that bystanders could hold her by the grins and drag her away from the edge. That was where Jane briefly regained consciousness, felt herself being pulled along the ground, and saw someone else holding her purse. Jane thought she'd been robbed. A woman held her hand and a man gave his shirt to help stop the blood pouring from her head. And she tried to talk but she couldn't, and that was when she realized how much pain she was in. Police and fire officials soon arrived, and Tom told the story to an officer. Jennifer said her boyfriend was calm on their 40-minute train ride downtown-just as he had been seconds after the rescue, which made her think about her reaction at the time. "I saw the train coming and I was thinking he was going to die," she explained. The passage is intended to _ . A. warn us of the danger in the subway B. show US how to save people in the subway C. tell US about a subway rescue D. report a traffic accident Answer: C. tell US about a subway rescue Question: Do you want to have a friend whom you could tell everything to, like your deepest feelings and thoughts? Or are you afraid that your friend would laugh at you, or just can't understand what you are going through? Anne Frank chose the first kind. She lived in Amsterdam during World War II. Her family was Jewish so they had to hide, or they would be caught by the German soldiers. She and her family hid away for two years before they were discovered. During this time the only true friend was her diary, which she called Kitty. In a diary dated on Thursday 15 June, 1944, she wrote, "Dear Kitty, I wonder if it's because I haven't been able to be outdoors for so long that I've grown so mad about everything to do with nature. I can well remember that there was a time when a blue sky, the song of the birds, moonlight and flowers could never have kept me puzzled. That's changed since I was here for a year and a half." Anne had grown so mad about nature. Maybe it was because _ . A. she had been indoors too long B. she had no interest in nature C. she had always been such a girl D. she had got used to living alone Answer: A. she had been indoors too long
Is been a dream for 30 years but now the world's first flying car is set to hit the roads this year. Ever since the"Back to the Future"movies lit up our screens in the 1980s,designers have dreamt of cars that could take to the sky at the push of a button. And now pilots can order their own "roadable"plane for just PS 127,000. The plane,which has fold-out wings that span 17. 5 ft,has a range of flying distance of 460 miles and can be up to 115 mph. Back on the land,it can also travel at"highway speeds" in car mode . Fuelling the 19 ft long plane couldn't be simpler--you just drive it into a petrol station and fill it up. A spokeswoman said,"You can keep you 'light-sport airplane'in your garage. But because _ needs a short runway to take to the air,you will have to drive to your local airport,fly up to 460 miles,land,and drive directly to your destination. You will always be ready to drive or fly. " The spokeswoman added,"Never let bad weather change your trip. You call simply divert and continue on the ground until the weather clears. " There's no risk to you--This is only the chance for you to be the first at your home field to unfold your wings and fly into the future. We can infer that in the"Back to the Future"movies_. A. there are some skillful pilots B. pilots have no cars to drive C. pilots can't afford a"roadable"plane D. cars can fly in the sky Answer: D. cars can fly in the sky People use their mouths for many things. They eat, talk, shout and sing. They smile and they kiss. In the English language, the word "mouth" has many meanings. But some of them are not so nice. For example, if you say bad things about a person, the person might protest and say "Do not bad mouth me." Sometimes, people say something to a friend or family member that they later regret because it hurts that person's feelings. Or they tell the person something they were not supposed to tell. The speaker might say, "I really put my foot in my mouth this time." In other words, he might feel sad for saying the wrong thing. Sometimes when one person is speaking, he says the same thing that his friend was going to say. When this happens, the friend might say, "You took the words right out of my mouth!" Some people have lots of money because they were born in a very rich family. There is an expression for this, too. You might say such a person "was born with a silver spoon in his mouth." This rich person is the opposite of a person who lives "from hand to mouth." This person is very poor and only has enough money for the most important things in life, like food. ,. I really put my foot in my mouth this time means _ . A. I really did this B. I regretted I had done the thing C. I want to do this thing D. I have never done this thing Answer: B. I regretted I had done the thing Children's lives have changed greatly over the last 50 years.But do they have a happier childhood than you or I did? It's difficult to look back on one's own childhood without some element of nostalgia .I have four brothers and sisters, and my memories are all about being with them.Playing board games on the living room floor, or spending days in the street with the other neighborhood children, racing up and down on our bikes, or exploring the nearby woods.My parents scarcely appear in these memories, except as providers either of meals or of severe blame after some particularly risky adventure. These days, in the UK at least, the nature of childhood has changed dramatically.Firstly, families are smaller, and there are far more only children.It is common for both parents to work outside the home and there is the feeling that there just isn't time to bring up a large family, or that no one could possibly afford to have more than one child.As a result, today's boys and girls spend much of their time alone.Another major change is that youngsters today tend to spend a huge amount of their free time at home, inside.More than anything this is due to the fact that parents worry far more than they used to about real or imagined dangers, so they wouldn't dream of letting their children play outside by themselves. Finally, the kind of toys children have and the way they play is totally different.Computer and video games have replaced the board games and more interesting activities of my childhood.The irony is that so many ways of playing games are called "interactive".The fact that you can play electronic games on your own further increases the sense of loneliness felt by many young people today. Do these changes mean that children today have a less relaxing childhood than I had? I personally believe that they do, but perhaps every generation feels exactly the same. Which is NOT a reason for the changes? A. Families are smaller today B. Toys can be played by children alone at home C. It's too dangerous to play outside D. Parents worried too much about their children Answer: C. It's too dangerous to play outside As I was thinking about language learning the other day, the image of baking bread came into my mind. I compared some of the exercises and drills that we put ourselves through in order to learn a language to the various ingredients that go into baking a loaf of fresh bread. Real language learning takes place in human relationships. No one sits down and eats a cup of flour, even if he is hungry and in a hurry. You don't become bilingual by learning lists of vocabulary. You don't become a speaker of a language by memorizing verb conjugations and agreement rules. You become bilingual by entering a community that uses that other language as its primary means of communication. I am not suggesting that we can make bread without ingredients. Flour is necessary, as are yeast , salt, water and other ingredients. Vocabulary is part of any language and will have to be learned. Grammatical rules exist in every language and cannot be ignored. But merely combining the appropriate ingredients in the recommended proportions does not result in bread. At best, you only end up with a ball of dough . In order to get bread, you have to apply heat to the dough. And in language learning, that heat comes from the community. Anyone who has learned a second language has experienced that heat. It creeps up your neck when you ask the babysitter, "Have you already been eaten?" when you meant to say, "Have you already eaten?" When you try to say something quite innocent and the whole room bursts into laughter, you are experiencing the heat that turns raw dough into good bread. Remember the old saying, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen"? This is where language learning often breaks down because we find the heat uncomfortable and we stop the baking process. In order words, we can't stand the heat, so we get out of the kitchen. However, the language learner who stays in the kitchen--in the heat--until the combined ingredients are thoroughly transformed will enjoy the richness of a quality loaf of bread. He is lad that he did not "get out of the kitchen" at the critical moment when the oven seemed too hot. The dedicated language learner knows that becoming bilingual cannot be achieved without the heat! What's the purpose of illustration of the example--you ask the babysitter, "Have you already been eaten?" when you meant to say, "Have you already eaten?"? A. To verify that you are sure to make some mistakes when you enter a community. B. To show that you should combine the ingredients in the recommended proportions. C. To prove that you may experience "heat" from the community in language learning. D. To indicate that being bilingual calls for your courage, confidence and perseverance. Answer: C. To prove that you may experience "heat" from the community in language learning. 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"Was the escrow agreement a valid modification? A. Yes, because it was the compromise of an honest dispute. B. Yes, because the Statute of Frauds does not apply to subsequent oral modifications. C. No, because it was oral D. No, because it was not supported by consideration. Answer: A. Yes, because it was the compromise of an honest dispute.
Address: 9020 Bridgeport Road Open: Mon. to Fri. 7:00a.m. --- 2:30p.m.and 5:00 p.m. --- 9:00p.m. Sat. 7:00a.m. --- 11:00a.m. and 5:00p.m.--- 9:30p.m. Sun. 11:00a.m. --- 2:00p.m. and 5:00p.m.---9:30p.m. NEW YORK MUSEUMTelephone: 364431 Address: Vanier Park, 1100 Chestnut St. New York America's largest museum specializing in American history and part of our native people. Open: Mon. to Fri. 9:00a.m.---5:00p.m. (Monday free) Sat. 9:00a.m.---1:00p.m. LANSDOWNE PARK SHOPPING CENTERTELEPHONE: 3562367 Address: 5300 NO.3 Road Open: Mon. Tues. and Sat. 9:30a.m. ---5:30p.m. Wed. Thurs. and Fri. 9:30a.m. ---9:30p.m. Sun. 11:00a.m. --- 5:00p.m. SKYLINE HOTELTelephone: 2785161 Address: 3031 NO.3 Road ( at Sea island Way) The Hangar Den: Wed. to Sun. Lunch from 10:30a.m. Coffee Shop: Mon. --- Fri. 6:00a.m. ; Sat. 6:00a.m. and Sun. 7:00a.m. Mon. --- Wed. to 10:00p.m.; Thurs. --- Sun. to 11:00p.m. You do not have to pay on Monday if you go to _ . Answer: New York Museum The government in China plans to end its one-child policy and let families have two children instead. The plan was announced on Thursday after high -level political meetings in Beijing. A Chinese Communist Party statement gave a number of reasons for the change in policy. The statement said the change is meant to balance population development, stop a falling birth rate and strengthen the country's labor force . China, with the largest population in the world, started the one -child policy in 1980. But the government allowed only a small number of couples to have two children. For example, some families in the countryside could have two children, if the first-born child is a girl. In 2013, the Chinese government gave other couples a chance to have two children if one of them was an only child. Jiang Quanbao, a teacher and population expert, explained how Chinese families react to the newest policy. "Too many young people in the cities are no longer interested in having a second child," he said. "People in the countryside are more interested. But some of them are already allowed to have two children. " At the end of 2014, China had a population of 1.37 billion people. A total of 800 million of them have jobs. But the labor market population will drop in 35 years. That is to say, the country will be in great need of labor by the year 2050. With the two-child policy, an increase in births can solve this problem. Boys and girls, what do you think of the two-child policy? Do you want to have a new-born brother or a sister? Why does the government plan to end the one-child policy? Answer: Because a falling birth rate must be stopped. A machine which makes water out of air could become the greatest household invention since the microwave. Using the same technology as a dehumidifier , the Water Mill is able to create a ready supply of drinking water by getting it from a limitless source-the air. The company behind the machine says not only does it offer all alterative to bottled water in developed countries,but it is a solution for the millions who face a daily water shortage. The machine works by drawing in damp air through a filter and over a cooling element which changes it into water droplets.It can produce up to 12 liters a day.The Water Mill will also produce more water when storms pass over, as the humidity in the air increases.In keeping with its ecodevelopment,the machine uses the same amount of electricity as three light bulbs. Inventor Jonathan Ritchey said:"The demand for water is .People are looking for freedom from water distribution systems that are shaky and unreliable". The machine,which is about 3 feet wide,is likely to costPS800 when it goes on sale here in the spring.Its maker, Canadian firm Element Four, estimates that a liter of water will cost around 20 pence to produce. Environmentalists claim half the world's population will face water shortage because of climate change by 2080.One in five humans is said to lack access to safe drinking water. The Water Mill is not effective in areas with below about 30 percent relative humidity, but with average relative humidity in England of more than 70 percent that won't be much of an issue here. What would be the best title for this passage? _ Answer: Machine to Make Water out of Air Animals are being killed by hunters in America in a cruel way, says an animal protection organization. There are about 1,000 hunting farms across America whose owners offer hunters an opportunity to kill animals that are kept in fenced areas. Russian boar, zebra, deer, antelope and many other species are raised just to be killed. Farm owners charge hunters thousands of dollars for animals that they kill, many of which are close to extinction . The Humane Society of the United States says this type of hunting should be stopped because it is not fair to the animals. Many owners raise their animals. Others buy from animal dealers or from zoos and circuses that no longer want them. This means that the animals are not afraid of humans and they are easy to be shot by hunters. Owners of small ranches keep their animals in fenced areas so that the hunters can get close to the animals before shooting at them. On large farms hunters are taken to areas where the animals are fed sometime of the day. This also makes it easy to kill the animals. The hunters want to keep the heads and chests of the animals they kill to hang as trophies on their walls. This means that the animals are usually shot in parts of the body. That means they will suffer a slow and painful death. The hunting is allowed across most of America but some parts of the country have stopped or restricted it. The Humane Society of the United States hopes that it won't be too long before the rest parts of the country also give up this cruel sport. What can be the best title for the passage? Answer: Hunters Pay to Kill Fenced Animals At times my mom has been uncomfortable seeing these qualities in me. For example,when I was 12,I went to Puerto Rico all by myself to stay with my grandmother for the summer. My mom was extremely nervous about it. She kept telling me how things were different in Puerto Rico,to always put on sunscreen,not to wander away from my grandmother,and other warnings. She helped me pack and did not leave the airport until she saw my plane take off. But despite her worries,she let me go on my own. As I moved into my teens,she continued to give me space to grow and learn,even when it might have been difficult for her. When I reached my senior year,I decided to move away for college. Once again I found that I differed from my peers:While many of them wanted to stay close to home,I couldn't wait to be out in the world on my own. While my mom may not have been happy at the thought of my going away,she was supportive and excited for me. One big thing I realized during my senior year,as my mom granted me more freedom,was that she actually believes in me and trusts me. That means a lot. Most of my life,and especially when I was little,the main person I tried to impress in my schoolwork or other things was my mother. I knew she expected nothing but the best from me. Sometimes it was hard to live up to her standards;getting a single B on my report card would make me feel bad because I knew she wanted me to have all A's. I know that her high standards have helped me stay focused on what's important,like education,and made me who I am. I am thankful for her support and involvement in my life .Most of all I respect her. She is the strongest woman I know and that's why I have turned out so strong and independent. The author decided to move away for college to _ . Answer: be independent in the outside world
The burning of fossil fuels has increased the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere. What is a possible effect that the increased amount of carbon dioxide is likely to have on our planet? A warmer climate Long ago, there was a rich man who had two sons. The older brother, who was called Nolbu, was greedy and lazy. However, his younger brother Hungbu was hard-working and kind-hearted. When their father died, Nolbu inherited his house and land, but Hungbu received nothing. One day when Hungbu was working in the fields, he found a bird which had broken its leg. He took the bird home and looked after it carefully. The bird gradually became stronger, and when summer came, it flew away to a warm place. A year later the bird flew back and gave Hungbu a seed . Hungbu sowed the seed and it soon grew into a plant which produced many gourds . When Hungbu opened one of the gourds, he was amazed to see that it was full of treasure. He wanted to use the treasure to do something useful. The next day he bought a big house and moved there with his family. When Nolbu heard about his brother's good luck, he was very jealous and decided to do the same as his brother. He also found a bird, but he broke its leg and looked after it until it became strong. The bird also gave him a seed, which produced several gourds. However, when Nolbu opened one of the gourds, goblins ( ) quickly came out of it and stole all his money. After that Nolbu went to his brother to ask for help. Hungbu was sorry for him and so he invited him to share his house. Both brothers and their families lived happily ever after. Hungbu was . kind New rules will let millions of Americans know where more of their food comes from. The law is known as COOL -- Country of Origin Labeling . American congress first passed the law in 2002. Stores have had to label seafood by country of origin since 2005. But industry pressure delayed other requirements until last week. Products that must now be labeled include fresh fruits and vegetables, muscle meats and some kinds of nuts. But the rules are complex, and many foods are not included. For example, organ meats are free to be labeled. So are processed foods, including cooked or smoked foods. The same food may sometimes have to be labeled and other times not. Fresh or frozen peas, for example, have to be labeled but not canned peas. Foods that are mixed with other foods are also excluded. Mixed nuts, for example, do not need to be labeled. The same is true of a salad mix that contains different things like lettuce and carrots. Or a fruit cup that combines different fruits. Also, the law doesn't include restaurants and other food service organizations. Department of Agriculture officials say the law is really meant for larger grocery stores. The United States has imported more and more food in recent years to save money and expand choices. Country-of-origin labeling has become more common lately but has still been limited in many stores. Food safety is one reason why some shoppers pay close attention to where foods came from. For example, when a large number of people recently got sick from salmonella , officials blamed peppers from Mexico. Yet the last big food scare involved spinach grown in California. But labeling is also a way for people to know they are getting what they want. Some want to buy local foods or foods from a particular country. The country-of-origin labeling law gives stores 30 days to correct any violations that are found. Stores and suppliers that are found to be deliberately violating the law could be fined 1,000 dollars per violation. Federal inspectors are not to take action to enforce the law for six months to give time for an education campaign. Some food safety activists say they are generally pleased with the law. They call it a good step that will give people more useful information. Why has more and more food been imported to the United States in recent years? It is economical and provides people with more choices. Food for thought in the US Before I left for America, everyone warned me to watch my weight because it's easy to put on weight there. That's true. One thing I still cannot _ is the food and drink. Almost every American person loves sodas, especially those full of ice cubes. I remember the first day I came to my host family. When I asked them for a glass of hot water, they all looked at me and thought I was crazy! At my school there's no water dispenser but there's one in each classroom in China. All the American students drink water from taps outside the restrooms that are specially designed for drinking. The water is cold and the school doesn't have hot water. The most popular food here is hamburgers and French chips, which are junk food in China. Most students who eat at school prefer those to salads. They also eat lots of pizzas and hot dogs. As a result, you can always see some really fat people in school. Luckily, my host mom is really a great cook. She always makes food from different countries and eats a balanced meal every day. So I have a lot of fruit and vegetables. At my host family's home, they usually eat biscuits. These old-fashioned biscuits are low in fat and flavored with buttermilk, butter, and a bit of honey. Oh here comes the most interesting thing: the word "biscuit" in China actually means "cracker " here. Real biscuits are a kind of soft cake. I was also amazed by the rich kinds of food in American supermarkets and their reasonable prices. For example, one brand of yogurt has 20 kinds of flavors! You're sure to find one that you like. And most of the food provides you "light", "original" or "no sugar" options to choose from. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the article? The author thinks many Americans do not eat healthily. "Get your hands off me, I have been stolen," the laptop, a portable computer, shouted. That is a new solution to laptop computer theft (the crime of stealing): a program that lets owners give their property a voice when it has been taken. The program allows users to displayalerts (warning)on the missing computer's screen and even to set a spoken message. Tracking software for stolen laptops has been on the market for some time, but this is thought to be the first that allows owners _ . Owners must report their laptop missing by visiting a website, which sends a message to the model: a red and yellow "lost or stolen" sign appears on its screen when it is started. Under the latest version of the software, users can also send a spoken message. The message can be set to reappear every 30 seconds, no matter how many times the thief closes _ . "One customer sent a message saying, 'You are being tracked. I am right at your door'," said Carrie Hafeman, chief executive of the company which produces the program, Retriever. In the latest version, people can add a spoken message. For example, the laptop's speakers will say: "Help, this laptop is reported lost or stolen. If you are not my owner, report me now." The Retriever software package, which costs $29.95 but has a free trial period, has the functions of many security software programs. Owners can remotely switch to an alternative password immediately if they fear that the thief has also got hold of the access (, ) details. If a thief accesses the Internet with the stolen laptop, Retriever will collect information on the Internet service provider in use, so that the police can be alerted to its location. Thousands of laptops are stolen every year from homes and offices, but with the use of laptops increasing, the number stolen while their owners are out and about has been rising sharply. Other security software allows users to erase data remotely or lock down the computer. Different from other security software, Retriever can _ . send a spoken message
More than four decades ago British scientist Robert Edwards first witnessed the miracle of human life growing inside a test tube at his Cambridge lab. Since that ground-breaking moment, more than four million babies have been born through IVF and in 2010 his great contribution to science was finally recognized as he was awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine. The prize for Dr Edwards, who was given a Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Award in 2008, includes a PS900,000 cheque. The Nobel Assembly described IVF as a "milestone in modern medicine". With the help of fellow scientist Patrick Steptoe, the Manchester-born physiologist developed IVF -- leading to the birth of the world's first test tube baby. Dr Steptoe died 10 years later but their work has transformed fertility treatment and given hope to millions of couples. It was a scientific breakthrough that transformed the lives of millions of couples. They said: "His achievements have made it possible to treat infertility, a disease which makes human unable to have a baby. This condition has been afflicting a large percentage of mankind including more than 10% of all couples worldwide." Louise Brown, the world's first test tube baby, made international headlines when she was born in Oldham, Gtr Manchester, in 1978 to parents Lesley and John who had been fruitlessly trying for a baby since 1969. Ivf-in-vitro fertilisation is the process whereby egg cells are fertilised outside the body before being implanted in the womb. After a cycle of IVF, the probability of a couple with infertility problems having a baby is one in five -- the same as healthy couples who conceive naturally. Professor Edwards, who has five daughters and 11 grandchildren, began his research at Cambridge University in 1963, after receiving his PhD in 1955.He once said: "The most important thing in life is having a child. Nothing is more special than a child." With the help of fellow scientist Patrick Steptoe, Prof. Edwards founded the Bourn Hall clinic in Cambridge shire, which now treats more than 900 women a year. Each year, more than 30,000 women in Britain now undergo IVF and 11,000 babies are born as a result of the treatment. But his work attracted widespread criticism from some scientists and the Catholic Church who said it was "unethical and immoral". Martin Johnson, professor of reproductive sciences at the University of Cambridge, said the award was "long overdue". He said: "We couldn't understand why the Nobel has come so late but he is delighted -- this is the cherry on the cake for him." Professor Edwards was too ill to give interviews but a statement released by his family said he was "thrilled and delighted". What might be the best title for the passage? A. Life Stories of Robert Edwards B. Preparations for Having a Baby C. Nobel Prize for IVF Expert Edwards D. Treatment of Infertility in a Lab Answer: C. Nobel Prize for IVF Expert Edwards Many Americans concerned about pollution are demanding cleaner supplies of energy. The demand has resulted in increased research about ethanol fuel. Ethanol is an alcohol that can be mixed with gas. It burns up most of the pollutants in gas. It replaces some of the chemicals that are known to cause cancer, and it can be produced in the United States. Some experts say that in the future ethanol will replace some of the oil imported into America. Today ethanol is less than one percent of total American fuel supply. The head of the National Corn Growers Association, Kieve Hard, says ethanol will provide twenty-five percent of the fuel supply by 2030. The organization is involved in the production of ethanol because it can be made from corn. One company in the American Midwest says it is starting to produce ethanol because of demands from people and from the government. The Congress approved the Clean Air Act in 1990. The company says this means the market for ethanol will expand. The company is a major producer of corn starch that can be used to make ethanol. At Texas A and M University Professor Mark Holzapple produces ethanol from materials found in solid waste. He has developed a way to turn materials like paper into simple sugar. He then uses yeast to turn the sugar into ethanol. Professor Holzapple says two hundred liters of ethanol fuel can be produced from one ton of solid waste. A professor at the University of Arkansas, John Geddie, is exploring another way to make ethanol. He is using acids on paper material. He says a large factory could produce ethanol from waste paper at a cost about the same as the cost of producing gasoline. Environmentalists support the use of ethanol because it turns solid waste into a useful product. Professor Holzapple says law makers in industrial nations need to support the development of this clean, less expensive fuel of the future. Why does the interest in ethanol fuel increase in the United States according to the passage? A. Ethanol products are known to cause cancer. B. Ethanol can remove some harmful pollutants from gas. C. The production of ethanol is protected by law. D. Ethanol-fueled automobiles are cheaper than gas-fueled ones. Answer: B. Ethanol can remove some harmful pollutants from gas. Do you find getting up in the morning so difficult that it's painful? This might be called laziness, but Dr. Kleitman has a new explanation. He has proved that everyone has a daily energy cycle. During the hours when you labour through your work, you may say that you're "hot". That's true. The time of day when you feel most energetic is when your cycle of body temperature is at its peak. For some people that peak comes during the forenoon. For others it comes in the afternoon or evening. No one has discovered why this is so, but it leads to such familiar monologues as "Get up , John ! You'll be late for work again !" The possible explanation to the trouble is that John is at his temperature-and-energy peak in the evening. Much family quarrelling ends when husbands and wives realize what these energy cycles mean, and which cycle each member of the family has. You can't change your energy cycle, but you can make your life fit it better. Habit can help. Dr. Kleitman believes. Maybe you're sleepy in the evening but feel you must stay up late anyway. Counteract your cycle to some extent by habitually staying up later than you want to . If your energy is low in the morning but you have an important job to do early in the day, rise before your usual hour. This won't change your cycle , but you'll get up steam and work better at your low point . Get off to a slow start which saves your energy. Get up with a yawn and stretch. Sit on the edge of the bed a minute before putting your feet on the floor. Avoid the troublesome search for clean clothes by laying them out the night before. Whenever possible, do routine work in the afternoon and save tasks requiring more energy for your sharper hours . The text is probably taken from a _ . A. news report B. research paper C. medical textbook D. fashion journal Answer: B. research paper The defeat of Lee Sedol, the world's strongest Go player, by a Google artificial intelligence (AI) program, looks like another milestone towards a world where computers can do almost anything a human can. It is not. There are uncountable things that only a human can do, and that no computer seems close to. The problem is that the purely human things are not economically useful to anyone. The things that computers can be taught to do are by contrast economically fantastic. But even the most powerful programs are not human, just as a shovel . They have no feelings. What they have is power, but this power is growing at a rate that should frighten us all. It might be less frightening if computers were truly intelligent, but even the most powerful networks are less human than monstrous Martians . Their power will be used to make money for the firms that finance their development, and then for others quick and clever enough to take advantage of the new world. It is far more likely that they will increase inequality and still further remove the middle classes as we move towards an hourglass society in which everyone is either very rich or very poor and likely indebted. One of the ill effects of the spread of more intelligent computer networks is, at the same time, the spread of what might be called artificial stupidity. If AI is employed largely to replace unskilled labour, it is most productive when labour is kept unskilled or redefined that way. So much of the work in service industries is now simplified until it might be automated . And robots will never need pensions. AI is slowly reducing skilled work, like some forms of medical diagnosis , at the same time, as older doctors complain that the traditional human skills of diagnosis are falling out of medical training. The belief that everything worthwhile can be measured and then managed is far more damaging to humanity than the threat of artificial intelligence on its own. But no victory in complicated Go games can bring us closer to truly human-like computers. What is the author's attitude towards the future of artificial intelligence? A. Optimistic. B. Supportive. C. Sceptical. D. Cautious. Answer: C. Sceptical. Heat, light, and sound are all different forms of ___. A. fuel B. energy C. matter D. electricity Answer: B. energy
"Developed and developing nations can learn from each other seeking a low-carbon economy. In terms of energy saving and green economy, China doesn't _ developed nations," said Zhou Changyi, director of the energy saving department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. "While we can learn many aspects from developed nations, they also should learn something from us, such as water conservation," Zhou said in a speech during the new Path of China's Industrialization forum at the ongoing China International Industry Fair. He said industrialized nations and China are dealing with different issues to fight climate change. The United Kingdom, for example, is concerned about transport, buildings and new energy in reducing carbon emissions. For China, the most urgent task is how to realize new type of industrialization and avoid mistakes that other countries made when they industrialized. Swiss power and automation technology group ABB called for a stronger focus on product life-cycle assessment, or LCA, which is used to study the environmental impact of a product from the research and manufacturing stage through its usage and recycling. Tobias Becker, head of ABB' s process automation division for North Asia and China, said LCA is an effective tool in helping manufacturing industries to reduce carbon emissions. LCA shows that industrial customers should focus on a product's environmental impact throughout its life-cycle instead of on its initial investment. Richard Hausmann, North East Asia CEO of Siemens, said, "The color of future industrialization is green. " The Germany company recently announces that it wants to receive orders worth more than 6 billion Euros ( US 8. 8 billion) for intelligent power networks, Smart Grid, over the next five years. Siemens has set a 20 percent market share target for the global smart grid business. A smart grid delivers electricity from suppliers to consumers using digital technology, advanced sensors specialized computers that save energy, reduce costs and increase reliability. The United States and China are considered the two biggest markets for smart grid. What can be a suitable title for the text? Low-carbon Economy -a Shared Goal Car needs gas to run as your body needs food to work for you. Eating the right kinds of food is very important. A good eating habit can help your body grow strong if you take care of what you eat. There are four main food groups altogether. The _ group has food like milk, cheese and sour milk. The other three groups are the meat and fish group, the fruit and vegetable group, and the bread and rice group. Each meal should have at least one food from all four main groups. With all of these foods together, you will be given enough energy during the day. It is easy to get into bad eating habits. You may eat your breakfast in a hurry to get to school on time or you may not have time for a good lunch. It may be easier to eat fish and chips for your supper all the time. But you will find yourself tired and you will not be able to think quickly. Watching what you eat will help keep your body healthy and strong. It is also good to take some exercise. It will help you eat more if you take a walk or play games in the open air. Having good eating habits with some exercise is the key to your health. Which of the following is a good eating habit? Having different food from all four food groups. As wild animal lovers are not content with watching tigers and gorillas during the day, a growing number of zoos in the US are offering a more thrilling after-dark experience -- overnight stays. The Philadelphia Zoo is America's first zoo and home to more than 1,300 animals. It has been running its Roars and Snores Overnight Programs for about 20 years. The most popular theme program is the Night Flight Overnight Program where children aged 5 to 12 sleep in the zoo's tree house. The overnight stays are not only popular with young children. Most overnight stays include a night tour during which youngsters experience the mysterious sights and unusual sounds of the zoo. A midnight snack and breakfast are also served. "It is a unique experience to be at the zoo without the crowds and additional noise," explained Patterson, of the Denver Zoo, which has been running its Bunk with the Beasts program since 1998. With nearly 4,000 animals and 700 species the zoo attracts more than 1.8 million visitors a year. "The things you hear and see in the zoo are completely different," said Patterson. On Denver's two-hour tours, night vision scopes are provided so guests can see nocturnal animals such as owls, and indoor educational games increase the learning experience. Patterson said parents tend to be more worried about leaving their children than the children themselves. They have rarely had to call up a parent in the middle of the night. "They love it," Patterson said about the children. "For many, it's their first overnight stay away from home. They are so excited that by the end of the day they are so tired that they have no opportunity to worry." "Guests at the new overnight program at the Queens Zoo make breakfast treats for animals, and watch the keepers feed them to the animals," said Education Curator Tome Hurtubise. The growing popularity of overnight programs has caused zoos that only serve day-time visitors to think again. The Queens Zoo, which started their program this year, is so pleased with its success that they want to continue it next year. The Bunk with the Beasts program includes _ . a two-hour visit and indoor educational games HANGZHOU, China -- Millions of Chinese basketball fans who were upset about the retirement of Yao Ming, are excited to see another even more shining star, Jeremy Lin, rising from the N.B.A and becoming a household name all across China. "We are amazed by Lin Shuhao's magic performance and should cheer him on," one Internet user wrote. "His sport shirts have sold out, even including the counterfeit ones," said Zheng Xiaojun, a 24-year-old clerk. Lin's amazing success over the last month has caught the imagination of the Chinese. He has been particularly popular here in northern Zhejiang province, from which his grandmother went to Taiwan in the late 1940s. Cai Qi, a well-known micro blogger, posted a message on micro blog over the weekend stating that Lin's hometown is Jiaxing, a city near Hangzhou where Lin's grandmother grew up. Cai Qi's nephew Yu Guohua, a 56-year-old factory worker, is Lin's closest still living in northern Zhejiang. He said in a telephone interview that Lin had come to play basketball with the Jiaxing High School team last May and had been surrounded by admirers. Yu said he did not have a chance to meet Lin in the crowd, but managed to speak with his family. "His father was very supportive of Lin's playing basketball, but his grandmother was not, for fear he would be injured," Yu said. Lin may owe his height, 6 feet 3 inches, to his grandmother's family, Yu said. Chen Weiji, the father of Lin's grandmother, was well over 6 feet and all of Chen's children were tall as well, he said. The N.B.A. believes that 300 million people in China play basketball. The retirement last year of Yao Ming took its main Asian draw away from the N.B.A. But Lin's appearance has helped the league remain a hot topic of Chinese online chatter. We can learn from the text that _ . Lin's grandmother didn't expect him to be a player My name is Sue. I want to have a special party to celebrate my 12th birthday. After discussing it with my family, I decided to have a Hello Kitty theme birthday party. Hello Kitty Birthday Invitations An invitation in the shape of a skirt is a fun way to invite my friends to the party. My sister, Lisa, will help me make the invitations. My mom tells me to send out the invitations 3~5 weeks before the date of the party. My birthday party is on December 21, so I will send out the invitations before November 24. Hello Kitty Theme Decorations The party will be held in our garden. I plan to put some white and pink balloons around the garden. There will be a vase which is full of pink flowers on each table and a small Hello Kitty on each chair. Hello Kitty Birthday Party Menu My parents will cook some delicious food. All of them will be named after Hello Kitty's friends, such as Rory and Fifi. I will _ a birthday cake in the shape of a Hello Kitty at Mrs Green'S Cake Store at the beginning of December. I hope my friends will enjoy themselves at the special party. When will Sue send out the party invitations to her friends? In November.
(Renee-a beautiful princess; Broo-a blue bear; Nahloo-a magical place) When the Princess Renee heard about Broo, she came down from her castle. She found Broo while he was busy eating honey. "Mr. Bear," the Princess said, "you are welcome in Nahloo. Here we share with each other. We don't take things from each other." Broo thought about it for a moment and realized that he had made a mistake. "Well," he said, "maybe drinking all that milk wasn't the best idea." The Princess continued, "Mr. Bear, you can drink and eat, but you won't feel good because you have never made any contribution to anyone else. I think you'll find that it is better to be full in your heart, not just in your stomach." After saying this, the Princess went back to the castle, leaving Broo alone. One day, Broo was going to take lots of cookies from the rabbits, then he remembered what the Princess said to him. So Broo decided not to eat the cookies. The rabbits were surprised and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Bear. Now these cookies will taste sweeter because they are given by you, my friend. If you like, come back tomorrow and we can have the cookies together." Broo was filled with joy and went through the land. He gave back everything he had taken. In return, he received a promise from everyone to share their food with him. Broo was so delighted that he started dancing in the moonlight with the Princess as his partner. Broo felt _ after he gave the cookies back to the rabbits. Some pessimistic experts feel that the automobile is bound to fall into disuse. They see a day in the not-too-distant future when all autos will be abandoned and allowed to rust. Other authorities, however, think the auto is here to stay. They hold that the car will remain a leading means of urban travel in the foreseeable future. The motorcar will undoubtedly change significantly over the next 30 years. It should become smaller, safer, and more economical, and should not be powered by the gasoline engine. The car of the future should be far more pollution-free than present types. Regardless of its power source, the auto in the future will still be the main problem in urban traffic congestion ( ). One proposed solution to this problem is the automated highway system. When the auto enters the highway system, a retractable ( ) arm will drop from the auto and make contact with a rail, which is similar to those powering subway trains electrically. Once attached to the rail, the car will become electrically powered from the system, and control of the vehicle will pass to a central computer. The computer will then monitor all of the car 's movements. The driver will use a telephone to dial instructions about his destination into the system. The computer will calculate the best route, and reserve space for the car all the way to the correct exit from the highway. The driver will then be free to relax and wait for the buzzer ( ) that will warn him of his coming exit. It is estimated that an automated highway will be able to handle 10,000 vehicles per hour, compared with the 1,500 to 2,000 vehicles that can be carried by a present-day highway. What provides autos with electric power in an automated highway system? Whether you will be a doctor or a police officer in the future, there's a teacher in your life. They teach you and help you know who you are? Of course, you want to thank them. Teachers' Day is the perfect chance for students around the world to thank their teachers. The festival falls on different days in different countries. In China, Teachers' Day is on September 10. But in the US, teachers have a whole week to celebrate. Teacher Appreciation Week is in the first full week of May every year. Kids used to bring apples for their teachers because apples are healthy. Now, they bring gifts with pictures of apples, such as cups, picture frames and teddy bears. Some students also make DIY gifts for their teachers. During the week, school clubs often offer teachers a free breakfast of coffee and pastries. The South Korean Teachers' Day is on May 15. Many students offer flowers to their teachers. Another traditional gift is a card. Thousands of students prepare personalized cards and give them to their favorite teachers. Although different countries have different Teachers' Days, there's one day for the whole world to honor teachers. On October 5 of every year, over 100 countries, such as Canada and the Philippines, express their thanks by celebrating World Teachers' Day. UNESCO started the day in 1994. It wants to remind people of the importance of teaching. Only you can make a card like this one A fingerprint card is a good gift on Teachers' Day You will need: Card Pen *Colorful ink 1. Press your ink-covered finger on a clean card. 2. Use a pen to make your fingerprint into an animal or a robot. 3. Write words like "you are a wonderful teacher," or "thank you for teaching me" on the card. Some thank-you notes for great teachers 1. 2. According to the passage, apples used to be a good choice of gifts for Teachers' Day because _ . 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. In the past, the ancient Chinese used to have cloth and knives _ Researchers have revealed 25 major life milestones - and the ages by which we should have achieved them. A new study has unveiled the ultimate guide to life, which involves passing a driving test at the age of 20, moving out at 22 and getting married at 27. The comprehensive study, which draws on the wisdom, life experience and regrets of almost 2,000 adults between the ages of 16 and 65, also found we should be earning the average wage by the age of 30. Researchers also revealed 19 is the best age to start a full-time job, while we should feel free to enjoy the first holiday without mum and dad two years later. Early 20s should also include moving out of home, buying our first car and flying to sunnier places for the first time with a boyfriend or girlfriend. A spokeswoman for Amigo Loans, which commissioned the study, said: "It's normal to want to achieve certain things by certain ages and it's good to be ambitious. "Borrowing money to achieve life's milestones, such as moving out, buying a car or starting a business is harder than ever for ordinary, hard-working people and our research shows nearly half of 16-34 year-olds expect to turn to their family and friends for financial help to achieve their life goals. Indeed, nearly 80 per cent of our guarantors are family members." As we head to late 30s and early 40s, we ought to be aiming to have moved to slightly bigger second home, have earnings of around PS40k a year or more, and even set up our own business. The study also looked into the subject of pressure and the part it plays in helping us achieve our goals. One in three people said they felt there was more pressure on the current generation to reach milestones within specific time frames. But according to the data, a large percentage of us also put the pressure on ourselves to achieve things by certain times. According to the passage, pressure _
Welcome to the Van Gogh Gallery for information about the life and work of Vincent van Gogh. As a post impressionist painter and one of the most famous artists of all time, Vincent van Gogh has become a model. From growing up in Holland and working as a pastor , moving to France and creating an unbelievable collection of artwork, this site takes an in-depth look at Van Gogh's life , his work and the influence he has had on our culture. Van Gogh had many influences on his life including his family and friends, other artists such as Edgar Degas, and his health. To see how each of these affected his life please visit the Important Figures, Artistic Influences and Health sections. For information about how Van Gogh's art has influenced our society today, view the Impact on Art, Cultural References, or News section. If you are interested in adding more Van Gogh to your life, the Van Gogh Gallery has plenty to offer. Download Van Gogh images of some of his most famous paintings as wallpaper for your computer, shop for Van Gogh posters or prints, or check out some of the additional resources available including links to Van Gogh museums and shows. There are even lesson plans from multidiscipline areas for those interested in educating others about Van Gogh's art and life. Van Gogh has influenced generations of young artists worldwide since his time. Today we can see his influence in painting, in poetry and in video. We are happy to display new examples of art that were influenced by Van Gogh in our Van Gogh Community Art section. Tragically, Van Gogh died not knowing the praise his art would receive. He will be forever known as one of the greatest artists of the modern era. Through this website, the Van Gogh Gallery aims to share his life and heritage with the world. What's the function of the Van Gogh Gallery? To provide information about the artist's life and work. BAD weather, bad food and grumpy people - that's what some people think of first when they think about Britain. Many online commentators even joke that Britons are so grumpy precisely because it constantly rains and they are always hungry. In fact, many believe that Britons are inherently negative, in contrast to their neighbors across the Atlantic Ocean. "Americans are more optimistic, due to the fact that they are told they can become the next president of the United States," Ricky Gervais, a British comedian, told online forum Big Think. "British people are told, it won't happen to you. And they carry that. They carry that with them. We champion the underdog ." It's no wonder that Britons hold the reputation of having a "stiff upper lip" - being cold and not showing any emotion. Britain's reputation as a grumpy country may, however, simply be the result of a cultural misunderstanding. According to the BBC, British actor Michael Caine once said: "I think what is British about me is my feelings and awareness of others and their situations. English people are always known to be well-mannered and cold, but we are not cold - we don't _ your situation. If we are heartbroken, we don't scream in your face with tears - we go home and cry on our own. It's completely to do with your comfort - we don't intrude on your space. That's very English." A BBC reader noted that the perceived coldness of British people is actually their way of dealing with hardship. Remembering the terrorist attacks in London on July 7, 2005, Stuart Colley, who lived in the capital at the time, said: "It seemed to me that most people's response was a 'cruel' determination to carry on and not to 'fall' into an over-emotional outpouring of grief or anger - despite what many of us felt inside. Our stiff upper lip seems to be something that gives us strength as a society when we most need it." Which of the following statements might Ricky Gervais agree with? Britons are more comfortable with life's losers than Americans. In Yemen, you always see one type of vehicle on the road: the water truck.They travel mountain roads and cross deserts to bring Yemenis the goods more valuable than oil.It is one that only the rich can afford, with the supply regularly being cut off.Others must rely on scarce rain or charity to fight thirst. Experts say Yemen is going to be the first country in the world to run out of water.The capital, Sanaa, will run out of drinking water as early as 2025,says a report by the World Bank. Hannan, an 18yearold from Lahej, said that only the rich could prepare for cuts in supply."In a good week we'll have a water supply all week but then the following week there will be water only for a day or two, " she said. She and her husband, a factory worker, pay 3,000 riyals (99yuan) for a week's supply of water from a touring water truck when the taps run dry.With an income of only 20,000 riyals (660yuan) a month,this means the family often spend half their money on water. "There are a lot of people who can't afford it and they have to rely on their neighbors to help," she said. The average person in Yemen survives on onefifth of what the World Health Organization considers to be enough water. In Taiz, in the south,tap water is available only once every 45 days.In the mountainous Malhan district in the north,women and children climb a 1,500m mountain to collect water from a spring, often in the small hours to avoid long queues. Yemen is located in Southwest Asia,bordering the Arabian and Red Sea.Yemeni people have lived on scarce water supplies for thousands of years but that problem has been made serious by conflict in the area,the fastgrowing population and the use of water to grow a drug called qat.With one of the world's highest rates of population growth--3.46 percent, Yemen is the poorest Arab country. The government is considering desalinating seawater,but this would be expensive and it may now be too late.The only other solution is to cut down on farming, but that means importing even more food. The best title for the passage is " _ ". No water for Yemen I've always felt a bit sad for weekend fathers, who are divorced and must maintain a bond with their children through visits on the weekend.Not having the opportunity for a lot of quality time, they go in for quantity giving lots of gifts and taking the children on non stop outings. But now I can understand.I'm a weekend mom.My child, Henry, is a dog. Henry just returned to his father, Jack, after a happy stay with me.For ten days, I fed him the best food, canceled plans to stay home with him and let him sleep on the bed every night. Jack and I broke up a year ago.But neither of us wanted to part with Henry, so we share him.Not surprisingly, Henry is a willing participant in our contest for his love. Jack doesn't let Henry sleep on his bed, so that's where I can always gain big points.I feed Henry higher quality food.I am always replacing his expensive "thingy" ,a cotton knot he likes chewing on.It' s his favorite toy, and the only one he has is at my house.Score another one for me. Jack now has a girlfriend, Lucy.At first she was afraid of dogs, which secretly delighted me.But that Henry, just trying to be polite(the way I taught him to be),won her over. If truth be told, as time passes, there has been a slight change in Henry' s behavior toward me.The worst was one day when Jack dropped him off for a two week stay.Henry and I were in the backyard playing as Jack was driving off.When he heard Jack's truck, he ran after it for two blocks until Jack had to stop and bring him back. That hurt, especially since I had friends over at the time.In a rare conciliatory mood, Jack said to me, "You know, I' m his best friend, but you'll always be his mom." Whatever it takes, I plan to make sure it stays that way. The writer feels hurt because _ . Henry' s attitude to her has changed slightly Raised in a fatherless home,my father was extremely tightfisted towards us children. His attitude didn't soften as I grew into adulthood and went to college. I had to ride the bus whenever I came home. Though the bus stopped about two miles from home,Dad never met me,even in severe weather. If I _ he'd say in his loudest father-voice,"That's what your legs are for!" The walk didn't bother me as much as the fear of walking alone along the highway and country roads. I also felt less than valued that my father didn't seem concerned about my safety. But that feeling was canceled one spring evening. It had been a particularly difficult week at college after long hours in labs. I longed for home. When the bus reached the stop,I stepped off and dragged my suitcase to begin the long journey home. A row of hedge edged the driveway that climbed the hill to our house. Once I had turned off the highway to start the last lap of my journey,I always had a sense of relief to see the hedge because it meant that I was almost home. On that particular evening,the hedge had just come into view when I saw something gray moving along the top of the hedge,moving toward the house. Upon closer observation,I realized it was the top of my father's head. Then I knew,each time I'd come home,he had stood behind the hedge,watching,until he knew I had arrived safely. I swallowed hard against the tears. He did care,after all. On later visits,that spot of gray became my watchtower. I could hardly wait until I was close enough to watch for its secret movement above the greenery. Upon reaching home,I would find my father sitting innocently in his chair. "So! My son,it's you!" he'd say,his face lengthening into pretended surprise. I replied,"Yes,Dad,it's me. I'm home." Which of the following can be the best title for the text My Father's Secret.
