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Imagine you are in a jumping contest. Animals and insects can also enter this contest. But they might just leave humans in the dust! The first event is the long jump. The human athlete is Mike Powell. In 1991, he jumped nearly 30 feet, which is the world record for the long jump. That is about five times his own height. His competitor in the long-jump contest is a frog named "Rosie the Ribbiter." Rosie set the world record for frogs in 1986 by jumping more than 21 feet. Her record has never been broken by any other frog. Compared to Mike Powell, Rosie's jump is not that amazing. But wait! Rosie is only about 10 inches long when her legs are stretched to their full length. She can jump more than 25 times her size. Rosie, the frog, wins the long-jump event. The next event is the high jump. Javier Sotomayor, the world record holder, can jump a bar 8 feet high. That is about as high as the ceiling in most homes. Looking around for someone to challenge his record, Javier might need a magnifying glass . The next _ is a tiny insect called the spittlebug . The spittlebug can jump 28 inches into the air. It is only a quarter-inch long, less than the width of a pencil. If the spittlebug were the same size as Javier, it would be able to jump 600 feet into the air. That is like a human jumping over a building 55 stories high! Though the humans lose the "jumping contest," their competitors would probably agree that Mike and Javier are still pretty excellent athletes. If only Rosie and the spittlebug could speak! What can we learn about the spittlebug? Answer: Many people find themselves caught up in others' problems, and then confused about how and when to help. In fact, all relationships need limits no matter whether they are friendships, sibling relations, mates/ lovers or business relations. On some level, all limit setting means saying no. However, it is usually a qualified "no" that says what, where, when, and under what conditions you will give or not give to another person. There are three points we should keep in mind about limit setting: 1.Decide where to set the limits. Think about the entire situation. Consider your time, emotions, and means. Then consider whether you are helping the other person. Aim to do something to help the other person without taking on the whole problem. 2.Express the limits clearly. For example, you say to your friend, " I will lend you $20,000 no more than once every three months. And I expect you will pay me back within three months and certainly before you can borrow more." You say to another friend, "you can stay here for three weeks but you must help me with expenses and cooking and make sure that you will find your own place before the three weeks is up". 3.Stick to your limits. You are not responsible for making the other person obey the limits. You are only responsible for following the limits yourself. Your friend has repaid $12,500 of his/her $20,000 and asks for $20,000 more. You say no. He/She gets emotional and then says, "I need this money to cover a bad check. If you cared for our friendship, you would do it". Limit setting is often stressful and painful because people mistakes it for rejection. And limit setting certainly brings guilt. Bear in mind, it doesn't mean you have given up or quit loving your friend, lovers, or sibling. It does mean you are expressing that love in a different and more helpful (to both of you) manner. What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: The International Olympic Committee named a short list of five cities as possible hosts for the 2012 Olympics. The five--London, Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris--became official candidates, beginning a 14-month race that ended with the selection of a winning bid by the IOC's assembly in Singapore in July 2005. Havana, Leipzig, Rio de Janeiro and prefix = st1 /Istanbulwere the victims in 2004, as the field was cut down from nine applicants. Geography would appear to favor a European city after the 2008 Summer Games in Asia--Beijing and the 2010 Winter Games in North America--Vancouver. IOC president Jacques Rogge said the list could be further cut in the next month if any of the bidding cities fall short of IOC expectations. "What we have done today is retain five cities which we believe will deliver, but we will have to check if they do deliver," said Rogge. "I do not like the word 'rejection' and this in no way reflects that we do not trust these countries. " The nine original competitors launched their bids in January, 2004 with the emphasis on agreement and easily accessible venues . Favorites Paris and London promoted the attractions of their landmarks, Madrid promised an environmentally friendly Games while New Yorkcalled itself the "world city". Paris bid organizers said they would stage beach volleyball at the foot of the EiffelTowerand host many of the events at two clusters on the edge of the French capital. "Our experience with previous bids has taught us a great deal about the needs and aspirations of the IOC," Parisbid chief Philippe Baudillon said. "We firmly believe thatPariswill meet those needs." London organizers countered it by promising to hold the beach volleyball competition in Horse Guards Parade. Seventeen sports, including athletics and swimming, would be staged at a new venue in the city's deprived East End. "I am very pleased that Londonhas been named a candidate city for the 2012 Olympic Games. But I am not surprised we have cleared this most important hurdle," British Prime Minister Tony Blair said in a statement. Which would be the best title of the passage? Answer: Booker T. Washington was born in a black slave family in Virginia of the USA in 1856, seven years before slavery was abolished by Abraham Lincoln in January, 1863. He wrote a book about his life called Up From Slavery, which was published in 1901. In the book, he said that he had no choice but to work in a coal mine when he was 16 years old. He had no chance to go to school. He heard two coal miners talking about a school for black children which was called the Hampton Institute. He determined that he would go there. He gave up his job and told other members of his race that he was going to school across the state. The older people had spent their best years as slaves and were poor. However, some gave Booker some pocket money or a handkerchief. Hardly had anyone expected any of their race to leave home to attend a boarding school. He took a train to Richmond, Virginia, where he ran out of money. It was 82 miles from the Hampton Institute. He slept under a wooden sidewalk . He helped unload pigs and iron from a ship for some money and when he had enough, he continued his journey, arriving at school with 50 cents. This diligence pushed him to graduate and become a teacher at the Hampton Institute. When he was 25 years old, he was asked to start a new school for black children in Alabama. called the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute. Thirty-four years later, this school had 1,500 students and 200 teachers and Booker T. Washington became the most influential black leader of his generation. The older people didn't give Booker much money because _ . Answer: Today, as I was relaxing at the beach, I couldn't help but eavesdrop(,) on a conversation four high school kids were having on the beach blanket next to me. Their conversation was about making a positive difference in the world. And it went something like this... "It's impossible to make a difference unless you're a huge company or someone with lots of money and power," one of them said. "Yeah man," another replied. "My mom keeps telling me to move mountains - to speak up and stand up for what I believe. But what I say and do doesn't even get noticed. I just keep answering to 'the man' and then I get slapped back in place by him when I step out of line." "Repression..." another snickered. I smiled because I knew exactly how they felt. When I was their age, I was certain I was being repressed and couldn't possibly make a difference in this world. And I actually almost got fired from school once because I openly expressed how repressed I felt in the middle of the principals' office. I Have A Dream. Suddenly, one of the kids noticed me eavesdropping and smiling. He sat up, looked at me and said, "What? Do you disagree?" Then as he waited for a response, the other three kids turned around too. Rather than arguing with them, I took an old receipt out of my wallet , tore it into four pieces, and wrote a different word on each piece. Then I crumbled the pieces into little paper balls and handed a different piece to each one of them. "Look at the word on the paper I just gave you and don't show it to anyone else." The kids looked at the single word I had handed each of them and appeared confused. "You have two choices," I told them. "If your word inspired you to make a difference in this world, then hold onto it. If not, give it back to me so I can recycle the paper." They all returned their words. I walked over quickly , sat down on the sand next to their beach blanket and laid out the four words that the students had returned to me so that the words combined to form the simple sentence, "I have a dream." "Dude, that's Martin Luther King Jr.," one of the kids said. "How did you know that?" I asked. "Everyone knows Martin Luther King Jr." the kid snarled. "He has his own national holiday, and we all had to memorize his speech in school a few years ago." "Why do you think your teachers had you memorize his speech?" I asked. "I don't really care!" the kid replied. His three friends shook their heads in agreement. "What does this have to do with us and our situation?" "Your teachers asked you to memorize those words, just like thousands of teachers around the world have asked students to memorize those words, because they have inspired millions of repressed people to dream of a better world and take action to make their dreams come true. Do you see where I'm going with this?" "Man, I know exactly what you're trying to do and it's not going to work, alright?" the fourth kid said, who hadn't spoken a word until now. "We're not going to get all inspired and emotional about something some dude said thirty years ago. Our world is different now. And it's more screwed up than any us can even begin to imagine, and there's little you or I can do about it. We're too small, we're nobody." Together I smiled again because I once believed and used to say similar things. Then after holding the smile for a few seconds I said, "On their own, 'I' or 'have' or 'a' or 'dream' are just words. Not very compelling or inspiring. But when you put them together in a certain order, they create a phrase that has been powerful enough to move millions of people to take action - action that changed laws, perceptions, and lives. You don't need to be inspired or emotional to agree with this, do you?" The four kids shrugged and struggled to appear totally indifferent, but I could tell they were listening intently. "And what's true for words is also true for people," I continued. "One person without help from anyone else can't do much to make a big difference in this crazy world - or to overcome all of the various forms of repression that exist today. But when people get together and unite to form something more powerful and meaningful then themselves, the possibilities are endless. Which of the following can be the best title for the story? Answer:
Where is an igneous rock such as pumice most likely formed? near a volcano Two Christmas traditions have come under attack in recent years from environmentalists: Christmas cards and Christmas trees. Paper cards are seen as wasteful and, for some people, going card-free is another way of going green. They also argue that in a world of e-mail, Skype, Facebook and Twitter, people are in touch all the time anyway; they no longer need the yearly card that connects them with long lost friends. If you want to send Christmas greetings, there are free e-cards, which get the job done with no postage or wasted paper. However, especially for people who didn't grow up with e-mail, there is something missing from a Christmas e-mail. The first Christmas cards appeared in London in 1843 and were designed by the same man who had introduced the world's first postage stamp three years earlier. His name was Sir Henry Cole. They rose in popularity throughout the 20th century. Many people sent cards that were sold for charity. The most famous of these are the ones sold for UNICEF. In the UK this year, in the three weeks before Christmas, the post office expects to handle 100 million cards every day. Environmental awareness also means that nowadays many people recycle their cards; this helps raise money to plant more trees, as well as recreating more paper. When we think of trees at Christmas, there is one that immediately springs mind---the evergreen tree that people decorate with ornaments and place their presents under. The custom dates back almost a thousand years to Germany. Nowadays 33 to 36 million Christmas trees are produced in America and 50 to 60 million in Europe each year. Some trees are sold live with roots and soil so people can plant them later and reuse them next year. Some people prefer artificial trees as they are reusable and much cheaper than their natural alternative. However, environmentalists point out that they are made from petroleum products and so have many pollution issues. What is the main idea of the article? To explain the debate about some Christmas traditions. I had managed to sell all my papers and was coming home in the snow. It was that strange hour in New York when the workers were walking towards home in the evening. I recognized my father near Cooper Union, a frozen figure in an old overcoat standing by a banana cart . He looked so lonely; tears came to my eyes. Then he saw me, and his face lit with his sad, beautiful smile. "Arch," he said, "so you have sold your papers! Come and eat a banana." He offered me one, but I refused it. I felt it important that my father sell his bananas, not give them away. He thought I was shy, and joked with me, and made me eat the banana. It smelled of wet snow. "You haven't sold many bananas today, Dad," I said. "What can I do? No one seems to want them," Dad said. It was true. The crowds pushed home; the sky darkened over the New York buildings; the tall street lamps were lit; street cars and bikes went by. Nobody and nothing in the great city stopped for my father's bananas. "I ought to yell ," said my father sadly. "I ought to make a big noise like other peddlers , but it makes my throat sore. Anyway, I'm ashamed of yelling; it makes me feel like a fool." I had eaten one of his bananas. A voice deep down told me that I ought to pay for it somehow. I must remain here and help my father. "I'll yell for you, Dad," I volunteered. "Arch, no," he said, "go home; you have worked enough today. Just tell momma I'll be late." But I yelled and yelled. My father, standing by, spoke words of praise, and said I was a wonderful yeller. However, nobody else paid attention; nobody listened and came to buy our bananas. My father tried to stop me at last. He said, "That was wonderful yelling, Arch. But it's just we are unlucky today! Let's go home." I insisted on keeping up my yells. But at last my father persuaded me to leave with him. Which of the following can NOT be used to describe the son? Shy. Growing up too fast Rebecca Turner felt "bombarded " by pressures to grow up quickly during her teenage years.The 18yearold British girl felt she had to be thin and attractive,have a boyfriend and appear popular. Rebecca is not alone.According to a study published last Thursday,more than 1 million children in the UK have disorders ranging from depression,anxiety and anorexia to violent crime. The research,carried out by The Children's Society,has found bingedrinking ,increased availability of drugs,family breakdown and pressure to look fashionable and attractive are contributing to these mentally health problems. The study also suggested that there is huge pressure from social networking sites such as MySpace.Whereas in the past teenagers might have had a close group of friends,they are now being given the message that they are not a whole person unless they have 392 friends online. "These pressure is to appear sophisticated .Any embarrassing minor mistake a child makes at school can be spread around the world on the Internet," said Michele Elliott,of the child protection charity,Kidscape. Which of the following CANNOT be inferred from the passage? There are many more violent crimes in the UK than ever. Once there were two brothers. They were very good to each other. They were half brothers because the elder brother's mother was dead, and then his father married again. The stepmother was not kind to the elder brother, but the younger brother loved him and often helped him. One day, the mother gave each of the brothers a box of seeds and enough food for a few days. She said to them, "Take them. Go and plant them. One of you must plant them on the east hill, and the other on the west hill. Don't come back if the seeds don't come out. " The mother gave very bad seeds to the elder brother, but the two brothers didn't know this, and set out the next morning. When they came to a bridge, they sat down to rest. After that, they got up to say good-bye to each other, but they took the wrong boxes of seeds! Ten days later, the elder brother's seeds began to grow and he came back. But the younger brother did not return home because his seeds didn't grow. At last, he died on the hill. ,. (10) The mother asked the two brothers to _ . plant the seeds on two hills
"Please take my penny," said Maggie to old Dan, the fisherman, who sat on a bench repairing his nets. Her brother Andrew drew her back, whispering, "Maggie, he is not a beggar !" But Maggie paid no attention. "Please take it," she said again. Old Dan smiled, and took it. "Thank you, little miss," he said, "It is kindly meant." After that, Maggie went to the beach to gather shells. She never thought how fast the hours were passing until being tired, she sat down on a rock beside a little pool. Soon she was scared by a noise near her, and Dan's large dog Rover jumped down from a rock! He licked her hands and made a loud noise, and then began gently to pull her coat. "Rover wishes me to come away, I see," she said, and she rose from the rock and began to go home. However, that was not so easy as she had expected. She found the places she had gone down easily very difficult to climb up, and as the tide had been coming in for some time. She found some of the stones wet and smooth. What could poor Maggie do? She felt sad and cried, but the waves made a much louder noise than she could make, and perhaps she would have been drowned without good wise Rover. Rover jumped upon a big stone and raised his loud bark until even the waves could not drown it. The fisherman had taken his nets to the top of the cliffs , and was laying them out in the sun when he heard the loud barking of a dog. He felt sure that it was Rover, and Rover in trouble, so, going to the edge of the cliffs, he looked over. There he saw it all--Rover barking for help, and the little child standing beside him. "Bless her! It is the little one that was so kind-spoken to me this morning!" he cried, and he hurried to his sons' home. "Quick, boys, quick!" he said. "Get to the boat, and row fast to the bay . There is a poor child there just waiting to be drowned." The fishermen lost no time, and soon little Maggie and Rover were rowed safely to land! Old Dan was waiting there to lift her out, and give her into her mother's arms. "It was the penny that did it, madam," he said to Mrs. Weston later. "I saw Rover looking at her when she put the penny so kind-like into my hand--just as if he would have said, 'Rover will be your friend now, little girl.' And I am thinking he had been looking after her all the day, for he never came near me after that." Some years later, Rover came to Maggie's home with a little note, in which was written-- "Will Maggie help Rover?--his master is dead." What can we learn from the passage? Answer: In the last few years the Internet has become a widespread phenomenon around the world. People have started to use the computers just like they used to watch TV. Whenever we get hungry, we simply order a pizza through the Internet and while we are waiting for the food, we can send an important business e-mail concerning some sales for tomorrow. It is, in fact, very comfortable to just simply sit down and have a chat with somebody from South Africa about fishing and get some important advice. Sometimes when you are sad and are feeling lonely, if you go on the Internet, you can find good entertainment that will keep you busy. To make a long story short, we just don't have the time to communicate with people in person anymore. Besides, there is so much information easy to get on the Internet that when we start surfing, we find it hard for us to get away from the computer. There are a lot of people who are addicted to TV and watch it 5 to 7 hours a day, while recently addiction to the Internet has become a very serious problem. You might think that these kinds of things could never happen to you, but it is not really true. To prevent yourself from getting addicted, the most important thing is to make sure that you are not spending too much time in front of the screen. Although it might seem to be easy to pull yourself away from the Web, it is simply not the case. You might have to make an effort to place some limits on yourself. To avoid getting addicted to the Internet, we should _ . Answer: Joker found one of the biggest diamonds in the world in his own back yard. He sold the stone to a diamond dealer for over three hundred thousand dollars. In New York, the diamond was resold. This time for almost eight hundred thousand dollars. The true value of a diamond is never known until it has been cut. Once cut successfully, its value can increase a thousand times. It's easy to understand why the owner of the Joker diamond went to the best diamond cutter he knew, Kaplan. The cutter studied the diamond for twelve whole months. When he felt he was ready to start work, he discovered a flaw . He had to begin with his calculations all over again, or he might have made the stone useless. Six more months passed, and Kaplan finally said to the owner, "I m ready to start my work. There will be one excellent diamond that be comparable to any in the world, plus eleven small diamonds of first-class quality." Kaplan waited a few more days until be felt he was in the best physical and mental condition possible. He picked up his tools and held his breath as he made the first blow. The diamond split exactly as he promised. The owner of the diamond thought that if the diamond was cut successfully it might be worth _ . Answer: Modern society cannot well do without the contribution that women can make in the professions and other kinds of work. There is a serious shortage of nurses and teachers, to mention only two of the occupations followed by women. It is a waste to give years of training at public expense only to have the qualified teacher or nurse marry after a year or two and be lost forever to her profession. The training, it is true, will help her in her duties as a mother, but if she continued to work, her service would be more widely useful. Many factories and shops, too, are largely staffed by women, many of them married. While here the question of training is not so important, industry and trade would be seriously short of staff if married women did not work. We can see then that there are good reasons for regarding it as desirable that married women should have some occupation outside the home. However, there are serious objections. Schools do not keep children occupied the whole day and school holidays are long. The mother's working day will almost certainly end well after the school day and her holiday will not begin at the same time as her children's. There will be therefore a period when children are not taken care of unless a substitute for the mother can be found, or unless it becomes more generally possible for women to work part-time. There seem to be some grounds for believing that there is more bad behavior among the children of working mothers than among those of mothers who stay at home, but more evidence is required before we can be certain of this. What we can be certain of, however, is that many more will continue to do so. According to the writer, one possible way for the children of working mothers to be attended to is that _ . Answer: It's time for our clothing sale. We only have this sale once a year. This year, prices are lower than ever, but the quality of our clothes is the same. How much are our blue pants? They're only twelve dollars. How much are our swimsuits? This week, you can buy one for only fourteen dollars. And what's the price of our T-shirt? Only eight dollars each! Or, you can buy two for fifteen dollars. And we have them in all colors: red, yellow, blue and green. Do you like Mango sweatshirts? This week, you can buy them for eighteen dollars. And our sports bags are only twelve dollars----that's right, twelve dollars only. Come to the Blue Water Surf Shop now. The sale starts today. This article is _ . Answer:
Which change in the environment would have a negative effect on the survival of a species in an ecosystem? Answer: introduction of a competing species Animals the exemplify relationship behaviors are Answer: killdeer Of all the websites,one that has attracted attention recently is _ .Most of this attention has come from the media and tells every reason why the website should be shut down.The threat of internet predators is indeed a tough reality,but shutting down the site is not the answer.If _ were shut down,another site would quickly take its place.Therefore,the right way is to teach teens how to use the site safely and educate them about who may be predators and how to avoid them. The key to staying safe on the Internet is to make sure that your profile is secure.The simplest way is to change the privacy setting on your profile to "private", which protects your information so that only the people on your friend list can view it.Although this is effective,it is not perfect.Predators can find ways to view your profile if they really want to,whether through hacking in or figuring out their way onto your friend list.Thus,you should never post too much personal information.Some people actually post their home and school addresses,date of birth,and other personal information, often letting predators know exactly where they will be and when.The most information that is safe is your first name and province.Anything more is basically inviting a predator into your life. Another big issue is photos. I suggest completely skipping photos and never posting a photo of a friend online without asking permission. Most importantly, never,under any circumstances,agree to a real-life meeting with anyone you meet online.No matter how well you think you know this person, there are no guarantees that they have told the truth.But you could feel free to chat with people you meet on the site, but just remember that not everyone is who they say they are.Hopefully,the next time you edit your profile,you'll be more informed about the dangers of internet predators and take the steps to defend yourself. Kids can avoid web predators successfully by_. Answer: recognizing and getting away from them What goes to a place that has a negative impact on the environment? Answer: garbage trucks The success of Pickwick Papers made Dickens very popular. He suddenly found himself at twenty-four the most famous novelist of his day. Busy as his social life was, he worked on two novels at the same time-Oliver Twist and Pickwick Papers. He was particularly proud of Pickwick Papers, which was a huge success and was regarded as a comic masterpiece . "If I were to live a hundred years and write novels in each, I should never be so proud of any of them as I am proud of Pickwick Papers," he said. It has been said of Dickens that he grasped the imagination of' his readers because his imagination grasped himself. The people in his works were so real that they could make him laugh or cry. When writing Oliver Twist he said that he could not rest until Fagin, the wrongdoer , had been hanged. Dickens' marriage to Catherine Hagarth, with whom he had nine children, ended unhappily in 1858. He started to travel about giving readings of his works. His interest in theater gave his novels the qualities that made them suitable for reading aloud on the stage. A tiring trip to the United States affected his health. On June 9th, 1870, when he was working on a new novel, he died. Dickens had always wanted to die of working. According to this passage, we know that Dickens _ . Answer: didn't think he could write a better novel than Pickwick Papers in his life
In her new book, "The Smartest Kids in the World," Amanda Ripley, an investigative journalist, tells the story of Tom, a high-school student from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, who decides to spend his senior year in Warsaw, Poland. Poland is a surprising educational success story: in the past decade, the country raised students' test scores from significantly below average to well above it. Polish kids have now outscored(......) American kids in math and science, even though Poland spends, on average, less than half as much per student as the United States does. One of the most striking differences between the high school Tom attended in Gettysburg and the one he ends up at in Warsaw is that the latter has no football team, or, for that matter, teams of any kind. That American high schools lavish more time and money on sports than on math is an old complaint. This is not a matter of how any given student who plays sports does in school, but of the culture and its priorities. This December, when the latest Program for International Student Assessment(PISA) results are announced, it's safe to predict that American high-school students will once again display their limited skills in math and reading, outscored not just by students in Poland but also by students in places like South Korea, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Singapore, and Japan. Meanwhile, they will have played some very exciting football games, which will have been breathlessly written up in their hometown papers. Why does this situation continue? Well, for one thing, kids like it. And for another, according to Ripley, parents seem to like the arrangement, too. She describes a tour she took of a school in Washington D.C., which costs thirty thousand dollars a year. The tour leader--a mother with three children in the school--was asked about the school's flaws . When she said that the math program was weak, none of the parents taking the tour reacted. When she said that the football program was weak, the parents suddenly became concerned. "Really?" one of them asked worriedly, "What do you mean?" One of the ironies of the situation is that sports reveal what is possible. The purpose of this article is to _ . A draw public attention to a weakness in American school tradition B call on American schools to learn from the Polish model C compare Polish schools with those in America D explain what is wrong with American schools and provide solutions Answer: A Which statement about photosynthesis and respiration is true? A Photosynthesis stores energy and respiration releases energy. B Respiration stores energy and photosynthesis releases energy. C Photosynthesis and respiration are the same process. D Photosynthesis and respiration do not have anything to do with energy. Answer: A Jack woke up on a Saturday morning. He got out of bed and went to the bathroom, and brushed his teeth. He put on his clothes and walked to the kitchen. Jack had a few choices to pick for breakfast. He could choose between an apple, pear, cereal or eggs. He picked an apple to eat for breakfast. After his breakfast, he turned on the TV to find something to watch. He could watch sports, the news, the weather or a cooking show. He chose to watch the weather. The reporter said fall was coming but that the weather was getting warmer instead of cooler. He turned off the TV and went outside to the backyard. Jack wanted to make some hot dogs for lunch the next day. He went to the store to get hot dogs, mustard, and ketchup. After coming back home from the store, Jack made lunch. After lunch, he found that he needed to do some cleaning. He started cleaning the kitchen and moved on to the living room. When did Jack make hot dogs? A next week B today C Sunday D Saturday Answer: C Today, traditional opinions about men still exist. A man has to be strong, brave, sports loving and manly. Anything less would not be considered manly. Sports such as football, basketball and boxing all tend to be men's sports. However, the dance of ballet is considered _ because it requires nice movements. This tradition is shown in the movie, Billy Elliot. Billy Elliot is a movie that protests against this traditional view of men. Billy Elliot is an eleven-year-old boy that has a natural talent for ballet dancing, but his father will not allow it. Billy's father wants him to take up boxing and become stronger, but Billy goes against his father's wishes and takes up ballet dancing. This difference of opinion makes Billy sad. What's more, his friends also laugh at him. After saving enough money, his father sends Billy to a weekly boxing course; however, Billy doesn't enjoy boxing because he always loses in matches and is often hurt. His ballet teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson thinks that men or women should not be judged by the activities they like to do, so she tells Billy's father that although he wants his son to make a good living, he should let his son do what he loves to do because he has a talent for it. When his father finally realizes the truth, Billy is surprised. In the end, with the help of his father, brother and all the people around him, Billy goes to the Royal Ballet Academy in London and becomes a very successful ballet dancer. From Billy's story, we can see that _ . A children should accept their parents' opinions B we should try to fight against traditional opinions C men and women play different sports D parents should let their children do what they are interested in Answer: D Trees should only be pruned when there is a good and clear reason for doing so and , he number of such reasons is small . Pruning involves the cutting away of overgrown and unwanted branches , and the inexperienced gardener can be encouraged by the thought that more damage results from doing it unnecessarily than from leaving the tree to grow in its own way . First , pruning may be done to make sure that trees have desired shape or size . The object may be to get a tree of the right height , and at the same time to help the growth of small side branches , which will thicken its appearance or give it a special shape . Secondly , pruning may be done to make the tree healthier . You may cut out diseased or dead wood , or branches that are rubbing against each other and thus cause wounds . The health of a tree may be encouraged by removing branches that are blocking up the center and so preventing the free movement of air . One result of pruning is that an open wound is left on the tree and this provides an easy entry for disease , but it is a wound that will heal . Often there is a race between the healing and the disease as to whether the tree will live or die , so that there is a period when the tree is at risk . It should be the aim of every gardener to reduce that risk of death as far as possible . It is important to make the area , which has been pruned , smooth and clean , for healing will be slowed down by roughness . You should allow the cut surface to dry for a few hours and then paint it with one of the materials available from garden shops produced especially for this purpose . Pruning is usually done in winter , for then you can see the shape of the tree clearly without interference from the leaves and also it is very unlikely that the cuts you make will bleed . If this does happen , it is , of course , impossible to paint them properly . Trees become unhealthy if the gardener_. A To help a wound to dry . B To cover a rough surface . C damages some of the small side branches D Allows too many branches to grow in the middle Answer: D
I first went to Harrow in the summer term. The school had the biggest swimming pool I had ever seen. It was a good joke to come up behind a naked boy, and push him into the pool. I made quite a habit of this with boys of my own size or less. One day I saw a boy wrapped in a towel on the side of the pool. He was no bigger than I was, so I thought him _ . Coming secretly behind, I pushed him in, holding on to his towel so that it would not get wet, I was surprised to see an angry face come out from the water, and a being of great strength masking its way by face strokes to the shore. I fled, but in vain. He overtook me, seized me violently, and threw me into the deepest part of the pool. I soon climbed out on the other side, and found myself surrounded by a crowd of younger boys." Do you know what you have done?" they said, "It's Amery; he is in Grade Six. He is champion at gym; he has got his football honor." I was frightened and felt ashamed. How could I tell his position when be was wrapped in a bath towel and so small." He didn't seem pleased at all, so I added in a most brilliant word," My father, who is a great man, is also small." At this be laughed, and after some general words about my rude behavior and how I had better be careful in the future, signified the incident was closed. By saying "My father, who is a great man, is also small", the writer . tried to please Amery A mother wanted to encourage her son to play the piano. She bought tickets to the concert of a great pianist. When they arrived at the theater, the mother found a friend. Sbe stopped to talk to ber friend and her son ran off. At eight o'clock'the lights began to dim ,and the concert was set to start. The mother began to look for the boy. Then, she saw her 6-year-old son on stage. He was on the piano bench playing Twinkle, Twinkle little star. The mother was very shocked. Before she could get her son back, the famous pianist himself was on the stage and quickly moved to the piano. "Don't stop. Keep playing," he said kindly to the boy. The great pianist reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass of the song. Soon, his right arm reached around the other side and played a beautiful piece of music. Together, the two impressed people with their beautiful music. In all of our lives, we receive helping hands- some we notice, some we don't. We also have Iots of chances to give helping hands- sometimes we want people to know, sometimes we don't. Little of what we all achieve comes without other's help. What we receive we should give back When the mother found her son playing on stage, she felt _ . surprised In Britain, people usually begin their talks with weather. For example, they will say"It's a fine day, isn't it?""Do you think it will rain?" Many people believe that they are able to tell what the weather will be like. But they never agree with each other. One man may say, "How cloudy it is now! It's going to rain." Another man will say, "No, it's going to be fine later." People always hope the weather they want. For example, when a farmer needs water, he looks for something to tell him it's going to rain. When a man wants to travel, he is sure the weather will be fine quickly. Now almost everyone listens to the weather report. It doesn't always tell us the weather we want, it only tells us what the weather will be like. But sometimes it makes mistakes . ,. The weather report is _ right. not always In Germany ,about 70% people like reading. They often read .They read in their homes. They read in libraries. They read in their schools. They also read in hospitals .Parents often read books for their kids. You can buy all kinds of books in Germany. There are many bookstores there. A bookstore can sell many books every day. People also like to buy books on the Internet now. In Germany ,people often have reading parties. They are happy at the parties. But you must follow the rules at the parties. For example, don't arrive late for the parties. Don't eat at the parties. Don't listen to music at the parties. Don't talk at the parties. Who often reads books for the kids according to the passage? their parents Dick was driving a large American car. As soon as the race started, he pulled out in front. As the race went on, he kept the first place. And he was far ahead of Wilson, the man in the second place. When the race was almost over, some people stood up and left. "Why did stay?" they thought. They were sure they knew who would win. But things did not go as they thought. A strange noise came from Dick's car. It slowed down. Something was wrong. Dick knew his car would not go far. His only hope was that he would make it to the finish. But on his last lap , the car stopped. Wilson's car roared by. Dick saw it go by. He knew he could not win now. "But I can finish the race," he thought. And he got out of his car. So did his assistant. They began to push the car to the finish. Wilson went by them again and again. He was on his last lap. He was going to win. Dick and his friend did not care. They went on pushing. At first, all eyes were on Wilson. He crossed the line. And the race was over. He won! Dick and his friend pushed on. At last, the car crossed the line. By then all the people shouted for them. They shouted more than they did for Wilson. This was a different kind of winner! What can we learn from the passage? People should always keep trying.
Are you a bit bored with your nine-to-five routine? Have a look at our exciting range of holidays and decide what type of adventure you'd like. Activity holidays Our activity holidays are for everyone who loves danger. We have a huge of water, snow and desert holidays. We'll take you scuba diving in the Red Sea of kayaking and white water rafting in Canada. If you prefer snow, you can try skiing or snowboarding in the Alps or even igloo-building( ).For those who like warm weather, we also have sand boarding(the desert version of skateboarding) or camel safaris. Polar expeditions Take a cruise to the Antarctic or the Arctic; explore a land of white nature beauty or wonderful wildlife. Our experts will explain everything about the two poles as you watch penguins or whales in the Antarctic and polar bears in the Arctic. There's no greater adventure than traveling to the two ends of the earth. Culture journeys Our culture journeys will help you discover the secrets of distant places such as India, Thailand or Egypt. Explore their history by visiting temples, palaces and ancient ruins. You can also get to know how people live in the modem world by exploring markets, eating exotic foods and meeting local people. Hiking tours We have hiking holidays to famous places, such as Machu Picchu or the Everest Base Camp Trek,as well as some nearer to home, for example in the highlands of Scotland. You don't need to be too sporty, just fairly fit. You'll have a great time enjoying nature with a group of new friends. Some of the holidays need camping, but we'll transport the tents for you! Wildlife holidays We organize small group tours to get closer to nature in Africa, Asia or South Africa. Go on safari in Africa and watch lions and giraffes. Meet the famous turtles of Galapagos Islands. Look for tigers in India, or take an elephant safari in Sri Lanka. We use local guides and stay in a range of accommodation, from tents to tree houses. According to the passage, can make you experience the most adventurous holiday. Answer: polar expeditions Scientists have long puzzled over how iguanas, a group of lizards mostly found in the Americas, came to live in the isolated Pacific islands of Fiji and Tonga. Some scientists used to suppose that they must have traveled there on a raft, a journey of around 5,000 miles from South America to the islands. There are documented cases of iguanas reaching remote Caribbean islands and the Galapagos Islands on floating logs. But new research in January by Brice Noonan and Jack Sites suggested that iguanas may have simply walked to Fiji and Tonga when the islands were still a part of an ancient southern supercontinent. The ancient supercontinent was made up of present-day Africa, Australia, Antarctica and parts of Asia. If that's the case, the island species would need to be very old. Using "molecular clock" analysis of living iguanas' DNA, Noonan and Sites found that, sure enough, _ has been around for more than 60 million years--easily old enough to have been in the area when the islands were still connected by land bridges to Asia or Australia. Fossils uncovered in Mongolia suggest that iguanid ancestors did once live in Asia. Though there's currently no fossil evidence of iguanas in Australia, that doesn't necessarily mean they were never there. "The fossil record of this continent is surprisingly poor and cannot be taken as evidence of true absence," the authors write. So if the iguanas simply walked to Fiji and Tonga from Asia or possibly Australia, why are they not also found on the rest of the Pacific islands? Noonan and Sites say fossil evidence suggests that iguana species did once inhabit other islands, but went extinct right around the time when humans settled in those islands. But Fiji and Tonga have a much shorter history of human presence, which may have helped the iguanas living there to escape extinction. The researchers say that their study can't completely rule out the rafting theory, but it does make the land bridge theory "far more reasonable than previously thought." What is the main topic of this passage? Answer: By raft or by land -- how did iguanas reach the tiny Pacific islands? Nowadays many people have to work very hard in order to live a better life. And the hard they work, the less they pay attention to their health. But it's very important for us to keep healthy in our everyday life. Here are some ways for you to follow. First, you should have a healthy diet. It's necessary to eat enough fish and vegetables, as they contain many kinds of vitamin you need every day. Do not eat too much fat, such as butter or anything too fatty. Too many sweets can do harm to your teeth, so you'd better not eat too many sweets or chocolates and keep off coffee. Second, good habits can help you keep fit. Doing regular exercise is certainly a good way to ensure that your body is healthy. After a day's work, an eight-hour sleep is needed. And avoid working or studying too hard. Eating too many _ can do harm to your teeth. Answer: sweets Last Saturday was the best day of Timmy's summer. After waking up at nine and turning on his lamp, Timmy ran downstairs, counting the steps as he always did. There were always seven. At the bottom, he jumped over his dog Lucky who was licking himself clean. Timmy took a bite of toast and a sip of the orange juice his mom Suzie had left on the table for him before running outside to check the mail. Before he made it down the steps, he almost tripped on a big package waiting for him. It was here! Timmy's birthday present from his grandmother Betty had arrived. He brought it into the kitchen, where his dad Ryan was waiting for him with a grin on his face. As Timmy tore into the package, he found the greatest present he could have asked for. It was a huge water gun! Timmy immediately filled it up and ran outside to begin playing. His neighbor Maeby came outside with her water hose after eating her sandwich and the two got in a water fight! Soon, Timmy's dad came outside to play too! He brought 11 water balloons. Soon all five of Timmy's friends were playing in the water with each other. Timmy's water gun was the best toy out there. It worked by winding up the handle before firing the water. Soon it was evening and Timmy's dad was firing up the grill to cook hotdogs and hamburgers for Timmy's friends and their families. What was in Timmy's package? Answer: A water gun An explosion on Thursday killed one and injured 21 in a busy street in Tongren, Southwest China's Guizhou Province. The bomb was hidden in a rubbish bin in the city's commercial hub ,where lots of shops and restaurants are concentrated. The ear-splitting blast was heard around 12:50 p.m.,said a local newspaper, citing witnesses. The power of the blast shattered nearby shop windows and ripped the stainless steel rubbish can to pieces. One passer-by,identified only as Zhang,said she was shocked by the noise and saw a lot of pedestrians lying on the ground when she got to the scene. Thirteen of the injured were taken to a local hospital after the explosion. A doctor there said five were in serious condition but already out of danger after emergency treatment. The others were just slightly hurt. "The cause of the explosion is still unknown", said an officer with the Tongren police, but refused to speculate as to the cause. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . Answer: All the injured were not taken to a hospital
Call it proof of how carefully students court college admissions offices these days :thank-you notes have become the new trend . Tank the one that came with M &Ms to match Lehigh University's school color1s of brown and white ,and with the applicant's name inscribed on the candy .She thanked officials for her interview adding ,"Keep me on the tip of your tongue when reviewing applications ." Leon Washington ,the dean of admissions and financial aid at Lehigh ,said that Lehigh received 50or 60 thank-you notes in just one day last week ,The notes are directed not just to admission officers ,but also to college tour guide and alumni who are often the ones conducting college interviews these days . Parents also _ the act ,such as the couple that thanked Mr. O'Cain of Furman for a "most positive "campus visit .Then they put in a plug for their son ,saying that he had always been " a high achiever and a hard worker "and that they knew Furman would be just the place to "help him reach his potential " At other campuses ,like Williams College and Princeton ,the motes go into applicants' files "Is it necessary to write a thank -you note ?"said Janet Rapelye ,dean of admissions at Princeton "No ,in and of itself .it's not going to change a decision ,But I'm still in favor of them ,Expressing gratitude is a lovely quality " Sometimes they are lovely .Carolyn Lawrence in California ,who advises students and their parents on college admissions ,recalls a note she received from a student admitted early to her first-choice college ,It came on a postcard of the Eiffel Tower ,It said : "I spent my spring break ----- a) on last -minute college visits b) in a month-long anxiety attack waiting to her back from colleges c) vacationing in Paris with my family and being forever grateful to Carolyn Lawrence for her help The answer is C. Thank you " From the first and last examples of thank-you notes ,we can see that _ Answer: students took care writing and designing them I study in the No.5 Middle school. It is a big and nice school. In the school there are more than one hundred teachers and about 2000 students. They all walk very hard. I am in Class 8,Grade One. There are 35 girls and 36 boys in my class. Our classroom is very big and bright. There are four windows in the wall of the classroom. They are very big. On the back wall there is a map of China. On the front wall there is a map of China. In the front of the blackboard there is a big desk. It's for our teachers. In the classroom there are seventy-one desks and chairs. All the desks and chairs in it are new. We go to school at seven in the morning. Classes begin at half past seven. We have eight lessons a day. We study Chinese, English ,maths and other lessons. All of us like English very much. Some are very good at it. In the afternoon we have sports. At six o'clock we go home. In the evening we often do our homework. Sometimes we watch TV. The big desk in front of the blackboard is for _ Answer: the teachers Strawberry fields dotted with hunched-over workers picking and packaging, then pushing the delicate red fruit to waiting trucks -- it is a typical winter scene embedded in the patchwork of homes and farms that make up eastern Hillsborough County. That scene is changing, though, as the labor pool shrinks and technology comes knocking. Wish Farms owner Gary Wishnatzki and his engineer partner Bob Pitzer are banking on technology. As strawberry season wrapped up in February, their driverless strawberry-picking machine drove into the fields for some test runs. The results were impressive and enlightening , Wishnatzki said. For some three years now, farmers have been forced to abandon millions of dollars worth of strawberries in fields, mostly in Hillsborough and Manatee counties, because they lacked laborers, industry experts say. The problem has been just as serious in California, Arizona and other farm communities. The reasons for the shrinking worker pool are numerous. Migrant workers who have picked the fields for years are aging. Young adults in migrant families already in the United States are getting better educations and have more choices these days, including the construction industry, which again is on the upswing. Stricter security is allowing fewer undocumented workers to cross the border from Mexico. And Mexicans are having much smaller families now -- just over two children per family, compared with 7.3 per family in 1960, according to a Pew Hispanic Center report released in 2012. And since Mexico's economy bounced back faster than that of the U.S., more Mexicans have been able to find work closer to home, according to the study. "We came up with a concept we perceive as a necessity," Wishnatzki said. "The labor pool has been shrinking for over 10 years now. It has been pretty harmful." So in 2012, he and Pitzer formed their partnership, Harvest CROO Robotics, to develop a mechanical picker. The Harvest CROO design has multiple picking heads that will move across a field, picking 25 acres over a three-day period, the typical time for picking fruit as it ripens. It has a "vision system" to distinguish between red and green strawberries and is able to get under the leaves to find and pick the ripe berries. Picking strawberries is nothing like using a combine on a corn field, coming through and thrashing down the plants. Strawberries are delicate and ripen in various intervals, which Harvest CROO is taking into account in developing its machine. A strawberry-picking machine will never completely replace the need for human labor in the fields, Wishnatzki said, but if the machines can supplement labor enough to keep the industry profitable, he and Pitzer will have met their goal. The mechanical picker is introduced due to _ . Answer: the labor shortage Jason had been watching the X Games on TV. Athletes from all over the world were competing in the most amazing sports. Just then his grandmother walked into the room. "I want to be extreme. Would you really let me do that? You always worry about my safety!" said Jason. "You will have to follow some rules," said his grandmother. "You can only ride in the park -- never on the streets. You have to promise to wear a helmet . If you hurt yourself too much, I have the right to take your skateboard away. Is it a deal?" "You bet!" Jason was so excited that he jumped off the sofa. A week later he had a board and a helmet. On Saturday, his grandmother dropped him off near the park. He was happy to have a grandmother who let him try new things. Kids in the park were moving quickly up and down the ramps . They flew into the air and landed as easily as birds. When he watched the X games, Jason felt like he was doing the tricks himself. But watching these kids up close, he knew that none of it was going to be easy. He felt a little bit scared. Very slowly he carried his board to the ramp. Taking a deep breath, he put his right foot on the board. He kicked off with his left foot. For a few seconds he glided along, just waiting to fall. Then he came to a stop. Kicking off again, he waited for the worst to happen. Again, he stayed up. The third time he kicked, lost his balance, and fell hard on his left knee. It hurt, but it was no big deal! Why had he been so scared? Now he felt calm because things had gone wrong, and he was fine! Next time he kicked off harder and went fast and farther. "Excellent!" said a girl as she passed him. "Extreme!" laughed Jason to himself. "Not quite." Jason jumped off the sofa because _ . Answer: he was allowed to go skateboarding No one knows exactly how many disabled people there are in the world,but estimates suggest the figure is over 450 million.The number of disabled people in India alone is probably more than double the total population of Canada. In the United Kingdom,about one in ten people have some disability.Disability is not just something that happens to other people:as we get older,many of us will become less mobile,hard of hearing or have failing eyesight. Disablement can take many forms and occur at any time of life.Some people are born with disabilities.Many others become disabled as they get older.There are many progressive disabling diseases.The longer time goes on,the worse they become. Some people are disabled in accidents.Many others may have a period of disability in the form of a mental illness.All are affected by people's attitude towards them. Disabled people face many physical barriers.Next time you go shopping or to work or visit friends,imagine how you would manage if you could not get up steps,or onto buses and trains.How would you cope if you could not see where you were going or could not hear the traffic?But there are other barriers:prejudice can be even harder to break down and ignorance represents the greatest barrier of a11.It is almost impossible for the able-bodied to fully appreciate what the severely disabled go through,so it is important to draw attention to these barriers and show that it is the individual person and their ability,not their disability,that _ . Which of the following statements is NOT true? _ . Answer: the disabled prefer to be ignored by the able-bodied
The US first lady Michlle Obama is among the world's 100 most powerful women in a list topped by German premier Angela Merkel for four years in a row, according to a Forbes ranking released on 19 August. Michelle Obama at No.40, coming in ahead of Talk Show host Oprah Winfrey at 41 and Britain's Queen Elizabeth at 42. Sheila Bair, chair of the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, which insures bank deposits, remained No.2 after debuting on the Forbes list last year. She has gained increased fame as the US recession lasts. The list is based on factors such as politics and economic impact ,media reach and career accomplishments. The chief executives of Dupont and Sunoco are new to the top 10, replacing the Xerox Cop. Chair, who dropped to No. 15, and the former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who fell off the list after leaving office in January. Rice's successor, Hillary Clinton, came in at No.36,dropping from No.28 last year when her presidential bid made her the woman with the highest public profile on the list. Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US House of Representatives, retained No.35. "Woman in power are rising to leadership positions in business, government and philanthropy by making daring and unconventional moves," Forbes said. "Gone are the days of women feeling they have to stick with one employer and patiently wait for promotions." "Highly ambitious women are moving across companies and industries, making big leaps with each change, and repositioning themselves for opportunities that allow them to gain a breadth of experience." The business magazine said. Merkel , 55, became the first female premier of Germany in 2005 and was successful in retaining power in a federal election on September 27. Michelle Obama, 45,has won the support of fans for her down-to-earth personality, her views of healthy eating and the arts, and her fashion sense that has seen her grace several best-dressed lists. 45. What is the author's attitude towards Angela Merkel? Dear Volunteers, The service you will provide to elderly individuals in Abilene as a Meals on Wheels volunteer is deeply appreciated. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the many miles you will travel and all of the hours you will contribute to help make this one of the best programs in the entire state. We have our staff members make a home visit before adding each person to the program and try to visit everyone at least once every year. That is hardly enough, and we depend on your contact a great deal! It is important that you report back when you do not get an answer to your knock on the door. The person inside may be hurt or ill. They may be in hospital or out of town and fail to inform us. If they are frequently absent, we may need to determine if they still need meals. If you find someone with a medical emergency, please call 911 to request medical assistance, and then call the Meals on Wheels office. If you find someone who needs assistance other than for a medical emergency, please call the Meals on Wheels office at 6725050, and we will try to find the appropriate agency or individual to call. Let us know when a certain person needs extra food. We have a food preparation room of shelf stable items to share with them. Please feel free to take a few magazines when you deliver meals. Many of those we serve cannot afford magazines and enjoy reading. If someone is interested in getting books from the Abilene Public Library, let us know. We can sign them up for the Books on Wheels program. Call if you smell gas strongly when you deliver meals, or if someone needs a space heater, a blanket, or an electric fan. Please convey all needs to us, and we will try to see that they are met. Some of the elderly people who we offer our service may have cancers, liver diseases, AIDS, etc. If you do not want to deliver meals to the people with certain types of health problems, such as these, please let us know. Sincerely, Betty L. Bradley, LBSW, Executive Director How does the author learn about the needs of the people served? Qian Xuesen (1911-2009), China Famous as the "Father of Chinese Rocketry", he worked hard and made important contributions to the missile and space programs of China. Gandhi (1869- 1948), India He gave up his rich life for his ideas and fought for his country to be free from the UK in a peaceful way. Indians called him the "Father of the nation". Nelson Mandela (1918--), South Africa He fought for the black people and was in the prison for 30 years. He helped the black people to get the same rights as white people. In 1993, he was given Noble Peace for his devotion to his country. Norman Bethune (1890-1939), Canada He fought against the German Nazis and Japanese invaders during the World WarII. He worked in China as a doctor and saved many Chinese soldiers. Of the four persons, only _ worked in China. This place was darker than I expected, and, in spite of the rain, dirtier. Used to the life of rural Puerto Rico , I had to adjust to the similarly arranged, aggressive two-dimensionality of New York. Everywhere I looked, my eyes met gray and brown straight-edged buildings with sharp corners and deep shadows. Every few blocks there was a cement playground surrounded by chain-link fence. A girl came out of the building next door, a jump rope in her hand, and she hopped over. "Are you Hispanic?" she asked. "No, I'm Puerto Rican." "Same thing. Puerto Rican, Hispanic. That's what we are here." She skipped a tight circle, stopped abruptly, and shoved the rope in my direction. "Want a turn?" "Sure." I hopped on one leg, then the other. "So, if you're Puerto Rican, they call you Hispanic?" "Yeah. Anybody who speaks Spanish." I jumped a circle, as she had done, but faster. "You mean, if you speak Spanish, you're Hispanic?" "Well, yeah. No . . . I mean your parents have to be Puerto Rican or Cuban or something." "Okay, your parents are Cuban, let's say, and you're born here, but you don't speak Spanish. Are you Hispanic?" "I guess so," she finally said. "It has to do with being from a Spanish country. I mean, you or your parents, like, even if you don't speak Spanish, you're Hispanic, you know?" She looked at me uncertainly. But I didn't know. I'd always been Puerto Rican, and it hadn't occurred to me that in New York I'd be someone else. Later, I asked. "Are we Hispanics, Mami?" "Yes, because we speak Spanish." "But a girl said you don't have to speak the language to be Hispanic." "What girl? Where did you meet a girl?" "Outside. She lives in the next building." "Who said you could go out to the sidewalk? This isn't Puerto Rico. Something could happen to you." I listened to Mami's lecture with depressed eyes and the necessary respect. But inside, I quaked. Two days in New York, and I'd already become someone else. It wasn't hard to imagine that greater dangers lay ahead. The author's mood can best be described as _ My name is Mike. I'm a student of No. 14 Middle School. Our school is on Guangming Street. It's next to the People's Library. There is a big park across from our school. The pay phone is between our school and the post office. I live near the school. I often walk to school. It takes me five minutes. There are three buildings in our school, the students' building, the teachers' building and a library building. The teachers in our school are very good and friendly. Our school is very beautiful. If you come to our school from the airport , you can take a taxi. It takes about thirty minutes to get to our school by taxi. Now let me tell you the way to our school. First, go along Bridge Street and turn left when you see Guangming Street. Go along Guangming Street, you can see the People's Library on your left. Our school is next to it. If you can't find it, you can call me at 010-89864578. Where is the People's Library?
We have now known something about computers---computers work for us at home, in offices and in factories. But it is also true that many children today are using computers at schools before they can write. What does this mean for the future? Are these children lucky or not? Many people do not know about computers and they think of them as machines that children play with. They worry that children do not learn from experience but just from pressing* a button* and that this is not good for them. They think that children are growing not knowing about the real world. And they are very worried about that their children will lose themselves in the computer games. But many people understand more about computers, they say that computers can be very good for children. A computer can help them to learn about the real world more quickly, to learn what they want to learn and think for themselves. And for the future, don't we need people who can think clearly, who know how to get information quickly and use it well? What do you think? For example, e-mail is very popular at this moment. Do you know about e-mail? E-mail is a way of sending messages to other people. E-mail is a fast and cheap way to keep in touch with friends and family. It's much quicker than sending a letter. People who use e-mail have an e-mail address. This address must have letters and dots* and the symbol "@"meaning "at". This is what an address looks like. People can send the messages across the Internet. It is quick, easy and fun. What the best title of this passage? A. Computers are Good for Children B. Computers are Bad for Children C. Are Computers Good or Bad for Children? D. Computers are not useful for children Answer: C QQ is one of the most popular chat tools among teenagers. We regard it as an important chat tool in our dailylife because it has some advantages. First, we can make lots of e-friends on QQ. It is easy to find the person who has the same interest as us, and we can talk with him or her happily. Second, we can also join a QQ group to find the information we need. For example, if we want to learn English well, we can choose a group with many English lovers in it. Third, we can also play games with our friends on QQ and always have fun. QQ brings us a lot of benefits , but it can also cause some problems. It's dangerous to tell strangers on QQ our real personal information like telephone number, address and ID number. If we spend too much time chatting online, it won't be good for our study and health. If we want to learn English well, we can _ . A. do shopping on QQ. B. always chat in Chinese on QQ. C. play games with our friends on QQ. D. join a QQ group with many English lovers in it. Answer: D When it comes to friends, I desire those who will share my happiness, who has wings of their own and who will fly with me. When I was in the eighth grade, I had a friend. We were shy and "too serious" about our studies when it was becoming fashionable with our classmates to learn acceptable social behaviors. We said little at school, but she would come to my house and we would sit down with pencils and paper, and one of us would say, "Let's start with a train whistle today." We would sit quietly together and write separate poems or stories that grew out of a train whistle. Then we would read them aloud. At the end of that school year, we, too, were changing into social persons and the stories and poems stopped. When I lived for a time in London, I had a friend. He was in despair and I was in despair, too. But our friendship was based on the idea in each of us that we would be sorry later if we did not travel over this great city because we had felt bad at the time. We met every Sunday for five weeks and found many excellent things. We walked until our despairs disappeared and then we parted. _ . For almost four years I have had a great friend whose imagination brightens mine. We write long letters in which we often discover our strangest selves. Each of us appears, sometimes in a funny way, in the other's dreams. She and I agree that, at certain times, we seem to be parts of the same mind. It is such comforting companions I wish to keep. One bright hour with their kind is worth more to me than the lifetime services of a psychologist, who will only fill up the healing silence necessary to those darkest moments in which I would rather be with my own best friend. What is the best title for the passage? A. Unforgettable Experiences. B. Unbelievable Imagination. C. Touching Companions. D. Lifelong Friendship. Answer: D As if there weren't enough of them in the world already, scientists have succeeded in cloning flies. The alike fruit flies are the first insects ever cloned, says the Canadian team that created them. The question everyone asks is why anyone would want to clone flies in the first place. She hopes that the insects , which are very easy to experiment with , will help to adjust the cloning process in other animals and even in humans, where the technique is being researched to aid production of therapeutic stem cells. In cloning, the DNA-containing nucleus of an adult cell is injected into an egg whose own nucleus has been removed. At the moment, the majority of cloned mice, sheep and other animals die before birth. It is thought this is because the adult DNA is not properly 'reprogrammed'. Using flies, researchers might discover genes that are important for this reprogramming, and that have matches in other animals. That is because it is relatively easy in flies to knock out the function of a single gene and then attempt cloning with these cells, which will test whether that gene is important. If such genes are confirmed, then in theory cloned mammalian embryos might be grown in selected solutions that change the activity of those genes to improve the technique's success rate. Although some groups have attempted to clone insects before, Lloyd says this is the first time it has been successful. The team used a slight difference on the standard cloning process: they transferred nuclei taken from embryos rather than fully-grown adult cells. They sucked several nuclei (pl)out of developing fly embryos, and injected them into a fertilized fly egg. From over 800 early attempts, they cloned five adult insects, the group reports in the journal Genetics. The best title of this passage probably is _ . A. The importance of clone B. First insects are cloned C. The disagreement in clone D. The advantages of clone Answer: B Successful people in international business understand the cultures of other countries and learn to change their practices in different cultures. They understand the importance of avoiding business decisions based on misconceptions--mistaken ideas. One cause of misconceptions is ethnocentrism, the belief that one's own culture's way of doing things is better than the way of other cultures. It's ethnocentrism that leads to failure in international business. To avoid ethnocentrism, it's necessary to study the different elements of culture: language, values and attitudes, and customs and manners. Language A. knowledge of the local language can help international business people in four ways. First, people can communicate directly. Second, people are usually more open in their communication with someone who speaks their language. Third, an understanding of the language allows people to infer meanings that are not said directly. Finally, knowing the language helps people to understand the culture better. Values are people's basic beliefs about the difference between right and wrong, good and bad . An attitude is a way of thinking or acting. Values and attitudes influence international business. For example, many people in the United States believe that chocolate from Switzerland is better than chocolate from other countries, and they buy a lot of it. Customs and manners Customs are common social practices. Manners are ways of acting that the society believes are polite. For example, in the United States, it is the custom to have salad before the main course at dinner, not after. It's not acceptable to talk with food in mouth at table. Failure to understand the customs and manners of other countries will bring difficulty selling their products. Orange juice as a breakfast drink of an American company in France doesn't sell well because the French don't usually drink juice with breakfast. What would be the best title for the text? A. Misconceptions in Business B. Basic Beliefs in Business C. International Business Culture D. Successful International Business Answer: C
A college student looks through a microscope at blood cells and states that red blood cells are more important than white blood cells. This statement is a statement of opinion. "If there is one thing I'm sure about, it is that m a hundred years from now we will still be reading newspapers. It is not that newspapers are a necessity. Even now some people get most of their news from television or radio. Many buy a paper only on Saturday or Sunday. But for most people reading a newspaper has become a habit passed down from generation to generation. The nature of what is news may change .What basically makes news is what affects our lives - the big political stories, the coverage of the wars, earthquakes and other disasters, will continue much the same. I think there will be more coverage of scientific research, though .It's already happening in areas that may directly affect our lives, like genetic engineering. In the future, I think there will be more coverage of scientific explanations of why we feel as we do - as we develop a better understanding of how the brain operates and what our feelings really are. It's quite possible that in the next century newspapers will be transmitted electronically from Fleet Street and printed out in our own home. In fact ,I'm pretty sure how it will happen m the future. You will probably be able to choose from a menu, making up your own newspaper by picking out the things you want to read - sports and international news, etc. I think people have got it wrong when they talk about competition between the different media .They actually _ each other. Some people once foresaw that television would kill off newspapers, but that hasn't happened. What is read on the printed page lasts longer than pictures on a screen or sound lost in the air. And as for the Internet. it's never really pleasant to read something just on a screen. In the writer's opinion, in the future, _ . newspapers will cover more scientific research People hold different views on what or how much homework should be. It is partly due to the fact that people can't seem to agree on the purpose of homework. Some teachers think that homework is necessary to reinforce what is learned in school. And so they ask their students to memorize what was discussed in class through homework. Some teachers think the point of homework is to cover material that the class didn't have time to get to, so their homework is to let students learn additional things. Other teachers like homework simply because they want students to form work habits and still others believe homework is necessary because it's the best way for parents to learn what their children do in school. However, many parents seem to have different ideas. Elisa Cohen, who has twins at Lafayette Elementary School, doesn't like the fact that third-grade students in DC elementary schools are asked to write about 25 book summaries a year. She said, "They do the same thing over and over without really getting into alternate ways of thinking about books, reading and writing." Some education reformers , such as Howard Gardner, a Harvard University professor well-known for his theory on multiple intelligence, think that Cohen is on the right track. But it's often hard to persuade overworked teachers to give much thought to homework tasks. What's the problem with Elisa Cohen's twins in writing about their book report? They aren't given much thinking about what they read. Going to sleep may seem pretty boring compared with all the fun things you do while you are awake. But there's a lot going on in your mind and body while you are sleeping. Sleep, in fact, is as important to your survival as eating and drinking. Sleep improves your mood, makes you a better athlete, and helps you remember and understand what you learned during the day. During sleep your temperature drops. Your heart rate slows. Down goes the pressure of the blood moving through your veins. A chemical that controls growth (called a hormone) moves into your bloodstream. Scientists think that sleep brings back energy and improves your immune system. We know what happens while we're asleep because scientists study volunteers who sleep in laboratories. The sleepers are connected with machines that measure brain waves, eye movements and muscle activities. Sleep is like a school day: it's divided into different periods, or stages. When you are awake, your brain waves fire rapidly. As you begin to relax and drift into the first stage of sleep, your brain produces slower-moving waves and you lose awareness of your surroundings. As you slide to deeper sleep, your body repairs itself from the normal wear and tear of daily life. Then, as you begin to drift back up to a lighter sleep, your mind becomes more alert, and your dreams begin. You are in REM sleep. REM is the name for the rapid eye movement that happens while you are dreaming. During REM sleep, your eyes move back and forth behind your lids , as though you were watching a movie. During other stages, you might move in bed, but during REM sleep you're still. That's probably because if you could move, your body would act out your dreams. As you get close to morning, you spend more time in REM than in deep sleep, so you dream more. Researchers know that during REM sleep the part of the brain that handles learning and thinking is very active. Getting too little sleep can affect your personality. Experts recommend that children get at least nine hours sleep a night. Suppose this is the course of your sleep, in which part of the course do you have more dreams? Light sleep. A yoga master made a shocking statement that Abraham Lincoln had been a Himalayan yogi in a past life.Lincoln delivered a proclamation setting up Thanksgiving as an American holiday in 1863.Research throws light on a possible Hindu origin for the American celebration of Thanksgiving. "The holiday of Thanksgiving has a Hindu origin," says Richard Salva, author of a book on the reincarnation of Abraham Lincoln entitled Soul Journey: From Lincoln to Lindbergh which is based on a statement by the great master of yoga, Paramhamsa Yogananda, who declared that Abraham Lincoln had been a Himalayan yogi in a past life, and that he was reborn as the famous pilot, Charles Lindbergh. "During my search for signs of a past-life yoga practice," SaIva said, "I noticed that President Lincoln repeatedly chose Thursdays as national days of prayer, fasting ,and thanksgiving.This was interesting, because Thursday is considered a holy day -- a day for prayer, fasting, and spiritual reflection -- among Hindus, who call it "guru day"." "Lincoln also set aside time on Thursdays to grieve for his son,Willie, who died in Washington.Clearly, Thursdays had a spiritual significance in Lincoln's mind. In his book, Richard Salva presents more than 500 connections between Lincoln, Lindergh, and the ancient spiritual science of yoga. The connections run through every aspect of the human condition and provide convincing evidence that Lincoln had had a Hindu past life. More than one out of every five Americans today believes in reincarnation--yet few are aware of how past-life patterns affect them. Soul Journey tries to fill this gap, by offering a substitute experience of reincarnation. Through clear and persuasive similarities between the lives of Lincoln and Lindbergh, the book discovers how the hidden laws of fate and reincarnation impact the events of his or her daily life. It addresses other issues, such as the secret spiritual history of America's greatest president, including his past life as a Himalayan yogi; the hidden clues that reveal past lives; the greatness he achieved; and the spiritual principles behind the yoga postures that millions now practice. When it came to the comparison between Lincoln and Lindbergh, the author held a _ attitude. positive
Babies who are slow to gain weight in the first months of their lives generally catch up to their peers by age 13,a large UK study shows, Researchers said the results would make parents whose babies fail to put on weight quickly less worried. The researchers looked at data from ,11,499 children who took part in a large study, It showed that 507 who were slow to gain weight in the first eight weeks of life recovered fairly quickly and had almost caught up by age 2. Another group of 480 who were slow to gain between eight weeks and nine months continued to put on weight slowly until they were seven years ,but then had a sudden increase and caught up by age 13, The different pattems of recovery between the two groups were likely due to different reasons for slow weight gain ,the researchers said, All the children were still lighter and shorter than their peers by the time they were teenagers ,but within the normal range. The findings highlight the importance of monitoring a baby's weight and height gain during the first few weeks and months ,but not creating anxiety with parents of slow-growing babies, said the study leader Prof Alan Emond from the University of Bristol. "In the past, a lot of parents have been caused unnecessary anxiety by heaith professionals and this is a positive and _ message."He said in many cases of slow growth where children do not follow the standard'curve' it is just because they are following their genetic potential. Dr Simon Newell, vice-president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said he broadly agreed with the concluslons of the researchers but stressed that poor weight gain was something that needed to be monitored closely, "I would encourage parents to use growth charts but if measurements show your baby is smaller than averager it may be completely normal, "he said. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? Answer: It's important to monitor a baby's weight and height gain for new parents Many of us enjoy doing it: you turn on the camera on your mobile phone and hold it at a high angle, making your eyes look bigger and your cheekbones more defined. You turn to your best side and click. There it is -- your selfie. Over the past year, "selfie" has become a well-known term across the globe. This August the Oxford dictionary added the word to their online dictionary and defined it as: "A photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically with a smartphone or webcam and up-loaded to a social media website." Today it's not difficult to find social networking pages full of photos people have taken of themselves and their friends. And selfie culture has become especially relevant for young people. As many as 91 percent of teenagers have posted photos of themselves online, according to a recent survey by the US Pew Research Center. So what are the reasons for the rise of selfie culture? "The cult of the selfie celebrates regular people," Pamela Rutledge, a professor at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology, told Vogue magazine. "There are many more photographs available now of real people than models." Posting selfies also allows you to control your image online. "I like having the power to choose how I look, even if I'm making a funny face," Samantha Barks, 19, a high school student in the US, told Vogue. In addition to self-expression and documentation, selfies "allow of a close friendship for long-distance friends, because you can see each other's faces every day", wrote Casey Miller at The Huffmgton Post. But US psychologist Jill Weber is concerned that selfies might lead to social problems, "There's a danger that your self-esteem may start to be tied to the comments and 'likes' you get when you post a selfie, and they aren't based on who you are -- they're based on what you look like," Weber told Vogue. "When you get nothing or a negative response, your confidence can _ ." What is Jill Weber's attitude toward selfies? Answer: She is worried that people's self-esteem might be affected by how others react to their selfies. Students from Florida International University in Miami walked on water Thursday for a class assignment.To do it,they wore aquatic shoes they designed and created. Alex Quinones was the first to make it to the other side of a 175-foot lake on campus in record time--just over a minute.Quinones,who wore oversized boat-like shoes,also won last year and will receive $ 500.Students had to wear the aquatic shoes and make it across the lake in order to earn an "A" on the assignment for Architecture Professor Jaime Canaves,Materials and Methods Construction Class."It's traditional in a school of architecture to do boats out of cardboard for a boat race.I thought our students were a little bit more special than that," Canaves said." We decided to do the walk on water event to take it to the next level." A total of 79 students competed in the race this year in 41 teams.Only 10 teams failed to cross the lake.Others who fell got back up and made it to the end.The race is open to all students and anyone in the community.The youngest person to ever participate was a 9-year-old girl who competed in place of her mother,while the oldest was a 67-year-old female. A large crowd on campus joined Canaves as he cheered on the racers.He shouted encouraging words,but also laughed as some unsteadily made their way to the end. "A part of this is for them to have more understanding of designing and make it work better," he said.It is also a lesson in life for the students. "Anything,including walking on water,is possible,if you do the research,test it and go through the design process seriously." According to Canaves,this race can help the students _ . Answer: understand designing better If you go to Brisbane, Australia, you can easily get a small book called Discover Brisbane free.Here is something about banks on page 49: ANZ Banking Group Cnr.Greek & Queen Sts ......................................................238 3228 Bank of New Zealand 410 Queen Street ............................................................ 221 0411 Bank of Queensland 229 Elizabeth Street ......................................................... 229 3122 Commonwealth Banking Group 240 Queen Street ............................................................ 237 3111 National Australia Bank Ltd 225 Adelaide Street ......................................................... 221 6422 Westpac Banking Corp 260 Queen Street ............................................................ 227 2666 Banking hours are Mon.-Thu.9:30 am to 4 pm.Fri.9:30 am to 5 pm.All banks close Sat.Sun.& Public Holidays. On Saturdays, you can go to _ to put your money in or take your money out. Answer: none of the banks A Chinese actor's divorce from his wife, over her alleged extramarital affair, has social media buzzing, with posts about the subject gaining over five billion views. Wang Baoqiang announced online on Sunday that he was divorcing his wife, Ma Rong, and sacking his agent, Song Zhe. He alleged that his marriage broke down after his wife had an affair with his agent, and that she had also transferred the couple's joint assets. Ma has hit back at Wang, accusing him of abandoning their family. The topic has sparked a debate about relationships and divorce. It seems Wang's situation has struck a chord with many - which could explain the number of views, which are high even by Chinese standards. The divorce quickly became a top trending topic in China. According to micro blog Sina Weibo, posts with the hashtag "Wang BaoQiang Divorce" have been viewed over five billion times. Chinese netizens seem to have rallied around Wang, with topics like "Wang Don't Cry" "Wang We Support You", quickly trending after news of the divorce spread. Statistics by Weibo showed that 47% of netizens' posts condemned Ma for her affair, saying it had shattered her family. But why are they so interested? what is it about this one that's got all of China ruffled up? Some people feel that this divorce seems to fit a certain trope - of a beautiful but ordinary girl marrying a rich but less good-looking man. It is not uncommon to hear the belief that a couple has to "match" at every level - be it in status, or physical appearance - for a relationship to work out. Wang and Ma's split has many people wondering if uneven matches are unlikely to succeed. A lot of social media discussion has also centred around divorce, and in particular how people can protect themselves. Wang has alleged that his wife transferred and hid some of the couple's assets. They're a wealthy couple - their assets, according to Chinese media, include nine flats, a BMW car and various luxury goods. As a result, people are debating the importance of protecting individual assets, even after marriage. What is the text mainly about? Answer: Why a celebrity divorce has aroused netizens' interest.
People use their mouths for many things.They eat,talk,shout and sing.They smile and they kiss.In the English language,there are many expressions using the word "mouth". 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.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." If this should happen,the speaker might feel down in the mouth.In other words,he might feel sad for saying the wrong thing. Another situation is when someone falsely claims another person said something.The other person might protest,"I did not say that.Do not put words in my mouth." Some people have lots of money because they were born into 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. Parents might sometimes keep a child off sweet food as a form of punishment for saying bad things.For example,if a child says things she should not say to her parents,she might be described as a mouthy child.The parents might even tell the child to stop mouthing off. But enough of all this talk.I have been running my mouth long enough. What is mainly talked about in the text? Answer: Expressions about the word "mouth". About this time every year, I get very nostalgic . Walking through my neighborhood on a fall afternoon reminds me of a time not too long ago when sounds of children filled the air, children playing games on a hill, and throwing leaves around in the street below. I was one of those children, carefree and happy. I live on a street that is only one block long. I have lived on the same street for sixteen years. I love my street. One side has six houses on it, and the other has only two houses, with a small hill in the middle and a huge cottonwood tree on one end. When I think of home, I think of my street. Only I see it as it was before. Unfortunately things change. One day, not long ago, I looked around and saw how different everything has become. Life on my street will never be the same because neighbors are quickly grown old, friends are growing up and leaving, and the city is planning to destroy my precious hill and sell the property to contractors. It is hard for me to accept that many of my wonderful neighbors are growing old and won't be around much longer. I have fond memories of the couple across the street, who sat together on their porch swing almost every evening, the widow next door who yelled at my brother and me for being too loud, and the crazy old man in a black suit who drove an old car. In contrast to those people, the people I see today are very old neighbors who have seen better days. The man in the black suit says he wants to die, and another neighbor just sold his house and moved into a nursing home. The lady who used to yell at us is too tired to bother any more, and the couple across the street rarely go out to their front porch these days. It is difficult to watch these precious people as they near the end of their lives because at once I thought they would live forever. The "comings and goings" of the younger generation of my street are now mostly "goings" as friends and peers move on. Once upon a time, my life and the lives of my peers revolved around home. The boundary of our world was the gutter at the end of the street. We got pleasure from playing night games or from a breathtaking ride on a tricycle. Things are different now, as my friends become adults and move on. Children who rode tricycles now drive cars. The kids who once played with me now have new interests and values as they go their separate ways. Some have gone away to college like me, a few got married, two went into the army, and one went to prison. Watching all these people grow up and go away makes me long for the good old days. Perhaps the biggest change on my street is the fact that the city is going to turn my precious hill into several lots for new homes. For sixteen years, the view out of my kitchen window has been a view of that hill. The hill was a fundamental part of my childhood life; it was the hub of social activity for the children of my street. We spent hours there building forts, sledding, and playing tag. The view out of my kitchen window now is very different; it is one of tractors and dump trucks tearing up the hill. When the hill goes, the neighborhood will not be the same. It is a piece of my childhood. It is a visual reminder of being a kid. Without the hill, my street will be just another pea in the pod. There was a time when my street was my world, and I thought my world would never change. But something happened. People grow up, and people grow old. Places changes, and with the change comes the heartache of knowing I can never go back to the times I loved. In a year or so, I will be gone just like many of my neighbors. I will always look back to my years as a child, but the place I remember will not be the silent street whose peace is interrupted by the sounds of construction. It will be the happy, noisy, somewhat strange, but wonderful street I knew as a child. The writer calls up the memory of the street _ . Answer: every year when autumn comes Long ago, Bluebird's feathers were the colour of dust. She did not like her ugly colour. She was attracted by the colour of the lake near her home. It was as blue as the sky after a storm. Bluebird wanted to be the colour of that beautiful lake very much. Flapping her wings one morning, Bluebird flew from her tree to the blue lake. Then she bathed in the water three times. After each bath, she sang, "Blue water. Still water. I went in. I am blue." Bluebird repeated this every morning. On the third day, she came out of the lake with beautiful blue feathers. Now Coyote was a trickster --and hungry too. He stayed behind Bluebird's tree for a long time every day and watched her go to the lake. He pretended to be interested in everything she did. He wanted Bluebird for lunch, but he was afraid of the blue water. On the third morning, Coyote saw Bluebird come out of the lake with beautiful blue feathers. Impressed, he sat next to Bluebird's tree and waited for her. When she returned, he asked, "How did you get blue feathers? I want to be blue like the mountains too." Bluebird didn't believe Coyote, but she taught him how to bathe three times each morning and how to sing her song. Coyote did what she said, and after three days of bathing in the lake, his white fur turned deep blue. Convinced that blue fur was even more beautiful than blue feathers, Coyote forgot all about being hungry. He ran as fast as he could to the top of the hill. Standing on his back legs, he raised his front legs off the ground and howled. But Coyote slipped and rolled down the hill. He couldn't stop himself, and the dust and dirt covered his new blue fur. He rolled and rolled until he hit into Bluebird's tree heavily. No matter how much he tried, foolish Coyote could not shake the dust from his fur. And so the fur of all coyotes had the dull colour of dust to this very day. Why was Coyote a trickster? Answer: He wanted to eat Bluebird but pretended to be curious. if two objects have the same charge then those two materials will effect each other how? Answer: unattract When I was a kid, I was just like every other kid. As usual, I liked being with friends and having fun. But I didn't like school much. I didn't like the rule of learning, studying, memorizing, etc. Too much work. As I got into high school, things changed for me. I started reading a lot of books. Books taught me about life and helped me learn about the world. I read around 30 books during each senior year. I learned to love reading then. Little did I know at that time that I would write books by myself. I've written 7 books since then. One book I wrote, Powerful Attitudes, was a huge success within a network marketing company in the USA. When I was 17 years old, I took about a dozen guitar lessons. I fell in love with guitar music no matter if it is blues, rock, flamenco or classical. I've attended concerts and have heard some great guitarists through the years. Recently, I bought myself a piano and began to learn to play it. I've made great progress. My knowledge of music and playing guitar has helped me a lot in learning the piano. Last week, I employed a Chinese teacher to teach me Chinese. I've learned about 200 words in my first week. I'm inspired and motivated to learn. In fact, I feel a bit _ , thinking of learning Chinese. It's like a mountain I want to climb and conquer. I'm 56 years old and my love to learn it runs deep in my heart, mind and soul. What I certainly learned while growing up is to love learning. I never want to stop learning. I never want to stop studying people, life, processes and new things. I think the openness of admitting what you don't know, makes you a good learner. You never lie to yourself or to others about your knowledge and experience. I have the attitude that if I don't know something, I will learn to know it. What is the main idea of the passage? Answer: Learning attitudes.