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is an international organization that brings together zoos and aquariums to cooperate in efforts to advance the respectful, humane treatment of animals in our care, and to support the conservation of animals across the globe. WAZA was shocked and disappointed to learn of the inappropriate and damaging content in the new TV show Wonderful Friends, jointly produced by China's biggest zoo & circus company (Chimelong) and one of China's top TV companies (Hunan TV). The show dresses up chimpanzees in human clothes and markets them as "cute pets". The animals are placed in many stressful and harmful situations, in order to create "entertaining" story lines. It is disappointing to note that Chinese pop singer and actress Li Yuchun took part in this show, helping to popularize these misleading and inhumane practices. In one example, a young chimp bit an actress in the face right next to a zoo visitor, and then bit another actor leaving a wound on his hand. WAZA is strongly against practices and shows of this nature. Animals presented in such cruel and unnatural surroundings cannot contribute to serious conservation efforts. Presenting chimpanzees in unnatural and anthropomorphic settings suggests to viewers that they are not endangered and make great pets. Such shows are not only disrespectful to animals, they also lack any sort of conservation purpose. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, chimpanzees are now considered endangered, and wild populations are declining rapidly. WAZA recognizes that the growing popularity of television programmes such as Wonderful Friends can only increase the already-huge existing demand for chimpanzees as pets. WAZA requests the following: (1) The immediate cancel of this programme and similar shows wherever they may take place; (2) That all animals held in captivity be provided with the highest level of care; (3) That under no circumstances should chimpanzees be imported from the wild just for entertainment purposes. Dressing up chimpanzees in human clothes will make people want to _ . A raise chimpanzees as pets B sell chimpanzees in the market C persuade people into donating money to WAZA D make chimpanzees feel on equal terms with human beings Answer: A Robert Frost was at heart a mean-spirited human being, not the kind of man one would expect to write poetry. He was born in San Francisco. Frost entered Dartmouth University in 1893, but dropped out, and switched to Harvard, which he attended for two years. He started a brief teaching career, where he was inspired to become a poet by some of his students' work. Frost stopped teaching and became a farmer. During this time he wrote numerous poems, and a couple of short stories. While he was a farmer he started to think seriously about becoming a famous poet. In almost all of his poems, Frost wrote in the first person. The first widely-read poem that he published was called My Butterfly. At first his audience was very small, but with his Collected Poems he became famous. Robert Frost received almost all the awards that there were for poetry. His poetry describes the forces of nature, and the violence and deep emotional needs of human beings, which reflect the experiences of his childhood. Robert Frost will always be known as one of the best poets in history. His way of putting emotion and violence into words is remarkable . His talent for poetry is natural-born and he had discovered this when he started to farm. Even though he treated his wife and children terribly, he still became one of the best-known poets of his and our day. From the passage we know that _ . A Robert Frost's most famous poem is My Butterfly B Robert Frost began to write when he was in college C Robert Frost gave up studying at Dartmouth University D his poetry showed the violence of war and his childhood Answer: C You know eating fruit and vegetables is virtuous. But did you know it can also make you look good? People who increased their intake over just six weeks developed a healthy glow and appeared more attractive, researchers found. Scientists at St Andrews University found eating them subtly increased yellow and red pigments in the volunteers' skin. They monitored the food intake of 35 people and took pictures of their faces, arms and hands using a sensitive camera at the start, and after three and six weeks. Increasing their intake of greens by 2.9 portions a day was found to make the person look healthier and an extra 3.3 portion could enhance their attractiveness, when their photographs were rated by others. Fruit and vegetables are rich in carotenoids , which are known to protect against cell damage from pollution and UV rays, and can also prevent age-related diseases including heart disease and cancer. But while it was known eating extreme amounts of certain vegetables such as carrots could turn skin orange, it was not known a small increase was perceptible to others and was seen as _ . A camera measured changes to the skin's redness, yellowness and lightness, and found it significantly changed in people who naturally increased their intake. These changes were not evident at three weeks. Using light sensors, the researchers showed these red and yellow hues(,) were linked with the levels of carotenoids in their skin. There are hundreds of carotenoids but those thought to have the most dramatic effect are lycopene which gives tomatoes and red peppers their red color1 - and beta-carotene found in carrots as well as broccoli, squash, and spinach. Skin color1 is also affected by chemicals called polyphenols , found in apples, blueberries and cherries, which cause blood rush to the skin surface. The purpose of the article is to _ . A tell people a new discovery B advise people to eat more fruit and vegetables C introduce a way to protect skin D list the functions of carotenoids to skin Answer: A Blackbird A good sign Paradise Magic Seeing a blackbird for most is a good sign. It can also mean shyness and insecurity, which directly means a lack of self-confidence. The color black, as we know, is connected with supernatural power. Bluebird The arrival of spring Hard work Joy Bluebirds are connected with joy, and they most often mean a happy condition or good news coming your way. They may also refer to the hope of an individual for their inner child, which means innocence . Bluejay Fearless Truthful Talkative A bluejay can mean being faithful to others. Seeing a bluejay either in its natural habitat or in your dreams could also send across a message to develop an innate talent. Canary Joy Freedom Intellectual development Canaries are happy birds that spread joy and a sense of well-being. For some, a flying canary can be a sign of the spread of unwanted information. It can also mean that you are the cause of the gossip as an individual. A canary is also a symbol of selflessness. Which bird can mean selfessness? A The blackbird. B The bluebird. C The bluejay. D The canary. Answer: D As rules, laws are people's rights and responsibilities toward society. Laws are agreed on by society and made official by governments. Some persons look on laws with fear, hatred, or annoyance. Laws seem to limit people's freedom to do many things they would like to do. Though laws may prevent us from doing things we wish to do at the moment, laws make everyone's life safer and more pleasant. Without laws we could not hold on to our property; we could not go to bed at night expecting to wake up in the morning and find that we had not been robbed; no stores in which we buy food, clothes, and other necessities could stay open and sell to us. Our banks would not be safe places to keep our money. Social life would be impossible without laws to control the way people treat one another. It is not the laws that should be feared but the trouble that comes to everyone when laws are broken. Once this is understood, a citizen will not fear or hate the law. Understanding the need for good laws and the evil results of breaking laws is the first requirement of good citizenship and government. Philosophers once believed that in prehistoric time people lived without laws in a "state of nature". People were free to do as they pleased unless someone stronger stopped them by force. As a result, life became so dangerous and unsafe that leaders had to create laws to protect life and property. This is no longer believed to be true. Scholars now think that as soon as people began living in small groups, they worked out rules for getting along with one another. In time everyone accepted and supported the rules. Manners, customs and beliefs controlled the living habits and behavior of the group. Such rules and habits of life are called folkways. Folkways are probably the real meaning of human laws, as well as of religion, morals, and education. As life became more complex, folkways became more complete guides to living. After thousands of years, some of the important folkways were put into writing as the earlier laws. And as life grew more and more complicated with faster transportation and the rise of modern industry and big cities, more human acts and interests had to be ruled by law. This led to a great increase in the number of laws. But we know that unless laws are enforced, they cannot protect us. Poorly enforced laws invite crime and violence. So we agree that the best protection against crime is planned social change and law reform -- to reduce the causes of crime and to encourage people to obey the laws. Such a solution would join a sound system of law enforcement with forces working to prevent crime. To attain this goal, all citizens must understand the need for good laws and for their enforcement. What's the best title of this passage? A The Origin of Laws B Enforcement of Laws C Leaders and Laws D Laws and rules. Answer: D
We've all heard the old saying,"Sticks and stones can break my bones,but words can never hurt me." Don't you believe it?Words are powerful,and they can hurt--a lot. In fact,if you're not careful,you can even hurt yourself,by using the wrong word in your writing. Recently a friend sent me a copy of an email she received from the customer service department of her credit card company,after she contacted them with a question about her account. She was happy with their positive response. But as I read the email,one line jumped out at me:"In lieu of good customer service..." Did they really mean they were offering her a few extra reward points instead of good customer service?I doubt it. More likely,what the customer service department meant to say was,"Because good customer service is important to us..." followed by the details of what they were doing to make sure she remained a happy customer. So why didn't the writer say that?I can only guess that perhaps the writer liked the phrase "in lieu of",thought it sounded more interesting than saying "because",and so used it--without bothering to check the true meaning. Have you ever done that?Try to impress others with a big word,only to find out you've used the word incorrectly?It's just the opposite effect,isn't it?You may impress people all right,but it's not the impression you were going for. When you write,remember to choose your words carefully. People may still disagree with what you say,but they won't be able to dismiss you because you made careless mistakes in how you said it. What does the phrase "in lieu of" most probably mean? A Because of. B In honour of. C Instead of. D In favour of. Answer: C As a health editor, I spend the majority of my day poring over content related to health. At HuffPost, we're lucky to talk to experts on a daily basis about how to live our best lives. It's clear that life would be healthier if we would just do the following things. Sure, some of these are easier said than done. Emotional intelligence includes the following except _ . A confidence B motivation C stress D self-awareness Answer: C He has climbed a high mountain, raced the 24-hour motorcycle track in France and even, walked from Tokyo to Kyoto, a distance of 500 km. Now Evolta, Panasonic's 7-inch Humanoid Robot is getting ready for his biggest challenge -- the Ironman Triathlon Championship in Hawaii. To compete in this exhausting contest, the green & white robot which is small enough to fit on a human palm, will have to swim 2.4 miles in the rough ocean, bike 112 miles across the hot Hawaiian desert and, run a full marathon distance of 26.2 miles in the painfully hot weather. Given that he is so tiny and powered by rechargeable batteries of Panasonic, he will be allowed some freedom in the way he competes. For one, he will be starting the race on October 23rd, 2011, three weeks following the real event and, while human competitors have at most 17 hours to complete the triathlon, Evolta will be given 7 days, during which his only "breaks" will be to recharge his batteries. The biggest difference however, will be that unlike a single human body doing all three races, there will be three different "Evolta" robot bodies competing -- each built for the specific race. Evolta the swimmer will be equipped with special arms to swim forward. Evolta the biker, will be on a little two-wheeler with training wheels, while Evolta the runner, will be fixed on what looks like a wheel. In spite of all these advantages, the robot's creator Tomotaka Takahashi believes that the race will be a huge challenge -- not only will Evolta have to battle the wind and sun, but also, small road obstacles that humans just step over. The water will be even worse thanks to the strong waves, tides and ocean winds. But if he does complete it, Evolta will add another feather in his cap and just prove the already well-known fact that Panasonic's rechargeable Evolta batteries are indeed the "world's longest-lasting batteries"! The text is mainly about a robot _ . A using the energy-efficient batteries B accomplishing a challenging triathlon C winning human athletes for the first time D competing in the Ironman Triathlon Championship Answer: D Bob comes out of the station and at once he doesn't know where to go. He comes to see his good friend, Peter. Peter is a worker. He works in a factory, but Bob doesn't know where the factory is. He walks along the street. He passes a hospital, a post office, a bookshop and at last he gets to a school. Some students are coming out, so he asks one of them," Excuse me. Do you know where the Red Star Factory is?" "Of course, I know. I live near there. My father works in that factory. It's outside this town," answers the boy. "Is it far from here? Can you show me the way, please?" Bob asks again. "I'm going home now. Will you come with me? We can go there by bus. " Where is the factory? A Near the school. B Outside the town. C Next to a hospital. D Across from the post office. Answer: B Compared to high heels , they don't look dangerous, but flip-flop wearers should think twice before slipping on a pair. The National Health Service spends PS40 million a year treating injuries caused by wearing the casual footwear. More than 200,000 people end up in hospital every year after suffering falls or developing long-term problems. Once worn only at the beach, flip-flops have become the regular summer footwear of choice for women, with two in five women owning at least one pair. But experts are warning the public of the dangers of wearing flip-flops, such as the risk of joint pains. They say flip-flops force people to change the way they walk so that when taking a walk with long steps they put pressure on the outside of their foot, rather than their heel, causing long-term damage. And there is also the risk of serious injury. Frequent complaints include twisted ankles, but some have broken their arms or wrists after falling because their flip-flops caught on uneven ground. Many also suffer aching toes as they constantly wear them. Mike, a spokesman, warned wearers of the damage done by flip-flops. He said, "They land on the outside and then roll the foot inwards putting all the pressure on the big toe." This constant rolling puts pressure on the ankle joint, causing it to weaken. The lack of support of the flip-flop also causes pain on the inside of the foot and lower leg. And if you're not used to wearing them, they can cause blisters , he added. Doctors say flip-flops cause far more damage as they are worn for longer periods of time. Emma Supple, consultant podiatrist , said, "Flip-flops are universally popular. They are easy to put on and easy to wear but women do need to be mindful that wearing on hard flat surfaces can cause considerable foot and leg problems." She encouraged women to wear suitable shoes to help recover from summertime injuries. Injuries caused by wearing the casual footwear include the following EXCEPT _ . A Twisted ankles. B Joint pains. C Aching toes. D Broken toes Answer: D
I liked most of my teachers in college. They were, for the most part, friendly and competent, willing to help students. I liked them--but I don't remember them very well, except for Mr. Jones, my senior English teacher. He was an enthusiastic, sensitive man, who knew his subject and was determined that we would learn it and love it, too. Mr. Jones was a tall, slim man in his midforties. Put precariously on his nose, his glasses gave him a serious look. But they didn't remain there long, for he was always taking them off and polishing them and putting them in his mouth when he thought over a response to a student's question. When he walked into class, he was always carrying two or three books with strips of paper sticking out of them, marking passages he planned to read. I remember, too, the cardigan sweaters--he must have had a dozen of them. On rainy days he substituted a blue raincoat for the sweater. But what I remember best was his smile. When he smiled, his whole face lit up. His smile made you feel good, at ease. Yet though he was friendly with people, he was a bit formal in class, and he could be firm on occasion. He never called us by our first names. He obviously loved his work and liked his students, but he kept his distance. He never deliberately embarrassed a student in front of the class with an ironic remark, but he could communicate his displeasure all right. He'd look steadily at the offending student for a few seconds. That was usually enough, but if it didn't work, he'd say something to the student in a lowered tone of voice. He didn't do this often, though. Mr. Jones' personality and passion made him popular, but what I liked most about him was that he was a fine teacher. Yes, he cared about students, but he cared more about teaching them his subject. And that meant homework, lots of it, and pop quizzes now and then to keep them reading. He lectured occasionally to provide background information whenever we moved on to a new literary period. After a brief glance at his notes, he'd begin to move around as he talked--to the blackboard, to the window, back to the platform. But he preferred discussions. He'd write several questions on the board for the next day's discussion, and he'd expect you to be prepared to discuss them. He directed the discussion, but he didn't control it; he was a good listener and made sure we all had a chance to respond, whether we wanted to or not. If he was pleased with a response, he'd nod his head and smile. Occasionally he'd read a student's essay, praising its good points. But he was toughminded, too, as I suggested before. He really nailed you for careless work or inattention. When you got an A from him, you really felt good, for he wasn't an easy grader. We used to complain about his grading standards, usually in vain, though he would change a grade if he thought the had been unfair. We had many interesting discussions about Twain, Crane, and Dreiser, as I recall, but his favorite period was the 1920's. He loved the expatriates : Anderson, Cummings, Hemingway, Fitzgerald. He was always bringing in books for us to read, but when he got to this period, he was a walking library, I think he'd read every book ever written by or about Hemingway and Fitzgerald in the twenties. Yes, Mr. Jones was a fine teacher all right: he knew his subject. But more than that, he made us want to continue to read it and study it on our own. Which of the following words can be used to describe Mr. Jones? Answer: Responsible and friendly. Last Friday my brother and I were driving home together after doing some shopping and gave our attention to an interesting conversation. Because of this distraction my brother took a wrong turn. Unfortunately, the wrong turn took us towards a bridge and we had no way to turn back. Unwillingly, my brother paid the bridge fee and drove on. He was clearly frustrated by the mistake and the needless waste of $4. We eventually reached an exit and, as we took it, my brother noticed a young fellow pulled over to the side of the road. He came out of his car and tried to phone someone. I was busy trying to figure out which way we would go next but my brother pulled over and asked the guy if he needed any help. And he did. He had a flat tire and needed a tool to get it off. My brother gave him a wrench, and then began to help him change the flat. The young man said that this had been a bad week for him: earlier he had gotten into a minor car accident, and now this flat on his way home from work. But he called us "a breath of fresh air" and kept thanking us because he really would have been stuck if we hadn't come along. After we finished the job he thanked us again and pulled out $20 from his pocket and tried to give it to us. "No," I said. "We were never supposed to even get on that bridge,we took a wrong turn. But now we know why we did. It was to help you. Thank you for turning our mistake into an opportunity to serve." What I loved most was that my brother was able to see a chance to help. His reaction in the situation is a lesson for everyone and we felt so good the rest of the day. We can learn from the text that the writer's brother _ . Answer: was a warm-hearted young man Bob is a middle school student. He is 13years old. He lives in Shanghai with his parents and his twin brother, Jack. They are in the same( ) school, but in different classes. Bob is good at Maths, but not good at English. He thinks it's a little difficult for him. But he plans to spend more time on it. Every morning, Bob gets up early. He usually reads English for half an hour. And then he has breakfast with his family. He usually has two eggs and a glass of milk. After breakfast, he walks to school with his brother. It takes them about twenty minutes to get to school. They get to school at about 7:40. Bob begins his classes at 8:00. After four lessons in the morning, he has a hamburger, some fish and vegetables for lunch at school. Then he has three classes in the afternoon. His last class is over at 4:50p.m. After school, he usually plays football or basketball from 5:00 p. m. to 6:00 p.m. He says it is good for his health to play sports every day. He gets home at 6:20 p.m. He usually eats some rice and vegetables for dinner. Sometimes, he eats some noodles. After dinner, he does his homework from 7:30to 9:30. Then he listens to music or reads books for a while( ). He doesn't watch TV or play computer games on weekdays. He goes to bed at 10:30 p.m. His friends say his lifestyle is very healthy. Do you think so? Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? Answer: Bob has two lessons in the afternoon. Riding School: You can start horse - riding at any age.Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9:00 a.m.and 8: 30 p.m.(3: 30 p.m.on Saturdays).There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country.You will need a riding hat. Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m.--8:30 p.m. Phone: (412) 396 -6754 Fax: (412) 396 -6752 . Sailing Club: Our Young Sailor's Course leads to the Stage I Sailing qualification.You'll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid.Have fun with other course members, afterwards in the clubroom.There are 10 weekly two - hour lessons ( Tuesdays 6 p.m.-- 8 p.m.). Opening Hours: Tuesdays: 6:00 p.m.--8:00 p.m. Phone: (412) 396 -6644 Fax: (412) 396 -6644 Diving Centre: Our experienced instructors offer one - month courses in deep - sea diving for beginners.There are two evening lessons a week, in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely.You only need swimming costume and towel. Reduced rates for couples. Opening Hours: Monday and Friday: 6: 30 p.m.--8:30 p.m. Phone: (412) 396 -6312 Fax: (412) 396 -6706 Medical Center: The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university. The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems.Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation. Also, all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores. Opening Hours: 24 hour from Monday to Sunday Phone: (412) 396 -6649 Fax:(412)396 -6648 Watersports Club: We use a two - kilometer length of river for speedboat racing, and water - skiing, a beginners course consists of ten 20 - minute lessons. You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently, but must be able to swim. The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4: 00 p.m., with lessons all through the day. Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m. Phone:(412)396 -6899 Fax:(412)396 -6890 Which is NOT the convenience that the Medical Center provides? Answer: Nursery for newly - born babies. Carbon monoxide poisoning causes death and injuries around the world. This gas is a problem in all parts of the world that experience cold weather. A few years ago, America's Centers for Disease Control (C. D. C.) studied deaths linked with carbon monoxide poisoning. It found that the number of carbon monoxide deaths in the United States was greatest in January. The C.D.C. also found that carbon monoxide kills more than four hundred Americans each year. And, it said more than twenty thousand people are taken to hospital for treatment of health problems linked with the gas. Carbon monoxide is called the silent killer because people do not know it is in the air. The gas has no color, no taste and no smell. It does not cause burning eyes. And it does not cause people to cough. Yet, carbon monoxide gas is very deadly . It steals the body's ability to use oxygen. Carbon monoxide makes it difficult for the blood to carry oxygen to body tissues . It does this by linking with the blood. When the gas links with the blood, the blood is no longer able to carry oxygen to the tissues that need it. Damage to the body can begin very quickly from large amounts of carbon monoxide. How quickly this can happen depend on how long a person is breathing the gas and how much gas he or she breathes in. Carbon monoxide poisoning has warning signs . But people have to be awake to realize them. Small amounts of the gas will cause a person's head to hurt. He or she may begin to feel tired. Their stomachs may feel sick. The room may appear to be turning around. The person may have trouble thinking clearly. People develop serious headache as the amount of the gas continues to enter their blood. They will begin to feel very tired and sleepy. They may have terrible stomachache. Doctors say carbon monoxide influences people differently. For example a small child will experience health problems or die much sooner than an adult. The general health of the person or his or her age can also be important. One of the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning is _ . Answer: serious headache
Holidaymakers who are bored with baking beaches and overheated hotel rooms head for a big igloo. Swedish businessman Nile Bergqvist is delighted with his new hotel, the world's first igloo hotel. Built in a small town in Lapland, it has been attracting lots of visitors, but soon the fun will be over. In two weeks' time Bergqvist's ice creation will be nothing more than a pool of water. "We don't see it as a big problem," he says. "We just look forward to replacing it." Bergqvist built his first igloo in 1991 for an art exhibition. It was so successful that he designed the present one, which measures roughly 200 square meters. Six workmen spent more than eight weeks piling 1,000 tons of snow onto a wooden base; when the snow froze, the base was removed. "The only wooden thing we have left in the igloo is the front door," he says. After their stay, all visitors receive a survival certificate recording their success. With no windows, nowhere to hang clothes and temperatures below 0degC, it may seem more like a survival test than a relaxing hotel break. "It's great fun," Bergqvist explains, "As well as a good start in survival training." The popularity of the igloo is beyond doubt: it is now attracting tourists from all over the world. At least 800 people have stayed at the igloo this season even though there are only 10 rooms. "You can get a lot of people in," explains Bergqvist. "The beds are three meters wide by two meters long, and can fit at least four at one time." When guests leave the igloo hotel they will receive a paper stating that _ . Answer: Turning on the TV, a wonderful scene comes to your eyes -- a group of men, tall, strong and handsome, and women, young, beautiful and attractive, too. Together they eat in the finest restaurants, traveling everywhere around the world by luxurious planes and pleasure ships. They are models. Do you envy them? What sort of life are models leading? Is it a wonderful life for a young lady or a young man? A few models are well-known actors or actresses who can make a lot of money only by showing themselves off in commercials. But the majority of them are just curious to see what it is like. They'd like to be models just because they are attracted by what they imagine -- models earn a lot of money and lead a glorious life. This is true for those who are very successful. However, most models find it difficult to get work. Very few can earn enough to live on, and for all models their expenses are high. Their agents claim about 20% of the earnings, and no model will get very far without a clever agent. Besides, they have to buy good clothing. They also have to pay to travel to interviews and reach the places where the work is to be done. Interviews for a model job are known as cattle-markets in the modeling world, and not without a good reason. A top model can choose his or her work, demand and receive high fees and has his or her expenses paid. But for most models, the situation is quite different. And agent or employer inspects each model much as a farmer inspects cattle at a market. Intelligence, qualifications and personal characteristics count for little against good looks and tight figures. For all except the very few lucky ones, the life of a model is a continual search for work, trying to sell himself or herself in the face of fierce competition and, sometimes, not particularly moral standards on the part of some employers. Immigration officials at airport look suspiciously at a girl whose passport shows her occupation as "Model", and these are men and women of considerable experience of the world. It comes no surprise to find that some models prefer to put "Secretary" or "Businessman" as their jobs in their passports. Modeling is a changeable world with great rewards for a tiny minority but not for the majority. For models, their good looks and tight figures are _ , compared with their intelligence and qualifications. Answer: Zoe Chambers was a successful PR(Public Relations) consultant and life was going well--she had a great job, a beautiful life in London. Then one evening in June last year, she received a text message telling her she was out of work. "The first two weeks were the most difficult to live through," she said. "After everything I'd done for the company, they dismiss me by text! I was so angry and I just didn't feel like looking for another job. I hated everything about the city and my life." Then, Zoe received an invitation from an old school friend, Kathy, to come and stay. Kathy and her husband, Huw, had just bought a farm in north west Wales. Zoe jumped at the chance to spend a weekend away from London, and now, then months later, she is still on the farm. "The moment I arrived at Kathy's farm, I loved it and I knew I wanted to stay." said Zoe. "Everything about my past life suddenly seemed meaningless." Zoe has been working on the farm since October of last year and says she has no regrets. "It's a hard life, physically very tiring." she says. "In London I was stressed and often mentally exhausted. But this is a good, healthy tiredness. Here, all I need to put me in a good mood is a hot bath and on of Kathy's wonderful dinners." Zoe says she has never bored on the farm. Every day brings a new experience. Kathy has been teaching her how to ride a horse and she has learnt to drive a tractor. Since Christmas, she has been helping with the lambing-watching a lamb being born is unbelievable. She says, "It's one of the most moving experiences I've ever had. I could never go back to city life now " How does Zoe feel about the country life according to the passage? Answer: President Barack Obama has complained about the loss of privacy that comes with being leader of the United States, regretting the loss of simple pleasures such as a long walk or a trip to the car wash or supermarket. "I just miss - I miss being unknown," he said. "I miss Saturday morning, rolling out of bed, not shaving, getting into my car with my girls, driving to the supermarket, squeezing the fruit, getting my car washed, taking walks. I can't take a walk." His dream, he said, was to "go through Central Park and watch folks passing by ... spend the day watching people - I miss that". Faced with criticism for playing more golf than most previous occupants of the White House, he explained that the sport was simply the best way of getting relaxed. " _ 's the only excuse I have to get outside for four hours," he toldHearstmagazines. Though he said he enjoyed his life in the White House, he felt disillusioned(,) with the some of the ways of Washington, which he has failed to change, such as the "kabuki dance " among political parties before serious policy discussions begin. His comments may be seen as excuse by critics who have accused him of appearing too detached , and being slow to engage in important issues such as Libya and the near shutdown of the US government last week. Since arriving at the White House in January 2009, Mr Obama has already racked up 60 rounds of golf in office, more than George W Bush did in his eight years. In terms of ability,Golf Digestmagazine has ranked Mr Obama eighth out of the 18 presidents who played the game since it became established in the early 20th century. According to Obama, he plays golf to _ . Answer: I am Bill.I am an English teacher.My wife is Linda.She is a nurse. We have a daughter and a son. Look! These are my friends.This is Mr Black.He's a worker.He works in a shoe factory .He makes shoes.That's Mrs Black.She works in a supermarket .The girl is their daughter.She's a student.She's thirteen.The boy is their son.He is only seven years old.His name is Carl. We are good friends. Who is Carl? Answer:
In China, safety education is becoming more and more important now. The last Monday in March is for students to learn it at school. It helps students learn more about what they should do to keep themselves safe. What are the accidents at school? Take a look. Stampedes , earthquakes and fires are the main accidents at school. A stampede always happens in crowded places. When students around you begin to push, just stand there and try to hold onto something. If you fall down in the crowd, move to one side and protect your head with your hands around. When earthquakes happen, you can get under a desk quickly and hold on. It'll protect you from falling things. If you are outdoors, find a place away from buildings, trees, and power lines. When there's a fire, leave the classroom quickly. It's better to put something wet over your mouth and nose. In this way, you won't breathe in smoke. Many people die in a fire, not because of the fire but smoke. It makes them cough and they can't breathe. That's very dangerous! So when you want to get out, you should make yourself close to the floor. Then you can breathe some fresh air. When earthquakes happen, you can get _ a desk quickly and hold on. Answer: When JetBlue captain Clayton Osbon became unpredictable, his co-pilot invented a reason for him to go back into the cabin.Once the captain was out of the cockpit , the co-pilot locked the door to keep the captain from returning.Passengers, some with law enforcement experience, calmed the captain.The flight changed course to Amarillo, Texas where the captain was hospitalized. Incidents in which a pilot has had an in-flight psychological breakdown are rare.But how could it happen at all? Though pilots are required to have an examination at least once a year by a physician approved by the FAA, there are no formal procedures in place to test pilots for signs of psychological problems. At most airlines, pilots are members of a union.A pilot who appears to have a psychological or an alcohol problem can be reported to a union member whose job it is to investigate.If there is a problem, the pilot is given the choice of getting treatment or being reported to management.But at airlines, such as Allegiant, JetBlue, and Virgin American where there is no union, pilots are - to say the least - unwilling to report a fellow pilot to management. In most professions, a person experiencing emotional difficulties is free to consult a doctor.Rut an airline pilot in therapy is viewed with suspicion both by the airline and by the FAA.No pilot wants to be put under extra examination by an agency that has the power to _ their license or end their employment.That being the case, pilots are less likely than people in other professions to seek help. There may be no way to make sure this never happens again, but its possibility can be reduced. Tests such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory ( MMPI) can reliably detect depression, paranoia, schizophrenia, and other problems.The FAA could require pilots to take the MMPI or a similar test on a periodic basis.Whether such testing becomes required will depend upon the public's response to this incident and whether additional incidents take place. Flying is remarkably safe.But incidents such as this cause concern. What is the author' s attitude towards the incident? Answer: There are forty-seven different kinds of kangaroos . The smallest kangaroos are about a quarter of a meter long; the biggest are taller than a man. Kangaroos have very long strong back legs. These are used for jumping. They also have long strong tails used for resting on. Kangaroos' front legs are much shorter, and are almost like arms. Kangaroos' heads are quite small, but their ears are quite large. Mother kangaroos have a pocket at the front. They have one baby each year. When it is born, the baby kangaroo is straight into its mother's pocket. The baby kangaroos stay there for six months. The biggest kangaroos stand more than 2 meters tall, and their legs are so strong that they can jump more than 9 meters. They are very fast, and can travel at more than 50 kilometers an hour. They are very strong, but only eat fruit, leaves and grass. .Does a mother kangaroo have a pocket? Answer: Have you ever been sad because of failure? Please remember, for often, achieving what you set out to do is not the most important thing. A boy decided to dig a deep hole behind his house. As he was working, a couple of older boys stopped by to watch. "What are you doing?" asked one of the visitors. "I want to dig a hole all the way through the earth!" the boy answered excitedly. The older boys began to laugh, telling him that digging a hole all the way through the earth was impossible. After a while, the boy picked up a jar. He showed it to the visitors. It was full of all kinds of stones and insects. Then he said calmly and confidently, "Maybe I can't finish digging all the way through the earth, but look at what I've found during this period!" The boy's goal was far too difficult, but it did cause him to go on. And that is what a goal is for -- to cause us to move in the direction we have chosen, in other words, to cause us to keep working! Not every goal will be fully achieved. Not every job will end up with a success. Not every dream will come true. But when you fall short of your aim, maybe you can say, "Yes, but look what I've found along the way! There are so many wonderful things having come into my life because I tried to do something!" It is in the digging that life is lived. It is the unexpected joy on the journey that really makes sense. The best title for the text should be _ . Answer: Who's health does illness impact? Answer:
When plants and animals die, which organisms help return nutrients to the food chain? A. decomposers B. predators C. prey D. producers Answer: A. decomposers To write a great news story , you have to make sure it is correct , relevant and fresh.. For a start, all the information in a story must be correct. Not only the spelling and grammar, but also the facts. Any mistakes that appear in a story can get a newspaper into big trouble. For example, if a newspaper said that Yang Liwei was the first man to go into space, it would be wrong. He wasn't the first. The newspaper would probably lose lots of readers because of that mistake. A news story is not only correct ,but also relevant to its readers . People are mostly interested in news that happens near to them . That is why you care more about what happens at your school that at American schools. It is also why newspapers in Beijing don 't talk about much news in Shanghai or Hong Kong. Finally, news must always be fresh . When you pick up your evening newspaper, you want to read about news that happens that day. You don't want to read about news from last week ! So, now you know what makes a good news story . Have a good look at our newspaper and see if it is full of good news .you can try writing a news story for our newspaper like a real reporter. According to the writer, newspaper in Zhejiang should talk much about news in _ A. Zhejiang B. Hong Kong. C. Shanghai. D. Beijing. Answer: A. Zhejiang In many European countries it is normal to have a long break in the middle of the day when all members of the family return to their houses to eat together. This is not very common in Britain because normally it is a long way from the place of work or school to the home. Consequently the British people tend to have a big breakfast before they go to work and the meal at midday is not spent with the members of the family but with workmates or schoolmates. Lunch is normally eaten between 12: 30 p.m. and 1: 30 p.m. Most people finish work at five thirty. It often takes at least an hour to get home from the school or workplace so people tend to eat their evening meal or "dinner" between 6: 30 p.m. and 8 p.m. On Sundays people don't have to work, so they take the opportunity to eat together with their family. Sunday lunch is usually the best meal of the week and many of the meals which are considered typically British are eaten for Sunday lunch. For example roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. This is a typical British family eating together on Sunday. After lunch the father will smoke his pipe and read the newspaper sitting on his favorite armchair while his wife washes the dishes. The children will play traditional English games such as hopscotch, skipping or doctors and nurses. Although everyone in Britain understands that "breakfast" is the first meal of the day, there is a lot of confusion about the words for other meals such as "dinner, lunch, tea, high tea, brunch and supper" and if you ask a British person what these words mean, most of them will give you a different answer according to what part of the country they are from or what social class they are from. Another example of this is the pronunciation of the word "scones" (a type of cake eaten with Devonshire clotted cream, strawberry jam and cups of tea, known as a "cream tea") The British family eats together _ . A. from 12: 30 p.m. to 1: 30 p.m. B. from 6: 30 p.m. to 8: 30 p.m. C. on Sundays D. on Saturdays Answer: C. on Sundays When you're lying on the white sands of the Mexican Rivera, thestresses of the world seem a million miles away. Hey, stop! This is no vacation--you have to finish something. Here lies the problem for travel writer and foodcritic Edie Jarolim. "I always loved traveling and always liked to eat, but it never occurred to me that I could make money doing both of those things," Jarolim said. Now you can read her travel advice everywhere--- inArts and Antiques, inBrides, or in one of her three books,The Complete Idiot Travel Guide to Mexican Beach Resorts. Her job in travel writing began some eight years ago. After getting a PhD in English in Canada, she took a test for Frommer's travel guides, passed it, and got the job. After working at Frommer's, Jarolim worked for a while at Rough Guides in London, then Fodor's where she fell so in love with a description of the Southwest of the U.S. that she moved there. Now as a travel writer, she spends one-third of her year on the road. The rest of the time is spent completing her tasks and writing reviews of restaurants at home in Tucson, Arizona. As adventurous as the job sounds, the hard part is fact-checking all the information. Sure, it's great to write about a tourist attraction, but you'd better get the local museum hours correct or you could really ruin someone's vacation. What do we know about Jarolim from the text? A. She is successful in her job. B. She finds her life full of stresses. C. She spends half of her time traveling. D. She is especially interested in museums. Answer: A. She is successful in her job. Mr. Robinson never went to see a dentist, because he was afraid , but then his teeth began aching a lot, and he had to see a dentist. The dentist did a lot of work in his mouth for a long time. On the last day Mr. Robinson asked the dentist, "How much is all the work going to cost ?" "Twenty-five dollars," said the dentist. But he didn't ask him for the money. After a month Mr. Robinson phoned the dentist and said, "You haven't asked me for any money for your work." "Oh," the dentist answered, "I never ask a gentleman for money." "Then how do you live?" Mr. Robinson asked. "Most gentlemen pay me quickly, the dentist said, "but some don't. I wait for my money for two months, and then I say, 'That man is not a gentleman,' and then I ask him for my money. _ cost twenty-five dollars. A. The first day'work of the dentist B. The last day's work of the dentist C. Half the dentist's work D. All the dentist's work Answer: D. All the dentist's work
Imagine picking apples on Christmas or going skating on May Day. What about going for a swim on Thanksgiving? Without Leap Day ,which takes place every four years, that could happen. Our calendar is normally 365 days long. It was created to match the cycles of the seasons. But Roman ruler Julius Caesar noticed a problem: The earth doesn't circle the sun in exactly 365 days. It actually cakes 365 and one-quarter days. He figured out that the extra part of a day would cause the calendar to grow apart from the seasons over time. Over 100 years, the seasons would shift about 24 days. Spring would start on April 13 instead of March 20. Caesar used math to figure out a way to stop the calendar from shifting. He decided to add an extra day to the month of February every four years. His idea helped keep the seasons and calendar matched up. Even so, it still wasn't perfect--his calendar was adding too many days. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII worked on Caesar's idea. His calendar, called the Gregorian calendar, declares that every year that is equally divided by 400 is a leap year. Turn-of-the-century years, or years ending in "00", would not be leap years unless they could be divided equally by 400. These complicated equations help keep the calendar in balance with the orbit of the earth. Today, we still use the Gregorian calendar. In about 3,000 years, the calendar will be only one day out of step with the seasons, It's still not perfect, but mathematicians decided it was as close as we could get. It can be inferred from the text that _ . A. the earth circles the sun in exactly 365 days B. Gregorian calendar is more scientific than Caesar's C. Pope's calendar has been used for 3,000 years D. Caesar added an extra day to every February Answer: B. Gregorian calendar is more scientific than Caesar's Russian girls think he is the ideal boyfriend. Thousands of Japanese teenagers applied for just a few minutes to practice judo with him. His cool image is on the front pages of newspapers and magazines. Do you know who he is ? Yeah, he's Vladimir Putin who was named "Person of the Year of 2008" by Time. Putin was born in Leningrad in 1952. He entered Leningrad State University's law department in 1970. When he became President of Russia in 2000, he found the country in great difficulty. In his 8 years as president, he guided his nation through a remarkable transformation .Russia's economy had grown a lot. Under his strong leadership, Russia was at the _ of world power again. Putin came to like judo and spy novels when he was a young boy. He relaxes by listening to classical music. Yesterday is his favorite Beatles' song. He has a happy family. He is married to Lyudmila Alexandrovna Putina, with daughters, Yekaterina and Maria. ,. Which of the following is NOT true?. A. Putin is good at judo. B. Putin is very popular in Russia. C. Russia's economy developed quickly because of his leadership. D. There are three people in Putin's family. Answer: D. There are three people in Putin's family. Termites eat wood but cannot digest it. Protozoans live in the termites' stomachs and use enzymes to break down the wood. The digested wood provides nutrition for both the termites and the protozoans. What type of relationship is this? A. mutualism B. parasitism C. predation D. commensalism Answer: A. mutualism Making an apology is not the same as making amends. Sometimes we apologize just because it's the easiest thing to do. What's actually important is to identify where we go wrong, take full responsibility for our mistakes and , if possible, try to make up for them. A recent case involving Hewlett-Packed, the US computer giant, shows the importance of presenting a sincere apology. The Chinese consumers who had bought notebook computers of certain models, which have been put on Chinese market since 2007, suffered a massive flash screen failures and overheating problems. Through investigation, Chinese AQSIQ identified these HP computers had quality problems and HP admitted this. HP made a proposal that they would extend the warranty period of such computers, but this could not satisfied the consumers. What they needed was a thorough description of the truth. HP has "sincerely" apologized. But the consumers remain angry, and say that only a product recall -- as HP has done in the past -- will prove that the apology is sincere. Another apology that fell flat on its face was that of Thierry Henry, the famous French footballer. His deliberate handball in November 2009 created the goal which knocked Ireland out of the 2010 World Cup. The incident caused great anger in the football world, and eventually Henry issued an apology. Two days later, he wrote, "I'm not the referee...but if I hurt someone I'm sorry." Better late than never, perhaps, but even then he passed the blame onto the referee! Such high-profile cases, which attract a lot of publicity often under the spotlight, but similar incidents occur in our everyday lives. Stress caused by schoolwork and tiredness can sometimes result in outbursts of anger against friends and family. Have you ever lost your temper for minor reasons? After calming down, most people are quick to realize their mistake and apologize. But it's just as important to identify what caused the error in the first place and take action to ensure it doesn't happen again. No one should hold a negative attitude to making a sincere apology. Empty words are easy to say, but they are as useless as they sound. A real show of remorse(;)demands hard work and to put error right. What does the author intend to tell us in the case of HP? A. A true apology needs sincere actions. B. HP should recall all the faulty computers. C. Good quality makes a good company. D. A company should apologize and pay for their mistakes. Answer: A. A true apology needs sincere actions. Which uses a nonrenewable resource? A. wind chimes B. solar-powered car C. a B52 Bomber D. a bicycle Answer: C. a B52 Bomber
Going back to school is a very exciting event for my two boys. It means getting new school bags and books, and seeing friends again after the summer holiday. My oldest son, 9-year-old Salem, asked me several times where we would go to buy a backpack, while my other son, 6-year-old Abdullah, asked what school would be like this year. For the last three years, school was a nightmare for many children and their parents as violence increased and there were more attacks on schools and teachers. As a result, many parents prevented their children from going to school. One of six children in this country did not attend primary school in 2009. Many kids who did attend school were accompanied by a parent for the entire day to make sure nothing happened to their children. For poor families or those with large families, back to school can be an expensive time. The government gives some help to those living in poor neighborhoods, and school bags, note books and other items are given for free. Most of the merchants who sell notebooks and pens now sell their products out on the street instead of in stores. They sit on the ground and lay their items on the ground or they have a small table to sell their goods. The bags cost between $10 and $20, while clothes and shoes cost between $20 and $30. I found all the things I needed for my sons and even bought something for myself. I spent about $50 on each of them, including school uniforms. At the end of the day, we returned to our home carrying many shopping bags filled with items that made my children happy and excited to go back to school. I just hope this school year will be a peaceful one. As a parent, the author _ . A. is unable to afford his kids' schooling B. is unwilling to send his kids to school C. hopes his kids have a happy school life D. complains school education costs too much Answer: C Animals are natural resources that people have wasted all through our history. Animals have been killed for their fur and feathers, for food, for sport, and simply because they were in the way. Thousands of kinds of animals have disappeared from the world forever. Hundreds more are on the danger list today. About 170 kinds in the United States alone are considered in danger. Why should people care? Because we need animals. And because once they are gone, there will never be any more. Animals are more than just beautiful and interesting. They are more than just a source of food. Every animal has its place in the balance of nature . Destroying one kind of animal can create many problems. For example, when farmers killed large numbers of hawks , the farmers' stores of corn and grain were destroyed by rats and mice. Why? Because hawks eat rats and mice. With no hawks to keep down their numbers, the rats and mice multiplied quickly. Luckily, some people are working to help save the animals. Some groups raise money to let people know about the problem. And they try to get the governments to pass laws protecting animals in danger. Quite a few countries have passed laws. These laws forbid the killing of any animals or plants on the danger list. Slowly, the number of some animals in danger is growing. Which of the following is NOT true? A. People care much about animals because they need them. B. Once a certain kind of animals is gone forever, there will never be any more. C. Killing rats and mice will cause some problems. D. Laws have been passed to forbid the killing of any animals or plants on the danger list in some countries. Answer: C When looking back at the scary situation that happened to him on Saturday, Patrick Canney said he couldn't still believe that it was true. It was a situation that could have ended with a tragedy for Patrick, his father and his sister. But it didn't really happen thanks to Patrick. That morning, Patrick's father was driving down busy Interstate 95 in Peabody, Massachusetts. The car started going really slowly, which seized Patrick's attention. And then he realized that something was wrong. At that point, Patrick found his father was having a seizure . "It was really scary," he said. "It was unlike anything that had ever really happened to me." But Patrick didn't act scared. He took control of the situation and got behind the wheel of the SUV. He turned the key off and pulled the car over to the breakdown lane . He then stopped the SUV, grabbed a cell phone out of his dad's pocket and called 911 for help. Patrick's 9-year-old sister was in the SUV, too. He told his little sister not to worry about it. Then he opened the door and stood right next to the guard rail. Thanks to Patrick's description of their location during the 911 call, Massachusetts State Police were able to locate the Canneys within minutes -- and get them all to safety. "A 12-year-old boy's clear thinking and decisive action actually saved this family from a tragedy," said state police spokesman David. "That's Patrick. He is cool and _ . I couldn't imagine what would be the result if he were panicked ." Patrick's father was expected to recover fully from the seizure. And thanks to Patrick, all of the Canneys are still alive. "The word hero may be overused in our society," said David. "But Patrick is surely that -- and then some." What did David think of Patrick? A. Patrick should learn from real heroes in society. B. Patrick was a cool boy who matched the word hero. C. Patrick should be rewarded for his behavior. D. Patrick should protect his family carefully in the future. Answer: B The movement of lava might be compared to that of a A. sloth B. Cheetah C. Sail fish D. Spaceship Answer: A BERLIN -- With the crisis in Japan raising fears about nuclear power, Germany and Switzerland said on Monday that they would reassess the safety of their own reactors. Doris Leuthard, the Swiss energy minister, said Switzerland would put off plans to build nuclear plants. She said no new ones would be permitted until experts had reviewed safety standards. Germany will put off "the recently decided extension of the running time of German nuclear plants," Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters. "This moratorium will run for three months and it will allow for a thorough examination of the safety standards of the county's 17 nuclear power plants. The European Union called for a meeting on Tuesday of nuclear safety authorities to assess Europe's preparedness. Germany's foreign minister, Guido Westerwelle, called for a new risk analysis of the country's nuclear plants, particularly regarding their cooling systems. He is the leader of the Free Democratic Party, which strongly supports nuclear power. A previous government, led by the Social Democrats, passed a law in 2001 to close all the country's nuclear plants by 2021. But Mrs. Merkel's government changed that decision last year to extend the lives of the plants by an average of 12 years. In Switzerland, Doris Leuthard said she had already asked to analyze the exact cause of the problems in Japan and draw up new or tougher safety standards "particularly in terms of seismic safety and cooling." In Russia, the Prime Minister said his government would "draw conclusions from what's going on in Japan." How will Germany react to Japan's nuclear crisis? A. Germany will close all the country's nuclear plants. B. Germany will hold a meeting of nuclear safety authorities. C. Germany will change the decision made last year. D. Germany will delay the extension of nuclear plants running time. Answer: D
Colorful hair speaks more about beauty. Now it becomes popular and people are dyeing their hair to make it different. Dyeing hair with natural products is good for health while dyeing with chemicals is harmful. Researches have found that dyeing hair with chemicals can make people have cancer. Lead is very harmful for the human body and it is used in most hair dyes. Since the base of hair is the scalp ,you may have allergic reaction . While dyeing your hair it is important to take some safety measures. You can follow them even when you are applying dye on your hair at home. * It is better to apply hair dye for a few minutes. If you leave your hair with dye, longer than the necessary time,then you may get some skin problems. * Don't forget to wear gloves while applying dye on the hair. This will protect the skin of your hands. * After applying hair dye it is important to wash your hair with water. * Hair dyes are made of chemicals. If you mix different hair dyes ,there may be chemical reaction. So, It is not a good idea to mix different hair dyes at the same time. * Finally all the bags of hair dyes carry the directions( ) Try to follow them very carefully. This will lower the chance of allergic reaction. From the passage,we can infer that _ Answer: amanwhooftendyeshishairmayhavecancer "What's in a name?" According to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, there is not too much. "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." But Shakespeare may have been wrong. In most cultures, names matter a great deal. Americans choose names for their children with care. Parents usually think about the impression a name gives, not its meaning. Most Americans would consider a "Jennifer" more attractive than a "Bertha", for example. The last name, or, surname, must also be considered when choosing a first and middle name. A name like Lester Chester Hester would sound poetic, but odd. Parents would avoid names that remind them of people they don't like. On the other hand, people might name their children after a respected elderly or even a famous person. The popularity of certain names can change with each new generation. Names that were once common, like Fanny or Elmer, sound old-fashioned today. But other names---like John and David, Mary and Sarah---have stood the test of time and continue to be favorites. People in America don't always call their friends and s by their given names. Instead, they often use nicknames. Sometimes nicknames are short forms of a longer name. For instance, a girl named Elizabeth may be called Lisa, Beth or Betsy. As children grow up, they may decide for themselves which nickname they wish to be called. Some people just go by the initials of their first and middle names, like B.J. or R.C. And of course, people may call their children or their sweethearts other special nicknames. Often they have a "sweet" flavor, like Honey or Sugar. What's in a name? A word of significance. So if you're choosing an English name for yourself, take care to choose a good one. A made-up name could sound strange to native English speakers. And a translation of your Chinese name may not make an appropriate name, either. But a good name can leave a positive and lasting impression. As an American politician once said, "In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears." When choosing names, you should stick to the following principles EXCEPT that _ . Answer: you can name after a well-known person It happened in one of those color1ful Danish inns which offer service specially for tourists and where English is spoken. I was with my father on a business-and-pleasure trip, and in our leisure hours we were having a wonderful time. "I wish Mother were here, " I said. "If your mother had come with us, " said Father, "it would have been wonderful to show her around." He had visited Denmark when he was a young man. I asked him, "How long is it since you were here?" "Oh, about thirty years. I remember being in this very inn, by the way." He looked around, remembering. "Those were pleasant and enjoyable days..." He stopped suddenly, and I saw that his face was pale. I followed his eyes and looked across the room to a woman who was setting drinks before some customers. She might have been pretty once but now she was fat and her hair was untidy. "Do you know her?" I asked. "I did once," he said. The woman came to our table. "Drinks?" she asked. "We'll have beer," I said. She nodded and went away. "I couldn't believe it! How she has changed! Thank heaven she didn't recognize me," father said in a low voice, mopping his face with a handkerchief. "I knew her before I met your mother," he went on. "I was a student, on a tour. She was a lovely young girl, very graceful. I fell madly in love with her, and she with me." "Does Mother know about her?" I said suddenly, without thinking. "Of course," Father said gently. He looked at me a little anxiously. I felt embarrassed for him. I said, "Dad, you don't have to..." "Your mother would tell you if she were here. I don't want you wondering about this. I was a foreigner to her family. I was dependent on my father. If she had married me, she wouldn't have had any prospects . So her father objected to our romance. When I wrote to my father that I wanted to get married he cut off my allowance . And I had to go home. But I met the girl once more, and told her I would return to America, borrow enough money to get married and come back for her in a few months." "We know," he continued, "that her father might stop and seize our letter, so we agreed that I would simply mail her a slip of paper with a date on it, the time she was to meet me at a certain place; then we'd get married. Well, I went home, got the loan and sent her the date. She received the note. She wrote me: 'I'll be there.' But she wasn't. Then I found that she had been married about two weeks before, to a local innkeeper. She hadn't waited." Then my father said, "Thank God she didn't. I went home, met your mother, and we've been completely happy. We often joke about that youthful love romance. I suggest that one day you write a story about it." The woman appeared with our beer. "You are from America? "she asked me. "Yes," I said. She smiled happily, "A wonderful country, America." "Yes, a lot of your countrymen have gone there. Did you ever think of it?" "Not me. Not now," she said. "I thought so one time, a long time ago. But I stayed here. It's much better here." We drank our beer and left. Outside I said, "Father, just how did you write that date on which she was to meet you." He stopped, took out an envelope and wrote on it. "Like this," he said. "12/11/13, which was, of course, December 11, 1913." "No!" I _ . "It isn't in Denmark or any European country. Over here they write the day first, then the month. So that date wouldn't be December 11 but the 12thof November!" Father passed his hand over his face. "So she was there!" he sighed, "and it was because I didn't show up that she got married." He was silent a while. "Well," he said, "I hope she's happy. She seems to be." As we continued walking I said, "It's a lucky thing it happened that way. You wouldn't have met Mother." He put his arm around my shoulders, looked at me with a heartwarming smile, and said, "I was doubly lucky, young fellow, for otherwise I wouldn't have met you, either!" What do we know about the woman when father and son saw her at the inn? Answer: She was quite satisfied with her present life. I'm Mrs. Smith. Here are some lost things . They're in the "Lost and Found" box. This is a watch. It is blue. David found it this morning. Is it yours? That is a jacket. It is yellow and black. Alan found it this afternoon. Those are two pencils. One is blue. One is red. Mary found them in the classroom. By the way, Jack lost his key . It's a white key. He must find it. Can you help Jack? Boys and girls, if you lose something, you can ask me for help, Call me. My telephone number is 887-9569. You can call _ at 887-9569. Answer: Mrs. Smith The World Health Organization (WHO) planned to study the relationship between the eating habits of the people and the disease. Two doctors were chosen to make the study. They flew to Africa south of the Sahara and during the next two months visited ten countries. They found that serious diseases of poor eating, often mistaken for other diseases, existed in all parts of Africa. The diseases were similar and could therefore all be named kwashiorkor. The diseased children are usually from one to four years old. As the illness progresses, the child's stomach becomes swollen by liquid collecting in the body. The skin changes color and may break out in open sores . The hair changes color and starts to fall out. The patient loses all interest in his surroundings and even in food, and becomes so weak that he wants to lie down all the time. Stomach liquids are no longer produced. The doctors reasoned that kwashiorkor was found in the young children of this age in many parts of Africa because of lack of milk or meat. Their mothers, after stopping their breastfeeding, gave them foods full of starches instead of greatly needed proteins. They found that the addition of milk to the food of the children suffering from kwashiorkor saved many lives. The unbelievable thing about kwashiorkor is that the very existence of the disease--which has been killing thousands of children for centuries--was not even recognized in Latin America as recently as ten years ago. The deaths of those children were mistakenly listed as due to other diseases. It was the WHO's work in Africa that led to the discovery of the problem in Central America. It is difficult to discover kwashiorkor because _ . Answer: it is hardly different from other diseases
Any introduction to Peking Opera would not be complete without telling of Mei Lanfang. During his stage life, he combined the traditions of the past with his own creations, shaping a style of his own and giving birth to "The Mei Lanfang School". He was also the first artist to introduce Peking Opera to an overseas audience, making it popular to the world. Mei Lanfang began his stage life at the age of 8. His teacher said he showed little hope because of his boring eyes. To improve this, he exercised them day after day. Thanks to his efforts, he managed to change his dull eyes into a pair of bright and expressive eyes and win national fame before the age of 20. In over 50 years on the stage, Mei Lanfang played no less than 100 different characters in the performance. He also wrote many new plays, designing the dances himself. The many dances he created form part of the great treasure that he left to Peking Opera. In 1930, Mei Lanfang started on a successful US tour. There his brilliant performances impressed the audience, making them realize that Peking Opera was a theatrical form of great value. Mei Lanfang was the first artist to introduce Peking Opera to _ . A China B audience C the world D schools Answer: C If someone asks you, "What do you usually do with your QQ?'' You may say, "I just chat ." Niu Lianzhong teaches PE in a middle school and he sets up a QQ group. However, his purpose is not to chat or show himself. He doesn't want to do anything for fun, either. He just wants more people to know the QQ group. He hopes to help others and now he saves more than 400 people's lives. We all know there are four blood types-A, B, AB, and O. But in fact, a few people's blood types are very special . Niu is just one of them. Since he sets up his QQ group, more than 100 special-blooded people in China join in it. Now, when a patient or a hospital needs some special blood, they just call Niu for help. And Niu contacts his members of the QQ group quickly. Till now, he has donated his blood for about 20 times. Niu hopes that more people will join his group to help others. What does Mr Niu do? A A doctor. B A worker. C A boss. D A teacher. Answer: D I knew I was all right now. Nobody else would come ahunting after me. I got my traps out of the canoe and made me a nice camp in the thick woods. I made a tent out of my blankets to put my things under so the rain couldn't get at them. I caught a catfish and towards sundown I started my camp fire and had supper. When it was dark I sat by my camp fire, feeling pretty satisfied; but by and by it got sort of lonesome, so I went and sat on the bank and listened to the current crashing along, and counted the stars and drift logs and rafts that came down, and then went to bed; there was no better way to _ when you are lonesome; you can't stay so, and you soon get it over. And so for three days and nights. No difference--just the same thing. But the next day I went exploring around the island. I was boss of it; it all belonged to me, and I wanted to know all about it; but mainly I wanted to spend the time. I found plenty of strawberries and green summer grapes; and the green blackberries were just beginning to show. Well, I went fooling along in the deep woods till I judged I wasn't far from the foot of the island. I had my gun along, but I had shot nothing; it was for protection. About this time I almost stepped on a goodsized snake, and it moved quietly and smoothly through the grass and flowers, and I was after it, trying to get a shot at it. I clipped along, and all of a sudden I bounded right on to the ashes of a camp fire that was still smoking. My heart jumped up among my lungs. I never waited to look further, but unlocked my gun and went sneaking back on my tiptoes as fast as I could. Every now and then I stopped a second among the thick leaves and listened, but my breath came so hard that I couldn't hear anything else. I moved quietly along another piece further, then listened again; and so on, and so on. If I saw a stump , I took it for a man; if I stepped on a stick and broke it, it made me feel that a person had cut one of my breaths in two and I only got half, and the short half, too. There was no time to be fooling around. When getting to the camp, I got all my traps into my canoe again to have them out of sight. I put out the fire and threw the ashes around to look like an old last year's camp, and then climbed a tree. I suppose I was up for two hours; but I didn't see or hear anything--I only thought I heard and saw as much as a thousand things. Well, I couldn't stay up there forever, so at last I got down, but I kept in the thick woods and on the lookout all the time. All I could get to eat was berries and what was left over from breakfast. Why did the boy always carry his gun with him wherever he went? A To show off his gun. B To hunt some animals for food. C To protect himself. D To play with it for fun. Answer: C Which of these cycles takes 24 hours? A Earth rotating on its axis B Earth revolving around the Sun C the Moon rotating on its axis D the Moon revolving around Earth Answer: A 4-Day Beijing Culture Group Tour Are you new to Shanghai? Do you want to see more of China? If the answer is yes, how about going to Beijing for the weekend? Visit the Great Wall and other places of interest, and enjoy Beijing Roast Duck. Tour price: $590 Call us! 800-820-6222 8-Day Colorful Yunnan Group Tour If you like a spring climate and clean air, then Yunnan is the place for you! Another true highlight of the area is experiencing the cultures of minorities that live in this area. Places to visit: Kunming, Dali, Lijiang Tour price: $1,290 Call us: 800-820-8188 4-Day Beautiful Guilin Private Tour Are you tired of city life? Do you want some fresh air? Then come to Guilin and Yangshuo for a few relaxing days to enjoy the river life, or just take it easy in one of the many cafes and bars. Tour price: 1person $630 2-5persons $565 6-9persons $527 Call us: 800-810-6562 5-Day Sanya Private Tour Sanya is famous for its wonderful sunshine, white sandy beaches and clear water. Instead of a busy trip, you can relax here by walking along the beaches and enjoying the fresh air! Tour price: 1person $569 2-5persons $548 6-9persons $535 Call us! 800-810-5222 If you take the "4-Day Beautiful Guilin Private Tour", you will be able to _ . A visit the Great Wall B enjoy the river life C enjoy the spring climate D experience city life Answer: B
Chocolate is one of the most popular foods in the world. Many people choose it as a birthday gift. When a child gets a box of chocolate as a gift, he may feel happy. It is popular among people, especially among children. Chocolate tastes nice. People eat chocolate candy, chocolate cake and chocolate cookies. They also drink hot chocolate. Chocolate is made from cocoa beans. Here are some interesting things about cocoa beans. In the past, the Mayas and the Aztecs used cocoa beans as money because they were small, easy to carry, and not easy to find. A turkey cost ninety cocoa beans and a small rabbit cost thirty cocoa beans. They also cooked the beans and mixed them with water. Sometimes they added corn or hot pepper. They did not add sugar. The drink was very expensive. Only rich people could buy it. There are some different kinds of foods. Which is not mentioned in the passage? A chocolate candy B chocolate cake C chocolate cookies D chocolate ice cream Answer: D. chocolate ice cream Ralph the bee wanted to go visit his friend George the fly. George lived very far away, it would a long trip for Ralph. Ralph first flew over a jungle, in the jungle he met a nice tiger by the name of Benny. Benny wanted to play but Ralph had no time, he still had a long way to go. Then Ralph flew by a lake. At the lake he met a cowboy. The cowboy was named Walter. Walter was letting his horse get a drink of water from the lake. The horse drank a lot and when he was done he let out a huge burp. Ralph waved goodbye to Walter and his horse. Ralph then stopped for lunch, he had some bread he brought with him from home. While he was sitting when all of the sudden a pig walked up to him. He did not get the pigs name, because the pig could only say oink. Finally, after a long trip, Ralph finally got to the house of George the fly. George wanted to play, but Ralph was too tired. So Ralph went to sleep. What was the name of the tiger? A George B Ralph C Walter D Benny Answer: D. Benny Paper cut can be seen in many parts of China during the Spring Festival. People put it on windows, doors and walls for the festival. A thousand years ago, paper cut was used for decoration . In Tang Dynasty women used paper cut as headdress. In Song Dynasty, it helped make gifts more beautiful. What's more, people would feel happier when they saw paper cut on windows, doors and walls. Now people use paper cut to express their wishes for welcoming the New Year. There are different kinds of paper cut in different parts of China. Pictures usually cover nearly all things, from flowers, birds to the famous people. Now, there are factories for paper cut in China. Paper cut has changed from decoration to a kind of art. At the same time, paper cut also appears in cartoons, magazines or TV programs. This passage is mainly about _ . A cartoons B TV programs C paper cut D hair cut Answer: C. paper cut A student is standing on a skateboard that is not moving. The total mass of the student and the skateboard is 50 kilograms. The student throws a ball with a mass of 2 kilograms forward at 5 m/s. Assuming the skateboard wheels are frictionless, how will the student and the skateboard move? A forward at 0.4 m/s B forward at 5 m/s C backward at 0.2 m/s D backward at 5 m/s Answer: D. backward at 5 m/s A little boy invited his mother to attend his school's first teacher-parent meeting. To the little boy's dismay , his mother said she would go. This would be the first time that his classmates and teachers met his mother and he was _ by her appearance . There was a severe scar that covered nearly the whole right side of her face. The boy never wanted to talk about why or how she got the scar. At the meeting, the people were impressed by the kindness of his mother with the scar, but the little boy was still embarrassed and hid himself from everyone. However, he could hear clearly the conversation between his mother and the teacher. "How did you get the scar on your face?" the teacher asked. The mother replied, "When my son was a baby, he was in a room that caught on fire. Everyone was too afraid to go in because the fire was out of control, but I went in. As I was running towards his bed, I saw a burning wood falling down and I placed myself over him trying to protect him. I was knocked to be unconscious , but luckily, a fireman came in and saved both of us." She touched the burned side of her face. "This scar will be forever, but until today, I have never regretted doing what I did." When the little boy heard this, he couldn't help running towards his mother with tears in his eyes. He hugged her and felt his mother was greater than anyone. He held her hand tightly for the rest of the day. After listening to his mother's words about the scar, the boy might feel _ . A moved B unhappy C worried D dismay Answer: A. moved
Question: The sun was rising when Daryl's delivery truck reached the highway. This was the best time of day to drive, when the roads were wide open and empty. He felt sure he was going to make it to Los Angeles before midnight. It looked like it was going to be a good day. Then he saw it, a large lump in the middle of the road. Daryl often passed dead animals on the roadside but he knew than this was something different. He slammed on his brakes and the truck screeched to a halt. The lump was a girl. He tried shaking her awake but she wouldn't move, so he picked her up and carried her to the side of the road. At least she wouldn't be run over there. Now she was someone else's problem. He had to make it to Los Angeles by midnight and didn't have time to be a here. He climbed back into his truck but as he looked in his mirror and saw the girl lying still by the side of the road, he knew he couldn't leave her. Daryl put her into his truck and drove to the next town. An hour later he pulled up at the police station. After explaining what had happened, he prepared to leave, only for the policeman to say that he needed to make a report. Daryl knew this would take several hours, but he had no choice. There was no way he'd get to Los Angeles on time now. Three hours later the report was done and the girl had recovered somewhat. She explained that she had fallen on the highway, weak from hunger, but could remember nothing else. She also thanked Daryl for saving her life. Daryl told her that he had been happy to help, but as he got back into his truck he knew his boss wouldn't be. Just as he was about to pull back onto the road, his mother called. "Have you seen?" she said, "A bridge collapsed two hours ago, the one that you drive over on the way to Los Angeles." Daryl's blood run cold. If he had been on time, he would have been on that fallen bridge about two hours ago. Daryl realized how lucky he was. Why did Daryl first leave the girl by the side of the road? A. He didn't want to be late. B. He thought the girl would be fine. C. He knew that someone else would help. D. He worried the police would blame him. Answer: A Question: 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. It can be known from the passage that Bruce Hoffman was _ A. a terrorism expert from the USA B. the writer who wrote this article C. an athlete who competed in Sochi D. a terrorism expert from RAND Corporation Answer: A Question: Monday - 9:00 p.m. PT (11:00 p.m. CT) (Midnight ET) I love to answer questions about children's health. Some questions and their answers become articles, FAQ's, Updates, Fast Facts, Top Tips, or Guidelines here on the site. I answer others in real time during chat. Either way, here is how to submit a question - I am available live, for one hour, every weekday. No appointments are necessary! All you have to do is log on to Chat and ask your question. In most cases, you'll get your answer right there! Some of the questions from chat are selected for me to write about in greater depth. Even if you don't have time to stay at chat, come for a moment, and send your question to the chat host to be considered for a future article. Please join me in chat, Monday - November 22, 2004 at 9:00 p.m. PT(11:00 p.m. CT) (Midnight ET) I will be in the chat room for one hour to answer your children's health questions. To ask your question please type a " ?" mark on the screen A host will call upon you when it is your turn to ask a question. Click here to chat Click here to learn more about chat Click here for a complete chat schedule The chat with the writer on the screen _ . A. lasts one hour B. must be about children's health questions C. has to be called on Monday D. must go on in a room Answer: B Question: Plants are very important living things. Life could not go if there were no plants. This is because plants can make food from air, water and sunlight. Animals and man cannot make food from air, water and sunlight. Animals get their food by eating plants and other animals. So animals and man need plants in order to live. This is why we find that there are so many plants around us. If you look carefully at the plants around you, you will find that there are two kinds of plants: flowering plants and _ plants. Flowering plants can make seeds. The seeds are protected by the fruits. Some fruits have one seed, some have two, three or four, and some have many seeds. But a few fruits have no seeds at all. An example of a fruit without seeds is the banana fruit. Most non-flowering plants don't grow from seeds. They grow from spores. Spores are so small and light that they can float in the air. We may say that spores are quite the same as the seeds. When these spores fall on wet and _ , they usually grow into new plants. The main idea of the passage is that _ . A. plants are important for life B. plants cannot grow without air C. there are many plants around us D. we cannot live without water Answer: A Question: There are forty-eight students in our class. There are twenty-three boys and twenty-five girls. Some students live near the school, and some others live very far from the school. About half of the students come to school by bike . They often get to school at a quarter to seven. About ten students often come to school by bus. They often go to school very early, too. Another ten students come to school on foot. Their homes are near the school, but they are often late for school, because they get up very late. About ten students often come to school by bus because _ . A. their homes are not near the school B. they don't have any bikes C. they can't ride bike D. they want to go to school very early Answer: A
Below are four ads on the website. l Artful Experience It's an artful experience even if you're artistically challenged. Adults, teens, and children of all ages are welcome at Contemporary Art studio. We provide everything: stamps, idea books, a little coaching, and a lot of encouragement. Drop in anytime. It's creative fun for everyone to paint your own pottery ! No experience needed. Our studio will show you how. It's as easy as 1-2-3! sumplastpl@hotmail.com l Chinese-English Translator This is an excellent opportunity for recent graduates looking to put their Chinese skills to use. Requirements: native speaker of English; business translation experience is preferred but not a must; able to fulfill several projects on time; excellent reading skills in Chinese. If interested, please email staff@young.com or call 453-268-130. l Ancient Object Market Here you find a large variety of old European furniture, statues and paintings. We also offer a large selection of clocks in bronze, wood, white metal. Organizing buying tours based on the needs of our clients is something else we do. We pick you up from the airport, make hotel reservations and drive you around to the best wholesale dealers. Our email is artworkdeal@hotmail.com. l _ We are delighted to offer you an efficient and reasonably priced service of high-class car rentals with qualified drivers. Suitable for your journeys to and/or from Rome's airports or other destinations. We will be there to meet you on your arrival at the airport and drive you to your destination in complete safety and comfort. If you need the service, please call 668-556-429. Which of the following can be the best title for the fourth advertisement? Answer: Airport Car Rentals With Drivers. Poet William Stafford once said that we are defined more by the detours in life than by the narrow road toward goals. I like this image. But it was quite by accident that I discovered the deep meaning of his words. For years we made the long drive from our home in Seattle to my parents' home in Boise in nine hours. We traveled the way most people do: the fastest, shortest, easiest road, especially when I was alone with four noisy, restless kids who hate confinement and have strong opinions about everything. Road trips felt risky, so I would drive fast, stopping only when I had to. We would stick to the freeways and arrive tired. But then Banner, our lamb was born. He was rejected by his mama days before our planned trip to Boise. I had two choices: leave Banner with my husband, or take him with me. My husband made the decision for me. That is how I found myself on the road with four kids, a baby lamb and nothing but my everlasting optimism to see me through. We took the country roads out of necessity. We had to stop every hour, let Banner shake out his legs and feed him. The kids chased him and one another. They'd get back in the car breathless and energized, smelling fresh from the cold air. We explored side roads, catching grasshoppers in waist-high grass. Even if we simply looked out of the car windows at baby pigs following their mother, or fish leaping out of the water, it was better than the best ride down the freeway. Here was life. And new horizons. We eventually arrived at my parents' doorstep astonishingly fresh and full of stories. I grew brave with the trip back home and creative with my disciplining technique. On an empty section of road, everyone started quarreling. I stopped the car, ordered all kids out and told them to meet me up ahead. I parked my car half a mile away and read my book in sweet silence. Some road trips are by necessity fast and straight. But that trip with Banner opened our eyes to a world available to anyone adventurous enough to wander around and made me realize that a detour may uncover the best part of a journey----and the best part of yourself. Why did the author ask the kids to get out of the car on their way back home Answer: To let them cool down They may make us scared, but somehow we just can't get enough of our favorite monsters.From literature to movies, TV shows to Halloween costumes , we want more of these blood-drinking, walking-dead, scary creatures! Here's a look at a few of them. Mummy : All you'll need is a generous supply of toilet paper of make this instantly recognizable costume.The concept of mummies dates back thousands of years and across many cultures.Mummies are constantly seen in books, movies, and of course, on every Halloween night. Werewolf : The werewolf is known for its superhuman strength and shape-shifting powers.Examples of the werewolf date back to ancient Greek and Roman stories, which were about humans changing into animals and animals changing into humans.With television shows and movies, werewolves are once again having a strong influence on popular culture. Frankenstein: Mary Shelley created the monster in her 1818 novel.Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who is curious about life and death, uses different body parts to create his works.Shocked by his new scientific creation, however, Victor ran away, leaving the creature to leave the laboratory and go out into the human world.Whether in books, movies, or onstage, this monster is still a costume favorite for people of all ages. Zombie : Halloween activities would incomplete without zombies to really give people a fright.The zombie earned its title as one of Halloween's most terrifying creatures after popular films.Zombies still frighten audiences as undead monsters that return to feast on the living. Dracula : This classic vampire has terrified audiences for decades, but first appeared as a character in Irish writer Bram Stoker's 1897 novel.In horror films, Dracula remains the most popular character.He is known for his pale skin, sharp teeth, red lips and son on. We can conclude that _ . Answer: Frankenstein's monster was created using different body parts It is a very common thing for a person to have a good friend. My good friend is Diana. She is a rich and proud girl. She often thinks that she is too good for anyone, so nobody wants to be her friend. One day after school, I was waiting for Diana when Vivien came up to me. She gave me a biscuit. I accepted it. We talked and joked, and from then on, I began to spend more time with Vivien than with Diana. I felt a little uneasy. After a few days, I went to see Diana with some snacks when Vinien came and sat with me. She offered me a sandwich. She also offered one to Diana, but Diana refused it. She walked away. I was angry with Diana for being so rude . "Never mind." Vivien said, "I'm used to it." After school, I tried to catch up with Diana. While walking home, I tried to correct her attitude , but she didn't listen to me. She said, "Go and join your dear Vivien. I know you make a new friend and forget the old one." For the next few weeks, we didn't talk to each other. Then one day, Diana came to Vivien and me, saying, "I'm really sorry about what I did. Would you please forgive me?" Vivien and I looked at each other and smiled. From then on, Diana, Vivien and I have been best friends. The writer was angry with Diana _ . Answer: when Diana refused Vivien's sandwich When talking about humor, people often refer to famous humorists such as Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by the pen-name Mark Twain. Samuel Langhorne Clemens, America's famous writer, journalist and humorist, was born in Florida on November 30, 1835.He was the sixth of the seven children in the family.As a child, Samuel was often kept indoors because of his poor health. When Samuel was 12, his father died of a deadly disease and at the age of 13, Samuel had to leave school to make a living.He became a printer's apprentice .A year later, he became skilled at printing by working and studying hard.Samuel was then employed as a printer with pay.After two years, he became an editorial assistant.It was then that young Samuel became aware of his fondness for writing. When he was 17 years old, Samuel left Hannibal for a printer's job in St.Louis.While staying in St.Louis, Samuel became a river pilot in 1858.His pen-name, Mark Twain, came from his days as a river pilot.It is a river term meaning "safe to sail". Because the river trade was brought to a stop by the Civil War in 1861, Samuel began working as a newspaper reporter for several newspapers all over the United States.Samuel's career took off and he became famous when his story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras Country appeared in the New York Saturday Press on November 18, 1865.Samuel's first book, The Innocents Abroad was published in 1896.The two novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (in 1876) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (in 1885) brought him worldwide popularity.He wrote 28 books and numerous humor stories, letters and plays. Mark Twain passed away on April 21, 1910.To remember him, his childhood home was open to the public as a museum in Hannibal. When did Samuel Langhorne Clemens realize his interest in writing? Answer: When he was sixteen years old
Chinese people first encountered the term "empty nest"in a work of famous writer Bing Xin in 1980. In the past three decades, it has become a widespread social phenomenon. And with society and the economy developing at a faster pace, the condition of elderly couples has worsened. Data shows that over half of the families in China are "empty nest" households, with the figure being as high as 70 percent in some big cities. There were 41.5 million "empty nest" old people aged 65 or above in 2010.Experts even say that "empty nest" families will become the major pattern in Chinese cities and rural areas, dealing a blow to the traditional family support system and requiring the government to take greater care of the material and spiritual needs of senior citizens and to provide them better psychological comfort, proper healthcare and legal aid. After retirement, people tend to participate in fewer social activities, spending more time at home reading newspapers or watching television. "Empty nest" people, who are not taken proper care of by their children, are bound to feel lonely, and are usually unwilling to engage in recreational activities, which leads to psychological problems. A survey shows that over half of the "empty nest" old suffer from mental problems to different degrees. Loneliness, anxiety and depression are the most common. Grown-up children are to take care of not only their parents, but also to respect their feelings, by having more heart-to-heart conversations with them. Family love plays an important role in providing mental comfort for the elderly. They should undertake the responsibility of visiting aged parents more often and making them feel wanted. There is a lot more communities could do to help make senior citizens' life better. To begin with, they could recruitcommunity volunteers, from warm-hearted university students to helpful and devoted middle-aged citizens. Senior citizens, too, should make an effort to release tension and prepare for a happy life in their twilight years. They should change their mentality and try to be less emotionally dependent on their children, develop hobbies, extend their social circle, and set new goals to make the rest of their life more interesting. (362words) All of the solutions are mentioned except _ The elderly should try to obtain employment after retirement. Tom and Fred are talking about the year 2020. "What will our world be like in the year 2020?" asks Tom. "I don't know," says Fred. "What do you think?" asks Tom. "Well, no one knows, but it's interesting to guess," says Fred. "In the year 2020 everyone will carry a pocket computer. The computer will give people the answer to all their problem. We will have telephones in our pockets, too, and we will be able to talk to our friends," says Tom. "A lot of people will live and work under the sea. Machines will do most of the work, and so people will have more holidays. They will be able to fly to the moon by spaceship and spend their holidays there," says Fred. "And I hope I will be able to live under the sea," says Tom. "Won't that be very interesting? Just like a fish." Which of the following is NOT mentioned? People will build farms under the sea. Rescue workers found a family in their RV on Tuesday after 17 days in the mountains near the prefix = st1 /Oregoncoast. Peter Stivers, Marlo Hill-Stivers, their two children Sabastyan, 9, and Gabrayell, 8, and Hill-Stivers's mother and stepfather, Elbert and Becky Higginbotham, were in the vehicle. On their way home from a trip to the coast, the family got lost in the mountains at an elevation of about 3,800 feet. What's worse, they were trapped in four feet of snow. "We had fuel and food, but we were running short," said Elbert Higginbotham. "We were rationing ." When the family was reported missing, rescue teams from Oregon and Californiasearched likely routes to the coast. But with no leads and no idea where the family was heading, those conducting the unsuccessful search eventually called it off. In the evenings, Sabastyan and Gabrayell entertained the adults by reading jokes from Reader's Digest aloud. The family members survived mostly on dehydrated food . On Monday, Hill-Stivers and her husband decided to go for help. They packed a tent, wool blankets, tuna fish, honey, and hand-warmers to take into the wilderness with them. The children stayed safe in the RV with their grandparents. The couple were found the following day by a US Bureau of Land Management worker. A rescue team in a helicopter located the rest of the family. The family was driven out of the snowbound area on snow machines. Parents and children were happily reunited. "They enjoyed it," Peter Stivers said of his children's experience. "They didn't know we were in trouble." For the adults, it was quite an ordeal . They had to worry about survival and rescue, and about keeping everyone calm. "I'm so proud of my family," said Elbert Higginbotham. "They stuck together, they didn't lose it." If there is a good lesson from the story, it can be _ . people should know how to save themselves when facing trouble. My grandfather spent most of his life in a turbulent India. After settling in New York, he took up his true passion: gardening. Grandfather's garden was where I took refuge from a world of adults and schoolwork. My grandfather cultivated squash and tomatoes -- it was not rare to find me somewhere in the garden, either secretly eating a tomato, or just sitting and admiring my grandfather's hard work. However, as time went by, I did not have the chance to visit his house as often as I used to. On my eleventh birthday, I received a gift bag wrapped in pretty paper from my grandfather. Excited to see what he had given to me for my birthday, I tore apart the paper only to find a yellow squash. I was very angry. What a stupid present! But gradually, I realized that in my developing a relationship with his garden, I had unknowingly grown very close to my grandfather himself, something he wished to remind me of through his gift. His commitment towards doing things definitely influenced me. It could bring him a sense of accomplishment. Because of him, I try to model the idea of approaching everything with both drive and passion. My grandfather passed away five years ago, but his influence on me could not be bigger than it is today. As I prepare to enter college and move on from my relatively sheltered high school life toward achieving complete independence, allowing my passions to find their way into whatever I may be doing will be very necessary. I still look up to my grandfather very much to this day, and I hope that one day I will be able to sow in my own garden, and give someone else a squash on his or her birthday -- it was the most meaningful gift I have ever received.[:ZXXK] When the author saw the squash gift from her grandfather, she was _ . upset Do you want to work with people, animals or machines? Do you want to work indoors or outdoors, directly serve people in need or serve people behind the scenes? These are the typical questions that volunteer service agencies would ask. Every year, thousands of people in the west offer volunteer service. Volunteering greatly strengthens the community because it helps the old, the young, the weak, the sick, the disabled and the injured to overcome difficulties. Volunteers usually help in many different ways. They may give people advice, offer friendship to the young , drive the elderly to church, counsel kids against drugs, work as assistants in schools or nursing homes, raise funds, plant trees, help out in local libraries and do many other things. Volunteering can be a few hours a week or a few hours a month. Anybody who wants to serve people in need can become a volunteer. The art of volunteering is a process of both giving and receiving. Volunteering allows volunteers to meet new people, make new friends and mix with people from all walks of life. Volunteering is an excellent way to experiment,practice and try out new techniques and skills,discover your individual talents and explore career choice. Being a volunteer will take individuals on a wonderful journey and help them learn many important things beyond their school learning. What's the best title of the passage? Volunteer Service in the West
Sarah came running in saying, "Look what l found. " Over the top of the paper I was reading I saw a long object that made me jump. It was a piece of snakeskin that had been shed by one of our garden snakes. 'Isn't it beautiful?" said my wide-eyed 7~year-old daughter. I stared at the organic wrapper and thought to myself that it really was not that beautiful, but I did not want to disappoint Sarah. Everything children see for the first time is elementary to their sense of beauty and creativity. They see only merit and excellence in the world. "Why does it do this?" Sarah asked. I like to teach my children that there is something else going on besides what they see in front of them. "Snakes shed their skin because they need to renew themselves," I explained. "Why do they need to renew themselves?" Sarah asked. "We often need to shed our skins, those coatings that we cover ourselves with," I said to my now absorbed daughter. "We outgrow some things and find other stuff unnecessary. This snake no longer needs this skin. It is probably too old, and the snake probably doesn't think it looks as smart in the skin as it once did. Like buying a new suit. " Of course, I'm sure this explanation won't suit naturalists. But Sarah got the point. As we talked, I knew that she began to understand that renewal is part of progress; that we need to take a good look at ourselves, and rooms and schoolwork and creativity, and she began to see what we need to keep and what need to cast off. I was careful to point out that this is a natural process, not one to be forced. "Snakes don't peel off their skin when they feel like it," I explained. "lt happens as part of their growth. " "I see, Dad. " said Sarah. She then jumped off my lap, grabbed the snakeskin, and ran off. I hoped she would remember this. Often, in order to find our real selves underneath the layers of community and culture we are cloaked in year after year, we need to start examining these layers. We need to gently peel some away, as we recognize them to be worthless, unnecessary, or flawed ; or at best, remember the things we discard to teach us how we can improve. From the text, we can conclude that the author _ . Answer: The weekend is usually a period of time for resting. But today's Chinese students can hardly rest during the weekend. According to a survey, 25%of the Grade 8 students in Beijing have classes on the weekend. Over 38% of the middle school students have less than eight hours' sleep, because of the hard study. Nan Weitong is a Grade7 student in Hubei. The girl has to get up at 6:30 am on Saturday. Then she has a whole day of classes. On Sunday, she has classes for math and English. She says her classmates all work very hard. However, some students are much luckier. They don't have to go to school on weekends. Zhang Qian, a Grade 9 student from Jinan, is one of them. On the weekend, she usually gets up at 8:00am. Then she spends some time on her homework. After that, she goes shopping or watches TV. Zhang Qian said her mother once wanted her to try extra classes. "But my teacher said it was unnecessary. Learning well at school is enough," Zhang Qian said, "I feel pretty lucky." Zhang Qian feels lucky because _ . Answer: Billy Dengler, a 14-year-old boy, is in the eighth grade. A month after he was born, Billy's mother, Terri, noticed that his eyes weren't quite as big as a normal baby's. She took Billy to the hospital, and the doctor said Billy would never be able to see. Although Billy can't see, he has never let that hold him back or make him different. Billy began teaching himself computer programming by using a screen reader when he was just seven years old. He is a certified Google developer now. Google even tried to offer him a job last year when he discovered a problem in one of its _ , but Billy wasn't old enough. Billy's dream school would be Stanford University or MIT, where he could get a very good education in computer science. After he leaves school, whether he will go to work at a company like Google or design a software company of his own is still to be decided. However, he says he will definitely do something great. "It's a sighted world," Billy said. "You can't let anything get in the way of your dreams, and if you do that, you can't move forward and make your dreams come true." Billy started to learn computer programming by himself with the help of _ . Answer: To the Editor, Re Why a Fallen Angel Is a Centerfold (Sunday Review, Nov. 6): I first met Lindsay Lohan in 1997 when she was 11 and I was the casting director of the film The Parent Trap. I was struck by her talent, fresh charm and innocence the moment I caught sight of her. She was, and remains, a gifted actress and a good human being. It is not for me to judge Ms Lohan's choices, or whether fame has been less than kind to her, but I have been greatly saddened by the way the media have chosen, with all gloves off and seemingly going with what could please them, to record her efforts and failures. She is a sentient human being, not a thing, not a product, not anything else to be sold. Charles McGrath makes several attractive points in his news analysis about the public demand which is impossible to satisfy, in a 24/7 news cycle forever changed by the Internet, to gossip about, and give nearly complete access to, celebrity or famous persons' lives. Perhaps people do feel better knowing that wealth and fame do not lead to a perfect life for everyone. Perhaps we admire famous people only to reject them without any pity or mercy when their behavior disappoints us. I find it ironic that Ms Lohan's decision to pose for Playboy for a monetary reward is considered to be morally questionable, while journalists and photographers gain profit by writing about and capturing images of her and other famous people. Perhaps when reporting on and reading about famous people who have lost their way, we will remember that those people are also very human people who, like us, make mistakes, endure misfortune and have a chance--in spite of media coverage--to begin a completely new life tomorrow. ILENE STARGER Brooklyn This letter was written mainly to tell the editor that _ . Answer: If you see someone drowning, speed is very important. Once you get him out of water, if he isn't breathing, you have four minutes before his brain is completely destroyed. Support his neck, tilt his head back and press his chin upwards. This stops the tongue blocking the airway in the throat and is sometimes enough to get him breathing again. If that doesn't work, start mouth-to-mouth breathing. Press his nostrils together with your fingers. Open your mouth and take a deep breath. Blow into his lungs until his chest rises, then remove your mouth and watch his chest fall. Repeat twelve times a minute. Keep doing until help arrives. To bring a child back to life, keep your lips around his mouth and nose and gently blow into his mouth. Give the first four breaths as quickly as possible to fill the blood with oxygen. If, in spite of your efforts, he starts turning a blue-gray color1, and you can feel no pulse,then pressing is the last chance of saving his life. With arms straight, rock forwards, pressing down on the lower half of the breastbone. Don't be too hard or you may break a rib. Check how effective you are by watching if his color1 improves or his pulse becomes independent to your chest pressing. If this happens, stop the pressing. Otherwise continue until help arrives. This passage is mainly about how to_. Answer:
If touring in a large group isn't fit for you and the idea of driving yourself doesn't attract you, a small group journey with the Great New Zealand Travel Company might be just the answer. Panorama -- 24 Days Discover why New Zealand remains one of the world's most popular destinations. This _ , 24-day journey offers you a wide choice of things to do and places to see. You will enjoy plenty of time to sightsee, relax and experience the lifestyle that is in New Zealand. Departure Dates: Jan. 12, 26; Feb. 9, 23 Price: NZ$10,715 Nikau -- 13 Days This 13-day journey from Auckland to Christchurch lets you experience the true diversity of this beautiful country. History, culture, scenery and adventure, they all feature on this trip to give you a brief insight into the land. Departure Dates: Jan. 2, 23; Feb. 2, 16 Price: NZ$5,680 Southern Adventure -- 11 Days Enjoy a South Island holiday with exciting sightseeing and activities, including the world-famous whale-watch at KaiKoura and a wildlife tour on Akaroa Harbour. This tour will take you on a journey of discovery. Departure Dates: Jan. 17, 31; Feb. 7, 24 Price: NZ$5,820 Northland -- 4 Days The Bay of Islands is a great place and should not be missed if time permits. You will visit the Northland region, the birthplace of New Zealand as we know it today. See the oldest Maori and European Settlements in the country and take an eco-cultural trip into the Waipoua Forest. Enjoy free time to learn more of the early days of the nation. Departure Dates: daily Price: NZ$2,015 A tour to the Bay of Islands helps tourists learn about New Zealand's _ Answer: Pingyao, in the center of Shanxi Province, is a famous historic cultural city of China and a world cultural heritage site . It's 90 kilometers south of Taiyuan on the Fen River. People lived in Pingyao during the New Stone Age. Its long period as a country government seat has left Pingyao with lots of historic buildings and sites, with a 2,700-year history. Ninety-nine of _ are under government protection, including Zhengguo Temple, Shuanglin Temple and Pingyao Ancient City. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, businessmen organized commercial groups that did business nationwide. Shanxi Province had some of the most important ones and Pingyao was their center. In 1823, a store, known as Rishengchang(Sunrise Prosperity), traded in bank checks rather than in silver or gold coins. It was the beginning of modern Chinese banking. Branch banks were soon set up in major cities in China and other parts of Asia, leading to great development in Pingyao. Its Lacquer ware became well known. In Pingyao Ancient City are many traditional houses and commercial buildings, 3,797 of which are protected and more than 400 of which are in good condition. Not only do the houses in Pingyao show Shanxi's history and culture, but this large number is valuable for studying its history, customs, and ancient buildings and art. Most of these houses are still used as homes and shops of local people. In 1997, Ancient Pingyao City was listed in World Heritage List as " World Culture Heritage Site". During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Pingyao was a leading center in _ . Answer: Botany, the study of plants, plays a strange role in the history of human knowledge. For many thousands of years it was one field about which humans had little knowledge. It is impossible to know today just what our Stone Age Ancestors knew about plants, but from what we can observe of preindustrial societies that still exists, a detailed learning of plants and their properties must be very ancient. This is reasonable. Plants are the basis of the food pyramid for all living things, even for other plants. They have always been greatly important to the good of peoples, not only for food, but also for clothing, weapons, tools, medicines, housing, and a great many other purposes. Tribes living today in the woods of the Amazon recognize hundreds of plants and know many properties of each. To them botany, as such, has no name and is probably not even recognized as a special branch of knowledge at all. Unfortunately, the more industrialized we become the farther away we move from direct relation with plants, and the less clear our knowledge of botany grows. Yet everyone comes unconsciously on a surprising amount of botanical knowledge, and few people will fail to recognize a rose or an apple. When our New Stone Age ancestors, living in the Middle East about 10 000 years ago, discovered that certain grasses could be harvested and their seeds planted for richer production the next season, the first great step in a new connection of plants and humans was taken. Grains were discovered and from them flowed the _ of agriculture: planted crops. From then on, humans would increasingly take their living from the controlled production of a few plants, rather than getting a little here and a little there from many varieties that grew wild and the collected knowledge of tens of thousands of years of experience and close relations with plants in the wild would begin to disappear. According to the passage, why has general knowledge of botany decreased? Answer: You wake up in the morning, the day is beautiful and the plans for the day are what you have been looking forward to for a long time. Then the telephone rings, you say hello, and the drama starts. The person on the other end has a depressing ( )tone in his voice as he starts to tell you how terrible his morning is and that there is nothing to look forward to. You are still in a wonderful mood? Impossible! Communicating with negative ( ) people can wash your happiness. It may not change what you think, but communicating long enough with them will make you feel depressed for a moment or a long time. Life brings ups and downs, but some people are stuck in the wrong idea that life has no happiness to offer. They only feel glad when they make others feel bad. No wonder they can hardly win other's pity or respect. When you communicate with positive people, your spirits stay happy and therefore more positive things are attracted. When the dagger of a negative person is put in you, you feel the heavy feeling that all in all, brings you down. Sometimes we have no choice but to communicate with negative people. This could be a co-worker, or relative. In this case, say what needs to be said as little as possible. Sometimes it feels good to let out your anger back to negative person, but all this is to lower you to that same negative level and they won't feel ashamed of themselves about that. Negativity often affects happiness without even being realized. The negative words of another at the start of the day can cling to you throughout the rest of your day, which makes you feel bad and steals your happiness. Life is too short to feel negative. Stay positive and avoid negativity as much as possible. According to the passage, to reduce negative people's influence on us, we are advised _ . Answer: It was one of those terribly hot days in Baltimore. Needless to say, it was too hot to do anything outside. But it was also scorching in our apartment. This was 1962, and I would not live in a place with an air conditioner for another ten years. So my brother and I decided to leave the apartment to find someplace indoors. He suggested we could see a movie. It was a brilliant plan. Movie theaters were one of the few places you could sit all day and--most important --sit in air conditioning. In those days, you could buy one ticket and sit through two movies. Then, the theater would show the same two movies again. If you wanted to, you could sit through them twice. Most people did not do that, but the manager at our theater. Mr. Bellow did not mind if you did. That particular day, my brother and I sat through both movies twice, trying to escape the heat. We bought three bags of popcorn and three sodas each. Then, we sat and watched The Music Man followed by The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. We'd already seen the second movie once before. _ had been at the theater since January, because Mr. Bellow loved anything with John Wayne in it. We left the theater around 8, just before the evening shows began. But we returned the next day and saw the same two movies again, twice more. And we did it the next day too. Finally, on the fourth day, the heat wave broke. Still, to this day I can sing half the songs in The Music Man and recite half of John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart's dialogue from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance! Those memories are some of the few I have of the heat wave of 1962. They're really memories of the screen, not memories of my life. What do we know about Mr. Bellow? Answer:
Yesterday I went to the nursing home to visit my step mom's grandma. When I got there she was happy to see me. Then I heard a woman crying. It was my great grandma's roommate. The curtain was drawn so I could not see her. She started calling out a name that wasn't mine but she was definitely talking to me, begging me to go to her side of the room. Then she started begging and saying, "Please, come see me!" So I went to see her. She looked so old and weak but flashed me the biggest smile! She opened her arms wide for me to hug her so I bent low and gave her a hug. Then I sat on her bed and talked with her for a few minutes. She kept calling me by the other name but I did not correct her. She told me stories like I had been there when they happened. Eventually I went back to visit with my great grandma. Then the other woman started crying again, saying, "Please, come back." I stopped by the nurse's station and the nurse told me that the lady was suffering from Alzheimer's. I mentioned the name she had called me. The nurse told me it was the lady's daughter's name. It was a heartbreaking experience but it gave me a new perspective on life. We will all get old someday.Some of us will have broken minds like my great grandma's roommate and some of us will have broken bodies like my great grandma.But what was beautiful was the fact that both ladies,one 86 and the other 90,did not have broken spirits.As I was leaving I promised I would go back and visit the lady,even after my great grandma moves back to her home state. The other old lady kept calling the author by the WRONG name because_. A she had a broken mind B she liked the author very much C she probably did so on purpose D she wanted to behave in a kind way Answer: A It is natural for young people to be critical of their parents at times and to blame them for most of the misunderstandings between them. They have always complained, more or less justly, that their parents are out of touch with modern ways; that they are possessive and dominant; that they do not trust their children to deal with problems; that they talk too much about certain problems--and that they have no sense of humor, at least in parent--child relationships. I think it is true that parents often underestimate their teenage children and also forget how they themselves felt when young. Young people often make their parents angry at their choices in clothes and hairstyles, in entertainers and music. This is not their motive. They feel cut off from the adult world into which they have not yet been accepted. So they create a culture and society of their own. Then, if it turns out that their music or entertainers or vocabulary or clothes or hairstyles make their parents angry, this gives them extra enjoyment. They feel they are superior, at least in a small way, and that they are leaders in style and taste. Sometimes you are resistant, and proud because you do not want your parents to agree what you do. If they agree, it looks as if you are betraying your own age group. But in that case, you are supposing that you are the underdog; you cannot win but at least you keep your honor. This is a passive way of looking at things. It is natural enough after long years of childhood, when you were completely under your parents' contro1. But it ignores the fact that you are now beginning to be responsible for yourself. If you plan to control your life, cooperation can be part of that plan. You can attract others, especially your parents, into doing things the way you want. You can impress others with your sense of responsibility, so that they will let you choose what you want to do. Teenagers do not want their parents to agree whatever they do because they _ . A have already been accepted into the adult world B feel that they are superior to the adults C are not likely to win over the adults D have a desire to be independent Answer: D Carl studied in our middle school three years ago. Last August his father found a job in another city and his family moved there. He began to study in the new school and we often write to each other. He often tells me something about the city where he lives now and his studies in the school. So I can know what happens to him. Last Friday Carl came to our city again. He hoped to accompany his old grandpa during the summer holiday. He was taller and stronger than before. We swam in the river outside the city together and had a picnic on the island. It surprised me that he had learnt to cook when we were traveling in the wild forest. He told me his parents were both busy and sometimes he stayed at home and he had to look after himself. "How do you like your school?" I asked. "Wonderful," said the young man." It has a tall building and there 're two chemistry labs, two biology labs and three physics ones. And its library is big and there're plenty of books in it." "I can see you are satisfied with it." "Yes," he answered. "But our geography teacher often says it himself in class." "So does our new history teacher." I said. "But he doesn't notice it. He often talks on and on in a flow of the eloquence , but none of us listens to him." Carl is satisfied with his school because _ . A his teachers work hard. B it has lots of books C it has several labs. D it's wonderful. Answer: D In the days following the first anniversary of my dad 's death, I felt sad. I still missed him so much. I would walk over to his old house where my daughter now live and still expect to see him sitting out on his front porch . I would see him in my dreams, looking young and strong again. I felt bad too because I regretted not spending more time with him while he was here. I wished I had visited him more, talked with him more, and listened to him more. I wished I had asked the questions that I never did. I wished I had given him more hugs and told him I loved him more often. I wished I had cherished the time I had with him here. I was angry at the destiny because Dad and Mum had both passed away before I was 50, and I was angry with myself because I hadn't made the most of time I had with them. Today, I found myself walking under a cloudy sky, staring at the leafless trees. As I walked along, one of the last golden maple leaves fell from its tree and sailed in the wind until it landed in front of me. I picked it up and smiled. At the moment of peace I felt a sound in my heart and mind: "death is momentary , but love is eternal ." I knew at that moment that my relationships with Mum and Dad were not over. We would see each other again in a place of love, joy and light. We would spend our days in learning, laughter and love. According to the passage, we know that _ . A the writer's dad died a year ago B the writer's dad died ten years ago C the writer's dad still lived with him D the writer's dad lived with his daughter Answer: A Square Dance ABC is an exciting new way to practice square dancing. Enjoy a fan, easy beginner's square dance, with no experience needed. There are three different dances. The A, B and C dances can be experienced in any order. This is the main difference between Square Dance ABC and the traditional "lesson-based" way. You can do the three beginner's dances in any order. Instead of waiting until a class starts once a year, people can start Square Dance ABC any time! After all three dances (in an order), dancers have learned 22 square dance movements. The next step is the experienced ABC dance, using all 22 movements. It is easy to convince people to try square dancing any time. Most people that try it will like it. Square Dance ABC will bring lots of opportunities for fun, fitness and friends! Come on, we'll make this project as easy as A-B-C! If you have questions or comments about this site, please e-mail us at Webmaster@Square Dance ABC.com. The passage is probably _ . A an advertisement by an English club B an invitation by an English club C an application by a sports club D an advertisement by a dance club Answer: D
One day Peng Xianzhe learned he would go to the Mashan School in Guizhou. The 16-year-old boy tried to imagine how serious the drought was for the students at that school. However, he realized it was more serious than he had imagined when he saw the sign "DON'T wash clothes with water,or you will be punished . " Because of drought, the school has been short of water for a long time. Each student has only one bottle of water every day for washing and drinking. The drought has made the poor students much poorer. Peng is a student from Beijing Chaoyang Foreign Language School. He took part in the school's Rain & Bow Project from April 2 to 10. The project idea came from Peng's principal . One day, she heard a sad story about Li Guoxian, a poor girl in the Mashan School,who stopped going to school because of drought. The principal started this project to help the school. In one day, 3,000 students made over 10,000 donations of water,books and clothes. Peng and other four students went to the Mashan School and gave the donations with five teachers. They visited poor families, made surveys and had classes at the school. Ding Zhentao,16,was worried about the school's poor learning environment. "The blackboards and playground are too _ to use,"Ding said. "Besides, there really aren't enough teachers. A teacher has to teach both history and English, and even the cook is a class teacher. " Although life isn't easy, students at the school have a positive attitude towards life and they are quite willing to learn. That's what moved 16-year-old Chen Shi most. "They sang their songs together as usual before class every afternoon. After class, the students asked us to tell them things about Beijing and our studies," Chen said. "You can see the passion in them. I believe it will make a difference. Their futures will be bright. " ,. How many people went to the Mashan School and gave the donations? Answer: Ten. Last week, on a flight to Washington, I met a confident businessman who asked me about my profession when sitting himself down comfortably next to me. I told him that I am an educator, and for twelve years I have been trying to develop and promote critical thinking about learning in mainstream education. "Goodness, it must be the most difficult task in the world!" He thought for a moment. "Why do you do this?" I talked about how I had started teaching geography. I told him about the struggles of being a headmaster. And then I told him what I have come to regard as my real turning-point experience. It was back in 1984, when I visited what was known at the time as one of the most outstanding high schools on the Eastern seaboard. After two days there I was totally amazed. I had never met such a fine collection of young people, every one of them apparently confident, enthusiastic, sensitive and well able to manage their futures. I asked the principal how this had been achieved and he smiled. "We believe in functional literacy for all young people; that is, the ability to feel confident that you can handle the challenges of modern society. That confidence comes when you know that you are able to manage your own learning and will be able to handle that throughout a lifetime. And that," he concluded, "requires the highest possible skills in thinking, communicating, collaborating and decision-making." "But, for goodness' sake, those are just the skills I'm looking for among my employees," exclaimed my companion. "That's just what industry has been trying to tell the academic world for years. Instead of listening, you continue to perpetuate a set of practices which are opposite to those very skills needed in employment. You teachers think that life is about working alone on some piece of academic research in an ivory tower different from the daily routines. You just don't understand about working with confusion, nor do you accept the importance of rule-of-thumb calculations or even simple guesswork! This is the real world. There are real issues. What are you or anyone else going to do about just that?" We can infer from the passage that the businessman _ . Answer: is critical of the way students are taught in schools It might sound ridiculous that goal setting could actually hold you back from completing tasks and dreams you may have. But it seems like everyone tells you should be setting goals for everything you want to accomplish, short term and long term. Goals can help you sometimes, but in some cases they just lead to constant frustration and they actually bring you down. Let's look at this a little closer with an example. A lot of people might set forth as a goal. Many people jump online and are looking to start a business online as a way to make money from home and let's say they set a goal to make $10,000 in their first month. They do this because they seem tons of people making large sums of money in very little time so they think, $10,000 a month, that shouldn't be too hard. But what happens when you only bring in $1,000 in your first 30 days online? If this is pure profit you might still be happy but this is nowhere near reaching the goal you originally set out to meet. So naturally you would feel like you failed to reach your goal and you may be a little disappointed in yourself. If you continue not to reach this goal month in month , it starts to add up and really weighs on you. I'm not saying that they are bad and you shouldn't set them but you need to realize that you should not be emotionally attached to your goals. An alternative approach would be to set certain milestones for when you want to accomplish things and start out small. Build your confidence by accomplishing smaller feats and if you overproduce, then it will be a nice surprise. You have to have some sort of end result in mind but break it down in to a day by day task. It makes it a lot easier for you to handle by just knowing everyday you have to complete a few small tasks and over time the snowball will roll into great things. What belief does the writer most probably hold? Answer: Goals should be set for short term and long term. Hi! My name is Martin. I come from the USA. I'm in Shanghai, China now . My telephone number is (021)83130761. I am in No. 6 Junior High School. I'm in Class Five, Grade Seven. Hu Jing and Xiao Bin are my Chinese friends. We're in the same school. We are all thirteen . Miss Qiu is my English teacher. She has a round face, a big nose and big eyes. I like her very much . ,. Martin is _ years old. Answer: thirteen Peter and I are good friends. Peter is an American boy. I am a Japanese girl. He is thirteen. I am twelve. We are in the same class,Class Two. Peter has a nice clock. He likes it very much. He puts it on his desk. Every morning it wakes him up . I have a new watch. It looks beautiful. I wear it every day. It tells me the time. Peter _ . Answer: puts his clock on his desk
When we meet another person for the first time, we are actually flooded with new information. Almost at once, we notice his appearance, style of dress, and manner of speech. Furthermore (besides), as we listen to what he has to say and observe the things he does, we begin to form some ideas of what kind of person he is and what he intends to do. As you know from your own experience, though, we do not only gather these separate pieces of information. Instead, we go further and combine them into a unified picture. In short, we form an overall impression of each person we meet--an impression that can be favorable (making people like) or unfavorable. But how precisely (exactly) do we perform this task? How do we combine so much different information into a clear first impression with such quick speed? A great deal of research has been performed on this question, and results point to the following answer: we perform this task through a special type of averaging . Expressed very simply, our impressions of others seem to represent a weighted average of all information that can be gathered about them. That is, they reflect a process in which all information we have about others is averaged together--but with some facts, or input receiving greater weight than others. As you can readily see, this makes good sense. For example, in forming an impression of a new boss you would probably be affected to a much greater degree by how this person gives you orders (whether respectfully or not) than by the color1 of his or her eyes. The fact that not all information about other persons affects our impressions of them to the same degree, raises an important question. Just what kinds of input receive the greatest weight? Again research provides some revealing answers. According to the passage, the first impression is _ . Answer: a combination of pieces of information The relationship between an owl and a mouse is a Answer: predator-prey relationship. Transpiration involves Answer: H2O traveling about a daffodil's system Because lack of sustenance 1 out of 4 people are Answer: chronically craving Knowing the best way to study will help you to be a best student.By using your time properly,you can do your homework more quickly. Learning to study is not difficult. The first thing to remember is that you must be willing to learn.It doesn't mean that you must always like the subject.It does mean,however,that you must be willing to do whatever is necessary to learn. Try to understand why it is important and how it will help you now and later to do and learn other things.Knowing mathematics facts will be useful in your whole life. Knowing how to spell makes any kind of writing easier.Sometimes,the subject that you think is going to be uninteresting will be exciting when you begin to work at it and understand it more clearly. Learning things can be fun if you are willing to work with them. Here is some advice for you: have a certain time each day and a quiet place with good lighting for study,so that you can concentrate on your study without interruptions; have everything ready before you sit down to study, a dictionary,paper,a pen and books; be sure you understand what you should learn before you start; read carefully and pay special attention to the most important things; when memorizing,first find out the main parts and recite the whole thing, check your homework after you finish it; never forget the importance of review and preview. Don't try to spend a lot of time researching learning methods.There are many students who know many good learning methods but don't study well. They forget that the most important useful learning method is to study hard. The following advice is given in the article EXCEPT _ Answer: to study at any possible time and place.
Welcome to the world of multitasking -- a place where the measure of a person is how many jobs they can perform at the same time. In fact, if experts are to be believed, multitasking is a disastrous idea. One of the opponents of multitasking is Dr. Clifford Nass, a professor at Stanford University. "People who multitask frequently are less able to pay attention; they're worse at managing their memory." he said. In his opinion, the loss that we get with multitasking is harmless in some situations, for example, part of doing business in the digital world: but you can't do serious work like writing, thinking or solving an important problem this way. You do worse even as you think you're doing better. All the time the research points to a simple fact: the brain cannot cope. When you stop midway through composing a report to check an email, you force your brain to stop and regroup. It is like pressing the pause button during a movie, meaning the film takes longer to watch. And as for Dr. Nass, the problems extend beyond the brain. Young people who frequently multitask are not as socially and emotionally healthy as those who don't. They just feel more emotionally satisfied and the feeling is so good and they are bound to desire it again. Todd Oppenheimer, a writer said "We've become a very short-term society and don't reward people for taking a lot of time on something." He fears we may end up losing the next generation of great thinkers. "It's really unfortunate because the long-term challenges of our world -- environmental issues, financial issues -- require people to think wisely about the long-term consequences of what they do. And it's no coincidence that the kind of people who do think long-term don't multitask." From the passage, we can tell _ . A the loss that we get with multitasking is harmless B we mistakenly believe that we're doing better by switching between tasks C doing multitasking does harm to us in every area D for every task you add to your multitasking, you can finish your goal quicker Answer: B. we mistakenly believe that we're doing better by switching between tasks As wild animal lovers are not content with watching tigers and gorillas during the day, a growing number of zoos in the US are offering a more thrilling after-dark experience -- overnight stays. The Philadelphia Zoo is America's first zoo and home to more than 1,300 animals. It has been running its Roars and Snores Overnight Programs for about 20 years. The most popular theme program is the Night Flight Overnight Program where children aged 5 to 12 sleep in the zoo's tree house. The overnight stays are not only popular with young children. Most overnight stays include a night tour during which youngsters experience the mysterious sights and unusual sounds of the zoo. A midnight snack and breakfast are also served. "It is a unique experience to be at the zoo without the crowds and additional noise," explained Patterson, of the Denver Zoo, which has been running its Bunk with the Beasts program since 1998. With nearly 4,000 animals and 700 species the zoo attracts more than 1.8 million visitors a year. "The things you hear and see in the zoo are completely different," said Patterson. On Denver's two-hour tours, night vision scopes are provided so guests can see nocturnal animals such as owls, and indoor educational games increase the learning experience. Patterson said parents tend to be more worried about leaving their children than the children themselves. They have rarely had to call up a parent in the middle of the night. "They love it," Patterson said about the children. "For many, it's their first overnight stay away from home. They are so excited that by the end of the day they are so tired that they have no opportunity to worry." "Guests at the new overnight program at the Queens Zoo make breakfast treats for animals, and watch the keepers feed them to the animals," said Education Curator Tome Hurtubise. The growing popularity of overnight programs has caused zoos that only serve day-time visitors to think again. The Queens Zoo, which started their program this year, is so pleased with its success that they want to continue it next year. What can overnight visitors in the zoo do at midnight? A They eat something. B They take care of animals. C They watch videos. D They only sleep. Answer: A. They eat something. Whenever there's a terrible storm, there are many sad stories. Many people lost their houses, their cars and their pets. But sometimes these stories have happy endings, too. A family in New Jersey, US, had a cat named Vivian. She was very smart. She could even draw with her wet paws on the floor. They all loved her very much. When hurricane Sandy hit America in October, they moved to a safer place 13km away from home. Unluckily, Vivian was missing . All the nine family members were worried about her. They put up posters to find her. They looked for her everywhere they thought she could stay, but they didn't find it. The family thought Vivian was gone forever. But six months later, Vivian showed up at their house, according to Yahoo News. They considered her return as a _ . No one can be sure where Vivian was for all that time. Many animals are good at finding their way home. People usually say that dogs and cats find their way home through using their sense of smell . But that doesn't explain how Vivian found her way back. Hurricane Sandy blew away the normal smell of home. "I wish she could talk," said her owner. Which of the following is NOT true? A Vivian could even draw. B The family tried hard to look for the pet. C The owner knew how the cat found her way home. D Nobody knew where Vivian was while Hurricane Sandy was hitting America. Answer: C. The owner knew how the cat found her way home. If a person is blind and needs to know the color of a sign, they A have someone describe it B fill out a form C are out of luck D make a best guess Answer: A. have someone describe it In America, when the eighth graders leave the middle school, they are often worried about moving to the high school. It is a hard time for them, but it can be an exciting one as well. To make it easier, students need to get familiar with their school. Even though they've done this already in the middle school, it's still important to find where their classrooms are. Most schools take students to the high school for a visit at the end of their eighth grade year. And, most schools also have a freshman speech for parents and students before the first year begins. Sometimes the main office will give away a map of the school. This can help students and parents to find different places in the school. One way to know your high school more and make new friends is to join a club or play a sport. Schools often offer chances to join different clubs and sports. Fall activities begin in August before the first day of school. If you are not interested in sports, there are clubs for any interest, such as drama, dance, chess, photography, community service, etc. These clubs allow students from different grades. By joining an activity, students can find new friendships, not to mention improving their chances in future college applications . The school office will have a list of activities offered at the school and information on how to join them. What's more, to have a great start to a high school year, students can write down some of their worries, and ask for help from teachers and school workers. According to the text, most students feel _ when entering the high school. A excited B nervous C lonely D disappointed Answer: B. nervous
New crime prediction software should reduce not only the murder rate, but the rate of other crimes. Developed by Richard Berk, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, the software has already used in Baltimore and Philadelphia to predict which individuals on probation or parole are most likely to murder and to be murdered. "When a person goes on probation or parole he is supervised by an officer. The question is 'what level of supervision is appropriate?'" said Berk. It used to be that parole officers used the person's criminal record, and their judgment to make decisions. "This research replaces those _ ," he said. Technology helps determine level of supervision. On average there is one murder for every 100,000 people. Even among high-risk groups the murder rate is one in 100. Predicting such a rare event is very difficult, but advances in computer technology works. Years ago, the researchers made a dataset of more than 60,000 various crimes. Using the software they developed, they found some much more likely to commit murder when paroled or probated. They could identify eight future murderers out of 100. Berk's software examines roughly two dozen variables , from criminal record to geographic location. The type of crimes, and more importantly, the age at which that crime was committed, were two of the most predictive variables. "People assume that if someone murdered then they will murder in the future," said Berk. " What really matters is what that person did as a young individual. Predicting future crimes sounds well. But we aren't anywhere near being able to do that." "Berk's scientific answer leaves policymakers with difficult questions. By labeling one group of people as high risk, and supervise them closely, there should be fewer murders, which the potential victims should be happy about. It also means that those high-risk individuals will be supervised more aggressively. For human rights advocates, that means punishing people who, most likely, will not commit a crime in the future," said Bushway. "It comes down to a question of whether you would rather make these errors or those errors." Which would be the best title for the passage? Answer: FIVE Americans _ the three Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine last week. It was the first American sweep of the Nobel science prizes since 1983. It's rare for Americans not to receive any of the science prizes, especially in recent years. In 2004, seven Americans were among the 10 laureates for the science prizes. Last year, the figure was five out of 10. The huge sums of money invested in scientific research is one factor that has helped many Americans to win awards. Another reason is the vast number of researchers working in the US. American universities also often have a more "creative university environment"where people can focus on research for a long period without any pressure, said Anders Liljas, member of the Nobel Committee. New hope for AIDS patients? AMERICAN scientists Craig Mello (top) of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Andrew Fire (above) of Stanford University School of Medicine won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine last Monday. Their discovery is a process that researchers hope to use to silence disease-causing genes . It offers new ways for disease treatment. Scientists now hope to develop a new technique that could be used to treat diseases, such as cancers, AIDS and Parkinson's disease. Like father, like son? AS the son of a Nobel Prize winning professor, Roger D. Kornberg (left) had a lot to live up to. But, nearly half a century after his father, won his award, Kornberg, 59, a Stanford University professor, won his own last Wednesday: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry. His research into how cells read their genes is very important. It could help lead to the development of new drugs to fight cancer , heart disease and other illnesses, experts said. First light of the universe TWO Americans won the Nobel Prize in Physics last Tuesday for measuring the oldest light in the heavens. It is considered as "one of the greatest discoveries of the century". It convinced scientists that the Big Bang theory of the universe's origin is correct. George F. Smoot (top), 61, of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, and John C. Mather (above), 60, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Centre, will share the US$1.4 million prize for their work. Beginning in 1989, they measured weak light that originated as early as 380,000 years after the Big Bang. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: Father Christmas We're looking for a very special person,preferably over 40,to fill our Father Christmas suit. Working days:Every Saturday from November 24 to December 15 and every day from December 17 to December 24 except Sundays,10:30--16:00. Excellent pay. Please contact the Enterprise Shopping Centre,Station Parade,Eastbourne. Accountants Assistant When you join the team in our Revenue Administration Unit,you will be providing assistance within all parts of the Revenue Division,dealing with post and other general duties.If you are educated to GCSE grade C level we would like to talk to you.This position is equally suitable for a school leaver or for somebody who has office experience. Wealden District Council Software Trainer If you are aged 24--45 and have experience in teaching and training,you could be the person we are looking for. You should be good at the computer and have some experience in programme writing. You will be allowed to make your own decisions,and to design courses as well as present them. Pay upwards of PS15,000 for the right person.Please apply by sending your CV to Mrs R. Oglivie,Palmlace Limited. What kind of person would probably apply to Palmlace Limited? Answer: When you finish high school or university, is learning done? The answer is "no". In many countries, people continue learning all their lives. Why is lifelong learning important? How can it help you? Let's look at one example of lifelong learning in Japan. Why is lifelong learning important? You go to school and learn. You take tests. But learning doesn't only happen in school. And learning doesn't stop when you graduate from high school or college. You are learning all the time. For example, learning can happen when you go to a museum. It can also happen when you get a job. You learn when you play a sport or when you take a trip. Learning is life! We never stop learning. Every day, you can improve yourself by learning something new. Lifelong learning in Japan In Japan, life learning is very important. People in Japan like to try new learning activities. Except music calligraphy, flower arranging, and foreign languages are some of their favorite classes. The Japanese take classes to improve their skills and learn new things. Conclusion When we graduate from school, we can continue to learn. Make lifelong learning one of your goals! People in Japan like to try new learning activities. Except _ Answer: We met in a crowded showroom fifteen years ago. As I inched forward I eyed him with suspicion, unsure what to make of this stranger.A salesman made the proper introductions and although we got to know each other, I didn't trust him. I call him Super. I would find myself staring at him, wondering what secrets he held. I found myself spending more and more time with Super, getting to know him, learning to trust him. My other friends soon became a little jealous, stating that I spent too much time with him. It was true, but I didn't feel guilty, for I could just be myself with him. He didn't care about my appearance, pay and failure. None of these things mattered to him. Then _ one _ day _ he _ said _ he _ was _ going _ to _ show _ me _ the _ world.He _ said _ that _ I _ could _ ask _ to _ go _ anywhere, _ anywhere _ at _ all. When I asked him to show me New York, he didn't hesitate. He showed me the bright lights of Broadway, the majestic Statue of Liberty and so much more. Late at night we played games. Sometimes I won, sometimes he did.It didn't matter because we had fun. Through him I met other people. Men and women I never would have met if it wasn't for him. Then suddenly he became sick. He was unable to do anything and I felt so helpless because I didn't know what was wrong. But I knew those who could.I paced around the room while he was examined.What if it was something serious? What if he died? I cried but luckily he was fine again. I looked at him and saw my companion, teacher, instructor, travel guide and so much more.He was my friend, my best friend.He is ... my computer. Why did the author's other friends envy Super? Answer:
When Juliet was a child, she often went to the city park and played with her friends. On a sunny morning, when Juliet came to the park with her mum, she looked around and felt very unhappy. "What's the matter, dear?" asked her mum. Juliet replied, "Mum, there's so much trash on the ground." Juliet's mum looked around. There was paper, boxes and glass bottles everywhere. "What can we do?" asked Juliet. "I'm sure you will think of something," said her mum. As soon as Juliet and her mum went home, Juliet painted a picture of the park and wrote a sign in large black letters at the top of the picture. The sign read "PLEASE KEEP OUR PARK CLEAN". Later, she took plenty of bags and went back to the park with her mum. Juliet put up her picture on a big trash can . "Will you help me pick up the trash, Mum?" Juliet said as she handed her mum a bag. "I sure will," replied her mum. The children at the park ran over to see what was going on. Juliet handed them each a bag. "Let's clean this place up," said Juliet. Then they began to pick up the trash, talking and laughing. Soon all the bags were full. "We need to come back another day. There's still some trash on the ground, but the park looks much better," said Juliet. Her mum said, "So it does. _ " What's the topic of the passage? Answer: From the earliest times,man has been interested in art.People have often worked together to collect and save the world's art treasures. Fine art treasures from many countries are kept in an art museum called the Louvre in Paris,France.The works of art have been collected by the people of France over many centuries. The Louvre has not always been a museum.The first building was a fort .In 1190,it was the king's castle with high walls and a round tower.It had a _ to keep out his enemies. Over the years,the number of buildings around the castle grew.By 1350,the castle was no longer needed as a fort.The Louvre became a palace home for French kings and queens. During times of peace,new treasures were brought in.During days of war,many treasures were stolen,and the buildings were damaged. When Francis I became king of France in 1515,he brought in artists from many countries.One of the artists was Leonardo da Vinci from Italy.Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" is the best known painting in the museum today. In 1793,the Louvre became a public museum,just as it is now.It is a place where art treasures have been saved for everyone to enjoy. Why is it good for great art to be kept in public museums? Answer: LONDON--Manchester is Britain's fattest city, a survey for "Men's Health" has found, beating Glasgow for the first time since the magazine started examining the issue three years ago. Editor Pete Muir said the survey had looked at a variety of factors from gym membership to heart disease rates to find the fattest city. "Manchester has more fast food restaurants than anywhere else in the UK," he told Reuters. "People are taking the easy choice --eating and then just sitting in front of the TV." Manchester's problem is part of a wider trend . On Thursday, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) blamed a lack of exercise and poor diet for a fifth of adult Britons being obese . "Obesity is a major risky factor related to heart disease, diabetes and premature death ," said an ONS survey. "None of the 108 young men in the survey reported eating five portions of fruit or vegetables on average each day." In Manchester, the head of the city's public health programs said he did not believe that they were necessarily the fattest city, but that they did have problems and were aiming to address them. Social deprivation was a major factor. "One of the myths is that the stressed-out rich businessman is the one who is overweight," David Regan told Reuters. "In fact, it is the poor areas that have the most problems. We aim not to be the fattest but the fittest city but we have a long way to go." Second in the survey is Stoke-on-Trent, followed by Liverpool, Swansea and Leicester. Glasgow is sixth. David Regan is most probably _ . Answer: Hayao Miyazaki, the 72-year-old Japanese master of fantasy animation , one of the most respected animation directors in the world, announced his retirement on September 6, after the recent release of his new film The Wind Rises. Miyazaki's vision has remained unique throughout his many films over the past thirty years. The worlds he creates--the valley of the wind, the castle in the sky, and so many--are so special, so attractive. Here are some key words about his films. Good and evil Miyazaki rarely tells stories in simple good and evil. The worlds he creates tend to be complex and unclear. The bad figures often don't seem so bad once you get to know them. Miyazaki has explained that the lack of clear good and evil is because he sees the 21st century as complex time, in which old ideas need to be re-examined, even in children's films. Children The heroes in Miyazaki's films are usually children or teens, more often young girls. Sometimes they can see the spirit world; they are curious and friendly, even to strange creatures. The stories often deal with growing up. Sky and water Two of Miyazaki's great loves are the sky and water, and he uses them in related ways. Flight is a forever theme--Miyazaki has never done a film without flying of some kind. His imagination seems to fly and leave behind the pull of gravity , a force and control that he feels a bound from setting him free. Water is another way for Miyazaki to fight gravity. In his films he likes the unexpected floods with crystal-clear water, and objects floating on the surface seem to be supported by magic. Peace Miyazaki's negative view of the war goes far more than surface deep. Violence is usually seen as wrong and painful, and Miyazaki's heroes are often peacemakers. What can we know about good and evil from Miyazaki's films? Answer: Watching some children trying to catch butterflies one hot August afternoon, I was reminded of an incident in my own childhood. When I was a boy of 12 in South Carolina, something happened to me that cured me forever of wanting to put any wild creature in a cage. We lived on the edge of a wood, and every evening at dusk the mockingbirds would come and rest in the tree and sing. There isn't a musical instrument made by man that can produce a more beautiful sound than the song of the mockingbird. I decided that I would catch a young bird and keep it in a cage and that way have my own private musician. I finally succeeded in catching one and put it in a cage. At first, in its fright at being captured, the bird fluttered about the cage, but eventually it settled down in its new home, I felt very pleased with myself and looked forward to some beautiful singing from my tiny musician. I had left the cage out on our back porch , and on the second day of the bird's captivity my new pet's mother flew to the cage with food in her mouth . The baby bird ate everything she brought to it. I was pleased to see this. Certainly the mother knew better than I how to feed her baby. The following morning when I went to see how my captive was doing, I discovered it on the floor of the cage, dead. I was shocked! What had happened? I had taken excellent care of my little bird, or so I thought. Arthur Wayne, the famous _ , happened to be visiting my father at the time and, hearing me crying over the death of my bird, explained what had occurred: "A mother mockingbird, finding her young in a cage, will sometimes bring it poison berries. She thinks it better for her young to die than to live in captivity." Never since then have I caught any living creature and put it in a cage. All living creatures have a right to live free. The boy caught a mockingbird because _ . Answer:
Edith Cavell was born in a little English village. She was a clever; hard-working girl and did well at school; especially in music and French. After she left school; her first job was to take care of the children of a rich family in Belgium . The language they spoke was French; so she found that her school studies were useful. She could understand them easily; at the same time she taught the children to speak English and play the piano. After hearing that her father was seriously ill; Edith returned home to look after him. She then decided to become a nurse. Afterwards for five years she worked in an English hospital where she proved to be highly professional at her job. A Belgian doctor was so impressed that he invited her to his country to organize a training school for nurses. The First World War broke out in 1914 and Edith Cavell's school of nursing became a hospital. She stayed there to look after the sick and wounded soldiers . Edith treated them with kindness. Between November 1914 and August 1915 she secretly helped about 200 wounded soldiers and prisoners escape from the Germans. Later the German army found out what Edith had done and they arrested her. Finally; the Germans killed her; but they could not _ . A tall statue has been built in Trafalgar Square; London; in honor of the brave English nurse. Edith Cavell was from _ . A France B England C Belgium D Germany Answer: B One day, Annette wanted to make a birthday cake for her brother, Todd. She dug around in their white refrigerator and found she would need to go and buy eggs. She also needed to buy icing. Annette got on her pink bike and went to the grocery store. She asked the cashier to tell her what aisle the icing was on. Annette went to the aisle 14 and picked out blue, Todd's favorite color. She then went to get the eggs. Annette worked for 2 hours making the cake. She decorated it in the blue icing, and even wrote "Happy Birthday Todd" in neat letters. Annette's parents made a nice dinner of chicken, red potatoes, and macaroni. After dinner, Annette and her mom and dad sang to Todd. He was excited for the cake and to turn 11, and said Annette was the best sister ever. Who is the birthday cake for? A Annette B mom C Todd D dad Answer: C For over 30years,Rainbow Montessori in Addison has given children a place to grow and explore the world around them,and they're still going strong today.With 20years in the same location,the school is"not going anywhere,"says Dave Rodenborn,a son of the school's founders.As general director,Dave has overseen many improvements,including a new playground for the preschool and a complete modernization. The school serves families of children from 6weeks to 6th grade.This allows them to have programs in baby care,preschool,kindergarten,and elementary .The curriculum has developed over the decades,most notably in the Elementary.At first somewhat jokingly referred to as"Monte-sorta,"due to its relaxed application of the Montessori Method,the school's elementary now stresses a more traditional Montess environment.Montessori associates abstract concepts with concrete sensorial experiences,ensuring that children are involved in learning,not just memorization.Classrooms still have a creative,casual feel,with children having freedom of choice,but in keeping with Montessori principles,they work within a framework.This helps them learn about freedom within limits,maximizing their potential. The truly international Rainbow Montessori staff comes from a wide range of backgrounds,all Montessori-trained."They are an energetic,devoted group,"says Dave."They are loyal,caring and like what they do a lot.I'd say a good 30to 40percent of them have been here for almost a decade or more." Dave says that his favorite part of being at Rainbow Montessori is"making things grow".By that,he doesn't mean it in the sense of the organic,but by"coming up with good solutions to problems as they occur."This is reflective of Montessori beliefs,in which each child learns to use the right tools and discover solutions for themselves.Dave credits a strong staff and great parents with lots of patience for helping to make Rainbow Montessori an ideal place for children to learn and grow. Rainbow Montessori 790East Duane Ave.,Addison (408)738-3261 www.rainbow-montessori.com What do we know about Rainbow Montessori school? A It was founded by Dave Rodenborn. B It has stood at the same place for 20years. C Its students range from kindergarten to primary. D Half of its staff have worked there for ten years. Answer: B Jean--Francois Millet (October 4,1814----January 20, 1875) was a French painter and one of the founder of the Barbizon School in rural France. Born of a peasant family, Millet was encouraged by his father to study art in Cherbourg, France. He can be categorized as part of the movement called "naturalism" . His understanding of the peasant' hard life was perfectly expressed in his choice of subject and natural preference for powerful but simple drawing and coloring. One of the most well--known of Millet's paintings, The Gleaners(<<>> ),first came in a vertical composition painted in 1854,and then there came the horizontal version in 1856, which is now preserved in the Musee d'Orsay. It depicts women bending over in the fields to collect the leftover's from the harvest, and it is a monumental composition devoted to the working class. Previously, servants were depicted in paintings as obedient to a noble or a king, and picking up what was left of the harvest was regarded as one of the lowest jobs in Millet;s times. However, Millet offered these women as the heroic focus of the picture. Besides, in the painting, light lights up the women's shoulders as they carry out their work. Behind them, the field that stretches into the distance is bathed in golden light, under a wide , magnificent sky. The forms of the three figures, standing against the lighter field, show balance and harmony. According to the passage , we can know that Millet _ . A was born in rural France B belongs to neither naturalism nor realism C became famous for his love of the countryside D received his high school education in Barbizon Answer: A Adding math talk to story time at home is a winning factor for children's math achievement, according to a new research from the University of Chicago. The study from psychologists Sian Beilock and Susan Levine shows a marked increase in math achievement among children whose families used Bedtime Math, an iPad app that delivers engaging math story problems for parents and children to solve together. Even children who used the app with their parents as little as once a week saw gains in math achievement by the end of the school year. The app's effect was especially strong for children whose parents tend to be anxious or uncomfortable with math. Previous research from this group has demonstrated the importance of adults' attitudes about math for children's math success. For example, a recent study found that math-anxious parents who help their children with math homework actually weaken their children's math achievement. The new findings demonstrate that structured, positive interactions around math at home can cut the link between parents' uneasiness about math and children's low math achievement. "Many Americans experience high levels of anxiety when they have to solve a math problem, with a majority of adults feeling at least some worries about math," said Beilock, professor in Psychology and author of Choke, a book about stress and performance. "These math-anxious parents are probably less likely to talk about math at home, which affects how competent their children are in math. Bedtime Math encourages a dialogue between parents and kids about math, and offers a way to engage in high-quality math interactions in a low-effort, high-impact way." Study participants included 587 first-grade students and their parents. Families were given an iPad installed with a version of the Bedtime Math app, with which parents and their children read stories and answer questions involving math, including topics like counting, shapes and problem-solving. A control group received a reading app that had similar stories without the math content and questions related to reading comprehension instead. Children's math achievement was assessed at the beginning and end of the school year. Parents completed a questionnaire about their nervousness with math. The more times parents and children in the math group used the app, the higher children's achievement on a math assessment at the end of the school year. Indeed, children who frequently used the math app with their parents outperformed similar students in the reading group by almost three months in math achievement at year's end. Bedtime Math is an iPad app that _ . A requires parents and children to answer reading comprehension questions B assesses children's math achievement and parents' nervousness with math C teaches children how to count, recognize shapes and solve practical problems D encourages children together with their parents to solve math story problems Answer: D
Which unit is used to indicate the amount of energy in food? A ounce B degree C calorie D gram Answer: C Dear Abby, I'm a helpless mother.My son Tom is 15 years old.I find that the older he grows,the less we talk.I feel very sad and I really need help. My first problem is about his hobbies.He spends almost all his spare time on computer games.When he gets home.he always turns on the computer and closes the door.I'm getting worried about him,especially when his English teacher tells me he always gets low marks in the English exams. Second,he likes new technology,but I don't have enough money and I can't afford all the things he wants. Recently,I've found that he is always alone.I've never seen him talking to his friends on the phone or going out with anyone on weekends.That is the last problem I have. What should I do to help him?Please give me some advice. A helpless mother The helpless mother asks Abby to _ . A play with Tom B talk to Tom C buy what Tom wants D give her some advice Answer: D After much thought,I came up with a brilliant plan.I worked out a way for Rich to meet my mother and win her over.In fact,I arranged it so my mother would want to cook a meal especially for him. Rich was not only not Chinese and he was a few years younger than I was.And unfortunately,he looked much younger with his curly red hair,smooth pale skin,and the splash of orange freckles across his nose.He was a bit on the short side,compactly built.In his dark business suits,he looked nice but easily forgettable,which was why I didn't notice him the first year we worked together at the firm.But my mother noticed everything. "So what do you think of Rich?"I finally asked,holding my breath. She tossed the eggplant in the hot oil,angry hissing sound."So many spots on his face,"she said. "They are freckles.Freckles are good luck."I said a bit too heatedly in trying to raise my voice above the noise of the kitchen. "Oh?"She said innocently. "Yes,the more spots the better." She considered this a moment and then smiled and spoke in Chinese:"When you were young,you got the chicken pox.So many spots,you had to stay home for ten days.So lucky,you thought." I couldn't save Rich in the kitchen.And I couldn't save him later at the dinner table. When I offered Rich a fork,he insisted on using the slippery ivory chopsticks.Halfway between his plate and his open mouth,a large chunk of redcooked eggplant fell on his brand new white shirt. And then he helped himself to big portions of the shrimp and snow peas,not realizing he should have taken only a polite spoonful. He declined the new greens,the tender and expensive leaves of bean plants.He thought he was being polite by refusing seconds,when he should have followed my father's example,who made a big show of taking small portions of seconds,thirds and even fourths,always saying he couldn't resist another bite and then groaning he was so full he thought he would burst. But the worst was when Rich criticized my mother's cooking and he didn't even know what he had done.As is the Chinese cook's custom,my mother always made modest remarks about her own cooking.That night she chose to direct it toward her famous steamed pork and preserved vegetable dish,which she always served with special pride. "Ai!This dish not salty enough,no flavor,"she complained,after tasting a small bite. This was our family's cue to eat more and proclaim it the best she had ever made.But before we could do so,Rich said,"You know,all it needs is a little soy sauce."And he proceeded to pour a riverful of the salty black stuff on the china plate,right before my mother's horrified eyes. And even though I was hoping throughout the dinner that my mother would somehow see Rich's kindness,his sense of humor and boyish charm.I knew he had failed miserably in her eyes. Rich obviously had a different opinion on how the evening had gone.When we got home,I was still shuddering, _ remembering how Rich had firmly shaken both my parents'hands with that same easy familiarity he used with nervous new clients."Linda,Tim,"he said,"we'll see you again."My parents'names are Lindo and Tin Jong,and nobody except a few older family friends ever calls them by their first names. "What did she say when you told her?"I knew he was referring to our getting married. "I never had a chance,"I said,which was true.How could I have told my mother I was getting married,when at every possible moment we were alone,she seemed to remark on how pale and ill he looked. Rich was smiling."How long does it take to say,Mom,Dad,I am getting married?" "You don't understand.You don't understand my mother." The author wrote this story in a/an tone. A poetic B humorous C pessimistic D objective. Answer: B If you want to protect yourself,please remember the following ways of information. These ways will make you safe. Don't use earphones when you are running in the school yard or in the street. You will keep yourself from the outside world and can easily get into trouble. If a stranger is following you, please don't go home directly .You may be safer in the street than you are in your home or in a lift. If necessary, please go and get help from others. When you take a bus, don't sit alone. You should sit behind the driver or with friends. Don't sleep. Your school bag should be carried towards(,)the front of your body. Don't put it on your back. Don't play with matches or candles , because it may cause fire. If it causes fire, please call 119. If a stranger follows you,you can't _ . A get help from others B walk in the street C go home directly D call your friends Answer: C Dear Mary, I'm sorry to hear that you didn't get good grades in math mid-term exam. And you said you spend a lot of time studying math. However, it is difficult for you to learn it well. I think you should find a right way to learn it. Here is my advice for you. During the class * Listen to the teacher and be sure to write down everything the teacher puts on the blackboard. * If you don't understand a step or how to get the answer to the question, ask the teacher or a classmate for help right now. * Underline key points while taking notes. After the class * Recopy each day's notes into a new notebook clearly. * Do your homework every day carefully. And don't copy other students' homework. * If a step is unclear or you don't know how to do it, ask for help soon. _ * Look for useful examples of how this kind of difficult problem is used in your textbook or other materials Before exam * Review all of your notes quickly and find out every missing problem at times. * Work examples in the text each several times until you can do them quickly. This will help you improve the speed needed for the exam. If you do as I said, I think you will get good grades in the final exam. Come on! Mary. Which is the wrong way to learn math well? A If you don't understand a step, you could ask the teacher or a classmate for help. B You should do your homework every day carefully. C You should review all of your notes in your notebook before the exam. D You should copy other students' homework. Answer: D
Seated in a convertible with the top down at 60 miles an hour,Mary looked at the flies that sat on top of Mark's hair.How could they stay there?She wondered. Mary had not seen Mark in years,until the other day when he came into the cafe where she worked.His appearance was different from when he was in high school.Now,he was a bit fat and thick glasses covered his eyes.However,that didn't change Mary's feelings for him at all.He had just bought a brand new red sports car and asked her if she would like to go for a ride and then have dinner with him.Her heart beat with excitement as he opened the door for her.She noticed something very strange as Mark got into the car started to drive away.On the hair was a group of flies just sitting there. Mary stared in amazement.It seemed the faster they drove,the more determined the flies were to stick to his hair. Mary remained silent.She leaned forward and turned the radio on,to try to divert her attention away from the flies,but she couldn't help thinking about them.She looked up at Mark,who was completely devoted to what was going on and continued to sing to the music while driving merrily along. Finally,Mark pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road beside a diner and looked in the mirror and said,"May,I would like to comb my hair before we get something to cat.Could you reach under the seat and give me my hair cream?" Mary reached under the seat and pulled cut a camping backpack,which contained a round jar and started to laugh wildly as she pointed to the label . "That's not hair cream on your hair,Mark!It says it's Fly Trap Glue !" We can learn from the text that_. Answer: Mark used to be a thin boy Sarah was ill, she went to see the doctor. " Doctor, I'm not feeling well," she said. " Every time I do my homework, I feel tired. If I go to school on foot, I have to sit down and rest for ten minutes." The doctor looked at her carefully. At last he said, " Nothing much. But I'm afraid you are eating too much." "I don't understand, what do you mean ? "asked Sarah. "I mean you eat too much food," said the doctor. " Oh! You mean I'm too fat. That's a problem." Said Sarah. "What should I do If I don't want to be heavy !" " The answer is easy," said the doctor. " If you want to be thin and healthy, you shouldn't eat a lot of food and you also should do much exercise." _ is a problem. Answer: Being too fat At the end of eight grade, our class went to Washington, D.C. For a group of 14-year-olds, this was a big deal! The first day was so tiring; we could hardly remember where we were and what we were seeing. The next morning, we were off to seemonuments ,starting with Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson. We walked along the paths through trees. Then the Wall came into view--the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. As I moved slowly closer to the Wall, I heard abagpipe in the distance, which seemed to show respect to the lives lost in the jungles of Vietnam . We continued walking and felt surprised at the number of names carved in the black stone. I was determined to find a soldier with my last name, but my hunt was stopped when a man caught my eyes. He waskneeling at the Wall, a single rose at his feet. His head was bowed and he was rubbing his fingers over one name. I thought how sad he was, and then moved on . After a few minutes I found one with my last name, but my eyes returned to the kneeling man. He was still rubbing his fingers over the same name. He never knew I was watching him, lost in deep sorrow. It was time for me to leave the kneeling man and the Wall. On the way home, I couldn't help thinking of the kneeling man and his sad face. I wasn't sure of the effects of war before, but at that moment I realized how much that man suffered from losing his loved one. Maybe he was the only one of so many families who experienced the same . I never knew the full effects of war until I saw that man. I only know about war from history classes. The kneeling man taught me more about war and the effects it has on people than any history book . What did the author learn from the trip? Answer: What bad effects war had on many families. Sooner or later, many families will face the situation of moving. The experience can be very bad for kids, who may not be a part of the decision to move and may not understand it. You can take steps to make the entire process easier for everyone. Many kids like to stay in familiar places. So as you consider a move, weigh the benefits of that change against the comfort that neighborhood, school, and social life give your kids. If your family has recently dealt with a big life change, such as death, you may want to put off a move to give your children time to accept the fact. The decision to move may be out of your hands, perhaps because of a new job or money problems. Even if you're not happy about the move, try to keep a positive attitude to it. During the move, a parent's attitude can greatly influence kids. No matter what the results are, the most important way to prepare kids to move is to talk about it. Try to give your children as much information about the move as possible. You can ask kids to join in the planning such as house-hunting or the search for a new school. This can make the change feel less like it's being forced on them. If you're moving across town, try to take your children to visit the new house and the new neighborhood. A move can have many problems, but good things also come from this kind of change. Your family might grow closer and you may learn more about each other by going through it together. The author wrote this text mainly to tell us _ . Answer: how to prepare children for a move This week,prefix = st1 /Londonwill be full of celebrations to welcome the Year of the Rat. Every year, London's Chinatown holds a great event to celebrate Chinese New Year, the largest event outside of Asia. This year in theUK, there seems to be a huge amount of interest in Chinese culture. For the third year running, the "ChinainLondon" season is being held. This extended event will run from February to April, ending in the Olympic torch relay, when the Olympic flame will pass throughLondonon its way to the start of the Beijing Games. The "ChinainLondon" season will _ a huge number of events, ranging from art exhibitions to modern dance, film festivals to tea tastings, musical concerts to children's half-term activities. In addition, another Chinese culture festival, "China Now" is launching at Chinese New Year. This is a nationwide season of events leading up to the Beijing Olympics. As well as cultural events, this programme includes an education programme for schools to develop relationships withChina, and a Football Exchange, where the UK Football Association will be coaching children inChinaand offering a lucky few the chance to visitBritainon a football tour. The main Chinese New Year celebration will be held on Sunday 10th February, and is expected to attract around 300,000 visitors. It will showcase both traditional and contemporary Chinese arts, bringing together British-born and Chinese performers. The most important thing of the day is the grand parade through the streets of London, led by a traditional dragon dance, followed by musicians, acrobats, artists and children. There will be a large stage and screen in Trafalgar Square featuring martial arts, music and dance. It wouldn't be Chinese New Year without fireworks and firecrackers, soLeicester Squarewill see displays on the hour all afternoon. Nearby theatres and arts centres will also be holding special New Year events, such as variety shows. Happy New Year to you, we hope you enjoy your celebrations as much as we will enjoy them inLondon. What does the passage mainly talk about? Answer: A number of celebrations to welcome the New Year in London.
Five Things You Should Know About Adult Asthma About 44 million people in Asia Pacific suffer from asthma. The numbers are on the rise especially in China and India where there is rapid industrialization and urbanization. Dr Mariko Koh, Director of the Pulmonary Function Laboratory and Asthma Programme at Singapore General Hospital, tells us more about adult asthma: 1. Chronic inflammation of the airways When the airways are inflamed, mucus forms, blocking airflow, causing breathlessness, wheezing and tightness in the chest. 2. Common triggers Exposure to allergens such as mites, cockroaches, pets and pollen can trigger asthma. Tobacco smoke, respiratory infections, exercise and some medications like aspirin and beta blockers are also possible triggers. 3. Effective treatment Asthma can be controlled with medication. The main treatment of asthma is inhaled corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and block of the airways. Reliever medications may be used to treat acute symptoms. Take note: it is not too late to take medication after an asthma attack. 4. Take medication daily To ensure good control over asthma, medication must be taken daily on a long term basis to prevent attacks. Also, go to your doctor for regular checkups. 5. Quality of life Asthma sufferers can lead normal active lives as long as the symptoms are well controlled. Taking medication as directed and avoiding triggers can make a big difference to the quality of life. What is the purpose of this passage? A To explain the cause of asthma B To stress the importance of keeping away from asthma C To confirm a successful research about asthma D To inform readers several aspects about asthma Answer: D WHAT is your favorite drink ? A bottle of cola ? If so , be careful ! Soft drinks are not all that healthy. They are bad for your teeth and make you fat . How about energy drink ?Sporty kids like them very much .This kind of drink has caffeine in it .It makes children active in sports . But don't drink too much .Or you will not sleep well ,maybe you'll find it hard to concentrate in class .Energy drinks also have acid .This is bad for your teeth . So what can you drink ? Don't worry ,here are some cool and healthy drinks .Let's take a look . Water Water ? That's right . It is the best and bealthiest drink . Water has no sugar or calories .It won't give you bad teeth or make you fat. How much water should you drink every day ? US research group Mayo Clinic suggest at least eight glasses of water a day (240 ml water a glass) Juice If you don't like fresh fruits and vegetables , 100 percent of juice can be goood .But don't drink too much , no more than 240 ml every day is good for you.Remember : If you open a bottle of fresh juice , please drink it in one go ,or it will go bad . Milk Milk helps you build a healthy body.Milk is rich in protein , vitamin D and calcium .They are all good for children's bones and teeth. The best and healthiest drink is _ A cola B milk C water D juice Answer: C The easy way out isn't always easiest. I learned that lesson when I decided to treat Doug, my husband of one month, to a special meal. I glanced through my cookbook and chose a menu which included homemade bread. Knowing the bread would take time, I started on it as soon as Doug left for work. As I was not experienced in cooking, I thought if a dozen was good, two dozen would be better, so I doubled everything. As Dong loved oranges, I also opened a can of orange and poured it all into the bowl. Soon there was a sticky dough covered with ugly yellowish marks. realizing I had been defeated, I put the dough in the rubbish bin outside so I wouldn't have to face Doug laughing at my work, I went on preparing the rest of the meal, and, when Doug got home , we sat down to Cornish chicken with rice . He tried to enjoy the meal but seemed disturbed. Twice he got up and went outside, saying he thought he heard a noise. The third time he left, I went to the windows to see what he was doing. Looking out, I saw Doug standing about three feet from the rubbish bin, holding the lid up with a stick and looking into the container. When I came out of the house, he dropped the stick and explained that there was something alive in out rubbish bin . Picking up the stick again, he held the lid up enough for me to see. I felt cold. But I stepped closer and looked harder. Without doubt it was my work. The hot sun had caused the dough to double in size and the fermenting yeast made the surface shake and sigh as though it were breathing. I had to admit what the 'living thing 'was and why it was there. I don't know who was more embarrassed by the whole thing Doug or me. The writer's purpose in writing this story is _ A to tell an interesting experience B to show the easiest way out of a difficulty C to describe the trouble facing a newly married woman D to explain the difficulty of learning to cook from books Answer: A When people have money, they have the freedom to choose how to use it. Some people have more money than others, but no one has all the money in the world. The amount of money we have is limited. The supply of goods, land, and resources is limited. Because of this, people can not have or buy everything that they might want. This means that if you have only five dollars to spend, you can not buy something that costs ten dollars. As our country has grown in the number of citizens, the price of goods has increased. In the recent years the cost of food, clothing, housing and cars has risen quickly. The price of films and books has gone up. In a time when prices are rising, people cannot buy as much with the money as before. Which of the following is true according to this passage? A Money is not limited and we can't have it all. B Something that costs 20 dollars can only be sold for 5 dollars. C Natural resources can never be used up. D Some people can be rich while other people can be poor. Answer: D Andrew Carneigie, known as the King of Steel, built the steel industry in the United States, and, in the process, became one of the wealthiest men in America. His success resulted partly from his ability to sell the product and partly from his policy of expanding during periods of economic decline, when most of his competitors were reducing their investments. Carnegie believed that individuals should progress through hard work, but he also felt strongly that the wealthy should use their fortunes for the benefit of society. He opposed charity, preferring instead to provide educational opportunities that would allow others to help themselves. "He who dies rich, dies disgraced", he often said. Among his more noteworthy contributions to society are those that bear his name, including the Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh, which has a library, a museum of fine arts, and a museum of national history. He also founded a school of technology that is now part of Carnegie-Mellon University. Other philanthropic gifts are the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to promote understanding between nations, the Carnegie Institute of Washington to fund scientific research, and Carnegie Hall to provide a center for the arts. _ . His contributions of more than five million dollars established 2,500 libraries in small communities throughout the country and formed the nucleus of the public library system that we all enjoy today. The author quoted "he who dies rich, dies disgraced" in the passage to show _ . A He felt strongly that the wealthy should use their fortunes for the benefit of society. B He opposed charity. C The wealthy die from their fortunes D The wealthy die from not contributing to society. Answer: A
There's a body of water in Israel that is actually below sea level. Water constantly runs into it, but, because of the law of gravity ,nothing can flow out of it. Do you know the name of this famous lake? It's called the Dead Sea. It's called this because no living thing could live there. The water is almost dead, compared to what happens with "living water". When you think of the term "living water", the image that comes to mind is a rushing river that is flowing. It's filled with life and movement. It doesn't just "receive", but is also "giving" simultaneously. Many of us believe that we need to receive more of something in order to be happy. Whether what we desire is money or something else, we think we need more of it in order to be fulfilled. As a result, we begin to operate in fear and therefore don't give anything because we're afraid that we won't have enough. The result? Like the Dead Sea, we become lifeless. Life is meant to flow. when a pool stops flowing, it becomes stagnant . Stagnant water breeds disease and death. It can't breathe. It can't receive any more. If nothing is flowing out, there's no room for anything else to come in. The solution? Give. As you give, you'll receive. It's a universal law. You see it at work everywhere. we've somehow been deceived ( )into believing that if we don't give, we'll have more. Or we're afraid that if we do give, we won't have anything left. On one hand, this seems to make sense. But it doesn't work. Because when we don't give, we shut off the flow of what's coming in. What would be the best title for the passage? A. Give and you'll receive B. The secret of the Dead sea C. A universal law D. come in and come out Answer: A. Give and you'll receive Everybody can suffer from stress. No matter what your age is, you can feel stressed out by things that are happening in your life. Teenagers, however, have many more opportunities to get stressed than people in any other age group. Being a teenager is hard. You are not a child any more, but you are not an adult, even though you have to deal with some very grown-up problems and decisions. Families can be one of the biggest causes of stress, such as problems with parents arguing at home or problems with brothers and sisters. Teenagers also have a lot of stress from school, either from their teachers or from their friends. Some teenagers also feel stressed about choosing their education after high school. Getting a place at university can be very difficult and some cannot afford to go to university. The stress about getting a job when finishing school is hard for some teenagers. There are so many young people finishing school and not enough jobs for them. Sadly, there is nothing we can do to remove these causes of stress from the 1ives of teenagers, but you can learn the best way to deal with it. Talking to people is one of the best ways to deal with stress. It may sound simple, but it is true. A problem shared is a problem halved. Families can add to the stress a teenager might experience _ . A. by asking them to go to university B. by helping them with their homework C. as teenagers quarrel with their parents, and their brothers or sisters D. as families never support their children enough Answer: C. as teenagers quarrel with their parents, and their brothers or sisters In the desert, the cactus is a rare source of A. food B. shelter C. moisture D. shade Answer: C. moisture During the early years of American settlement, a new form of English was beginning to develop in the islands of the West Indies and the southern part of the mainland, spoken by the black population. The beginning of the seventeenth century saw the happening of the slave trade. Ships from Europe travelled to the West African coast, where they exchanged cheap goods for black slaves. The slaves were shipped in terrible conditions to the Caribbean islands and the American coast, where they were in turn exchanged for such products as sugar and molasses . The ships then returned to England, completing an "Atlantic triangle"of journeys, and the process began again. Britain and the United States had outlawed the slave trade by 1865, but by that time, nearly 200 years of trading had taken place. By the middle of the nineteenth century, there were over four million black slaves in America. The policy of the slave-traders was to bring people of different language backgrounds together in the ships, to make it difficult for groups to plan rebellion. The result was the growth of several pidgin forms of communication, and in particular a pidgin between the slaves and the sailors many of whom spoken English. Once arriving in the Caribbean, this pidgin English continued to act as a major means of communication between teh black population and the new landowners, and among the blacks themselves. Then, when children came to be born, the pidgin became their mother tongue, thus producing the first black Creole speech in the region. This Creole English rapidly came to be used throughout the cotton plantations , and in the coastal towns and islands. What is the text mainly about? A. The history of slave trade. B. "Atlantic triangle" of journeys. C. Languages spoken in America D. The birth of black English Answer: D. The birth of black English V. Stiviano says Donald Sterling's racist comments on an audio recording leaked to the public were not the first by the Los Angeles Clippers owner in conversations with her. "There's been a number of occasions where Mr. Sterling and I had conversations just like this one. This was one of very many," Stiviano told Barbara Walters on ABC's "20/20" in an interview that aired Friday night. "Part of what the world heard was only 15 minutes. There's a number of other hours that the world doesn't know." Sterling, who has been banned for life by the NBA for the remarks, also spoke for the first time since the scandal. "I wish I had just paid her off," Sterling told DuJour.com, referring to Stiviano. According to the person who conducted the interview, Sterling "expressed remorse." Sterling told Stiviano in the recording that she should not post online photos of herself with black people, including basketball great Magic Johnson, or bring black people to Clippers' games. The recording, which an attorney for Stiviano said was leaked by a third party, led to public outcry across the country and the NBA. Some sponsors dropped the Clippers and others re-evaluated their relationship with the NBA. On Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Sterling for life, fined him $2.5 million, and urged league owners to force him to sell the team. A three-quarters vote by the NBA owners is required to force him to sell. Though Stiviano told Walters that Sterling should " ly" apologize, she said she still loves him like a father figure and does not believe he is a racist. "I think Mr. Sterling is from a different generation than I am," she said. "I think he was brought up to believe these things . . . segregation, whites and blacks. But through his actions he's shown that he's not a racist. He's shown to be a very generous and kind man." Stiviano said that since the ban, Sterling has felt confused, alone, and not supported by those around him. "I think he's highly more traumatized and hurt by the things that he said himself," she said. "I think he can't even believe or understand sometimes the thing he says, and I think he's hurt by it. He's hurting right now." A real-estate mogul, Sterling has been accused of racial missteps before. The billionaire had paid a $2.76 million settlement to resolve a federal lawsuit accusing him of systematically excluding blacks and Hispanics from his rental properties. He also won a wrongful termination lawsuit by general manager Elgin Baylor, who accused him of various slurs and slights. The passage is meant to _ . A. show the strong anger of the whole public against racism B. warn the public of racism that still exists in American society C. tell readers how the audio recording was leaked to the public D. report Donald Sterling's racist comments and consequences Answer: D. report Donald Sterling's racist comments and consequences
The surprising experiment I am about to describe proves that air is all around you and that it presses down upon you. Air pressure is a powerful force. When you swim underwater, you can feel water pushing on your body. The air all around you does the same. However, your body is so used to it that you do not notice this. The pressure is caused by a layer of air called the atmosphere. This layer surrounds the Earth, extending to about five kilometers above the Earth's surface. The following experiment is an easy one that you can do at home. But make sure that you are supervised , because you will need to use matches. Now for the experiment. What you need * hard-boiled egg without the shell * A bottle with a neck slightly smaller than the egg * A piece of paper * A match Method 1) Check that the egg will sit firmly on the neck of the bottle. 2) Tear the paper into pieces and put them into the bottle. 3) Light the paper by dropping a burning match into the bottle. 4) Quickly sit the egg on the neck of the bottle. Result Astonishingly, the egg will be sucked into the bottle. Your friends will be amazed when you show them the experiment. But be careful when you handle matches. Why it happened? As the paper burns, it needs oxygen and uses up the oxygen (air) in the bottle. The egg acts as a scale in the neck of the bottle, so no more air can get inside. This reduces the air pressure inside the bottle. The air pressure must equalize, so more air from outside must enter the bottle. The outside air presses against the egg, and then the egg is pushed into the bottle! This proves that air is all around and that it is pressing down on us. Why is there the need to take care when you are doing the experiment? Answer: You need to light the paper with a match. Oyster What is an Oyster card? Oyster is the easiest way to pay for journeys on the bus,Tube,tram,Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground and National Rail journeys in London You can store your travel cards, Bus & Tram Pass, season tickets and credit to pay for journeys as you go. Where to get an Oyster card? There are a number of ways for you to get an Oyster card: * At over 3,900 Oyster Ticket stops * At Tube and London Overground station ticket offices * At some National Rail stations * At London Travel information Centres * Online at tfl. gov. uk/oyster How to use an Oyster card? To pay the correct fare on the Tube , DLR, London Overground and National Rail services, you must always touch in on the yellow Oyster card reader at the start of your journey, and touch out at the end. If you don't, a maximum cash Oyster fare will be charged. When using the bus or tram, you must only touch in at the start, but not at the end of your journey. What happens if I don't visit London very often? Don't worry. Any pay as you go credit on your card will not expire ,so you can keep it for your next visit or lend it to a friend. Fares Traveling by Tube from Central London (Zone l)to Heathrow (Zone 6) Adult Oyster single fare PS 4. 20 Monday to Friday 06:30 - 09:30 and 16:00 - 19:00 PS 2. 70 at all other times including public holidays Adult single cash fare PS 5.00 For further information,visit tfl.gov. uk /fares. Which of the following is TRUE about Oyster cards? Answer: On National Rail services you must touch them on the reader twice. Which can is depleted permanently? Answer: coal College is a lifetime investment -- the gift of a college education can open the door to a world of opportunity for your child or grandchild. Savings , even not so many at a time, can make a big difference. With the cost of a college education continuing to rise, the key is to start saving early and regularly. By saving a set amount at set times, your money can grow as your child does. According to the College Board, the average cost for four-year public colleges has increased by nearly 51% over the last 10 years and these costs will almost certainly continue to rise. Saving for college can help with the increasing cost of a college education and help you be well prepared when your child is ready for college. Saving for your child's college education is an investment in their future. The savings you make today will pay off in increased earnings in the future. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, college graduates earn an average of $1 million more than high school graduates during their careers. The value of your investment in a college education will continue to grow for a lifetime. Set your college saving goals realistically. You may not be able to save enough for all four years' fees, but you could save enough to give your child the right start. More and more families depend on student loans to pay for college. By saving for college, families will have less burden of paying off loans and help their children leave school without worrying about paying off loans. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? Answer: Why We Should Save for Children's College Costs Every day, Daisy wakes up next to a man, who has to convince her they are married. When she expresses doubt, he takes out a photo album and shows her pictures of their wedding 13 years ago. Only then does _ Daisy accept that she has been married, and that everything he has told her is true. The lady's condition was caused by brain injuries suffered in two road accidents, a motorbike crash in 1985 and a car accident in 1990. Daisy can recall everything up to 1994, but since then everything that happens on one day is forgotten the next day. She has no day-today memory after the car crash. And it is not just loved ones Daisy struggles with. She uses hundreds of notes and reminders on her mobile phone's calendar to keep her informed of appointments and everyday duties. Anything she has done or anyone she has met must be logged for future reference. And on the rare occasions when she takes the risk of going out of her home alone, she has to be armed with navigation programmed with her address. There are some benefits, however. There is no such thing as a repeat on TV and every joke is funny, because it seemed she has heard it the first time."It's like I am living the same day, day after day, said Daisy, who does voluntary work at a charity for people with disabilities three days a week. Dr Peter Nestor said Daisy was suffering from anterograde( , ) amnesia. He added, "It is reasonably rare, but it does exist. You are able to carry out daytoday things, and don't forget how to do certain things like speaking. But if someone was to ask you what you did yesterday, you wouldn't have a clue." What caused Daisy's condition? Answer: Brain injuries in accidents.
The thing was a hot one! A farmer had shot two wolves on purpose. He had seen the wolves on his farm and decided to get them before they caused trouble. He knew wolves were a kind of protected animals. However, he also knew most of his neighbors would shoot wolves, too. Shortly after the farmer skinned the wolves, problems began. It seemed that someone didn't like the idea of killing wolves after all. The officials had arrived. Out-of-town reporters got hold of the story. And now the farmer was on trial for his killing of the wolves. Wolves should _ according to this passage. A. be protected B. not cause trouble C. be killed if they cause trouble D. not enter places where people live Answer: A My name is James Brown. I have an 8-year-old daughter. Her name is Ann. Her favorite activity is watching movies. She watches movies once a week . Movie World is in my neighborhood . And it is the biggest movie theater in the city . It has the most comfortable seats and the best sound . She likes watching movies there. Last Sunday, I took her to Movie World to watch the movie Epic . Epic is a movie about a father Bomba and his 17-year-old daughter Mary. Bomba was interested in looking for Leaf Men. He said they lived in a forest, but no one believed him. One day , Mary was swept into the world of the Leaf Men, and she found her father was right. At this early-afternoon showing, the theater was almost full. 60% of the _ were kids aged three to ten and their fathers. I didn't think it was because of the movie itself. In fact, a study showed that dads were 50% more likely than moms to take young kids to the movies in the United States. ,. Who went to see the movie Epic ? A. Mary and her dad. B. Mary and her sister. C. Ann and her dad. D. Ann and her mom. Answer: C Walt Whitman was born in eighteen nineteen in New York City. During his long life, he watched America grow from a young nation to the strongest industrial power in the world. Whitman was influenced by events around him. But his poetry speaks of the inner self. He celebrated great people like President Abraham Lincoln. He also celebrated common people. As a young man, Whitman worked as a school teacher, a printer and a newspaper reporter. He was thirty-six years old when his first book of poetry was published. He called it Leaves of Grass. It has only twelve poems. The poems are written in free verse. The lines do not follow any set form. Some lines are short and some are long. The words at the end of each line do not have a similar sound. They do not rhyme. One of America's greatest thinkers and writers immediately recognized the importance of Leaves of Grass. Ralph Waldo Emerson praised Whitman's work. _ The America's Civil War began in eighteen sixty-one. During the war, Whitman worked without pay at army hospitals. He helped care for the wounded and dying soldiers. He sat beside these men for hours. He brought them food and wrote letters for them. After the Civil War, Whitman worked for government agencies. He watched the United States try to heal itself and increase democracy. To Walt Whitman, democracy was more than a political system or idea. It was a natural form of government for free people. Whitman believed democracy was meant to honor the rights of every person and the equality of all people. In eighteen seventy-three, Walt Whitman suffered a stroke. He spent the last few years of his life in Camden, New Jersey and wrote more poems. Whitman was poor and weak during the last few years of his life. He died in eighteen ninety-two. Leaves of Grass was published in _ . A. 1855 B. 1819 C. 1861 D. 1873 Answer: A An increase in students applying to study economics at university is being attributed to the global economic crisis awakening a public thirst for knowledge about how the financial system works. Applications for degree courses beginning this autumn were up by 15% this January, according to UCAS, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. A spokesman for the Royal Economic Society said applications to do economics at A-level were also up. Professor John Beath, the president of the society and a leading lecture at St Andrews University, said his first-year lectures which are open to students from all departments--were drawing crowds of 400, rather than the usual 250. "There are a large number of students who are not economics majors, who would like to learn something about it. One of the things I have done this year is to relate my teaching to contemporary events in a way that one hasn't traditionally done. " He added. University applications rose 70% last year. But there were rises above average in several subjects. Nursing saw a 15% jump, with people's renewed interest in careers in the pubic sector , which are seen as more secure in economic crisis. A recent study showed almost two thirds of parents believed schools should do more to teach pupils about financial matters, and almost half said their children had asked them what was going on, although a minority of parents felt they did not understand it themselves well enough to explain. Zack Hocking, the head of Child Trust Funds, said: "It's possible that one good thing to arise from the downturn will be a generation that's financially wiser and betterequipped(...) to manage their money through times of economic uncertainty." In the opinion of most parents , _ . A. economics should be the focus of school teaching B. more students should be admitted to universities C. the teaching of financial matters should be strengthened. D. children should solve financial problems themselves Answer: C Which activity is necessary for humans to maintain good health? A. reading B. resting C. driving D. talking Answer: B
Since I became a full--time freelancer , I've found one of the hardest things to do is to get up early. Without the danger of being fired, there just hasn't been a lot of motivation to get out of bed. I've quickly learned that getting up is the key to success and better yet: waking up early is really just a habit. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you must have strong reasons to get out of bed. Motivation is the only thing keeping us from lying in bed all day. Writing down all the big and important things you'll do the next day can give you an extra push in your goal to wake up early and quickly. Don't read in bed. Spending as little time as possible in bed will actually help your body realize that the bed is for sleeping, and not for lying awake for hours. The goal of reading in bed is just to help you fall asleep within 10 minutes. Stress is one of the main causes of poor sleep. Relax yourself before getting into bed. Try controlled breathing exercises or yoga to lower your stress level. These are just a few ways you can use to wake up earlier. Finding the best way is the most important, and it requires a little work. The key thing is that waking up should be a pleasant experience. If you can make waking up something you are looking forward to, you're already halfway on your journey toward becoming an early riser. Which of the following is NOT true about doing yoga? Good afternoon and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be pleasant. 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 old, nor may your friends buy it for you. Secondly, noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means, but please don't make unnecessary noise, especially 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 the crossing for walking and don't take any chances when crossing the road. My next point is about rubbish. 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 into a rubbish bin. Finally, smoking. It is against the law to buy cigarettes or tobacco if you are under 16 years old. I'd like to finish by saying that if you need any kind of help, you can turn to the police. The police will be pleased to help you. You can call, or directly go to ask any policeman. If you need help, you can contact a policeman in England by . Are animal brains too simple for thoughts and choices? Stories about animal kindness have really changed my point of view. In fact, some stories are amazing, especially when animals are meeting with people. Here are two stories that interest me. James, a wildlife writer, told a story that an African woman had placed her baby in the shade of a tree while she was working. An elephant group walked by and saw the baby. Several elephants pulled leafy branches from the tree covered the sleeping baby. Flies can be a problem in Africa and the branches protected the baby from the flies. The elephants were so gentle and quiet that they did not even wake up the baby. Then the elephants walked away. An English magazine offers another story. Bill, a cat, stayed at home while its master was away on a trip, but the man was injured in a railway accident and died a few days later in a hospital. At the funeral, the Man's brother was surprised to see that Bill was there. The faithful cat had traveled a long way to the hospital, looked at the coffin , and then sadly returned home. Humans are only one part of the earth. The beautiful flowers are our sisters; the deer, the horses and the great eagles, these are our brothers. The sky and mountains, the cows and men, all belong to the same family. These stories, I hope, will inspire more people to treat animals as our friends rather than pets or our next meal. What did the elephants do when they saw the baby? In America, just as in Europe, men usually open doors for women, and women always walk ahead of men into a room or a restaurant, unless the men have to be ahead of the ladies to choose the table, to open the door of a car or do some other things like the above. On the street, men almost always walk or cross the street on the closer side of the ladies to the traffic. But if a man walks with two ladies, he should walk between them. Then if the host or hostess or both of them come in a car to get their guest for dinner, the guest should sit at the front seat and leave the back seat though there is no people sitting on it. ,. In America men usually _ . If I wanted to protect my feet from getting blisters I might
If you have a chance to go to school in prefix = st1 /America, you should keep the following in mind: If a teacher asks you a question, you are expected to give an answer. If you do not understand the question, you should raise your hand and ask the teacher to repeat the question. It is all right to tell the teacher that you do not know the answer. Then he or she knows what you need to learn. There is no excuse for not doing your homework. If you are absent ,you should call your teacher or your classmates and ask for the assignment. It is your responsibility to find out what homework you have missed. It is impolite to eat, drink or chew gum during class. This is allowed for the break. Removing one' s shoes in the classroom is also not polite. You must not be absent on a test day. If you are seriously ill, you must call and let the teacher know you will not be there for the test. If your teacher allows a make-up test, you should take the test within one or two days after returning to class. It is rude to be late. If you must come in late, be sure to do it quietly by having your books and papers out of your bag, then go to your seat and sit very quietly. In the U. S., it is not necessary to knock before you enter the classroom. Most teachers will give you a low grade if you are often late. Copying another student' s test or paper is never acceptable. It is called cheating. Students who cheat are kicked out in most schools. Which of the following statements is NOT true? A If you miss a class, call the teacher to find out the homework. B Teachers in the U.S.don't like students' being often late. C Eating and drinking during the break is considered rude. D It is considered rude to keep silent when asked a question. Answer: C The children often play soccer in the garden .Sometimes they break Mrs. Smith's windows. One afternoon , Mrs. Smith is reading a newspaper at home.After a short time, she closes her eyes and goes to _ At that time a little boy knocks at the door.Mrs. Smith opens the door and asks, "Do you break my windows again ?" "Oh, no", says the boy." Your windows are open this time and our soccer is in your room.Can I get it back, please?" ,. One afternoon, Mrs. Smith is _ at home. A seeing a movie B cleaning windows C watching TV D reading a newspaper Answer: D Vienna--Although Iraq's decided to stop oil deliveries , the 11-nation Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will not increase production to make up the shortfall caused by Iraq. The 11 oil ministers decided to meet again on July 3 to discuss the effects of the Iraq temporary stop. The organization's president Charkid Khelil of Algeria said after the meeting that stocks were high and prices were stable and that quota increases were not necessary. The EU Commission has also expressed concern about Iraq's output stop. A speaker said OPEC had to take all possible measures to keep or lower the oil price. Saudi Arabia's Oil Minister Ali Al-Nuaimi had earlier said that there would not be any shortfall of oil in the market. The organization had already taken steps to fill the gap , he said. OPEC Secretary General Ali Rodriguez added that the period of the Iraq stop to export was not known, so other exporters were not going to lift quotas yet. If the market was destabilized , a suitable response would be made. Iraq stopped delivery of crude oil on Monday to protest against the UN Security Council's decision to extend the oil-for-food program by only a month, instead of the normal six-month renewal . Just before the Vienna meeting, oil prices had gone up, with a barrel of OPEC crude selling for 27.05 dollars, up from 26.81 dollars last Friday. And north sea oil was at 29.26 dollars Monday evening. OPEC wanted the oil price to stay within a margin of 22 to 28 dollars and achieved that in January and March by reducing 2.5 million barrels per day off quotas. Iraq made the decision to stop oil deliveries because _ . A oil price is too low in the international market B the UN Security Council had decided to shorten the time for the oil-for-food program C many oil wells were destroyed during the war D it couldn't get enough money to develop its economy Answer: B A couple had a son eleven years after they married. They were a loving couple and the boy was _ . When the boy was around four years old, one day the father was very tired after work so he asked his wife to pick up their son. The mother, who was very busy in the kitchen, totally forgot about it. Later the boy lost his way on the street. When the son was found missing, the mother hurried to look for him, but she didn't find him. The mother felt very sad and didn't know how to face her husband. When the father went to the police station after hearing that the son was missing, he looked at his wife and said just four words. What do you think the four words were? The husband just said "I love you, darling." www.zxxk.com The son was missing. If she had picked him up earlier, this would not have happened. There is no point in blaming anyone. His wife had also lost her only child. What his wife needed at that moment was comfort and understanding from her husband. That is what the husband gave his wife. Several weeks later, with the help of the police, the couple finally found their lost son. The family's relationship became stronger over that time. Sometimes we spend lots of time asking who is to blame. We miss many chances to give each other support and let each other feel the warmth of human relationships. Get rid of all your unwillingness to forgive, selfishness, and fears and you will find the world is much more wonderful. What do you think of the husband? A Warm-hearted. B Careful. C Hard-working. D Broad-minded. Answer: D When tea and coffee were first introduced to Europe in the 18th century, people had different ideas about their use.Some said that tea and coffee were harmful to humans and they could cause people to die. In Sweden , King Gustaf III decided to find out whether or not this was true.It happened that there were two brothers in prison at that time.They were twins and were almost alike in every way.They had both been sentenced to death .The King decided to let them live if one of the men agreed to drink several cups of tea each day and the other several cups of coffee. Both brothers lived many years without problems of any kind.At last,the brother who had drunk tea every day died at the age of 83,the other died a few years later. Because of the experiment , tea and coffee got accepted and became popular as drink in Sweden, and it is one of the many countries of the world where much tea and coffee is drunk today. The brother who had drunk tea every day lived _ . A until he was over 83 B until he was 83 C until the other had been dead for several years D until he had drunk tea for a few years Answer: B
Susan, the US My best friend is Fanny. She is clever and interesting. We always look after each other. The first week we met, I got sick and she looked after me every day. Betty, England My best friend's Ana. She is honest and serious. We were born in the same city in England. Then I moved to America with my family. I thought I would never see Ana again. When I went to college in New York,, Ana and I shared the same room! Ken, Japan I love to spend time with Daisuke because he is funny and smart. We enjoy talking about the funny things we did when we were children , and tell the same stupid jokes over and over again. Lily , Australia Linda is very confident girl and she is really kind. Some people may wonder why Linda and I are best friends because we are totally different, but I think this is why we are such good friends. Who is Susan's best friend? Answer: Miller was indicted in a state court in January 1985 for a robbery and murder that occurred in December 1982. He retained counsel, who filed a motion to dismiss on the ground that Miller had been prejudiced by a 25-month delay in obtaining the indictment. Thereafter, Miller, with his counsel, appeared in court for arraignment and stated that he wished to plead guilty. The presiding judge asked Miller whether he understood the nature of the charges, possible defenses, and maximum allowable sentences. Miller replied that he did, and the judge reviewed all of those matters with him. He then asked Miller whether he understood that he did not have to plead guilty. When Miller responded that he knew that, the judge accepted the plea and sentenced Miller to 25 years. Six months later, Miller filed a motion to set aside his guilty plea on each of the following grounds. Which of these grounds provides a constitutional basis for relief? Answer: A reflective surface fogging up is Answer: If you have ever been rock climbing, you will know that it is not a very easy sport. In fact, you probably felt quite defeated when you first tried to do any serious climbing. Indoor and outdoor rock climbing are both extremely demanding and require practice to get good at. It is one of the most physically and mentally demanding sports. There are three basic types of rock climbing. Top roping is the most common type and the climber need to climb with a partner. The second type, which is very similar to top roping, is called lead climbing. In both of the types, the climber can sit off the wall and rest on the rope. The third type is called bouldering. Bouldering is a type of free climbing without any ropes. This is the most demanding of all climbing types. The climber must be able to complete the climbing without taking a rest on the rope. Believe it or not, climbing is said to be about 75% legs and only 25% arms. To climb efficiently and successfully, a person needs to have a wonderful technique. One of the major rules of rock climbing is to always have three points touching the wall, whether it is both feet and one hand, or one foot and both hands, as it is much easier to have your weight cases will not do the climbing; they only hold you into the wall so that your legs are actually pushing you upward. Also, the closer you are to the wall, the easier it is to climb. Rock climbing may sound a bit too extreme for the everyday person, but it is really an amazing workout. Once you get into the sport, and learn how to position your body and rest your weight, then you can begin to deal with some difficult problems. The great thing about rock climbing is that it is mentally challenging as well. You are constantly analyzing the way your body moves and how to do certain moves on the wall. For anyone who wants to get into shape, rock climbing is a fun and effective way to exercise muscles. While climbing, it is much easier for a rock climber if he _ . Answer: Over the last 70 years, researchers have been studying happy and unhappy people and finally found out ten factors that make a difference. Our feelings of well-being at any moment are determined to a certain degree by genes. However, of all the factors, wealth and age are the top two. Money can buy a degree of happiness. But once you can afford to feed, clothe and house yourself , each extra dollar makes less and less difference. Researchers find that, on average, wealthier people are happier. But the link between money and happiness is complex. In the past half-century, average income has sharply increased in developed countries, yet happiness levels have remained almost the same. Once your basic needs are met, money only seems to increase happiness if you have more than your friends, neighbors and colleagues. "Dollars buy status, and status makes people feel better," conclude some experts, which helps explain why people who can seek status in other ways---scientists or actors, for example--may happily accept relatively poorly-paid jobs. In a research, Professor Alex Michalos found that the people whose desires--not just for money, but for friends, family, job, health--rose furthest beyond what they already had, tended to be less happy than those who felt a smaller gap. Indeed, the size of the gap predicted happiness about five times better than income alone. "The gap measures just blow away the only measures of income." Says Michalos. Another factor that has to do with happiness is age. Old age may not be so bad. "Given all the problems of aging, how could the elderly be more satisfied?" asks Professor Laura Carstensen. In one survey, Carstensen interviewed 184 people between the ages of 18 and 94, and asked them to fill out an emotions questionnaire. She found that old people reported positive emotions just as often as young people, but negative emotions much less often. Why are old people happier? Some scientists suggest older people may expect life to be harder and learn to live with it, or they're more realistic about their goals, only setting ones that they know they can achieve. But Carstensen thinks that with time running out, older people have learned to focus on things that make them happy and let go of those that don't. "People realize not only what they have, but also that what they have cannot last forever," she says. "A goodbye kiss to a husband or wife at the age of 85, for example, may bring far more complex emotional responses than a similar kiss to a boy or girl friend at the age of 20. According to the passage, the feeling of happiness _ . Answer:
Doctor Manette had suddenly disappeared. Everything was done to discover some trace of him, but in vain. The loss of her husband caused his wife such pain that she decided to bring up her little daughter, Lucie, in ignorance of her father's fate, and when in two years she died she left little Lucie under the guardianship of Mr. Lorry. After eighteen years, strange news concerning the doctor had just come from Paris. Mr. Lorry, told Lucie, "your father has been found. He is alive, greatly changed, but alive. He has been taken to the house of a former servant in Paris, and we are going there." On arrival, the banker and Lucie were taken to an attic, where a haggard , white-haired man sat on a low bench, making shoes. He was sheltered by a man by the name of Defarge who, with his wife, kept a wine-shop in the district of St. Antoine. Charles Darnay was of noble birth; but his ancestors had for many years so cruelly oppressed the French peasants that the name of Evremonde was hated and looked down upon. Unlike them in character, this last descendant of his race had given up his name and wealth and had come to England as a private gentleman, eager to begin a new life. Sydney Carton was a young English lawyer. _ soon became frequent visitors at the small house in Soho Square, the home of Doctor Manette and his daughter. Through Lucie's care and devotion, the doctor had almost completely recovered from the effects of his long imprisonment, and it was only in times of strong excitement that any trace of his past foolish behaviors could be discovered. The sweet face of Lucie Manette soon won the hearts of both the young men, but it was Darnay to whom she gave her love. They married. The French Revolution had actually begun and in 1792 Mr. Lorry and Charles Darnay landed in Paris, the former to protect the French branch of Tellson & Co. and the latter to help an old family servant -Gabelle-who had begged his help. Not until they had set foot in Paris did they realize what a caldron of fury they had been involved in. Mr. Lorry, on account of his business relations, was allowed his freedom, but Darnay was hurried at once to the prison of La Force, there to wait for his trial. The reason given for this outrage was the new law for the arrest of all returning French emigrants , but the true cause was that he had been recognized as Charles Evremonde. Doctor Manette, going to France with Lucie, gained a promise that Darnay's life should be spared. At last came the terrible year of the Reign of Terror. The sympathy which at first had been given to Doctor Manette had become weakened through the influence of Mrs. Defarge. Also, there had been found in the ruins of the Bastille a paper which contained Doctor Manette's account of his imprisonment, and pronouncing a curse upon the House of Evremonde and their descendants, who were responsible for his eighteen years of misery. Charles Darnay's fate was sealed. "Death within twenty-four hours." To Sydney Carton, who had followed his friends to Paris, came an inspiration. He once promised Lucie that he would die to save a life she loved. He managed to gain admission to the prison; Darnay was removed unconscious from the cell, and Carton sat down to wait for his fate. Along the Paris streets six tumbrels were carrying the day's wine to La Guillotine. In the third car sat a young man with his hands tied. As the cries from the street arose against him, they only move him to a quiet smile as he shook more loosely his hair about his face. Crash! A head is held up. The third cart came up, and the supposed Evremonde came down. His lips move, forming the words, "a life you love." Charles Darnay was arrested because _ . Answer: A young man from a village called Nawalapitiya married a young woman from Maliyuwa, a nearby village. They lived with the man's big family--his parents, his brothers, their wives and children. The family kept an elephant, in which the young woman soon took a great interest. Every day she fed it with fruit and sugar. Three months later the woman went back to her parents' home, having quarreled with her husband. Soon the elephant refused to eat and work. It appeared to be ill and heart-broken. One morning after several weeks the animal disappeared from the house. It went to the woman's home. On seeing her, the elephant waved its trunk and touched her with it. The young woman was so moved by the act of the animal that she returned to her husband's home. The writer wrote the story in order to _ . Answer: The farmer and the stork After the long winter, the farmers finally began planting their fields. This made the birds very glad, for now there would be millions of seeds to steal! While some of the birds were careful, the cranes were daring ; they stole seeds from right under the farmers' noses. The cranes considered stealing is fun, and that morning they asked a simple-minded stork to come along for the fun. The stork went along, not knowing what the cranes were up to. But the party ended unexpectedly when the birds all got caught in the trap of the farmer's net, who had set the trap for just that purpose. When the farmer discovered the birds in his trap, the stork asked for mercy . "Please, Farmer, sir, I am a stork. I come from a good family that is honest and true. I went along with the cranes, but I had no idea they were going to steal from you," the bird said. "You may come from a good family, but I caught you with the birds who were stealing. So you will receive the same punishment!" replied the farmer. You are judged by the company that you keep. The author thought the stork simple-minded because the bird _ . Answer: People's Daily Online: On the night of February 5, 2009, CCTV - 1 broadcasted the "Moving China in 2008" award ceremony. The ceremonybroke its tradition, presenting the special award this year to the whole Chinese people. In the award presentation speech, the committee noted that, "In 2008,prefix = st1 /Chinawent through many sad and happy moments. In resisting the snowstorm, earthquake relief, the Olympic Games and the space walk by one of the Shenzhou VII taikonauts, Chinese people displayed courage and wisdom, demonstrating to the world their amazing national strength." Compared with the ceremony before, the biggest change in the award presentation was that this year's award presentation ceremony was divided into four parts, according to the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. The awards were presented to the ten winners according to the time order. What were the sad and happy moments that Chinawent through according to the passage? Answer: We've all seen them: perfectly toned famous people on late-night television telling us that we too can develop rock-hard abdominal muscles . It's easy! Just pay $149.99 for the Torso Track or $149.75 for the Ad-Doer and watch those unwanted inches leave your waist. Americans spend tens of millions of dollars on various products to firm up their fat around the waist. And did they work? Not necessarily. Independent studies have concluded that most of these products -- no matter who approved them or how expensive they are -- shape your midsection no better than old-fashioned stomach crunches . Some can even cause injury -- like the $518.99 Body Shaper-Q8SP, which left electrical burns on some researchers at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. Others, like the popular Ab-Doer, typically burn less energy than a gentle walk, according to a study to be published in September by the American Council on Exercise. The fact is that many Americans don't have the biological makeup to develop an obvious abdominal muscles. They are either unable to get the necessary muscle mass or they can't lose enough fat to make a difference. Even if the underlying muscles are well developed, all it takes to hide it is one-sixteenth of an inch of fat. That's enough to exclude most healthy women as well as plenty of guys who do crunches every day. So what works best? In its new study, the exercise experts researched on the results of the popular Ab-Doer. A lengthy TV advertisement promises that just 10 minutes a day performing such movements as "Body Boogies" and "Good Mornings" will "help form those muscles the fun and easy way without diets." Steven Loy, professor at California State University, Northridge, tested the promise by measuring the electrical activity produced by the abdominal muscles during three Ab-Doer movements. He and his colleagues then compared the results with those produced during traditional exercises. They determined that the muscles were no more active, and in some cases less so, when exercisers were using the Ab-Doer. Taking a broader approach, researchers at San Diego State University compared 13 abdominal exercises for their ability to develop the central abdominal muscles. They concluded, in a report published in May, that the most effective exercises kept turning the body and worked the muscles the entire time. Among the winners: the bicycle movements -- so called because it looks as if you are riding a bike while lying flat on the floor -- and exercises performed on the "Captain's Chair", a product typically found in gyms that helps hold the body in the air while you raise your legs up toward your chest. Researchers suggested that a varied routine of the different exercises could deliver the best results. Which of the following is the most effective in building abdominal muscles? Answer:
Question: A new study shows that fat people in the United States suffer direct economic and social effects because of their size. The findings are from an 8-year study of about 100,000 people. The people who were studied were between the age of 18 and 24 when the research began. The researchers who carried out the study say they consider the people fat if they are in the top of 5% of the measurement in which weight is linked to height. For example, fat women in the study were about 160 centimeters tall and weighed about 90 kilograms. Fat men in the study were about 175 centimeters tall and weighed 100 kilograms. The researchers say that more than 1,000,000 Americans are that big. The researchers found that fat young women were from wealthy families. The fat women also were 20% less likely to get married and they earned an average of about $6,700 a year less than other women. The study showed less effects on fat men. They earned an average of about $3,000 a year less than other men. Fat men also were 11% less likely to get married. The passage mainly tells us _ . A. the standards of fat people B. the number of fat Americans C. fat people have fewer advantages D. how long is the study Answer: C Question: Your body, which has close relations with the food you eat, is the most important thing you own, so it needs proper treatment and proper nourishment . The old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away." is not as silly as some people think. The body needs fruit and vegetables because they contain vitamins. Many people take extra vitamins in pill form , believing that these will make them healthy. But a good diet is made up of nutritive food and this gives all the vitamins you need. The body doesn't need or use extra vitamins, so why they waste money on them? In the modern Western world, many people are too busy to bother about eating properly. They throw anything into their stomachs, eating hurriedly and carelessly. The list of illnesses caused or made worse by bad eating habits is frightening. In the modern western countries _ . A. people won't want to pay more attention to their eating B. people throw everything into their stomachs without chewing. C. list of people's illness are caused or made worse by bad eating habits D. people are only too busy to cook meals for themselves Answer: C Question: It must be something that many American companies hold a baby contest.Of course, babies are wonderful, and many parents would be the first to agree.Companies really bring in much money. Walgreens Baby contest If you play the new Baby Milestones Challenge Contest by BabyCenter & Walgreens, you could win $1,000 in Walgreens & Beauty.com Gift Cards and Certificates.You can play the instant winner if you get a $25 Walgreen's gift card, but you also have to write down your email address and receive all their sales and other information for the contest. Kids and Babies Kids and Babies are accepting entries for May 2014 Free Photo Contest.Baby Photo Galley with theme albums and age group albums is moved to the new website Cute Baby Gallery.Check KidsandBibs.com for their Baby Photo Contest blog's latest update.The grand prize is $25,000.The catch: Winners are decided by the visitors coming to the site and voting for their favorite babies, so you have to advertise their site for them. Parents.com Parents.com has a website only for their members, but if you are into baby photos, it is well worth surfing.You could receive offers on free samples, money-saving coupons , and chances to win the latest contests. Avon Avon is another company that has a baby photo contest this spring.Avon is advertising their newest collection.It is Avon's only collection for the photos of babies.Babies' age: newborn to 2 years.Just go to TinyTillia.com and upload your recent baby's photos.The first place baby will be featured in a Tiny Tillia Storybooks and win a $5,000 U.S.Savings Bond.Ten beautiful girls will win $300 worth of Tiny Tillia products. The tip is to run a search engine for all the latest contests going on and start entering them today.You could be lucky and win enough to put your baby through college! Have fun! What is the basic condition for you to play the instant winner in Walgreens & Beauty.com? A. Getting a gift card. B. Getting a certificate. C. Winning 1,000 dollars. D. Receiving information for the contest Answer: A Question: Time for Kids (TFK) gets the great news on the coolest toys for 2014 at the 111th American International Toy Fair. What's four days long, bigger than seven football fields, and filled with thousands of toys? It's Toy Fair 2014! Each year, hundreds of toy companies from across the country come together in New York City. All kinds of products are shown as a way to know what's to come in the new year. This year's trends include oversize toys. "In 2014, everything is really big and really out there," says Adrienne Appell, a toy-trends expert. Toy Fair is the largest toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere . Toy-store buyers go to the event to decide which toys they may want to sell during the holiday season. Members of the media, like TFK, go to the fair to report back on all the cool trends. Unfortunately, Toy Fair is not open to the public. This year's Toy Fair was the biggest in its 111-year history. More than 1,000 toy companies showed products from simple card games to high-tech robots. "Larger Than Life" was a Toy Fair favorite. This trend is all about big toys with a big play value. Though it is all fun and games at Toy Fair, we saw lots of products making a push towards education, with STEAM. That stands for science, technology, engineering, art, and math. This trend includes word games. And of course, we saw some super cool, high-tech games. "Technology is always going to influence toys," says Appell. "This year we saw lots of 3D games, and robots."[:ZXXK] To know more information about the event, click here to watch the video. The text is taken from a _ . A. website B. newspaper C. magazine D. Textbook Answer: A Question: Delta College starts Street Fair San Joaquin Delta College will introduce its new Summer Street Fair, which runs from noon to 8 p. m every Friday stating this week through Aug. 9 in Delta's L-l parking lot near Pacific Avenue and March Lane. The fair goes with Delta's weekend flea market. This week's featured performers are guitarist Travis Matsumoto from noon to 3 p.m., and Julio and his Jazz Trio from 3 to 6 p.m. Lode Farmers Market opens The Angels Camp Certified Farmers Market begins its yearly run from 5 p.m. to dusk this Friday in Utica Park in downtown Angels Camp. Opening night will feature wine tasting from award-winning Four Winds Cellars, and live music by guitarist Nicholas Leffler. Visitors will find fresh, locally grown produce and specialty foods. There will also be barbecue and California- Mexican fusion cuisine. Join River Rafting for a good cause Whitewater enthusiasts can participate in Mokelumne Rive, Rafting Adventures on June 16 in Mokelumne Hill. Local outfitter O.A.R.S. is donating its services to help with the event. Departures are at 8 a.m., noon, or 4 p.m. The trip should last about three hours. The trip is appropriate for those 7 and older, and the ability to swim is not required. The cost is $ 70 per person. Films center on paddling water The festival is an annual contest that awards winning films that focus on paddling in rivers, lakes and oceans in a variety of locales. Tickets to the film festival are $12 in advance and $15 at the door, and are also available online at ticketriver.com/event/7002-reel-paddling-film-festival. The evening also includes a drawing. Prizes include whitewater trips on the South Fork of the American River. If you want to go to the Summer Street Fair, _ . A. you must be a student from Delta College B. you can go there on the afternoon of Friday C. you should live near the Pacific Avenue D. you must give a performance in the market Answer: B
News one: As the pace of life in big cities is getting faster, people are looking for more ways to relax. Let's take a look at one way people are reducing stress in Beijing. The game is "Room Escape". "Room Escape" was originally a computer game. In recent years, it has been adapted to a real life game. There are more than 10 places in Beijing where people can play this game. According to the rules, the players are first taken to a house with several iron doors. They then need to find a way out of the house in one hour. Different houses have different ways of escaping, all of which require players' bold , careful thought, and teamwork. News two: The Chinese government has published a list of 24 guidelines on how to take better care of parents. They are a modern update to 24 old stories about respectful children from the Yuan Dynasty. The guidelines list 24 things to do with parents, including giving them a call every week, teaching them to use the internet, and supporting single parents' remarriage. The guidelines stem from a Yuan Dynasty book, about 24 filial-hearted children who treated their parents very well. It is a value younger generations should never forget. To escape from the house, they don't need _ . Answer: Sam was listing the differences between a euglena and a paramecium. Which characteristic should not be on Sam's list? Answer: A car rounds a corner and the driver taps the breaks. The breaks being tapped causes Answer: The hand, the eyes, and the brain work together to make human beings different from other animals. No other animals have all three parts to work together. No animals can do what human beings can do. Humans can do many things and feel many things with the hand. The hand can hold onto things and make things because the thumb works with the fingers. This fifth finger is strong. Most animals don't have thumbs. The thumb can press against the other fingers. Without a thumb to press against the fingers, it is difficult to hold onto anything. The thumb and fingers can also fit the flat surface of a box and the curved surface of a pencil. We can feel that something is hot or cold, soft or hard, smooth or rough. The hand, with thumb and fingers, is one of the best tools we have. Most animals see a flat picture. Their eyes can only see how high and how wide something is. Some animals see a different picture with each eye. Some don't see in colour. Humans see one picture with both eyes working together. We can see how high and how wide something is. We can also see how far in front of or in back of something a thing is. The brain tells other parts of the body how to work. Some of the things the body does are _ ; that is, we don't have to think about them. For example, we don't have to think to make our heart beat or our stomach work. The brain tells the eyes and hands how to make useful and beautiful things. That is how human beings become tool makers and artists. That is how human can have richer and better lives than other animals. People who make beautiful things are usually called _ . Answer: Many American presidents in the 19thcentury were born in poor families. They spent their childhood in little wooden rooms. They got little education . Washington and Lincoln, for example, never went to school and they taught themselves. Lincoln once did jobs of a worker, shopkeeper and post officer in his early years. A large number of U. S. presidents had experiences in the army. The two best known were Ulysses Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower. Grant was a general in the American Civil War and Eisenhower was a hero in the Second World War. It happened that they graduated from the same school--West Point Military Academy . One may be surprised to learn that both of them did not do well in the school. Eisenhower, for example, was once fined because he broke the rules of the school. The jobs of U. S. presidents are tiring. He must _ anything important which happens both at home and abroad. Every day, a lot of work waits for him to do, and he has to make many important decisions. When Franklin Roosevelt was a child, he was once brought to visit President Taft. The old president said to him, "When you grow up, you should not be president. It's a tiring job." President Eisenhower became well-known _ . Answer:
Should e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) be a new choice for the smokers trying to get rid of the habit? Reactions from Americans are mixed. More than half of the people questioned in a survey think e-cigarettes should be controlled by the US Food and Drug Administration, but 47 percent believe the e-cigarettes should be available to the smokers who want to quit. "In the hunt for a safter cigarette, e-cigarettes are becoming a popular choice among those either trying to quit."or looking to replace standard tobacco smoke with an alternative that manufacturers claim to be safer, "Zogby International, which conducted the survey, said in a statement. About half of the 4,611 adults who took part in the survey had heard about e-cigarettes, which are battery-powered, or rechargeable cigarettes that vaporize a liquid nicotine solution. They do not produce smoke but a water vapor without smell. Sold mostly on the Internet, e-cigarettes were first made in China. Last year the World Health Organization (WHO) warned against using e-cigarettes, saying there was no evidence to prove they were safe or helped smokers break the habit. The WHO said people who smoke e-cigarettes breathe in a fine fog of nicotine into the lungs. Nearly a third of people questioned in the survey think that e-cigarettes should be allowed in places where smoking is forbidden, because they don't produce smoke, but 46 percent disagree. Men who were aware of the availability of e-cigarettes were more likely than woman to say they should be a choice available to smokers who want to quit. Young people, aged 18-29, and singles were the groups most open to trying e-cigarettes. Smoking is the single largest cause of preventable death worldwide, according to the WHO. What do we know about e-cigarettes from the passage? Answer: Most people buy them on the Internet. Maurice Sendak's children's book,Where the Wild Things Are,published in 1963,has become very successful throughout the years and was made into a movie earlier this year. The book's main character is a boy named Max who gets into trouble with his mother and is sent to bed without any supper.Before long,Max's room magically becomes a forest,and he sails away to a land where monsters live.Max isn't scared,though,and becomes king of the wild things,but after a while,he begins feeling homesick.Max sails back home and his supper is still hot when he arrives in his bedroom. Many teachers and professors like this story and use it to help children develop creativity and imagination. Melina Davis,an education professor,said she likes how the book contains a couple of pages that have only pictures on them. "This allows children to shape the story themselves," she said. The book contains a few of larger words that some parents worry may confuse children,but experts say those words help improve children's reading skills and challenge them. Davis said the book is well written which helps kids get involved in the story. "The book talks about what all children go through,like 'I was naughty but my mommy still loves me'" Davis said. The book also encourages children to face their fears."I think it's really good to show that Max is friends with the monsters," Davis said."Kids can find out monsters aren't always the thing under the bed that's going to scare them.I think this is good because it shows that the children can go to scary places but still have a positive experience." Since the book has been successful throughout the years,a movie was recently made and many people are excited to see it.Davis said she thinks the movie will be wonderful but it might be a little scary for younger children."You don't want bad dreams over a book that's extremely wonderful'" Davis said. Teachers and professors like the book Where the Wild Things Are because it helps children _ . Answer: become more imaginative You can work longer when Answer: spring changes to summer Although the 2008 US presidential elections are still a long way off, candidates are already getting ready for the campaigns ahead. For the Democrats , the two leading candidates are a surprising pair. The first is Hillary Clinton, 60, the wife of former President Bill Clinton. The second is Barack Obama, 45, a Harvard educated senator . It is the first time that the leading presidential candidates for a political party are either a woman or black. The energetic pair has certainly gotten people's attention. But the question remains, is America ready for either one? It's not a simple question to answer. For the past 220 years, Americans have elected only white males to the nation's highest office. That can hardly be called a tradition of diversity. However, many people believe that 2008 will be the year that this changes. "The white men that have been running the country recently have done such a bad job, at home and abroad, that maybe now is the time for a change," said Dorian Cool of San Francisco, California. The polling numbers seem to back up his opinion: 86 percent of Americans say they would vote for a qualified woman. An impressive 93 percent say they would vote for a black man if he seemed right for the job. These numbers are much higher than they were just 20 years ago. They may suggest that Americans are ready to be led by a different type of person. Still, there is a lot to overcome. Although women represent 51 percent of the American population, there are only nine female governors out of 50. Out of 100 senators, only 16 are women. The numbers are significantly lower for blacks in office. Since the American Civil War, only two blacks have been elected governor and only three have been elected to the Senate. Surely both candidates face difficult odds, but never before has there been so much support for either a female or a black candidate. As Barack Obama himself said, "There is not a black America and a white America, a Latino America and an Asian America -- there's the United States of America." If others share his vision, maybe the United States will end up with a new type of leader. Many people expect the 2008 US presidential elections to _ . Answer: bring great changes to America I am especially interested in eco-friendly cars. Would you please give me some help? -John Lily John Lily, More and more automobile companies are taking measures to create cars that do less harm to the planet. Here are some of the top green cars this year. Tesla Roadster This is an electric sports car. You can travel 220 miles before recharging the battery. The only problem? It will cost you $ 100 000. So, until you win the lottery or happen to find a box of gold at the end of a rainbow, let's move on to the more reasonable choices. Aptera 2e This electric car is much more affordable than the Tesla Roadster, with a starting price of around $25 000. Its electric motor runs 100 miles per charge. Unfortunately, it is currently only available in California through a complex booking process. Toyota Prius At 51 miles per gallon in the city and 48 0n the highway, the Toyota Prius is one of the most fuel-efficient cars in the world With an annual C02 rating of 1 968 kilograms, this car holds the first place on MSN's list of the Least Polluting Vehicles of 2009. It also has other eco-friendly features like a solar-powered ventilation system. Honda Civic Hybrid The Honda Civic Hybrid is competitive with the Toyota Prius when it comes to fuel efficiency. It gets 40 miles per gallon in the city and 45 0n the highway. It also has the second-lowest annual CO2figure, releasing 2 160 kilograms in a year. Honda Insight Hybrid With a base price of just $20 000, the Honda Insight Hybrid is the least expensive Hybrid on the market today. Coming just after the Honda Civic and Toyota Prius in terms of pollution, this fuel-efficient vehicle gets 40 miles per gallon in the city and 43 0n the highway: Besides all these, Toyota Camry Hybrid is also a good choice. William Compared with Aptera 2e, Tesla Roadster _ Answer: runs much further per charge
Basketball is still a young game. It's over a hundred years old . In the winter of 1891, a certain college was having some trouble with its boy students. The weather was bad and the students had to stay indoors . As they couldn't play outdoors , they were unhappy ,and some even got into fights from time to time . Some of the teachers at the college asked Dr Naismith to invent a game so that the students might have something to play with. It was ont easy to invent such a game, because it had to played indoors , and the court was not very large. Dr.Naismith thought for a few days and invented a kind of ball game .It is a wonderful game with much moving and passing of the ball .It was played between two teams .To make a score, the ball had to be thrown into the basket ten feet above the floor on the wall. At each end of the court there was such a basket .At first, Dr.Naismith wanted to throw the ball into a box, As he could not find boxes of the right size, he had to use fruit baskets instead. That is how the game got its name . How long is it since basketball was invented? A 1000years B Less than 100years C 1100years D More than 100years Answer: D. More than 100years Which are you more likely to have wath you at sny given mement--your cell phone or your wallet? Soon you may be able to throw your wallet away and pay for things with a quick wave of your smart phone over an electroue scannet. In January, Starbucks announced that customers could start using their phones to buy coffee in 6,800 of its states. This is the first pay-by-phone practice in the U.S., but we're likely to see more witeless payment alternatives as something called ucar field communcation(NFC)GETS IN TO America's consumet electanies. Last Deccmbet some new smart phanes which cantain an NFC chip were introduced to the public. Already in use in part of Asia and Europe, NFC allows shoppers to wave theie phones a few inchs above a payment terminal-a contact-free system build for speed and convenience. plan a few incees live a payment tetminal a one a few ptaht need to be worked out, like who will get to collect the profitable trunsacian fees. Although some credit card providers have been experimenting with wave and pay systems that use NFC enabled credit cards, cellphone service providers truay try to mused their way into the point of sale (POS)market. Three big cell phone service providers have formed a joinf tenture that will go into opention over the next 15 months. Its goal is"to lead the U.S. payments industry from cards to mobile phone." The other big NFC sue, apart from how paymeats will be processed, is security, For instance, what's to stop a thief from digitally pickpocketing you? "We're still not at the point where an attacker can just brush against yee in a crowd and steal all the money out of your phone,"says Jimmy Shah. A mobile security rescarcher, "Usera may also be able to set transaction timeits,requiring a password to be enteced for larger putchases. Bussiness? Keep in mund you lost your smart phone, it can be located on a located on a map and remotely disabled. Plus, your phone can be password protected, Your wallet isn't. What is predicted to happen in the U.S.? A The expansion of cellphone companices. B The boom of pay by phone business. C The dissppearanceof credit cards. D The increase of Starbucks sales.s Answer: B. The boom of pay by phone business. Scientists in Colombia have trained a team of rats to help remove land mines from the countryside. Land mines are small bombs hidden in the ground and designed to explode when someone steps on them. When trained, the rats can smell special metals in the mines and then signal to their human team. Then why use rats for such an important job? In the past, dogs have been used to find bombs. Rats have a good sense of smell and can respond to orders, just like dogs do. But rats are much lighter than dogs. They stand less of a chance of setting off the mines, which explode under a certain amount of weight. What's more, the best rats are cheaper to keep than dogs. It costs about the same amount of money to take care of one dog as it does 70 rats. The rats have already been used in Tanzania, an African country with many land mines. Luisa Fernanda Mendez and her team in Colombia are training the even lighter Wistar rats. These are the white rats with red eyes that scientists often use in laboratory experiments. " _ even train their babies to perform their jobs, which saves us a lot of time, " Mendez said. Colombia has the second-highest rate of deaths from land mine accidents in the world. Last year, land mines killed 695 people -- 56 of whom were children. A criminal group called the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, as well as other organizations, have placed the mines. FARC are strongly against Colombia's government. The group has placed mines all around its own bases and in many places in the countryside. In the past, the Colombian government hired peasants and poor farmers to find mines. Many of them died trying to find the well-hidden bombs. Colombian police official Erick Guzman hopes the team of rats can come to the rescue . "These rats will be a great help," he said. How do rats help to find land mines? A By their special sight. B By their light weight. C By their sense of smell. D By their excellent hearing. Answer: C. By their sense of smell. Vacation spots in Ohio The Boon shoft Museum of Discovery The museum is based on the understanding that science is the process through which we come to understand our world, and that play is the way children do science. Visitors of all ages can explore the wonders of the world. The museum includes many places for adventure such as the Discovery Center and the Hall of the Universe. What make adventures more exciting are real speciments from the museum's collection of 1.4 million items. African Wildlife Park This wildlife park is spread across a large area of about 100 acres and you can see different species of animals moving freely as if in their natural habitat. On entering the park, you are given a basket of food for free. You are able to feed the animals out of the comfort of your own car. Any additional basket of food needs to be paid for. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was opened some where in 1995, with a purpose of celebrating the spirit of rock and roll music and also studying it! It is among the top 10 vacation spots in Ohio. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame offers exhibitions, music events and also training programs on the subject. This is a perfect stop for everything on rock and roll music! The Armstrong Museum The Armstrong Museum, located in Neil Armstrong's hometown of Wapakoneta, Ohio, celebrates the life and the mission of the first man to walk on the moon. You can see one of the planes that Armstrong tested and enjoy a film about the development of the US space program. You can do all the following things in the African Wildlife Park EXCEPT _ . A feeding the animals. B driving in side the park C watching animals move freely D getting two baskets of food for free Answer: D. getting two baskets of food for free During an earthquake, piles of earth can A crash through car windows B shift on top of one another C pile up on houses D kill small animals and birds Answer: B. shift on top of one another
Question: Be Thankful Be thankful when you don't already have everything you want. If you did, what would there be to look forward to? Be thankful when you don't know something, for it gives you the chance to learn. Be thankful for the difficult times During those times you grow. Be thankful for each new challenge , because it will build your strength and character . Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you important lessons Be thankful when you're tired, because it means you've made a difference. It's easy to be thankful for the good things A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks . Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your . According to the poem, _ make us grow. A. difficult times B. good things C. challenges D. blessings Answer: A. difficult times Question: Benin is one of the smallest African states. It lies in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea, to the south of Burkina Faso and Niger, between Togo on the west and Nigeria on the east. Benin used to be called Dahomey and was controlled and ruled by France from 1893 to 1960, when it became independent. In 1963 the army general Soglo overthrew the first president Maga. Soglo set up an army government and called himself head of state in 1965, but was overthrown and replaced by a civilian government in 1967. In December 1969 Benin had another change of power with the army again taking over. In May 1970, Maga and two other men set up a new government, with each of them acting as president in turn for two years. However, half a year after Maga turned over power to the second man Ahomadegbe, the three-man government was overthrown by the army once more and General Kerekou became president. In November 1975 Kerekou changed the name of the nation from Dahomey to Benin, Benin being the name of a 17th century kingdom covering the same place. Kerekou also announced that Benin would be a People's Republic based on Marxism-Leninism. When and how did Benin get its two names -- Benin and Dahomey? A. Benin was its oldest name. The name Dahomey was used later, but has been replaced by Benin again. B. Dahomey was its oldest name, but it has been replaced by Benin. C. Dahomey was its oldest name. The name Benin was used later, but has been replaced by Dahomey again. D. Benin was its oldest name, but it has been replaced by Dahomey. Answer: A. Benin was its oldest name. The name Dahomey was used later, but has been replaced by Benin again. Question: What do you do if you are hit in the mouth and one of your teeth is knocked out? A dentist may be able to put the tooth back in for you, but you have to get to the dentist first.In the meantime, you have to store the tooth so that it will stay healthy. The simplest thing to do is put the tooth back into your mouth, or you could put it in milk.Frank Courts, a dentist at the University of Florida, worked with other researchers to find the safest way of keeping knocked-out teeth.He tried putting teeth into milk, into water, and into cell-culture medium .He also tried, just drying the teeth in the open air.He used teeth that had to be removed from people's mouths for various reasons.The teeth were put into one of the solutions or stored in the air for one hour.Then cells from the root of the teeth were scraped-off the teeth.Dr.Courts and the others then studied how healthy these cells were. The cell-culture medium worked best to keep a knocked-out tooth healthy outside the mouth.However, few people keep cell-culture medium handy at home or in school. The next best thing was milk.But Dr.Courts said that the best thing of all was to wash the tooth and put it right back into its socket in the mouth.For some people, though, this is just too painful or upsetting.So milk will do, until you get your tooth (and your mouth)to a dentist. Dr.Courts said that the best of al1 was to wash the tooth and put it right back into its socket in the mouth.In the sentence, the word "best" means_. A. cheapest and healthiest B. least painful and cheapest C. quickest and least painful D. easiest and healthiest Answer: D. easiest and healthiest Question: Kids love the all-knowing Google. Your kids likely use Google to help them find everything from information for homework assignments, to funny cat videos, and everything in between. Sometimes kids can take a "wrong turn" on Google and end up in a dark part of the Internet where they shouldn't be. Thankfully, Google has some parental control features that parents can implement to at least help reduce the volume of crap that ends up in search results,which can enable you to help keep your curious kids from ending up on the wrong side of the tracks. What is Google SafeSearch? Google SafeSearch is one of the primary parental control options offered by Google to help parents police search results. SafeSearch helps to filter explicit content out of search results. It is mainly designed to target sexually explicit material (images and videos) and not violent content. How to Enable Google SafeSearch?1. From the "Search Settings" preferences page, place a check in the box with the label "Filter explicit results". 2. To lock this setting so that your child can't change it, click the "Lock SafeSearch" link. If you are not already logged into your Google account, you will need to do so in order to lock SafeSearch to the "on" position. Enable SafeSearch on Mobile Devices. In addition to your computer, you will probably also want to enable SafeSearch on any mobile device that your child uses regularly. For instructions on how to enable SafeSearch on a variety of mobile devices, check out Google's SafeSearch Mobile support page. As we all know, kids are going to be kids and try to test their boundaries. We put up one roadblock and they go around it. It's a constant cat and mouse game and there will always be some internet door that we as parents forget to lock, and that will be the one that the kids get through, but we do the best we can. How do you enable SafeSearch on Mobile devices? A. Read the instructions of the related mobile devices directly. B. Look for some Internet door to be sure we parents did not forget to lock it. C. Check out Google's SafeSearch Mobile support page for instructions. D. Check in the box with the label any mobile devices. Answer: C. Check out Google's SafeSearch Mobile support page for instructions. Question: Which fact is a benefit of airplanes? A. Airplanes are hard to fly. B. Airplanes cost a lot of money. C. Airplanes can travel very quickly. D. Airplanes take off from the airport. Answer: C. Airplanes can travel very quickly.
Once upon a time, a horse, a cow, a ox, and a donkey were playing outside when they got really hungry. So, they went to a drive-in to get some lunch. The horse ordered a cheeseburger. The cow ordered a chili dog. The ox ordered a chicken sandwich. And the donkey ordered a fish sandwich. The horse ordered fries. The cow ordered onion rings. The ox ordered a baked potato. The donkey ordered a side salad. The horse had ketchup on his cheeseburger. The cow had mayonnaise on his chili dog. The ox had mustard on his chicken sandwich. And the donkey had Miracle Whip on his fish sandwich. But the restaurant didn't get any of the orders right because they had their sauces mixed up. The ketchup got mixed up with the Miracle Whip. The mayonnaise got mixed up with the ketchup. The mustard got mixed up with the mayonnaise. And the Miracle Whip got mixed up with the mustard. The Miracle Whip was red. The ketchup was yellow. The mayonnaise was blue. And the mustard was green. Who ordered a cheeseburger? People are so busy these days that many people have no time to cook. This becomes a problem, because most families love home cooking. The food tastes good and warm, and a family meal brings everyone together. In some families, meals are often the only times everyone sees one another at the same time. Another reason people enjoy home cooking is that it is often a way of showing love. A parent who makes some cookies is not just satisfying a child's sweet tooth. She or he is sending a message. The message says, " I care about you enough to send an hour making cookies that you will eat up in 15 minutes if I let you." A parent spends an hour making cookies _ . Malls are popular places for Americans to go to. Some people spend so much time at malls that they are called mall rats. Mall rats shop until they visit hundreds of stores. People like malls for many reasons. They feel safe because malls have police stations. Parking is usually free. And the weather inside is always fine. The newest malls have beautiful rest places with waterfalls and large green trees. The Mall of America in Minnesota is one of the most popular ones. It covers 4.2 million square feet. It has 350 stores, eight nightclubs, and a large park! There are parking spaces for 12,750 cars. About 750,000 people shop there every week. The first indoor mall in the United States was built in 1965 in Edina Minnesota. People love doing all their shopping in one place. More malls are built around the country. Now malls are town centers where people come to do many things. They shop, and of course, they also eat in food courts that have food from all over the world. They see films at theaters. Some people even get their exercise by doing the new sport of "mall walking". Others go to malls to meet friends. In some malls, people can see a doctor and even go to church. In other words, people can do almost everything in malls. Now people can live in their favorite shopping centers in fact. Mall rats usually _ . On Saturdays, most people are busy shopping. Some of them go to the shops, and some go to the supermarkets. But in American, most shoppers enjoy shopping in the shopping malls. A mall is a group of many shops. There you can buy clothes, furniture, and everything you need. Shopping malls provide parking for your cars. Usually, the mall is under one roof so the shoppers do not get cold or wet from rain, wind, or snow. After shopping, you may get tired. You can walk into the sitting-room for a short rest. If you go into the dinning rooms in the malls, you can have a good meal. Now more and more Americans like to go shopping there. In a shopping mall, you can find _ to park your car. A mouse happened to look through a hole in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" The mouse wondered. But he was sad to discover it was a mousetrap . Back to the farmyard, the mouse announced this warning: "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The hen clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a great concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it." Then the mouse turned to the pig. The pig sympathized, but said, "I am very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers." Then the mouse turned to the cow and repeated the same words. The cow said, "Moo, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose." So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and sadly faced the farmer's mousetrap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house - the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey . The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it. It was a poisonous snake whose tail was caught in the trap. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital. When she returned home, she still had a fever. Everyone knows fresh chicken soup is good to treat a fever. So the farmer took his knife to the farmyard. The hen was killed. But his wife's sickness continued. Friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well but died. So many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow killed to provide enough meat for all of them for the lunch. The mouse looked on it all from his hole in the wall with great sadness. Which of the following can best express the moral of the story?
Teahouses in Chengdu There is a saying, "China has the best teahouses in the world and Chengdu has the best teahouses in China."Chengdu has not only many teahouses but also the special ways of serving and drinking tea. As soon as the visitors enter the teahouses, the waiters or waitresses will greet them with teapots and cups in their hands. The cups often have special covers and saucers . The covers can keep the water warm. People who go to the teahouses are not all thirsty. Retired people pay a little money to the teahouses and then sit there all day long to chat with others. Sometimes, people have parties in the teahouses. They eat fruit and sunflower seeds while they chat and return home when they are tired. Teahouses are also good places for people to talk about businesses. Some of the teahouses even have stages for performances, such as storytelling, cross talk and Sichuan Opera. Sometimes when people have a quarrel, a mediator will bring them to the teahouse. After their problem is solved, the person who is wrong will pay for the tea. It is interesting that as soon as the quarrelers enter the teahouse and sit down to drink tea, they have almost calmed down. With the help of the mediator, their problems can be easily solved then. Maybe we can say the teahouses have some special social functions. Who will pay for the tea after the mediator solve some problems? Answer: The person who caused the problem Many people like to live in big cities, because there are a lot of interesting things to do and to see there. You can go to different kinds of museums, see plays and films. You can also buy things from all over the world. But there are serious problems in big cities, too. It is expensive to live there. Every year many people move to the cities to find jobs, to study at good schools and to receive good medical care. But sometimes these people can't find jobs or good places to live. Also it is hard to keep the cities safe and clean. Some people enjoy living in big cities. Others do not. Before people move to a big city, they should think about the problems of living there. :1. serious adj. 2. medical care 3. hard adj. ,. In big cities, people can _ . Answer: A, B and C John is six years old. He can read and write well. But he can't tell the time. His mother, Mrs Brown teaches him many times, but he still can't tell. He would say "breakfast time" "lunchtime" and "teatime" instead of saying eight o'clock, twelve o'clock and four o'clock in the afternoon. His mother doesn't know how to help him One day, John's aunt, Mary, comes to see his mother. His mother tells her about that. His aunt says, "Let me help you. I think I can help him." When John comes home after school, Mary begins to teach him. "Can you _ , John?" she asks. "Yes. One, two, three, four..." John says. "That's fine. Now I put the long hand on twelve and the short hand on one-that is one o'clock If I put the short hand on two, what is the time?" "Two o'clock " "Good. And on three?" "Three o'clock. " Then it is four o'clock in the afternoon, and John's aunt asks him, "What time is it now, John?" "Teatime, Aunt, and I am very hungry ," John looks at the clock and answers. When it's twelve o'clock John says it's _ . Answer: lunchtime You might think that "global warming" means nothing more than a rise in the world's temperature But rising sea levels caused by it have resulted in the first evacuation of an island nation--the citizens of Tuvalu will have to leave their homeland. During the 20th century , sea level rose 8--12 inches. As a result ,Tuvalu has experienced lowland flooding of salt water which has polluted the country's drinking water. Paani Laupepa , a Tuvaluan government official ,reported to the Earth Policy Institute that the nation suffered an unusually high number of fierce storms in the past ten years .Many scientists connect higher surface water temperatures resulting from global warming to greater and more damaging storms. Laupepa expressed dissatisfaction with the United States for refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement calling for industrialized nations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions ,which are a main cause of global warming . "By refusing to sign the agreement ,the US has effectively taken away the freedom of future generations of Tuvaluans to live where their forefathers have lived for thousands of years," Laupepa told the BBC. Tuvalu has asked Australia and New Zealand to allow the gradual move of its people to both countries . Tuvalu is not the only country that is vulnerable to rising sea levels .Maumoon Gayoon ,president of the Maldives ,told the United Nations that global warming has made his country of 311,000 an "endangered nation". The country whose situation is similar to that of Tuvalu is _ . Answer: the Maldives When Babbage was working atprefix = st1 /Cambridge, a new idea occurred to him. He wanted to construct a calculating machine to work out the solutions to maths problems not only with correctness but also with a speed beyond the power of any human mind. His machine could solve problems involving long rows of figures in one continuous operation . In 1822 Babbage exhibited his invention and won a prize from the government. After that, he immediately started to work on a larger machine designed to solve more difficult problems. Although he received some money left by his father, the money was not enough to support his design. He wrote to the government about his plan and was givenPS2500 to start with, a sum worth much more in those days than it is now. Babbage continued his work inLondonfor four years. Then his health broke down, and he had to take a long holiday abroad. When he returned toLondonin 1828, he was at the end of his resources. Many bills remained unpaid. His chief assistant and co-workers quarreled with him and left with many expensive tools. For one year no work was done. During this period, Babbage, whose mind was always active, suddenly thought of a completely new idea for the machine. He rushed to meet the government officials to explain his new idea. But this time, they were unwilling to help him. For eight years, they refused to say whether they wanted the machine or not, and their final answer was "No." From 1828 to 1839, Babbage held the position of professor atCambridgevery successfully. But his greatest work was the unfinished calculating machine which stood covered in dust in his house. It was the beginning of the modern computer. From the passage, we can infer that _ . Answer: Babbage was the first designer of the modern computer
Question: My daughter Allie is leaving for college in a week. Her room is cluttered with shopping bags filled with blankets, towels, jeans, sweaters. She won't talk about going. I say, "I'm going to miss you," and she gives me one of her looks and leaves the room. Another time I say, in a voice so friendly it surprises even me: "Do you think you'll take your posters and pictures with you, or will you get new ones at college?" She answers, her voice filled with annoyance, "How should I know?" My daughter is off with friends most of the time. Yesterday was the last day she'd have until Christmas with her friend Katharine, whom she's known since kindergarten. Soon, it will be her last day with Sarah, Claire, Heather... and then it will be her last day with me. My friend Karen told me, "The August before I left for college, I screamed at my mother the whole month. Be prepared." I stand in the kitchen, watching Allie make a glass of iced tea. Her face, once so open and trusting, is closed to me. I struggle to think of something to say to her, something meaningful and warm. I want her to know I'm excited about the college she has chosen, that I know the adventure of her life is just starting and that I am proud of her. But the look on her face is so mad that I think she might slug me if I open my mouth. One night -- after a long period of silence between us -- I asked what I might have done or said to make her angry with me. She sighed and said, "Mom, you haven't done anything. It's fine." It is fine -- just distant. Somehow in the past we had always found some way to connect. When Allie was a toddler , I would go to the day- care center after work. I'd find a quiet spot and she would nurse -- our eyes locked together, reconnecting with each other. In middle school, when other mothers were already lamenting the estrangement they felt with their adolescent daughters, I hit upon a solution: rescue raids. I would show up occasionally at school, sign her out of class and take her somewhere -- out to lunch, to the movies, once for a long walk on the beach. It may sound irresponsible, but it kept us close when other mothers and daughters were floundering. We talked about everything on those outings -- outings we kept secret from family and friends. When she started high school, I'd get up with her in the morning to make her a sandwich for lunch, and we'd silently drink a cup of tea together before the 6:40 bus came. A couple of times during her senior year I went into her room at night, the light off, but before she went to sleep. I'd sit on the edge of her bed, and she'd tell me about problems: a teacher who lowered her grade because she was too shy to talk in class, a boy who teased her, a friend who had started smoking. Her voice, coming out of the darkness, was young and questioning. A few days later I'd hear her on the phone, repeating some of the things I had said, things she had adopted for her own. But now we are having two kinds of partings. I want the romanticized version, where we go to lunch and lean across the table and say how much we will miss each other. I want smiles through tears, bittersweet moments of reminiscence and the chance to offer some last bits of wisdom. But as she prepares to depart, Allie's feelings have gone underground. When I reach to touch her arm, she pulls away. She turns down every invitation I extend. She lies on her bed, reading Emily Dickinson until I say I have always loved Emily Dickinson, and then she closes the book. Some say the tighter your bond with your child, the greater her need to break away, to establish her own identity in the world. The more it will hurt, they say. A friend of mine who went through a difficult time with her daughter but now has become close to her again, tells me," Your daughter will be back to you." "I don't know," I say. I sometimes feel so angry that I want to go over and shake Allie. I want to say, "Talk to me -- or you're grounded!" I feel myself wanting to say that most horrible of all mother phrases: "Think of everything I've done for you." Late one night, as I'm getting ready for bed she comes to the bathroom door and watches me brush my teeth. For a moment, I think I must be brushing my teeth in a way she doesn't approve of. But then she says, "I want to read you something." It's a pamphlet from her college. "These are tips for parents." I watch her face as she reads the advice aloud: "'Don't ask your child if she is homesick,' it says. 'She might feel bad the first few weeks, but don't let it worry you. This is a natural time of transition. Write her letters and call her a lot. Send a package of goodies...' " Her voice breaks, and she comes over to me and buries her head in my shoulder. I stroke her hair, lightly, afraid she'll bolt if I say a word. We stand there together for long moments, swaying. Reconnecting. I know it will be hard again. It's likely there will be a fight about something. But I am grateful to be standing in here at midnight, both of us tried and sad, toothpaste smeared on my chin, _ . The author doesn't say anything to Allie when they are standing together because _ . A. she is afraid that Allie will leave B. she has nothing to speak Allie C. she doesn't prepare how to speak to her D. Allie is crying and can't speak a word Answer: A. she is afraid that Allie will leave Question: Most Americans don't like to get advice from their family. When they need advice, they don't usually ask people they know. They often write letters to newspapers and magazines. And these newspapers and magazines can give advice on many different subjects such as family problems, language learning and how to buy a house and so on. Most newspapers publish letters from readers with problems. And they would also publish the answers to the letters. There are many writers giving advice to newspapers. Some of these writers are doctors, and some are teachers or lawyers . One of the best writers is a woman. Although she doesn't have special learning for this kind of work, experience helps her a lot to give advice. She is named Angel. She started writing advice for newspapers at the age of ten. Her advice to young readers now is in acolumn called DEAR ANGEL in the Philadelphia Bulletin. Angel often gives advice to _ . A. old readers B. young readers C. her parents D. her students Answer: B. young readers Question: Top 10 Best-Sellers for $10 ( regularly between $15.95-$19.95) Based on October's sales, our customers have chosen our 10 bestselling books and today we are placing these top 10 bestsellers on sale for $10 each! Heart of a Caregiver is a book in praise of all the unknown heroes who provide loving care for others each day -- nurses, hospital workers, the CNAs and so on. It's the only book of its kind on the market that is devoted to thanking caregivers. We all know caregivers who have touched our lives. This book makes a beautiful gift to thank them for the beautiful work they do. Regularly priced at $15.95, today it's only $10. Friends, the family we choose for ourselves is a book that you'll want to read and more importantly, one you'll want to share with all of your friends, to thank them for their gifts of time, encouragement and support. This heartwarming book makes a great gift for Christmas or for any time! Regularly priced at $15.95, today it's only $10. The Richest Man in Town is certain to make you laugh, cry and think about life. It's a true story that describes the important things in life in an unforgettable way. It is a beautifully written, heartwarming story about an amazing man who touched so many people in a special way. Marty was a simple man who ran a cash register in a Wal-Mart store in South Dakota. He worked hard and was good to people. Can it be so simple? It's a meaningful story to share with friends, family and all employees. They will love it, and love you for giving it. Regularly priced at $19.95, today it's only $10. Now that we have given you a preview of our top 10 list, click here to see all top 10 books available today only for $10 each! Make sure to share this email with your friends and family so they can enjoy the savings too! Sale ends tonight, Thursday 11/03/2011 at 11:59 pm CST . The advertisement may be found _ . A. in a newspaper B. in a magazine C. on TV D. on the Internet Answer: D. on the Internet Question: Do you know why different animals or pests have their special colors? Colors in them seem to be mainly used to protect themselves. Some birds like eating locusts , but birds cannot easily catch them. Why? It is because locusts change their colors with the change of the colors of crops. When crops are green, locusts look green. But as the harvest time comes, locusts change into the same brown color as crops have. Some other pests whose colors are different form plants are easily found and eaten by others. So they have to hide themselves for lives and appear only at night. If you study the animals' life, you'll find the main use of colors is to protect themselves. Bears, lions and other animals move quietly through forests. They cannot be easily seen by hunters because their colors are much like the trees. Colors are useful not only on the land, but also in the sea. A kind of fish in the sea can give out a kind of black liquid when the fish face danger. The liquid spreads over quickly, so they cannot be found by their enemies and can quickly swim away. That is why they live safely though they are not strong at all. Which is the best title for this passage? A. The colors of the seasons B. Animals on the land and in the sea C. The main use of colors for animals and pests D. How to keep safe in the sea Answer: C. The main use of colors for animals and pests Question: Parents divorced, little Buddy was in the care of his mother's large Alabama family. Over the years, Buddy seldom saw either of his parents. But he was happy where he was and he had many kindly s, among whom Miss Sook was by far his best friend. Before Christmas, Buddy's father had managed to get legal custody of him for this Christmas. So, he had a new suit, with a card pinned with his name and address and made the trip alone, by bus, to New Orleans. Several things occurred that kept me awake the whole night. First, the footfalls, the noise of my father running up and down the stairs, breathing heavily, I had to see what he was up to. So I hid and watched. There was a Christmas tree and the fireplace downstairs. Moreover, I could see my father. He was crawling around under the tree arranging a pyramid of packages. I felt dizzy, for what I saw forced me to reconsider everything. If these were presents intended for me, then obviously they had not been ordered by the Lord and delivered by Santa Claus; no, they were gifts bought and wrapped by my father. Which meant that my rotten little cousin Billy Bob and other rotten kids like him weren't lying when they laughed at me and told me there was no Santa Claus. The worst thought was: Had Sook known the truth, and lied to me? No, Sook would never lie to me. She believed. It was just that--well, though she was sixty-something, in some ways she was at least as much of a child as I was. I waited until I was sure he was in bed and sound asleep. Then I crept downstairs and examined the tags attached to each of the packages. They all said: "For Buddy." I decided to open the packages: It was Christmas morning. I was awake, so why not? I won't bother to describe what was inside them: just shirts and sweaters and dull stuff like that. The only thing I appreciated was a toy gun. Somehow I got the idea it would be fun to waken my father by firing it. So I did. Bang. Bang. Bang. He raced out of his room, wild-eyed, Bang. Bang. Bang. "Buddy--what the hell do you think you're doing? Bang. Bang. Bang. "Stop that!" I laughed. " Look, Daddy. Look at all wonderful things Santa Claus brought me." Calm now, he walked into the room and hugged me. "You like what Santa Claus brought you?" I smiled at him. He smiled at me. There was a tender lingering moment, damaged when I said: "Yes. But what are you going to give me, Daddy?" His smile evaporated. His eyes narrowed suspiciously--you could see that he thought I was pulling some kind of trick. But then he blushed, as though he was ashamed to be thinking what he was thinking. He patted my head, and coughed and said: "Well, I thought I'd wait and let you pick out something you wanted. Is there anything particular you want?" I reminded him of the airplane we had seen in the toy store on Canal Street. His face sagged. Oh, yes, he remembered the airplane and how expensive it was. Nevertheless, the next day I was sitting in that airplane dreaming I was zooming toward heaven while my father wrote out a check for a happy salesman, who promised to help ship the plane on the bus. But I wasn't free of New Orleans yet. The problem was a large bottle of wine; maybe it was because of my departure, but anyway my father had been drinking it all day, and on the way to the bus station, he scared me by grabbing my wrist and harshly whispering: "I'm not going to let you go. I can't let you go back to that crazy family in that crazy old house. Just look at what they've done to you. A boy six, almost seven, talking about Santa Claus! It's all their fault, all those sour old spinsters with their Bibles and their knitting needles, those drunken uncles. Listen to me, Buddy. There is no God! There is no Santa Claus." He was squeezing my wrist so hard that it ached. "Kiss me. Please. Please. Kiss me. Tell your daddy that you love him." But I couldn't speak. I was terrified I was going to miss my bus. And I was worried about my plane, which was strapped to the top of the taxi. "Say it: 'I love you.' Say it. Please. Buddy. Say it." It was lucky for me that our taxi-driver was a good-hearted man. Because if it hadn't been for his help, and the help of some efficient porters and a friendly policeman, I don't know what would have happened when we reached the station. My father was so drunk he could hardly walk, but the policeman talked to him, quieted him down, helped him to stand straight, and the taxi-man promised to take him safely home. But my father would not leave until he had seen the porters put me on the bus. Once I was on the bus, I crouched in a seat and shut my eyes. I felt the strangest pain. A crushing pain that hurt everywhere. I thought if I took off my heavy city shoes, those crucifying monsters, the agony would ease. I took them off, but the mysterious pain did not leave me. In a way it never has; never will. Twelve hours later I was home in bed. The room was dark. Sook was sitting beside me, rocking in a rocking chair, a sound as soothing as ocean waves. I had tried to tell her everything that had happened, and only stopped when I was hoarse as a howling dog. She stroked her fingers through my hair, and said: "Of course there is a Santa Clause. It's just that no single somebody could do all he has to do. So the Lord has spread the task among us all. That's why everybody is Santa Claus. I am. You are. Even you cousin Billy Bob. Now go to sleep. Count stars. Think of the quietest thing. Like snow. I'm sorry you didn't get to see any. But now snow is falling through the stars--" Stars sparkled, snow whirled inside my head; the last thing I remembered was the peaceful voice of the Lord telling me something I must do. And the next day I did it. I went with Sook to the post office and bought a penny postcard. That same postcard exists today. It was found in my father's safety deposit box when he died last year. Here is what I had written him: Hello pop hope you are well I am and I am turning to pedal my plane so fast I will soon be in the sky so keep your eyes open and yes I love you Buddy. When Buddy asked his Daddy for Christmas presents, his father's reaction suggested that _ . A. He felt sorry he forgot to prepare presents for his son. B. He thought his son should have known all the presents were sent by him, not Santa Claus. C. It was difficult for him to accept that his son is so greedy. D. He was ashamed of not knowing what his son liked. Answer: B. He thought his son should have known all the presents were sent by him, not Santa Claus.
My first reaction was annoyance. It was Friday afternoon, and I was within an hour of finishing my work for the week. As I was leaving, a nurse brought me one more patient message. The statement read: "Mm. Jones called to say that she has had blurred vision ever since her medical test this morning. " I smiled. Suddenly our tests were causing eye problems. This week my patients had questioned everything. My patient with high blood pressure had stopped coming to her treatment on the advice of an Internet chat room. A woman who had a mental problem was substituting (......) St. John' s word for her medication. Now Mrs. Jones was imagining problems. I rolled my eyes. My second reaction was worry. As I looked through her record, I tried to figure out why she would have blurred vision, but nothing in her record explained the new problem. She' s probably just anxious, I thought. Still, she wouldn't have called if she had been all right. I picked up the phone. What 1 next felt can only be described as delight. Before I made the call, the nurse ran in: Mrs. Jones called. Her vision is fine. Turns out she picked up the wrong glasses when she left the office. The X-ray technician has been having the same problem. I let out a lugh. Mrs. Jones had been right. Her vision had been blurred. Now we know why. Finally I felt shame. I came to realize what Mrs. Jones had taught me. I had first known she was wrong, that her anxiety had _ . Instead, my medical training had clouded mine. Now I feel thankful that Mrs. Jones figured it out before I made a mistake about our relationship. Patients come to me for my help. They pay me to listen, diagnose , treat and talk. That suggests trust; I must remember that, and trust them too. What has caused Mrs. Jones' eye problem? A. Wrong glasses. B. Medical checkup. C. Her own imagination. D. Chatting on the Internet. Answer: A. Wrong glasses. Children in the United States eat too much pizza that some researchers now argue the food should join the ranks of sugary drinks and fast food for the harm they do to health. In a new study, the researchers found that pizza is a large source of calories, saturated fat and salt in children's diets.Children should not eat more than two slices of pizza for a meal,and should pair that with salad, rather than with another high-calorie food,the researchers concluded. "Parents should aim to control pizza consumption , particularly as a snack where it was shown to have a very adverse impact on children, and they should put their pizza dollars toward healthier brands."Said Lisa Powel, director of the Illinois Prevention Research Center. Pizza has become a matter of focus in recent years for researchers who look at the meals children eat, rather than the nutrients within them.Studies have found pizza is among the greatest sources of calories for children. "Since pizza remains a common part of children's diet, we need to make 'healthy' pizza."Powel said.To make pizza healthier, food producers should reduce its saturated fat and salt, and increase its whole grain content," she said. Whether or not pizza is harmful enough to be picked out as an unhealthy food, the study attracts attention to a larger issue with the modern American lifestyle, said Alexis Tindall, who was not involved in the flow research. "Many foods are eaten too frequently and in large sizes," said Tindall.To solve the problem, people don't have to give up eating pizza, but instead, they can eat smaller and healthier pizza,"she said. "Make it at home, instead of ordering it out where you don't have any control over how it's made." Tindall said. "When we make it at home, we can choose healthier ingredients,increase the vegetables, reduce fat, and put in less cheese.Pizza doesn't have to be just pepperoni and cheese." Powel suggests healthier pizza should be made _ . A. with more ingredients B. with less salt C. in smaller sizes D. at home Answer: B. with less salt Passenger pigeons once flew over much of the United States in unbelievable numbers. Written accounts from the 18th and 19th centuries described flocks so large that they darkened the sky for hours. It was calculated that when its population reached its highest point, there were more than 3 billion passenger pigeons--a number equal to 24 to 40 percent of the total bird population in the United States, making it perhaps the most abundant bird in the world. Even as late as 1870 when their numbers had already become smaller, a flock believed to be 1 mile wide and 320 miles (about 515 kilometers) long was seen near Cincinnati. Sadly, the abundance of passenger pigeons may have been their _ . Where the birds were most abundant, people believed there was an ever-lasting supply and killed them by the thousands. Commercial hunters attracted them to small clearings with grain, waited until pigeons had settled to feed, then threw large nets over them, taking hundreds at a time. The birds were shipped to large cities and sold in restaurants. By the closing decades of the 19th century, the hardwood forests where passenger pigeons nested had been damaged by Americans' need for wood, which scattered the flocks and forced the birds to go farther north, where cold temperatures and spring storms contributed to their decline. Soon the great flocks were gone, never to be seen again. In 1897, the state of Michigan passed a law prohibiting the killing of passenger pigeons, but by then, no sizable flocks had been seen in the state for 10 years. The last confirmed wild pigeon in the United States was shot by a boy in Pike County, Ohio, in 1900. For a time, a few birds survived under human care. The last of them, known affectionately as Martha, died at the Cincinnati Zoological Garden on September 1, 1914. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, passenger pigeons _ . A. were the largest bird population in the Us B. lived mainly in the south of America C. did great harm to the natural environment D. were the biggest bird in the world Answer: A. were the largest bird population in the Us Show Biz Summer 2014 Location: Rosewood Center for Family arts Important Information: * Tuition paid on the first day of class. No tuition refunds . * DCT reserves the right to cancel any class; refunds made for cancelation . * Please accompany student to the first day of class. * Registration begins one-half hour before class time. How To Register: * Mail : fill out the form in this brochure. * Be sure to list the class and group that you want & the dates. Drama Days! --$ 175 Entering Grades : Group A : lst -- 2nd Group B : 3rd -- 5th . Time: June 2--June 6 * create the situations and scenes * SHOWTLME-invite family and friends to your Friday Showcase ! * Bring a sack lunch and drink each day! Laugh Out Loud --$ 175 Entering Grade : 5 th Time: June 23--June 27 * Tell a joke! Learn why old jokes can be the best! * Work with your class to put on a Comedy Show for family and friends! Acting --Just Acting--$225 Entering Grades : Group A: lst --2nd Group B: 3rd -- 4th Time: August 4 -- August 8 * Start with the characters: Who are you ? Be the Star of your Dreams. * Work with your class to create the plot. Summer Scenes --$ 225 Entering Grades: 5th -- 6th Time: August 11-- August 15 * Do you want to be an actor? * Improve your skills with instruction from professional actors & directors. What is the purpose of the text ? A. To earn money from the text.. B. To attract readers to attend Summer Scene . C. To persuade readers to attend Show Biz Summer 2014 D. To teach readers how to register for Show Biz Summer 2014 Answer: C. To persuade readers to attend Show Biz Summer 2014 The murmur of the audience had just faded into expectant silence. This was one of the most important days in little five-year-old Patricia McKee's life: the Kernot School Concert. She stood behind the curtain with her schoolmates. Yet she was not afraid because everyone had been practicing for weeks and knew their parts by heart. Being in a remote country town, Patricia knew that everyone would turn out for the big occasion-everyone! Yet, it was this awareness that added a sense of sadness to her excitement. There were two people who couldn't be in that audience that night-her mum and dad. Patricia's mother and father ran the local general store, which was open for business 24 hours. So it was simply accepted that Mum and Dad could never attend community activities. It had been this way with her sister, so why should it be any different for her? Still, Patricia couldn't help wishing that her mum and dad could be there to see her on such a special day, so she decided to bring up the subject with her mother. Sadly, she had to face the facts. At such a young age, Patricia couldn't really understand the deep pain in her mother's response: "I'll try to be there, sweetheart, but you know how hard it is for us to get away from the store." Yet as the curtain slowly opened on the stage of the Kernot Hall, little Patricia McKee got the surprise of her life. There, sitting four rows the front was her mother with a big smile on her face! This powerful image remains one of Patricia's most treasured memories. "Words cannot express the pure joy we both experienced at that moment. I was really _ ," said Patricia, now a parent herself. Her parents have passed away, but what a wonderful legacy they've left us: when someone really needs you, be there for them. Which of the following would be the best title for the text? A. A smiling face in the crowd. B. An extremely busy mother. C. A big occasion in school. D. A secret wish. Answer: A. A smiling face in the crowd.