About the year 1900, a dark-haired boy named Charlie Chaplin was often seen waiting outside the back entrances of London theatres. He looked thin and hurry. He was hoping to get work in show business. He could sing and dance, and above all, he knew how to make people laugh. But he couldn't get work and therefore wandered about the city streets. Sometimes he was sent away to a home for children who had no parents. But twenty years later, this same Chaplin became the greatest, best-known, and best-loved comedian in the world. Any regular visitor to the cinema, must have seen some of Charlie Chaplin's films. People everywhere have sat and laughed at them until the tears ran down their faces. Even people who don't understand English can enjoy his films, because they are mostly silent. It isn't what he says that makes us laugh. His comedy doesn't depend upon words or language. It depends upon little actions which mean the thing to people all over the word. Acting out without words, of common human situations plays an important part in the dances and plays in many countries. It's a kind of the world language. Chaplin lived most of his life in America and died in Switzerland on Christmas Day 1977, at the age of eighty-eight. There was sadness all over the world at the news of his death. Why was Chaplin often seen waiting outside London theatre? A Because he needed a job in show business. B Because he needed food to eat. C Because he hoped to sing and dance in theatre. D Because he hoped to have a home. Answer: A. Because he needed a job in show business. Rush Hour 15:00 23:00 My Life as Mcdull 9:00 13:00 1Action Movie Do you like Jackie Chan? Rush Hour is another movie of his. It's so exciting. Come and have fun! 2Cartoon Mcdull is a little pig. He's kind of silly but he's very cute. Do you want to enjoy happiness with him? Be sure to watch it! Mr. Bean 11:00 19:00 Harry Potter III 17:00 21:00 3Comedy Rowan is a great actor. His movie Mr. Bean is coming. It's very funny. Don't miss it! 4Science Fiction Harry Potter has been in the wizardry school for three years. He begins a new life. How is everything going? What do you think of Mcdull? A Exciting B Silly but cute C Funny D Happy Answer: B. Silly but cute American people like to say "Thank you" when others help them or say something kind to them. People of many countries do so, too. It is a very good habit . You should say "Thank you" when someone passes you the salt on the table, when someone walking ahead of you keeps the door open for you, when someone says you have done your work well, or you have bought a nice thing, or your city is very beautiful. "Thank you" is used not only between friends, but also between parents and children, brothers and sisters. "Excuse me" is another short sentence they use. When you hear someone say so behind you, you know that somebody wants to walk past you without touching you. It's not polite to break others when they are talking. If you want to speak to one of them, say "Excuse me" first, and then begin talking. You should also do so when you begin to cough or make any noise before others. Let's learn to say "Thank you" and "Excuse me". : This passage mainly tells us the way _ . A to be happy B to be polite C to help others D to learn from Americans Answer: B. to be polite The worst earthquake in 40 years shook South Asia on Sunday, starting with horrible waves that swept entire villages into the sea. At least 20,000 people in six countries were killed in the disaster, and millions were left homeless. The quake shook deep beneath the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It was felt more than 3000 miles away in East Africa, where heavy tides kept fishermen at home and resorts closed. It was as if the sea had struck the land. Residents of Sri Lanka, a small island country off the coast of India, ran to the hills to find safety from the tsunami. Many took their radios, televisions, and other valuables with them. The disaster hit Sri Lanka hardest. Of its 20million people, 1 million lost their homes, and 10000 died. "The water simply raised itself up and huge waves came ashore," wrote eye-witness Peter Thomas from India. "It was moving very fast. The force broke the glass walls of a restaurant on the beach here and damaged hundreds of boats." In some places, the _ struck with no warning. "The weather was fine with no clouds," wrote an eye-witness in Indonesia. "Suddenly the seawater just hit the city. In some parts the water was up to chest level." A massive effort to help the affected countries is already underway. Leaders from around the world have promised to help, and teams of aid workers and doctors are rushing to the sea. "The United States stands ready to offer all the help to those nations most affected." Said White House spokesman Trent Duffy. Organizations from the Red Cross to the International Monetary Fund have started fund-raising drives to make up the costs of rebuilding. Which of the following is NOT true when this disaster happened? A A sudden storm started with thunder and lightning. B The seawater rose suddenly and flooded the land. C Huge waves came upon the land, damaging the buildings and boats. D The sea struck the land, causing heavy losses. Answer: A. A sudden storm started with thunder and lightning. This is a doubtful age, but although our faith in many of the things has weakened, our confidence in the curative (,) properties of the bottle medicine remains the same. This modern faith in medicine is proved by the fact that the annual drug bill of the Health Services is increasing to huge figures and shows no signs at present of stopping to rise. The majority of the patients attending the medical out-patients departments of our hospitals feel that they have not received enough treatment unless they are able to carry home with them some tangible curative in the shape of a bottle of medicine, a box of pills, or a small jar of ointment , and the doctor in charge of the department is only too ready to provide them with these requirements. There is no quicker method of treating of patients than by giving them what they are asking for, and since most doctors in the Health Services are overworked and have little time for offering time-consuming and little-appreciated advice on such subjects as diet, right living, and the need for abandoning bad habits etc. Nor is it only the ignorant and ill-educated person who has such faith in the bottle of medicine. It is said that Thomas Carlyle (a famous Scottish writer), when he heard of the illness of his friend, went off immediately to visit him carrying with him in his pocket what remained of a bottle of medicine formerly used for a slight illness of Mrs. Carlyle's. Carlyle was entirely ignorant of what the bottle in his pocket contained or the nature of the illness from which his friend was suffering, but a medicine that had worked so well in one form of illness would surely be of equal benefit in another, and comforted by the thought of the help he was bringing to his friend, he rushed to Henry Taylor's house. History does not relate whether his friend accepted his medical help, but probably he did. According to the author, patients feel that they have been properly treated only if they _ . A can take home some medicine doctors give them B have confidence in the curative properties of a bottle of medicine C are given careful check-ups by doctor D are offered advice on diet and living by the doctor Answer: A. can take home some medicine doctors give them
There are two kinds of memory: short-term and long-term. Information in long-term memory can be remembered at a later time when it is needed. The information may be kept for days or weeks. However, information in short-term memory is kept for only a few seconds, usually by repeating the information over and over. The following experiment shows how short-term memory has been studied. Henning studied how students who are learning English as a second language remember vocabulary. The subjects in his experiment were 75 college students. They represented all levels of ability in English: beginning, intermediate , and native speaking students. To begin, the subjects listened to a recording of a native speaker reading a paragraph in English. Following the recording, the subjects took a 15-question test to see which words they remembered. Each question had four choices. The subjects had to circle the word they had heard in the recording, Some of the questions had four choices that sound alike. For example, weather, whether, wither, and wetter are four words that sound alike. Some of the questions had four choices that have the same meaning. Method, way, manner, and system would be four words with the same meaning. Finally the subjects took a language proficiency test. Henning found that students with a lower proficiency in English made more of their mistakes on words that sound alike; students with a higher proficiency made more of their mistakes on words that have the same meaning. Henning's results suggest that beginning students hold the sound of words in their short-term memory, and advanced students hold the meaning of words in their short-term memory. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage? Information in short-term memory is different from that in long-term memory. 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. Which position is open to recent school graduates? Accountants Assistant. Dear Friend, The recent success of children's books has made the general public aware that there's a huge market out there. And there's a growing need for new writers trained to create the $3 billion worth of children's books bought each year ... plus stories and articles needed by over 650 publishers of magazines for children and teenagers. Who are these needed writers? They're ordinary folks like you and me. But am I good enough? I was once where you might be now. My thoughts of writing had been pushed down by self-doubt, and I didn't know where to turn for help. Then, I accepted a free offer from the Institute to test my writing aptitude ,and it turned out to be the inspiration I needed. The promise that paid off The Institute made the same promise to me that they will make to you, if you show basic writing ability: You will complete at least one manuscript suitable to hand in to a publisher by the time you finish our course. I really didn't expect any publication before I finished the course, but that happened. I sold three stories. And I soon discovered that was not unusual at the Institute. Since graduation, I have authored 34 nationally published children's books and over 300 stories and articles. Free test and brochure We offer a free aptitude test and will send you a copy of our brochure describing our recognized home-study courses on the basis of one-on-one training. Realize your writing dream today. There's nothing sadder than a dream delayed until it fades forever. Sincerely, Kristi Kristi Holl, Instructor Institute of Children's Literature Kristi Holl mentions her experience mainly to _ . promote the writing program You might say that one reason Barack Obama is president of the US is because he knows how to give a good speech. Since 2004, Obama has written and delivered thousands of speeches. These are usually praised for two reasons: he treats the audiences like intelligent adults, and he is able to express complicated ideas in a straightforward, natural way. Before becoming president, Obama was a lawyer, a college professor, and a successful writer---his two memories have become best-sellers. What's more, he has some secret weapons. Teleprompter: Obama doesn't go anywhere without his Teleprompter. The textbook-sized panes of glass holding the president's prepared remarks follow him wherever he goes to speak. Writing team: Obama has a team of people who write his speeches. The writers chat with Obama for hours about what he wants to say. They listen to recordings of past presidential addresses and seek advice from advisers. Obama usually edits and rewrites the drafts several times. Tricks for lighthearted speeches: Make fun of the guests: Obama starts his speech by gently teasing his guests. His opening lines grab the audience's attention while giving them an opportunity to relax and laugh at themselves and each other. Make fun of yourself: A good rule for speechmakers: If you're going to make a joke about someone else, be sure to make one about yourself, too. Obama mocks his own poor choices for filling the position of Commerce Secretary, saying, "No president in history has ever named three Commerce Secretaries this quickly." In fact, his first two nominees for the position withdrew their names for different reasons. In a process that had otherwise gone smoothly, the Obama Administration was tripped up by the problem of filling the Commerce seat. What is the text mainly about? What contributes to Obama's successful speeches. Which conclusion can be made about earthworms because they do not have an internal skeleton? They are invertebrates.
Question: Have you ever wondered why you sometimes take an almost immediate liking to a person you have just met? We often get the first impression of a person based on the color1 of a person's skin or the manner in which he or she dressed. Meaning is conveyed not only by words or verbal languages but also by nonverbal communication systems, such as body behaviors. Nonverbal communication is important because we use the actions of others to learn about their affective emotional states .Our emotions are reflected in our posture, face, and eyes--be it fear, joy, anger, or sadness--so we can express them without ever saying a word .For this reason, most of us rely heavily on what we learn through our eyes. Nonverbal communication is significant in human interaction because it is usually responsible for the first impressions. More importantly, those first messages usually influence the perception of everything else that follows. Even how we select friends and sexual partners is grounded in first impressions with nonverbal communication. Nonverbal communication is important because it is culture-related. It is based on different beliefs, religions, values and customs in different cultures. When, where, how, and to whom people display his or her specific nonverbal behaviors is greatly affected by culture and context. Culture determines what the appropriate nonverbal behavior is. For example, feelings of friendship exist everywhere but their expression varies. It may be appropriate in some countries for man to embrace each other and for women to hold hands; in other countries these displays of affection may be shocking. Each culture has its own specific interpretation on nonverbal communication. What is acceptable in one culture may be completely unacceptable in another. One culture may determine that snapping fingers to call a waiter is acceptable; another may consider this gesture rude. Which of the following statements is not True ? A. Meaning can be conveyed both by words and body language. B. We can use nonverbal communication to learn about a person's emotional states. C. We often get the first impression by what a person says. D. The first impression can affect what we will do in the following. Answer: C Question: Children should be allowed to get angry. I remember many years ago, when I was visiting my sister in Australia, and I told my oldest son that he wasn't allowed to do something he really wanted to do. He thought about it for a minute and said, "Mom, I'm very angry with you." I replied, "That's OK, darling, it's what you do with your anger." I then asked him if he wanted to talk to me about it but he was too angry to talk to me. Then he stormed off . My sister looked at me surprisingly. Now she has a son the same age as mine and she said angrily, "How can you allow your child to be angry with you? If my son learns that from you, I will never forgive you." Then it was hard for me to stay with her, I ended up leaving earlier. Why shouldn't my son have the right to tell me when I have made him angry? If he can't tell me then how can he tell others in his life? Children need to be able to express how they feel. We need to teach them ways to do this in a right way instead of saying nothing. I want them to tell me. _ anger is not healthy for anyone and usually makes things worse. How did the writer's sister feel when she saw the son was angry with his mother? A. Happy. B. Sad. C. Pleased. D. Surprised. Answer: D Question: A shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world. The boy walked a long way, and finally came upon the beautiful castle where the wise man lived. On entering the main room of the castle, the boy was quite surprised: tradesmen coming and going, people chatting in the corners, and a small orchestra playing soft music. The wise man talked with everyone, and the boy had to wait for two hours before it was his turn. The wise man listened carefully to the boy's explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn't have time just then to explain the secret of happiness. He suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours. "Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something," said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. "As you wander around, carry this spoon with you without allowing the oil to spill." The boy began to walk up and down stairs of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the wise man. "Well," asked the wise man, "Did you see the Persian tapestries in the hall? Did you see the garden that took the master gardener ten years to create?" The boy was embarrassed, and replied that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to spill the oil. "Then go back and observe the wonders of my world," said the wise man. The boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace. This time he observed all of the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. When he returned, he described in detail everything he had seen. "But where are the drops of oil?" asked the wise man. Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone. "Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you," said the wise man. "The secret of happiness is to see all the wonders of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon." The wise man gave the boy two tasks in order to _ . A. show him how to observe the wonders in the world B. teach him the secret of happiness C. make him learn from his mistakes D. let the boy enjoy his palace and garden Answer: B Question: A monkey births live what? A. hares B. younglings C. rats D. dogs Answer: B Question: Experts believe that storms and severe weather in North America and Asia have disrupted bird flight paths across the world and swept huge numbers of bird species towards the British Isles. Birds flying to the other side of the Atlantic or to the Pacific to lay their eggs have been trapped in Britain and Ireland, adding their numbers to native species, and causing great excitement in the bird-watching community. Local birdwatchers have already observed a total of 442 species in the British Isles this year. The highest number ever seen in one year is 445, in 2008. "We only need four more to break our record," said Lee Evans, who runs the British Birding Association. "With three months to go I'm sure we'll do it." Last month an extremely rare Siberian Rubythroat bird was seen in Scotland, sending hundreds of birdwatchers north in the hope of catching a glimpse of this colourful Asian beauty. Another very uncommon bird, the bufflehead duck was cited in Cornwell and caused similar excitement. "I couldn't believe it," said Evans. "The poor thing was completely _ . It must have been blown to England by the storms while trying to fly from Canada to the southern United States for the winter. That's 3000 miles!" Evans said that global warming over the past decade was playing a key role in transforming bird movements across the world. In addition, melting Arctic sea ice may also be opening up bird flight paths over the North Pole, making it easier for birds from the Pacific -- such as the slaty-backed gull and tufted puffin, both of which appeared in London earlier this year -- to reach Britain. Bird-watching is becoming an increasingly popular hobby among all age groups, added Evans. "A fifth of our members are under 18. This is a round-the-year hobby that you can enjoy from the kitchen window or from a car. More and more people are bird-watching, and as a result more and more unexpected species are being spotted in the British Isles." How many more bird species are needed to equal the British bird-watching record? A. 3. B. 4. C. 442. D. 445. Answer: A
Legend has it that an apple which fell from its branches was the inspiration for Sir Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity . But now history's famous fruit tree is paying the price of fame. The thousands of visitors drawn to Sir Isaac's childhood home each year could be damaging the tree. A willow barrier has been put around the tree. It means visitors to the 17thcentury Woolsthorpe Manor, near Grantham, Lincolnshire, will no longer be able to sit under its branches as Newton was said to have been doing in 1665 when "the notion of gravitation came to mind." The National Trust, which owns the small manor where Newton was born in 1642, said the 2ft-high barrier was designed to _ the tree. Official Ann Moynihan said there had been no damage so far but warned that there could soon be a problem."Visitor numbers have gone up by around 50 percent, to 33,000 a year in three years. The more people who visit, the more the earth will become compacted around the tree and over the roots. We just want to _ the tree for another 400 years if we can."She said visitors will still be able to take apples from the tree. Visitor Chris Gwyther,37,said,"I suppose it is a pity that you can't sit under the tree like Newton. But you can still see it and the tree is 400 years old, it needs saving for the future." Newton left no information saying he had been inspired by a falling apple. The story appeared in a book by French philosopher Voltaire published in 1727, the year Newton died at the age of 84. What is the reason that people can't sit under the tree like Newton? Answer: A willow barrier has been put around the tree. Shanghai: Car rentals are becoming more and more popular as an inexpensive way of taking to roads. Business people, foreign and families alike are making good use of the growing industry. The first car rental firm opened in Shanghai in 1992 an dnow 12 car rental players are in the game, with more than 11,500 cars in their books. The largest player-Shangha Bashi Tourism Car Rental Center offers a wide variety of choices-deluxe sedans, minivans, station wagons, coaches. Santana sedans are the big favorite. Firms can attract enough customers for 70 percent of their cars every month. This fighure shoots up during holiday seasons like National Day, Labor Day and New Year's Day, with some recording 100 percent rental. The major market force rests in the growing population of white-collar employees , who can afford the new service, said Zhuang Yu, marketing manager of Shanghai Angel Car Rental Co. Which of the following statements is true according to the text? Answer: Some firms rent out all their cars during holiday seasons. There are many older people in the world and there will be many more.A limeknown fact is that over 60 percent of the older people live in developing countries.According to the World Health Organization,by 2020 there will be 1 billion,with over 700 million living in developing countries. It is a surprising fact that the population ageing is particularly rapid in developing countries.For example,it took France 115 years for the proportion of older people to double from 7 percent to 14 percent.It is estimated to take China a mere 27 years to achieve this same increase. What are the implications of these increased numbers of older folk?One of the biggest worries for governments is that the longer people live,the more likelihood there is for diseases and for disability.Attention is being paid to the need to keep people as healthy as possible,including during old age,to lessen the financial burden on the state. Another significant problem is the need for the younger generations to understand and value the older people in their society.In some African countries,certainly in Asia,older people are respected and regarded as the ones with special knowledge.Yet traditions are fading away daily,which does not ensure the continued high regard of older people.As society changes,attitudes will change. Much needs to be done to get rid of age discrimination in employment.Lifelong learning programs need to be provided to enable older people to be active members in a country's development. Social security policies need to be established to provide adequate income protection for older people.Both public and private schemes are vital in order to build a suitable safety net. To achieve equality in such matters will take considerable time and effort.One thing is sure:there is no time to be lost. The proportion of older people _ . Answer: will increase much faster in China than in France Edison often said, "1 will discover what the world needs, then I will try to invent it." It is true that he did more than any other man of his time in inventing things. He made more than one thousand inventions in his life and all these have changed our way of living. Edison was one of the greatest inventors in the world. When Edison died in 1931, someone said people should turn off all the lights in their homes, streets and factories for several minutes in honor of this great man. Of course it was impossible to do so. And this shows what Edison's inventions mean to people's life. All the things Edison invented were _ people needed at that time. Answer: what "The first and best of victories for a man is to conquer himself; to be conquered by himself is, of all things, the most shameful," says Plato. Self-control is at the root of all the advantages. Let a man give in to his impulses and feelings, and from that moment he gives up his moral freedom. A single angry word has lost many friends. When Socrates found in himself any temper or anger, he would check it by speaking low in order to control himself. If you are conscious of being angry, keep your mouth shut so that you can hold back rising anger. Many a person has dropped dead in great anger. Fits of anger bring fits of disease. _ "Keep cool," says Webster, "anger is not argument." "Be calm in arguing," says George Herbert, "for fierceness makes error a fault." To be angry with a weak man is to prove that you are not strong yourself. "Anger," says Pythagoras, "begins with foolishness and ends with regret." You must measure the strength of a man by the power of the feelings he conquers, not by the power of those which conquer him. Self-control is man's last and greatest victory. If a man lacks self-control he seems to lack everything. Without it he can have no patience, no power to govern himself; he can have no self-confidence, for he will always be controlled by his strongest feeling. If he lacks self-control, the very backbone and nerve of character are lacking too. Which of the following can't help you avoid anger, according to the passage? Answer: Trying to make the other angry first.
We recycle rubbish, so why not language? Recycling language means using vocabulary that you have learnt before again and again. However, unlike rubbish that piles up in our environment, if we do not recycle language, we simply forget it. So how do you recycle language? There are basically three ways to do it. The first is through reading. Go back to your favourite articles and read them once more. Just reread them and do not worry about each vocabulary item. If there are some that you are not sure about, make a guess and you will probably guess right. The second way to recycle is through writing. Look at some of your favourite articles and write either a short paragraph or a few sentences in your own words. After you have done this a few times, go back and read through what you have written, checking vocabulary functions. Don't worry if you have made mistakes. That's how you learn. The third way to recycle language is by having an imaginary chat with yourself about your favourite articles at home. You can pretend there is someone with you who speaks English and tell him what you are thinking about or how you feel. According to the passage, recycling language means _ . Answer: using vocabulary that we have learnt very often One day the employees of a large company in St Louis,Missouri returned from their lunch break and were greeted with a sign on the front door. The sign said:"Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym." At first everyone was sad to hear that one of their colleagues had died,but after a while they started getting curious about who this person might be. The excitement grew as the employees arrived at the gym to pay their last respects. Everyone wondered:"Who is this person that was hindering my progress? Well,at least he's no longer here." One by one the employees got closer to the coffin and when they looked inside it they became speechless. They stood over the coffin,shocked and in silence,as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul. There was a mirror inside the coffin:Everyone who looked inside it could see himself. There was also a sign next to the mirror that said. "There is only one person who can set limits to your growth:it is YOU." You are the only person who can revolutionize your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness,your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself. Your life does not change when your family changes,when your friends change,when your boss changes,and when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change,when you go beyond your limiting beliefs,when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life. What can we conclude from the article? Answer: The lesson the employees learned would influence them greatly. Mrs Hunt comes back from work. She tells Mr Hunt about a nice dress. "I see it in the shop every day", she says , "and ..." "And you want to buy it ?" says Mr hunt . "How much is it ?" "Two hundred and sixty yuan." "Two hundred and sixty yuan for a dress ?That's too much !" But every evening when she comes back , Mrs Hunt speaks only about the dress, so at last he says , "Oh ,buy the dress ! here's the money !" She is every happy . But the next evening, when Mr Hunt wants to have a look at the nice dress, Mrs Hunt says ,"I don't want to buy it .""Why not ?" he asks. "Well, it is still in the window of the shop after a week. So I think no one wants this dress . And I don't want it ,either." Mr hunt doesn't want to buy the dress at last because _ Answer: She doesn't think it is good It was a beautiful summer afternoon. I happened to be at a local Walmart picking up some stuff for my wife when I laid my eyes on two young ladies. They were walking confidently, with their heads held high, which made me believe that they were involved in some kind of competitive sport. They were wearingT-shirts, at the back of which printed, "Pain is temporary, but pride is forever." Thinking of these words, I automatically said to myself, "That's right! No pain, no gain." Whatever is worth having is worth fighting for, and with fight, there comes pain! Fortunately, pain is just temporary. However, it is a necessary step you need to take to get your gain. Athletes and their coaches understand this so well. They spend so many hours and so much effort preparing for a competition. Some will think about giving up when the training is so painful, but coaches are there to remind them that "quitters never win and winners never quit".. So they know that when victory comes, they will be proud of themselves and that pride can last a lifetime. You've probably heard the saying, "There's no such thing as a free lunch." Well, it is true. Everything in life has a price, whether you agree or not. To want something for free will always lead to deception. Even if you get it, you will not value it or enjoy it, because it is free. No one has told you that life is easy! In fact it is a series of struggles and fights. You will achieve what other people call "impossible" only when you are willing to endure pain and overcome fear and doubt. Your achievement in life is in direct proportion to how much sacrifice you are willing to make. Successful people are usually and wrongly labeled as lucky or highly favored by circumstances. However, if you hear their personal stories, you will realize that they went through a lot of trials, but still kept on going, enduring the pain to make where they are today. If we understand that every effect has its cause, then we will grasp the fact that we do have a chance to influence the outcome we get in life. According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE? Answer: If you get something free, you will not treasure it. Maybe you can not imagine what a hotel made of trash looks like. But in Rome, Italy, there is a campaign called Save the Beach that has created a hotel out of 12 tons of trash in order to raise awareness of our waste. Save the Beach is an environmental awareness campaign set up by the makers of Corona Beer. They collected all the trash from all the beaches all across Europe. Then they built the special hotel. It was reported that the hotel was fully booked . And it was open only for four days there in early June, the same time as World Environment Day. Next to the "trash hotel" was the slogan of Save the Beach. It said, we have built the first hotel made of trash in the world. This will be the future of our holidays if we do nothing to protect our beaches. The hotel was built just to show the _ we were causing to the sea and the coastline . We live in the time of trash and we are running the risk of becoming trash ourselves. Do we really want such a world? The trash hotel in Rome was just the beginning to support healthy, clean and trash-free beaches all across Europe by Save the Beach. Maybe there will be more surprising ideas in the future. Let's wait and see. Where was the trash hotel built? Answer: In Europe
Our plan was to drive into Cambridge, catch the 7:34 train to Liverpool Street Station, then to separate and meet again for lunch. We should have arrived at Liverpool at 9:19, but due to a typical London fog, the train had to move along so slowly that it was not until 10:30 that it got there. In spite of our late arrival, Joan, my wife's sister, decided that she would go to see the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London while we went shopping. It was only after her sister had disappeared into the fog that my wife realized that we hadn't decided where we should meet for lunch. Since I had our three tickets for the concert in my pocket, this was indeed a problem. There seemed to be nothing we could do except taking a taxi to the Tower of London, and try to find her there. Needless to say, we didn't find her. It was now one o'clock, and the concert began at 2:30. "Perhaps she will think of waiting outside the concert hall," suggested my wife hopefully. By this time the fog was so thick that road traffic had to stop, and the only way to get there was by underground railway. Hand in hand we felt our way along the road to where we thought the nearest station should be. An hour later we were still trying to find it. Just as I was about to lose my temper completely when we met a blind man tapping his way confidently through the fog. With his help we found Tower Hill tube station just fifty yards down the road. By now it was far too late even to try to get to the concert hall before the performance began at 2:30, so we decided to return to Cambridge. It took seven long hours instead of the usual two to make that journey. Nor were we able to get any food and drink on the train. Tired and hungry we finally reached home at ten, opening the door to the sound of the telephone bell. It was Joan; she had seen the Crown Jewels, had managed to get another ticket for concert, and had had a wonderful dinner at a restaurant near the hotel where she decided to stay for the night. Now she was ringing to discover whether we had had an equally successful day. The reason why they didn't all meet for lunch was that _ . A They lost their way in the fog B they forgot to make necessary arrangement C they waited at different places and didn't meet each other D the couple couldn't find the underground station Answer: B There is a one-day holiday in most western countries on New Year's Day. The real celebration begins on New Year's Eve-the night before New Year's Day. There are several interesting customs in the west, and there are many differences in different countries. Though Christmas is a good time for families to get together, New Year's Day is a time for some western people to be with friends. On New Year's Day, there are always parties. At such parties, there is food, drinks and dances until New Year comes At midnight, people often say "Happy New Year! "to each other. In many western countries, _ are let off at midnight and some people like to shout aloud to drive away evil spirits. This passage mainly tells us _ . A western people drink together on New Year's Day B how western people celebrate their New Year's Day C what western people eat on New Year's Day D western people have a good time on New Year's Day Answer: B Who do you think breaks the law in our society? If you believe that only tough guys commit crimes, you may have to think again. Unlike in the movies, we can't divide the world into bad guys and model citizens. _ In the same way that diseases range from the common cold to fatal forms of cancer, crimes vary in degree. For example, smoking in an elevator will inconvenience people, but much less than threatening them with a gun. In addition to breaking the law themselves, people tolerate various levels of crime. Why can we tolerate some crimes? It may be that, by seeing others do something, we accept it more easily. For instance, most people will find it easier to speed on a highway when everybody else is driving over the speed limit. When people celebrate a sports championship, if they see someone breaking store windows, they might start breaking windows themselves or even steal from the store. So the people around us influence how much law-breaking we can tolerate. We must also wonder whether seeing violence on television or reading about it in the newspapers every day makes us tolerate crime more than we should. We become used to seeing blood on the news on television, or in full color in newspapers and magazines. Because we see thousands of dead people on TV, maybe we just try to ignore the situation behind the violence. If so many citizens tolerate violence and crime, or even commit crimes themselves, it may simply be because of the human mind. Our minds may not care about specific laws. Instead, our minds may have a system of values that usually prevents us from hurting other people to improve our own lives. Yet, when it comes to respecting the rights of a mass of anonymous individuals, we might not be so responsible. While most people would not steal a wallet containing $50, they may not mind cheating on taxes, because cheating on taxes does not hurt any one person. It hurts society, but "society" remains an abstract idea that is not as real as a neighbor or a friend's friend. When we realize that so many people have misunderstandings of law-breaking, it is not surprising that so many people tolerate crimes, or even break laws, including me. But how could we improve the level of honesty in our society? Would strict laws help make our society better? Probably not. Honesty will have to come from social pressure: in the family, at school, on the job, each and every one of us can encourage honesty by showing which behavior is unacceptable. And teaching respect should become everyone's responsibility. According to the author, "Real life is much more complex." probably means _ . A there is a wide range of people and crimes in the real life B smoking in an elevator goes against laws in the real life C there are much more crimes than diseases in the real life D some model citizens sometimes break laws in the real life Answer: A A woman is having some trouble with her eyes, so she goes to see the doctor. He is a new doctor and doesn't know her, so he asks some questions and one of them is, "How old are you?"The woman says, "I don't know, doctor, but let me think about it." She thinks for a minute and then says, "Yes, I know now, Doctor!When I marry , I am eighteen years old, and my husband is thirty. Now my husband is sixty. And that is twice thirty. So I am twice eighteen. That's thirty-six, isn't it?" The woman is _ younger thanher husband. A twelve B eighteen C twenty D twenty-four Answer: A Have you ever seen a horse with toes? Millions of years ago, horses had many toes. They had four toes on each front foot. They had three toes on each back foot. The horses were smaller than cats. These small horses lived in the forest. Their many toes helped the horses run over the soft wet ground. It was very hot in the forest. But the weather changed. It became cold. Many trees couldn't live in cold weather. The trees died and fell. Forests became open field. The sun made the ground dry and hard. Horses began to change too. They began to get bigger. This took a long time. On the dry hard land, horses needed only their middle toes for running. At last their middle toes became hard. The cats were _ the horses at that time. A as big as B smaller than C bigger than D as small as Answer: C
It was Christmas,and there was a big party in the house.Guests came and went,but the party went on.Then the bell rang.Several people shouted. "Come in!" and a small man opened the front door and came in.Nobody knew him,but the host went to meet him and took him to the bar for a drink.The man sat there happily for an hour and a half and drank.Then suddenly he stopped and looked at the host ."Do you know,"he said,"Nobody invited me to this party.I don't know you,I don't know your wife and I don't know any of your guests.My wife and I wanted to go out in our car, but one of your guests' cars was in front of our gate,so I came here to find him,and my wife is waiting in our car for me to come back!" While the small man was staying in the house,he was _ . A. dancing B. drinking C. shouting D. talking Answer: B Around the world coral reefs are facing threats brought by climate change and great changes in sea temperatures. While ocean warming has been the primary focus for scientists and ocean policy managers, cold events can also whiten corals. A new study by scientists compared damaged to corals exposed to heat as well as cold stress. The results show that cool temperatures can cause more damage in the short term, but heat is more destructive in the long run. Climate change is widely known to produce warming conditions in the oceans, but extreme cold-water events have become more frequent and serious as well. In 2010, for example, coral reefs around the world faced on of the coldest winters and one of the hottest summers on record. During a unique experiment, corals under cold temperatures suffered greater damage in just days compared with heat treated corals. Yet the researchers found that corals were eventually able to adjust to the cold conditions, make their health stable and continue to grow. However, over the long term corals subjected to heat suffered more greatly than those in cold, with evidence of severe whitening and growth stoppage, which leads to death. The coral's ability to adjust to cool temperatures surprised the researchers, who say the study's results show the complexities of monitoring coral health in response to different environmental factors . "Global warming is associated with increases but also decreases of temperatures," said Deheyn, one of the researchers. "Not much has been known about the comparative effects of temperature decrease on corals. These results are important because they show that corals react differently to temperature differences, which is important for future management of coral reefs in the field of climate change." Scientists reached the conclusion through _ . A. news report B. scientific study C. great imagination D. natural conditions Answer: B My father and I started our morning by moving quickly into the local store. I waited in the line a the Starbucks counter while he shopped around to pick up a few things. As I was starting there I become aware of an elderly women, with untidy hair,wearing layers upon layers of old clothing, hunchbacked behind me in line. She had a few things for washing and seemed to want the Starbucks cashier to ring up since that queue was shorter than the queues in the store. At some point I became aware of her edging closer behind me -- closer than I was comfortable with! I instinctively placed a hand over my purse and drew it close to me. My fear and imagination raced creating wild stories about this homeless woman who might try to steal from me. Then it was my turn to order. As the cashier rang Ypsilanti my total, I discovered I was 67 cents short. I called my father but he was hard of hearing. He asked me to repeat what I said but he still couldn't make me out. At that point, a long, grey arm, with holes in its sleeves, reached over from behind me. She laid 67 cents out on the counter, saying, "Here, we all need some help sometimes. " I was _ Here was a woman who clearly had very little to give and was i n great need herself. I had judged her wrongly and she had offered to reach out to help me! What an amazing gift and lesson this woman gave me about judging others! Thank you, God! What lesson does the writer learn from the story? A. We should look at things from two sides. B. It's wise to give help to those in need. C. The world is full of love and surprises. D. Never judge a person from his appearance. Answer: D An example of a poor health habit is A. taking a bath or shower regularly B. handwashing after using the bathroom C. playing on a soccer team D. eating candy instead of lunch Answer: D Given that many people's moods are regulated by the chemical action of chocolate, it was probably only a matter of time before somebody made the chocolate shop similar to a drugstore of Chinese medicine.Looking like a setting from the film Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Singapore's Chocolate Research Facility (CRF) has over 100 varieties of chocolates.Its founder is Chris Lee who grew up at his parents' corner store with one hand almost always in the jar of sweets. If the CRF seems to be a smart idea, that's because Lee is not merely a seasoned salesperson but also head of a marketing department that has business relations with big names such as Levi's and Sony.That idea surely results in the imagination at work when it comes to making different flavored chocolates. The CRF's produce is "green", made within the country and divided into 10 lines, with the Alcohol Series being the most popular.The Exotic Series--with Sichuan pepper, red bean , cheese and other flavors--also does well and is fun to taste.And for _ , who think that they have a better knowledge of chocolate than others, the Connoisseur Series uses cocoa beans from Togo, Cuba, Venezuela, and Ghana, among others. What is good about chocolate? A. It serves as a suitable gift. B. It works as an effective medicine. C. It helps improve the state of mind. D. It strengthens business relations. Answer: C
Now cities are full of cars. Some families even have two or more cars. Parking is a great problem, and so is the traffic in and around the cities. Something will have to be done to change it. What will the cars of tomorrow be like? Little cars may some day take the place of today's big cars. If everyone drives little cars in the future, there will be less pollution in the air. There will also be more space for parking cars in cities, and the streets will be less crowded. Three little cars can fit in the space now needed for one car of the usual size. The little cars will cost much less to own and to drive. Driving will be safer, too. What is more, these little cars can go about 65 kilometers per hour. Little cars of the future will be fine for getting around a city, but they will not be useful for long trips. If big cars are still used along with the small ones, two sets of roads will be needed in the future. Some roads will be used for the big, fast cars, and other roads will be needed for the slower small ones. The little car's size may be _ today's car's size. Answer: NSE Summer School is suitable for those who are at, or are about to start university. It will begin accepting applications in January 2013. Courses: Accounting and Finance; Economics; Management; Law; International Relations; Government and Society Dates: Session I: 7 July~25 July Session2: 28 July~15 August Rate: Standard Rate: One session: $1,400; Both session: $2,400 Reduced Student Rate: One session: $1,100; Both session: $1,875 The reduced student rate applies to full-time students registered at a university or college anywhere in the world. Accommodation is not included, and fees range from $500~~$1,000 for 20 nights. Applicant requirements: If you have studied in the USA then you do not need any additional English qualifications. Students from other countries will generally not require a visa to study at the Summer School; however, you will enter the USA as a "Student Visitor". You are permitted to change courses before the start of the program and within the first three days of the session. Contact hours and teaching methods: Summer School courses are full-time and normally consist of 48 contact hours over the three-week period, taking the form of 36 hours of lectures and 12 hours of classes. Lectures, attended by all students, take place in either the morning or afternoon supplemented by small one-hour classes, of approximately 15 students. Assessment and examinations: Assessment for Summer School is based upon the results of either two written examinations, or a final written examination and assessment work. Everyone is required to take the examinations and no exception can be made for any reason. Summer School lecture series: Famous economistsTony Giddens and David Held--have agreed to give lectures to Summer School participants in July in 2013. If any questions, please click here to see our Frequently Asked Questions/ Contact Us Page. From the passage, we can learn that _ . Answer: Online shopping has become something very common for young people, however, it's not easy for the old people to buy things on the internet. Therefore, offline Daigou stores, or buy-for-you stores, are becoming popular among the old. 64-year-old man Li Hui'an is searching for his favorite CD in an offline Daigou shop. He says, "It's very convenient to buy things online, however, I can't use the internet. After I happened to find this buy-for-you shop, I decided to try, as I wanted to buy an opera CD. Finally I got one I'd searched for several years. I was so happy. I have become crazy about offline shopping. " The store owner Liu Min says in order to meet the need of people who want to buy things online but can't use the internet, she started the business of offline buy-for-you. In only about ten days since the start of the business, she has received more than 20 orders from customers . Liu Min is not the only one who finds the large need of offline buy-for-you business in the market. In Dalian city, northeast China, more than 300 such stores opened their doors only in April. In order to attract more customers, they have opened their shops in residential communities . And they charge a suitable service fee. For example, when buying things that cost less than 200 Yuan for customers, they usually charge 5 Yuan as service fee. Though the offline buy-for-you service makes it easier for certain people to shop online, what if there is any problem with the ordered thing, let's say, like a quality problem? The shop owners say they will deal with any quality problems that may happen when using their Daigou service. Which of the following is NOT true about the offline Daigou service? Answer: This is Mr Brown's family. In his family there are four people:Mr Brown, Mrs Brown, their son Tony and their daughter Sally. Mr Brown is sitting in a chair. He is reading a newspaper. Mrs Brown is sitting at the desk. She is writing a letter. Tony is lying in the bed. He is reading a storybook. Sally is sitting on the floor. She is playing with her toy car. There is a cat under the desk. What is the cat doing? It is sleeping. Where is Tony reading? Answer: Jessie felt her life so boring one summer day. She was tired of watching TV, she read all her books, and her friends were on vacation. She wanted something different to do. Suddenly, she saw the lawn mower sitting in the yard. "Mom," she shouted, ''I think I will mow the lawn." Her mom ran into the yard and said,"Oh no, you don't. You're too young to mow the lawn." "I'm fourteen years old and know how to do it," Jessie said. "Besides, it would help Dad out, and he won't have to worry about it over the weekend." Mom thought for a while and then decided to let Jessie give it a try. After all, she was home and would _ her. Jessie already knew how to start the lawn mower from watching her dad. Jessie checked the gas to make sure it was full, and put on her gardening gloves to protect her hands. Mom watched from the kitchen window. Jessie really does know how to mow the lawn. She was very careful around the flowers and trees. When she finished, she felt so good, but she was so hot. Mom brought her some ice tea and said, "You really did a great job. Dad will be very surprised." Later that day, Dad came home and said to Jessie's mom, "You didn't have to mow the lawn. I was going to do it on Saturday. It looks great. Thanks." "I didn't mow it. Jessie did." "Wow, our little girl is growing up!" Dad told Jessie what a great job she had done. "It was fun, and I will do it again next week," said Jessie. The neighbor next door came by and asked Jessie if she wanted to mow his lawn and make some money. "Sure!" said Jessie. Jessie began mowing his lawn. Two other neighbors asked so, then another three. Jessie was now mowing lawns for them all and making some money. She was no longer bored! "I won't have time to spend my money," she laughed to herself. Before Jessie mowed the lawn, she. _ . Answer:
In Canada and the United States, there is a new group of children called "satellite kids", who live in one place but whose parents live in another place. Asians are immigrating to Canada and the United States in larger numbers than ever believe that they can give their children a better education in the west. In Asia, especially in China, Japan, and Korea, it is difficult to go to university. Students must first pass the strict national examination. However, in Canada and the United States, it is easy to go to university, and anyone who wants to go can go. As a result, Asian parents decide to leave their countries so that their children can go to university. The problem is that when Asians arrive, they discover that finding a job and making money are more difficult in the West than in the East. Also, they find that they are very lonely, and that they miss their homes. Because of these two reasons, most Asian parents decide to go back to work while their children study in the West. Therefore, these two reasons, most Asian parents decide to go back to work while their children study in the west. Therefore, these children become satellite kids", and most of their parents do not know how sad it is to be a "satellite kid". Only until now are Canadians and Americans discovering the "satellite kids" problem. Because these children do mot speak English and because their parents are not there to take care of them, they are often absent from school. To be a "satellite kid" means growing up in a country where you know you are different and where you cannot make friends because you do not speak English well. Also, it means growing up lonely, because your parents are elsewhere. What these "satellite kids "will probably say to their parents is that it's better to have parents around than to have a university education. ,. Satellite kids refer to Asian kids _ . want them to go to university An old T-shirt can be ripped into smaller pieces and used as rags. An empty milk jug can be used to water houseplants. Both of these are examples of how everyday materials can be reused Somali pirates robbed three Thai fishing ships with 77 sailors on board nearly l, 200 Miles off the Somali coast, the farthest-off-shore attack to date, an officer said Tuesday. Pirates have gone farther south and east in answer to increased patrols by warships off the Somali shore. The robbing of the three ships Sunday was about 600 miles outside the normal operation area for the international force, said a spokesman. The spokesman said the attack so far out at sea was a clear sign that the international patrols against pirates were having a "marked effect on pirate activity in the area". "Once they start attacking that far out, you're not even really talking about the Somali basin or areas of water that have any connection with Somalia," said an officer, Roger Middleton. "Once you're that far out, it's just the Indian Ocean, and it means you're looking at trade going from the Gulf to Asia, from Asia to South Africa. " "This is the farthest robbing to date. They are now operating near the Maldives and India," said another officer. The three ships--the MV Prantalay 11, 12, and l 4--had 77 members on board in total. All of them are Thai, the spokesman said. Before the Sunday robbing, pirates held l l ships and 228 sailors. Pirates have increased attacks over the past year in hopes. of catching more dollar payments. Because of increased patrols and defenses on board ships, the success rate has gone down, though the number of successful attacks has stayed the same year over year. According to the text, which can best describe the situation of the pirate problems? Pirate attacks happen in a larger area now. When US student Olivia Priedeman, 17, woke up one morning, she thought she had had a dream about making plans with a friend. But it wasn't a dream. Her phone showed that during the night, Priedeman had read a text message from her friend. She did it while she was fast asleep. Reading and sending text messages while asleep--called "sleep texting"--is an unusual sleep behaviour, similar to sleepwalking. It's also a growing concern among doctors: young people can't live without their cell phones. One in three teenagers sends more than 100 text messages a day, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project. And at least four out of five teenagers said they sleep with their phone on or near their bed. Elizabeth Dowdell, a professor at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, has studied sleeping texting. She said that having a phone nearby all night is a big part of the problem. Andrew Stiehm, a sleep medicine expert with Allina Health in Minnesota, agrees. It's possible for the part of the brain that controls motor skills to wake up, while the part of the brain that controls memory and judgment may be still asleep. That's why some people can perform basic movements ---such as walking, talking, texting or even driving--while they're sleeping. Some of Dowdell's students said that they're disturbed by their nighttime texting behavior. But because sleep texting is _ , it's a difficult habit to break. Dowdell said she knows of some students who wear socks on their hands to keep themselves from texting. Marjorie Hogan, a doctor at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, suggests keeping all electronic devices outside the bedroom at certain times. Which part the brain controls keeps awake while asleep? motor skills In the Western world in-laws usually don't get along well with each other or with a new spouse . Perhaps they have a problem in understanding that their wonderful child has now grown up and got married. Maybe they don't like the spouse their child picked. Or maybe they just don't think that anyone will ever be good enough for their own "baby". So what can the newly married people do? First of all, go for a long honeymoon. This will give you two things. First, it will give you time to get close to your new partner. Now you must stay with him or her just as you said on your wedding day. Second, it will give the in-laws time to cool down after the exciting wedding. Enjoy your honeymoon! When you return, it will be time to start dealing with the rest of the family. After you get back from your honeymoon, move to another place. Do whatever you need to do. Change your job. Start a new career, and so on. If you stay near your home or move into a house just down the street from either family, you'll get in trouble. Trust me! You also need to start making new family traditions. You don't have to make your mum's apple pie for Thanksgiving. You don't have to go to both families on Christmas Eve! Relax. You don't have to have both soon-to-be grandmothers with you when you are giving birth! Don't give in to in-law pressure. Finally, talk with other new spouses. They will encourage you and give you support for the never-ending and ongoing reality of having in-laws. In the writer's opinion, how does a new spouse make new family traditions? To start a family life independent of in-laws.
Question: It's a goal for millions and millions of families every year to keep the Christmas spending within a certain amount of money, but you can still afford the gifts because your loved ones will enjoy them. This concern is becoming greater and greater theses days. Even so, there are several things that you can do to help. Hit the sales. No one wants to get up at four o'clock in the morning and fight to get a good deal on Black Friday (the first Friday at Christmas time). It's surely very difficult to pick up the courage and get out there in the cold for a good deal. But sometimes it can be well worth. Many retailers offer _ all through the day. Some even offer online Black Friday specials, so we may still be able to get a great deal on Black Friday. Read advertisements regularly.Once the Christmas shopping season is coming, retailers will be hungry for business. They will try their best to get us into the store. Please read the weekly advertisements of sales among the major retailers from time to time. We may be lucky enough to find different prices for the same thing in different shops. Shop online. Some of us don't like running from store to store to get the best price on the perfect gift. Some of us don't like to go out in the cold at all, and then, we can do online shopping. The world of online shopping makes it possible for us to visit all the major retailers and some specialty stores on the Internet. We can find exactly what we are looking for at the best possible price without even having to leave the house. With traditional Christmas shopping, it will always take us a long time to wait if we want to get the perfect gift. We can have more choices to get a good deal _ . A. on the Internet B. in specialty stores C. from salesmen D. from retailers Answer: A Question: When you think about math, you probably don't think about breaking the law, solving mysteries or finding criminals. But a mathematician in Maryland does, and he has come up with mathematical tools to help police find criminals. People who solve crimes look for patterns that might reveal the identity of the criminal. It's long been believed, for example, that criminals will break the law closer to where they live, simply because it's easier to get around in their own neighborhood. If police see a pattern of robberies in a certain area, they may look for a suspect who lives near the crime scenes. So, the farther away from the area a crime takes place, the less likely it is that the same criminal did it. But Mike O'Leary, a mathematician at Towson University in Maryland, says that this kind of approach may be too simple. He says that police may get better clues to the location of a criminal's home base by combining these patterns with a city's layout and historical crime records. The records of past crimes contain geographical information and can reveal easy targets -- that is, the kind of stores that might be less difficult to rob. Because these stores are along roads, the locations of past crimes contain information about where major streets and intersections are. O'Leary is writing a new computer program that will quickly provide this kind of information for a given city. His program also includes information about the people who live in the city, and information about how a criminal's patterns change with age. It's been shown, for example, that the younger the criminal, the closer to home the crime. Other computer programmers have worked on similar software, but O'Leary's uses more math. The mathematician plans to make his computer program available, free of charge, to police departments around the country. The program is just one way to use math to fight crime. O'Leary says that criminology -- the study of crime and criminals -- contains a lot of good math problems. "I feel like I'm in a gold mine and ," he says. "It's a lot of fun." By "I'm the only one who knows what gold looks like", O'Leary means that he _ . A. is better at finding gold than others B. is the only one who uses math to make money C. knows more criminals than other mathematicians D. knows best how to use math to help solve crimes Answer: D Question: Dear Da Peng, Thanks for your email. And thank you for introducing your Chinese friend Li Fang to me. You are the class monitor for this term. That's good. Work hard! Try to help your teacher. My classmates choose me as the PE monitor in our class because I run very fast. My PE teacher and my classmates like me. They also want me to _ the PE Club. I think that is a good idea. We can play basketball or football at weekends. Please send some of your photos to me. Yours, Mike Which of the following is NOT true? A. Li Fang is Da Peng's friend. B. This email is from Mike to Da Peng. C. Mike feels happy to organize the PE Club. D. Mike wants to join the PE Club because he wants to play tennis. Answer: D Question: When Shakespeare was twenty-one, he went to London to try his fortune in that great city, and a very interesting place was the London of his day. There was the famous London Bridge and St. Paul's Cathedral, and palaces and markets and long streets full of shops. Then, too, there were the daily crowds where people from all over the world could be seen. Knights,scholars and the highwayman or thief,who had been infamous for his clever robberies, passed by each other. Here, also, were noblemen dressed in gold, from Italy and Spain and France; slaves from Spanish America, sea captains and ministers, soldiers and servants--all held by chance or interest within the gray walls which circled London, and whose gates gave welcome to as strange a crowd as could be found in the world. Into this curious crowd came Shakespeare, quick to see and eager to learn. And before long all these strange sights were as familiar to him as the faces of his own town's residents. Each _ told its story to him so plainly that, as before he had learned the secrets of the fields and woods, so now he learned men and men's interests that make up the great world. And he learned these lessons so well that when he came to write his plays, he made such use of them as no writer ever made before or since; for it is the use of this knowledge of the world, combined with his own genius, that makes Shakespeare the greatest dramatist that has ever lived. The passage probably comes from _ . A. an announcement B. an advertisement C. a textbook. D. a poster Answer: C Question: Most of us spend our lives seeking the natural world. To this end, we walk the dog, play golf, go fishing, sit in the garden, drink outside rather than inside the pub, have a picnic, live in the suburbs, go to the seaside, buy a weekend place in the country. The most popular free time activity in Britain is going for a walk. And when joggers jog, they don't run down the streets. Every one of them automatically heads to the park or the river. It is my firm belief that not only do we all need nature, but we all seek nature, whether we know we are doing so or not. But despite this, our children are growing up nature-deprived . I spent my boyhood climbing trees. These days, children are robbed of these ancient freedoms, due to problems like crime, traffic, the loss of the open spaces and strange new ideas about what is best for children, that is to say, things that can be bought, rather than things that can be found. The truth is to be found elsewhere. A study in the US: families had moved to better housing and the children were assessed for ADHD . Those whose housing had more natural views showed an improvement of 19%; those who had the same improvement in material surroundings but no nice view improved just 4%. A study in Sweden indicated that kindergarten children who could play in a natural environment had less illness and greater physical ability than children used only to a normal playground. A US study suggested that when a school gave children access to a natural environment, the entire school would do better in studies. Another study found that children play differently in a natural environment. In playgrounds, children create a hierarchy based on physical abilities, with the tough ones taking the lead. But when a grassy area was planted with bushes, the children got much more into fantasy play, and the social hierarchy was now based on imagination and creativity. Most bullying is found in schools where there is a tarmac playground; the least bullying is in a natural area that the children are encouraged to explore. This reminds me unpleasantly of Sunnyhill School, with its hard tarmac, where I used to hang about in corners dreaming about wildlife. But children are frequently discouraged from involvement with natural spaces, for health and safety reasons, for fear that they might get dirty or that they might cause damage. So, instead, the damage is done to the children themselves: not to their bodies but to their souls. One of the great problems of modern childhood is ADHD, now increasingly and expensively treated with drugs. Yet one study after another indicates that contact with nature gives huge benefits to ADHD children. However, we spend money on drugs rather than on green places. The life of old people is much better when they have access to nature. The most important for the growing population of old people is in quality rather than quantity of years. And study after study finds that a garden is the single most important thing in finding that quality. In wider and more difficult areas of life, there is evidence to indicate that natural surroundings improve all kinds of things. Even problems with crime and aggressive behaviour are reduced when there is contact with the natural world. Dr William Bird, researcher from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, states in his study, "A natural environment can reduce violent behaviour because its process helps reduce anger and behavior that people might regret later." Wild places need encouraging for this reason, no matter how small their contribution. We tend to think human beings are doing nature some kind of favour when we are protecting nature. The error here is far too deep: not only do humans need nature for themselves, but the very idea that humanity and the natural world are separable things is damaging. Human beings are a species of animals. For seven million years we lived on the planet as part of nature. So we miss the natural world and long for contact with non-human life. Anyone who has patted a dog, stroked a cat, sat under a tree with a glass of beer, given or received a bunch of flowers or chosen to walk through the park on a nice day, understands that. We need the wild world. It is necessary to our well-being, our health, our happiness. Without other living things around us we are less than human. Children who have chances to explore natural areas _ . A. tend to develop a strong love for science ks5u B. are more likely to dream about wildlife C. tend to be physically tougher in adulthood D. are less likely to be involved in bullying Answer: D
Jungle country is not friendly to man,but it is possible to survive there. You must have the right equipment and you must know a few important things about woodcraft . Then your chances of staying alive are very good. No one should go into the jungle without the right equipment. You need lightweight clothing, a good knife, and a compass. Fishhooks and a line,a rifle,matches in a waterproof container and a poncho are necessary too. So is a mosquito net to protect the head. In the jungle you can get hopelessly lost within five minutes after leaving known landmark . That is why you should always carry a compass. In open country during the day, you can tell which way to go by studying the sun. At night the stars are sure guides to direction. But in most places the jungle rooftop is so thick that it is impossible to see the sun or the stars. Again and again you must check your position by the compass. Keep alert . Watch the ground in front of you carefully. Stop and listen now and again. Avoid haste , and rest often. In a place that is hot and humid , the person who sets a fast pace will soon become tired. A steady and even pace is wisest in the long run. If you lose your way, don't panic. Try to decide how long it has been since you were sure of your position. Mark the spot where you are with blazes on a tree. Put them on four sides of the tree, so that you will be able to see them from any direction. Then you can beginretracing your steps(going back exactly the way you have come), knowing that you can always find the spot from which you started. Except in an emergency, never try to travel the jungle at night. Whenever possible, _ that are going in your general direction. This may cause you many extra miles of travel. But in the end it will save time and energy. Nothing is moreexhausting(extremely tiring) thanhacking(cutting) a way through unbroken jungle. Surviving in the jungle is a science. The jungle people have become perfect in this science, and you can too. Learn as much as you can about what to expect in the jungle. Make sure you have the right equipment. Then no part of the jungle will seem completely or frightening. In fact, you will be able to "live off" it for a long time. It is wise to follow streams and rivers, which will ensure you to _ . A young man was getting ready for graduation. He always wanted a beautiful sports car, and he told his father this. On the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful box. The young man was disappointed when he opened the box and found a book. He shouted angrily,"With all your money you give me a book?"and rushed out of the house. Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and a wonderful family, but he realized his father was very old and thought he should go to see him. Before he made a visit, he got a call telling him his father had passed away .He was also told his father had given all his _ to him. When he arrived at his father's house, sadness filled his heart. He began to see his father's important papers and saw the still new book. With tears, he opened the book and began to turn the pages. As he read the words, a car key dropped from an envelope in the book. It was the key to a sports car. The young man wanted his father to buy him a _ . Perfectionists believe that not only is perfection achievable, but that it should be achieved whenever possible. They always try to make their work better, and often get pleasure from investing time and effort in their projects. They enjoy paying attention to detail and are often hard to please. After all, perfectionists almost always have nearlyimpossible standards for themselves, much higher than what outside parties would generally hope for. Most perfectionists are also highlyorganized. They've perfected their work process along with everything else in their life. They have processes and patterns for handling almost anything that comes their way, from email to new projects and clients to bookkeeping. It can definitely add up to a more effective workday with less wasted time and effort. Perfectionists can be thought of as overbearing by those who don't share their attitude. It can also be upsetting to clients who aren't interested in "perfect" and simply want their project done yesterday. When you strive for perfection, everything takes just a bit longer to get right. Even if you have a more efficient design and development process than many other designers, it is likely that you spend more time on each step than a lot of others do. While most people who call themselves "perfectionists" do so in a lighthearted or positive manner, there are those out there to whom perfection becomes an obsession . They consider anything less than perfect completely unacceptable. This can lead to obsessive behavior and can have damaging effects on their overall quality of life. Just feeling good about a job done to the best of your ability is entirely normal for a perfectionists and isn't something to worry about. But it becomes particularly dangerous when perfectionists feel they are never quite able to attain perfection, and so drive themselves crazy trying to always reach this unattainable goal. These perfectionists often place their entire selfworth on their accomplishments and ability to reach perfection, and since they're never able to reach it, it creates a very negative selfimage and low selfesteem or depression. The good news is that there are trained psychologists who can help those who are nervously obsessed with perfection to overcome their obsession. To perfectionists, their obsession with perfection is an act of _ . LONDON, England(CNN)-- The youngest person to sail solo around the world returned home Thursday from his 30,000-mile, 282-day ocean journey. Mike Perham, 17, sailed into Lizard Point in Cornwall, the southernmost point in Britain, at 9:47 a.m., his race team said. "It feels ly brilliant," Mike told CNN by phone hours before crossing the finish line. "I'm really, really excited to be going across the line at last. It doesn't feel like long since I crossed it first." Mike set off on his round-the-world trip on November 18, 2008. He has been sailing his yacht, TotallyMoney.com, single-handedly, though a support team has been sailing next to him along the way. ks5u The teen has now achieved the title of Youngest Sailor to Circumnavigate the Globe Solo, according to the Guinness World Records. Mike learned how to sail when he was seven years old from his father, Peter and at age 14, he sailed across the Atlantic alone. The teenager's school -- which Mike describes as "highly supportive" of his trip -- has redesigned his coursework to fit in with his trip. It also gave him some coursework to do during "quiet moments," according to Mike's Website. There haven't been many of those quiet moments. Repeated autopilot failures forced him to stop for repairs in Portugal, the Canary Islands, South Africa, and twice in Australia, according to his Web site. Bad weather in the Southern Ocean -- between Australia and Antarctica -- forced Mike to battle 50ft waves and 57 mph winds. He said at one point, a "freak wave" picked up the boat and turned it on its side. "My feet were on the ceiling at the time," he told CNN. "That was a really hairy moment, and I was certainly thinking, 'Why am I here?' But we took the sails off and the day after I thought, 'This is brilliant!'" Mike describes his father as his biggest hero, always supportive of what he wanted to achieve. Peter Perham said he wasn't too worried about his son facing dangerous situations at sea, as long as he knew what to do and stayed safe. According to the passage, Mike did anything EXCEPT _ on his trip. A short plant with a thick, fleshy stem, extensive roots, and a short blooming period would most likely be found in which of the following environments?
After many years on the endangered list of animals, Japan'sAmami Black rabbit can finally breathe a sigh of relief -- That's because this year, the rare animal is no longer in danger of dying out! The effort to save the dark-furred rabbit, often called "a living fossil", began in 1921, when the Japanese government promoted it to the status of "natural monument". This meant that it could not be hunted down for food. However, when that did not work, it got yet another promotion to "special natural monument", which meant that the rabbit could not be trapped or hunted. While that helped, it was not enough -- By 2004 with only 2,000-5,000 specimen left in the wild, the Amami rabbit was officially declared endangered! The reason for the serious population decrease was due to loss of habitat caused by forest clearing for home and agriculture use and the introduction of a new species not native to the island -- the Mongoose. Brought in to get rid of the snake population, the Mongoose instead seemed to prefer the black rabbit. In 2005, the government carried out a strict mongoose capture order and slowly but surely, the rabbit started to come back. This rabbit live in a rather unusual lifestyle. Its ideal habitat is a forest that features both trees and large grasses -- the former to find acorns to feed on and the latter, to hide its babies. That's because to protect them from being eaten by their enemies, the Amami rabbit buries them deep into the ground among the grasses and covers them up with dirt during the day. Then, in the middle of the night, still keeping a _ eye out for their enemies, it digs them out from their hiding place and feeds them. No wonder the animal is sometimes called "midnight rabbit". Though many measures have been taken to stop this furry animal from being wiped out from the world, there are many more that are still in danger. We surely hope that officials in other parts of the worldtry their best to save the endangered species. Why was the rabbit still in danger after it was promoted to "special natural monument"? Answer: Nothing evoke Alaska like a whale exploding out of the water or an eagle pulling a silver fish from the river. Combine these images with high mountains, brilliant icebergs and wonderful meals and you really do have the Best of Alaska! Join us for an unforgettable 7-day excursion to the last frontier! Additional highlights include: a scenic flight over Glacier Bay National Park, a rafting trip through the heart of the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, historic Skagaway, a whale watching cruise and the company of knowledgeable local guides. HIGHLIGHTS: JUNEAU: Juneau, the state capital, is rich in culture and scenic beauty. It is here that we start and end our trip. HAINES: Haines is a small community located along the fiords . The natural beauty and expansive wilderness found here have made Haines a premier center for adventure in Alaska. In 2004, Haines was listed by Outside Magazine and National Geographic Adventureas one of the best places for recreation and living. The activities listed below are located in Haines. ALASKA INDIAN ARTS: Alaska Indian Arts is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to the preservation and continuation of traditional native craft and culture of the Northwest Native Tribes. Alaska Indian Arts is also the headquarters for several of Alaska's outstanding craftsmen and artisans. We spend a few hours learning carving, native beading and culture from these master artists. SKAGWAY: Skagway is famous for its role in the Klondike Gold Stampede over 100 years ago. Today, it is historic yet lively town, which still reflects its gold rush roots and contains colourful shops. In Skagway, we stop by the Klondike Gold Rush National Park Visitor's Center and ride the White Pass Yukon Route Railway. GUSTAVUS: Gustavus is the gateway to the Glacier National Park. We'll stay at a comfortable lodge here for two nights. This will be the base for both the whale-watching excursion and a full day cruise in Glacier Bay. DATES/PRICES: 2011: May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15. 7 days--$3,500, including lodging, all meals, excursions, guides, park fees, sales taxes, and transportation between Juneau, Skagway, Haines, and Gustavus. Not included: alcohol, personal items, airfare to and from Juneau. CONTACTS: E-mail: info@aladkamountinguides.com Call(800)766-3396 Write: Alaska Mountain Guides&Climbing School P.O.Box 1081, Haines AK99827 Which of the following requires participants to pay additional fees? Answer: A third of 15 to 18-year-olds in the UK have met someone in person they originally met through social media. The figure comes from an exclusive online Newsbeat poll of 1,015 British teenagers, put together by Comres. The survey also indicates that a quarter feel happier online than they do in real life. But overall, real-life relationships are still considered far more important than online ones, according to the findings. Sixty-six per cent polled last month said the number of friends they knew in person was more important to them, compared to 28% who said the same of the number of friends and followers they had online. The survey also suggests what lots of people know already, that social media is now an integral part of teenagers' lives. Only one per cent of _ said they never checked in online for social reasons. Facebook is the most popular social network (89% have an account), followed by Twitter (62%) and Snapchat (58%). Dr Emma Short, a psychologist at the University of Bedfordshire, said, "The number of teenagers meeting up with people they first befriended online is worrying. Even very sophisticated security experts find it very hard to verify the identity of accounts. When you're 15 and you're very effective at identifying friends and risk, it's easy to assume you can do that online. It's not safe in that they may not be who they say they are and you know nothing about them apart from the conversation you've had online - which is a very small part of their lives and the person they may be." The survey also indicated: * 25% of teenagers admitted they were addicted to social media. * 25% wished they could give up social media. "I can't do without my phone." says 17-year-old Aisha from Clapton, north London. "I can't do without checking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat." When we ask Aisha about the prospect of taking her social networks away, the consequences, genuinely, are too hard to bear. Jealousy, loneliness, happiness and stress are all emotions felt by teenagers. According to the survey, which of the following statements is TRUE? Answer: You must have a favorite line or _ you repeat often in your conversations. Studies say that pet phrases can reflect our changing society and reveal information about a person's personality. Here are some of the most popular pet phrases among young people. ---nuts I love the word and use it whenever I think a person is stupid, or a behavior is crazy. I learned the term from one of my classmates. Once, we saw two high school girls wearing miniskirts on a very cold winter day and my classmate called the two girls "nuts". I don't think the word reflects my personality. I use it because it sounds cool. Diao Yujie, 22, computer science major at Nanjing University. ---stunning I use this word very often. Once, my classmates and I were discussing how amusing QQ is. One guy suddenly burst out, "I have MSN too". This comment had no relation with the topic we were discussing. I used this word and everybody laughed. I think it is a fantastic word that can change awkwardness to amusement. Mu Li, 20, journalism major at Beijing Normal University. ---I'm giddy! I use this word a lot---more often than my classmates. It has became a symbol of me, as my friends sometimes refer to me as the guy who often says the word. I am a person who wants to be different and this word gives me that feeling. Chen Zhou, 21, Nanjing University. ---stunning I only use this word with my friends. My parents don't understand it. The word, which is only used among people of my age, is intimate. I think it stands for being young and energetic. And I want to be young forever, so I like the word. Chen Jianjun, 23, senior at Nanjing University. What's young people's attitude to pet phrase? Answer: Aside from doing schoolwork and studying, American students must also participate in various extra-curricular activities. Many students get involved in their communities by doing volunteer work at various local organizations. In fact, the school I attend even requires students to perform a certain number of hours of volunteer work per semester. It is part of our study hall grade, as well as a graduation requirement. There are many places to do volunteer work in the community. Some of my classmates volunteer at the local animal shelter, the community table (which provides free meals for needy families), charity stores, and many others. Finding a suitable place to volunteer usually depends on what's available, as well as personal interests. For example, a friend of mine who enjoys swimming volunteers at the recreation center to teach young children how to swim. With all these options out there, I ended up doing most of my volunteer work at a school library and a non-profit bookstore called Friends of the Library. This bookstore sells donated books at cheap prices, and all the profits made are donated to the local library. I thought it was very fitting that I do my volunteer work at a library and a bookstore, because reading has always been very important to me. I love working in the bookstore now, because every sale we make helps our public library expand, and gives it the funds needed to purchase new books. I think everyone should have the opportunity to read, and that we each should do our part to help those who don't have the chance. There is a charity event, called One Book for A Window of Opportunity, in which Chinese students can donate a book to the children of the poor village Fangmaping. They don't have a lot of resources, so reading can be a challenge. To find out more about this event, please visit: http://bbs.enfamily.cn/thread-739278-1-1.html. This passage is supposed to write to _ . Answer:
In Vietnam, Tet-Trung-Thu, or the Mid-Autumn Festival, is one of the most popular family holidays. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Vietnamese families plan their activities around their children on this special day. In a Vietnamese folk story, parents were working so hard to prepare for the harvest that they left the children playing by themselves. To make up for that time, the parents would use the Mid-Autumn Festival as a chance to show their love and thanks for their children. As a result, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called the Children's Festival. In the United States, this tradition continues in many Vietnamese-American families. Activities are often centered on children and education. Parents buy lanterns for their children so that they can take part in a candle and lantern parade at dawn. Lanterns mean brightness, while the parade means success in school. Vietnamese markets sell a variety of lanterns, but the most popular children's lantern is the star lantern. Other children's activities include arts and crafts in which children make face masks and lanterns. Children also perform traditional Vietnamese dances for adults and take part in contests for prizes. Unicorn dancers are also very popular. Like Chinese people, Vietnamese parents tell their children folk stories and serve moon cakes and other special treats under the bright moon. A favorite folk story is about a carp that wanted to become a dragon. The carp worked and worked and finally changed itself into a dragon. Parents use this story to encourage their children to work hard so that they can become whatever they want to be. We can learn from the passage that Tet-Trung-Thu is celebrated _ . A in China and other Asian countries B by Vietnamese-American families C all over the world except Vietnam D across the United States Answer: B. by Vietnamese-American families Behind the traffic noise and modernday confusion on Stoney Creek Road in Bexley lies a small but amazing piece of history.Just a century ago,Mr Harold Chapman Snr.founded Sydney's Famous Original Doll Hospital and,although the Hospital has relocated several times,you cannot help but get a sense of days gone by when you walk through the doors. In 1913 Sydney's first Doll Hospital was opened in Beamish Street.Campsie by Mr Harold Chapman Snr as part of his General Store,all beginning from a simple shipping accident.Harold's brother was in the business of importing dolls from Japan and during the shipping process the rubber bands holding the dolls together would go rotten and it was Harold who found a way to repair them.From such a small beginning grew quite a successful business as demand for doll repairs increased. The business was taken over in the 1930's by Harold's son,also Harold Chapman who relocated the Doll Hospital to Her Majesty's Arcade in Sydney where the business expanded.The real boom came in 1939 with World War II and the extreme restrictions on production and import.Suddenly new dolls were no longer an option so little children had to have their "best friends" lovingly repaired. In 1968 the Doll Hospital moved to its present location.It is now run by Mr Geoff Chapman,Harold Jnr's son.The Hospital is not only in its third generation of owners,but also its third generation of "doctors",the skills and knowledge being passed down through the family of repairers. Flipping through the "Before and After" photo album,you can see just how many wonderful repairs have been carried out and you can just imagine the stories behind them.It is estimated that the Doll Hospital has treated over 2.5 million "patients" so far--that's a lot of childhood memories revived! Early in 1910s Harold' brother _ . A ran a General Store B shipped dolls from abroad C helped Harold repair dolls D ended his old business Answer: B. shipped dolls from abroad Put an ice cube from your fridge into a glass of water. You have a piece of string 10 centimeters long. The problem is to take out that piece of ice with the help of the string. But you must not touch the ice with your fingers. You may ask your friends to try to do that when you are having dinner together. There is a saltcellar on the table. You must use salt when you carry out this experiment. First you put the string across the piece of ice. Then put some salt on the ice. Salt makes ice melt . The ice round the string will begin to melt. But when it melts, it will lose heat. The cold ice cube will make the salt water freeze again. After a minute or two you may raise the piece of string and with it you will raise your piece of ice! This experiment can be very useful to you. If, for example, there is ice near the door of your house, you must use very much salt to melt all the ice. If you don't put enough salt, the water will freeze again. We must use _ when we carry out this experiment. A fridge B some food C a table D some salt Answer: D. some salt 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." The author mainly wants to tell us _ . A the less you switch, the better you do B it is more efficient to do things all in a mixed way C it takes longer for us to become a great thinker D we shouldn't be lazy if we want to accomplish many tasks Answer: A. the less you switch, the better you do Albert Hofmann was a Swiss Scientist who was fascinated by nature. This led him to a career in chemistry in which he sought answers to his uncertainties. He worked at Sandoz Laboratories where he nurtured his research work, and there he made a lot of success by working with various plants and changing them into something useful. He became famous when he became the first person to produce lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) . In addition, he was also the first person to taste it and learn about its hallucinogenic effects. He was deeply connected to the nature and argued that LSD, besides being useful for psychiatry , could also be used to promote awareness of mankind's place in nature. However, he was disappointed that his discovery was being carelessly used as a drug for entertainment. Because of his discovery, LSD fans have fondly called him "The father of LSD". Besides carrying out his scientific experiments, he also authored numerous books and more than 100 scientific articles. In 2007, he featured in a list of the 100 greatest living geniuses , published by The Telegraph Newspaper. Childhood & Early Life Albert Hofmann was born in Baden, Switzerland, on January 11, 1906. He was the eldest of four children. His father was a poor toolmaker in a factory and they lived in a rented apartment. He spent much of his childhood outdoors, and grew up with a very deep connection with nature. He had mind-blowing experiences in childhood, wherein nature was changed in magical ways that he didn't understand. These experiences caused questions in his mind, and chemistry was the scientific field which allowed him to understand them. He studied chemistry at Zurich University, and his main interest is the chemistry of plants and animals. At 23, he earned his Ph. D with honors. It's likely that Albert Hofmann produced LSD in _ . A Baden B a factory C Sandoz Laboratories D Zurich University Answer: C. Sandoz Laboratories
When John Milton, writer of "Paradise Lost", entered Cambridge University, in 1625, he was already skilled in Latin after seven years of studying it as his second language at St. Paul's School, prefix = st1 /London. Like all English boys who prepared for college in grammar schools, he had learned not only to read Latin but also to speak and write it smoothly and correctly. His pronunciation of Latin was English, however, and seemed to have sounded strange to his friends when he later visitedItaly. Schoolboys gained their skill in Latin in a bitter way. They kept in mind the rules to make learning by heart easier. They first made a word-for-word translation and then an idiomatic translation into English. As they increased their skill, they translated their English back into Latin without referring to the book and then compared their translation with the original. The schoolmaster was always at hand to encourage them. All schoolmasters believed _ . After several years of study, the boys began to write compositions in imitation of the Latin writers they read. And as they began to read Latin poems, they began to write poems in Latin. Because Miltonwas already a poet at ten, his poems were much better than those painfully put together by the other boys. During the seven yearsMiltonspent at university, he made regular use of his command of Latin. He wrote some excellent Latin poems, which he published among his works in 1645. Which of the following is suggested in the passage? A. The schoolmaster mainly helped those who were bad at Latin. B. The schoolboys could repeat Latin grammar rules from memory. C. The schoolmaster usually stood beside the boys with a stick in his hand. D. Some of the schoolboys were quick at writing compositions in Latin. Answer: B. The schoolboys could repeat Latin grammar rules from memory. Last summer, after finishing our work in China, I took a trip of a lifetime on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Leaving Beijing early on a Wednesday morning in July, my wife and I traveled through some gorgeous countryside before we arrived in Moscow the following Monday evening. The first part of the journey took us past the Great Wall and through the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. At the Mongolian Republic border, we had a delay while the wheels were changed because the railway is different. On our way to the capital, Ulan Bator, we saw herdsmen on horseback looking after their cattle. There was a terrible thunderstorm as we crossed a vast open plain. Later we had a quick tour of Ulan Bator. Next, the train took us into Siberia. After a stop at Irkutsk, a popular holiday resort , where a tour group left the train, we passed the great Lake Baikal. Later, we saw some lovely wooden houses in pretty, sunny countryside. This surprised us, as we had imagined Siberia as being covered in thick snow. Over the next few days, we passed through Novosibirsk, Omsk and other cities in the heartlands of the Russian Federation. By now, our body clocks were losing their sense of time. We wanted to sleep and eat at the wrong time! At last we reached Moscow. We were too tired and slept for 16 hours that night. The next day we went sightseeing. We saw the Kremlin and some other great buildings in the Russian capital. Then, all too soon, it was time for us to return to our home in London. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A. Ulan Bator is the capital of Mongolian Republic. B. The author travelled with a group of friends C. The author's body clock ran faster than the others'. D. The train broke down at the Mongolian Republic border. Answer: A. Ulan Bator is the capital of Mongolian Republic. People who are cheerful and relaxed are less likely to suffer from colds. It's possible that being full of vim and vigor helps the body fight illnesses, say the researchers from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in Pittsburgh. "We need to take more seriously the possibility that a positive emotional style is a major player in disease risk," says psychologist Sheldon Cohen, the study's lead researcher. In a previous study, Cohen and his colleagues found that people who tended to be cheerful and lively were least likely to develop sniffles, coughs, and other cold symptoms . Those findings were interesting, but they didn't prove that a person's attitude affects whether he or she gets sick. Instead, it was still probable that a person's underlying personality is what matters. Evidence suggests, for instance, that certain people are naturally more likely to be outgoing and optimistic, with high self-respect and a sense of control over life. This would mean that who we are, not how we feel, finally decides our chances of catching colds. To figure out which mattered more (personality or emotions), the CMU team interviewed 193 healthy adults. The researchers talked to each person over the phone every evening for 2 weeks. They told the researchers about the positive and negative feelings they had experienced that day. The results showed that everyone in the study was equally likely to get infected. Their symptoms, however, differed depending on the types of emotions that they had reported over the previous 2 weeks. Among those who reported good moods and had been infected with the flu virus, for example, 28 percent developed coughs and stuffy noses. On the other hand, those symptoms struck 41 percent of people who had been less positive. Scientists argue about whether negative emotions or positive emotions have a stronger effect on how healthy we are. For now, it can't hurt to look on the bright side more often than not! According to the finding a leading factor of catching colds should be one's _ . A. health. B. personality. C. quality D. mood Answer: B. personality. As a student, you must be excited to know something about American school students. In fact, just like in China, in the United States, high school is usually divided into two periods, the first two or three years are called "junior high school" and the other is "senior high school". In China, children enjoy free education of nine years, but in the United States, the students enjoy free education(which will be started when they are about 6 years old) until they are 18 years old. As a result of the free education system, American children have little difficulty in going to senior high school. American high school students can take part in a lot of activities outside of the classroom. The activities are organized by the school, such as joining a music group or a sports team. Certainly, just like us students in China, American students have to work hard in order to get good marks if they want to go to a good university. They take classes in all kinds of subjects all through the high school period. And students with low marks at the end of a school year are still allowed to go on to the next grade. In American high schools, there is fighting or hurting or other kinds of bad behaviors. So children who want to go to university are often sent to suburban high schools, where most students want to go to university and the atmosphere is quite different. The writer of the passage tells us the truth that _ . A. the atmosphere in high schools is not good B. none of the schools in cities are good for learning C. suburban high schools are good places for learning D. all the American students want to go to university Answer: C. suburban high schools are good places for learning American Watersports Tuesday-Saturday Located on the beach of the Sea Gardens Beach Resort, there are fun things to rent for the whole family. They offer rentals for kayaks, jet skis, and even parasail! Enjoy the water up-close or from a bird's eye view! No matter what activity you're enjoying, be sure to protect yourself and your family from the sun's powerful rays and apply plenty of sun block! 15 Street Boat Company Monday-Saturday 15 Street Boat Company offers rental boats of all kinds. They're sure to have what you are looking for, whether it's a small boat for a quick and simple outing or an extravagant boat with comfortable seats with a stereo and high tech navigation. You can rent a boat for half a day or a couple of days, or even weeks at a time. If you want it, they've got it. It's fun for everyone! Coconut's Watersports 9am-5pm Monday-Sunday Coconut's Watersports is open 7 days a week and offers tons of water fun for the whole family. Jet Ski activities last 30 minutes or 1 hour and can make stops along the way. You must be at least 14 years of age to ride alone and can be as young as 3 to ride along with an adult. Everybody is required to wear a life jacket and a license is required to operate the Jet Ski. Bathing suits and shorts are recommended. Jet Ski Tours of Miami 10am-7pm Thursday-Sunday Jet Ski Tours of Miami includes onsite parking, indoor restrooms, lockers, and life jackets for participants. You may choose a one or two tour and each Jet Ski can hold up to 3 people. You must be at least 18 years old in order to ride. As long as you are accompanied by an adult, there is no age limitation for any passenger. There is a restaurant nearby to eat at. The tour visits 6 different islands and passes by Bayside and Hard Rock. You may even catch sight of dolphins, turtles or a crab resting in these splendid Florida waters. You should especially protect yourself from sun burnt while visiting _ . A. Jet Ski Tours of Miami B. Coconut's Watersports C. 15 D. American Watersports Answer: D. American Watersports
Have you ever wondered why stems grow upwards and roots downwards? Why plants always seem to turn, towards the light and climbing plants run up rather than down? The answer is simple:auxin,a chemical substance that controls growth in plants. Auxin gives away its secrets Auxin is a plant hormone . Darwin was already interested in it in the 19th century. Only in recent years, however, has the hormone started to give away its secrets ,thanks to intensive molecular research.Auxin is produced in the young,growing parts of plants and then transported throughout the plant-to a low -lying stem for example. The stem needs to straighten out as soon as possible to be able to absorb the topside,resulting in the underside growing faster and the stem straightening out. For the same reason, plants in front of windows will always turn to the light . This active regulation of auxin transport allows plants to take ideal advantage of local and changing conditions. A new means of transport for auxin? The transport of auxin through the plant plays a vital role. And ,from all appearances,it is not a simple matter. The researchers identified an important new link and means of transport for auxin: PILS proteins . PILS proteins are vital for auxin-dependent plant growth and adjust the intracellular storage of the hormone. It is exactly this compartmentalizing of auxin that seems functionally important for the various developmental processes. Growing crops more efficiently: the right amount of auxin in the right place Higher auxin levels at the right moment and in the right place result in better growth and greater harvest. Better adjustment of auxin levels would make plants grow more efficiently. The researchers hope to contribute to the development of more efficient growing processes by continuing to sort out auxin transport processes. Which of the following can be the best title for this passage? A. Why Plants Grow Towards the Light? B. Darwin's Dream Has Come True C. How Did Scientists Find Out the Secret? D. A New Way of the Growing of Plants Answer: A. Why Plants Grow Towards the Light? Kilimanjaro Climb : a Rite of Passage for Father and Son Climbing Kilimanjaro is a transformational experience for many people. The things that make the mountain hard are the very things that make it so powerful. In the case of my son Josh and I,the walk up Kilimanjaro proved a powerful symbol ofhis transition into manhood, and a great change in our relationship. Day three on the mountain, Josh was hit with massive headaches. He told me every step felt like a nail driving into his head. And then, on the night we climbed the crater rim, less than 40 minutes from the summit, Josh fell. I was walking ahead, and did not even see it. He was so exhausted that he could not get up. He recalled our guides, debating whether or not they should take him straight down. Josh _ He forced himself to his feet, shook the guides off. He set his face towards the peak and just kept marching. Near the summit he caught up with me and we reached the peak together. " I've never been in so much pain and so happy at the same time,,,he said, as we sat side by side on the frozen rock and looked down over Africa. "You know, in the past when we'd go on camping and rafting trips, you guided and took care of me through it all. But on Kilimanjaro it was different. From the bottom up, I climbed it. I never feltlike a kid, even when 1 was in pain. You never acted like a parent." "That's not quite true,"I replied. "When you told me that on the summit you fell-and I did not even notice, my first thought was, 'Oh my God! I'm such an awful parent!' But then it hit me, 'He got himself up. He walked to the peak on his own. He didn't need me to help.," I realized as I spoke that two people had died that night on Kilimanjaro. A child and a parent. It wasjust two friends who walked down the mountain together. What can be inferred from the talk between the father and the son? A. Josh felt quite good about his independence. B. Josh appreciated his parents ,company and care. C. The father felt guilty all the time. D. The father should have taken good care of Josh as usual. Answer: A. Josh felt quite good about his independence. If a see through thing is multifaceted, it is most likely A. a ball B. an apple C. a silver globe D. a quartz square Answer: D. a quartz square Visiting London can be an expensive trip, so establishing a budget and finding bargains when you arrive will help you get around London on the cheap. The following steps can help you find cheaper alternatives for transport for your London trip. l Familiarize yourself with the city's boroughs and specifically the area where you will be staying. You can use a street map, or an online map search engine, to establish where in the city you will be staying and the distance you are from the major tourist attractions you want to visit. l Find a local provider of Transport for London tickets or travel cards, since your first bargain purchase will be an Oyster Card. Traveling around London with an Oyster Card will give you access to the cheapest option of transportation methods and the Oyster Card is accepted citywide on buses, boats and the London Underground, known by the locals as "the tube". l Seek out your nearest Tube Station. The Tube is the cheapest and most reliable form of transportation and runs from around 6 a.m. until around 1 a.m. ..., depending on the line or the station. There are 287 tube stations in London that accept the Oyster Card, with a high concentration in central London. If you are staying anywhere in central London, there will be a tube station less than 10 minutes away. The Transport for London website offers a tube station search facility to find the nearest subway station to any location in the city. When you find a tube station, you can easily locate the closest bus stop by using the comparison bus-tube maps at the station's entrance. l Follow the Transport for London Tube Guide to your destinations and always plan ahead. Making a plan for transport will save you unnecessary expenses, wasted trips on the tube and doubling back on your journey . Which of the following can help a traveler spend the least money on transport? A. Trying different transportation methods. B. Taking buses as much as possible. C. Traveling with an Oyster Card. D. Making a plan before your journey. Answer: C. Traveling with an Oyster Card. The president of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, is asking for foreign help to fight forest and agricultural fires in his country. According to Mr Widodo, Indonesian helicopters are only able to carry a small amount of the water needed to put out the fires. " _ " the Associated Press reported his comment. The Indonesian National Institute of Aeronautics and Space says more than 1,300 fires are burning across the country. The government has sent about 25,000 soldiers, police and firefighters in six provinces to battle the fires. Indonesian farmers and some businesses often burn rainforest to clear land at this time of year. The burning usually takes place during the country's dry season. But a large rise in palm oil production on peat lands is blamed for the many fires this year. Peat is made partly of dead plants, which burns easily and is often used as cooking fuel. The resulting thick, black smoke has polluted skies over Indonesia and four other countries. The burning has worsened air quality, closed schools and caused any outdoor activities to stop. The smoke is not only affecting people; it is affecting wildlife. In Indonesian Borneo, an animal rescue center says some of its animals have developed breathing problems. If the fires continue, a lot more could become sick and some could die. Scientists have warned that the fires this year could be worst ever because of a weather system called El Nino. They say the weather system has created extremely dry conditions in Indonesia. What is the main cause of the many fires this year? A. The increase in palm oil production. B. The burning of rainforest. C. The extreme dry weather. D. A weather system called El Nino. Answer: A. The increase in palm oil production.