ASK any group of teenagers in the UK what they most like to eat, and foods like pizzas, curries, pasta, burgers and chips are bound to get a mention - and many young people would probably also list hanging out at the local fast-food restaurant as one of their favorite pastimes. But what teenagers like to eat is not necessarily what they should be eating. According to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, far too many young people in the UK between the ages of four and 18 consume too much fat, sugar and salt in their diet and take in too many calories. Meanwhile their intake of starchy carbohydrates , fibre, iron, vitamins and calcium is too low. For a growing body, eating foods containing plenty of calcium, such as milk, yoghurt and cheese, is particularly important as calcium is essential for the development of healthy, strong bones. Similarly, foods that are rich in iron are good for young, rapidly developing bodies, so red meat, bread, green vegetables, dried fruit and fortified breakfast cereals are also recommended. It is during our teenage years that lifestyle habits can become entrenched , so it is important that young people are educated about what foods are good for them. In 2005, in an attempt to change eating habits and open teenagers' minds to new flavors and new tastes, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver launched a 'Feed Me Better' campaign. As part of a television series, 'Jamie's School Dinners', he worked with teachers and cooks in a number of schools across the UK to provide more healthy, nutritious school meal options. Although the campaign was rather resisted at the beginning, it was generally regarded as a huge success and helped to influence governmental policy on nutritional standards for school meals. No one expects to end the teenage love affair with fast and junk food but, hopefully, if projects like 'Feed Me Better' and the Government's own 'Change4Life' campaign continue to give out the right messages, more young people will understand the importance of balancing occasional treats with healthier food options. According to the article, Jamie Oliver launched a campaign at schools to _ . A show off his excellent cooking skills B teach students how to cook nutritious meals C make the public keep an eye on school food D improve the children's diet at school Answer: D. improve the children's diet at school To honor the best books for young adults and children, TIME has created this list of classics: Best Young-Adult and Children's Books. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Sherman Alexie's coming-of-age novel shows family and traditions through young Arnold Spirit, torn between his life in an Indian community and his largely white high school. The specifics are sharply drawn, but this novel, with its themes of self-discovery, speaks to young readers everywhere. Harry Potter What more can be said about J. K. Rowling's unique series? How about this: seven years after the final book was published, readers young and old still go crazy at the slightest rumor of a new Potter story. The Book Thief For many young readers, Markus Zusak's novel provides their first in-depth reflection of the Holocaust . Although terror surrounds Liesel, a young German girl, so too does evidence of friendship, love and charity -- recovering lights in the darkness. A Wrinkle in Time Madeleine L'Engle's super-realist adventure has provided generations of children with their first-ever exciting experiences, as Meg travels across the fifth dimension in search of her father. But the science fiction also has a message: Meg learns independence and bravery in the process. Charlotte's Web Readers are still drawn to the simplicity and beauty of spider Charlotte's devotion to her pig friend Wilbur. Though family farms may be less common than they were in 1952, E. B. White's novel remains timeless for its lasting reflection on the power of friendship and of good writing. Holes Louis Sachar's story of a family curse , fancy sports shoes and poisonous lizards moves forward and backward through time, telling of how Stanley Yelnats IV ended up in a prison camp. It's an introduction to a complex story, filled with fun, warmth and a truly memorable criminal. Matilda With apologies to the lovable Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this may be Roald Dahl's most inspiring book for young people. Poor Matilda feels troubled and ignored by her family -- a sense that many preteens share. They don't share her supernatural powers, but that's the lasting appeal of this escapist fun. The Outsiders Published when author S. E. Hinton was just 18, this coming-of-age novel offers evidence that even the youngest writer can provide valuable wisdom. Her striking look at Ponyboy and gang life in the 1960s has continued to have a powerful effect for decades on readers of all kinds, whether they identify more with the Greasers or the Socs. The Phantom Tollbooth In a humorous, sharp fairy tale that shows language and mathematics through a story of adventure in the Kingdom of Wisdom, Jules Feiffer's unusual drawings do as much as Norton Juster's plain language combined with complex ideas to carry readers through Digitopolis and the Mountains of Ignorance. The Giver Lois Lowry's tale of self-discovery in society has a memorable central character, Jonas, and an unforgettable message -- that pain and harm have an important place in individual lives and in society, and to forget them is to lose what makes us human. What is the main purpose of the passage? A To advertise for some booksellers. B To introduce some famous writers. C To admire some classics for kids and young adults. D To recommend some great works of TIME magazine. Answer: C. To admire some classics for kids and young adults. White bread is thought to have a long history.In ancient Egypt, people discovered white bread about 8,000 years ago. There is something interesting about white bread.In the old times,many cities in ancient Greece said they owned the best quality.In the middle ages,bakers in England carefully _ their secrets of making bread.Anyone who hoped to learn the art of making bread must spend seven years on it.In times of war and disasters ,bread and wheat were the first things to bekept closely. However,in the mid-1800s,an engineer from Switzerland invented a new kind mill to produce more white bread at a faster speed.Soon bread making became widely popular all over Europe.In 1928,America had the first company to produce and sell mountains of white bread. How many countries are mentioned in the article? A Four. B Five. C Six D Seven. Answer: B. Five. Daniel likes to do something to protect the environment in his daily life. Next Sunday is his friend's birthday. He is going to buy some gifts online for his friend. Now he is visiting the following website for some information about gifts. Welcome to Nature Posters - the world's largest collection of nature posters and fine art prints! We make a donation to help the environment when each nature poster is sold through this website! Please tell your friends about us, and remember us when you are gift shopping. Daniel chose the following two beautiful pictures as gifts from the website: Parrots in Blue: $5.99 Sharks: $7.99 Daniel should pay _ for his gifts. A $5.99 B $13.98 C $7.99 D $2.00 Answer: B. $13.98 The Girl From the Street The workers who brought the girl to the orphanage knew little about her. The streets where they found her had been her home for many years. Her parents were unknown. They left her long ago. At the orphanage, the girl, like all the children there, was taught to read and write. While she was studying at the orphanage, she learned something else--to be independent . At twenty-one, she left the orphanage and began working as a secretary. And then, in 1975, while she was still working as an ordinary secretary, something special happened. She entered the Miss Hong Kong competition and won it. This was the turning point in her life. Now her name, Mary Cheung, was known to everybody. Mary entered the competition because she wanted to show that orphanage girls could be something. Winning the competition gave her the chance to start a new life. This led her first into television and then into business as a manager. When she was working as a manager, she had trouble with her reports. "My English just wasn't good enough." She says. Luckily, she had a boyfriend (who later became her husband) to help her. Mary studied management at Hong Kong and graduated in 1980, She started her own business in 1985. But she did not stop developing herself. She then studied at the University of Hong Kong. Since 1987, she had spent a lot of time on photography. She has held several exhibitions of her work in many places---China, New Zealand and Paris. She still found time, however, to work on TV, write for newspapers and bring up her family. The girl from the street has come a long way, but her journey is not finished yet. According to the passage, which of the following is true? A All the children at the orphanage liked Mary. B Mary was not happy as a secretary. C Mary's boyfriend was good at English. D Mary's life in the orphanage was difficult. Answer: C. Mary's boyfriend was good at English.
The history of the computer keyboard started way back in 1714, when the first typewriters were manufactured. Then, they looked more like sewing machines, since they were designed by Remington, which also used to manufacture sewing machines. They were not used for commercial purposes but to produce legal documents that were neat. 1868 was the year when Christoper Latham Scholes created the typewriter that is common today and was later mass marketed in 1877. Before the typewriter advanced to become the modern-day keyboard, there were a few developments that led to it. First there was the combination of the typewriter with the telegraph to create a teletype. Key punches were also created by the combination of the typewriter with punch card systems. The teletype was used to input data in the very first computers, and this is where the development of the computer keyboard started. How the teletype worked with the computer is that a card was inserted into the teletype. The keys would then be pressed in the teletype and a series of holes would be punched in the card. These were known as key punches, which would then be put into a card reader which analyzed the cards as data. This was in 1946, and in 1948 an electromagnetically controlled teletype was brought into operation for the binary automatic computer . There later came the video display terminal and electronic keyboards. When people typed, they would immediately see the results on the screen. This was in the 1970s, and people accepted the technology because it was user-friendly. There was no long process involved in getting something typed. The very first designs of these keyboards were big and heavy, and most did not come with the computer. This was later modified to a smaller size and different colours and designs, and that is the keyboard we use today. What is the text mainly about? A. The process of making computer keyboards. B. The first person who invented the typewriter. C. The course of development of the computer keyboard. D. The influence of typewriters on the computer keyboard. Answer: C. The course of development of the computer keyboard. Six years ago, Oscar, owner of Blackacre in fee simple, executed and delivered to Albert an instrument in the proper form of a warranty deed, purporting to convey Blackacre to "Albert and his heirs." At that time, Albert was a widower who had one child, Donna. Three years ago, Albert executed and delivered to Bea an instrument in the proper form of a warranty deed, purporting to convey Blackacre to "Bea." Donna did not join in the deed. Bea was and still is unmarried and childless. The only possibly applicable statute in the jurisdiction states that any deed will be construed to convey the grantor's entire estate, unless expressly limited. Last month, Albert died, never having remarried. Donna is his only heir. Blackacre is now owned by A. Donna, because Albert's death ended Bea's life estate pur autre vie. B. Bea in fee simple pursuant to Albert's deed. C. Donna and Bea as tenants in common of equal shares. D. Donna and Bea as joint tenants, because both survived Albert. Answer: B. Bea in fee simple pursuant to Albert's deed. Most people know that theprefix = st1 /United Statesis made up of fifty states . However , few people know a lot about all fifty of them , Sufjan Stevens is a young American musician . He wants to change this situation Sufjan Stevens plans to make an album about each of the fifty American states . During college he played in several musical groups and recorded an album of his own music . However , he wanted to be a writer , not a musician . So after college he moved toNew York Cityto study writing. In New York , Stevens had trouble writing stories , He discovered that he missed music , He also discovered that most of the stories he did write were about his home state ofMichigan. So , Sufjan Stevens decided to make an album of songs aboutMichigan " Greetings fromMichigan: The Great Lakes State " was released three years ago . Here is the song " Say Yes toMichigan" ( music ) The album was a big success . Many young people and music critics liked it . Before long , Stevens announced that he wanted to make an album for every state . He called it his " fifty states project " Stevens choseIllinoisas his next state . He read many books aboutIllinois. He studied police documents and old newspapers . He talked to people who lived in the state . The CD "Illinois" was released last year . Critics loved the album , It won many awards awards . " Illinois " became popular at colleges throughout theUnited States. People said the CD sounded different form anything else they had ever heard . Here is a song called "Chicago" . (music) sufjan Stevens is keeping his next state a secret from reporters . People have said that he is writing about Oregon , Rhode Island , orMinnesota. However , no one but Stevens knows for sure . We leave you with the song " Decatur " or " Round of Applause For Your Stepmother ," from the CD "Illinois" (music) Which is the best title of the passage? A. The Fifty States of America B. Fifty States Projects C. The Album of Songs about Michigan D. Songs about American States Answer: B. Fifty States Projects Historians usually just study great things that happened in the past time, but Drew Faust has made history! On February 11, 2007, Faust was named president of Harvard University.She is the first woman to hold the position in the school's 371-year history. "I am a historian," she said."I've spent a lot of time thinking about the past, and about how it shapes the future.No university in the country, perhaps the world, has as remarkable a past as Harvard's." "And our common enterprise is to make Harvard's future even more remarkable than its past.That will mean recognizing and building on what we already do well.It will also mean recognizing what we don't do as well as we should, and not being satisfied until we find ways to do better." It is her great desire for improvement and willingness to try out new ideas that have given Drew success in a world controlled by men."This is a man's world, my girl, and the sooner you learn that, the better off you'll be." Drew Faust recalls her mother telling her this when she was young, but she didn't _ it. Faust grew up in a well-off family in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley in the 1950s.Even then, she was a trailblazer .A conversation with her family's black handyman and driver inspired her to write a letter, on school notebook paper, to President Dwight Eisenhower. She asked that he help bring US citizens together in the south, a much divided part of the country at the time. "Drew Faust is a historian with her eyes on the future," said Susan Graham, a professor of Harvard.Many of the university's schools said that they believe Harvard will have a brighter future under the leadership of Drew Faust. What do we know about historians? A. They usually study great things that happened in the past. B. They are usually presidents of universities. C. They are usually born in well-off families. D. They are usually women. Answer: A. They usually study great things that happened in the past. Being thirteen has certain problems that only another thirteen-year-old would understand. The biggest, I think, is learning to get along well with adults. I have found that when dealing with grown-ups, it is wise to remember two things: Always use your head. Never use your head. For instance, one day just before supper, my mother sent me to the store for a loaf of whole-wheat bread. They didn't have any. When I told my mother, she said, "Well, what kind did you get?" I told her I didn't get any. She looked as if I had just announced that I was leaving home for good. "For goodness' sake!" Said, "if they didn't have whole-wheat, you should have got something else! Why don't you use your head?" Not long after that, she sent me to the store for red oilcloth. They didn't have any, so I bought seven yards of purple. I thought it was pretty. Mother didn't. She said, "who ever heard of purple oilcloth in a red kitchen?" I told her I was only trying to use my head. She said, "Well, don't! And in the future, if you can't get what I send you for, don't get anything." See what I mean? There are other things that seem a little strange, too. If my father goes out for the evening, he tells me to "look after" my mother and sister. But if the family goes out, and I want to stay home, my father won't let me. He doesn't feel comfortable if I am home alone. That means I am old enough to "look after" my mother and sister but not old enough to "look after" myself. Another problem is what to do when you trip over the cat and land with your head in the refrigerator, causing a large lump to appear just over the right eyebrow. In that case, your father could feel free to say with a few choice words. Your sister could shed enough tears to dampen the whole room. Your mother could, and probably would, do both. But you? You are thirteen and can't do anything! You are too young to curse , and "big boys" don't cry. So you just stand there looking more stupid than usual. But in spite of all this, I still think thirteen is a wonderful age! The author says the biggest problem is _ . A. learning how to use one's head B. assuming responsibilities C. showing you can be trusted D. learning how to get along with grown-ups Answer: D. learning how to get along with grown-ups
On my first visit to India with my friend, Barry, we met a really nice woman on the plane. Her name was Uma. Talking with her made us very happy. When we arrived in India, we found that our bags weren't on our plane. It was 4 am on Saturday morning. But we were told that we couldn't get our bags until Monday. What could we do? As we stood there thinking, Uma came over. She said, "Our car will come soon. Come home with me." We went out of the airport and got into the small car. It was already crowded with Uma's family who had come to welcome her home. At the house, we showered and rested. They provided us with delicious Indian meals and took us on tours of their city. On Monday morning, their driver took us to the airport, where we were happy to get our bags. The following year, we returned to India, and our first thing was to visit Uma and her family. We have become good friends. Her kindness was a real gift. Everywhere we went, we met kind Indian people. We also did our best to pass on that kindness wherever we went, just as Uma did. How was the writer's first trip to India? Answer: There was once a boy called Jim in a village .Whenever Jim asked people to do things,no one would listen to him.He was sad.So Jim asked a wizard to solve the problem by using magic.The old wizard tried a lot of spells,but didn't work.. A young man heard about the problem .He went to Jim and said that he knew the solution .He gave Jim two small pieces of paper."These are two spells ,my boy.Use the first before you ask others to do something,and use the second when they have done it.A smile is also necessary,"the young man said.Jim was happy and tried to use the spells.When he asked people to do something.he said "Please"before his words and "Thank you"after they had done it.People were very surprised that Jim could be polite .Soon ,they became happy to do what Jim asked them to do.The wizard was surprised ,and asked the young man about the spells."It's not magic.When I was a child,my teacher told me that with good manners you could get anything you want.And he was right.Jim only needed good mannersto get what he wanted." The young man went to Jim and _ . Answer: Fluid from clouds tends to increase Answer: A father and his young son get into a bus in a small city and sit down. The bus conductor comes to them for their money. The man says "I want one ticket to Oxford." and gives her a shilling( ). The conductor looks at the small boy for a few seconds and then says to him, "How old are you young man?" The man begins speaking,but the conductor stops him,and the boy says, "I'm four years old at home, and two and a half in buses and trains." The man has to take six pence out of his bag and gives the money to the conductor. The conductor gives him one and a half tickets. The conductor asks _ how old he is. Answer: Peter's uncle lives in the country. He is a man full of humor . One day, Peter went to see his uncle. His uncle drove his car to the station to meet him. On their way home, they saw many people. His uncle waved to everybody. Peter was surprised and said,"Uncle,you wave to everybody. Do you know all of them?" "No,Peter," answered his uncle. "When I wave to someone who knows me, he'll feel happy. When I wave to someone and he doesn't know me, he will feel surprised and then he will have something to think about,he will make his road seem shorter . So I can make everybody happy." Peter's uncle _ there. Answer:
Fish move best through water when their fins are? Answer: Large [Collect] Cars are lots of fun, but they could also be dangerous. We have to be careful when we drive them or ride in them. It's always a good idea to put on your seat belt when you're in a car. Why? Think about this example: You put an egg on a skateboard and give it a push. If the skateboard hits a stone, it will stop, but the egg won't. It will fly through the air, hit the ground and break. Now, think what would happen if you tied the egg to the skateboard. When the skateboard hits a stone, the egg won't go flying; it will stay safely on the skateboard. Volvo, a famous Swedish carmaker, was the first to use seat belts in 1849. Air bags are also very important for car safety, because sometimes a seat belt isn't enough. If the car is going really fast and runs into something, seat belts could even hurt the people who wear them. Most new cars have air bags in front of and next to the seats. When a car hits something, its air bags will come out quickly in less than one second to keep the people inside safe. Air bags are important for cars because _ . Answer: they can also help us to keep safe in a car My name is Linda. I'm a girl. I live in Canada .I have two big eyes. My eyes are green. I have long, red hair. I am 1.6 meters tall. I have long arms and long legs. I like black .Black is my favourite colour. I have a friend in China. Her name is Lin Na. She has two big eyes ,too. But her eyes are black. Lin Na is short. She is only 1.5 meters tall. She has long hair, too. But her hair is black. She likes yellow. She has many yellow clothes. Yellow is her favourite colour. Lin Na an d I look different, but we are good friends . Lin Na has black eyes, but Linda has _ eyes. Answer: green Donald was shaken by thunder on the bed before he could count "one thousand one". Then he heard the smoke alarm go off. He went downstairs quickly to investigate. When he opened the door to the basement , flames exploded out. Donald fled back upstairs to call 911 but the phone didn't work. When he tried to go downstairs, he was stopped by a wall of flames. He had to use a towel to cover his mouth. His house was three miles off the main road and so well hidden by trees that Donald knew calling for help would be useless. Actually, he didn't even try to do that. About one mile away lived Donald's closest neighbor, Jeremie. When he heard some sounds, Jeremie jumped out of bed, holding a phone and a flashlight, and went towards the noise. He dialed 911 the instant he saw the flames. When he came close to the house, Jeremie knew he'd better wait until rescuers came. But he didn't want Donald to die in the fire. Without hesitation , he rushed into the house. He shouted, "Donald, where are you?" Then he had to run outside to catch his breath. After one more attempt , he gave up and circled around back. He saw Donald on the second-floor balcony, but there was no way to get to him. Suddenly, he noticed a ladder. He dragged it over to the balcony and pulled Donald down just when the second floor fell down. Within the year, Donald built a new two-story wood house at the site of the fire. Jeremie and Donald don't run into each other regularly, but Donald knows that if he ever needs help, Jeremie will be there. Donald didn't call for help mainly because _ . Answer: his house was far from the main road. At first glance, there is little in Horton to attract people. The other nearby towns have much more to offer: Bradfield has its river and historic buildings, while Newtown has shops and entertainment. The buildings of Horton look dirty and unloved. For shops, there is a small supermarket, a few bargain shops, a bakery which, strangely, does not sell bread and a florist which has one stand of sad-looking flowers. Even so, Horton has several advantages over its neighbouring towns. Firstly, it has a country park. Four thousand years ago, this was an important fort. There are no historic remains here now, but there are wonderful views over the countryside. On sunny weekends you can often see kids out with their parents, kicking balls or flying kites. There aren't many job opportunities in Horton, and the roads to nearby cities aren't really fast, but there are excellent rail links. You can be in London in an hour and a half, and other cities are less than an hour away. That means that parents can earn a good salary and still get home in time to spend the evenings with their families. Houses in Horton aren't pretty, but they're functional and cheap. The streets are quiet and safe, and there are plenty of parks and playgrounds. It has a library, three primary schools and a secondary school, St. Mark's. It is friendly and offers a wide range of subjects and activities to children of all abilities and backgrounds. The town also has a swimming and a sports centre, and the community halls hold regular clubs and events for people of all ages. What advantages does Horton bring to workers? Answer: You can get to several cities quickly by train.
In sunny weather I should try A. biking B. space travel C. magic D. time travel Answer: A. biking Writing journals has been one of the most helpful things I've ever done. Through writing journals I've not only learned a lot about myself, but also removed a lot of obsessive thoughts, by writing them down and considering them. Journals give you a place to write down your honest thoughts without being afraid of what people will think of you. There are some ideas for writing journals: Draw pictures Write poetry or short stories Goals: daily and long-term Respond to a magazine article that you are interested in Write about obsessive thoughts and try to find what's causing them A list of things you are proud of (It can always increase your confidence when you need it) Make a pro/con (/) list when you're trying to make a decision: most of the time the decision will start to be clearer afterwards The best way to start is to decide where you want to write your journal. (Though it's called the journal, it doesn't mean you can only do it in a "journal") . If you like the traditional style of journals, then use a notebook, blank paper or graph paper, whichever you like best. If you prefer to go digital, start a blog. You can make the blog public or private, and it's a good way to keep track of articles or pictures you find online. (You can link to them.) Even if you feel there's nothing for you to write about at first, you might be surprised to find that once you start, you can't stop. What does writing journals help the author do? A. Make many friends. B. Do many helpful things. C. Be free from some worries. D. Learn a lot about other people. Answer: C. Be free from some worries. Antonia left Athens and came to America to make her fortune. She wanted to be a famous actress, so she went to live in Hollywood, California. At first, Antonia had very little money, so she was forced to watch every penny while _ of movie agents' offices. For over a year, she worked only in small parts. She found life extremely hard. She had to take buses or walk everywhere, and she ate only one meal a day. Even though she worked nights as a waitress, Antonia could not really make ends meet. Suddenly, one day, the star of a film became ill, and the director asked Antonia to take the part. Her acting was superb. After the first show of the film, she became an overnight success. Everyone gave her mad notice, and she received many offers for future starring roles. Since then, Antonia has changed her whole way of life. Now she wears expensive furs and drives a Rolls-Royce. She lives in a twenty-seven room house in Beverly Hills, with seven servants. All her needs are cared for. For Antonia, America is truly the land of streets paved with gold. Through her hard work, she has earned the fame she desired so much. How many people live in her large house? A. One. B. Twenty-seven. C. Seven. D. Eight. Answer: D. Eight. A boy and a girl were a couple of lovers. The girl liked feeling rain, so the boy was always holding the umbrella when it rained and most part of the umbrella was over the girl. Rain showered the boy every time but he said nothing except looked at the gift's face, which was full of silent satisfaction. He felt very happy, so did the girl. One day they went out for a walk. They were walking hand in hand passing a building which was under construction. The girl jumped with excitement and said something. The boy seldom talked only feeling excited as she felt looking at her silently. When the girl was talking, a not big or small stone fell down from the building toward the girl's head! At that moment the boy took the girl in his arms so suddenly and so strongly that the girl let out a scream. He meant to protect the gift with his body. But the boy turned over to make his own body downward before they dropped on the ground. As a result, only the girl's hand was smashed by the stone and _ The girl came back to earth and cried with pain, tears weeping up. She thought the saying that "The husband and the wife are birds in the same forest essentially, but when serious tragedy comes, they will fly separately" was really not wrong! With this, she straggled and stood up from. the boy's body keeping from the pains and slowly ran away without glancing at the boy. At the time, the boy was calling the girl's name in a weak voice, his lips were already white. He took out his mobile phone and dialed the girl's number, but the girl didn't answer. He dialed again she didn't answer again. For several times, he gave up. But his fingers pressed something on the mobile. At that time, beside the boy, the blood spread slowly, his hand hung and the mobile phone lay in the blood, he had no strength to press the "SENT" key yet. The next day, when the girl heard of the news that the boy was being rescued, she ran to the hospital without considering her anger. When she hurried to the hospital, the doctor had already declared his death; the cause of his death was that his lung had lost too much blood. It was because, when the boy meant to protect the girl with his body he found that there was a steel stick under them, so he turned over to make it inset(="put" into) his own body. The boy's mother passed the boy's mobile phone on to the gift. The girl read the message that hadn't been sent: "Honey, I'm sorry, I still couldn't protect you and made you wound... "Upon this, the girl couldn't help crying... Please treasure the one you love and believe his or her LOVE! The girl didn't want to answer the boy's' call because _ . A. she didn't hear it B. she was seriously hurt C. she was angry with him D. she had her phone broken Answer: C. she was angry with him Alice is my good friend. She is twenty-two years old. Now she lives in Beijing, China. She teaches English in a junior high school. She loves making friends with the students and they like her very much. Every morning she gets up very early. At about 7:00, she usually has a glass of milk and some bread for breakfast at home. Then she walks to work and gets to school at about a quarter to eight. At 12:00 she eats a hamburger and an apple for lunch. Her favorite drink is Coke. She goes home at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. She likes to have noodles and chicken for dinner. On Sunday, she often comes to see me. Sometimes we go to a Chinese restaurant to have lunch. ,. Which of the following is NOT true? A. Alice lives in China now. B. Alice likes Coke best. C. Alice gets home at 5:00 in the afternoon. D. On weekdays she has a hamburger and an apple for lunch. Answer: C. Alice gets home at 5:00 in the afternoon.
Ice Hotel Quebec, located 30 minutes west of Downtown Quebec City, Canada, is only open during the winter season. The hotel is made entirely of ice. The two galleries at the Ice Hotel Quebec feature events such as ice painting and ice sculpture competitions. Things to Do Guests have a choice of different winter vacation activities, including cross-country skiing, ice skating, dog sledding , ice fishing and sliding . Ice Hotel Quebec has a sauna( ),so remember to pack your bathing suit. Rooms & Suites The hotel offers 18 rooms and 14 theme suites built from 12,000 tons of snow and 400 tons of ice. The walls at Ice Hotel Quebec are four feet thick and allow the hotel to keep a temperature of -2degC to -5degC. The furniture at the hotel is made of snow and ice, including the beds. The beds are equipped with a thick foam mattress and an extra thick sleeping bag. That is enough to prevent you from catching a cold. Vacation Tip Ice Hotel Quebec offers 30-minute guided public tours daily from 10:30am to 4:30pm. It costs $15 CAD for adults, $7.5 for children (under eight), $13for students\seniors (above sixty), and $42 for families. Plan This Vacation Ice Hotel Quebec-Canada will be open for its sixth season from January 5thto April 1st. Costs for overnight stays start at $199CAD per person. If you're looking for something really different to do on your next trip, think creatively and plan to visit the truly unusual Ice Hotel Quebec! If Mr. Smith attends a 30-minute public tour with his wife and seven-year-old twin sons, he should pay at least _ . A $37.5 CAD B $45 CAD C $42CAD D $199 CAD Answer: C. $42CAD My daughter Alisa was born blind in her right eye and was bullied pretty severely in school. So I quitted my job as a babysitter and then schooled my daughter heart and soul at home. A year ago a boy of 14 befriended my daughter on Facebook after reading something Alisa wrote about bullying. Today he messaged her and asked if she would like six tickets to a Colorado Rockies baseball game. They have never met in person but she said, "Sure! That would be great." Then I received a call from his mother explaining why her son had chosen my daughter. She said he thought my daughter deserved them because of all the good she does in the community. Her son, she explained, had experienced a similar situation and was also home schooled. What she said is true. Now my daughter Alisa continues to teach groups of girls in trouble in our community how to look within themselves for the positive and how to be their own person. Everything taken into consideration, we decided to meet the mother and the boy at a local bike shop. After meeting, the boy approached my car and my daughter gave him a hug and thanked him for his generosity. She told him that she had never been to a baseball game and that she was going to take her entire family, including myself, her dad, little sister, her cousin and an aunt who has brain cancer. We all thanked one another, got in our car, and went our way. As we drove home my daughter opened the envelope. Inside it were the tickets and $100 each to buy hot dogs, pay for parking and not have any worries but a great time. My daughter has always been the giver and now she and our family are the receivers and I can not tell you how incredibly honored we feel to be on the other end. What an incredible young man to have such a kind idea. Why did the boy want to offer free tickets to Alisa? A Because Alisa is a disabled girl. B Because he has a lot money to share. C Because Alisa often helps those in trouble. D Because he has a similar situation with Alisa. Answer: C. Because Alisa often helps those in trouble. Do Algebra problems 15 through 25. Give the different forms of the verbs on page 50 of your French workbook. Read page 12 through 20 of the Shakespeare play, and when you have finished that, don't forget to fill the missing chemical symbols on the Periodic Table of Elements worksheet. Homework is a major part of going to class, and it helps students grasp important concepts. Luckily, you can do a few things to make homework less painful. First, be sure you understand the assignment. Write it down in your notebook or day planner if you need to, and don't be afraid to ask questions about what is expected. It is much easier to take a minute to ask the teacher during or after class than to struggle to remember later at night! Second, use any extra time you have in school to work on your homework. Many schools have study halls that are specifically designed to allow students to study or get homework done. It is attractive to hang out with friends during study periods or unscheduled time, but the more work you can get done in school, the less you will have to do at night. Third, pace yourself. If you don't finish your homework during school, think about how much you have left and what else is going on that day, and then budget your time. Most high school students have between 1 and 3 hours of homework a night. If it is a heavy-homework day and it seems like you have got an assignment on every subject but gym and lunch, you will need to devote more time to homework schedule, especially if you are involved in sports or activities or have an after-school job. What is the author's attitude towards homework's effect on students? A Opposing. B Impatient. C Approving. D Concerned. Answer: C. Approving. Where do some Metallica band members live? A trees B space C underwater D houses Answer: D. houses Little Mark is only 6, but he has an IQ of 200, a genius among geniuses. _ His parents must keep him intellectually simulated while making sure he is like any other little boy. Mark has been attracted by the way how the world works since he was a baby. When he was 3, Mark was reading fluently, mostly self-taught. His parents haven't been able to keep him away from books since. "I tried many times to stop him reading. We worry about his crazy fond of reading because he constantly wants to read every-thing whatever it is." A psychologist at the Centre for gifted children tested Mark and gave him an IQ of 200. The average child of Mark's age has an IQ of 100. At 200, Mark is a genius-even compared with other child geniuses. "With children like Mark you can tell that's a bright child as soon as they walk in. They just have this sort of intensity, and maybe they're not so good at communicating with people," the psychologist said. "He will never fit perfectly into a class where he's with children of his age."But Mark's mother worries about the "socially isolated" labels. "Nobody wants their child to grow up with that image. I want him to communicate with others freely, but not to be frustrated academically, so it's really hard to find a balance," she says. Helen Dudeney from the Talented and Gifted Children Association says Mark is one in a million with such a high IQ. She points out that geniuses are still rare and difficult for the public education system to handle. "The lack of coping comes because teachers aren't trained in teaching gifted children," says Dudeney. Helen believes it's also extremely important for them to be recognized and supported in their talents. Mark's parents are trying to figure out how best to help Mark. At the moment, there are few options. Mark finds first year work boring and simple, but he must learn to complete the work. His mother says, "We just want to be happy. Just to have a happy childhood and want to go to school every day." Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? _ A Mark's parents are very satisfied with his love for reading. B Mark began to teach himself reading at the age of 3. C Many child geniuses are not good at communicating with others. D It is hard for parents to bring up a genius. Answer: A. Mark's parents are very satisfied with his love for reading.
While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a beach near a playground. "That's my son over there," she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide. "He's a fine-looking boy," the man said. "That's my son on the swing in the blue sweater." Then, looking at his watch, he called to his son," What do you say if we go, Todd?" Todd pleaded , "Just five more minutes, Dad. please? Just five more minutes." The man nodded and Todd continued to swing to his heart's contently . Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his son. "Time to go now?" Again Todd pleaded, "Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes." The man smiled and said, "Okay." "Oh, you are certainly a patient father," the woman said. The man smiled and then said ,"My older son Tommy was killed by a drunken driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I'd give anything for just five more minutes with him. I've vowed not to make the same mistake with Todd." "He thinks he has five more minutes to swing. The truth is ...I get five minutes to watch him play." ,A, B, C, D,. (10) According to the passage, the man had _ son(s) the year before. A one B two C three D four Answer: B. two Mr.Brown is 80 years old.Every morning he goes for a walk in the park.And he comes home at twelve thirty for lunch.But today a car stops at his house.At twelve,two policemen help him get out.One of them says to Mr.Brown's daughter,"The old man can't find his way in the park.He asks us to take him home by car."The daughter thanks the policemen and they leave.Then she asks her father,"Dad,you go to that park every day.But today,you can't find the way.What's wrong with you?"The old man smiles like a child and says,"I can find my way.I don't want to walk home." The policeman says Mr.Brown _ in the park. A doesn't want to walk home B can't find his way home C knows the way D is ill Answer: B. can't find his way home Research by the Institute of Education (IOE) in London found that men who went to single-sex schools were not only more likely to be separated from a partner or divorced, but also more likely to be depressed by middle age. The chances of women having successful marriages were not affected by whether they were educated in mixed or single-sex schools.Separate research by the IOE found that going without boys was beneficial for women in other ways since there was a " statistically significant positive association between single-sex schooling and wages for women". The study into marital success interviewed 17,000 adults who were taught in a range of schools including private boarding schools to state comprehensives.It found that single-sex education does not compromise the chances either of men or women of getting married. However, researchers found that boys educated on their own were more likely to divorce in later life.While for women, there was no significant link.The research also found men taught in boys' schools were more likely to suffer from depression by age 42--perhaps because of their increased chances of marital breakdown.But Professor Leonard's team was unable to identify why those men educated in a single-sex environment were more likely to divorce. The study asked married and _ g couples where men had attended both single-sex and mixed schools to rate how happy they were and found no marked difference in their happiness levels or willingness to share domestic chores. Mary Boust, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said the IOE research confirmed what was always suspected."All the research shows single-sex schools are good for girls but bad for boys--both in terms of academic performance and socialization," she said."Boys learn better when they are with girls and they actually learn to get on better." The findings were presented at a conference on gender in education hosted by Perse School for Girls in Cambridge. According to the passage, the single-sex education _ . A comprises a wide range of schools B has a close link with women's marriage C influences men's chances of getting married D may increase the risk of divorce for men in later life Answer: D. may increase the risk of divorce for men in later life A compass would be useful to A Captain Planet B captain of industry C sports team captain D Navy captain Answer: D. Navy captain The Chang'e-3, named after a Chinese goddess, is China's first spacecraft to make a soft landing on the moon. It includes a lander and a moon rover called Yutu. The Chang'e-3 spacecraft is the second phase China's lunar rogramme, which includes orbiting, landing and returning to Earth. It follows the success of the Chang'e-1 and Chang'e-2 spacecraft in 2007 and 2010. The launch of Chang'e-3 was successful. The Chang'e-3 is one of the most difficult tasks in China's space programme, the news says. The news adds that exploring the universe and seeking peaceful use of space are dreams of Chinese for thousands of years. With a lander and the moon rover Yutu, Chang'e-3 soft-landed on the moon at 9:11 p.m. Saturday. Yutu later separated from the lander and ran to the moon surface earlier Sunday. China has chosen the name Yutu for its first moon rover, after a worldwide online vote attracted people to come up with names. In Chinese folk tale, Yutu is the white pet rabbit of Chang'e, the moon goddess. Chang'e took her pet and flew towards the moon. She became a goddess and has lived there with the white animal ever since. The article may be found in _ . A a history book B a fashion magazine C a geography book D a newspaper Answer: D. a newspaper
Seligman is leading the research on what might be called Happiness Revolution in psychology. Since World War II, psychologists have focused on fixing what is broken --repairing psychosis , and neurosis . Research has piled up steadily when it comes to looking at patients who are neurotic, while the happy or joyful people among us have received little scientific examination. When Seligman did a search to find academic articles about such 'positive psychology' he found only 800 out of 70,000. 'Psychologists tend to be concerned with taking a negative 8 person, and helping him get to negative 2,' said Seligman, a psychology professor of the University of Pennsylvania. 'My aim is to _ ' In the last 50 years, statistics have shown that we are less happy as a people. 'While our quality of life has increased dramatically over that time, and we've become richer, we're in an epidemic of depression,' Seligman said. 'Depression is 10 times more common now, and life satisfaction rates are down as well.' Seligman argues that the new science he writes about is shifting psychology's model away from its narrow-minded focus on mental illness towards positive emotion, virtue and strength that increase people's happiness. If you want to be happy, forget about winning the lottery , getting a nose job, or securing a raise. In his new book, Authentic Happiness, psychologist Martin Seligman argues that overall lifetime happiness is not the result of good genes, money, or even luck. Instead, he says we can increase our own happiness by making use of the strengths and virtues that we already have, including kindness, originality, humor, optimism, and generosity. He has named the field'Positive Psychology,' arguing that we would be better off building on our own strengths rather than mourning, and, hence, trying to repair, our weaknesses. By frequently calling upon their strengths, people can build up natural barriers against misfortune and negative emotions, he said. Science has shown that there are several distinct roads to being a happy person -- though happiness might not mean what you think. Material goods -- even simple ones like ice cream, and massages -- are only stimulating things that rapidly give people a boost. To cultivate happiness, we must first find out our individual strengths and virtues. Next, apply the qualities in such a way as to enhance your happiness-generating system. What does Seligman mean by saying 'take a plus 2 person and boost him to a plus 6'? Answer: This is the SCIENCE IN THE NEWS, I'm Barbara Klein. Animal experts say one of the world's most beautiful and rare kinds of big cat is close to disappearing from the wild. A study earlier this year found that about thirty Amur leopards still live free. The cats are also called Far Eastern leopards. Recently, their number has been reduced by one, Some person shot a female Amur, then beat her to death. The animal's body was discovered last month in the Barsovy National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Russia. An official of the World Wildlife Fund, Darron, said this was the third such killing in the area in the past fives years. Mr, Collins said the death of even one adult female is a huge loss for the endangered cat, He noted that the killing reduces the possibility for cubs or young. It is not clear how many Amur leopards still live free. One population count was performed in February and March. Wildlife expert Dmitry Pikuuov led this study. It found evidence of seven to nine males. The study identified three to seven females without cubs, Four leopards were identified as females with cubs. In all, five or six cubs were recorded, Six to eight animals could not be identified. Most of the land where the Amur leopard once lived was in China.New roads and climate change there threatened the animals. So did hunters who kill big cats for their body parts. Mr. Pikuuov says adult Amurs need about five hundred square kilometers with good forests to survive. He said they also need a large and continuing supply of animals like deer for food. He believes the answer to saving the Amur leopard is for governments to provide protected spaces for wildlife. The number of the Amur leopards in China is becoming smaller because of all the following EXCEPT _ . Answer: When I was a baby, I interested you and made you laugh. Whenever I was "bad", you'd shake your finger at me and ask: "How could you?"--but then you'd give up, and roll me over for a belly scratch and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. My housetraining was a long process, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. We went for long walks, runs in the park and car rides. We stopped for ice cream. I took long sleeps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day. Step by step, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human friend. Finally, you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a dog person, but I still welcomed her into our home. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement, I was attracted by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them too. Your wife was afraid I would bite them. However, as they began to grow, I became their friend. Now, you have a new job in another city and you and they will be moving to a flat that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family", but there was a time when I was your only family. I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the dog pound . It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said: "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look.The children were in tears as they waved me goodbye. And "How could you?" were the only three words that swept over my mind. Is it better to live with hope or without hope? At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you, that you had changed your mind and that this was all a bad dream. My beloved master, I will think of you and wait for you forever. I hope you receive more faithfulness from your family than you showed to me. What is the theme of the story? Answer: Google is preparing for changes in its privacy policy beginning March 1st. The company says it plans to replace more than 60 separate policies for different products with one main policy. Privacy activists criticized last month's announcement. They are concerned that the new policy will make it easier to track the activities of users across Google's many products -- from Gmail to YouTube. Marc Rotenberg heads the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington. He says Google's aim is to create a single unified profile of its users. "We believe that not only is that a threat to privacy, we actually believe it is illegal, because last year Google entered into an agreement with the US Federal Trade Commission in which they said they would not engage in that kind of data sharing without the permission of their users." Google says its new policy will make it simpler for users to share information across services like Google Search, Gmail and Google Calendar. And it says the new policy will help personalize each user's experience. Over time, it says, users can expect to see better search results, fewer unwanted advertisements and more content targeted to their interests. But Marc Rotenberg says in return, people who choose to use Google will lose control over the information they share. "The type of information you might provide for an e-mail service, for example, such as your address book, which contains private information, is different from the type of information that you might provide for a social network service where people purposely make information publicly available to their friends." Mr. Rotenberg says these two kinds of services should be kept separate. "By trying to combine these two services, in our view, Google is actually undermining a very well established expectation of privacy, especially for popular Internet services like electronic mail." Critics also see a bigger problem with Google's new policy. The plan would not give users a choice to drop out of the data sharing. "In our view, if people want to make their potential information available, they certainly should have the right to do that. What we are objecting to is the effort by the company to take away from the users that choice that they should have. That just seems unfair." Google says it will not be collecting any more data than it does now. And it says users will still be able to control many privacy settings. For example, they can disable their search history and set Gmail chat to "off the record." European Union officials have asked the company to delay the new policy to make sure it would not violate any EU data protection laws. Marc Rotenberg thinks the Federal Trade Commission in Washington might also try to block the new policy. What seems to be a big problem with the new policy according to the critics? Answer: Famous writer Edgar Allan Poe wrote 70 poems and 66 short stories during his life,but published only one novel. That book, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon, Pym of Nantucket,is fiction,focusing on Pym's bad luck on a whaling ship. The novel,published in 1838 ,involves an attempted rebellion of the whaling ship. Pym and two others drive back the rebels,killing or throwing overboard all but one. The spared rebel, named Richard Parker,is kept aboard in order to help operate the ship. But as the ship overturns,it has no adequate food. Parker suggests that cannibalism is the only way out,and they draw straws to determine the victim. Parker loses and becomes dinner. But in 1846 a real-life Richard Parker died in a shipwreck . He and 20 0thers were on board the doomed Francis Spaight, which sank, killing all on board. It was a mere coincidence,as it involved neither rebellion nor cannibahsm. In 1884,the coincidence became extremely horrible. A boat named the Mignonette sank, and four people went into a lifeboat. And just like in Pym's tale,the four found themselves lacking food and were desperate. They did not draw straws;however,two of the remaining three simply killed the youngest,a cabin boy who had fallen unconscious. All three then dined on the now-dead 17 year old. The cabin boy's name,of course,was Richard Parker. As for rebellion,one needs to travel back t0 1797 ,before Poe penned his novel - although there is little evidence that Poe had known about this Richard Parker or intentionally chose his name for the Pym novel. That year,another man named Richard Parker led a rebellion of the British Naval base at Nore,taking over a number of ships. But as food was running out,Parker ordered "his" fleet to head toward France. The ship he was on foUowed this order but none of the other ships did,and Parker was arrested then was hanged as punishment. This series of coincidences has not gone entirely unnoticed. In 2001,author Yann Martel published The Life of Pi,which was made into a movie for release in November of 2012.lt teLls the story of a man who finds himself trapped on a lifeboat with a few animals,including a Bengal tiger. Martel showed respect for the shipwrecked men spoken about above by naming the tiger Richard Parker. And while there is probably nothing to this strange occurrence,if vour name is Richard Parker,you may want to stay away from boats. What can be learnt about the name Richard Parker? Answer:
Our little boy came up to his mother one evening while she was cooking supper, and handed her a piece of paper with some words written on. And this is what it said: For cutting the grass in the garden $5.00 For cleaning up my bedroom this week $1. 00 For going to the store for you $0. 50 For baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping $2. 25 For taking out the rubbish $1. 00 For getting a good report card $5. 00 Total owed : $14.75 After reading, his mother thought for a while. Then she picked up the pen, turned over the paper and wrote: For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me--free For the nights and days I worried about you--free For the toys, clothes, food--free For all the love I've given you--free Then with tears in his eyes, our son looked straight up at his mother and said, "Mom, I love you. " And he took the pen and wrote: "PAID IN FULL". The boy's mother paid _ in the end. A $10.75 B $12.75 C $14.75 D nothing Answer: D Mammals can breathe thanks to A organisms with roots B volcanoes C rainbows D oxygen tanks Answer: A Many parents take on the role of being their children's preschool teacher and the responsibility of readying them for kindergarten. To achieve this goal, it is important for parents to introduce a variety of subjects in a positive and playful manner. "Learning should not be forced,"says Marion Godwin, who has taught first grade in Moorestown, N. J. for more than 30 years." It should be taught according to what they know and do best--and that is' play'. When teaching them, play games and have fun with the subject. And parents should always be looking for'teachable moments'." "You want a child to be a lifelong learner, so you want to show them learning is everywhere,"she says."If parents take the time to lay a strong educational foundation, their children will keep building on it." Introduce children to science with hands-on activities that interest them, such as growing plants from seeds, discussing animals and how to care for pets, and observing the chemical changes that occur during cooking", she says. "Sorting activities, simple patterns and counting games are a great way to teach children the basics of math, and taking them on field trips, singing songs and reciting rhymes also are ways to prepare them for the first day of school", she says. "I think children are naturals when it comes to computers," she says."Let them play educational games on the computer and teach them how to type their first names using the keyboard. When they are more familiar with using the computer, let them find pictures of animals and places on the web. " "Don't criticize the child," she says. "You can't force them to learn something. If they don't get something right, so what? Smile and be happy and make the experience joyful. Parents need to understand that if a child gets something wrong, they may think something is wrong with them. Keep working with them and when they get the right answer make sure you tell them how hard they worked to get the correct answer. " According to Godwin, children should _ . A keep a pet each and care for it B do some cooking every day C learn science with interesting hand-on activities D learn from the farmers and grow plants from seeds Answer: C Seed of Kindness Jim, a successful businessman, told the experience of his childhood. When he was 12, his parents died. He was alone and didn't get on well with others. People always laughed at him. No one showed kindness to him. His only friend was a dog named Tige. He gave his dog enough to eat and drink, but sometimes he was not polite to it. He didn't know that an unkind work sometimes could cut one's heart like a knife. One day as he walked down the street, a young lady was walking in front of him. Suddenly one of her bags dropped from her arms. As she stopped to pick it up, she dropped other bags. He came to help her."Thank you, dear! You are a nice little boy!"she said kindly, smiling. A special feeling came to him. These were the first kind words he had ever heard. He watched her until she went far away, and then he whistled to his dog happily and went directly to the river nearby. "Thank you, dear! You are a nice little boy!"he repeatedthe woman's words. Then in a low voice he said to his dog,"You are a nice little dog!"Tige raised its ears as if it understood. "Uhum! Even a dog likes it!"he said,"Well, Tige, I won't say unkind words to you anymore."Tige waved its tail happily. The boy thought and thought. Finally he looked at himself in the river. He saw nothing but a dirty boy. He washed his face carefully. Again he looked. He saw a clean nice boy. He was amazed. From then on, he had a new life. After telling this, the businessman stopped for a while, and then he said,"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the very place where that kind woman planted in me the first seed of kindness. All of us should learn about kindness. What a great powerit has!" Jim was feeling _ when he whistled to his dog. A funny B excited C sad D lonely Answer: B Bad news travels fast--when you watch the evening news or read the morning papers, it seems that things that get the most coverage are all tragedies like wars, earthquakes, floods, fires and murders. This is the classic rule for mass media. "They want your eyeballs and don't care how you're feeling," Jonah Berger, a psychologist at University of Pennsylvania told The New York Times. But with social media getting increasingly popular, information is now being spread in different ways, and researchers are discovering new rules--good news can actually spread faster and farther than disasters and other sad stories. Berger and his colleague Katherine Milkman looked at thousands of articles on The New York Times' website and analyzed the "most e-mailed" list for six months. One of his findings was that articles in the science section were much more likely to make the list. Those stories aroused feelings of awe and made the readers want to share this positive emotion with others. Besides science stories, readers were also found to be likely to share articles that were exciting or funny. "The more positive an article was, the more likely it was to be shared," Berger wrote in his new book. "For example, stories about newcomers falling in love with New York City," he writes, "tended to be shared more than the death of a popular zookeeper." But does all this good news actually make the audience feel better? Not necessarily. According to a study by researchers at Harvard University, people tend to say more positive things about themselves when they're talking to a bigger audience, rather than just one person, which helps explain all the perfect vacations that keep showing up on microblogs. This, researchers found, makes people think that life is unfair and that they're less happy than their friends. But no worries. There's a quick and easy way to relieve the depression you get from viewing other people's seemingly perfect lives--turn on the television and watch the news. There is always someone doing worse than you are. What would be the best title for the passage? A Good News Spreads Fast B Bad News Travels Fast C The Effect of Bad News D The Power of Good News Answer: A
Question: The future of written English will owe more to Hollywood films than Dickens or Shakespeare, if the findings of a study into children's writing are anything to go by. Researchers who looked at the entries to a national competition found they were increasingly using Americanisms such as garbage, trash can, sidewalk, candy, sneakers, soda, and flashlight. The stories, written by pupils aged 7 to 13, show how fairy cakes are referred to as cupcakes and a dinner jacket has become a tuxedo. "Smart" is now often used for "clever" and "cranky" for "irritable". Television also has a powerful influence on children's work, with Lady Gaga and Argentinean footballer Lionel Messi among the famous names from TV cropping up repeatedly. But pupils are let down by basic spelling, punctuation and grammar, according to the study by Oxford University Press (OUP), which looked at the entries to BBC Radio Two's "500 Words" competition. Children struggled to correctly spell simple words such as "does" and "clothes" and often failed to use the past tense correctly, frequently writing "rised" instead of "rose" or "thinked" instead of "thought". Researchers also found that punctuation was underused, especially semi-colons and speech marks. Some did not know how to use capital letters. However, exclamation marks were overused. Researchers found 35,171 examples in total, with some young writers using five at a time! Popular US fiction such as the Twilight novels and films is thought to be fueling the increasing use of American vocabulary and spelling. Meanwhile, fears that texting was spoiling children's written work were unfounded, they said, with youngsters only using text language when they were referring to a text message. Samantha Armstrong from OUP said: "Perhaps we are catching a glimpse of the language of the future." Chris Evans, whose radio show runs the competition, said the results were "fascinating", adding: "Who'd have thought that Messi and Gaga would be some of the most used names?" What can we infer from the passage? A. American movies and books are increasingly popular in Britain. B. The national writing competition is organised by Oxford University Press. C. Written English is more influenced by classical literature than popular US Culture. D. Lionel Messi is now the most famous footballer in Britain. Answer: A. American movies and books are increasingly popular in Britain. Question: A passenger told an air hostess that he needed a cup of water to take his medicine when the plane just took off. She told him that she would bring him the water in ten minutes. The air hostess was kept so busy that she forgot to give him the water. As a result, the passenger was held up to take his medicine. Thirty minutes later, when the passenger's ring for service sounded, she hurried over to him with a cup of water, but he refused. In the following hours on the plane, each time the air hostess passed by the passenger, she would ask him with a smile whether he needed help or not. But the passenger never answered a word. When he was going to get off the plane, the passenger asked the air hostess to hand him the passengers' booklet . She was very sad. She knew that he would write down sharp words, but with a smile she handed _ to him. Off the plane, she opened the booklet, and smiled, for the passenger put it. "On the flight, you asked me whether I needed help or not for twelve times in all. How can I refuse your twelve sincere smiles?" That's right! Who can refuse twelve sincere smiles from a person? At last the passenger was _ . A. satisfied with the air hostess B. unhappy with the air hostess C. angry at what the air hostess had said D. too tired to blame the air hostess Answer: A. satisfied with the air hostess Question: The Little Prince was written by a French pilot and writer Antoine de Saint--Exupery. It is one of the most famous books around the world. It was published in 1943. This story has been translated into 42 languages and was adapted into a movie. The little prince lives on a small planet alone. He leads a happy life. One day the winds brings him a seed. The seed then turns into the loveliest flower he has ever seen. He takes good care of the flower, but finally he decides to leave it and his planet in search for a secret--the most important thing in his life. During his journey in space, the little prince meets a king, a businessman, a lamplighter and a geographer. They all live alone on different planets. At last he finds out the secret from a fox of the Earth. Before he returns to his planet, he tells his secret to the writer of the book, whom he meets in the desert. The secret is: the power of love. When you read this _ and sincere story of the little prince, you can't help smiling and feeling the beauty of life and love in your heart. After reading the passage, we can't know _ . A. who wrote the book B. when the book was published C. what is the book about D. who adapted the book into a movie Answer: D. who adapted the book into a movie Question: Giving a gift can mean a lot. It can be a way to deepen a friendship. Before you get a gift for someone, spend time really thinking about what makes him or her special. Think about their interests, hobbies, needs and happiest moments. For example, friends and families with children might love a special calendar that contains everyone's birthday and other special dates and events. For music fans, a CD filled with their favourite music always makes a special gift. Spending time with loved ones is also a way to give them a gift. You might take that special person out for a birthday dinner at your favourite restaurant. Making a gift for someone using your own skills is very special. It is much more meaningful than a store-bought gift and shows how much you care! Writing your feelings in a greeting card can be a simple way to make a keepsake that will be remembered for years. What is the best title for this passage? A. How to Give Special Gifts B. How to Remember Friends' Birthdays C. How to make Yourself Special D. How to Be a Good Gift Receiver Answer: A. How to Give Special Gifts Question: Effective environmental protection laws and other measures have led to the improvement of water quality in Tai Hu lake in prefix = st1 /JiangsuProvince. The news was announced by officials from the provincial environmental protection bureau, which has just conducted an inspection of the lake area. By the end of September, about 80 per cent of industrial pollutants met required standards and the lake is expected to be cleaner by the end of the year, officials said. According to targets set by the State Environmental Protection Administration, all polluting enterprises must meet set standards by the end of this year or they will be shut down. The Taihu Lake area, which surrounds the cities of Suzhou, Wuxiand Changshou, is one of the most economically developed areas in the country and has long enjoyed a reputation as the "land of fish and rice" However, the quality of water in the lake has been deteriorating at an alarmingly rate in recent years, which has caused concern from the government and local people. Pollution is so high mainly because people do not have enough environmental awareness and have put economic benefits ahead of their surroundings. Economic development in the area has been rapid with hundreds of factories being built. But officials say most of these do not have the anti-pollution equipment or measures they should have. Because of the lack of waste treatment facilities, wasted water and other rubbish from residential areas in nearby towns and villages flow into rivers which are connected to TaihuLake. This also contributed to the lake's pollution. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the provincial and local governments began to tackle the problem. Experts were invited to offer suggestions and laws and regulations were issued. All newly built factories and enterprises in the lake area were required to install necessary anti-pollution facilities before they can go into operation. Also, some wasted water treatment works will be built in the three cities. The reason why the pollution became so serious here is that _ A. the people here didn't know how to deal with the pollution B. the factories thought the economy was the first C. the local governments didn't know the situation at all D. the factories had no the technology to control the pollution. Answer: B. the factories thought the economy was the first
Watching the Olympics probably made some people feel a little guilty about not exercising.The truth is that, if physical inactivity were a sport, a lot of us could give a gold-medal performance.Or should we say non performance? Public health experts say physical inactivity is the world's fourth leading cause of death. They estimate that inactivity plays a major part in six to ten percent of deaths from non-communicable diseases. These include conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and colon and breast cancer. Min Lee at the Harvard School of Public Health worked with a team that studied inactivity. She says the findings are conservative and may even underestimate the problem and that Physical inactivity is harmful to health, as harmful as far as deaths are concerned as smoking." So when we did our analysis, we looked at increased risk of disease after taking into account other health habits that might be associated with physical activity. For example, we know that if you are active, you probably smoke less. Additionally we factored out obesity, independent of the fact that active people also tend to weigh less. The researchers compared data on physical inactivity with disease rates in one hundred twenty-two countries. They find high income countries are the most inactive around the world, but low to middle income countries are not going to be far behind as things change, as their economies improve and their people rely more on the improvements that basically engineer physical activity out of our daily lives. It is not just telling someone to go out and be physically active, but how we rely on the transportation sector or how our cities or neighborhoods are designed, how crime can be minimized to help people become more physically active in their neighborhoods, simply walking to the store or walking down and being outside with friends and family and so on. These broader environmental issues are becoming much clearer in terms of their effects. What does the author mainly want to tell us in the passage? A. One could get a gold model without physical exercise. B. To believe the finding will make you unhealthy. C. Trying to be more active for your social life. D. Doing suitable exercise does good to our health. Answer: D. Doing suitable exercise does good to our health. Do you like to play outside? Do you like to run? Do you like to play with a ball? You can do all of these things if you play soccer. Soccer players cannot throw and catch the ball. They cannot touch the ball with their hands. Soccer players can only kick the ball. Soccer is played with two teams. There is a goal for each team. Players on one team want to kick the ball into one goal. Players on the other team want to kick the ball into the other goal. Players score when the ball goes into the other team's goal. They make one point. Lots of people play soccer. You can be young or old, big or small. Soccer is easy to play. All you need is a ball and a place to play. Then find enough players to make two teams. What can soccer players do? A. Throw the ball. B. Catch the ball. C. Touch the ball with their hands. D. Kick the ball. Answer: D. Kick the ball. Mary had a nice summer vacation last year. She went to Hawaii in July. Mary likes fruits, and the Hawaiian bananas and oranges were great. The weather was very fine, but sometimes it rained heavily. On Monday she went to the museum. It was an interesting place and not very crowded . On Tuesday she went to the mountains. On Wednesday she visited an old friend. They went to the movies in the evening. The movie was so funny that they laughed again and again. On vacation she felt like she she was a flying bird! The vacation cost her about 600 dollars, but Mary had a fun time. The museum in Hawaii was _ and not _ . A. interesting; crowded B. funny; boring C. relaxing; great D. nice; free Answer: A. interesting; crowded Researchers conducting a study of hospital stays for over two hundred and eighty six thousand older folks found something interesting in their data. The number of hospitalizations for heart disease and stroke went down significantly among a certain group of people at a certain time of year. What folks, and what time of year, you ask? Flu season and the lucky people were the ones who got flu shots . It's generally recommended that people over fifty get their flu shots every year. Influenza is no small thing. it's responsible for around thirty six thousand deaths a year in the U. S. alone. Getting the shots also cuts down on the chances of getting pneumonia , which is especially dangerous in seniors. But what wasn't known was that there seems to be an added benefit to getting a flu shots in terms of _ heart problems. The data,in fact, are quite strong in suggesting this is the case. In this study, flu shots cut clown the number of hospitalizations for heart disease by nineteen percent. Stroke went down sixteen percent one season and a whopping twenty-three percent a second season.These are big results. So what's the connection between getting a flu shot and having a stronger heart? It isn't yet known. Researchers speculate that the flu virus itself may do damage to blood vessels , possibly making clots more likely. Blood clots in the heart can cause heart attacks, and blood clots in the brain can cause strokes. Whatever the specific details are, there's one more good reason to follow your doctor' s advice and get that annual flu shot. According to the study, the number of hospitalizations for heart disease and stroke went down significanntly among the ones who _ . A. got flu shots after they were ill B. got flu shots before they were ill C. got flu shots at the flu season D. got flu shots whenever convenient Answer: C. got flu shots at the flu season Making friends might seem to come easy for some persons, but it's maybe very hard for most persons. No matter how many friends you might already have, it is always a good idea to make new friends. Being shy keeps a lot of people from making friends. Also, making friends might need a person to step outside of their comfortable places, which are hard for a lot of people, whether they are shy or not. However, overcoming the shyness to step out of your box is an important step in making friends. There are lots of ways to meet new friends. First of all, remember that a good friendship is based on interests, so if you are ready to make friends, start to join clubs or go places where you have interest. For instance, if you like to play sports, join a sports team or after school sports club. If you have interests in music or writing, join clubs or organizations that you are interested in. When you see someone in a place like that, and you think that they look nice, it is always a good idea to go up to them and introduce yourself and ask interesting questions so that you can start a conversation. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, and remember that friendships don't always happen quickly. Some friendships happen right away, and you'll be able to tell if someone will be a great friend right after you meet them. Some friendships take a long time to develop. Anyway, the friends that you meet are going to be worth it. If a friendship develops quickly, it doesn't mean that it is extra valuable, and if a friendship takes a long time to develop, it doesn't mean that it isn't worth it because it's too hard. Making friends might be a bit difficult for you, and the friends you will make may not look anything like you. However, even though it might be scary to start conversations, you are worth doing it. All friendships start with a single hello. What are the friends like after you have them? A. They'll do the same things as you. B. They'll go to the same places. C. They may not look anything like you. D. They may give all you need Answer: C. They may not look anything like you.