These classmates all had good jobs and made lots of money. They talked happily. Then their talk soon turned to complaining about the stress in work and life. The teacher went to the kitchen and came back with a large pot of coffee and many cups--china ones, plastic ones and glass ones. Some are plain looking, some are expensive and some are lovely. The teacher told them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the teacher said, "Can you notice that all of you took nice-looking expensive cups, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones? You want only the best for yourselves, and that is the source of your problems." "What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you went for the best cups and then began looking at each other's cups." "Now think about this: life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold, and do not change the life. Sometimes, by caring only about the cups, we fail to enjoy the coffee. So don't let the cups drive you, and enjoy the coffee instead." What can we learn from the teacher's words? Enjoy an unforgettable day in the French capital on this luxury day trip from London to Paris,with an included Champagne lunch at the Eiffel Tower! Travel on Eurostar from St Pancras International and enjoy a panoramic sightseeing tour taking in Paris'top sights. Highlights /Romantic experience,perfect for couples /Round--trip fares /Travel by boat and see the sights from the water /Lunch included Make your own way to St Pancras International station and meet your professional guide.The departure time is 6 am.Board the Eurostar and relax as it takes you to Paris in Just over 2 hours.If you wish,upgrade to 1st Class and enjoy breakfast served on board and dinner on your return journey. Once you arrive in Paris ,join your guide on an air-conditioned coach for a patioramic sightseeing tour.See top Paris attractions such as the Champs-Elysees,Arc de Triomphe and Opera House as you hear fascinating facts about the city. Next,arrive at the Eiffel Tower for your Champagne lunch.Skip the possible long admission lines with your fast-aecess ticket and ride the elevator to the stylish 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant on the first floor.Take your seat and enjoy a glass of Champagne and delicious 2-course lunch with the full views of the city providing a truly magical baekdrop! Afterward,enjoy a 1-hour sightseeing tour along the Seine River.Take photos and listen to the helpful commentary as you pass sights, such as soaring Notre Dame Cathedral and the island,Ile de la Cite Next,either choose to use some free time to shop or sightsee,or take a guided visit to the magnificent Louvre Museum(own expense)to see Leonardo da Vinci's exquisite Mone Lisa and other masterpieces. In the late afternoon,return to Gard du Nord,station and catch the Eurostar back to St.Pancras.Your tour ends when you arrive at around 8:30pm. Where will the tourists have their lunch? Every day we are bombarded with images, videos, music and news. In this age of visual and aural hyper-stimulation, the medium of radio is making a phenomenal comeback. "We're at the dawn of a golden age of audio," said US-based podcaster Alex Blumberg in an article in The Sydney Morning Herald. In the last month alone, 15 percent of US adults listened to a radio podcast. These statistics, released by Edison Research, reveal the successful evolution of traditional radio broadcasts to the present day's digital podcast format. The term "podcast," was coined in 2004, but the trend only started gaining mainstream popularity in recent years. Since the leap in consumer demand for smartphones and tablets, podcast subscription rates have only accelerated. The appeal of the podcast partially resides in its multiplatform delivery and on-demand capabilities. You can tune in during those extra minutes of the day when you're walking to the shops, waiting in a queue or riding the subway. Similar to television shows, podcasts are generally free to download and most offer new content every week. Donna Jackson, 22, Sydney university media graduate, listens to podcasts two or three times a week, via iTunes ."I listen while I'm pottering around the house doing something else. It makes completing a boring task a lot more enjoyable..... And it's an easy way of keeping in touch with what's going on in the rest of the world," she said. Unlike television and music, the audio format has the potential to create a deep impression on readers. Blumberg says this comes down to the podcast's ability "to create intimacy and emotional connection." Sydney University undergraduate Hazel Proust, major in social work and arts, agrees. "When you're tuned in, it feels as if the voice of the podcast's narrator is talking directly to you. It's comforting," said Proust. For podcast, which is wrong? When I was 16 years old, I made my first visit to the United States. It wasn't the first time I had been abroad. Like most English children, I learnt French at school and I had often been to France, so I was used to speaking a foreign language to people who didn't understand English. But when I went to America I was really looking forward to having a nice easy holiday without any language problems. How wrong I was! The misunderstanding began at the airport. I was looking for a public telephone to give my American friend Danny a ring and tell her that I had arrived. A friendly old man saw me looking like being lost and asked if he could help me. "Yes,"I said."I want to give my friend a ring." "Well, that's nice,"he exclaimed ."Are you getting married? But aren't you a bit young?" "Who is talking about marriage?" I replied. "I just want to give my friend a ring to tell her I've arrived. Can you tell me where there's a phone box?" "Oh!"he said."There's a phone downstairs." When at last we did meet up, Danny explained the misunderstanding to me."Don't worry," she said to me."I had many difficulties at first. There are lots of words which the Americans use differently in meaning from us British. You'll soon get used to all the funny things they say. But most of the time British and American people can understand each other!" Which sentence is wrong according to the passage? Everyone needs friends. We all like to feel close to someone. It is nice to have a friend to talk, laugh and do things with. Surely, there are times when we need to be alone. We don't always want people around. But we would feel lonely if we never had a friend. No two people are the same. Sometimes friends don't get along well, which doesn't mean that they no longer like each other. Most of the time they will go on being friends. Sometimes friends move away, then we feel very sad. We miss them much, but we can call them and write to them. Maybe we would never see them again, and we can make new friends. It is surprising to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them. Families sometimes name their children after a close friend. Many places are named after men and women, if they are friendly to people in a town. Some libraries are named this way. So are some schools. We think of these people when we go to these places. There's more good news for people, if they have friends. These people live longer than those people if those don't have friends. Why? It could be that they are happier. Being happy helps you stay well. Or it could be just knowing that someone cares, if someone cares about you, you take better care of yourself. Which of the following is what the writer doesn't say in the passage?
I'm fat. I'm too skinny. I'd be happy if I were taller, shorter, had curly hair, straight hair, a smaller nose, bigger muscles, longer legs. Do any of these statements sound familiar? Do you often put yourself down? If so, you're not alone. As a teen, you're going through a ton of changes in your body. And as your body changes, so does your image of yourself. Lots of people have trouble getting used to it and this can affect their confidence. Some people think they need to change how they look or act to feel good about themselves. But actually all you need to do is change the way you see your body and how you think about yourself. The first thing to do is recognize that your body is your own, no matter what shape, size, or color it comes in. If you're very worried about your weight or size, go to your doctor to check that things are OK. But it's no one's business but your own what your body is like-finally, you have to be happy with yourself.Next, find which aspects of your appearance you can change and which you can't change and need to accept-like their height, for example, or their shoe size. If there are things about yourself that you want to change and can do this by making goals for yourself. For example, if you want to get fit, make a pan to exercise every day and eat nutritious foods. When you hear negative comments coming from within yourself, tell yourself to stop. Try building your confidence by listing three things in your day that really gave you pleasure. It can be anything like the way the sun felt on your face, the sound of your favorite band, or the way someone laughed at your jokes. . Which of the following does the author probably agree with? Answer: Realize you can't change everything about yourself. Brian arrived at the San Francisco airport two hours before the flight to Paris. He was wearing three shirts, a jacket, two pairs of socks, a pair of shorts, and two pairs of jeans. He was carrying one small backpack, which was very full, but he didn't have any other luggage. Brian needed to meet a man named Tony before he checked in for his flight. He found Tony near the Air France counter. Tony gave him a round-trip ticket and a small package. "Give this package to Jean-Paul at the airport in Paris. He will have a sign with your name on it. I think you can find him easily," Tony said, "You don't have any luggage, right?" "Only this backpack," Brian answered. "You said I could bring one carry-on bag." "That's right. One carry-on bag is fine. Have a good trip." "Thanks." Is Brian a criminal ? Not at all. He is an air-courier. And he paid only $110 for the round-trip ticket to Paris. Air couriers get cheap airline tickets because they take important packages and papers to foreign countries. Businesses sometimes need to get packages and papers to people in foreign countries by the next day. Often, the only way they can do this is to use an air-courier company. It is not cheap for a business to send a package with an air courier, but it is quick. Every year about 80,000 people worldwide travel as air couriers. The number of tickets for courier travel is growing by about 10 percent a year. However, air-courier travel isn't for everyone. But if you have very little money, can be flexible about your travel plans, and don't mind wearing the same clothes for a week, it can be a great way to take a vacation! Why was Brian wearing so many clothes for his travel? Answer: Because his backpack had no room his clothes. Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico, U.S.A.,is in the central part of the state, on the Santa Fe River, which flows into the Rio Grande 35 kilometres west of the city. More than two thousand metres above sea level, it lies in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains with the Ortiz Mountains to the southeast. Santa Fe was founded in 1609 by the Spanish on an old Indian village.In 1680 the Indians seized the place but only held it for twelve years before the Spanish retook it. The city remained under Spanish rule until Mexico won its independence in 1821. From then on it was a Mexican city until 1846 when it was taken over by American troops. With a population of 48,953, Santa Fe is now the second largest city in the state. Because of its sunny weather, rich history and surrounding mountains, it is a good place for holiday makers. Besides hunting and skating in the mountains people enjoy shopping in the Indian and Spanish shops, which brings a large income to the city every year. In summer there is an international opera season when operas are shown in a partly-roofed ,open-air theatre daily for people from all over the world. One of the reasons for visitors to come to Santa Fe is that it _ . Answer: has fine weather One day, a poor boy who was trying to pay his way through school by selling goods from door to door found that he had only one dime left. He was hungry so he decided to beg for a meal at the next house. However, he became nervous when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal, he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything," she replied, "Mother has taught me never to accept pay for a kindness." He said, "Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart." As Haward Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but it also increased his faith in God and the human race. He was about to give up and quit before this point. Years later, the young woman became seriously ill. The local doctors were _ . They finally sent her to the big city, where specialists could be called in to study her rare disease. Dr. Haward Kelly, now famous was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately, he rose and went down through the hospital hall into her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room and determined to do his best to save her life. From that day, he gave special attention to her case. After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the bill to him for approval. He looked at it and then wrote something on the side. The bill was sent to her room. She was afraid to open it because she was positive that it would take the rest of her life to pay it off. Finally she looked, and the note on the side of the bill caught her attention. She read these words, "Paid in full with one glass of milk." (Signed) Dr. Haward Kelly Tears of joy flooded her eyes as she prayed silently, "Thank You, God. Your love has spread through human hearts and hands." What did the local doctors finally do when the young woman became seriously ill? Answer: They sent her to a hospital with specialists. Are you looking for something to do? You might like to try one of these four experiences. Crocodile watching Do you fancy getting up close to some of the most terrifying animals on earth? Crocosaurus Cove, in Darwin (Australia) has the "Cage of Death". It's an enclosure that's lowered into a pool. This gives you a 360 degree view of a crocodile as it's being fed. The cable broke once and the cage sank to the bottom, but they've fixed it since then. Edge walk How about walking along the edge of a building several hundred meters up in the air? If that sounds like fun, head off to the CN Tower in Toronto (Ontario, Canada). Built in 1976, the tower is 553.33 meters tall. The Edge walk consists of a 20-30 minute stroll along a 1.5 meter wide platform that runs around the tower's restaurant roof. During the walk, you're encouraged to lean forwards as you look over Toronto's skyline . Plastic ball rolling Do you fancy rolling down a hill in a plastic ball? Plastic ball rolling is popular all over the world, but the place to give it a go is in Rotorua (New Zealand). Brother David and Andrew Akers came up with the idea in 1994. A typical orb is about 3 meters in diameter, with an inner orb size of about 2 meters. There's no brake or steering mechanism, but the inner layer of the plastic ball helps absorb the shock. Volcano bungee jumping If you're looking for the adventure of a lifetime, how about going bungee jumping off a helicopter into the crater of a live volcano? As part of the jumping, a helicopter ride takes you to the Villarreal volcano, one of the most active in Chile. Once you're at the drop zone, you leap off the helicopter and fall into the volcano. Finally, you enjoy the ride back to the airport flying at 130kph. Attracted by the above? If so, please contact us. Only half price from March 22 to April 25th. For more information, please click here. It can be inferred that all the four experiences are _ . Answer: exciting and extreme
"Gangnam Style" by singer Psy from Korea, is a popular song, but its extraordinary global success is really the result of its music video, which is a great piece of genius. On September 22nd, Guinness World Records listed "Gangnam Style" as the most-liked video in the history of YouTube. It's been performed at West Point (West-Point Style), and Google's CEO, has done the "Gangnam Style" horse dance at the company's office in Seoul. Even Samsung is trying to make Psy the new model for the latest type of fridge. The song's global popularity is such that the vast majority of people who enjoy it don't speak Korean, and have no idea what it is about. That's fine --- part of what makes "Gangnam Style" so fun is, like international pop music, the difficulty in understanding it. When we sing along, "Hey, sexy lady", we don't really know what we're singing about. The joy of _ is familiar to anyone who loves pop music from elsewhere. Anthony Lane, in his 2010 review of the Eurovision Song Contest, Only Mr. God Knows Why, used "Eurovision English" as one of its chief pleasures. It's "a complex tongue, spoken nowhere else, which raises the heartfelt poetry but absolute nonsense to a level of what sci-fi writers could only have dreamed. " In similar ways, "Gangnam Style" is just an over-the-top video where a fat man does a funny dance and sings repetitive words that don't make sense to most of us. But on the other, the magic of the song also lies in its funny dance, which reflects not just cultural morals specific to Korea, but cultural values easily recognizable to western viewers. This song's words may be in Korean, but its scenes are in clear American. The dance moves are simple enough to copy. Nonsense, in other words, forces us to let down our guards. It makes us relax, and asks us to let in all sorts of feelings from which, otherwise, we might distance ourselves. "Gangnam Style" happens to be so interesting because of its incomprehensibleness. Some complex languages are used in pop music because _ . Answer: they make the music hard to understand but poetic and attractive if something moves faster than before, it might have been affected by what? Answer: the application of force Most of Earth's major earthquakes are caused by Answer: faulting of rock in Earth's crust There has been a dramatic increase in the number of natural disasters over the past few years,and it is assumed that global warming and climate change could cause even more disasters in the future.Some of the world's leading cities are facing disasters like floods and heat waves. prefix = st1 /London London's flood defenses are getting older.Since 1 982,the Thames Barrier has protected the city from the threat of flooding,but it was only designed to last until 2030 and close once every two or three years.About 26 years later the barrier now closes five or six times a year and according to Environment Agency predictions,by 2050 the barrier will be closed on almost every tide if the problem is not addressed. There are 26 underground stations,400 schools,1 6 hospitals,an airport and 80 billion worth of property in London's flood risk area, so large scale flooding would be disastrous. Paris Over a six week period in July and August 2003,more than 1 1,400---mainly elderly people--died in France from dehydration and extremely high body temperature in a deadly heat wave.Heat waves of similar intensity are expected every seven years by 2050,so what can be done to make sure such a disaster does not happen again? One solution is to have air-conditioners installed in elderly care homes.But this is considered a short-term solution,as the increase in demand for electricity also increases carbon emissions . InParisthe local authorities are encouraging architects to design new types of buildings such as the building"Flower Tower,"which uses a covering.of bamboo to act as a natural air-conditioner. Shanghai Shanghai is the fastest growing city on Earth.It has a population of 1 8 million and is only 4 meters above sea level.Sea levels are predicted to rise by 20 cm within the next century. An estimated 250,000 people move to Shanghai every year in search of work, placing extra demands on energy consumption.China relies heavily on coal--fired power stations,but these emissions increase temperatures and,in turn,warmer seas increase the risk of typhoons. Which of the following measures can't solve the heat wave disaster in Paris? Answer: Forbidding the city to build"Flower Tower" Steven is six years old. He gets some money from his mother every week. He buys a lot of things from the shops, but he doesn't really need them, and he puts them everywhere. One day his mother gives him a notebook and says, "Now, Steven, when you buy things, write their names down in the notebook, and also write down how much they are. Then you can look at it again when your money is all gone , and you don't waste so much money next time." After a week, Steven says to his mother, "Do you know, Mum, before I spend any money now, I really stop and think!" His mother is very happy and thinks, "Well, my son knows the value of money now." But then she hears him say, "Mum, before I buy something, I always ask myself, 'Can I spell that word and put it down in my notebook?' " How does Steven's mother feel at last? Answer: Angry.
If you missed the rising moon today you will have to wait till when to see it again Answer: 24 hours If a person forgets names, places or facts --and has trouble with everyday things like reading or shopping --it may not mean you are getting old. It could be Alzheimer's disease. So it's important to see a doctor as soon as you can. There is no cure for Alzheimer's. But a drug called ARICEPT has been used by millions of people to help their symptoms . In studies, ARICEPT has been proved to work for Alzheimer's . It has helped people improve their memory over time. It has also helped them to keep doing everyday things on their own. Ask your doctor if ARICEPT is right for you or your loved one. It is the Number One drug for Alzheimer's in the world. The sooner you know it's Alzheimer's, the better ARICEPT can help . ARICEPT is good for many but may not be good for everyone. Some people may experience not sleeping well, feeling very tired, or not wanting to eat. In studies, these side effects weren't serious at all and went away over time. Some people taking ARICEPT may feel light-headed. In this case you should tell your doctors because your condition may get worse. One who is taking ARICEPT should go to see a doctor if he _ . Answer: feels like a drunken man Reading is an activity that people enjoy a lot in their free time. Some like reading newspapers, and others enjoy novels or comic books. I like reading about the lives of great people. _ always gives me a lot of ideas on how to make my own life better. Great people are remembered not because they were handsome or beautiful, but because they did not give up when their lives were difficult. They used every opportunity to change their lives and make the world better. One good example is Orville and Wilbur Wright, the two brothers who invented the airplane. The plane has made the world into a small village. Hard work, not good luck, is the reason why the Wright Brothers could invent this convenient machine and become remarkable people. Today we still remember them when we see planes in the sky. When I feel sad, stories of great people always help me feel better. This is why I enjoy reading about great people's lives. Which book might the writer be most interested in? Answer: Michael Jordan: The Man Who Changed Basketball History Sometimes teens need to have some time away from their families. They may want to move out of the family or home for a while. Many parents will say no to this demand. But experts say it might be a good idea to let your teens live with a friend or a relative. "It was the break I needed at the time," said Richard Lerne. He is talking about the time he spent living with his grandmother when he was 15. "It allowed me to be a more different person than I was with my parents." Lerne said. He now heads the Institute for Children, Youth and Families at Michigan State University. Experts say teens living away from their families can test new ways of thinking and getting along with people. They may see new ways to problems. Some teens who want some time away from family attend a structured summer program. Others live for a while with a relative or with the family of a friend. If there is conflict at home, having a teen live elsewhere can benefit other family members. It gives everyone space to develop better relationships. Joseph Kett teaches history at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He says living at home until the late ten years has become the norm only in recent times. "In the 17th century, children were often sent to live in other people's home when they were about 10 or 11", he said. Peter Sheras teaches education at the University of Virginia. He says parents should listen when a child wants to move out. They should try to find out why the child wants some time away. When children seriously disagree with their parents, experts suggest that parents should _ . Answer: let them live away from their family Which device converts kinetic energy into electrical energy? Answer: generator
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. What should be the right order of the life's milestones according to the passage? Answer: C-e-a-d-b Hi! My name is Hunt. Here is a picture of my class. Joan is short and is wearing a yellow dress. She is good at maths. David is tall and has black hair. He is good at playing basketball. Mike is big. He has small eyes. He is funny. He can play football. Lily has long hair. She can speak Japanese. Helen is a black girl. She has short hair. She likes swimming. She is on the swimming team. I like music. Can you find me? I'm the boy with glasses. Becky is new here. She comes from Hong Kong. She has black hair and black eyes. She speaks English well. And she is very good at computer. Helen is on the _ team. Answer: swimming It started as a game.Wendy and Peter were in River Park.They watched the boats in the river and visited the zoo.They played on the slides and swings.They watched the merry-go-round,but they did not have money for a ride.They ate their sandwiches at a picnic table.Suddenly Wendy jumped up. "I know what to do,"she said."Look at all that junk under the tables.Let's pick it up." So they picked up paper and empty boxes and cans.They put them in the green cans marked"Litter".Peter's dog Stoopy picked up some paper and ran away with it.Peter called him back and took it from him.Then they taught Stoopy to carry trash for them.They put it in the cans.They worked until there was no trash left on the picnic grounds. The next day their friends Mario and Andy came to the park with them.They helped to tidy the picnic grounds again.Then they ran all over the park looking for litter.They tried to see who could find the most.After that,it was a game they played every time they came to the park. One day,a man came with a camera.He watched what they were doing.He asked to take a picture for them.Then he took them all for a free ride on the merry-go-round,even Stoopy.The next day their picture was in the newspaper.It said."Five Litter Lifters at River Park".After that all their friends wanted to be litter lifters.It was the beginning of a club that was a model for others to follow. What did Wendy and Peter teach Stoopy? Answer: To help pick up litter. Robert Spring, a 19th century forger , was as good at his profession that he was able to make his living for 15 years by selling false signatures of famous Americans. Spring was born in England in 1813 and arrived in Philadelphia in 1858 to open a bookstore. At first he make some money by selling his small but genuine of early U.S. autographs . Discovering his ability at copying handwriting, he began imitating signatures of George Washington and Ban Franklin and writing them on the title pages of old books. To make less the chance of detection , he sent his forgeries to England and Canada for sale and circulation . Forgers have a hard time selling their products. A forger can't approach a respectable buyer but must deal with people who don't have much knowledge in the field. Forgers have many ways to make their work look real. For example, they buy old books to use the aged paper of the title page, and they can treat paper and ink with chemicals. In Spring's time, right after the Civil War, Britain was still fond of the Southern states, so Spring invented a respectable maiden lady known as Miss Fanny Jackson, the only daughter of General "Stonewall" Jackson. For several years Miss Fanny's economic problems forced her to sell a great number of letters and manuscripts belonging to her famous father. Spring had to work very hard to satisfy the demand. All this activity did not prevent Spring from dying in poverty, leaving sharp-eye experts the difficult task of separating this forgeries from the originals. Why did Spring sell his autographs in England and Canada? Answer: There was less chance of being detected there. Danielle Steel,America's sweetheart,is one of the hardest working women in the book business.Unlike other productive authors who write one book at a time,she can work on up to five.Her research alone before writing takes at least three years.Once she has fully studied her subjects,ready to dive into a book,she can spend twenty hours nonstop at her desk. Danielle Steel comes from New York and was sent to France for her education.After graduation,she worked in the public relations and advertising industries.Later she started a job as a writer which she was best fit for.Her achievements are unbelievable:390 million copies of books in print,nearly fifty New York Times best-selling novels, and a series of "Max and Martha" picture books for children to help them deal with the real-life problems of death,new hobbies and new schools. Her 1998 book about the death of her son shot to the top of the New York Times best-selling list as soon as it came out.Twenty-eight of her books have been made into films.She is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for one of her books being the Times best-seller for 381 weeks straight. Not content with a big house,a loving family,and a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Danielle Steel considers her readers to be the most important resource and has kept in touch with them by e-mail.While she is often compared to the heroines of her own invention,her life is undoubtedly much quieter.But,if she does have anything in common with them,it is her strength of will and her _ style.There is only one Danielle Steel. One of Danielle Steel' achievements is that _ . Answer: one of her books became a best-seller in 1998
(NEW YORK) A French tourist highly praised for rescuing a two-year-old girl in Manhattan said he didn't think twice before diving into the freezing East River. Tuesday'sDaily Newssaid 29-year-old Julien Duret from France was the man who left the spot quickly after the rescue last Saturday. He lifted the little girl out of the water after she fell off the bank at the South Street Seaport museum. He handed the girl to her father, David Anderson, who had dived in after him. "I didn't think at all," Duret told theDaily News. "It happened very fast. I reacted very fast." Duret, an engineer on vacation, was walking with his girlfriend along the pier when he saw something falling into the water. He thought it was a doll, but realized it was a child when he approached the river. Immediately, he took off his coat and jumped into the water. When he reached the girl, she appeared lifeless, he said. Fortunately, when she was out of the water, she opened her eyes. Anderson said his daughter slipped off the bank when he was adjusting his camera. An ambulance came later for her, said Duret, who was handed dry clothes from onlookers. Duret caught a taxi with his girlfriend shortly after. The rescue happened on the day before he left for France. Duret said he didn't realize his story of heroism had greatly moved New York until he was leaving the city the next morning. "I don't really think I'm a hero," said Duret. "Anyone would do the same thing." Why was Duret in New York? A. To meet his girlfriend. B. To spend his holiday. C. To work as an engineer. D. To visit the Andersons. Answer: B A very close friend phoned me this weekend and asked a specific question about earning a few extra dollars each month online. For the benefit of keeping her name and details secret, I will call her Annie in this article. You see Annie suffers from a severe form of inaction syndrome ; she is full of great ideas that never materialize into cash and she is having a problem finding the link that will achieve this. Somebody once said that knowledge is power, yet we constantly find from readers of our website that they have knowledge to burn and still do not have power. Just look at the academics in universities all around the world; they have so much knowledge that they should control the wealth of the world. In truth they work for peanuts and very few of them ever achieve the power of independence. So knowledge certainly isn't power. Therefore, we should change that "wise" statement to: "Power is the ability to use knowledge to your own benefit." That paragraph was inserted because Annie is a typical academic--strong on talk and plans but a little weaker on actions. In the period of a twenty-minute conversation, she expounded a whole list of plans and ideas to make the extra few hundred dollars each month she was seeking. Any one of her many ideas was a potential money maker, but she had taken action on none of them. At one time she said, "I'm lost as to what to do next." That was my cue to get involved. "Take action," I advised. All that is wrong is that Annie was inactive without knowing it. In five minutes we drew up a plan of action and agreed to talk again in a month to review progress. When we finished the conversation, she sounded much happier and more motivated than when we started. Annie just needs a little _ into beneficial action. What's the problem with Annie? A. She has too many great ideas. B. She never puts her ideas into practice. C. She suffers from a strange illness. D. She knows little about making money online. Answer: B Once a small boy lived on a farm which seemed so far away from everywhere. He needed to get up before the sun rose every morning to help his father on the farm. After an hour he could take a break for a while. Then he climbed up on the walls along the side of the farm. He could see a house with gold windows. "If they could afford gold windows, then there must be other nice things inside the house." He imagined how great it would be to live there. Then he promised himself, "Some day I will go there and see this wonderful place." One morning, his father would go to the town and told him to stay at home for a rest. Knowing that this was his chance, he took a sandwich and went across the field towards the house with the gold windows. As the afternoon went on, he began to realize how wrong he was. The house was much farther than he had expected. As he went near the house, he saw no gold windows but instead a place in need of painting. A small girl very close to his age came out of the poor house and stood there. He asked her if she had seen the house with the gold windows. The girl said, "Sure, I know." and invited him to sit on the porch . As he sat there, he looked back from where he just came. There he saw the sunset turned the windows of his house to gold! Now he understood that everyone had his own house with gold windows. What did the boy find when he got there? A. Nobody lived in the poor house. B. The house was as old as he expected. C. No gold windows were in the house. D. The house was nearer than he thought. Answer: C I cheated on a unit test in math class this morning during second period with Mr Burke Afterward, I was too sick to eat lunch just thinking about it. I came straight home from school, went to my room, and lay on the floor trying to decide whether it would be better to run away from home now or af _ It wasn't even an accident that I cheated. Yesterday Mr.Burke announced there'd be a unit test and anyone who didn't pass would have to come to school on Saturday, most particularly me, since I didn't pass the last unit test I did plan to study just to prove to him that I'm plenty smart - which I am.mostly - except in math. Anyway, I got my desk ready to study on.Just when I was ready to work, Nicho came into my room with our new rabbit and it jumped on my desk and knocked the flashcards all over the floor.What a mess! Nicho and I finally took the rabbit outside but then Philip came to my room and also Marty from next door and before long it was dinner. After dinner my father said I could watch a special on television if I'd done all my homework.Of course I said I had.That was the beginning.I felt terrible telling my father a lie about the homework. It was nine o'clock when I got up to my room and that was too late to study for the unit test so I lay in my bed with the light off and decided what I would do the next day when I was m Mr.Burke's math class not knowing the 8- and 9-times tables. So, you see, the cheating was planned after all. The next day, I'd go into class as usual, acting like things were going just great.I'd sit down next to Stanley Plummer - he is so smart in math it makes you sick - and from time to time, I'd glance over at his paper to copy the answers.Everything was okay except that my stomach was upside down and I wanted to die. The fact is, I couldn't believe what I'd done .in cold blood.I began to wonder about myself.I've never been a wonderful kid that everybody in the world loves.I have a bad temper and I like to have my own way and I argue a lot.Sometimes I can be mean.But most of the time I've thought of myself as a pretty decent kid.Mostly I work hard, I care for little kids, and I tell the truth.Now all of a sudden I've turned into this criminal.It's hard to believe I'm just a boy.And all because of one stupid math test. Lying on the floor of my room, I begin to think that probably I've been bad all along.It just took this math test to clinch it.I'll probably never tell the truth again. I tell my mother I'm sick when she calls me to come down for dinner.She doesn't believe me, but puts me to bed anyhow.1 lie there in the early winter darkness wondering what terrible thing I'll be doing next when my father comes in and sits down on my bed. "What's the matter?" he asks."I've got a stomachache," I say.Luckily, it's too dark to see his face."Is that all?" "Yeah." "Mommy says you've been in your room since school." "I was sick there too," I say."She thinks something happened today and you're upset." That's the thing that really drives me crazy about my mother.She knows things sitting inside my head the same as if I was turned inside out. "Well," my father says.I can tell he doesn't believe me."My stomach is feeling sort of upset." I hedge."Okay," he says and he pats my leg and gets up. Just as he shuts the door to my room I call out to him in a voice I don't even recognize as my own."How come?" he calls back not surprised or anything.So I tell him I cheated on this math test.To tell the truth, I'm pretty much surprised at myself.I didn't plan to tell him anything. He doesn't say anything at first and that just about kills me.I'd be fine if he'd spank me or something.And then he says I'll have to call Mr.Burke.It's not what I had in mind."Now?" I ask surprised."Now," he says.He turns on the light and pulls off my covers."I'm not going to," I say. But I do it.I call Mr.Burke, and I tell him exactly what happened, even that I decided to cheat the night before the test.He says I'll come on Saturday to take another test, which is okay with me, and I thank him a whole lot for being understanding and all. "Today I thought I was turning into a criminal," I tell my father when he turns out my light. Sometimes my father kisses me good night and sometimes he doesn't.I never know.But tonight he does. After the author cheated on the math test, he felt _ . A. pleased that nobody knew it B. excited that he had succeeded C. frightened because he might be caught D. unhappy because he had done something wrong Answer: D The Colonel asks Ashenden a good many questions and then suggested that he had particular qualifications for the Secret Service. Ashenden knew several European languages and the fact that he was a writer provided excellent cover: on the pretext that he was writing a book he could, without attracting attention, visit any neutral country. It was while they were discussing this point that the Colonel said, "You know you might get material that would be very useful to you in your work. I'll tell you an incident that occurred only recently. Very dramatic. A foreign government minister went down to a Mediterranean resort to recover from a cold and he had some very important documents with him that he kept in a dispatch case . A day or two after he arrived, he picked up a beautiful blonde at some restaurant or other, and he got very friendly with her. He took her back to his hotel, and when he came to himself in the morning, the lady and the dispatch-case had disappeared. They had one or two drinks up in his room and his theory is that when his back was turned the woman slipped a drug in his glass. "Do you mean to say that happened the other day?" said Ashenden. "The week before last." "Impossible," cried Ashenden. "Why! We've been putting that incident on the stage for sixty years, we've written it in a thousand novels. Do you mean to say that life has only just caught up with us?" "Well, I can guarantee the truth of the story." said the Colonel, "And believe me, the government has been put to no end of trouble by the loss of the documents." "Well sir, if you can't do better than that in the Secret Service," sighed Ashenden, " I'm afraid that as a source of inspiration to the writer of fiction, it's washout." Ashenden cried 'Impossible' after hearing the Colonel's story because he thought _ . A. it could not possibly happen B. it was too embarrassing C. it was too close to fiction D. it was too recent Answer: C
Most teenagers in the United States spend their time trying to make time for school,family and friends.But some choose bigger goals. At age 15,Winter Vinecki has already had more successes than most people have in their lifetime."I recently completed a marathon on all seven continents and became the youngest person in the world to do so.And I was really doing this for my dad." Doctors discovered that Winter's father had a rare and deadly form of prostate cancer when she was nine years old.Then he died 10 months later."When he was first diagnosed with prostate cancer I immediately knew I had to do something to help him.That's when I formed Team Winter for prostate cancer research and awareness." Through Team Winter and social media,Winter Vinecki has raised almost 500,000 dollars.She has taken prostate cancer education worldwide through foot races called marathons,on seven continents.In the United States she travels continually to talk about prostate cancer and urge others to act. Winter Vinecki attended a conference recently in Los Angeles,California and spoke at the conference as one of several teenagers who spoke about young people who were living extraordinary lives. "So prostate cancer is much more common but men don't want to talk about it.So that is why a ten-year-old girl had to go out there and start talking about it for them." Another speaker was Jack Andraka who invented a sensor which is not as expensive as traditional equipment that can't be afforded by most common people.It can identify cancers of the pancreas and lungs.He was 15 at the time. Jack is now 17 and seeking patents for his latest inventions.He has developed low-cost water quality equipment which can help identify and remove heavy metals and poisonous chemicals from water. "I hope to see them used in the developing nations such as Bangladesh and parts of China and India,especially as well as in parts of Africa,where these heavy metal and pesticides and other kinds of waste are a major problem." What do you know about Jack Andraka's new invention? A. It was invented when he was 15. B. It is widely used in developing countries. C. It is designed to make polluted water cleaner. D. It is under improvement because it costs too much. Answer: C. It is designed to make polluted water cleaner. Mr. Smith lived in a small village. He grew vegetables. Years ago he found work in a big city and moved there with his family. On the first Saturday in their new home, Mr. Smith took his new car out of the garage and washed it. A man came at the moment. When he saw Mr. Smith's new car, he stopped and looked at it for a few minutes. Then Mr. Smith turned and saw him. The man said, "That's a nice car. Is it yours?" "Sometimes," Smith answered with a smile. "Sometimes?" The man said. "What do you mean?" "Well," answered Smith slowly, "When there's a party in town, it is my daughter's, Mary. When there's a football game, it's my son's, John. After I wash it, and it looks really nice and clean, it's my wife's. And when it needs gas, it's mine." Which of the following is true? A. Everyone except Mrs. Smith could drive the car. B. Mr. Smith used the car after he washed it. C. The car was not Mr. Smith's. D. Each of the Smiths had got a license. Answer: D. Each of the Smiths had got a license. The old man walked with a cane slowly into the restaurant. His poor jacket, patched trousers, and worn-out shoes made him stand out from the usual Saturday morning breakfast crowd. He walked toward a table by the window. A young waitress watched him and ran over to him, saying, "Here, Sir. Let me give you a hand with that chair." Without a word, he smiled and nodded a thank you. She pulled the chair away from the table. Supporting him with one arm, she helped him move in front of the chair, and get comfortably seated. Then she pushed the table up close to him, and leaned his cane against the table where he could reach it. In a soft, clear voice he said, "Thank you, Miss." "You're welcome, Sir." She replied. "My name is Mary. I'll be back in a moment. If you need anything, just wave at me." After he had finished a hearty meal of pancakes, bacon, and hot lemon tea, Mary brought him the change, helping him up from his chair and out from behind the table. She handed him his cane, and walked with him to the front door. Holding the door open for him, she said, "Come back and see us, Sir!" He nodded a thank you and said softly with a smile, "You are very kind!" When Mary went to clean his table, she was shocked. Under his plate she found a business card and a note written on the napkin, under which was a $ 100 bill. The note on the napkin read, "Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself, too. It shows by the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness. Your kind gestures will shine through those who meet you." The man she had served was the owner of the restaurant. This was the first time that she, or any of his employees, had seen him in person. The man came to the restaurant _ . A. to have breakfast B. to see his employees C. to find out how his restaurant was working D. to see how Mary served customers Answer: C. to find out how his restaurant was working Although there are no state controlled survival courses in Britain or the United States,there are various independent organizations offering similar activities.Students can participate(take part)in outdoor training courses through university clubs and societies.Anyone can register with such groups,which then organize courses,training and trips for all members. One of the most popular outdoor training programmes in both the US and Britain is Outward Bound .It was founded in 1941 in Wales and attracts hundreds of thousands of adventurous types every year. The courses are intended to broaden minds through experiences that build confidence, self-esteem and character.As well as specialist courses such as canoeing,leadership skills and sailing,participants can take part in week long adventure training camps which include a host of sports and survival training education skills. Michael Williams,an American student,took part in an Outward Bound course last year.He said:"We learned lots of first aid skills,lots of natural history ,lots of environmental facts, and participated in a wildlife preservation programme.Beyond that,my favorite skills learned were sailing and rock climbing."Courses can last up to 40 days and are open to anyone over the age of 14.Students must be in general good health,but do not need to be experienced in outdoor-sports.There is no selection process;everyone is welcome,although new participants are advised to pick a course matching their physical capacity.Most of the British courses take place in the Brecon Beacons in Wales.Another similar organization is the UK Survival School,which includes courses on learning to 1ive with the environment, sailing and winter survival.On a basic survival weekend students will learn how to get water and food, how to make fire and cook with it,to find and build a shelter,control survival life support,how to cross rivers.Send off a distress signal,and to use compasses by day and night. According to the leaders,such adventures are "an awakening, an exploration into the unknown."Outward Bound believes that participants will "use mind and body traveling some of the Earth's roughest wilderness areas." The advantage of the training courses is that _ . A. participants can make friends with others B. participants can visit some places of interest C. participants can experience different adventures D. participants can learn how wonderful nature is Answer: C. participants can experience different adventures On September 22, 2007, 108 Chinese cities took part in Car-Free Day, a global event held every year, for the first time. China became the world's second-largest auto market and third-largest car-maker in 2006. It has also become the second-largest greenhouse gas producer in the world, and is rapidly catching up with the United States. In this sense, China's participation will greatly promote the Car-Free Day movement. The number of cars on the road is going up rapidly in China. In Beijing, about 1,000 new cars are added to the streets on an average day. Cars certainly offer people plenty of freedom to move around. But in many Chinese cities, appearance of too many cars has turned into a major problem. Getting stuck in traffic jams is an everyday experience for drivers. Even worse is the environmental impact caused by cars. According to a national report, on a "smog day", 79 percent of the air pollution is caused by cars. The growing number of traffic accidents is another problem. Over 100,000 people die from traffic accidents every year in China, which is by far the highest number of road deaths in the world. 108 cities' participation in Car-Free Day shows growing public concern about the traffic and environmental problems caused by cars. On this day, all cars were banned from running in selected areas of the participating cities. People were encouraged to walk, cycle and use public transport. According to experts, the carbon monoxide in the atmosphere produced by cars was reduced by 3,000 tons on Car-Free Day. With cleaner air and smoother traffic flow on the day, more cities will hopefully want to join the event next year. And more people might share the hope that Car-Free Day is not just on September 22, but a possibility 365 days of the year. On Car-Free Day in 2007, 108 cities in China _ . A. didn't allow people to drive B. didn't have air pollution C. called on people to drive less D. called on people to drive freely Answer: C. called on people to drive less
Is learning a foreign language ever easy? Yes. If you are five and move to another country, you will quickly pick up the language. But what about for the rest of us who are no longer five, and need to be polite when traveling for business or for pleasure? I think that answer is also yes. Language learning can be easy if you don't want or need to learn too much. The key to successful language learning in my mind is not to set the goal too high. It is rather like running. Even if you run twice a week, you don't necessarily want to be able to run a marathon . You might just want to keep a level of fitness. I think the same can be true for language learning. Let's get back to the goal. If you decide to learn ten words in a foreign language before visiting the country, you know that you will be sure to do this. However, if you decide to talk to people with great fluency , unless you are quite a talented person, you will probably fail and give up in half-way. It is also far easier to start learning a foreign language than to finish. In other words, the better you are, the slower it can be to improve, because you will not be able to move further because of grammar, making sentences, learning less common words, etc. If you are only trying to learn a few foreign words and sentences, you will enjoy faster progress, have more fun, and won't have to spend too much time. The idea of learning only a few hundred words in a language, and then stopping, isn't the usual way to language learning, but it can be a very meaningful and enjoyable activity. The best title of this passage would be _ . Easy Language Learning It was a hot afternoon. I had a quarrel with the airport staff and then was asked to have a drug test .I missed the flight home later because of bad weather. Now my flight home was full and running late. I felt sorry and unlucky. At that moment,I noticed a 5-year-old boy standing by his mother watching me. He left his mother and slowly walked towards me."Great!"I thought sadly,"Now I have to take care of a 5-year-old child. My day is now complete." As he came closer,I found it was my hat that he was after. I wanted to tell him not to touch my things,but I was curious to know what he would do with my hat. With wide eyes,he gently touched my hat. He looked up at me,smiling,but saying nothing. I asked him if he wanted to wear my hat,he excitedly nodded,still smiling. I placed my hat on his head,but it fell down around his ears. He didn't mind and held it up with both hands. He ran to show his mother,then back to me,still smiling. With much respect,he slowly took off my hat with both hands and gave it to me. I put my hat on and gave him an airplane card. Holding the card carefully with both hands,he looked up at me and said,"Mister,you sure are lucky.""Yes,I sure am,"I said. I admired the wisdom of a 5-year-old boy,as I got the last seat on that flight home. Why didn't the writer stop the boy from touching his hat? Because he wanted to know what the boy would do with it. When Elizabeth Kenny was a little girl, she fell off a horse and hurt her arm. Mrs. Kenny took her to a doctor in Toowoomba, Queensland. In the doctor's, Elizabeth saw many bottles of medicine standing in a row. Since then, she wanted to be a nurse. As soon as she was old enough, Elizabeth was trained in a hospital. After working for some time, she made a surprising discovery. Among her patients were some children who had lost the use of their legs because of polio ( ) . Kenny tried putting hot cloth on their legs and washing them in a special way. The results were great. The children were able to use their legs again. Most doctors would not believe that children could get well in such a simple way. Gradually, however, she became famous. From 1993 on people from many parts of the world brought their children to Australia to receive treatment by this wonderful nurse. She was invited to America where her methods were used in many hospitals. Money was collected to build Kenny foundations which were for polio patients. Kenny died in 1952, but she will long be remembered for her fight against polio. Toowoomba is the name of _ . an Australian city April Fools' Day, not officially considered a holiday, is most definitely a notable day that is celebrated in many countries on April 1. The thing that is so special about April 1 is that it is the day for playing tricks and practical jokes on others. The aim of these jokes is to bring embarrassment to others. Superstitions have it that the practical jokes are meant to be played before noon, and that those that are performed afterwards will bring bad luck. This limitation is widely losing its value due to the fact that many major hoaxes throughout history appear after noon. Another superstition is that anyone who fails to respond properly to the jokes played on them is also said to be easy to suffer from bad luck. Some people think that being fooled by a pretty girl will be accompanied by marriage, or at least a friendship with her. That sounds like a good deal if she is truly pretty. Some people believe that being married on April Fools' Day is not a good idea for a man, and that forever in the future he will be ruled by his wife. The origin of April Fools' day is not clearly known, but it is generally accepted to have come about as a result of the changes in the calendar system. The New Year celebrations used to begin on 25 March and last for a week, ending on 1 April. In 1582, Charles IX, King of France brought in the new Gregorian calendar, in which the new year began on 1 January. Unfortunately, some people did not hear about the change, and many others simply refused to break the tradition. If jokes are played on you by a beautiful girl you'll probably _ . get married to her soon Nocturnal predators hunt when? sleep time
Dear Alan, Guess what? I have a chance to choose my new place to live in! I'm excited and a little nervous. Could you please give me some help? I'm not sure whether I will live in a house or in an apartment. On the one hand, a house will be too big for just one person, so maybe I should rent an apartment. On the other hand, if I rent a house, I could find someone else to share with me. The only problem is that a house full of people might be too noisy for me. I prefer to have my own space. The city has some nice apartments, but they are also too expensive. However, if I could find a two-bedroom apartment and get a roommate, that would make it more affordable .I just need to search for a roommate who is neat and quiet. You know I can't live with someone who is loud and messy. I don't have a car, so I also need to think carefully about the location. I probably need to look for somewhere near a bus stop or an underground station. That way I will have more time to study and spend less time traveling. I'm looking forward to your reply. Love, Victor Victor doesn't have a car, so he wants _ . Answer: "I drink caffeine to stay awake. It has positive effects on me. I'm healthy, and there's nothing wrong with me," said Sarah Green, a freshman, who consumes many caffeine drinks to stay awake in completing the many tasks in her busy schedule. Caffeine is known to have many positive and negative consequences, and now that there might be an additional positive effect may have been discovered. A study suggests that a skin lotion containing caffeine, which is also found in green tea, may reduce the risk of skin cancer. Two lotion tests were conducted on hairless mice that were exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation . As a result, the lotion reduced the number of tumors each mouse developed. Unlike sunscreen , the new lotion is applied after exposure to the ultraviolet rays. Rays from the sun can cause genetic changes in the skin that can lead to skin cancer. Caffeine obstructs this action and causes the diseased cells to kill themselves. "I know that caffeine has been found in certain drinks and it causes increased activity of the nervous system, and increased blood pressure on blood vessels . I don't know of any positive effects of caffeine," health teacher Montego Estes said. Caffeine, found commonly in tea, coffee and soft drinks, provides people with an increase in energy. Half of all American adults consume more than 300 milligrams of caffeine per day. Caffeine is addictive because it uses the same mechanisms as amphetamines , and cocaine and heroin to excite the brain. "This new cream doesn't sound to me as though it would work," junior David Bobbit said, "Caffeine seems to have more negative effects than positive ones." Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers in the US. About one million cases will be diagnosed in the country this year. There will be more than 88,000 new cases of melanoma , the disease's deadliest form of skin cancer. What is the main idea of this passage? Answer: The nuclear leak at the Fukushima power plant in Japan, which followed the deadly earthquake two weeks ago, has caused an unexpected reaction in China. A sudden panic buying of salt occurred in many areas of our country about a week after the disaster. Salt in these districts was almost bought up overnight. Some sellers wanted to make a fortune by raising the price. The panic buying was caused by two major rumors on the Internet: First, iodized salt can protect against radiation. Second, there might be a fall in sea-salt production following the nuclear pollution of the ocean. Such fears are not new. The same kind of panic happened with vinegar during the SARS outbreak and garlic in the time of the influenza period. How can rumors like this spread in such a large country as China? Chen Fang, a reporter with the China Youth Daily said that many Internet users say there is a "crisis of trust" in today's China. "Experts don't have enough credibility and people don't trust all government announcements, either." Chen said. However, Chen added that the rumors should not be exaggerated . Many salt-buyers didn't care; others simply failed to understand what experts and governments were talking about. They just did as their neighbors and friends did. It was a case of the blind following the blind - that was the real reason behind the big increase in the demand for salt. On March 20, the Ministry of Commerce said: "The panic buying of salt has stopped and the market is back to normal." He also said China has enough salt to satisfy demand. Now everything is back to normal, many want to return the salt they bought. But in the view of the Xinhua Daily Telegraph, "It is true that these people paid extra money to buy the salt, but they created the crisis in the first place and caused the price to rise." The newspaper continued: "So there is no reason why they should get the money back." Perhaps consumers should keep the salt to remind themselves that often rumors are without foundation. Which is NOTthe reason for which many people buy up iodized salt? Answer: What's delicious, healthy to eat and comes in various colors? Eggplant! And no, it has nothing to do with chickens! This strangely named vegetable is, however, as _ as an egg. It can be steamed, fried or baked. It can be eaten by itself or combined with meats and other vegetables. Eggplant was first grown in India during the 5th century B.C. Its popularity soon spread to China and then throughout Asia. Finally, during the Middle Ages the vegetable made its way to Europe. At that time, eggplant was not the shiny purple vegetable most people know today. Instead, it was like a white egg. Due to this egg-like appearance, eggplant got its name. In its early days, the vegetable was so bitter that people often called it a "mad apple". This nickname started because people believed its bitterness was bad for one's health. People actually thought eggplant could cause insanity and cancer. Fortunately, today people know that eggplant doesn't cause insanity or cancer. In fact, eggplant is so healthy that it may prevent cancer. In addition, the brain and the heart benefit from this supper vegetable. Since it is high in fiber, eggplant can also improve digestion. Italy, Turkey, Egypt, China and Japan are the leading growers of eggplant in the world today. Depending on its location, eggplant may be purple, green, orange or yellow-white. And it can be as small as a tomato or as large as a cucumber. Dish diversities range from simple to complex, with all of them being delicious! Today, thousands of people are gathering in Loomis, Calif, for the 23rd annual Loomis Eggplant Festival. The main activity at the festival is eating delicious eggplant dishes. There is plenty more to do and see, though. Recipe contests, arts and crafts, performers, races and children's activities all "egg-cite" festival-goers. Most people at the festival would agree -- eggplant is an "egg-cellent" vegetable! Eggplant is so healthy that it can _ . Answer: There is no doubt that Apple is well aware of the increased competition in the market and could be in a hurry to put another device out there, said Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst at IDC Mobile Devices Technology and Trends. Given its history with product launches and business policy, though, Apple probably isn't going to rush an iPhone release simply to put it on shelves, he said. "If you're Tim Cook (CEO of Apple), you're thinking if you want to pay more attention to how to keep growing that bottom line and keep investors happy, or continue with the same approach from Apple, which is do what we can do and manage products and releases in the best way they can work for us. Apple usually does things in their own time ,and I'm having a hard time buying this May or June timeline." Llamas told Mac News World. While it,s probable that Apple is definitely in a testing stage for its next smartphone , consumers likely have a standard wait for the finished product, said Colin Gibbs, analyst at GigaOm Pro. "It typically takes a year or longer to create a state-of-the-art smartphone, so no one should be surprised Apple is in the testing stages with the next iPhone. And while it's possible that Apple could launch the next iPhone this spring or summer, I'm not expecting to see it until a little later in the year," he told Mac News World. When it does launch, though, it could be in a variety of colors, said Gibbs. "Apple has already tested the waters with releasing colored devices when it revamped(,)its iPod line last fall, so it's not too much of a stretch to believe it would want the new twist with its smartphone, as well". "I wouldn't be surprised if the new iPhone becomes available in some new colors,'' he said. "That could be done pretty cheaply ,and it would give Apple a new marketing angle." This passage is presented in the form of _ . Answer:
Question: The year is 2094. It has been announced that a comet is heading towards the Earth. Most of it will miss our planet, but two pieces will probably hit the southern half of the Earth. On 17 July, a piece four kilometers wide enters the Earth's atmosphere with a massive explosion. About half of the piece is destroyed, but the remaining part hits the South Atlantic at 200 times the speed of sound. The sea boils and a huge hole is made in the sea bed. Huge waves are created and spread outwards from the hole. The wall of water, a kilometer high, rushes towards southern Africa at 800 kilometers an hour. Cities on the African coast are totally destroyed and millions of people are drowned. Before the waves reach South America, the second piece of the comet lands in Argentina. Earthquakes and volcanoes are set off in the Andes Mountains. The shock waves move north into California and all around the Pacific Ocean. The cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Tokyo are completely destroyed by earthquakes. Millions of people in the southern half of the earth are already dead, but the north won't escape for long. Because of the explosions, the sun is hidden by clouds of dust, temperatures around the world fall to almost zero. Crops are ruined. The sun won't be seen again for many years. Wars break out as countries fight for food. A year later, no more than 10 million people remain alive. Could it really happen? Will we meet the same end? When the first piece hits the South Atlantic, it causes _ . A. an earthquake B. damages to cities C. an Earth explosion D. huge waves Answer: D Question: Mrs Turner's telephone number was 3463, and the number of he cinema in town was 3464. People often made mistakes and telephoned her when they actually wanted the cinema. One evening the telephone rang and Mrs Turner answered it. A tired man's voice came over the phone, "At what time does your last film begin?""I'm sorry," said Mrs Turner, "but you have the wrong number. This is not the cinema." "Oh, it began twenty minutes ago?" said the man. "I'm sorry about that. Well, good-bye." Mrs Turner was very surprised, so she told her husband. He laughed and said, "No, that wasn't a mistake. The man's wife wanted to go to the cinema, but he was feeling tired, so he telephoned the cinema. His wife heard him, but she didn't hear you. Now they will stay at home this evening, and the husband will be happy." When the tired man telephoned Mrs Turner by mistake, she was _ . A. angry B. not at all surprised C. pleased D. surprised Answer: B Question: These days, it's easy to fly across oceans for vacation. Centuries ago, however, crossing the open seas required thorough and accurate planning, handmade boats, and courage. Scientists and historians have long been looking for clues to explain who crossed which oceans first. When it comes to the trip between Polynesia and South America, chickens may have been among the first ocean voyagers, according to new evidence. After studying an ancient chicken bone, anthropologists from the University of Auckland in New Zealand now say that people and chickens traveled from Polynesia to what is now Chile by about 620 years ago. By then, the Inca people were already living in South America, but the Polynesians would have been the first to get there by sea. Previous theories claimed that European explorers and their chickens sailed to South America first -- but those voyagers didn't arrive until about a century later. In 2002, archaeologists dug up 50 chicken bones from a site in Chile called El Arenal. The team from New Zealand analyzed one to these bones. According to their calculations, the bone is about 650 years old. The researchers also compared the genetic material, or DNA, from the South American chicken bone with DNA from 11 chicken bones that had been found on the Polynesian islands of Tonga and American Samoa. These islands are 6,000 miles west of Chile. The bones found on the Polynesian islands are been 600 and 2,000 years old. Results of the comparisons showed that the chicken bones from both the Polynesian and South American sites had part of DNA in common. The researchers found the same part of DNA in feathers of two living chickens in Chile that belong to a modem breed that lays blue eggs. That DNA evidence suggests a close relationship among the chickens. "However, the weight of scientific evidence is now behind the hypothesis that it was seafaring ( ) Polynesians who sailed from the islands to South America and returned," says archaeologist Patrick V. Kirch of the University of California, Berkeley. When did the first European explorers reach South America? A. About 520 years ago. B. About 2.000 years ago. C. About 600 years ago. D. About 620 years ago. Answer: A Question: When you are in Nanoko, be sure to stay at the Garden Hotel, whether you come on business or on holiday you will find everything as comfortable and convenient as you would expect in a first class international hotel. Every bedroom has its own bathroom, telephone, and colorful modern materials and furniture in the local style. In the Mistu Restaurant, you can choose your meals from a lot of dishes, both Eastern and European, as you will find anywhere in the country. In the Beach Bar, you can drink with your family and friends in air-conditioned comfort, listen to the music of internationally known artists. Or you can take your drink outside into the beautiful garden that gives the hotel its name, or to the tables that surround the swimming pool. Throughout the motel, you will find the service is both friendly and efficient. By day the pool is alive with the holiday spirit and the happy shouting of children and by night, soft light and music make it a perfect place for a party, or simply for an after-dinner drink and conversation. The Garden Hotel has its own minibus service. Give us a ring and we will arrange to collect you at the airport or in the city center. If you prefer, we can arrange for you to visit the wainiri Islands that lie just off the coast. Here you can swim in peace; or you can fish there. As it is well known, Wainiri is really a good place for people going fishing. The Garden Hotel is right on the beach, only five minutes from Nanoko's modern shopping center. Here you will find all that money can buy, at prices you can afford. You will find the Garden Hotel _ . A. on the beach not far from Nanoko's excellent shops B. on the beach where you will find all that money can buy C. close to shops where everything is cheap and famous D. just off the coast, five minutes from the shops Answer: A Question: In the deep blue Indian Ocean, there's a beautiful island country called Maldives . It's the smallest in population and area of all the Asian countries. It has an area of 90,000 km2, but 99% of the area is covered by the sea. It has 1,190 islands and is about 820 km from North to South. People live on no more than 200 islands, while another 87 are visited by tourists. _ The capital Maleis is on one of the middle islands, and about 75,000 people live there. The people there are friendly and welcoming. They use their traditional games to welcome people from all over the world. It is sunny on the islands almost every day, and makes them look so beautiful. People can enjoy lots of things in Maldives. What does the writer think of the people in the Maldives? A. He thinks they're boring. B. He thinks they're poor. C. They are friendly and welcoming. D. He doesn't like them. Answer: C
Ecoworld Discovery Centre The future is here at Ecoworld Discovery Centre! Class for children! Hands-on games, challenging and fun! Discover the environmental world in an exciting and educational way. Special activities for different ages. Organic gardens! Find out how to protect the environment in your own back garden! Learn practical and exciting tips to follow at home. Find out what live under the grass and in the trees! Wind turbine tower! Climb the 500 steps to the top of the 85-metre wind turbine tower and see the amazing view of Carlstown and the river beyond. For a little more charge, go on a special tour of the machine room(children under 12 not allowed without an adult). Gift shop and restaurant! Amazing gifts for all the family, each one specially chosen by our team of eco experts! The restaurant has a great choice of food and drinks, with a wide selection of vegetarian dishes available. There is access for wheelchair users to both the gift shop and the restaurant, and large print food menus for visitors with poor eyesight. Picnic area and free parking every day. KIDS-Special meals at reduced prices! Opening time: April 1st--- September 30th. Monday-Friday 10 am-6pm, Weekends 10am-7pm. October 1st---March 31st. Monday-Friday 10am-2pm, Weekends 10am-4pm. Tel: 01882-7092, Fax:01882-7093 What can children do in the Class for children? Play some hands-on games. For many years, I was convinced that my suffering was due to my size. I believed that when the weight disappeared, it would take old wounds, hurts and rejections with it. Many weight-conscious people also mistakenly believe that changing our bodies will fix _ . Perhaps our mistake is believing that being thin equals being loved, being special, and being cherished. We fantasize about what it will be like when we reach the long-awaited goal .We work very hard to realize this dream. Then, at last, we find ourselves there. But we often gain back what we have lost. Even so, we continue to believe that next time it will be different. Next time, we will keep it off. Next time, being thin will finally fulfill its promise of everlasting happiness, self-worth, and, of course, love. It took me a long time to realize that there was something more for me to learn about beauty. Beauty standards vary with culture. In Samoa a woman is not considered attractive unless she weighs more than 200 pounds. More importantly, if it's happiness that we want, why not put our energy there rather than on the size of our body? Why not look inside? Many of us strive hard to change our body, but in vain. We have to find a way to live comfortably inside our body and make friends with and cherish ourselves. When we change our attitudes towards ourselves, the whole world changes. What can be inferred about the author? The author has been troubled by her/his weight. Mr Smith gave his wife money every Friday evening. His wife always spent it all the next Wednesday, so that for the next three days she had no money to spend at all. One day Mr Smith asked her, "But how did you spend all that money?" She answered, "I don't know ."So on Friday evening, Mr Smith gave her money together with an exercise book and a pencil. He said to his wife , "Please write down how you spend the money ."Next Tuesday, his wife had no money again. Mr Smith took the exercise book to see how she had spent it. "I have done what you told me,"she said gladly . She had written "Friday, I got 18 pounds from Mr Smith. " on the first page, and on the second page, she wrote , "Tuesday, I have spent it all." Mrs Smith was _ to do what Mr Smith asked her to . happy You probably remember me from the other day. I was the one who reacted very slowly to the green traffic light. When you honked your horn ,I realized I was holding up traffic, so please accept my apology. However, I do want you to know why I seemed in a confused state. You see, I was just at the doctor's office getting the results of the examination I had two weeks ago, and I was wondering how I would tell my husband and children that I had cancer. There were still tears in my eyes, so,quite simply I didn't even see the lights change. Perhaps I should not have been driving, but I didn't want to miss my appointment. I was in the express lane at the supermarket without thinking and moving. Please accept my apology. My mind was on my youngest daughter who ran away from home, and she?'just sixteen. I was so worried then. You see, she somehow got in with the wrong crowd and started using drugs and drinking. I was remembering what a pretty little girl she had been most of her life. I know you were unhappy along with others in line. Please, accept my apology. I remember you from the store last week. I was so mean to you, when you were doing your job to the best of your ability. I acted so childishly. Please accept my apology. You see, I arrived home from work just yesterday and discovered that my wife had left me, but I should never have taken it out on you. Please, accept my apology. The above are imagined incidents, and yet they expressed a very real truth. The old saying about judging others before you "have walked a mile in their shoes" is a much needed reminder. Perhaps we all could try to learn the fact that there are problems and situation in the lives of others which we are totally unaware of. So, maybe before we get angry in similar situations, we should think a moment and understand that things may be going on in other's lives which have caused them to be slower, absent-minded or angry. Patience, as they say, is a virtue. The woman was holding up traffic because _ . she had cancer and was absent in mind I was telling my boy Sonny the story of the hare and the tortoise . At the end I said, " Son, remember: Be slow and steady , and that will win the race. Don't you think there's something to learn from the tortoise?" Sonny opened his eyes wide, "Do you mean next time when I'm entering for the 60-metre race I should wish that Billy, Tony and Sandy would all fall asleep halfway?" I was shocked, "But the tortoise didn't wish that the hare would fall asleep!" "He must have wished that," Sonny said, "Otherwise how could he be so foolish as to race with the hare? He knew very well the hare ran a hundred times faster than he himself did." "He didn't have such a wish," I insisted. "He won the race by perseverance , by pushing on steadily." Sonny thought a while. "That's a lie," he said. "He won it because he was lucky. If the hare hadn't happened to fall asleep, the tortoise would never have won the race. He could be as steady as you like, or a hundred times steadier, but he'd never have won the race. That's for sure." I gave up. Today's children are not like what we used to be. They're just hopeless. According to the passage, who do you think learnt a lesson? Sonny's father
Researchers have found more evidence that suggests a relationship between race and rates of lung cancer among smokers. A new study shows that black people and Native Hawaiians are more likely to develop lung cancer from smoking. It compared their risk to whites, Japanese, Americans and Latinos. The study, however, found almost no racial or ethnic differences among the heaviest smokers. These were people who smoked more than thirty cigarettes each day. Other comparisons have shown that blacks are more likely than whites to get lung cancer from smoking. But the scientists say few studies have compared the risks among Native Hawaiians, Asians and Latinos. Researchers at the University of Southern California and the University of Hawaii did the new study. The New England Journal of Medicine published the findings. The eight-year study involved more than 180,000 people. They provided details about their tobacco use and their diet as well as other information. They included current and former smokers and people who never smoked. Almost 2,000 people in the study developed lung cancer. Researchers say genetics might help explain the racial and ethnic differences. There could be differences in how people's bodies react to smoke. But environmental influences, including the way people smoke, could also make a difference. African-Americans and Latinos in the study reported smoking the fewest cigarettes per day. Whites were the heaviest smokers. But the scientists note that blacks have been reported to breathe cigarette smoke more deeply than white smokers. This could fill their lungs with more of the chemicals in tobacco that cause cancer. Many researchers disagree not only about the effect of race on the risk of disease, but even about the meaning of race. Yet scientists know that some diseases affect different groups differently. And some drug companies have begun to develop racially targeted medicines. Last June, the United State Food and Drug Administration approved a drug designed to treat heart failure in black patients. The name is BiDil. The agency called it "a step toward the promise of personalized medicine". Which of the following orders is right from higher to lower risk of having lung cancer? African-Americans---Latinos When you put a cold sandwich in the microwave, it will escalate in temperature There are many international organizations which work to save and protect endangered species and natural environment. If you would like more information about any of the organizations listed below, you can write to the addresses given. Friends of the Earth Friends of the Earth (FOE) campaigns on a range of problems including rainforests, the countryside, water and air pollution and energy. Friends of the Earth International Secretariat P.O. Box 19199 1000 G. D. Amsterdam The Netherlands Greenpeace Greenpeace uses peaceful but direct action to defend the environment. It campaigns to protect rainforests and sea animals, stop global warming and end pollution of air, land and seas. It also opposes nuclear power. Greenpeace International Keizergracht 176 1016 DW Amsterdam The Netherlands BirdLife INTERNATIONAL BirdLife International is an organization which works to save endangered birds all over the world. BirdLife International Wellbrook Court Girton Road Cambridge CB3 ONA England WWF WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature is the world's largest private international organization for the protection of nature and endangered species. Information Officer WWF International Avenue du Mont-Blanc 1196 Gland Switzerland What can we learn about WWF? It helps to protect nature and save endangered animals if a school cafeteria left their waste uncollected for a while, what might they attract? it might attract raccoons Joey got a German Shepherd for his birthday present. He had never had any pets before, but was always excited to see the other dogs and cats in his neighborhood. Since his birthday was in June, he spent a lot of time playing outside with his new puppy, which he named Max. Max and Joey would often run through fields in a game of chase. They also liked to go through the small forest behind the house, making a game of hide and seek. They never went near the lake because Joey was afraid of water. One day, Max hid a little too well and Joey couldn't find him. Joey spent the afternoon looking for his German Shepherd where they often played, like the field and forest. Joey was a shy boy who often read by himself, and Max was his best friend. After dinner, he went to look for Max one last time before he had to take a bath and go to bed. He heard some barking on the next street, so he ran to see if it was his puppy. Sure enough, he saw Max playing with a poodle. The dogs were having so much fun. Joey brought Max home, happy that he had his puppy back. Max seemed to be happy to have his human by his side as well as a new doggy friend. All summer long, Joey took Max to the poodle's house so they could play without having to worry about losing his present. Was Max happy after he was found? Yes, he had his human friend back and made a dog friend.