In the year 1986 there was a terrible explosion . The explosion was at a nuclear power plant in Ukraine. The radiation caused a lot of damage. It polluted the soil and other things. People were living in the area when the explosion happened. More than twenty years later those people are still suffering. The _ of the explosion will go on for a long time. Over two million people still live in that area. Only 56 people died from the explosion but many other problems have been caused because of it. Some types of cancer are more than 200 times above the world average . Many children have cancer now and children born with problems have doubled since the accident. Some people in the United States are worried about the children living in the explosion area. One group has been trying to raise money. They are called the Chenobyl Children's Project. They want to bring children from Ukraine to the U.S. each summer. A spokesperson for the group says that radiation is the highest in the summertime so it is a good time to get the children out of the country. They want to help the children get away for a little while. The Project wants them to be safe from radiation. It costs $1,500 to bring each child to the United States for six weeks. The group raised enough money to bring 28 children to the United States last year. The children were able to do lots of fun things. They enjoyed clean air, healthy food, and plenty of outdoor fun. One little nine-year-old girl who got to come to the United States said that she likes America. The spokesperson says that the children that come to America during the summer miss less school when they return home because they have a long summer vacation. What can we learn about the explosion that happened in 1986? Answer: At present time, roller skating is easy and fun. But many years ago, it wasn't easy at all. Before 1750, people never tried skating on wheels. That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making instruments . In his free time he liked to play the violin. Merlin was a man with many ideas and many dreams. People called him a dreamer. One day Merlin received an invitation to go to an important party. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think. He wanted to find a way to make a wonderful entrance at the party. Merlin had an idea. He thought that he would attract 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 skate shoes. Merlin was very proud of them. He dreamed of arriving at the party and skating into the room while playing the violin. He was sure that everyone would be very surprised. On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room, playing his violin. Everyone was really surprised to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skating. He rolled on, playing the violin. Then, with all eyes on him, Merlin hit into a huge mirror on the wall. The mirror broke into many pieces with a very loud noise. Nobody forgot Merlin's wonderful entrance after that. _ made Merlin think of skating on wheels. Answer: A young man applied for a job as a farmhand. When the farmer asked for his qualifications , he said, "I can sleep when the wind blows." This puzzled the farmer. But he liked the young man, and hired him. A few days later, the farmer and his wife were awakened in the night by a violent storm. They quickly began to check things to see if all was safe from damage. They found that the doors of the farmhouse had been safely fastened, and a lot of wood had been set next to the fireplace. The young man slept soundly. The farmer and his wife then looked at their property carefully. They found that the farm tools had been placed in the storage room, safe from the bad weather. The tractor had been moved into the garage. The barn was properly locked. Even the animals were calm. All was well. The farmer then understood the meaning of the young man's words, " I can sleep when the wind blows." The farmhand did his work loyally. When the sky was clear, he had prepared for the storm in case it broke. So when the wind blew, there was no need for him to be afraid. He could sleep in peace. Which of the following proverbs can best explain the story? Answer: My dad loved pennies, especially those with the elegant stalk of wheat curving around each side of the ONE CENT on the back. Those were the pennies he grew up with during the Depression . As a kid, I would go for walks with Dad, spying coins along the way--a penny here, a dime there. Whenever I picked up a penny, he'd ask, "Is it a wheat?" It always thrilled him when we found one of those special coins produced between 1909 and 1958, the year of my birth. One gray Sunday morning in winter, not long after my father's death in 2002, I was walking down Fifth Avenue, feeling _ . I found myself in front of the church where Dad once worked. I was warmly shown in and led to a seat. Hearing Dad's favorite "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God", I burst into tears. We'd sung that at his funeral. After the service, I shook the pastor's hand and stepped onto the sidewalk--and there was a penny. I bent to pick it up, turned it over, and sure enough, it was a wheat. A 1944, a year my father was serving on a ship in the South Pacific. That started it. Suddenly wheat pennies began turning up on the sidewalks of New York everywhere. I got most of the important years: his birth year, my mom's birth year, the year he graduated from college, the year he met my mom, the year they got married, the year my sister was born. But alas, no 1958 wheat penny--my year, the last year they were made. The next Sunday, after the service, I was walking up Fifth Avenue and spotted a penny in the middle of a crossing. Oh, no, it was a busy street;cabs were speeding by--should I risk it? I just had to get it. A wheat! But the penny was worn, and I couldn't read the date. On arriving home, I took out my glasses and took it to the light. There was my birthday! I found 21 wheat pennies on the streets of Manhattan in the year after my father died, and I don't think that's a coincidence. Which of the following statements about the author is NOT true? Answer: It is often said that politeness costs nothing.In fact,it seems that a little more courtesy could save businessesPS5 billion every year. Frequently hearing the phrase "thank you" or "well done" means the same to staff as a modest pay rise,researchers say. Praise and encouragement also makes employees more likely to work hard and stay in their jobs,saving on the cost of finding replacements. A third of 1,000 workers surveyed by consulting firm White Water Strategies said they did not get thanked at all when they did well--and a further third said they were not thanked enough. In both cases,staff said they felt undervalued,meaning they were less likely to exert themselves and were more likely to look for employment elsewhere. The net result is around PS5.2 billion in lost productivity from employees who would raise their game if they felt more appreciated,White Water claimed According to the company,praising staff has the same motivational kick as a 1 per cent pay rise--and works out much cheaper for bosses. Three out of four employees said that regular acknowledgement by their boss was important to them,but only a quarter said they were actually given as much praise as they felt they needed. The survey found that those in blue-collar and manual jobs were less likely to be given any recognition for doing well. In regional terms,Scottish staff felt most undervalued.Four out of ten workers said they were never thanked and eight out of ten said they would like more praise.However,workers in the North-East are less impressed by being buttered up by the boss,as only 69 per cent said they felt the need to be told "well done"regularly. Older employees and women need the most reassurance,according to psychologist Averil Leimon,a director of White Water Strategies.She said that words of praise did more than create a pleasant place to work--they could even boost profits. The main idea of the passage is that _ . Answer:
Nikki was brought up from a very early age by her father while her sister was raised by her mother. Nikki spent a very small amount of time with her mum and sister when she was about 6 years old, but soon after contact stopped when communication broke down between her parents. She never felt she wanted to find her family while she was growing up. But now with a husband and a son she decided it was the right time. Nikki didn't know where to start, but her husband's mum had used 192.com for finding people before and recommended it to her . With the help of her son, she started by searching for her sister's full name on the electoral roll without a location, because she had no idea where she lived, even her date of birth. From that one search , the site returned two results listed in the area they used to live. Nikki decided to call the first number. To her surprise, it was her long lost sister ! So after 20 years, it was one phone call that helped her contact her sister! Her sister then passed her number on to her mother, who called Nikki straight away, and it was like they had never been apart. Her mum was so glad to find out Nikki was well that they arranged to meet everyone that Saturday (3 days after the phone call) where she was reunited with her sister and met her 2 nephews for the first time . Nikki also found out she had a half sister and brother. When talking about the reunion , Nikki said , "192.com made finding my long lost family very easy. I was not on any social networking sites before and surprisingly neither was my sister or mum, so we would never have found each other that way. What did Nikki know about her sister before her searching? Her name. Handsome Safin is loved by many women fans and he is called "the most attractive man". His strength and forehand and backhand skills are the best in the world, which are in fact unbeatable while he is at his best. Marat Safin was born inprefix = st2 /Moscowon 27th January, 1980, and was introduced to the game at a very early age. His mother Rausa, one of the former top 10 Russian women tennis players, used to take baby Marat with her when she practiced at the local Spartak club. This is where Marat also learned to play. Marat had picked up his racket almost as soon as he could walk and at five was hitting balls with a little child until 1992. When Marat was 13, his parents decided to send him abroad for further practice, so in that year Marat and his mother visited a tennis school inValenciawhere Maria Pasqual, former director of Spanish women's tennis, was asked to judge his potential. Pasqual liked what she saw and managed to persuade a Swiss client into keeping him at the school. In the following four years Marat lived in Valenciaemploying Pasqual as his career advisor, working on his great clay court skills and learning the Spanish language. Marat's first title came in 1997 at a Challenger in Espinho and soon afterwards he turned professional. He won his first title on the ATP Tour in August, 1999 when he beat Greg Rusedski in the final of the MFS Professional Championships in Boston. In 2000, Safin won his first Grand Slam title--US Open. He also reached the final of the Australian Open in 2002 and 2004. On November 7, 2004, Marat Safin beat Czech qualifier' Stepanek to win his third Paris Masters title. He also won the Paris Masters in 2000 and 2002. "I really enjoy tennis because it brings about extreme emotions and allows me to live my dreams," said Safin. Yes, the future certainly looks rosy for him. Just like what his former adviser, Maria Pasqual said, "He will be a champion one day" -- surely he already is! Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? Safin will be a champion one day. Many things -- genetics, environment, the food you eat, illness, sleep, even the seasons -- influence your emotional state. But at the heart of it is how you regard yourself. If you have a healthy level of self-esteem, you not only cope with life's challenges better than people with low self-esteem, but you're probably more content, confident, and successful. You're probably also healthier. Studies show that positive self-esteem actually helps inoculate (......) people against depression and anxiety, conditions that may present increased risk of everything from colds to heart diseases. Most people's good sense of worth is rooted in their childhood -- in the early approval of their parents, teachers, and friends. But as we get older, most of us judge ourselves by our sense of how effectively we're managing in the world, especially in the areas of love and work. Our ability to love and to be loved can give us a sense of purpose and deep fulfillment. We can also find satisfaction and pride in work-related accomplishments and the people we meet and work with can reinforce our sense of self and our role in life. Once midlife comes along, however, our self-esteem can take a turn in response to changes in our lives. Marital relationship may change, children may leave home , and we may begin to scale back our work as we approach retirement. Of course, the view in the mirror may not be what it used to be, either. If you find your self-esteem eroding a bit, try to build it up again. As the saying goes, it's better to try something and fail than to be successful at not trying anything . Focus on goals that are linked to activities you're really interested in, so you'll enjoy a sense of purpose and gain pleasure from the pursuit whether or not you achieve your goal in full. The author wrote the article to _ suggest developing healthy self-esteem Which creature would be safest from predators in its natural underground habitat? moles The first crocodiles lived on the Earth about 240 million years ago. How much do you know about these dangerous animals? Here are some amazing facts about them. * The biggest crocodile is the saltwater crocodile. It can be as long as seven metres! * If you take a bright light at night over a river with crocodiles inside, you will see pairs of red spots . Those are the crocodiles' eyes. They can see well at night. * When you see a crocodile with its mouth open, don't be _ . That just tells you it's too hot. * On the beach, crocodiles get tired very quickly, but they can stay in the water for 2-3 hours. * Most crocodiles can live up to 70 years old! When did the first crocodiles live? About 240,000,000 years ago.
Mr. and Mrs. Green had different ideas about where to go that weekend. Mrs. Green wanted to go to Florida to see her sister, but Mr. Green didn't want to go there. He wanted to go to Maine. "Maine is a little cold," said Mrs. Green. "I like swimming, but the water in Maine is usually not warm enough." "Florida's too far," said Mr. Green. " We don't have enough time to drive there. It'll take us more than two days." Just then, the phone rang. Mr. Green answered the phone. It was Mr. Green's mother. "Please come in the shortest time. I need help. I'm calling from the hospital in Boston." They stopped their talking, and in no time they both went away. Where was Mr. Green's mother? A In Florida. B In Maine. C At home. D In Boston. Answer: D. In Boston. The City Mouse and the Country Mouse Once there were two mice. They were friends. One mouse lived in the country; the other mouse lived in the city. After many years the Country mouse saw the City mouse; he said, "Do come and see me at my house in the country." So the City mouse went. The City mouse said, "This food is not good, and your house is not good. Why do you live in a hole in the field? You should come and live in the city. You would live in a nice house made of stone. You would have nice food to eat. You must come and see me at my house in the city." The Country mouse went to the house of the City mouse. It was a very good house. Nice food was set ready for them to eat. But just as they began to eat they heard a great noise. The City mouse cried, "Run! Run! The cat is coming!" They ran away quickly and hid. After some time they came out. When they came out, the Country mouse said, "I do not like living in the city. I like living in my hole in the field. For it is nicer to be poor and happy, than to be rich and afraid." The great noise came from _ . A the cat B the Country mouse C the City mouse D the house Answer: A. the cat The scientific world continues to be amazed by the speed of the development of cloning. Some scientists now suggest that the cloning of humans could occur in the near future. Despite the benefits of cloning, however, certain ethical questions concerning the possible abuse of cloning have been raised. At the heart of these questions is the idea of humans influencing life in a way that could harm society, either morally or in a real physical sense. Some people object to cloning because it allows scientists to "act like God" in the handling of living organisms. The cloning of Dolly raised the debate over this practice to a whole new level. It has become obvious that the technology for cloning Dolly could also be used to clone humans. A person could choose to make two or ten or a hundred copies of himself or herself by the same techniques used with Dolly. An active debate about the morality of cloning humans arises. Some people see benefits from the practice, such as providing a way for parents to produce a new child to replace one dying of a fatal disease. Other people worry about humans taking into their own hands the future of the human race. At the beginning of the twenty-first century, many scientists say the controversy over the ethics of cloning humans is overstressed because of the unpredictability of cloning in general. While scientists have cloned animals such as sheep, mice, cows, pigs, and goats, fewer than 3 percent of all those cloning efforts have succeeded. The animal clones that have been produced often have health problems. Scientists believe the rapid reprogramming in cloning can introduce random errors into a clone's DNA. Those errors have altered individual genes in minor ways, and the genetic defects have led to the development of major medical problems. Some scientists say this should make human cloning out of the question, but others argue that cloning humans may actually be easier and safer than cloning animals. Whatever, I agree that further research in the field of cloning is needed. We can learn from the text that _ . A cloning of humans is a very controversial issue B the cloning of Dolly begins to raise the debate over cloning of humans C there are medical problems in cloning animals D cloning humans is easier and safer than cloning animals Answer: A. cloning of humans is a very controversial issue Marry me! During the "Idol" finale, season 5 singer Ace Young proposed live to season 3 runner up Diana DeGarrno. She was genuinely surprised in one sense but the two have bonded closely since they met on Broadway during a production of"Hair." The first true"ldol' couple (though others have dated) have already set a wedding date on June l of 2013, Ten years and still relevant. Season one winner Kelly Clarkson has survived a decade in the brutal music business with her dignity intact and enough chart-topping songs to generate a greatest hits album at the tender age of 30. Her career is as strong as ever. She sang the "Star Spangled Banner" at the Super Bowl. Her song "Stronger" was a No. I hit. She was a mentor on an ABC summer series"Duets." She became engaged to Reba McEntire's stepson in November. All in all, life is good for Clarkson and we as"Idol" fans couldn't be more proud. Keep calm and Carrie on! Season four victor Carrie Underwood has now sold more albums than any other "Idol" with about 14 million to date. Her current album "Blown Away" has generated two top two hits in 2012: "Good Girl" and the title track. That makes 15 consecutive top 2 hits on the Billboard country chart over seven years dating back to "Jesus, Take the Wheel." She hosted the CMAs for a fifth year with Brad Paisley. Last month, she landed a role as lead in a remake of"The Sound of Music." She toured to sold-out crowds again, hitting Gwinnett Arena earlier this month, where she thankecl "Idol" for getting her to where she's at, something, she certainly no longer needs to do but still does. Class act, that lady. Who hit Gwinnett Arena of the following? A Carrie Underwood B Kelly Clarkson C Ace Yong D Diana DeGarmo Answer: A. Carrie Underwood 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 press of Alzheimer's disease can be slowed by _ . A operation B a change in environment C medicines D physical treatment and exercise Answer: D. physical treatment and exercise
Question: Are the British people Europeans?This may seem a strange question to Africans and Asians,who tend to think of all white men as Europeans. But the British,when they are in Britain,do not regard themselves as Europeans. The Europeans,to them,are those rather excitable foreigners from the other side of English Channel,who have never learnt how to speak English. Europe is "the Continent":a place full of interests for English tourists,but also the source of almost all the wars in which Britain has ever been involved. Thus,although geographically speaking Britain is a part of Europe,yet the fact that it is a separate island has made its people feel very,very insular . They feel,in many ways,different from the rest of Europe,and they sometimes annoy continental nations by failing to support them,or even to understand them,in time of need. Where did the British people come from?This is quite interesting question,since they are a mixture of many different races ,and all these races invaded Britain at various times from Europe. Nobody knows very much about prefix = st1 /Britainbefore the Romans came during the first century B. C.,but there had been at least three invasions before that. The first of these was by a dark--haired Mediterranean race called Iberians. The other two were by Celtic tribes :first the Gaels,whose descendants are the modern Scots and Irish,some of whom still speak the Gaelic language;secondly the Britons,who gave their name to the whole island of Britain. These were the people whom the Romans conquered. The Romans gave the Britons a good deal of civilization,but they never settled in Britain in very large numbers,so the British race survived until the overthrow of the Roman Empire by the"barbarians"--the numerous Germanic tribes which overran the whole of Western Europe. Why do the Britain people feel insular? A. Because they are different from those people in the Continent B. Because they sometimes fail to support the continent countries in time of need C. Because they are separated geographically from the Continent D. Because they are considered different to understand Answer: C. Because they are separated geographically from the Continent Question: Hot yoga is not terribly different from regular yoga. You will do the same poses. However, the catch is that the temperature will be at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit and sometimes higher. The heat is what makes this type of yoga not for everyone. Regardless of your overall health, talk to your doctor before taking a hot yoga class and let your doctor know that you plan to take one. Due to a condition that is greatly worsened by temperature extremes, I'm an example of someone who can't do this form of exercise. I can do regular yoga, but the 100 degree Fahrenheit would be severely uncomfortable and possibly dangerous to me. The climate is said to help with muscle flexibility and you will sweat like there is no tomorrow -- which is believed to force out more toxins .It is important to keep in mind that even if you are in good health, the high temperature can take some getting used to. You may want to start a shorter class and work your way up. You will be sweating greatly in hot yoga temperature. Drink plenty of water before, during and after your class. It is also important to pay attention to your body. If you are feeling very tired, it is time to sit down and get some water. You should also remove yourself from the hot environment, but not into a very cold environment. For example, just go into hallway -- a place that has a normal temperature and start to drink some water. Things like heat stroke are possible with this type of yoga. These issues are most often seen in those over 60 years of age, but younger people with chronic health problems are also at risk. Anyone can fall victim to heat stroke. Children are also especially vulnerable to heat stroke, so leave the kids at home while you attend your yoga class. If you ever start to feel had during class, immediately stop and tell your instructor so that he or she can offer you help. Don't try to finish the class. Have a physical checkup before taking the hot yoga class _ . A. if you can't bear high temperature B. if you have some health problems C. even if you don't have health problems D. when the temperature is very low outside Answer: C. even if you don't have health problems Question: The publication of "Harry Potterandthe Half-Blood Prince" gladdens booksellers across China. The British and American editions were No. 1 and No. 3 respectively on the sales chart of the Beijing Xidan Book Building last week. The book's poster is highlighted and news about the book can often be heard on the radio. Why is the book so attractive to children? With curious mood, the author got a copy of "Harry Potter". Originally, I wanted to glance over it and made some criticisms. But, out of expectation, the author has been deeply attracted by the magic world. On the other hand, one cannot help asking: _ Harry Potter"? The Chinese nation has a history of 5, 000 years, which cannot be regarded as short and its culture as not profound. With a vast market of youngsters, China did publish many books popular among children. However, why are the present works not as good as those imported? There come two major reasons: Firstly, quite a number of children's books are of strong sense of teaching, and lack interest and entertainment. Children often have a feeling of being "educated". No wonder they don't like them. Secondly, children's reading materials involving "idiom stories" and "Chinese talents' stories", though always in different covers, are usually much the same or plagiarized . One knows the ending as early as in the beginning. In final analysis, the authors of the books seldom take children's requirements into consideration. As a matter of fact, each child has his own wonderful imagination. They long to understand the world and nature. Similarly they have their own choices. They dislike similar stories, even if the stories are excellent. First-class reading for children should be very interesting, which contains knowledge and the essence of national culture, which are presented in children's language. Market is a touchstone for products. The theory also holds true for cultural products. It is hoped that the authors of children's books can learn something from the good market of "Harry Potter" and write out more and better books loved by children. What does the writer mean by writing "where's our own Harry Potter"? A. We are short of books for children B. We Chinese must produce books as popular as "Harry Potter". C. Authors should write books in the same way as "Harry Potter" D. Our authors are hoped to make the market of our books for children take off Answer: D. Our authors are hoped to make the market of our books for children take off Question: 56yearold becomes 1st woman to swim Atlantic (AP)-Jennifer Figge pressed her toes into the Caribbean sand, excited and exhausted as she touched land this week for the first time in almost a month. Reaching a beach in Trinidad, she became the first woman on record to swim across the Atlantic Ocean--a dream she'd had since the early 1960s,when a stormy transAtlantic flight got her thinking she could wear a life vest and swim the rest of the way if needed. The 56yearold left the Cape Verde Islands off Africa's western coast on Jan.12,2009, swimming 19 out of 25 days battling waves of up to 30 feet.The distance from Cape Verde to Trinidad is about 700 miles.Crewmembers are still computing exactly how many miles she swam. The original plan was for her to swim to the Bahamas--a distance of about 2,100 miles--but inclement weather forced her to change her plans and she arrived at Trinidad on Feb.5.She now plans to swim from Trinidad to the British Virgin Islands,ending her voyage at the Bitter End Yacht Club in late February. Her journey came a decade after French swimmer Benoit Lecomte made the first known solo transAtlantic swim,covering nearly 4,000 miles from Massachusetts to France in 73 days.No woman on record had made the crossing. Figge wore a red cap and wet suit,with her only goodluck charm underneath:an old,red shirt to guard against chafing ,signed by friends,relatives and her father,who recently died.The other cherished possession she kept onboard was a picture of Gertrude Ederle,an American who became the first woman to swim across the English Channel."We have a few things in common,"Figge said,"She wore a red hat and she was of German descent .We both talked to the sea,and neither one of us wanted to get out." For what purpose did Jennifer Figge keep a photo of Gertrude Ederle? A. Figge would like to follow her example. B. She had the same red cap as Figge always wore. C. Figge also wanted to swim across the English Channel. D. They were both born in Germany. Answer: A. Figge would like to follow her example. Question: Do animals have a culture? What do we mean by "culture"? Lately social scientists have begun to ask if culture is found just in humans, or if some animals have a culture too. When we speak of culture, we mean a way of life a group of people have in common. Culture includes the beliefs and attitudes we learn. It is the patterns of behavior that help people to live together. It is also the patterns of behavior that make one group of people different from another group. Our culture lets us make up for having lost out strength, claws, long teeth, and other defenses. Instead we use tools, cooperate with one another, and communicate with language. But these aspects of human behavior, or "culture", can also be found in the lives of certain animals. Animals can make tools, for example. We used to think that the ability to use tools was the dividing line between human beings and other animals. Lately, however, we have found that this is not the case. Chimpanzees can not only use tools but actually make tools themselves. Animals can also share knowledge with each other and use their own language to communicate. So it may be important for us to know that the line dividing us from animals is not as clear as we used to think. We thought _ was the biggest difference between human beings and other animals. A. cooperating with one another B. communicating with language C. using tools D. losing long teeth Answer: C. using tools
We are all busy talking about and using the Internet ,but how many of us know about the history of the Internet? Many people are surprised when they find that the Internet was set up in the 1960s.At that time, computers were large and expensive. Computer networks didn' t work well .If one computer in the network broke down ,then the whole network stopped. So a new network system had to be set up. It should be good enough to be used by many different computers.If part of the network was not working ,information could be sent through another part.In this way the computer network system would keep on working all the time.At first,the Internet was only used by the government ,but,in the early 1970s, universities,hospitals and banks were allowed to use it too. However, computers were still expensive and the Internet was difficult to use.By the start of the 1990s,computers become cheaper and easier to use.Scientists had also developed software that made "surfing " the Internet more convenient . Today it is easy to get on-line and it is said that millions of people use the Internet every day. Sending e-mail is more and more popular among students. The Internet has now become one of the most important parts of people' s life. The Internet was widely used in the _ . Answer: 1990s It's time to do something for your father - the man who for many people has been an encouragement and support since birth. The third Sunday of June is Father's Day. The holiday honors not only fathers, but also all men who act as father figures, such as stepfathers, uncles and grandfathers. The idea of Father's Day came from the love and appreciation of American lady called Sonore Smart Dodd in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. He raised six children by himself on a countryside farm in Washington State after his wife died during the birth of their sixth child. When Dodd became an adult, she realized the selflessness her father has shown in raising his children as a single parent. It was her father who did all for his children. In the eyes of his daughter, William Smart was a courageous, selfless and loving man. Dodd's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Washington on June 19th, 1910. In 1924, US President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Finally, in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared the third Sunday of June as Father's day. So this is a perfect chance to let your father know what he means to you. To show your love and respect, you need not buy an expensive gift. You can send him a home - made card; You can call him every day; Even you can give him a sweet smile when he comes back from work. All these little things are easy for us to do, but they can show your care and love to your father. Who declared the third Sunday of June as Father's Day? Answer: President Johnson. An artist went to beautiful part of the country for a holiday, and stayed with a famer. Every day he went out with his paints and his brushes and painted from morning to evening. 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 do not want money, but give me one of your 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 here next month. I will show him your picture, and then he will not want to be an artist any more, I think." Where did the artist live in the country? Answer: He was in Britain. As a kid,I was always chubby .In college I started _ . It got out of control when I went to law school. I'd made a decision a thousand times:I'm going to lose weight now. But what motivated me to get serious about it was turning 30. I weighed 414 pounds. I was always tired. Some of my family members have suffered from heart disease,and I was scared. I also wanted to look better. So after my birthday,I walked into the office of a weightloss doctor. She was very understanding. Her focus was on balanced meals and she wanted me to exercise. Walking was all I could do at first. I started by walking a few blocks and gradually increased the distance,until one weekend,I found myself saying,"Wow,this seems pretty easy." So I started to run. I was losing nine or ten pounds a month,and I had more energy. I started to think about the New York City Marathon. For years,I watched the runners and thought,"This looks like fun,but I could never do that." But now I realized that maybe I could. I joined the New York Road Runners. I ran a 10km,then a halfmarathon. I still wasn't confident I could run a full 26 miles. But I told myself I was going to do it,no matter what. By my 33rd birthday,I was down to 180 pounds. I started formally training for the marathon. And on the morning of November 1,I stood on the Verrazano Bridge in Staten Island with more than 40,000 other runners,waiting for the event to start. It was unbelievable to have the audience cheering me on,handing me cups of water. And I crossed the finish line. My friends sprayed (......) me with beer,as if I'd won the Super Bowl. And at that moment,I knew:If I set my mind to something,nothing is impossible. The author who was at the age of 33 had lost _ pounds in weight during the past three years. Answer: 234 There is an old English saying.It tells us that we must go to bed early and get up early in the morning.Then we shall be healthy.We shall also be rich and clever.This is true.The body must have enough sleep to be healthy.Children of young age should have ten hours' sleep every night.Children who do not have enough sleep cannot do their work well and they may not be healthy.The body also needs exercise.Walking, running, jumping and playing games are all exercise.Exercise keeps the body strong.Exercise also helps the blood to move around inside the body.It is very important.Our blood moves to all parts of our body.The head also needs blood.Exercise helps us to think better. If children don't have enough sleep, they will not _ . Answer: A and B
Using tablet computers like Apple's iPad and Samsung's Galaxy Note just before bed can lead to a poor night's sleep, according to research. More and more people are taking their tablets to bed with them to surf the web, check Facebook or email before switching off the light. But researchers are warning that the blueish light their screens emit can stop users getting a good night's sleep. That is because this type of light mimics daylight, convincing the brain that it is still daytime. Blue light suppresses production of a brain chemical called melatonin, which helps us fall sleep. This is because our brains have evolved to be wakeful during daylight hours. By contrast, light which is more orange or red in tone does not reduce melatonin production, perhaps because our brains recognize it as a cue that the day is ending. Neurologists have known for years that staring at screens late in the evening can disrupt sleep. Researchers at the Lighting Research Centre, at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, are warning that looking at tablet displays for more than two hours "leads to a suppression of our natural melatonin levels as the devices emit optical radiation at short wavelengths" - in other words, they emit bluer light. They say: "Although turning off devices at night is the ultimate solution, it is recommended that if these devices are used at night displays are dimmed as much as possible and that the time spent on them before bed should be limited." They drew their conclusions after measuring melatonin levels in 13 volunteers, after they had spent time viewing iPads at full brightness at a distance of 10 inches, for two hours. Melatonin levels were significantly lower after they had done this, than they were after the volunteers had viewed their iPads for the same time, but while wearing orange glass goggles, which cut out the blue light. They wrote in the journal Applied Ergonomics that tablet makers could "tune the spectral power distribution of self-luminous devices " so that they disrupted the sleep patterns of users less. It is not just a good night's sleep that could be jeopardized by too much late night screen time. Researchers know that persistent disruption to sleep patterns can lead to an increased risk of obesity, and even breast cancer. However, these studies tend to be comparisons of those with chronic sleep disruption, such as long term shift workers, with those who have normal sleep patterns. What is it that stops users getting a good night's sleep? blueish light It is believed that it took about 800 thousand to 1 million years for the earth's population to reach the 250 million total which existed at the end of the first century AD. For some time after that, disease, famine and war kept the population increase down to a rate of 1 percent a year so that more than 15 centuries passed before the population reached 500 million. But in the next 250 years, up to 1850, the population of the world shot to 1 billion and today it has reached 3.5 billion. Scientists say that in the next 35 years the population of the world will double, reaching almost 7 billion by the year 2010. When experts are asked what are the most effective measures that can stop over population, they reply that at least three measures can be considered. (A) Increasing sources and supply of food for under-developed countries. (B) Increasing the industrialization of under- developed countries. (C) Controlling birth. The experts add, however, that none of the above measures can be effective by itself, and that all must be combined into one whole program. They also agree that without controlling of births, any other measures are doomed to failure. Which of the following is true? Birth control is the most important way to control the growth of population. Do you know the girl in a hat with flowers on it? Her name is Yinzi. She is a nice Japanese girl, my new friend. She is in our class, studying Chinese. I like Yinzi. I don't know Japanese, and Yinzi doesn't know Chinese. We know some English. We are the same age. In the same class we have the same interests . We like to sing Chinese, Japanese and English songs. I help her to ride a bike and fly a kite. She helps me to swim and jump. We like playing football, but we can't play in the school because the playground is small. Yinzi and the other girls in our class will go to the swimming pool on Monday, and I want to go with them. Yinzi likes to _ . wear a hat with flowers on it Mobile phone has become a problem for high schools. Some high-school students in Australia are not allowed to carry mobile phones during school hours. Mobile phone used among children has become a problem for the school. Several children have got mobile phones as Christmas presents, and more students will want them. Marry Brown, a headmaster, said that mobile phone was a distraction to students during school hours and it also gave teachers so much trouble in their classrooms. Teachers were also saying that sometimes students might use phone messages to _ during exams. She said some schools had tried to ban mobile phones. Some parents felt unhappy because they couldn't get in touch with their children. Many teachers said students should not have mobile phones at school. But there was a good reason that they could leave their phones at school offices. They also said they were easily lost and were a distraction for studies. Some children get mobile phones from _ as presents. their parents and friends Stopping teens from smoking is a big challenge many communities face today. Many communities can only watch without being able to act while local businesses continue to sell tobacco products to children, even under the risk of punishment by law. Recent studies show that a large percentage of teens today are getting their cigarettes from stores, mostly gas stations or convenience stores. As teens continue to be able to buy their own cigarettes, more and more communities begin to punish those who sell cigarettes to the teens. One community has experienced success in their attempts to stop the sale of tobacco products to children. Woodridge, Illinois, started a program seven years ago which forbade and strictly punished the sale of tobacco products to children. The entire program includes local licensing of vendors , repeated undercover inspections to see if the sale to children has stopped, and education programs in schools. Woodridge has become a model community as other communities are moving to stop teen tobacco use. A recent national study showed that 36.5% of females, and 40.8% of males buy their cigarettes from stores, whether it is a gas station or a supermarket. Hopefully, as more and more sellers see the trouble they face if caught selling to children, they will stop selling. True, tightening down on stores that sell tobacco to children isn't going to completely stop the problem of teen tobacco use. Teens continue to get them from other sources. But it definitely does prevent their efforts. With more education in schools, and perhaps stronger punishments for teens caught with tobacco, more and more teens will see the problems with the tobacco usage, and will stop the habit. To stop teens from smoking, more and more communities are _ . punishing those who sell cigarettes to teens more severely
Question: The Guinness World Records Museum address:329 Alamo Plaza, San Antonio, TX 78205 Open Hours: From September to May :10 am to 7 pm Sunday through Thursday 10 am to 10 pm Friday and Saturday From June to August: 10 am to 10 pm Sunday through Thursday 10 am to Midnight Friday and Saturday Adult single: $ 14.95 for 2 attractions, $18.95 for any 4 attractions, $22.95 for all attractions Child(4~12)Single: $8.95 for 2 attractions ,$11.95 for any 4 attraction, $14.95 for all attractions In the museum you can enter the different exhibition halls you see below. In each of these halls you can see the world records of different kinds . Sometimes you may get a chance to do something so that you can know better how a record was set. From the advertisement we can learn that there are _ visitors to the museum on Fridays and Saturdays in summer. A. more B. some C. fewer D. many Answer: A Question: David is an excellent student and he comes from New York. His family was there until he finished eighth grade. David had no choice but to sleep on park benches. Being alone on the streets was scary. One thing kept David going: his determination to do well in school. Even though many things were difficult in David's life, one thing was going very well. David was accepted to a special high school called MC2STEM.It is a public school in Cleveland for kids who are extremely good at science. The school turned out a peaceful place for David. He especially enjoyed having the chance to learn by doing lots of projects. High school wasn't easy. But David says that the school helped him set high standards for himself. Even when he didn't have a place to stay at night, David kept his focus on his schoolwork. While he was homeless, David would sometimes sleep in the park during the day because it was safer. " If you sleep in the daytime in the park, people won't bother you," he says. "you're just taking a nap. It's acceptable." Then David would study through the night. He showered at a friend's house when his friend's parents were at work. All his hard work paid off. In May 2011, David graduated second in his high school class. He was accepted to 22 colleges. He also won a scholarship form the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It will pay for all his college expenses. Last fall, David began attending Harvard University, one of the top colleges in the US."I found the perfect school for me." He wrote in his blog. In the future, David might look for a job at a company like Google. Even better, he would like to start his own company. David says, " I want to work for myself." We can know from the passage that David would _ . A. work only in big companies. B. start a company with partners. C. win a scholarship again. D. have a bright future. Answer: D Question: Wang Guozhen, a poet, died of cancer at the age of 59 0n April 26, 2015, one month before his latest book was to be published c), according to Beijing News.The poet's death has started heated discussions online. He was a graduate of Jinan University in Guangzhou, where he majored in literature. Wang began to write poems in 1985, when his works often appeared in news-papers and magazines. His books sold so well in 1990 that the people in the publishing business called it"The year of Wang Guozhen". In the following ten years he had written over 50 books.His works such as Going the Distance and Beyond Yourself have influenced a large number of readers born in the 60s and 70s and some of his poems are still often quoted by famous people and writers. During a speech at the 2013 APEC CEO Summit in Indonesia, Chinese President Xi Jinping quoted a sentence from Wang's poem, saying "There is no mountain higher than man, and no road longer than his feet", which made Wang's works more popular. "I was inspired by his poems and copied every sentence down on my notebooks, Wang Ling, a Sina wei bo user, wrote "I still miss the time when I had the patience to read poems and really believed in the world built by his words. Wang Guozhen was born in the year _ A. 1990 B. 1985 C. 1963 D. 1956 Answer: D Question: Now and again I have had horrible dreams, but not enough of them to make me lose my delight in dreams. To begin with. I like the idea of dreaming, of going to bed and lying still and then, by some queer magic, wandering into another kind of existence. As a child, I could never understand why grown-ups took dreaming so calmly when they could make such a fuss about any holiday, this still puzzles me. I am puzzled by people who say they never dream and appear to have no interest in the subject. It is much more astonishing than it would be if they said they never went out for a walk. Most people do not seem to accept dreaming as part of their lives. They appear to see it as an irritating little habit, like sneezing or yawning I can never understand this. My dream life does not seem as important as my waking life because there is far less of it, but to me it is important. For the author of the passage, dreaming is _ . . A. another kind of existence B. an irritating little habit C. a horrible but wonderful experience D. a true reflection of reality Answer: A Question: The video rooms have been open since Jan. 2. If successful, the chain hopes to expand the service to other provinces, or even other countries. In addition to the food, customers pay 200 yuan per hour for using the room. ''The video rooms have been fully booked in February,'' said Chen Yu, manager of the Wangfujing branch. The Video room in Beijing is about 30 square meters and large enough for six customers. ''Many customers prefer to use the room for dinners rather than lunch,'' Chen said, adding the average age of customers who booked the video hotpot is about 30. ''The whole process is very smooth. The image and the voice transmission are as good as those of video conferencing at work, ''said one of Chen's colleagues surnamed Luo. ''I have a lot of friends in Beijing, whom I haven't met for a long time because of being busy at work,'' said a woman surnamed Yu who is having dinner with her husband at Haidilao.''The new service gives us a chance to have a dinner together without traveling. I would like to give it a try.'' The video hotpot also helped establish a friendship between waitresses in the two cities. Zhao Huanhuan, in her 20s, who is specially trained for serving in the video room in Shanghai, developed a friendship with a waitress named Lu Ke in the Beijing branch. Zhao said excitedly: ''It was too amazing to believe. I'm so interested in using the special room and enjoy serving people there. I also talk about some interesting interactive games with Lu before guests come for dinner''. Although Lu felt a little bit nervous when she first served in front of the screens, she said the new mode of communication also encouraged her to supply better services for customers. ''It's like a service competition. We saw each other through video and I could learn from Zhao's serving,'' Lu said, adding she will visit Zhao if she goes to Shanghai. It seems that video hotpot doesn't satisfy everyone's taste, however. Why do many customers choose the video room service? A. Because the service there is excellent. B. Because they can have dinner with friends without traveling. C. Because the food there is delicious. D. Because the room is large enough for six people. Answer: B
Someone asked me, "what do you think of youth?" I showed him a can of COKE. See this? "C" means "courage". There's a seed in everyone's heart. As long as you really keep watering it, it will grow and harvest. Courage gives us the power to follow our dreams. Believe in yourself and be prepared for anything in the future. "O" stands for "optimism". When in trouble, some people feel disappointed but some people still keep their dreams. Be sure to choose the latter. Life is very much like a mirror. If you smile on it, it smiles back on you. If you frown, you will get a similar look in return. Throw away the sadness in your heart while filling it with brightness and hope. "K" can be understood as "knowledge". In order to keep up with the times, we should use knowledge to enrich ourselves. Knowledge is the food of thought and, as long as it is put in our brain, we will grow wiser. "E" is short for "enthusiasm ". Enthusiasm is the sign of youth. We use colourful paint-brushes in our hands to create the pictures of youth on our own. Let the sky and sea know we're young. Let out our enthusiasm wherever we go. Drink a can of COKE. You will find your youth as refreshing as a can of coke. Enjoy and value your youth. According to the writer, young people are _ . It's true to say that technology makes our lives easier. However, increasingly scientists are saying that we need to give ourselves a break-----otherwise we put ourselves at risk of developing hundreds of health problems. Over the summer the days are longer and sunnier. Why not put this free time to good use and do something away from technology? You could learn a new skill. There are hundreds of possibilities: cooking, a musical instrument or a new sport. Haven't you always wanted to learn how to knit ? You could use your free time to practice these new things, which might lead to an exciting opportunity in the future. If you just want to relax, why not head to a beach? Take along your favorite book and relax on the sand, or go for a walk along the coastline. If you don't live near a beach, you could go to your local park. Why not have a picnic, or try to explore some of the local wildlife? You could even get involved in the latest craze : adult coloring books! Coloring is a surprising thing to help you relax, and it can be a nice way to escape from the stress of modern life! Whatever you choose to do, try something new! You might surprise yourself and find a hidden gift within you; you might make new friends along the way. Next time you find yourself changing TV channels from one to another without a clear purpose, think about what else you could spend your time doing. According to the text, technology _ . The homeless dog, known as Xiao Sa, has been following a team of cyclists for 24 days along 1,833 kilometers of highway from Kangding, Sichuan province, to Lhasa in Tibet. Nobody knows where the white dog came from or how long she has been straying on highway G318. Netizens call her the "dog with determination" and the micro blog "Go Go Xiao Sa" recording her life has attracted more than 37,000 followers in two weeks. A picture of Xiao Sa in the arms of a young man in front of the Potala Palace on Thursday night drew more than 4,000 comments congratulating the small dog and expressing dreams of going to Lhasa. The young man in the picture is Zhang Heng, 22, a student in Wuhan, Hubei province. As his graduation trip, he decided to face the challenge of riding to Lhasa alone. On the way he met a lonely dog. "She was lying, tired, on the street around Yajiang, Sichuan province," he said. "So we fed her, and then she followed our team." "We felt she might want to come along with us, so we decided to bring her along to the end." A week later, Zhang and his buddies opened a micro blog account for her. "We thought the dog was encouraging us, and wanted others to know its story," he said. They created the name Xiao Sa by combining xiao meaning "little" with the last syllable of Lhasa. During their journey, Xiao Sa, Zhang and his team covered more than 1,700 kilometers and climbed 10 mountains higher than 4,000 meters. Xiao Sa just ran up the mountains or along dirt roads. "Many people stopped cycling in some sections, then took the bus, but the dog made it," he said. Zhang put the dog on the back of the bike when the team was riding downhill. "The speed can reach 70 kilometers per hour, impossible for the dog to catch us." Zhang Heng, who accompanied Xiao Sa for 20 days, called her "a buddy and a friend". "I would like to take the dog home and take care of her. She has been a stray on the road for a long time. She needs a home." How did the netizens feel when they read the micro blog related to the dog? Imagine going to sleep then waking up speaking another language. It may sound impossible, but it's actually happened. The phenomenon of being able to suddenly speak another language is known as"Xenoglossia", from the Greek words"xenos"(foreigner)and "glossa"(language). _ once happened to a 13yearold girl from Croatia. After being unconscious because of a disease for 24 hours in 2010,she woke up speaking fluent German. The girl, who came from the town of Knin in the south of Croatia,was studying German at school but she'd only started recently. Her parents said that she'd been reading German books and watching German TV at home, but that she wasn't fluent in the language.However ,since waking up, she's been able to communicate "perfectly"in German.What's really strange is that she's now unable to speak Croat,her mother language.Doctors at Split's KB Hospital have asked some experts to examine the girl as they try to find out what caused the change.Dr Mijo Milas said,"In earlier times this would have been considered as a miracle ;we prefer to think that there must be an explanation--it's just that we haven't found it yet." In 2007,Matej Kus from Czech became unconscious after a motorbike accident. On waking up 45 minutes later,he could speak fluent English.Matej was only 18 years old at the time, and had just started studying the language and so was at a low level.Peter Waite,Kus's teammate said,"I couldn't believe what I was hearing.It was really clear English.It was unbelievable to hear him talk in unbroken English."Unluckily,Matej's new language skills didn't last.Two days later, when he recovered fully from the accident, he'd completely forgotten his English. We still don't know exactly what happened to the two people. Perhaps scientists will discover something new and exciting. But until then, keep studying! Which of the following is TURE according to the test? Hello , boys and girls ! I'm Anna Green . Look ! This is my bedroom . The wall is white . And this is my bed . B-E-D , bed . It's green . What's this on the bed ? It is a quilt . It's a yellow quilt . And that's a jacket . It's green , too . What are those on the sofa ? They are my books . Oh , what's this on the wall ? It's a map of China . What color is it ? It is green . Oh , no . It's yellow . No , it's blue , yellow and brown . I like my bedroom very much . _ is on the wall .
It was movie night at Tom's house. He was looking forward to watching a movie. He wondered what sort of movie it would be. Would it be a cartoon? Would there be knights? He really likes to watch movies about spaceships. His sister likes to watch movies about animals. Tonight they would watch his father's favorite type of movie. His mother came home and put it on the table. After dinner Tom cleared away the plates from the table. It was his sister's turn to wash the dishes. His father went to read the newspaper. His mother began to make popcorn. She made a big bowl of popcorn. There was plenty for everyone. She put lots of butter on it. Tom was excited he went to sit on the striped rug in front of the television. His sister came and sat next to him. His parents sat on the couch. The dog climbed on to the blue chair. The movie was about cars. Tom had a great movie night. What did Tom do after dinner? Answer: Most kids hate to see their summer end, perhaps none more than the Murset children. This summer, the Murset family decided to travel across the country to help families in need, which proved to be a wonderful experience. People. comreported that Gregg Murset and his wife, Kami, decided to take their six children, ranging from 7 to 16 years old, from their home in Phoenix, Arizona, across the country to spend 20 days on the road to help 25 families in need. "I told the kids and my wife over breakfast that I wanted to do this," Gregg Murset, 40, told People. com. "They all looked at me like I was crazy," he said, "but when we started to read the stories of people we were going to help, their attitudes completely changed." Through Gregg's company, he was able to be matched with groups such as Autism Speaks, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and others that connected the Mursets to families with children who have cancer and other serious illnesses. "When you have a kid who is struggling, the last thing you're thinking of is cleaning the house," says Gregg. The family traveled to many cities in their journey, including Albuquerque, Denver, Kansas City, Chicago, and Buffalo. The trip covered 6,500 miles. "It's been amazing to watch my own children open their eyes and see that the world is bigger than they think," he said. "Even the little kids are learning from this experience." And the families they've helped feel blessed to have met them. "They showed up at 8 a.m. and we had a list of things we needed help with," said Jim Spencer, a 61-year-old father in Warren, Michigan, whose 12-year-old daughter, Lexi, was diagnosed with cancer a couple of years ago. The Mursets also used their travels as an opportunity to visit areas they had never been to, including the Statue of Liberty. But for Gregg, the main purpose of the trip was to teach his children to show concern for the happiness of other people rather than for themselves. "There is nothing wrong with your kid getting off the sofa, doing some work and sweating," said Gregg. "It's good for the kid and it's good for the soul." How did the kids feel when Gregg Murset first told the family about his plan? Answer: BEIJING --With a series of measures being adopted to control price rise, the Chinese government is confident of keeping prices at a reasonable level, Premier Wen Jiabao said Sunday morning, asking people to remain confident. "I believe we can keep prices at a reasonable level through our efforts. As a major leader of the government, I have the responsibility and I have the confidence, too." He made the remarks while answering a listener's question during a radio broadcast by China National Radio. Steps taken in the past month, including price controls to curb speculation and monetary tightening , had started to produce results, he said. The government plans to build 10 million units of affordable housing in 2011, up from this year's target of 5.8 million. China will also increase efforts to curb speculation in the housing market, mainly through monetary policies and stricter use of land, Wen said, without giving details. Wen said the country had a good agricultural supply base which gave the government confidence that it could stabilize prices. In a bid to control inflation, the government has also increased the bank reserve requirement ratio six times and lifted interest rate twice this year, he added. Further, authorities have introduced many measures including cutting fees for transportation of agriculture products and controlling food price rise strictly. The overall price level, especially of major consumer goods, has now begun to drop, Wen said. "The fundamental way to stabilize pri ces is to achieve a balance of supply and demand, which requires continuous development of agriculture," said premier, adding that the central government has worked out measures to increase agricultural production. The best title of the passage should be _ . Answer: Although I am not in my childhood. I still prefer reading fairy tales. They often make me think of some special experiences and feelings. This summer I have received this kind of tales ,The Little Prince .It was Published in 1940 .It is the world-famous fairy tale by the Frenc h author Antoine. I ,the narrator of the story ,is a pilot . His plane has something wrong and lands in the Sahara . The little prince lives on a small planet ,and he grows a flower called ROSE there . One day they have a quarrel ,so the little prince runs away . On his all alone journey, he meets different kinds of people . From these people he gets a conclusion that grow-ups are strange . And with the help of the man he meets , he descends in the Sahara . The book moved me a lot . It is not only a fairy tale for children and teenagers, but also for grow-ups . ,. The little prince runs away , because _ . Answer: Most people have ambitions.An ambition is something we want to do,want to be or want to have.A student's ambition,for example,might be to pass his or her exams and then get a good job.An athlete's ambition could be to win an important competition.A businessman's ambition is usually to make a lot of money. Not all ambitions are about success at work,however.Some people just want to be good people,have a family or help others. Ben's ambition is to be a sports writer.He writes the sports reports for his class newspaper.He likes most sports,but swimming and football are his favourites.Trudy's ambition is to be a concert pianist.She is very serious about it and practises every day with her best friend Lily.It is very important to her. Harry's ambition changes every day.One day he wants to be an astronaut .The next day he wants to be a pop singer.The next day he wants to drive a racing car.His mother would be happy if his ambition was to get up in time for school every day. What does Harry's mother want him to do? Answer:
Childhood is a time of fun and games. Many people still remember when they were young, they often played games like hide-and-seek and chess. Playing teaches children how to get along with others, and it also helps to exercise the mind and body. However, children today spent most of their playing time in front of the computer, playing video games. A recent survey found that in the US children between 8 and 12 spent at least 13 hours a week playing video games or "gaming". Boys of this age spend even more time, almost 16 hours a week. Although some people will say that gaming is helpful, it brings many problems as well. One big problem is that kids who spend most of their time on games might have difficulty communicating with real people. They might have trouble sharing and resolving problems because they do not practice these shills when sitting alone at a computer. Another problem is about health. Game players usually sit for hours without doing any exercise. And they might not eat healthily. As a result, they might be out of shape. Next, game players might have trouble with their lessons. Many of them spend more time playing games than working on their homework. In the end, _ . Finally, it is always possible that the gamers become addicted . Some people play four or five hours a day or even all day. This happened to a 28-year-old Korean man. He spent about 50 hours playing an online game without sleeping or eating well. He died while gaming! This is one example of the dangers of video gaming. It tells us that video gaming, like everything else, should not be done too much. A few hours a week should not hurt, but several hours a day just might be dangerous to your health. How many problems about playing video games are mentioned in the passage? In April this year, lots of bags full of small change were seen at bus stops in Tianjin. They were made for passengers to turn their notes into small change. And such an idea came from four students from Zhongbei Middle School, Tianjin. "People will surely feel worried when they take a bus without coins. We just want to do something to help them," said Wang Yongcun, 15, one of the four students. The four boys spent their whole weekend making the change bags. After that they went to see the number of the passengers at each bus stop near their school, and then chose the top six stops to put the bags. Many people think that the four boys have really done a good job. But, things didn't go as the boys thought. Two days later, they found that the money was gone, and that even the bags were taken. It really made them sad but they would not give up. Their classmates and teachers came to help them in time. They put their pocket money in bags again. And the teachers also taught them to make better change bags. They tried their best to do it. The four boys feel very happy because they have done something good for the passengers. Their warm hearts are moving. More and more people are beginning to join in the activity. It took _ the whole weekend to make the change bags. A month went by in this manner , but a month was all I could bear . The memory of Marguerite accompanied me wherever I went . I had loved that woman --- still loved her --- too much for her suddenly to mean nothing to me . Whatever feelings I might have for her now , I had to see her again . At once . ... I knew Marguerite . Meeting me so unexpectedly must have thrown her into a state of great confusion . Probably , she had heard of my departure which had set her mind at rest as to the consequences of our sudden parting . But , seeing me back and coming face to face with me , pale as I was , she had sensed that my return had a purpose , and must have wondered what was going to happen . If , when I saw her again , Marguerite had been unhappy ; if , in taking my revenge , there had also been some way of helping her , then I might well have forgiven her , and would certainly never have dreamed of doing her any harm . But when I saw her again , she was happy , at least on the surface . Another man had ensured her the luxury in which I had been unable to keep her . She brought shame both to my pride and my love ; she was going to have to pay for what I had suffered . I could not remain indifferent to what she did now . It followed that the thing that would hurt her most would be exactly for me to show indifference . Indifference , therefore , was the feeling which I now needed to pretend , not only in her presence but in the eyes of others . I tried to put a smile on my face , and I went to call on Prudence with whom Marguerite was staying . Prudence saw me to the door , and I returned to my apartment with tears of anger in my eyes and thirst for revenge in my heart and thought only of finding a way to make the poor creature suffer . What would the author most probably write about next ? We discuss the issue of when to help a patient die. Doctors of our generation are not newcomers to this question. Going back to my internship days, I can remember many patients in pain, sometimes in coma , with late, hopeless cancer. For many of them, we wrote an order for heavy medication--morphine by the clock. This was not talked about openly and little was written about it. It was essential, not controversial. The best way to bring the problem into focus is to describe two patients whom I cared for. The first, formerly a nurse, had an automobile accident. A few days later her lungs seemed to fill up; her heart developed dangerous rhythm disturbances. So there she was: in coma, on a breathing machine, her heartbeat maintained with an electrical device. One day after rounds, my secretary said the husband and son of the patient wanted to see me. They told me their wife and mother was obviously going to die; she was a nurse and had told her family that she never wanted this kind of terrible death, being maintained by machines. I told them that while I respected their view, there was nothing deadly about her situation. The kidney failure she had was just the kind for which the artificial kidney was most effective. While possibly a bit reassured, they were disappointed. Here was the head surgeon seemingly determined to keep everybody alive, no matter what. Within a few days the patient's pacemaker could be removed and she awoke from her coma. About six months later, the door of my office opened and in walked a gloriously fit woman. After some cheery words of appreciation, the father and son asked to speak to me alone. As soon as the door closed, both men became quite tearful. All that came out was, "We want you to know how wrong we were." The second patient was an 85-year-old lady whose hair caught fire while she was smoking. She arrived with a deep burn; I knew it would surely be deadly. As a remarkable coincidence there was a meeting for discussion going on at the time in medical ethics . The speaker asked me if I had any sort of ethical problem I could bring up for discussion. I described the case and asked the students their opinion. After the discussion, I made a remark that was, when looking back, a serious mistake. I said, "I'll take the word back to the nurses about her and we will talk about it some more before we decide." The instructor and the students were shocked: "You mean this is a real patient?" The teacher of ethics was not accustomed to being challenged by actuality. In any event, I went back and met with the nurses. A day or two later, when she was making no progress and was suffering terribly, we began to back off treatment. Soon she died quietly and not in pain. As a reasonable physician, you had better move ahead and do what you would want done for you. And don't discuss it with the world first. There is a lesson here for everybody. Assisting people to leave this life requires strong judgment and long experience to avoid its misuse. Through the two patients mentioned in the text, the author thinks that on the issue of helping a patient die, doctors need to be _ . Late one afternoon, when a professor was walking along a country road, he saw a farmer eating his supper alone on the road before his house. The professor walked up to the farmer and asked, "Why are you eating here alone?" "Well, sir," answered the farmer after a short pause, "the chimney smokes" "That's too bad," said the professor. "But it shouldn't be too difficult to fix. Let me have a look at it." And before the farmer could say a word, the professor was at the door. A broom fell on his shoulder and a woman's voice shouted, "Go away, you old rascal , or I'll kill you..." The professor left the house quickly. The farmer sat on the road looking very unhappy. The professor walked up to him and put his hand on his shoulder. "Never mind," he said, "my chimney sometimes too." The professor wanted to _ .
"Tom!" There was no answer. "Tom!" Still no answer. "Where's that boy gone? Tom!" The old lady looked all around the room. She looked under the bed, but found only the cat. "If I catch that boy, ..." she murmured to herself. She opened the door and looked out into the garden. "Tom!" she shouted. Then she heard a slight noise behind her. She turned round just in time to catch the boy as he came out of a cupboard. "And what have you been doing in there?" "Nothing," said the boy. "Nothing! Look at your hands and your mouth! What is that stuff?" "I don't know, Aunt." "Well, I know. It's a jam. I've told you forty times that if you touched that jam, I'd _ you. Give me that stick." "Look out, Aunt! Look behind you!" The old lady turned round and Tom was out of the door in a flash, over the garden fence and away. "Damn that boy! Will I never learn? He's always playing tricks on me. And he seems to know just now how far he can go, too. But I can't take a stick to him. I really can't. After all, he's my dead sister's boy. Ah well, he'll play truant today and I'll have to make him work tomorrow." At supper Aunt Polly tried to trick Tom into admitting that he hadn't gone to school. "It was rather hot today, wasn't it, Tom?" "Yes," answered Tom. "You didn't have to open your shirt collar where I sewed it, then." Tom was confident, now. He opened his jacket. His collar was securely sewed. "Oh Tom," said Aunt Polly. "You're a good boy really." She was sorry that she had been wrong about him. "But Aunt," came a voice. It was Sidney, Tom's younger brother. "Didn' t you sew Tom's collar with white cotton? Look! Now it's black. Tom was already running out of the door. ---The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: Sometimes life gets a little dull. What used to be fun and different becomes boring. That is the time to look for something new. It is the time for a big idea to get your mind off everyday life. So why not search for extraterrestrial intelligence? Or even better, why not get your computer to do it for you? Over two million people have joined the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence(SETI)project. Based in California, the SETI project analyzes information taken from a giant radio telescope based in South America. Its task is to look for signals from outer space that might prove that life exists on other planets. Processing this information is far too big a job for one computer. So the SETI project workers divide the work among volunteers who visit their website. Each computer gets some information to work out from the SETI network through the Internet. This process is often known as "meta-computing". It is a wonderful thought. You are sleeping, eating a meal or going out with friends. All this time, your computer is searching the stars for signs that might show something is out there trying to get in touch. Volunteers are proud of being involved in the SETI project. It shows that they understand the potential of computing. They know that it is more than just a way of working or playing games. Meta-computing may also be creating intelligence as well as looking for _ . This idea is based on the theory that human intelligence is created by the way in which different parts of the brain communicate with each other. As the saying goes, "The whole is more than the sum of its parts." People who join the SETI project sometimes wonder whether their computer will become part of a huge network that has learned to think for itself. The passage mainly tells us about _ . Answer: Gina has a small room at home. Look! This is her room. Some things are in her room. Her schoolbag is on her desk. Her red jacket is on her bed. An E-dictionary is on her bed, too. It's Grace's. Grace Smith is her friend. Her books are on the sofa. And her teacher Mr. Green's pen is in the bookcase. She borrowed it. She has a set of keys in her desk. She has a computer game. A model plane is under her desk. It is her father--Tim Miller's. Her mother--Emma Miller's sweater is in her room, too. The girl Gina's family name is _ Answer: In a copper wire, a temperature increase is the result of which of the following? Answer: The students watch ocean waves crash on a beach. Which statement describes what will most likely happen because of the waves? Answer:
Here are some advertisements taken from a newspaper. (1) Dear Drew Carter, Your first year on this earth has been a pleasure ride for all of us. We love you! Dad and Mom and many friends (2) Lawlis---Clarke The Doctor Virgil and Marjorie Lawlis are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Diane Susan to Mr. Robert Brent Clarks, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Clarks of Herford, Texas. A spring wedding is planned in House. (3) Isbell---Foss Mr. and Mrs. Davis K. Isbell announce the marriage of their daughter Dang to Mr. Stanley Foss, son of Mrs. John Sipe of Ada, Minnessota. The wedding will be early April at Abiding Love Lutheran Church. (4) Story-Kurio Miss Stephanie Story and Mr. Todd Warren Kurio were married on February 5, at half past seven o'clock in the evening in Highland Park Prebytefian Church in Dallas, Texas. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Brue Story Jr. of Dallas. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Stanley Kurio of Austin. What would be the best title for the first advertisement? A. We Love You B. Happy lst Birthday C. One Year Old D. Our One-Year-Old Son Answer: B. Happy lst Birthday Visiting Balboa Island, in sunny southern California, proved an exciting experience that I will never forget. I had never been to Balboa Island, even though it is only about an hour from my home in northern San Diego. Our first stop was for a specialty called a "Balboa Bar". It is a famous chocolate covered ice cream on a stick, created many years ago. As we drove along the streets toward the boat, I also saw some interesting buildings that stood for many years. Many of the building designs seemed like dollhouses and someone in our group said that the style was called, Victorian. After we parked our car on one of the streets, we got on the boat sailing to Balboa Peninsula. As I looked around the boat, I saw a bird flying very close to the water and our boat. A little girl near the boat' s edge jumped out to touch it and shockingly fell into the water! Her dad, who stood nearby, jumped in after her at once and everyone on the boat ran to help. The boat's engine stopped and both father and daughter got saved with the help of people on the boat. On Balboa Peninsula my family and I went to various shops, especially for food! We saw a restaurant at the very end. We enjoyed our lunch there, at the first Ruby's Diner ever opened in southern California. Although I have been to other restaurants of this popular chain , being at the very first is a great memory. On our way back to Balboa island we stopped at the huge Ferris Wheel, bought some sugars and played games. It was an exciting afternoon walking around on Balboa Island. I look forward to returning soon to spend some time on the beach again or maybe even to try fishing! What did the author do on Balboa Island? A. He went fishing by the river. B. He walked along the beach. C. He rode the Ferris wheel. D. He bought some dolls. Answer: B. He walked along the beach. When Jean 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 oldest person. (There were 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 humor", others it was "keeping busy". "God may 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 humor. On her 110thbirthday, she commented, "I have only ever had one wrinkle, and I am sitting on it." Her longevity made her famous. Her spirits made her eternal Toward the end of the story, the author seems to be impressed by Calment's _ . A. attitude B. religious belief C. knowledge D. lifestyle Answer: A. attitude It's a popular belief that a fish's memory lasts for only seven seconds. It may seem sad to think that they don't remember what they've eaten or where they've been, and they don't recognize you or any of their friends -- every moment in their life would be like seeing the world for the first time. But don't be so quick to feel sorry for them. A new study has found that fish have a much better memory than we used to think. In fact, certain species of fish can even remember events from as long as 12 days ago. In the study, researchers from MacEwan University in Canada trained a kind of fish called African cichlids to go to a certain area of their tank to get food. They then waited for 12 days before putting them back in the tank again. Researchers used computer software to monitor the fish's movements. They found that after such a long break the fish still went to the same place where they first got food. This suggested that they could remember their past experiences. In fact, scientists had been thinking for a long time that African cichlids might have a good memory. An earlier study showed that they behaved aggressively in front of certain fish, perhaps because they remembered their past "fights". But until the latest findings, there was no clear evidence. Just as a good memory can make our lives easier, it also plays an important part when a fish is trying to survive in the wild. "If fish are able to remember that a certain area contains safe food, they will be able to go back to that area without putting their lives at risks," lead researcher Trevor Hamilton toldLive Science. For a long time, fish were placed far below chimpanzees, dolphins and mice on the list of smart animals. But this study has given scientists a new understanding of their intelligence. How can fish benefit most from a good memory? They can remember _ . A. where to get food and survive B. their enemies and fight C. where to escape to when in danger D. their friends and help each other Answer: A. where to get food and survive You may have heard about the many benefits of yoga, but a recent New York Times story, has stirred up more than a little controversy in the yoga community. "How Yoga Can _ Your Body," by science writer William J. Broad, quotes a long-time yoga teacher who "...has come to believe that 'the vast majority of people' should give up yoga altogether. It's simply too likely to cause harm." He goes on to describe a number of cases where people have been injured doing yoga, including himself. The research in the article isn't groundbreaking: doing any form of exercise you could potentially hurt yourself. If you look at the injury rates of other physical activities, the number of injuries sustained from yoga would pale in comparison. Practicing yoga is just like anything in life: You have to push yourself in order to grow. But you also have to know your limits and when you're breaking them. If you stick to your comfort zone, you'll never be able to increase your flexibility. If you push to the point where you're not only uncomfortable, but in real pain, you'll likely injure yourself. The reasons that yoga causes "serious injury", according to the Times story, range from students' physical weaknesses to inexperienced teachers pushing too hard to the growing number of inflexible "urbanites who sit in chairs all day" trying hard to twist themselves into difficult postures. Yoga is called a "practice" for a reason. You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to tackle every pose. It doesn't matter if you can touch the floor with your palms during your first forward bend or your thousandth, or if you never get there. We go to the mat to learn to better listen to what our bodies are telling us, and to better hear that quiet inner voice drowned out by the noise of our busy lives. It's a shame to discourage the majority of people from practicing yoga and missing out on all of the mind-body benefits that going to the mat has to offer. What is the author's attitude towards practicing yoga? A. It's a shame not to practice yoga. B. One should push the limits in order to be perfect. C. The majority should give up yoga for it may cause harm. D. One should enjoy the physical and mental benefit that yoga brings. Answer: D. One should enjoy the physical and mental benefit that yoga brings.
Can you imagine a classroom without one thing that has long been considered a necessary part? No notebooks, no textbooks, no test papers. Nor are there any pencils or pens, which always seem to run out of ink at the _ moment. A "Paperless classroom" is what more and more schools are trying to realize. Students don't do any handwriting in this class. Instead, they use hand-sized or specially-designed computers. The teacher downloads texts from Internet libraries and sends them to every student's personal computer. Having computers also means that students can use the Web. They can look up information on any subject they're studying, from maths to social science. A high school teacher, Judy Herrel in Florida, US, described how her class used the Web. "Using a book that's three or four years old is impossible," she said. A paperless classroom is a big step towards reducing the waste of paper. "Think about the money and trees we could save with the computers," she said. But, with all this technology, there's always a risk that the machines will break down. So, in case of a power failure or a technical problem, paper textbooks should still be widely available for these students. You are sure to find _ in a paperless classroom. Answer: computers For several years, Americans have enjoyed teleshopping -- watching TV and buying things by phone. Now teleshopping is starting in Europe. In a number of European countries, people can turn on their TVs and shop for clothes, jewelry, food, toys and many other things. Teleshopping is becoming popular in Sweden, for example. The biggest Swedish company sells different kinds of things on TV in 15 European countries, and in one year it made$100 million. In France there are two teleshopping channels, and the French spend about$20 million a year to buy things through those channels. In Germany, until last year teleshopping was only possible on one channel for 1 hour every day. Then the government allowed more teleshopping. Other channels can open for telebusiness, including the largest American teleshopping company and a 24-hour teleshopping company. German businesses are hoping this new teleshopping will help them sell more things. Some people like teleshopping because it allows them to do their shopping without leaving their homes. With all the problems of traffic in the cities, this is an important reason. But at the same time, other Europeans do not like this new way of shopping. They call teleshopping "junk on the air". Many Europeans usually worry about the quality of the things for sale on TV. Good quality is important to them, and they believe they cannot be sure about the quality of the things on TV. The need for high quality means that European teleshopping companies will have to be different from the American companies. They will have to be more careful about the quality of the things they sell. They will also have to work harder to sell things that the buyers cannot touch or see in person. People like teleshopping because it is _ . Answer: easier Huckleberry Finn,the great character from the Mark Twain book,did not like school.He preferred floating down the Mississippi River on a raft and looking for adventure.That's why generations of schoolboys have loved reading Huckleberry Finn:they feel the same way about[ school as he did. For many boys,being forced to sit all day in a school room is like being punished for a crime they did not commit.There are endless hours of boredom spent learning things they have no interest in.That's why many boys do poorly in school and many give up on education altogether. Ironically ,the whole idea for schools was invented for boys.If a boy wanted to grow up to be a useful man,he had to be educated.By and by,people realized that educating girls was a good idea,too.And,ironically again,it was discovered that the school system suits girls just fine;so fine that girls now do much better than boys in school. No one really knows why that is.Some say that girls mature quicker than boys and adapt better to school life.Some also say that the school system and the curriculum have changed to encourage girls but _ . Educators are now trying to find ways to get boys to be more successful in school.There are suggestions to separate the sexes and teach boys separately.There are also suggestions to change[ the curriculum to make it more interesting for boys. Whatever the changes are,boys still will be boys,and dreams of floating down the Mississippi River will always be an attractive choice to just sitting in a classroom. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? Answer: The curriculum has changed to be more interesting for boys. "I love the music-player function of 3G cellphones, " Xiaomei, a Chinese senior high school girl living in Japan, said happily. "Recently, I logged on to a website and downloaded some new Japanese songs with lyrics onto my 3G cellphone, "the girl said. "You know, it's amazing! Just like with KTV, _ 's voice can be switched-off leaving just the background music and lyrics. When no one is around, I practise singing songs like crazy. " Xiaomei's 3G cellphone almost made her a super star among her classmates. 3G was first introduced into Japan in 2001. After a slow start, it's now widely used there. High school students top the list of user groups, according to a major service provider in Japan. After years of effort, China is finally catching up. In January, China issued a 3G license to three operators--China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom. In 2009, the operators announced plans to expand the use of 3G cellphones. What is 3G? 3G wireless networks give users faster Internet connections. The Internet connection speed of 3G can be up to 15 to 20 times faster. This allows music and games to be downloaded more easily. E-mail can also be accessed faster. It has made watching movies and video-conferencing possible on a mobile phone. How do I use 3G? First, you must have a 3G cellphone. This year, products made by different cellphone companies will gradually appear in the marketplace. China Mobile and China Telecom users can continue using their old phone number and SIM card. China Unicom, however, has not yet decided on this matter. How much does it cost? The three operators have said that 3G fees will be similar, or slightly lower than today's 2G cellphones. According to a 3G student package, calls within the China Mobile network will cost 0.13 yuan per minute, while the fees go up to 0.23yuan per minute for calls between China Mobile and other networks. Which of the followings is NOT a benefit of 3G's high Internet connection speed? Answer: Calls within China Mobile network will cost 0.13 yuanper minute. Can it be true that Australian men spend more time during the week brushing their teeth than they do alone with their children? A new study from the University of the New South Wales has discovered that during the working week, Aussie fathers only spend an average of just over a minute each day alone with their children. Australian mothers, on the other hand, spend three hours a week looking after their children -a much greater disparity than in other countries like America, Denmark, Italy and France, where couples divide the child-care more evenly. These findings will upset those who want to shake off the perhaps unfair image of the Australia as a land of old-fashioned male chauvinism . According to the study, Australian fathers appear to like the fun aspects of parenthood, but shy away from the drudgery. So while they tend to be happy taking the kids to the park or to sports events, they are unlikely to participate regularly in feeding, bathing, or taking the kids to school. In short, parenting is seen as a woman's job and a man's hobby in Australia. Many people believe that in Europe the last twenty years have seen the arrival of the so-called "new man"--the man who is willing to share the housework and child-care. The "new man" never misses his children's school plays and he always gets home in time to read their bedtime story. Indeed, a questionnaire conducted in the UK indicated that almost 70% of British women thought that men were as good at raising children as women. The passage says that the "new man" would _ . Answer: read stories to their children
So you think you know your dog. But how well does your dog know you? She probably recognizes you when she sees you. But can a dog tell by simply looking at you whether you have a happy or an angry expression on your face? Researchers in Austria have taught pet dogs to know the difference. Dogs are very mindful of sound. When dog owners shout or speak in a strong, unkind voice, dogs often act ashamed and quietly move away from the area. Recently, researchers found that dogs can look at our faces, and tell the difference between a smile and a frown . The animals were able to recognize a look of praise from one of blame. Researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna performed a series of experiments. They taught dogs to recognize facial expressions. They showed the dogs two pictures of either the upper or lower half of a person's face. On one picture, the person looked happy. The other appeared angry. The dogs were then shown images of the eyes or mouths of people they had never seen before. They were also shown the left half of the faces used in training. Corsin Muller led the study. "We were really speaking, do they realize that smiling eyes have the same meaning as a smiling mouth, or angry eyes have the same meaning as an angry mouth? And it turned out that they really did perform very well in these research experiments." Once the dogs learned to recognize which image was happy or angry, they could easily find the same expressions in pictures of any face. Corsin Muller says future studies will try to show whether dogs can learn the meaning of facial expressions--for example, whether a frown shows that someone is angry. In the experiments, researchers found the dogs were slower to link a reward, or prize, with recognition of the angry face. This suggested that dogs had an idea people with angry faces were best avoided. What does the passage mainly tell us? A. How one can know his dog well. B. How a dog can probably be well trained. C. How a dog can tell one something. D. How a dog can know one's expressions. Answer: D Her opponent was the defending champion whose childhood dream was to win the French Open. She was the underdog who never saw the tournament on TV as a girl in China and never thought she'd get far on the red clay of the French Open, one of the four tennis Grand Slams . But it was Li Na who fell on her back in triumph on June 4. Nearly two hours' hitting gave Li a 2-0 victory over Francesca Schiavone of Italy and made her the only tennis player, man or woman, from Asia to take home a Grand Slam title. Chinese media have been swept along by the praise. An editorial carried by Xinhua News Agency said "Li Na is the best PR (Public Relations) for China," and called her an "outstanding name card for the country" and a "brilliant diplomat". It compared Li to Chinese NBA star Yao Ming, noting that both "can speak very fluent English, and both of them have a kind of sense of humor that is appreciated by foreigners". Success has come late for Li. She once gave up tennis for two years and studied journalism at Wuhan's Huazhong University of Science and Technology. But in 2004, she returned and continues to play the best tennis she could. "Dream comes true," Li said after the match. "I am so happy that my efforts have paid off." Li has often been seen as a rebel , or at least a representative of a new generation. She has a tattoo , has dyed her hair many different color1s and has even been known to yell at her husband in public. "The plain-speaking, tattooed, individualist has the ability to transcendthe sport and become a global star", the BBC news reported. No matter how important the French Open championship is, Li is not resting on her laurels -- she's already thinking about winning a second major title. "When you have the first one, naturally you will think about the second one. Now I have more confidence playing on other surfaces," Li told China Daily, as she prepares for the Wimbledon Championship, which will start on June 20. Which year did Li Na begin to study journalism? A. In 2004. B. In 2002. C. In 2006. D. In 2000. Answer: B Young Mister Smith had an idea for his employer. It was an idea for saving money for the company by increasing prices. At the same time, Smith suggested that the company sell goods of less value. If his employer liked the idea, Smith might be given more pay. Perhaps he might even get a better job with the company. Business had been very slow. So Mister Smith's employer thought a few minutes about the idea. But then she shook her head. "I am sorry, Smith," his employer said. "It just will not wash." Now, the meaning of these English words should be, "It will not get clean." Yet, Smith's idea did not have anything to do with making something clean. So why did his employer say, "It will not wash?" Most word experts agree that "it will not wash" means it will not work. In the nineteenth century in England, the expression came to mean an unde-pendable statement. It was used mainly to describe an idea. But sometimes it was used about a person. Happily for the young employee Smith, his employer wanted him to do well in the company. So the employer "talked turkey" to him. She said, "Your idea would be unfair to our buyers. Think of another way to save money." A century ago, to talk turkey meant to talk pleasantly. Turkeys in the barnyard were thought to be speaking pleasantly to one another. In recent years, the saying has come to mean an attempt to teach something important. Mister Smith thought of a better idea after his employer talked turkey to him. He was given an increase in pay. So if your idea "will not wash," try "talking turkey" to yourself and come up with a better idea. What's the main purpose of the passage? A. To give some advice on office work. B. To explore the meanings of two expressions. C. To share Mister Smith's personal experience. D. To tell about the development of the English language. Answer: B A young woman was driving through the lonely countryside. It was dark and rainy. Suddenly she saw an old woman by the side of the road, holding up her hand as if she wanted a lift . "I can't leave her out in this weather," the young woman said to herself. She stopped the car and opened the door. "Do you want a lift?" she asked. The old woman nodded and climbed into the car. After a while, she said to the old woman, "Have you been waiting a long time?" The old woman shook her head. "Strange!" thought the woman. She tried again. "Bad weather for the time of year," she said. The old woman nodded. Then the young woman noticed the old woman's hands, which were large and hairy . Suddenly she realized that "she" was a man! She was frightened at first. Then she stopped the car. "I can't see out of the rear screen ,"she said. "Would you mind cleaning it for me?" "The old woman" nodded and opened the door. As soon as "she" was out of the car, the frightened young woman drove off as fast as she could. When she got to the next village, she stopped. She noticed "the old woman" had left "her" handbag behind. She picked it up and opened it. Inside was a gun How did the young woman find "she" was a man? A. The young woman hared her "voice" B. The young woman saw a gun in the handbag C. The young woman noticed the old woman's hands were big and fairy D. The young woman had never seen "the old woman" Answer: C I had hidden the long black bag in the garage for the past two days. Tonight, in the dark, I would finally take it away. If everything went OK, it would be done by morning. But I had to be sure no one, not even my wife, saw me. It was more difficult to get away from the party than I expected. I said that the children were tired and needed to get to bed. It was partly true. But the main reason for leaving was that I wanted to complete my plan. First I had to get the kids to sleep. That was never easy at any time and tonight it was even more difficult. The eldest one wanted to know why we left the party early. I told him 10:30 pm was not early. As usual, I read them a bed time story, but I had to stop myself reading too quickly or _ would learn my secret. Silence finally came, and feeling like a thief in the night, I went out of the house and into the garage. Taking one end, I dragged the bag out from its hiding place and took it into the garden. I was worried that my neighbours might see me and call the police. It was already eleven o'clock. By the light of the moon I started working, trying to make as little noise as possible. And that was not easy with a saw and a hammer. After much effort, my work was finally completed. I looked down at my watch. It was exactly 4:00 am. Then I went inside to have a shower and get a few hours of sleep. It wouldn't be long now before the kids would rush into my room and wake me up to tell me about the new tree-house Father Christmas had brought them this year. Why did the man feel nervous? A. He left the party too late. B. He was afraid of the darkness. C. He worried that others would discover his secret. D. He didn't know where the black bag was. Answer: C
Tom and Simon were Americans. Once they visited Spain. One day they came into a little restaurant for lunch. They did not know Spanish , and the waiter did not know their American English, either. They wanted the waiter to understand that they needed some milk and eggs. At first Tom read the word "milk"many times. Then Simon spelled it on the table. But the waiter could not understand them at all. At last Tom took out of a piece paper and began to draw a cow. The waiter looked at it and ran out of the restaurant. "How clever you are!" Simon said to Tom, "He understood us at last!" After some time, the waiter came back, he brought no milk with him, but two tickets for a bull-fight down on their table! How many people are there in the story? A Three. B Two. C One D Many. Answer: A 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 ! What does the author want to convev to us? A A teacher could change a student's life. B Family is the most important place for kids. C Children don't have to solve problems by themselves. D One should have sympathy for another's suffering and offer help. Answer: D Have you ever considered why you begin yawning too when you see someone yawn? Or how hard it is to be among people laughing and not laugh yourself? Well, apparently it's because we have mirror neurons in our brains. Put simply, the existence of mirror neurons suggests that every time we see someone else do something, our brains imitate it whether or not we actually perform the same action. This explains a great deal about how, we learn to smile, talk, walk, dance or play sports. But the idea goes further: mirror neurons not only appear to explain physical actions, they also tell us that there is a biological basis for the way we understand other people. Mirror neurons can undoubtedly be found all over our brains, but especially in the areas which relate to our ability to use languages, and to understand how other people feel. Researchers have found that mirror neurons relate strongly to language. A group of researchers discovered that if they gave people sentences to listen to ( for example: "The hand took hold of the ball" ) , the same mirror neurons were _ as when the action was actually performed (in this example, actually taking hold of a ball). Any problems with mirror neurons may well result in problems with behavior. Much research suggests that people with social and behavioral problems have mirror neurons which are not fully functioning. However, it is not yet known exactly how these discoveries might help find treatments for social disorders. Research into mirror neurons seems to provide us with even more information regarding how humans behave and interact. Indeed, it may turn out to be the equivalent for neuroscience of what Einstein's theory of relativity was for physics. And the next time you feel the urge to cough in the cinema when someone else does -- well, perhaps you'll understand why. What is the passage mainly about? A Ways to find mirror neurons. B Problems of mirror neurons. C Functions of mirror neurons. D Existence of mirror neurons. Answer: C The fighting against youth smoking since I took office I've done everything in my power to protect our children from harm. We've worked to make their streets and their schools safer, and to give them something positive to do after school before their parents get home. We've worked to teach our children that drugs are dangerous, illegal and wrong. Today, I want to talk to you about the historic opportunity we now have to protect our nation's children form an even more deadly threat: smoking. Smoking kills more people every day than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, murders, suicides, drugs and fires combined. Nearly 90 percent of those smokers lit their first cigarette before they turned 18. Consider this: 3,000 children start to smoke every day illegally, and 1,000 of them will die sooner because of it. This is a national tragedy that every American should be honor-bound to help prevent. For more than five years we've worked to stop our children from smoking before they start, launching a nationwide campaign to educate them about the dangers of smoking, to reduce their access to tobacco products, and to severely restrict tobacco companies from advertising to young people. If we do these, we'll cut teen smoking by almost half over the next five years. That means if we act now, we have it in our power to stop 3 million children from smoking and to save a million lives as a result. For more than five years what have they done to stop their children from smoking? A To educate them about the dangers of smoking B To reduce their access to tobacco products C To restrict tobacco companies from advertising to young people D All of the above Answer: D It is common for older people to forget things. Now an American study has found that memory starts to fail when we are young adults. People younger than thirty years of age usually do not know that they are starting to forget information. But scientists from the University of Michigan say the loss of memory has usually already started. Researchers say people do not observe this slow reduction in mental ability until the loss affects their everyday activities. Denise Park led the new study. She directs the Centre for Aging and Cognition at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. Her team studied more than 350 men and women between the ages of twenty and ninety years. The study identified people in their middle twenties with memory problems. She says young adults do not know they are forgetting things because their brains have more information than they need. But she says that people in their twenties and thirties are losing memory at the same rate as people in their sixties and seventies. Ms. Park says people between the ages of sixty and seventy may note the decrease in their mental abilities. They begin to observe that they are having more trouble remembering and learning new information. The study found that older adults are more likely to remember false information as being true. For example, they remembered false medical claims as being true. Younger people remembered hearing the information. But they were more likely to remember that it was false. Ms. Park is now using modern imaging equipment to study what happens in the brains of people of different ages. She is studying what parts of the brain older adults use for different activities compared to younger adults. Ms. Park says mental performance is a direct result of brain activity and brain structure. She says keeping the brain active is important. She hopes future studies will identify ways to improve the operation of our aging minds. According to the passage, young adults differ from older adults in that _ . A they lose their memory at a slower rate B they rarely realize they have memory problems C their brains can store much more information D all of the above Answer: B
Desks and chairs remained in the classroom, but the lovely children have already left us forever. The handprints left on the walls tell us their fear and despair . Ninety-nine pupils were killed in a flood in Heilongjiang Province on June 10, 2005. They were swept away by violent waters while having class. It was a natural disaster. But the destruction may have been less serious if students had known what to do to save themselves. Some witnesses said most children did nothing but cry when they found no escape route. Under the instruction of teachers, some pupils caught desks and chairs that were floating and survived. But others were so scared that they could not follow what the teachers said. Everyone knows that people should mend the fold before the sheep are lost. Preparation for disasters is very important. Schools should be responsible for teaching students survival skills for times of danger. So survival skills and exercises are as important as textbook knowledge. Japan has set a good example to us. Even though earthquakes and tsunamis often affect the country, there are usually few deaths and injuries. Survival exercises are held in every Japanese school every year. With different kinds of competitions and training, schools help the students be aware and capable of surviving disasters. On June 16, 2005, a public safety museum opened in Beijing. People can experience disaster like fires and earthquakes, and learn survival skills. Some Beijing teenagers are required to visit the museum. If there were more similar activities in China, further tragedies may be avoided. What's the author's attitude toward the pupils who suffered from the flood? Answer: Regretful I no longer consider myself as the center of the universe. I show up. I listen. I try to laugh. I am a good friend to my husband. I have tried to make marriage vows mean what they say. I am a good friend to my friends, and they come. Without them, there would be nothing to say to you today. So here's what I want to tell you today: Get a life. A real life, not a desire of the next promotion, the bigger paycheck, the larger house. Get a life in which you are not alone. Find people you love, and who love you. And remember that love is not leisure , it is work. Pick up the phone. Send an e-mail. Write a letter. And realize that life is the best thing and that you have no business taking it for granted. It is so easy to waste our lives, our days, our hours, and our minutes. It is so easy to exist instead of to live. I learned to live many years ago. Something really, really bad happened to me, something that changed my life in ways that, if I had my choice, it would never have been changed at all. And what I learned from it is what, today, seems to be the hardest lesson of all. I learned to love the journey, not the destination. I learned to look at all the good in the world and try to give some of it back because I believed in it, completely and totally. And I tried to do that, in part, by telling others what I had learned. By telling them this: Read in the backyard with the sun on your face. Learn to be happy. And think of life as a deadly illness, because if you do, you will live it with joy and passion as it ought to be lived. What's the author's attitude toward work? Answer: Don't let it affect your real life. ARIEL, West Bank: A suicide bomber blew up near Israeli soldiers outside a Jewish settlement in the West Bank yesterday, killing at least three people and wounding about 30 Ron Nachman, mayor of the settlement of Ariel. "Soldiers were among the casualties . "People on the spot said the bomber blew up after soldiers eating at a food stand in a petrol station at the entrance of the settlement found him. According to some people on the spot accounts reported by Israeli media, a soldier shot and wounded the bomber, who then exploded. The Magen David Adorn ambulance service said at least three people were killed and at least 30 wounded in the blast , which set the bomber burning at Ariel, about 25 kilometers east of Tel Aviv. A fire brigade official said: "The bomber was still burning when we got there and we put out the fire immediately." Meanwhile, a blast shook homes in Lebanon's largest Palestinian refugee camp early yesterday, damaging buildings but causing no injuries, Palestinian sources said. They said the bomb was planted outside the home of a member of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction in Ain el-Hilwch camp, and exploded while the family was sleeping. It can be concluded that the passage is most probably part of a(n) _ . Answer: news report There were four brothers that lived together in a small house on the east side of town. The brothers' names were Bob, Billy, Bryan and Baker. Each brother was one year in age. The oldest brother Bob was nine, the second eight, the third seven and the youngest was only six. Each boy also had something that they were good at that no one else could do. Baker, the youngest boy was good at magic tricks. Bob was the basketball star, Billy was great at football and Bryan was good at baseball. Each boy liked to watch the others show off their skills. One afternoon Baker put on a magic show. For this trick he would need three things. First, he needed four cups each a different color. The cups colors were green, yellow, blue, and white. He would need one white ball and two helpers which the parents happily volunteered for. He started by showing his brothers the inside of each cup as well as the normal white ball. He then placed the white ball inside the white cups and moved them around really fast. Next his parents covered the four cups with a magic blanket. Baker said some magic words and then his helpers removed the blanket. To his brothers amazement there were only the three colored cups left. Each brother got to look under a cup. After flipping up each cup they saw that there was no white ball. Just a single green ball inside the green cup! How did you do that they yelled! A magician never gives up his secrets. What could Baker do that his brothers could not? Answer: Magic Tricks Are you a high school student who loves to be outdoors and is eager to experience new challenges, learn new skills and meet new people? Learn all about the world of building and maintaining hiking trails, and experience it in a safe, teamwork-oriented environment in various locations across the state. WTA offers first-time participants country trips and returning students have the option to go on trips in the back country . Front Country Trips Our front country trips provide opportunities for people to experience projects near the ocean, in the scenic Cascade Mountains and in northeast Washington. All our trips provide you with experienced crew leaders, a great project, some camping tents, sleeping bags and all your meals for the week. Advanced Back Country Trips On these trips you will be backpacking to the work site and will have a chance to advance your trail and leadership skills under the supervision of a WTA crew leader. Approval from a previous crew leader is necessary. Trip Details In 2014, trip fees for WTA members will be $195 for the first trip and $145 for each additional trip. Non-members will pay an additional $40 for their first trip and can be qualified to be members in the second trip. There will be a $30 cancellation fee for cancellations more than 30 days prior to the trip, and no refund for cancellations less than 30 days prior to the trip. Due to the popularity of our trips, please submit your payment and application within two weeks of signing up for a trip. If a trip is full and you would like to be added to the waiting list, please call us at 206/625-1367 or email trail _ teams@wta.org. Scholarships We believe no student should have to stay at home this summer because he or she can't afford to go outside. Thanks to donations from members and supporters, WTA is proud to announce that we are able to offer a limited number of scholarships. Application deadline: March 1, 2014. 2014 Youth Volunteer Vacation You must be 14 to 18 years old to go on one of our Youth Volunteer Vacations. We always recommend that volunteers go on a one-day trip before attending a Youth Vacation to understand what the work will be like for a week. How much will you have to pay for your second trip if you're not a WTA member? Answer: $195
As late as 1800, women's only place was in the home. The idea of woman in the business world was unthinkable. Men were certain that no woman could do a good job outside her home. This was such a widely accepted idea that when the well-known Bronte sisters began writing books in 1864, they had to sign their books with men's names instead. Teaching was the first profession open to women soon after 1800. But even that was not an easy profession for women to enter because most schools and colleges were open only to men. Oberlin College in Ohio was the first college in America to accept women. Hospital nursing became respectable work for women only after Nightingale became famous. Seeing that she was not only a nurse but also a rich and well-educated woman, people began to believe it was possible for women to nurse the sick and still be "ladies". Miss Nightingale opened England's first training school for nurse in 1860. The invention of the typewriter in 1867 helped to bring women out of the home and into the business world. By 1900, thousands of women were working at real jobs in schools, hospitals and offices in both England and America. Some women even managed to become doctors or lawyers. The idea that women could work in the business world had been accepted. Which fact does the article lead you to believe? A The Bronte sisters thought that they were men. B England's first training school for nurses was in Ohio. C There are more men than women in professional jobs. D Women find it neces Answer: C A light-year is a measure of A time. B energy. C distance. D direction. Answer: C Every year in late spring at Wild Friends, the wildlife health center, workers receive baby animals, including songbirds and rabbits. This is the busiest time when workers care for and raise all the little ones before sending them back into the wild. There are many reasons for these little animals' coming to the center. First of all, street cats or dogs catch, injure or take away little birds from their nests. Sometimes people catch baby animals and keep them at home, giving them food that they are not used to. It would make them sick. Most people don't realize that it's against law to get live animals out of their nests. As for songbirds, people often find them on the ground in their yards, thinking they have no other choice but to leave them on the ground to die. This is because many people wrongly believe that once a bird is touched by a person, its mother will not accept this child bird. But that's not true. If a little bird falls out of the nest, you should check whether it is injured. If not, you should put the bird back in the nest. If the bird is injured, call your local wildlife center quickly. As for the progress of protecting wild animals, people at Wild Friends devote all their energy to this work. Over the last weeks, they have been able to send many of the birds and rabbits that came here earlier this spring back to nature. Which is the busiest season for workers at Wild Friends? A Spring B Summer. C Autumn. D Winter. Answer: A Sharing not only exists between humanbeings.As is often seen that some plants and anima1s live close together, and they depend on each other. They are usually very different from their partner, and yet all live easier lives because of each other. It is nature's idea of sharing. An example of a partnership is the shark and pilot fish. The pilot fish is a little fish only about nine inches long. He would be. helpless if he hung around by himself in the mighty ocean. He makes up for his size with his smartness. He cleverly swims along beside the shark. When the shark eats, the pilot fish gets the leftovers. And the pilot fish needn't worry about his safety. The shark also gets benefits from this relationship. The pilot fish cleans food scraps and insects from the shark's hide. Another example of depending on each other is the sea anemone and striped clown fish. The sea anemone looks like a flower and has petals that contain poisonous stinging cells. When small fish swim into the petals, the anemone traps and paralyzes them. However,the striped clown fish is able to swim into the poisonous petals without being harmed. When he is in danger, he quickly swims into the sea anemone and is unable to be seen by his enemies. To pay for his safety,the clown fish brings food to the anemone. He also guides other fish into the anemone's deadly trap. Large mammals such as the ox, antelope, rhinoceroses and African buffalo form such a relationship with the red-billed ox-peeker. They provide daily meals for the bird. In fact the bird eats insects. The various large mammals act as a restaurant with a varied menu for the ox-peeker. What do they get in return from the bird? Free beauty treatments! Some plants live together in a beneficial relationship of symbiosis. The fungus does not have chlorophyll that plants need to make food. However, green algae does contain chlorophyll. It is, therefore, able to feed the fungus along with itself. But nothing is free! The fungus repays it by protecting the algae. Since it takes in and stores water, it can provide the algae with a non-ending water supply. What do the fungus and the green algae share with each other? A Energy and light. B Food and energy. C Light and chlorophyll. D Water and chlorophyll. Answer: D Some businesses offer customers the option to pay for merchandise using their fingerprints as identification. Which of the following would most benefit customers that use this new technology? A cost of product is reduced B protection of private information C ability to track customer preferences D funds would be credited immediately Answer: B
Question: Which of these are required for a mother cat to have the same whisker length as her daughter? A. rock music B. jeans C. magic D. genes Answer: D Question: Everybody has a home. People have homes. Animals have homes, too. People live in different kinds of homes. Animals also have different kinds of homes. Some animals live in holes under the ground. The woodchuck lives under the ground. Its home has two doors. If any enemy comes through one door, the woodchuck goes out of the other. Some animals live in holes in trees. Some squirrels build nests high in trees. Some birds live in holes in trees. Most of the birds live in nests . Crows build their nests high in trees. But hawks build their nests high in the mountains. Some animals even carry their homes on their backs . _ live under the ground. A. All the animals B. The woodchuck and the squirrel C. Some animals D. Some birds Answer: C Question: A mum saved her daughter's life with her newly learned first aid skills. Sonya Hall, 33, of Denny Avenue, Lancaster, had only just attended one first aid class the day before when she found herself needing to use the skills on her three years old daughter Tilly. Sonya, who also has son Emmen, six, attended the first aid course at Lune Park Children's Centre in Lancaster. Then she was faced with every parent's worst nightmare when Tilly went blue in the face and stopped breathing. But thanks to her newly acquired skills, Sonya saved Tilly's life. Sonya said: "Tilly was playing with her brother and they were fighting over a toy. Emmen won the fight. Tilly fell backwards and her head was hit. She was face down and shaking and at first I thought she was upset. But then I saw she was blue in the face and had stopped breathing. I reacted without thinking and immediately started using the first aid skills I had learned the day before which were so fresh in my mind. I began doing mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions . It probably took about a minute before Tilly started breathing again, but to me it felt like a lifetime." After getting Tilly breathing again, Sonya called an ambulance and the doctors came. Since then, Tilly has been diagnosed with Reflex Anoxic Seizure . Sonya said: "The seizure can happen when there's any unexpected pain, fear or fright. It is just so lucky that the day before it happened, I had been practising first aid." The Empowering Parents First Aid course is run by Lancashire Adult Learning. Sonya said: "I am just so glad I did the course and learnt the first aid skills. I always feared I would not know what to do in a crisis situation, but luckily I had the knowledge and skills to deal with it." What would be the best title for the text? A. The importance of first aid B. How to practise first aid C. Mum saves girl with first aid D. Mums should attend first aid courses Answer: C Question: Further education is officially described as the"post-secondary stage of education, comprising all vocational and non-vocational provision made for young people who have left school, or for adults". Further education thus embraces the vast range of university, technical, commercial, and art education and the wide field of adult education. It is this sector of education, which is concerned with education beyond the normal school-leaving ages of 16 or 18, that has experienced the most astonishing growth in the number of students. In the 19th century the dominance of Oxford and Cambridge was challenged by the rise of the civic universities, such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Following the lead of the 18th century German universities and responding to a public demand for increased opportunity for higher education, Britain's new civic universities quickly acquired recognition--not only in technological fields but also in the fine and liberal arts. Many new post-school technical colleges were founded in the early 20th century. The Fisher Act of 1918 empowered the local authorities to levy a rate (tax) to finance such colleges. The universities, on the other hand, received funds from the central government through the University Grants Committee, established in 1911 and recognized in 1920, after World War I. A new type of technical college was established in the 1960s--the polytechnic, which provides mainly technological courses of university level as well as courses of a general kind in the arts and sciences. Polytechnics are chartered to award degrees validated by a Council for National Academic Awards. Thus, the third level in the United Kingdom is made up of colleges of further education, technical colleges, polytechnics, and universities. The colleges offer full-time and part-time courses beyond compulsory-school level. Polytechnics and universities are mainly responsible for degrees and research. The innovative Open University, with its flexible admission policy and study arrangements, opened in 1971. It uses various media to provide highly accessible and flexible higher education for working adults and other part-time students. It serves as an organizational model and provides course-materials for similar institutions in other countries. Changes in British education in the second half of the 20th century have, without changing the basic values in the system, extended education by population, level, and content. New areas for expansion include immigrant cultural groups and multicultural content, the accommodation of special needs, and the development of tools and content in the expanding fields of microelectronics. The proper title for this passage should be " _ ". A. British Further Education B. Changes in British Education C. Polytechnics and Universities in Britain D. Less Opportunity for Higher Education Answer: A Question: Do you know why people look the way they look? What inside our bodies makes us grow in a certain way? The answer is DNA. It was first discovered by a young Swiss doctor in 1868. DNA is like a computer program for your body. Almost every cell in your body includes DNA. The way DNA in the cell decides why you are the way you are. For example your friend might have larger ears than you. This is because their DNA is different from yours. DNA lives in the cell and is ordered in a structure called a "double helix ". In each double helix there are links called as chromosomes . These chromosomes are made from four bases that arrange themselves in millions of different ways. The way these bases choose to line up is what makes the DNA code for that cell. DNA is also called a "gene ". This is a very interesting thing. Genes are passed down from your parents. That is why you might have the same smile like your dad's or mom's! In February, scientists found the skeleton of Richard III, King of England from 1483-1485, under a car park in England. It seems unlikely that scientists could identify a 527-year-old skeleton. However, they matched the skeleton's DNA to a sample from one of his direct descendants . How amazing! _ discovered DNA. A. A Swiss scientist B. A Swiss doctor C. A young student D. A Swiss worker Answer: B
Red Star Restaurant The biggest and busiest restaurant in Jinan is seeking 20 waiters who have relevant experiences in high-grade restaurants. About Y=800--1,500 per month. Red Star Restaurant is located at 66 on Park Street. Our phone number is 0531-8278-4560. 3 People wanted Need 3 people who would like to work 4 evenings per week showing films. Earn $300 per week possibly. Call 469-867-6042. Baby-sitter wanted For a year. 3 days a week. Some flexible hours required. Knowledge: above senior middle school. Call 0431-478-9971. How many advertisements are for waiters? A. One. B. Two. C. Three. D. Four. Answer: A. One. All the 6,000 medals for the 2008 Olympic Games have arrived in the capital from the Shanhai Mint,ready for their debut on August 8.For the,first time in Olympic history,the medals for the Beijing Games mix metal and jade. The technology of inlaying jade into metal can date back to the Han Dynasty almost 2,000 years ago.It is not easy to bond jade perfectly with metal.The key to the process lies in the inner layer of the metal and the groove of the jade ring.A seal ring is put between the inner layer and the groove to join the metal and jade together. Jade rings used for casting Olympic medals have been subjected to strict quality controls,and those not up to the standard have been thrown away. To make use of those jade rings that do meet the quality criteria,metal medals were produced to fit the jade tings,and more than ten different sizes of seal rings were designed. To avoiding any loosening of the jade rings due to aging of the seals,glue has been used in casting the;Olympic medals,which is a painstaking manual process. Experts from the International Olympic Committee(IOC)were concerned about the risk of fragility when the jade ring design was proposed.The IOC required that jade rings should be strong enough to withstand a 2-meter drop test.The Shanghai Mint raised that standard to 3- meters.Medals call survive a 3-meter drop test with only minor cracks on the jade rings. Which of the following is TRUEaccording to the passage? A. The medals for 2008 Olympic Games are the first of this kind in history B. The medals for the 2008 Olympic Games must be more valuable than those for other Olympic Games. C. It was quite a few years ago that Shanghai Mint began to produce medals for the 2008 Olympic Games can compare with any medals for other Olympic Games. D. The size and weight of the medals for 2008 Olympic Games call compare with any medals for other Olympic Games. Answer: A. The medals for 2008 Olympic Games are the first of this kind in history Smoking causes direct damage to what? A. feet B. breathing organ C. stomach D. skin Answer: B. breathing organ Lucky is the man who has no "skeleton in his closet." When a man has done something in his life that he is ashamed of, that he wants to hide, he is said to have a "skeleton in his closet." Some people may have more than one skeleton. As we have noted many times, it is hard to find out how these expressions begin. Sometimes, we get some hard facts. But more often we have to depend on guesswork. And that is true of this phrase, which came from England. Before 1832, English law did not permit a doctor to cut open a dead human body for scientific examination, unless it was the corpse of an executed criminal. But when it became legal, more and more doctors demanded skeletons for a more scientific study of medicine. It was helping in the advance of modern medicine. The demand had become so strong that men began to rob tombs and sell skeletons to doctors at high prices. We are told that a doctor would usually buy just one skeleton for scientific study. It became very important in his work. But he had to keep it hidden because most people objected to keeping such a thing. As a rule, the doctor keep his skeleton in some dark corner where it could not be seen, or hide it in a closet. After a time, people began to suspect every doctor of hiding a skeleton in the closet. From this suspicion, the phrase"a skeleton in the closet"took on a broader, more general meaning: to describe anything that a man wanted to keep others from discovering. It could be proof of a criminal act, or something much less serious. Well, that is one theory. One writer, however, believes that the phrase might have come from something that really happened. It is his guess that a hidden closet in some old English country home may have turned up a real skeleton, clear proof of some old family shame or crime. Well, one man's guess is as good as another. But this sounds like a story by the great French novelist, Balzac. Balzac tells us of a man who suspected his wife of having a lover. The husband comes home by surprise. But she hears him and quickly hides her lover in the closet of her bedroom. He enters her room and asks her if she is hiding her lover. He says he will not open the door to the closet if she promises him there is no one there; He will believe her. She answers firmly that she is not hiding anyone in the closet. The husband then begins to build a solid brick wall against the closet. His wife watches, knowing that her lover will never come out alive. But she will not change her story and admit her guilt. Which of the following situations is now suitable for using the phrase "skeleton in the closet"? A. You have stolen something precious and hide them in the closet. B. You are a doctor and have to keep a skeleton for research. C. If you have cut open a dead human body for scientific examination you should keep the skeleton secret. D. You have done a crime or done something foolish, but you want to keep others from discovering it. Answer: D. You have done a crime or done something foolish, but you want to keep others from discovering it. Dear friends, My name is Tony. I am English. I am twelve years old this year. I am tall, and I am good at playing football. I am in Grade Seven. There are thirty boys and twenty girls in my class. We are learning Chinese in our school. Our Chinese teacher is Mr. Wu. He is a little short, but he is very strong. He is very nice to us. I have some good friends in my class. Tom is a tall boy with short black hair. He is good at playing football, too. Alice is short and she loves wearing red dresses. She is good at English. Mary has long hair. She can speak Japanese and she likes swimming. We all study hard. What about your school and your friends? Please write soon. Yours, Tony Who is Mr. Wu? A. He is Tony's English teacher. B. He is Tony's father. C. He is Tony's Chinese teacher. D. He is Tony's friend. Answer: C. He is Tony's Chinese teacher.
Nancy was new to America. She had an 8-year-old son. They found a house in New York. They were there for only two months when a neighbor's dog jumped into their yard. The dog ran toward Nancy's son. Nancy put her body in between the dog and her son. The dog stopped when it saw Nancy standing in front of it. She was going to hit it on the nose. The dog turned around. Shaking, Nancy took her son upstairs. They stayed in the house all the weekend. Then Nancy found another house. It was close to her son's school. She and her son walked everywhere. They found there was a park and a supermarket near the house. Nancy was very happy. Her son Tommy liked playing badminton, and he could practice in the park every morning. Who was Nancy with in America? Answer: Her son. Everyone knows we must exercise regularly to maintain good health. Indeed, staying physically fit is a big part of our culture. We consider (and rightly so) that healthy people are attractive people. Since most of us want to be attractive,there is no shortage of exercise clubs , training videos, magazines , and books offering to help us stay physically fit. . Unfortunately,however,our culture does not place the same emphasis on mental fitness. Although we admire and love men and women with strong and healthy-looking bodies, we don't have the same degree of respect or attraction for smart, educated and mentally healthy people. This is a shame, because there are immense rewards for people who have developed the ability to think well. If your mind is well trained and flexible , you will be able to understand a great deal of what happens around you. And if you are also well educated---that is,if you understand basic science, mathematics, music, art, literature, history and so on---you will find it much easier to make good decisions throughout your life. Over the long run, _ leads to a sense of control over your destiny and a much better life than otherwise. People who are poorly educated or who don't think well--- that is,people who are not mentally fit see things differently. Their world is controlled by mysterious, but often malevolent forces. Such people live within a system they will never master, forced to follow the rules they will never understand. Although it may not be obvious , most people spend their lives being manipulated by others. They are told what to do , what to think, how to spend their money , and what they should and should not aspire to in life. In my opinion, if you want to live well, you must be able to use your mind wel1. For this reason, I want you to be able to concentrate, solve problem, understand complex ideas, and think clearly and quickly. Such skills will make it easier for you to make informed decisions,understand current events,choose good friends, manage your money well, make wise long-term decisions, and appreciate music , art and literature. The key to developing such skills is to enjoy learning, and to have the ability and motivation to teach yourself. The best title of the passage will most probably be _ . Answer: Train Your Mind You may have heard of the famous saying, "East or west, home is the best." What does the word "home" mean to you? How do you say the word in French? In Chinese? In your language? Although people usually know what the word means, it sometimes has no exact translation. It's not surprising, because the idea of home is " different from country to country and from person to person". A home is more than a roof and four walls. It's the cooking ,eating, talking, playing and sleeping that go on inside. And at home you usually feel safe and relaxed. Homes look different in different countries. They also have different things inside. For example, in cold northern Europe, there's a fire in the living room or kitchen and all the chairs face it, In the south, where the sun shines a lot and it's more important to keep the heat out, there are small windows and cool stone floors. We asked some people about their homes. How often do people move house in your country? " In my country many people don't stay in one place for a very long time. They often move every ten years or so." ------Cheryl, Boston, USA What are the features of homes in your country? " In Britain, even in town, there's always a garden. We have separate bedrooms and living rooms. But we don't often have balconies. The weather isn't warm enough!" ------Pat, Exeter, England According to the passage, at home, you can do everything except _ . Answer: making friends in order to know a foreign language thoroughly , four things are necessary. Firstly, we must understand the language when we hear it spoken. secondly, we must be able to speak it ourselves, with confidence and without hesitation . Thirdly, we must do much reading. Finally, we must be able to write it. We must be able to make sentences that are correct in grammar. There are no shortcuts to succeed in language learning. A good memory is a great help, but it is not enough only to memorize the rules from a grammar book. it is not much learning by heart long lists ( ) of words and their meanings, studying the dictionary and so on. We must learn by using the language. If we are pleased with a few rules we have memorized, we are not really learning the language. We must "learn through use". Practice is important. We must practice speaking and writing the language whenever we can. Learn though use means _ . Answer: both b and c. Dear Mike, Thanks for your family photo. This is a photo of my family. I have a happy family. There are five people in my family. They are my grandmother, my parents, my sister and I. The old woman is my grandmother. The man is my father. His name is David. He is a teacher. And what about the woman? She is my mother. Her name is Linda. She is very nice. Look at the girl. That's my sister. She is in a middle school. Her name is Lucy.Do you know the boy ? It's me. Yours, Tony Is David the old woman's son? Answer: Yes, he is.

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