Deaf teenagers Orlando Chavez and German Resendiz have been friends since kindergarten. Together the two boys, who go to Escondido High School in California, have had the difficult job of learning in schools where the majority of the students can speak and hear. Orlando lost his hearing at the age of one. German was born deaf, and his parents moved from Mexico to find a school where he could learn sign language. He met Orlando on their first day of kindergarten. "We were in a special class with about 25 other deaf kids," German remembers. "Before then, I didn't know I was deaf and that I was different." "Being young and deaf in regular classes was very hard," signs Orlando. "The other kids didn't understand us and we didn't understand them. But we've all grown up together, and today, I'm popular because I'm deaf. Kids try hard to communicate with me." Some things are very difficult for the two boys."We can't talk on the phone, so if we need help, we can't call an emergency service," German signs. "And we can't order food in a drive-thru." Despite their difficulties, the two boys have found work putting food in bags at a local supermarket. They got their jobs through a "workability" program, designed for teenagers from local schools with different types of learning disabilities. German has worked in the supermarket since August, and Orlando started in November. "The other people who work here have been very nice to us," Orlando signs."They even sign sometimes. At first, we were nervous, but we've learned a lot and we're getting better." The opportunity to earn money has been exciting, both boys said. After high school, they hope to attend the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in New York. Orlando and German have been _ . Answer: Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, was not very handsome, and he knew he was not. One day, Lincoln was walking on the road when he was stopped by an ugly man .The man had a gun in his hand. He took aim at Lincoln's nose. Lincoln was very surprised, but he pretended not to be afraid. He asked the man, "What do you want, sir?""I've promised myself," said the man, "if I find a man who is uglier than I, I'll kill him." Then Lincoln looked at the man's face carefully and then said, "Please take aim at me, sir. If I were uglier than you are, I would not want to live." The man looked at Lincoln again, after a minute, he said, "You are right!" And he went away. Abraham Lincoln was stopped one day on the road by _ . Answer: The baby elephant, Sheila, was moved out of Belfast Zoo because of fears she might be hit by bombers during the Belfast Blitz of 1941. She was one of the lucky ones. A lot of the animals were killed because of fears they might escape during the bombing and attack people. They included a tiger, a black bear, a wolf, a penguin, and two polar bears. But Sheila was walked down the road by zoo-keepers to a nearby house where a woman took her in and kept her in her backyard for several months until the bombing was over. The woman has never been identified and the zoo knows her only as "the elephant angel". As the zoo celebrates its 75thbirthday, people have decided to try to find the elephant's saver. Mark Challis is the manager of Belfast Zoo. He explained a bit more about Sheila's story. "Well, we know that Sheila, the elephant that was in the zoo at that time spent some time living with a lady relatively near to the zoo and we have one sweet photo, you can see it on our zoo website." "In the photo you can see the elephant with the lady in her back garden and that's almost all we know. So we're just trying to find a little bit more information and we are not even sure if the lady is alive today, but maybe her relatives or somebody will recognize the back of that house and we can fill in some detail on this story." Once the bombing was over, Sheila went back to the zoo and lived for another quarter of a century. She died of a skin disease in 1966. Why was the photo posted on the website? Answer: Do you think hard work can make anything possible? If you don't, you may want to read the book We Can Do written by Moshe Kai Cavalin. It might change your mind. Moshe Kai Cavalin is a 14-year-old American boy. He is about to graduate from UCLA (University of California at Los Angeles) this year. Before that, he had already gotten a degree from East Los Angeles Community College in 2009. Recently, Cavalin published the book We Can Do. In this book, he talks about how to achieve things we want, by keeping yourself focused and trying your best to do everything. He says this doesn't need genius , just hard work. Cavalin says being called a genius "has always bothered me... People need to know they don't have to be geniuses; they just need to work hard and they can achieve anything. If I can reach the stars, others can reach the Milky Way(,)." The idea of writing a book came from a teacher named Richard Avila at his first college. Cavalin says Avila inspired him to write a book to explain how he succeeded, so he could inspire other people. It took Cavalin four years to finish the book. Because his mother is Chinese, she wanted to publish the book in Chinese. So Cavalin translated the book into Chinese by himself. The book did well in Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. Did Calvalin translate the book into Chinese with the help of his mother? Answer: This is a plan that Jim has made on Thanksgiving 00:00--00:30 Get up and go to store to buy fruit,vegetables and food by car . 1:20--4:30 Start doing a big turkey for ten people.It is interesting 2:00--2:30 Do broccoli salad and dessert,Kids really love them . 2:30--3:00 Put fifty strawberries in the turkey .They are nice! 3:00--3:30 Put some vegetables in the turkey.Kids don't like vegetables ,so just a little. 3:45--4:10 Call my father ,mother,grandparents and cousins to come and join us . 4:15 Play the Thanksgiving music,it's relaxting. 4:30--5:30 Eat a great Thanksgiving dinner. 5:30--6:30 Play family games. They are exciting. 6:30--9:00 Go out and watch the Thanksgiving movies .They are fun . 10 :00 Go to bed. Jim likes playing family games,because they are _ . Answer:
I was a newcomer of Miss Burn's seventh grade. Past"newcomer"experiences had been difficult, so I was very anxious to fit in. Lunchtime was a pleasant surprise when the girls all crowded around my table. Their chat was friendly, so I began to relax. My new classmates filled me in on the school, the teachers and the other kids. it wasn't long before the class herd was pointed out to me: Mary Lou. Actually she called herself Mary Louise. A formal, overmodest young girl with old-fashioned clothes, she wasn't ugly--not even funny looking. Practical shoes, long wool skirt and a blouse completed the image of a complete herd. The girls' whispers got louder and louder. Mary Lou didn't notice this. After school, the girls invited me to join them in front of the school. Arms wrapped around her backpack, Mary Lou came down the school steps. The _ began--rude, biting comments and disrespectful words from the girls. I paused, then joined right in. My force began to pick up as I approached her, mean remarks falling from my lips. I even pulled the belt of her backpack and then pushed her. The belt broke, Mary Lou fell. Everyone was laughing and patting me. I fit in. But I was not proud. Something inside me hurt. Mary Lou got up, gathered her books and--without a tear shed--off, she went. She held her head high as a small trickle of blood ran down from her injured knee. I turned to leave with my laughing friends and noticed a man standing beside his car. His skin, dark hair and handsome features told me this was her father. Respectful of Mary Lou's proud spirit, he remained still and watched the lonely girl walk toward him. Only his eyes--shining with both grief and pride--followed. As I passed, he looked at me in silence with burning tears that spoke to my shame and scolded my heart. He didn't speak a word. No scolding from a teacher or a parent could linger as much as that hurt in my heart from the day a father's eyes taught me kindness and strength and dignity. I never again joined the cruel herds. I never again hurt someone for my own gain. Mary's father _ after he saw what happened to her daughter. Answer: felt sad and proud for his daughter's bravery "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?" The best title for the passage would be _ . Answer: Who gave me the ears? How do you study each day? You may answer it in one second: have classes at school, take notes and do homework. Feeling a little bored? There are other ways that can make learning interesting and varied. It's called digital learning. Digital learning is a way to help students learn by using the Internet. There are three important kinds of digital learning. Apps are computer software applications . People can download them on their mobiles. The other two kinds are social networking services, including weibo and WeChat and websites. Every one of them is like your teacher. They help you _ what you learn at school. Compared with traditional learning ways, digital learning has its advantages. Digital learning is also varied. It covers almost every school subject. More importantly, it always offers students the newest resources to learn from. Digital learning is also personalized. You can choose what you like to learn. If you don't master what you have learned at school, you can learn again through digital ways. However, digital learning also has disadvantages. When you use digital ways to learn, you've got little chance of talking with teachers and classmates. As digital learning uses computers or smartphones, watching the screen too long may be bad for your eyes. It is better to take a rest every 20 minutes. How can you protect your eyes when learning in digital ways? Answer: Try to take a break every twenty minutes if possible. Freda Bright says, _ ." It's true.You really can't love somebody to death.I've known people to die from no love, but I've never known anyone to be loved to death.We just can't love one another enough. A heart-warming story tells of a woman who finally decided to ask her boss for a raise in salary.All day she felt nervous and late in the afternoon she summoned the courage to approach her employer.To her delight, the boss agreed to a raise. The woman arrived home that evening to a beautiful table set with their best dishes.Candles were softly glowing.Her husband had come home early and prepared a festive meal.She wondered if someone from the office had tipped him off, or...did he just somehow know that she would not get turned down? She found him in the kitchen and told him the good news.They embraced and kissed, then sat down to the wonderful meal.Next to her plate the woman found a beautifully lettered note.It read: "Congratulations, darling! I knew you'd get the raise! These things will tell you how much I love you." Following the supper, her husband went into the kitchen to clean up.She noticed that a second card had fallen from his pocket.Picking it off the floor, she read: "Don't worry about not getting the raise! You deserve it anyway! These things will tell you how much I love you." Someone has said that the measure of love is when you love without measure.What this man feels for his wife is total acceptance and love, whether she succeeds or fails.His love celebrates her victories and soothes her wounds.He stands with her, no matter what life throws in their direction. Upon receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Mother Teresa said: "What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family." And love your friends.Love them without measure. That the husband prepared her a second letter about her raise suggests that _ . Answer: he loves his family members truly, whether they are in good conditions or not What rock is likely to be more mechanically weathered? Answer: a rock used to make fires
The 30 miles of steep roads that snake through the mountains of Logan Canyon in Utah are enough to make most drivers'hands sweat. But Andersen, a 46-year-old father of four, wasn't expecting any trouble on the road last New Year's Eve, when he set off for a ski trip to the Bear River Mountains with nine-year-old daughter Mia, four-old son Baylor, and nine-year-old neighbor Kenya. Andersen had driven through the Canyon hundreds of times over the years. The weather was fine-but the higher they drove, the more slippery the roads became. Rounding a sharp U-turn at mile marker473, Andersen saw a truck that had skated off the road and immediately tapped his brakes. In an instant, the car was sliding at 25 miles per hour toward the shoulder of the highway, then rolling down a steep ten-foot dam toward the extremely cold Logan River. As it hit the water, the car tipped toward the passenger side, hesitated, and then rolled onto its roof and sank into the river. There was no time to tell the kids what to do. The crash had broken a few windows, and within seconds, the upside-down car was filled with water. "It was frightening how fast we were completely underwater,"remembers Andersen, a soft-spoken product development manager."You're thinking, is this how it's all going to end?" Having lost all sense of direction, Andersen began to search the freezing water for the kids. Mia had been right next to him in the front seat; now, in the blackness, he couldn't find her."I thought, if I don't get out, maybe none of us are going to get out." Andersen got out of his seat belt, swam through a broken window, and, deeply and quickly, breathed air at the surface. That's when he saw a group of men, about ten in all, appear at the top of the dam. One after another, they raced down into the water. Helping onto safety all the three children, they began to shout at the father,"Who else is in the car?"Andersen says respectfully," _ ." Andersen didn't expect any trouble on the road because _ . Answer: TeleNav GPS Navigator TeleNav Talks. You drive. Voice and Onscreen Directions. TeleNav is easy to use. As you drive, TeleNav GPS Navigator will give you all the information you need, such as: The current street. The next turn to take. The next street to turn onto. The distance remaining before next turn. *The number of miles left on your trip. Along the way, directions will be announced in a clear voice and displayed on your phone. For example, it will say, "Go 1.2 miles and turn right on Elm Street." As you approach the turn, you will hear, "Turn right on Elm Street." TeleNav GPS Navigator will even tell you that the destination is on your left-or right-hand side of the street. Automatic Reroute If you miss a turn or meet the traffic jam--no problem. TeleNav GPS Navigator will quickly update your route and redirect you to your destination. Route Preview Hit the road by previewing your route before you go. You even get the total distance and estimate travel time to your destination. Biz Finder With TeleNav GPS Navigator, it's easy to find restaurants, banks, cafes, hotels and more from over 10 millions points of interest across the US. Search by category, such as "Thai restaurant" and "hotel". Search by name, such as "Thai Basil Cafe" and "Luck Hotel". Once you've found what you are looking for, you can use TeleNav to get driving directions or call ahead to make reservations. Best of all, updates are free and automatic, unlike expensive GPS systems that charge for updates and require manual intervention. Order TeleNav GPS Navigator You Can Get a Favoured Price Now! List Price: $199.99 Price:$142.77&this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. You Save:28.6% 100% Secure Every transaction on TeleNav.com is guaranteed to be secure. Any personal information you give us will be handled according to our Privacy Policy. Need Help? Questions about your order? Call us at 1-888-353-6288 for help. Buying More Than 10? Call 408-207-4103 to process your order more quickly. Comments from the Users "It's easy to use...the voice that tells you the turn directions--with names and streets--is clear and easy to understand." --Dory Delvin "It's clear that TeleNav helps professionals on the road make the most of their time." --Dale Hein Why are customers' comments quoted in the ad? Answer: Most children like chocolates, candies and other kinds of sweet food. Sometimes they put a lot of sugar into their food. They don't know that sugar is bad for their teeth. Children also like fast food. It is _ delicious than home cooking, and children can take it away and eat it anywhere. Other children like to eat too much meat. Fast food or too much meat doesn't help _ a strong and healthy body. Children grow fast. They need to eat more eggs, milk, corn ,fruit, vegetables and other healthy things. Eggs and milk are good for their bones. Corn gives them energy. Fruit and vegetables give them vitamins . Children should eat an egg, and have about 200ml of milk every day. It's best to drink milk after eating bread in the morning. They should eat 150g of corn to give them energy, too. They should also eat an apple or some other fruit with their breakfast. Eating enough vegetables is important for lunch and supper. According to this passage, we _ . Answer: I sometimes wonder if old Finchley has the right personality to be a research scientist. He keeps asking when he'll be coming back. After all, it was his own fault. Nobody tries out what has just been invented on themselves any more but Finchley. Well, he must have pumped about a thousand cc into himself before I noticed he was clearly becoming smaller. It was funny watching him, because his clothes remained the same in size. They simply piled up around him so that he looked like a small boy in his father's clothes. But he kept getting smaller and smaller. As my colleague Dawson and I watched him, he disappeared! All we could see was Finchley's clothes on the floor. They looked so strange, because the lab coat was on top, shirt and trousers inside and, I suppose, underclothes inside again. It gave me a strange feeling, and I think Dawson was a bit shaken, too. Dawson was sitting on his chair in front of a microscope he'd been using to examine a family of mites . He looked through the scope kind of absently again, and was nearly scared to lose awareness when he found old Finchley waving back from the other end. It seems as if Finchley had taken a free ride on a dust mite and landed on the land of the mite family. Of course, we didn't know till Finchley told us later. But anyhow, as I said, Dawson nearly passed out. He jumped off his chair and pointed at the microscope, too shocked to speak. It frightened Dawson to see Fincley _ . Answer: For thousands of years, people have used plants to make medicines. They used different parts of the plants --the roots, the leaves, the flowers, and the bark . Today, doctors have rediscovered more medicinal values of some plants. Let's look at some examples. Foxglove is a common plant. People have used it to make the heart slow down. Recently scientists have developed another drug from it. This new drug helps prevent other heart problems. In some areas, _ has been a problem. Scientists have learned that the bark of a South American tree, the cinchona, can be made into a drug to prevent malaria. For a long time, the Chinese have known that a special plant, wormwood, can also fight malaria. Scientists have been working with it to develop new drugs against malaria. In Germany, some scientists studied garlic for four years. They found that it helps prevent the build-up of plaque because too much plaque is bad for health. This very common plant continues to be studied. As we know, there are about 250,000 kinds of flowering plants in the world. Scientists have only studied little more than one percent of plants for their medicinal value. Maybe medicines for AIDS and cancer will be made from the other 99 percent. Which of the following is the best title for the passage? Answer:
WASHINGTON--Laura Straub is a very worried woman. Her job is to find families for French teenagers who expect to live with American families in the summer. It is not easy, even hopeless. "We have many children left to place--40 out of 75," said Straub, who works for a Paris-based foreigner-exchange program started 50 years ago. Family life was more than accommodating . For one thing, more mothers stayed at home. But now, increasing numbers of women work outside the home. Exchange-student programs have struggled in recent years to sign up host families for the 30 000 teenagers who every year come from abroad to spend a school year in the United States, as well as the thousands more who take part in summer programs. School systems in many parts of the U.S., unhappy about accepting non-taxpaying students, have also strictly limited the number of exchange students they accepted. At the same time, the idea of hosting foreign students is becoming less _ . In search for host families, who usually receive no pay, exchange programs are increasingly broadening their requests to include everyone from young couples to retirees. "We are open to many different types of families," said Vickie Weiner, eastern area director for ASSE, a 25-year-old program that sends about 30 000 teenagers on school-year exchange programs worldwide. For elderly people, exchange students "keep us young--they really do", said Jen Foster, who is hosting 16-year-old Nina Post from Denmark. Which of the following is the best title of this passage? A U.S. Struggle to Find host Families B Idea of Hosting Students is Different C Foreign-exchange Program Is Going on D Exchange Students Keep Old People Young Answer: A My family and I lived across the street from Southway Park since I was four years old. Then just last year the city put a chain link fence around the park and started bulldozing the trees and grass to make way for a new apartment complex. When I saw the fence and bulldozers, I asked myself,"Why don't they just leave it alone?" Looking back, I think what sentenced the park to oblivion was the drought we had about four years ago. Up until then, Southway Park was a nice green park with plenty of trees and a public swimming pool. My friends and I rollerskated on the sidewalks, climbed the trees, and swam in the pool all the years I was growing up. The park was almost like my own yard. Then the summer I was fifteen the drought came and things changed. There had been almost no rain at all that year. The city stopped watering the park grass. Within a few weeks I found myself living across the street from a huge brown desert. Leaves fell off the park trees, and pretty soon the trees started dying, too. Next, the park swimming pool was closed. The city cut down on the work force that kept the park, and pretty soon it just got too ugly and dirty to enjoy anymore. As the drought lasted into the fall, the park got worse every month. The rubbish piled up or blew across the brown grass. Soon the only people in the park were beggars and other people down on their luck. People said drugs were being sold or traded there now. The park had gotten scary, and my mother told us kids not to go there anymore. The drought finally ended and things seemed to get back to normal, that is, everything but the park. It had gotten into such bad shape that the city just let it stay that way. Then about six months ago I heard that the city was going to"redevelop"certain wornout areas of the city. It turned out that the city had planned to get rid of the park, sell the land and let someone build rows of apartment buildings on it. The chainlink fencing and the bulldozers did their work. Now we live across the street from six rows of apartment buildings. Each of them is three units high and stretches a block in each direction. The neighborhood has changed without the park. The streets I used to play in are jammed with cars now. Things will never be the same again. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ How did the writer feel when he saw the fence and bulldozers? A Scared. B Confused. C upset. D Curious. Answer: C Marek was a farmer who lived in a village far away. One day he became very ill, and everyone thought he would die. They sent for a doctor, who arrived two days later and examined the sick man. The doctor asked for a pen and some paper to write down the name of the medicine. But there was no pen or paper in the village, because no one could read or write. The doctor picked up a piece of burnt wood from the fire. Using the wood, he wrote the name of the medicine on the door of the house. "Get this medicine for him," he said,"and he will soon get better." Marek's family and friends did not know what to do. They could not read the strange writing. Then the village baker had an idea. He took off the door of the house, put it on his cart and drove to the nearest town. He bought the medicine, and Marek was soon well again. He would not let anyone wash the magic words away from the door. It took the doctor two days to reach the village because _ . A he didn't like to go to the village B he had to prepare some medicine C the village was far from the town D there was an accident on his way to the village Answer: C Have You Planned Three Things to Do Before You Are 18? I know most of us have a long way to reach an adult. At present, are you bored with your daily life? Here are some things you should try before you are 18,because after that it's too late. Learn to swim Seriously, this is so important that it can save your life. If you can't swim well,you won't be able to do water sports like waterskiing, surfing and diving. Even taking a boat trip will be dangerous for you. Make sure you do it. Try at least one kind of team sports Being a good team player is an important skill in life. You can't just think of yourself,but have to work well with other people. Other advantages of team sports like basketball, football and baseball are that they keep you fit and healthy, and they are also great fun. Teams usually have _ too--you'll go to lots of parties and make many friends. Collect something One of the best hobbies for under-18s is collecting things. You could collect kinds of stamps,or you could collect things that make you remember what you have done,like cinema tickets for films you have seen or emails from friends. The best way to collect is to have a special album to put your collection in and to write what each thing means to you. That way you won't forget. What kind of collection is NOT mentioned in the passage? A Stamps. B Cinema tickets. C Snowballs. D Emails. Answer: C A fox that has white fur A has been bleached or washed B is genetically altered and abused C is a very clean animal D got it from genetics Answer: D
One day an ant was drinking at a small stream and fell in. She made desperate efforts to reach the side, but made no progress at all. The poor ant almost exhausted was still bravely doing her best when a dove saw her. Moved with pity, the bird threw her a blade of grass, which supported her like a raft, and thus the ant reached the bank again. While she was resting and drying herself in the grass, she heard a man come near. He was walking along barefooted with a gun in his hand. As soon as he saw the dove, he wished to kill it. He would certainly have done so, but the ant bit him in the foot just as he raised his gun to fire. He stopped to see what had bit him, and the dove immediately flew away. It was an animal much weaker and smaller than herself that had saved her life. The dove saved the ant because _ . she took pity on the poor ant Which of these is an example of liquid water? Rain Scientists in Israel have discovered a new way to test for water pollution by "listening" to what the plants growing in water have to say. By shining a laser beam on the tiny pieces of _ floating in the water,the researchers said they hear sound waves that tell them the type and amount of contamination in the water. "It is a red light,telling us that something is beginning to go wrong with the quality of water," said Zvy Dubinsky,an aquatic biologist at Israel's Bar Ilan University."Algae is the first thing to be affected by a change in water quality.""The secret," he said,"is to measure the rate of photosynthesis in the algae,meaning the plant's ability to transform light into energy." During photosynthesis,plants also release oxygen into the air. Dubinsky's technique is easy to perform because of the overabundance of algae in the planet's water.Most of the oxygen in the atmosphere comes from algae.A prototype tester that occupies about one square meter of a laboratory desktop,shoots a laser beam at water samples to stimulate photosynthesis in the algae.But not all of the laser's heat is used.Depending on the condition of the algae and the rate of photosynthesis,some of the heat is shot back into the water,creating sound waves,Dubinsky said.With a special underwater microphone,researchers are able to analyze the strength of the sound waves and determine the health of the algae and the condition of the surrounding water. "Algae suffering from lead poisoning,like waste discharged from battery and paint manufacturing plants,will produce a different sound than those suffering from lack of iron or exposure to other toxins," said researcher Yulia Pinchasov.She said that testing algae photosynthesis can determine water quality more accurately and easily than laborintensive methods now used like chemical and radioactive carbon testing. Why is the algae tested? Because it is the first to be polluted. At the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, the sport of canoe racing was added to the list of international competitions. The favorite team in the four-man canoe race was the Unites States team. One member of that team was Bill Havens. As the time for the Olympics neared, it became clear that Bill's wife would give birth to their first child about the time that the US team would be competing in the Paris games. In 1924, there were no jet airliners from Paris to the Unites States, only slow ocean-going ships. Bill found himself in a _ . Should he go to Paris and risk not being at his wife's side when their baby was born? Or should he stay with his family? Bill's wife insisted that he go to Paris. But after much soul searching, Bill decided to stay at home, where he could support his wife when the child arrived. As it turned out , the Unites States four-man canoe team won the gold medal in Paris. And Bill's wife was late in giving birth to their child. In fact, Bill could have competed in the event and returned home in time to be with her when she gave birth. People said ," what a shame!" The child finally born to Bill and his wife was a boy, whom they named Frank. Twenty-eight years later, in 1952, Bill received a telegram from Frank. It was sent from Helsinki, Finland, where the 1952 Olympics were being held. The telegram read, "Dad, I won. I am bringing home the gold medal you lost while waiting for me to be born." Frank had just won the gold medal for the Unites States in a rowing event, a medal his father had dreamed of winning but never did. When people asked Bill about his decision he made twenty-eight years ago, he said he would make the same choice if he was in such a situation again. What is the main reason why people said" what a shame!"? Bill could have returned home with the gold medal in time. Jolly Joe always arrived at my neighborhood at exactly half past noon. The clang of the bell on his red and black truck was then the sweetest sound in the world. Brightly colored stickers advertising his amazing kinds of treats could be found on all sides of his truck. The whole neighborhood would magically come to life. Holding a nickel , I'd run to the back of the vehicle, where children were already gathering. Jolly Joe would jump out of his truck, the sun shining on his hair. He was an older man, short and round, with a pleasant face and a welcoming smile. I don't know how, but he knew us all by name, as well as which treats we preferred. My favorite was the Buried Treasure. By eating all the ice cream, you'd discover the treasure inside: a lion, a dog or even a funny clown -- printed onto a plastic stick. When it was finally my turn, he'd put his arm deep inside one of the boxes, and pause for a moment, a puzzled look crossing his face. Then, suddenly, he'd pull it out: the Buried Treasure! I couldn't wait to enjoy the cool, sweet ice cream. As quickly as he arrived, it was time for Jolly Joe to go, leaving behind laughing, excited children with sticky hands and faces. Soon the sound of his clanging bell would slowly disappear in the distance. I always hated to see Jolly Joe go, because I knew the rest of the day would be as hot and boring as before. But I took some comfort in knowing that the next day he'd come round the corner at half past noon and once again spread his magic. Which of the following can best describe Jolly Joe? Happy and humorous.
Mona Lisa, the mysterious woman in Leonardo da Vinci's 16th century masterpiece, had just given birth to her second son when she sat for the painting, a French art expert said on Tuesday. The discovery was made by a team of Canadian scientists who used special infrared and three-dimensional technology to study the paint layers on the work, which now sits in the Louvre museum in Paris. Bruno Mottin of the French Museums' Center for Research and Restoration said that on very close examination of the painting it became clear that the Mona Lisa's dress was covered in a thin transparent gauze veil. "This type of gauze dress was typical of the kind worn in early 16th century Italy by women who were pregnant or who had just given birth. This is something that had never been seen up to now because the painting was always judged to be dark and difficult to examine," he told a news conference. "We can now say that this painting by Leonardo da Vinci was painted in memory of the birth of the second son of Mona Lisa, which helps us to date it more precisely to around 1503."The young woman with the ambiguous half smile has been identified as Lisa Gherardini, wife of Florentine merchant Francesco de Giocondo. She had five children. "People always wrote that Mona Lisa had allowed her hair to hang freely over her shoulders. This greatly surprised historians because letting your hair hang freely during the Renaissance was typical of young girls and women of poor virtue ," he said. The team had hoped to discover more details about Leonardo's painting techniques, which the artist used to create a hazy effect. But scientist John Taylor said the team had been disappointed by the lack of brush stroke detail on the painting. We can infer from the test that _ . Answer: The piano on which Mozart wrote all of his late works returned home to Vienna for the first time since his death in 1791.The piano will stand in his former Vienna home, now a museum, for two weeks, ending in a concert of the works by Mozart. Mozart bought the instrument from Anton Walter, the most famous piano maker of his time, in 1782.He wrote more than 50 works for the piano on it, many of them in the apartment in Vienna.After Mozart's death, Constanze, Mozart's wife, gave the instrument to their elder surviving son, Carl Thomas, who donated it to the Mozarteum Salzburg on what would have been the composer's 100th birthday.The piano is now part of the permanent exhibition in the Austrian city of Salzburg. " It was very hard to let it go," said Matthias Schulz, director of the Mozarteum Salzburg." If we didn' t know it was in the best hands, we wouldn' t have done it." The piano is much smaller and lighter than modern concert ones.Its sound is fresher and brighter than that of a modern piano, with lighter action and hammers . Piano restorer Josef Meingast, who has looked after the Mozart piano since 1975, said it was superior to any of its surviving copies.Meingast said he had to fight to replace the existing strings , dating from a 1973 restoration, with softer ones that produce a rounder sound thought to be more similar to what Mozart would have produced. Russian pianist Alexander Melnikov, who planned to give a concert of Mozart' s music on the piano on November 7, said he was privileged to play such an instrument.It's easily the biggest day of a musician' s life." Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? Answer: Our "Timeline of Education" shows highlights of learning and education (especially related to Western education), going back to the very first education: In the beginning: Adam got the very first lesson, from God: break the law and you pay the price. 3000 B.C. :Priests teach religion, writing, sciences. 0 B.C./A.D.: Jesus teaches in Jerusalem. 105 A.D.: Paper is invented in China. 1150-1250 : "Modern" universities founded. 1620s: Slide rule is invented, math is made easier. 1918 : All U.S. states require free education Early 1980s: Television in the classroom. The availability of cheap VCRs makes video learning common. Late 1990s: The Internet changes everything. E-learning courses develop. http://www.worldwidelearn.com/education-timeline/education-timeline.htm#3000BC Television appears in the classroom and helps the teacher and students in _ . Answer: The King lived a small house near New York with their child . Sometimes Mr King came back from work very late. When his wife and the child were asleep, he opened the front door of his house with his key and came in very quietly. But one night when he was coming home late, he lost his key. So when he reached his house , he rang the bell. Nothing happened. He rang it again. Again nothing happened. Nobody moved inside the house. Mr King knocked at the bedroom window. He spoke to his wife, he shouted, but she didn't wake up. At last he stopped and thought for a minute. Then he began to speak like a small child. "Mum," he said, "I want to go to the toilet." He spoke quietly, but at once Mrs King woke up. Then he spoke to her, and she opened the door for him. When Mr King came back very late from work and his wife was asleep, he usually came into his house _ . Answer: Thousands of cities around the globe turned off their lights for an hour to mark Earth Hour 2014, a symbolic show of support for the environment organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature. Since the movement began in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, it has spread to more than 7,000 cities across more than 160 countries. Singapore continues to hold one of the world's largest lights-off events, drawing around 9,000 people this year to Marina Bay Sands, a commercial center typically awash in electricity. To mark the event actors Andrew Garfield, Jamie Foxx, Emma Stone and a group of other famous stars from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 movie were in town. Other iconic landmarks that fell dark included the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok's Wat Arun temple, the Empire State Building in New York, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Sydney Opera House, Red Square in Moscow, the Bird's Nest in Beijing and Hong Kong Harbor. As the movement has grown, more organizations and business have committed to switching off their lights in support of efforts to reduce their environmental footprint. In Singapore, at least 600 organizations and companies agreed to either switch off their lights or participate in movements to use fewer plastic bags, take shorter showers, turn up their air-conditioning units or switch to LED lighting. This year the World Wide Fund for Nature, which first launched worldwide Earth Hour, also launched Earth Hour Blue, a crowdfunding platform aimed at raising money for environmental projects around the globe. On Mar. 26 a project to stop the illegal wildlife trade in Asia by providing assistance to wildlife rangers became the first one to reach its target of $20,000 by relying completely on crowdfunding. The hour-long event has little if any impact on electricity consumption, but as an awareness raising event it has registered success. In a statement to mark Saturday's event, Andy Ridley, CEO and Co-Founder of Earth Hour, said Asia's rapidly growing digital presence is an added bonus that has helped power our movement. We can infer from the report that _ Answer:
Question: People like to look in the mirror often when they have a young and beautiful face. However, when one grows old, nobody wants to see their wrinkled old face in the mirror any more. So, many old people seldom look at their faces in the mirror. This is completely wrong. According to Wu Zhenyun, a professor from the Psychological Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a person's willingness to look in the mirror can reflect his or her mentality. When people don't care too much about their age, they will try to carry themselves with ease and natural poise . They don't mind looking in the mirror to see their own faces. Some people even love to look in the mirror from time to time to see whether they keep a good appearance. In this way, mirror becomes their best friend that help them to look confident. On the other hand, some people are afraid of being old. They don't want to see the wrinkles on their face and their hair turning grey. So they don't want to look in the mirror. This actually reflects a negative attitude they hold towards life. In the long term, they might suffer from psychological pressure or some sort of depression, which is actually not a wise act. " Everyone can make themselves look charming at every age stage. If one is confident, one will always look beautiful, it shows that they accept themselves." professor Wu said. Mirror cannot only give confidence to one. By looking in the mirror, one can even find the traces of some diseases from one's own face. Why does the mirror become the best friend for some people? A. Because it brings much confidence to them. B. Because it makes them more beautiful. C. Because it tells whether they are clean or not. D. Because it helps them find their own faults. Answer: A Question: Today is November 20th. It's my sister Mary's 8thbirthday. In the morning, my parents take us to Zig Zag's Clothes Store. There my mother buys a red sweater for Mary. And we go to Huaxing Book Store. There I buy some CDs for Mary. My father also buys a book for Mary, and its name is Harry Potter. It's Mary's favorite book. In the afternoon, my parents have a birthday party for Mary at home. Mary's friends, Bill and Cindy come to the party. Bill brings a new pencil box to Mary. Mary likes it very much. Cindy gives Mary an English-Chinese dictionary. Mary is very happy. Oh, I'm Mary's brother. My name is Nick. Mary's mother buys a _ for her. A. red sweater B. white shirt C. red skirt D. red T-shirt Answer: A Question: Daniel comes from Sydney. He is now staying in Beijing with his family. He usually gets up at about 6:30 am and has breakfast at 7:00 am. Then he leaves home at 7:15 am. He gets to school at 7:45 am. His first class begins at 8:00 am. There are four lessons in the morning. Morning classes are over at 11:50 am, and he has lunch 10 minutes later. Afternoon classes begin at 1:30 pm. There are two lessons in the afternoon. They are over at 3:10 pm. Daniel usually stays at school for another hour to play soccer, and then goes home. What time does Daniel have lunch? A. At 11:50 am. B. At 12 o'clock. C. At 12:10 pm. D. At 12:20 pm. Answer: B Question: There was a guy that was born with cancer.He could die at any moment.So he was always at home, under his mother's care.One day he decided to go out, even if it was just for once! He asked his mother for permission and she agreed. Walking down his block he saw many stores.Stopping at a music store he saw a very pretty girl of his own age. He walked up to the counter.She smiled at him and asked, "Can I help you with anything?" The guy could only think that it was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen and stuttered , "'Well, I'd like to buy a CD." He grabbed the first one he saw."Do you want me to wrap it?" the girl asked. The guy said yes and then took the wrapped CD home. From that day on he visited the music store every day, and each day he bought a CD, and each day the girl wrapped it up and the guy stored it unopened in his closet. He was too shy to find the nerve to ask the girl out.His mother noticed this and encouraged him. The next day the guy set out for the store with a determined mind. He bought a CD and the girl wrapped it as usual.While she was busy , he left his telephone number on the counter and rushed out of the store. The following day the guy didn't visit the store.When the girl called him, his mother answered the phone and started crying.The girl asked her what was the matter."He died yesterday," the mother said. There was a long silence. Later that afternoon the guy' s mother entered his room and opened his closet.To her surprise, she saw a big pile of unopened CDs wrapped in festive paper.With curiosity she tore open the package and noticed a slip of paper "Hi! You're cute; I would love to meet you.Let's go out some time.Sophie." The mother started crying as she opened another, and another.Every single CD contained a slip of paper that said the same. That's the way life is.Don't wait to show those special people the way you feel.Tomorrow would be too late. Why did the boy buy a CD every day from the music store? A. Because he liked listening to music. B. Because his mother asked him to do so. C. Because he fell in love with the pretty girl. D. Because he wanted to know what a CD is. Answer: C Question: Camp Jano India Celebrate Indian culture, languages, arts, festivals and literature. Weekly themes are brought to life through related arts, games, projects, stories and theatre in a very unique, exciting, creative, interactive and structured style. A very unique and memorable experience that kids will want to repeat! Mornings are spent with the Hindi language at the child's level. Afternoons provide the cultural elements taught in an interactive style with special emphasis on drama. Bay Language Academy We invite campers (4-12 years old) to travel and open up doors to explore past and recent civilizations through daily field trips. Cultures will be shown through customs and cooking. Lectures (6/10-8/30) will introduce/reinforce French, Spanish or Chinese and the cultures they convey. Our language summer-camp is infused with cultural activities and taught by a team of bilingual instructors. Petits Confettis Want your 3- to 5-year-old kids to experience a French camp? Come and join us for 6 weeks of French camps! Kids will be totally happy to learn French and French culture while they take part in team projects like building a tipi or making French bread. Weekly themes include cooking, arts, drama, outdoor activities, board games, music, yoga, rhymes and story time. Chinese Immersion Summer Camp This is our 11th Chinese language and culture summer camp. We take children from 6th grade. This year we continue the weekly fun themes like art, science, cooking and sports in the morning. In the afternoon, we have abacus, reading and Chinese culture lessons taught in Chinese. Our teachers are all native speakers with a lot of experience. Our weekly field trips go to different places like SF zoo, tech museums, fire stations etc. What is the common theme of the four camps? A. Fun and sports. B. Travel and adventure. C. Language and culture. D. Art and music. Answer: C
While walking in the park on Monday with my granddaughter Tina, we saw an ice cream truck pull up on the street. "Can we get ice cream, Nana?" asked Tina. "Sure we can!" I answered. As we started heading up the hill to the truck, my granddaughter was scared by a bird who had swooped by her face. "Nana, that bird almost made me fall down the hill!" Laughing at what was said, I answered, "If you fell you might have taken Nana down with you!" Once we reached the ice cream truck, Tina saw that they not only had ice cream but also carried popcorn, hotdogs, juice and soda. "Nana, instead of ice cream may I get popcorn and juice?" she asked. "If that is what you want, you sure can!" I answered. We got our food and headed to the picnic table. On our way over we saw a child who Tina knew from her kindergarten class. "Nana, may we go and say hello to Mary?" "Let's go!" We made it over to where Mary and her family were sitting and Tina saw a bright blue butterfly. She did everything she could to try and catch that pretty butterfly but it kept flying way to high for her to catch. "That is okay", she said, "Butterflies need to be left out to fly free". Mary asked Tina if she wanted to go over her house and play Barbies when we left the park, instead of going home. So we went over and the girls had a wonderful time and were both tired after a long day. We needed to get a good night's sleep to enjoy our camping trip tomorrow. What was my granddaughter's first choice? A. burger B. popcorn C. hotdog D. ice cream Answer: D. ice cream Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner. Born in September, 1897, Irene Curie was the first of the Curies' two daughters. Along with nine other children whose parents were also famous scholars, Irene studied in their own school, and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sevigne in Paris. Irene entered the University of Paris in 1914 to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, Irene went to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgium. Her services were recognized in the form of a Military's Medal by the French government. In 1918, Irene became her mother's assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot joined the Institute, and Irene taught him the techniques required for his work. They soon fell in love and were married in 1926. Their daughter Helene was born in 1927 and their son Pierre five years later. Like her mother, Irene combined family and career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, in 1935. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed leukemia because of her work with radioactivity . Irene Joliot Curie died from leukemia on March 17, 1956. In which of the following aspects was Irene Curie different from her mother? A. Irene worked with radioactivity. B. Irene combined family and career. C. Irene won the Nobel Prize once. D. Irene died from leukemia. Answer: C. Irene won the Nobel Prize once. Growing mushrooms is probably the easiest thing you can do even if you are new to mushroom growing. It is becoming more common because restaurants are starting to create more dishes that include mushrooms. Mushroom growing is easy. To start, you need to have a space where you are going to grow these mushrooms. It does not have to be a huge space but just enough for you to grow as many mushrooms as you need. When you have found the space perfect for you, you can start researching what kind of mushrooms you want to grow. There are a lot of mushrooms to choose from and not all of them are suitable to eat. When you decide what kind of mushrooms you want to grow, you can start getting ready to plant the mushrooms. Sometimes you may want to hire some workers to help if you have a large mushroom farm, or if you are trying to start a professional mushroom growing business. Trying to have a business by yourself can be stressful. If you don't have enough time to spend taking care of everything yourself, dome helpers may be the best choice. After you have started the mushroom growing, you should regularly check that your mushrooms grow properly and that they are not being attacked by any pesticides or any other animals or something that could be dangerous to them. That is the worst part of mushroom developing. Protect your mushroom farm well with a fence or a gate so that only you and your workers can get in and out. Mushroom growing is not difficult and it is easy to get stared in the world of farming. You will soon possibly be able to provide some of the great cooks of the world with high quality mushrooms that will be enjoyed by thousands of people all over the world. According to the passage, many people begin to plant mushrooms probably _ . A. because they are in great need. B. because they look very beautiful C. because they are healthy food D. because they are very expensive Answer: A. because they are in great need. When humans and nature go head to head, nature often ends up losing. Rivers get polluted. Trees are knocked down. Natural resources are exhausted. That's what makes the Galapagos Islands so special--it's one of he few places on the Earth that nature can truly call its own. For people used to having wild animals run at the scent of humans, a visit to the Galapagos is a real eye-opening experience. Over 1,600 km west of Ecuador, the islands are home to a unique variety of animals that have absolutely no fear of people. Visitors can play on the beach with sea lions and giant sea turtles, swim with dolphins and whales, and get close enough to the penguins to count the eggs in their nests. The islands were declared a national park over 40 years ago, and the number of human visitors is tightly limited to avoid damaging he environment or putting stress on the animal. Tourists have to pay a $100 daily visitors fee, and can't step off the boat unless accompanied by an official guide. Once on the islands, you have to stay on the trail , but that seldom presents a problem: the animals are so curious about people that they'll usually come up to say hello. "It's a little like being in a zoo," said one traveler. "But instead of us looking at the animals, the animals, the animals are looking at us." Aside from the wildlife, one of the island' more unusual features is its post office. You can send postcards for free, but the problem is that there's no postman to collect them. Instead, travelers pick up mail addressed to people who live near them back home, and then hand-deliver the postcards when their trip is finished. What is one of the islands' more unusual features? A. There're some postmen to collect letters. B. There are only the wild life. C. You can send letters. D. Travellers deliver the letters by themselves. Answer: D. Travellers deliver the letters by themselves. When Dawn Bonfield, the former chief executive of the Women's Engineering Society, ran a stand recently at a big military air show, she was in for a shock. There were around 900 _ among the crowd and Ms Bonfield says, "I'm saying to all these girls, 'Do you know about engineering, would you like to be an engineer, have you thought about engineering?' And in the whole day... probably five or six of them said yes. Every other one said no, just straight out no." What surprised her most, she says, is that it wasn't that these eight and nine-year-old girls didn't know what engineering was. Simply that they had already switched off. They had lost interest in engineering. "So how much work does it take to change that?" asks Ms Bonfield. "I mean it's huge." There's no shortage of data to back up her estimation of the scale of work required. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that women make up around just 8% of engineers in the UK. And this is at a time when the UK needs to produce thousands more engineers, so much so that the inventor, Sir James Dyson, is planning to open his own instituteto address the skills shortage. Not enough female role models is well documented as a reason why girls don't choose engineering. The attitude of parents was also an important factor in career choices. For girls, perhaps unsurprisingly, mothers were particularly influential. "My mum was a bit iffy about it at first because she was more like, 'Girls should do this and that and the other,' more like 'keep your posture up and be ladylike'," says middle school student Hannah. "But my dad used to build a lot of stuff and he got me into that. So after my mum saw how me and my dad interacted she said, 'Yeah, go for it' and she's kind of the one who supported me with this." Why did Hannh finally choose engineering? A. Because she found a woman role model. B. Because her mother was sure of her future. C. Because her father had influence on her. D. Because she wanted to meet the demand of society. Answer: C. Because her father had influence on her.
Still wonder where to stay? We have a lot to offer. GUEST ROOMS Spacious, stylish guest rooms include all the necessities for an unforgettable stay. All guest rooms feature workstations with Internet access, two telephones with voice mail, and in-room safes . SUITES Hilton Toronto offers a variety of one-bedroom and Junior Suites. Spoil yourself in the ultimate elegance, and capture the spirit of Canada in one of our four Signature suites. EXECUTIVE ROOMS You can enjoy Wi-Fi and access to the private Executive Lounge for breakfast, all-day coffee service and so on. The modern executive rooms offer views of downtown Toronto and come with robes, slippers, 47-inch flat-screen plasma TVs, over-sized chairs, large work desks and coffeemakers. The Executive Lounge is open 6:30am to 10:00pm Monday through Thursday, 6:30am to 11:00am Friday, and closed on Saturday and Sunday. ACCESSIBLE ROOMS Our accessible rooms have features designed for our disabled Guests. Partially accessible rooms have safety bars, raised vanities and toilets. Transfer benches are available upon request. BEST PRICE GUARANTEE Get the best price when you book directly with us. If you find a lower publicly available price anywhere else, we will match that price and give you an additional US $50 back. REACH US 145 RICHMOND STREET WEST, TORONTO, ONTARIO, M5H 212, CANADA TEL: +1- 416-869-3456 FAX: +1-416-869-3187 If you are charged $60 more in Hilton Toronto than booking with a travel agency, how much will it give back to you? Have you ever seen people dance? Some dances are fast and others are slow. People's feet always move when they dance. They keep on moving until the music stops. People have enjoyed dancing for a very long time. This story is of a different kind of dance. It is a dance without people or music. Yet this dance is one of the oldest in the world. It is the dance of bees. If you have ever watched bees, you know that they are very clever. They also work hard looking for food and bringing it back to their home. The home of the bees is called a bee hive. Here hundreds even thousand of bees live. They work day and night building small walls. There they make their honey. This is the same honey that we eat. Where does the honey come from? Bees live on food from flowers. Have you seen bees flying around a flower garden? When a bee rests on a flower, it tries to go to the centre of it. There it takes in as much food as its body can hold. Then it flies to take the food back to the hive. At the hive, bees change flower food into honey. Then they fly away for more food. How do the bees know where to find the best food in the sweetest flowers? One bee acts as a guide. When it discovers good flowers, it flies back to the hive and tells the others. It does this by dancing for them. The bee dances on one side. This tells the other bees which way to go to find the flowers. But that is not all. The bee dances for some time. And the length of its dance tells the other bees how far they must fly to reach the flowers. When the bees see the dance, they know where the flowers are. They fly away and return with more food for the hive. Sometimes we hear the music of the bees as they fly around. But few people have ever seen them dance. Yet without that dance we might never have sweet honey to eat. What character do bees have? Which of the following is a by-product of cellular respiration in animals? Please excuse me if I'm a little sad today because Mark is leaving.You probably don't know Mark,but you might be lucky enough to know someone just like him.He's been the heart and soul of the office for a couple of years combining professional skills with a sweet and gentle nature.He's never been all that interested in getting _ for the terrific work he does.He just wants to do his job,and to do it extremely well. And now he's moving on to an exciting new professional opportunity.It sounds like it could be the chance of a lifetime,and we're sincerely pleased for him.But that doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye to a dear friend and trusted colleague. Life has a way of throwing these curve balls at us.Just when we start to get comfortable with a person,a place or a situation,something comes along to change the recipe.A terrific neighbor moves away.Someone in the family graduates.A child finds new love and loyalties through marriage.The family's bread-winner is laid off.Our ability to cope with change and disruption determines our peace,happiness and contentment in life. But how do we do that? According to the author of Ecclesiaste,comfort can be found in remembering that "to everything there is a season,and a time to every purpose under heaven.Let today embrace the past with remembrance,and the future with longing.'' "Change,indeed,is painful,yet ever needful,"said philosopher Thomas Carlyle."And if memory has its force and worth,so also has hope." We're going to miss Mark.But rather than lose ourselves in the sadness of our parting,we'll focus on our hopes for a brighter future----for him,and for us.And then we'll go out and do everything we can to make that future happen.Until our plans change----again. The best title of the passage may be _ . Our bedroom has no full-length mirror. There is one at the canteen entrance. I always cherish a secret desire to take a glance before it at myself in a beautiful new dress. However, each time when it comes to the fulfillment, I get seized with such an uneasiness that I literally stagger away--backing out at the critical moment. At the root of it is my lack of confidence by which I have been enslaved since childhood. It embarrasses me at the mildest praise, crushes my utmost efforts to say "No", and prevents me from asking my parents for one cent more than necessary. Among other things, lack of confidence has wormed its way into my love of piano. At the age of 14, one Sunday morning, I was woken up by a resounding hymn . Tracing that call of God into a neighboring church, I found myself deeply attracted by the melody of a piano--something beyond the means of my parents. To make it worse, people say a pianist is supposed to have music in the blood, but I believe I had none from my engineer father and technician mother. For days on end, I kept thinking of nothing else. I had a dream. It wasn't a dream after gold, which made some of my close friends to engage in business as self-employed traders or street peddlers. I was sometimes dazzled by their gold rings or elegant necklaces behind which, however, I seemed to catch sight of skeletons in their cupboards and was frightened away from the craze for fortunate. Out of despair, I kept it to myself, lack of confidence weighing heavy on me. I could do nothing but turn to my dream for comfort, for courage to aim high and wish for the impossible. I was convinced that before I could afford anything expensive (to me, it was a piano), I should climb up the academic ladder as high as possible. For the next nine years, I carefully held back my desire for music to keep my search for learning, especially in English studies. My efforts were so rewarding that I went successfully through high school and college in my hometown. When I received the admission notice for a second degree course at a famous university in Beijing, the national capital, tears welled up in my eyes. I knew my command of English was my wealth, for I might make a deal with a pianist who would give me access to his piano in exchange for English lessons. And that has come true! To this day, whenever I lay my fingers on the snow-white keyboard, ready for a melody, I still feel shy. I am quite aware of my limited music talent, but as a shy dreamer, I have found my way to success. What can we learn from the writer's example?
Besides giving off gases and dusts into the air, humans produce waste that is poured on the environment. Often, this waste produced by major industries and people is harmful to both nature and human life. One of the main causes of the large amount of dangerous waste is that people do not realize how large a problem it is. Because it can be simply removed and sent to a landfill ,the problem is often believed to end there. In addition, industries have often shown an unwillingness to find ways to deal with dangerous waste because of the related expenses. Many industries and governments build simple landfills to store waste, and often just pour waste chemicals into nearby bodies of water. Often, chemicals used for industrial production cause dangerous forms of waste.The amount of these chemicals has increased greatly in the past, but it is often difficult and expensive to get rid of these chemicals or to store them in a way safe to human life and the environment. Every year, major health problems result from dangerous waste. Sadly, it is often only after someone has died or become seriously ill that governments will take measures to reduce levels of harmful waste. Some governments have realized how serious the dangerous waste problem is and are now trying to settle this problem. They are also trying to limit the amount of waste industries are allowed to produce. Not only governments but ordinary people as well must work together to solve the problem. They can choose not to buy those products which require the production of dangerous waste, and produce less harmful waste themselves. Many scientists think that waste production can be cut. The waste can be reduced by at least one third using existing technologies and methods. According to the text, people _ . are not clear about how serious the dangerouswaste problem is A new semester has just started and a number of parents are registering to change their children's names, in the hope that it will change their temper or help their children drop bad habits, like addiction to the Internet. One mother surnamed Shi renamed her son, a primary school student, Hengfu, which means eternal happiness in Chinese. She decided to change the boy's name because he always did poorly in study. She has had him tutored after school, but he always earns low marks in school. So Shi turned to a name-giving master. "I hope the special recipe could bring him good luck," the mother said. Teachers in the city say a few students in every school, most nearing graduation, change their names at the start of every new semester. A naming agency said it has found names for nearly 1,000 students since setting up the shop in 1998. The store said its professionals analyzed the defects of a person's original name, and suggested a new one based on the person's birthday and other fortune-telling skills. Buying a new name costs between 800 yuan and 10,000 yuan. Parents also have to register the name at the local police department for a small fee. This will legally change their child's name on all documents, including ID cards and passports. Hu Jie, a university student who changed her name in her final year of high school, said the new name confused her. "I always had no idea who my classmates were calling when they used my new name," Hu said, adding that she wished she had kept her old name. But parents may be ignoring one thing: name changes might encourage kids to believe that fate is more important than their own efforts. Which of the following is NOT the reason why parents change the names of children? They want their children to love them more. Shakespeare, more perhaps than any other writer, made full use of the greatest resources of the English language. Most of us use about five thousand words in our normal use of English; Shakespeare in his works used about twenty-five thousand words! There is probably no better way for a foreigner to appreciate the richness and variety of the English language than by studying the various ways in which Shakespeare uses it. Such a study is well worth the effort, even though some aspects of English usage, and the meaning of many words, have changed since Shakespeare's day. However, it is surprising that we should know comparatively little about the life of the greatest English writer. We know that Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon, and that he died there in 1616. He almost certainly attended the Grammar School in the town, but of this we cannot be sure. We know he was married there in 1582 to Anne Hathaway and that he had three children. We know that he spent much of his life in London writing his great works. But this is almost all that we do know. However, what is important about Shakespeare's life is not its other less important details but its products, the plays and the poems. For many years scholars have been trying to add a few facts about Shakespeare's life to the small number we already possess and for an equally long time critics have been talking about the plays. Sometimes, indeed, Luckily this is not likely to happen. have long delighted not just the English but lovers of literature everywhere, and will continue to do so after the scholars and critics and all their works have been forgotten. What does the last sentence in Para.3 mean? People pay more attention to the comment than the poetry of Shakespeare. It is important that you make a good impression at work. If you make a good impression on your boss, he or she is more likely to give you more responsibilities which can lead to promotions and raises. Here are some ways to make a good impression at work. Use Proper Office Etiquette Using proper manners will help you make a good impression on your boss and also your co-workers. Office etiquette includes everything from the proper way to e-mails to knowing when, where, and how to use your cell phone at work. Face up to Your Mistakes When you make a mistake at work, which everyone inevitably does at some points, face up to it. Don't ignore your error or place the blame on others. Take responsibility and come up with a solution to fix your mistake. Your boss may not be too happy about it, but she will at least be impressed with your response. Know to Call in Sick Do you think coming to work when you are sick instead of staying at home will impress your boss? Reasonable bosses know that a sick employee not only is unproductive but also he or she can spread an illness around the office. Call in sick when you are ill. Come Through in a Crisis When the unexpected happens at work, who will make a better impression on the boss? Of course it's the employee who deals with the crisis quickly and effectively. Who will make good impressions on the boss? Employees who deal with the crisis quickly and effectively. Wang Tao is a little boy. He often goes for a walk with his father. He likes water very much and he wants to swim like a fish in the water. One Sunday morning, Wang Tao went to a park with his father. There is a big swimming pool in the park. Wang Tao asked his father to take him to the pool. "Why do you want to go there?" asked his father. "I want to learn swimming," said Wang Tao. "And you can teach me." "Oh, sorry. I can't swim," said his father. "You can't swim? Li Qiang's father swims very well. Why can't you swim?" "His father likes eating fish, so he can swim like a fish," said the father. "Oh, I see," said Wang Tao. "But you like eating chicken very much. Can you lay eggs ?" . Who can swim like a fish? Li Qiang's father.
Question: Norman Cousins was a businessman from the United States who often traveled around the world on business. He enjoyed his work and traveling. Then, after returning to the United States from a busy and tiring trip to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics( USSR),Mr. Cousins got sick. Because he had pushed his body to the limit of its strength on the trip, a chemical change began to take place inside him. The material between his bones became weak. In less than one week after his return, he could not stand. Every move that he made was painful. He was not able to sleep at night. The doctore told him that they did not know how to cure Mr. Cousins ' problem and he might never get over the illness. Mr. Cousins, however, refused to give up hope. Mr. Cousins thought that unhappy thoughts were causing bad chemical changes in his body. He did not want to take medicine to cure himself. Instead,he felt that happy thoughts or laughter might cure his illness. .' He began to experiment on himself while still in hospital by watching funny shows on television. Mr. Cousins quickly found that 10 minutes of real laughter during the day gave him two hours of pain -free sleep at night. Deciding that the doctors could not help him, Mr. Cousins left the hospital and checked into a hotel room where he could continue his experiments with laughter. For eight days,Mr. Cousins rested in the hotel room watching funny shows on television,reading funny books,and sleeping whenever he felt tired. Within three weeks,he felt well enough to take a vacation to Puerto . Rico where he began running on the beach for exercise. After a few months,Mr. Cousins returned to work. He has laughed himself back to health. What part of his body was affected by the illness? A. The bones in his feet. B. His mind when he slept. C. The material between his bones. D. His stomach. Answer: C. The material between his bones. Question: A sense of humor is just one of the many things shared by Alfred and Anthony Melillo, 64-year-old twin brothers from East Haven who made history in February 2002. On Christmas Eve, 1992, Anthony had a heart transplant from a 21-year-old donor. Two days before Valentine's Day in 2002, Alfred received a 19-year-old heart, marking the first time on record that twin adults each received heart transplants. "I'm 15 minutes older than him, but now I'm younger because of my heart and I'm not going to respect him," Alfred said with a big smile, pointing to his brother while talking to a roomful of reporters, who laughed frequently at their jokes. While the twins knew that genetics might have played a role in their condition, they recognized that their eating habits might have also contributed to their heart problems. "We'd put half a pound of butter on a steak. I overdid it on all the food that tasted good, so I guess I deserved what I got for not dieting properly." The discussion moved to Anthony's recovery. In the five years since his heart transplant, he had been on an exercise program where he regularly rode a bicycle for five miles, swam each day, and walked a couple of miles. He was still on medication, but not nearly as much as Alfred, who was just in the early stage of his recovery. "Right now I feel pretty young and I'm doing very well," Anthony said. "I feel like a new person." Alfred said his goal, of course, was to feel even better than his brother. But, he added, "I love my brother very much. We're very close and I'm sure we'll do just fine." Alfred said he was younger than Anthony because _ . A. he had a more successful heart transplant B. he recovered faster from the transplant C. he was born 15 minutes earlier than Anthony D. his new heart was younger than Anthony's Answer: D. his new heart was younger than Anthony's Question: A scientist finds the bones of a dinosaur. What could help the scientist determine the approximate age of the dinosaur bones? A. the birds living in the area of the bones B. the weather conditions in the area of the bones C. the kinds of trees living in the area of the bones D. the index fossils in the area of the bones Answer: D. the index fossils in the area of the bones Question: When people exercise, they often feel thirsty and begin to sweat. It is important for people to feel thirsty when exercising because it makes them realize that they should A. take a break B. consume liquids C. slow their breathing D. stop to eat something Answer: B. consume liquids Question: A new study done by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) shows that it doesn't make much of a difference that parents reward their children with cash for their better marks. Many parents have offered cash to their children in the hope that it would improve marks and possibly raise their children's interest in achieving higher marks. The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto (UT) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to learn more about the potential for financial encouragement as motivation for improved marks, involved first and second year students receiving financial aid in 2008-2009 at the University of Toronto Scarborough. The top students participating in the study who said they were "very concerned" about having enough money to complete their degrees were to receive $100 for getting a grade of 70 per cent for each one-semester course, plus $20 for every percentage point beyond that.It was imaginable that a student could earn as much as $700 for achieving 100 percent in a course. Harvey Weingarten, president and CEO of HEQCO said, "In its efforts to help disadvantaged students by exploring the idea of paying them to attend school, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is asking the same question many other districts are asking about how to improve student participation and performance.Our study and others to date indicate that has little effect if any in those situations where it has been tested." The authors of the study suggest that ineffective study habits may be a barrier to academic achievement and that the real problem may be more a lack of academic preparation than a lack of effort or motivation.They note that the availability of peer advising does not appear to have helped greatly.They conclude that other potential avenues to improving performance, or other approaches of teaching, are needed at the high school and postsecondary levels. If a student gets a grade of 85% in a course, he will get _ . A. $100 B. $300 C. $400 D. $700 Answer: C. $400
A long time ago, there was a seed and because he was only a seed, nobody noticed him.Thus, feeling inferior , the seed gave no importance to his existence . Then one day, a wind picked him up and threw him on an open field under the sun.Later, he was given rain. Years later he saw a traveler sitting by his side."Thank God for this.I really need some rest," he heard the traveler say. "What are you talking about?" the seed quickly asked.He thought the man was making fun of him.No one ever spoke to him like that. "Who just spoke?" the shocked man asked. "It is me.A seed." `"A seed?" The man looked at the big tree."Are you joking? You are not a seed.You are a big tree!" "Really?" "Yes! Why else do you think people come here?" "What do they come here for?" "To feel your shade ! Don't tell me you didn't know you had grown over time." A moment passed before the traveler's words brought him pride. The seed thought and smiled for the first time in his life.The years of torture by the sun and the rain finally helped him grow up. "Oh! That means I'm not a little seed anymore! I was actually born to make people feel comfortable.Wow! That's great!" The author's purpose of writing the passage is to _ . Answer: tell us never to lose hope What causes rock layers to fold on top of each other? Answer: Violent tremors There are a lot of public libraries in Britain. These libraries have more than one hundred and fifteen million books, not including those libraries of public schools. Public libraries not only lend books, music records but also help children, patients in hospitals and others to get special play readings, film shows and so on. The first public libraries were founded in about the year 1850. Today's public libraries usually have a reading-room, a lending room and a reference room. The greatest and most famous library in Britain is that of the British Library in London. It was founded in 1973 and has over 10, 000, 000 books. It has nearly every magazine, newspaper and book published in Britain and other parts across the world. Which is the best title? Answer: A Famous Library Tornadoes are nature's most violent storms, which can cause deaths and destroy a neighborhood in seconds. A tornado appears as a funnel-shaped cloud from a thunderstorm to the ground with whirling winds that can reach 300 miles per hour. Damage paths can be over one mile wide and 50 miles long. Every state is at some risk from this disaster. Some tornadoes can be seen clearly, while rain or nearby low-hanging clouds _ others. At many times, tornadoes develop so rapidly that little, if any, advance warning is possible. Before a tornado hits, the air may become very still. A cloud of debris can mark the location of a tornado even if a funnel can not be seen. Tornadoes generally occur near the edge of a thunderstorm, when the strong wind may die down. It is not uncommon to see clear, sunlit skies behind a tornado. The following are facts about tornadoes: The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 MPH, but may also vary from still to 70 MPH. Debris is picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel. The average tornado moves from southwest to northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction. Tornadoes are most often reported east of the Rocky Mountains during spring and summer months. Tornadoes can happen together with tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land. Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water. The tornado season in the southern states of America is March through May; in the northern states, it is late spring through early summer. Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time. The passage makes us believe that _ . Answer: tornadoes may strike so quickly that there is often little or no warning What is the approximate length of time it takes the Moon to complete one lunar cycle? Answer: 29 days
We have recently heard a great deal about the effects of computers on our social and economic organizations. In industry, computers mean automation , and automation means unemployment. Computers in the prefix = st1 /United Stateshave already begun to take the place of workers whose tasks are simple. The variety of jobs, done only by humans in the past, which the machine can perform more rapidly, accurately and economically, increases with each new generation of computers. If we follow this trend, we will be faced with mass unemployment for all but a handful of highly trained professionals who will be more powerful and overworked than they are now. What can we do about it? It is foolish to dream of making history backwards. We cannot pass laws forbidding the advancement of science and technology. The computing machines are here, and they will grow because engineers want to build them, and politicians want their help in the process of government. In short they will develop and become popular because they enable us to complete tasks that could never before have been done, no matter how many unskilled laborers we might have set to work. Computers will continue to increase our intelligence for just the same reason that engines continue to strengthen our muscles. The question we must ask is not whether we shall have computers or not have computers, but rather, since we are going to have them, how we make the most humane and intelligent use of them. The article suggests that the computer will continue to grow because _ . Answer: Walking in the street in the USA or the UK, you can often hear people talking about the weather. "Lovely day, isn't it?" "It's cold, isn't it?" and so ox Americans and English people like talking about the weather. This makes lots of Chinese puzzled . But they talk about the weather not only because the weather there changes a lot, but also they do not like to talk with others about private things like age, family and income. Stay with strangers, people all like talking about the weather, then they can talk about other things naturally . They think if you like spring, you have a warm heart; if you like summer, you have a great will; if you like autumn, you have abundant feeling ;if you like winter, you have a vast mind . Why do Americans and English people like talking about the weather? Answer: Mr. and Mrs. Su don't often go out in the evening, but today they go out for a walk after supper. They go to the park and have a good time there. On their way home, Mr. Su says to Mr. Su, "Look! A woman is running in the street and a man is running after her." Mr. Su says, "What's the matter? Let's go and help her." Now the woman gets near them. Mr. Su asks, "Shall we help you?" "No, thank you," the woman says, "My husband and I are running home, and the slower one does the housework." Mr. and Mrs. Su have a good time _ . Answer: Most people have heard of shakespeare and probably know something of the plays that he wrote. However, not everybody knows much about the life of this remarkable man. Except perhaps that he was born in the market town of stratforduponAvon and that he married a woman called Anne Hathaway,We know nothing of his school life.We do not know,for example,how long it lasted,but we presume that he attended the local grammar school,where the principal subject taught was Latin. Nothing certain is known of what he did between the time he left school and his departure for London.According to a local legend,he was beaten and even put in prison for stealing rabbits and deer from the estate of neighbouring landowner, Sir Thomas Lucy, It is said that because of this he was forced to run away from his native place.A different legend says that he was apprenticed to a Strstford butcher, but did not like the life and for this reason decided to leave Strstford. Whatever caused him to leave the town of his birth, the world could be grateful that he did so.What is certain is that he set his foot on the road to fame when he arrived in London, It is said that at first he was without money or friends there, but that he earned a little by taking care of the horses of the gentleman who attended the plays at the theatre.They stopped and spoke to him.They found his conversations so brilliant that finally he was invited to join their compeny. What is the reason why the world could be grateful? Answer: Though there are about 400 languages from all over the world that are in danger of disappearing completely, Zoque-Ayapaneco, a native Mexican language is considered the most likely to become extinct, because the only two people in the world that speak it fluently do not talk to each other! And, it's not because they live in different countries, states or even villages. In fact, Manuel Segovia and Isidro Velazquez, both in their 70s, live within 500 yards of each other, in the village of Ayapa in the Southern Mexican State of Tabasco. They, however, refuse to communicate because they simply don't have much in common. Segovia is apparently a little flank in nature while Velazquez is described as shy. Segovia was at least able to talk in Zoque-Ayapanece with his brother until he passed away about 12 years ago, and still manages to practice it with his family, especially his son Manuel, who for the last five years has been trying to learn it and hopes to become fluent enough to teach it to the next generation. Velazquez on the other hand, has not been heard speaking in the language with anybody. The two men say the language used to be widely spoken in the village, but the younger generation _ it for fear of being laughed at, and it therefore began to die a slow death, as the elders passed away. Unless the two men get their acts together, the only way to hear the language will be to either listen to Manuel's not-so-fluent statement or see them talk in a documentary entitled "Lengua Muerta" (Dead Language) that is being filmed to capture Zoque Ayapaneco and 364 other native Mexican languages that are in a similar state. We sure hope Segovia and Velazquez soon find something common to talk about. Maybe the fact is that the language is dying and that they should start encouraging and teaching the next generation together. The reason why Segovia and Velazquez don't talk to each other is that _ . Answer:
When fish travel in the opposite direction of flow they are going to Answer: spawn Most parents hope that their children can be happy and successful. But do you know the most powerful way to encourage them to be so? The answer is to allow them to make their own decisions. Different people have different ideas about children's decision making. Unfortunately , most parents make decisions for their children--what they wear, what they eat and what movies they watch. In fact, it's not good for children's growing. Children should be allowed to make decisions when they are very young. But this doesn't mean they are allowed to do everything. For example, you shouldn't take your children into a convenience store and tell them they can have anything they want. They would be overwhelmed by the choices. But you can give them a choice among snacks. When children get older, expand the number of choices you give them. For example, allow them to decide the activities they want to take part in or when they decide to go to bed. The next step is to get your children to think before they act. Ask themselves several important questions. First, why do I want to do this? Second, what are my choices? Third, what are the results of the actions? After the three questions, they are sure to have right decisions. From the passage we can learn _ . Answer: the kids can learn about how to make decisions Hippos have always attracted people's interest. Modern hippos in Walt Disney movies can dance lightly. A stone hippo in a 13th-century church in France has wings. And in ancient Egyptian fairy tales, the hippo was a goddess that guided the dead to the afterworld. Despite their popular appeal, hippos, as well as other animals, have difficulty when their needs conflict with those of humans. The early Egyptians liked to hunt hippos for their teeth and because they were dangerous animals. Amulets to protect babies from demons were made from hippo bones. About 4,000 years ago, there were so many hippos in Egypt that they caused serious crop damage. Egyptian farmers killed them routinely, and by the beginning of the 19th century, all the hippos in Africa had been killed. People used to see hippos fight in the arenas of ancient Rome. After the fall of the Roman Empire, hippos weren't seen in Europe again until a few zoos began to exhibit them in the mid 1800s. All the various uses and abuses of hippos through the centuries have made their population fall greatly. Where they do occur, mostly in national parks, they live in such high density that they make the grasslands bare. This causes other grass-eating animals to go farther for food, and hippos, which can't live far from water, destroy their own feeding grounds. What problems do hippos lead to? Answer: They eat up the grass in their habitats. when organisms die, they Answer: wither away If you and your friends wish to share a secret, you can write it in code, and no one else will be able to read it. Codes are one way of writing in secret. Ciphers are another. In a code each word is written as a secret code word or a code number. In a cipher each letter is changed. Codes and ciphers have played an important role in the history of the world. Julius Caesar, the Roman ruler who defeated almost all the countries in Europe about 2,000 years ago, used a cipher when he sent secret messages to his troops. During the American Revolution, George Washington's spies used a kind of code to send his information about the enemy before his military action. In World War II, the Americans"broke"or figured out Japan's most important navy codes and got enough information to destroy a powerful Japanese fleet. Storekeepers use codes to mark their goods. The codes show how much is paid for the goods or when they are added to the stock. Businessmen use codes to hide plans from their business enemies. Sometimes personal letters or diaries are written in code. Many people enjoy figuring out codes and ciphers simply as a hobby. In the 16th century, codes and ciphers were very popular among scientists. They wrote messages to each other in code so that no one else would learn their secrets. Geronimo Gardano, an Italian astrologer , mathematician, and doctor, invented the trellis cipher. He took two sheets of paper and cut exactly the same holes in each one. Then he sent one sheet, which he called a trellis, to a friend and kept the other for himself. Whenever he wanted to write a message, he put his trellis over a clean sheet of paper and wrote the secret message through the holes. There he removed the trellis and filled the rest of the paper with words that would make sense. When his friend received it, he put his trellis over the writing and read the secret message. It is NOT mentioned in the passage that codes and ciphers are used for the purpose of _ . Answer: scientific achievements
Remembering names is an important social skill. Here are some ways to master it. Recite and repeat in conversation. When you hear a person's name, repeat it. Immediately say it to yourself several times without moving your lips. You could also repeat the name in a way that does not sound forced or artificial. Ask the other person to recite and repeat. You can let other people help you remember their names. After you've been introduced to someone, ask that person to spell the name mad pronounce it correctly for you. Most people will be pleased by the effort you're making to learn their names. Admit you don't know. Admitting that you can't remember someone's name can actually make people relaxed. Most of them will feel sympathy if you say. "I'm working to remember names better. Yours is right on the tip of my tongue. What is it again?" Use connections. Link each person yon meet with one thing you find interesting or unusual. For example, you could make a mental note: "Vicki Cheng -- tall, black hair." To reinforce your associations, write them on a small card as soon as possible. Limit the number of new names you learn at one time. When meeting a group of people, concentrate on remembering just two or three names. Free yourself from remembering every one. Few of the people in mass introductions expect you to remember their names. Another way is to limit yourself to learning just first names. Last names can come later. Go early. Consider going early to conferences, parties and classes. Sometimes just a few people show up on time. There're fewer names for you to remember. And as more people arrive, you can hear them being introduced to others --- an automatic review for you. How will most people feel when you try hard to remember their names? Answer: The car was invented just a century ago. You may know all kinds of cars' names, but many people don't know who was the inventor of the first car. The first car was invented not by a German, but by an American. His name was Henry Ford. Henry was born in a poor family. He was the eldest of six children. When he was a boy, he became interested in mending watches and machines. When he was twelve years old, his mother died. Soon he had to work in a machine shop for two dollars and fifty cents a week. In the evenings he repaired watches for another dollar a week. The hard life made him strong and able. At that time there was another interest in the life of the young ford. He dreamed to make a machine. It could run without a horse, so named "horseless carriage." He over-came a lot of difficulties and in April 1893, the "horseless carriage" was finally finished. It was the first car. Later Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company . He was really the first inventor of the car in the world. Which is not true? _ . Answer: When I was watching a sports event yesterday, I met with an amazing sight. It was not a gold medal, or a world record broken, but a show of pure courage and determination. The event was swimming. I watched a man dive off the blocks and knew right away that something was wrong. I'm not an expert swimmer, but I can tell a good dive from a poor one, and this was not exactly medal quality. When he resurfaced, it was evident that the man was not out for gold -- his arms were waving in an attempt at freestyle. I heard the crowd begin to laugh at this poor man who was clearly having a hard time. Finally he made his turn to start back. It was pitiful. He made a few desperate strokes and you could tell he was worn out. But in those few awkward strokes, the crowd changed. No longer were they laughing, but beginning to cheer. Some even began to stand and yell things like, "Come on, you can do it!" He did. The crowd went wild. Just a short year ago, he had never even swum, let alone race. His country had been invited to take part in the event. Even though he recorded the slowest time, this man gave more heart than any of the other competitors--a man that gave his all, knowing that he had no chance but to compete because of the spirit of the games. The author's attitude towards the swimmer is that of _ . Answer: Many children think mobile phones are cool. They come in fun colors and let you talk with friends anytime and anywhere. In the U.S., more than 90 million people use mobile phones. Many of these people are children. For children, mobile phones are more than phone calls. They are fashionable. Most mobile phone users don't think about the health problems caused by mobile phones. Some scientists say that mobile phones give off radiation that might be bad for the users. One newest study shows that mobile phone radiation might raise a person's chance of getting some kinds of cancer . Other scientists say mobile phones don't' threaten people's health. They say that they have not found any link between phone use and cancer. Scientists say that people can protect themselves from mobile phone radiation. One way is to use a headset . Or people can make shorter call. What should people do to protect themselves from mobile phone radiation? Answer: Arthur Miller (1915--2005) is universally recognized as one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century. Miller's father had moved to the USA from Austria-Hungary, drawn like so many others by the "Great American Dream". However, he experienced severe financial hardship when his family business was ruined in the Great Depression of the early 1930s. Miller's most famous play,Death of a Salesman,is a powerful attack on the American system, with its aggressive way of doing business and its insistence on money and social status as indicators of worth. In Willy Loman, the hero of the play, we see a man who has got into trouble with this system. Willy is "burnt out" and in the cruel world of business there is no room for sentiment: if he can't do the work, then he is no good to his employer, the Wagner Company, and he must go. Willy is painfully aware of this, and at a loss as to what to do with his lack of success. He refuses to face the fact that he has failed and kills himself in the end. When it was first staged in 1949, the play was greeted with enthusiastic reviews, and it won the Tony Award for Best Play, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It was the first play to win all three of these major awards. Miller died of heart failure at his home in Roxbury, Connecticut, on the evening of February 10, 2005, the 56th anniversary of the first performance ofDeath of a Salesmanon Broadway. After it was first staged,Death of a Salesman _ . Answer:
A group of students is taking a hike along a stream channel. One student picks up a rock from the stream and notices that the rock is very smooth and round. Which type of weathering most likely shaped the rock? Answer: Brazil is the greatest football nation in the world. There are 170 million Brazilians. How many of them are football fans? 100 million! All of them think they know all about football. This makes life very difficult for the Brazilian team managers. When things go bad for the Brazilian team, the newspapers would demand that the team manager should leave his job. "If we win, they me in heaven," a manager once said. "If we lose, they put me in hell ." You can't escape football in Brazil. There are football matches on every street and beach. On television, the results of football matches come before the main news programs. There are six television channels in Rio de Janeiro. On Sundays each channel shows a different football match. Brazil is not the richest country in the world, but the government spends lots of money on football. It cost more than one billion pounds to prepare for the 1978 World Cup. That's 10 pounds for every Brazilian man, woman, and child. And many Brazilians don't earn as much as 10 pounds a week. Is it worth it? "Brazil must have a great football team," says one journalist. "If it costs one billion pounds, that's all right. If the government doesn't give us a good team, then it will become unpopular. Football is more than a game in Brazil." Football is more than a game in Brazil. This is certainly true in its largest city, Sao Paulo. The most popular team is Corinthians. Corinthians' fans are the most loyal and emotional in Brazil. When Corinthians win, production in the Sao Paulo car factories increases by fifteen per cent. When they loses, it drops. At one time Corinthians won the national championship for the first time, for four days fans danced and sang in the streets, Why are people so loyal to one football team? What makes a football fan? One man says, "Without Corinthians my life would be sad. Corinthians bring some joy and excitement into my life. We all need that, don't we?" Some people danced and sang in the streets for four days in Sap Paulo because _ . Answer: Jilin is a good place. It is in the north-east of China. On the north of it is Heilongjiang, the south is Liaoning, the west is Inner Mongolia and the east is North Korea . It has a long and snowy winter. Usually the winter here starts from October and lasts for six months. Every year people come here for the Ice Lantern Festival and the winter sports. Changbai Shan is the first mountain in the north-east of China. There is a lot of snow on the main mountain-"Baitou Shan" all the year, so it is named "Changbai Shan". It has great forests on it. There are tigers, deer, black bears and many other animals in the forests and there are a lot of hot springs and more than l,500 kinds of plants. On the very top of the mountain is Tianchi. If you come to the lake, you might see the monster in it.There is also a great waterfall where the Songhua River comes from. Another place in Jilin is Xianghai in Tongyu County . There are more than 100 pieces of wetlands here. And they are of different sizes. There are 170 kinds of birds, some fish that we can't often see and over 250 different herbal plants and trees here. Winter in Jilin is from _ to _ . Answer: Sleep -- or a lack of it -- is probably the most-discussed part of baby care. New parents discover its importance in those first few weeks and months after their babies were born. Actually, the quality and quantity of a baby's sleep affects the well-being of everyone in the family. So how do new parents get their children to bed through the cries? And how much sleep is enough for their children? It all depends on their children' s age. Sleeping charts that list the hours of sleep likely to be required by a baby or a two-year-old may cause concern if individual differences aren't considered. These numbers are simply averages reported by large groups of children of a particular age. There's no satisfactory number of hours required by all kids in a certain age group. Two-year-old Sarah might sleep from 8:00 pm to 8:00 am, while two-year-old Johnny is just as alert the next day after sleeping from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am. Still, sleep is very important to a child's well-being. The link between a child's lack of sleep and his or her behavior isn't always obvious. When adults are tired, they can have low energy, but kids can become overexcited, disagreeable and have extremes in behavior. Most children's sleep requirements fall within a predictable range of hours based on their age, but each child is a unique individual with different sleep needs. Here's a summary of a few ways that may help your child ease into a good night's sleep: Stick to bedtime. Consider playing soft music. Don't give your baby a bottle of milk or any sugar-containing drink to aid sleep. There isn't one sure way to raise a good sleeper, but every parent should be encouraged to know that most children have the ability to sleep well. The key is to try, from early on, to establish healthy sleep habits that may last a lifetime. What should parents do to help their children have a good sleep? Answer: "Tomorrow is my mother's birthday," Ellen thinks. She wants to buy a gift for her mother, but she doesn't have any money. "What should I do?" She thinks and thinks. Suddenly she has a good idea. She can make a gift by herself. So she uses a piece of paper to make a card. She draws a beautiful picture with birds and flowers. Then she writes, "To my dear mom. Happy birthday!" The next day, Ellen gives her mother the card. When her mother sees the card, tears run down her face . "Why are you crying ?" Ellen asks. "You don't like it, right? Her mother says, "I love it very much. I'm very happy." Which of the following ie TRUE? Answer:
When building houses, people used to think about not only the climate of the areas but also the building materials and the fashions for their houses. However, since electricity became more and more expensive , people began to pay much more attention to the energy they could get for their houses and the new ways they could find to protect their houses from both cold and heat. Now, houses of an old yet new type have been widely built. In some parts of the world, people share their houses with their _ . During cold weather, they gather their cows, goats, or other animals and keep them on the first floor of their houses. The reasons are that the animals can be protected from the cold and that they can help to heat the houses as well. The body heat given off by the animals rises to the second floor of the houses, where people live. By sharing their houses with their livestock, people gain a source of heat. People who live in or near cities do not usually keep livestock. However, home builders use the fact that heat rises. This _ can be used in building houses in these areas, instead of keeping livestock on the first floor builders fill it with large rocks. As they are open to the sun's rays during cold weather, these rocks take in heat. They also give off the heat, and, of course, the warm air rises into the living areas of the houses. So these houses are energy saving. House building becomes a great challenge to building designers and energy engineer. They try to meet this challenge by learning from old traditions and by using modern technology. And someday in the future, people will be able to live in more energy saving houses. What did people begin to consider as electricity was no longer cheap? According to Hunan Daily, in Yongxing County of Hunan Province, retired teacher Chen and his wife are living in a natural cave , and they quite enjoy such life. [:Zxxk.Com] Chen's cave is 20 meters wide and 8 meters deep. Lichens can be seen everywhere in it. Chen says that the place is free of pollution. Because of being poor, they moved into the cave, Chen said. In 1975, the houses of his families and his neighbors were all burned to the ground in the fire. Chen was then already married and badly needed a house to live in. But he had no money to build a house, so he had to live in his relatives' houses as long as 5 years. In 1980, he happened to discover this cave, immediately he and his family members decided to live in there. Chen thought the cave could be a temporary living place, but it never occurred to him that it could be his home in the next 28 years. Chen recalled that the first couple of days were the most difficult period, "I put up some wooden boards for a gate, but they were all blown away by wind that same night." Chen has two sons and a daughter, and they all left the cave after they got married. Now Chen's old friends once in a while visit him in his cave drinking and playing Chinese chess. For Chen, the most enjoyable thing is to raise bees and grow kinds of plants. From the passage we know what Chen likes to do most is _ . People often ask me how, as a man, I became so devoted to improving the quality of women's lives. It wasn't until age forty that I realized what had started me down my career path. One morning more than thirty-seven years ago, I was awakened by the passing school bus. I was thirteen years old, living at home with my two younger brothers and our mother, Doris Joy Heavin. She had just passed her fortieth birthday. She was a mother of five children and had suffered emotional and physical problems most of her life. Her doctor had tried various treatments on her with little benefit. As I awoke to the sound of the passing school bus, my brother Paul came in and told me that I'd better come quickly because mother was sick. As I knelt beside her bed, I could feel the absence of warmth. I put my arms around her, first to feel for a sign of life, and then as a final hug. I took my younger brothers, aged eight and nine, in my arms and gently told them that our mother was in heaven. Her death was unnecessary. The high blood pressure causing the blood clot that took her life was unnecessary. Rather than _ , she could have dealt with the cause of her high blood pressure: we now know that exercise and proper nutrition will almost always reduce the causes of high blood pressure and most other chronic diseases. Many years later, while teaching a fitness and weight loss class to a group of about eighty women, I realized I was subconsciously searching the crowd for the face of my mother. Why did the author think his mother's death was unnecessary? One day, Jack threw some papers on my desk. "What's wrong?" I asked. "Next time you want to change anything, ask me first," he said, and left. I had made just one small change. But it's not that I hadn't been warned. My colleagues had said he was responsible for the resignations of the two previous secretaries. As the weeks went by, I came to look down on Jack. After another of his episodes had left me in tears I stormed into his office. "what?" he said suddenly. "Jack, the way you've been treating me is wrong. I've never had anyone speak to me that way. As a professional, it's wrong for me to allow it to continue," I said. Jack smiled nervously, "Susan, I make you a promise that I will be a friend. I will treat you as you deserve to be treated, with respect and kindness." Jack avoided me the rest of the week, and never questioned my work again. I brought cookies to the office one day and left some on his desk. Another day I left a note: "Hope your day is going great. " Over the next few weeks, there were no more Jack episodes. One year later I discovered I had breast cancer, and was scared. The statistics were not great for my long-term survival. One day, however, Jack visited me in the hospital and silently handed me a bundle with several bulbs inside. "Tulips ," he said. I smiled, not understanding. "If you plant them when you get home, they'll come up next spring. I think you will be there to see them when they come up. Next spring you will see the colours I picked out for you." Tears clouded my eyes and he left. I have seen those red and white striped tulips push through the soil every spring for over ten years now. This past September the doctor declared me cured. At a moment when I was praying for just the right word, a man with very few words said all the right things. After all, that's what friends do. Susan stormed into jack's office to tell Jack that _ . There are many kinds of tigers in the world. The largest tiger is Northeast Tiger. Most Northeast Tigers live in the northeast of China, like Heilongjiang Province and Jilin Province. Because there are many forests, the tigers usually like living there. In the forest, there are not many people getting out and coming in. So the tigers are very free. They can _ each other and eat some small animals. The Northeast Tigers are different from other tigers. The Northeast Tigers can swim very well, but can't climb the trees. They can hear very well. The number of the tigers is smaller and smaller, we should try our best to protect the tigers. The small animals are afraid of tigers _ .
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." We can learn from the passage that _ . good manners are very important Americans think that travel is good for you. Some even think it can help to solve one of the country ' s worst problems ~: crime . Crime worries a lot of people. Every year, the number of crimes is up and up. And many criminals are young. They often come from sad homes, with only one parent or no parents at all. There are many young criminals in prison,but prison doesn ' t change them. Six or seven in ten will go back to crime when they come out of prison. One man ,Bob Burton, thought of a new idea. In the old days, young men had to live a difficult life on the road. They learned to be strong and brave, and to help their friends to be strong and brave, and to help their friends in time of danger. This helped them grow into men. So Bob Burton started "Vision Quest. " He takes young criminals on a long ,long journey with horses and wagons , 3,000 miles through seven states. They are on the road for more than a year. The young people in Vision Quest all have bad problems. Most of them have already spent time in prison. This is their last chance. It's hard work on the road. The day starts before the sun comes up. The boys and girls have to feed the horses. Some of them have never loved anyone before but they love their horses. That love can help them to live a new life. Not all the young people on Vision Quest will leave crime behind them. Three or four in ten will one day be in prison again. Bob Burton is right. Travel can be good for you. Even today, Americans still say, " Go west, young men. " Why is Bob Burton right? Because three or four is better than six or seven. DoSomething.org is the country's largest non-profit organization for young people and social change. They provide some scholarships to reward teens who are social action leaders in their community. You may be interested in the following ones. 1. $2,000 Fight Climate Change like a Ninja Scholarship Ninjas release 86% less CO2 than the average person. Why? Because ninjas use a green form of transport ---- parkour . DoSomething.org wants to teach you their ways of going green---- and offer the chance for a $2,000 scholarship. Submit one of your friends' phone numbers. You'll both receive a text message with ways to protect the planet, and you'll be entered for the scholarship. Bonzail! 2. $3,000 Puppy Mills are Bad Scholarship Use your phone to fight for millions of puppies born in abusive factory farms. Share a text messaging game on puppy mills with 6 friends and you'll be entered to win a $3000 scholarship. Millions of puppies are born in horrible conditions each year, so puppy mills can make a profit. Invite your friends to step into the shoes of a pet store employee who discovers their store supports puppy mills. To enter for the $3,000 scholarship, visit www. Dosomething.org/puppy and submit six friends' phone numbers. 3. $5,000 Safe Driving Scholarship When you text while driving at 55 mph, your eyes go off the road for the length of an entire football field. Tell your friends about the danger of texting while driving to enter to win a $5000 scholarship. After entering, we'll send you a free pair of "thumb socks" ---- a physical reminder to stop texting while driving. Send us a picture of you with your thumb socks and you'll double your chance of winning the $5,000 scholarship. What's the purpose of Safe Driving Scholarship? To warn people not to text while driving. KIDS is a charity group.It is to help disabled children to live a better life . Is was set up in 1970 by John Mulcahy , a teacher who cared for a disabled child in one of his classes.John wanted to improve communication with this child and asked for help from the child's mother. This, in turn,set up the KIDS idea:working together with parents to help disabled kids to develop their skills and to achieve their hopes and dreams. KIDS works to find out disabled children's interests and what they are really good at,and then helps them to live as _ people and make their dreams come true . Over the past 42 years , KIDS has helped many children. Now it is the UK's largest charity group that helps disabled children. Today KTDS has more experts to provide services for over 6,000 disabled children and their families through its projects . Education for under -fives KTDS has many teaching materials , and helps parents to be the most important teachers of their children. Play Disabled children may find it is difficult to join healthy kids clubs' clubs. KIDS provides different kinds of play and sports activities for disabled children from 5 to 19 years old. Information KIDS gives parents of disabled kids advice and information, helping them to get on well with their children. What did John Mulcahy do in order to improve communication with a disabled child in his class? He asked the child's mother for help. Dear Students, I am delighted to be your guest. I would like to tell you about myself. I have been a news reporter for the past fifteen years. I chose this job so I could travel the world, but the job has taught me many unforgettable lessons. The work is sometimes difficult. I have seen _ , wars, earthquakes, poverty and death. But I have also seen courage, hope and happiness. In India, I visited a city where there were many homeless children. Some were as young as four years old. They lived in the streets and survived by begging or stealing. But then a wonderful lady called Rosa opened a home for them. Within one year, she was looking after two hundred children. She clothed them, fed them, and taught them. She gave them hope. Another time, I was in Turkey after a terrible earthquake, in one place. I found an old lady whose house was in ruins, her son was missing and rescue workers said there was no chance that he was still alive. But the old lady did not give up hope. For four days, she moved heavy stones one at a time by herself. She did not stop until she found her son. He was alive. Here in China, I met a young boy with a serious condition. He had undergone twenty operations and spent nearly his whole life in hospital. I thought he would be sad, but when I met him, his smile was so warm and welcoming. In life, we need role models that we can admire and learn from. When my life is difficult, I try to remember the courage and goodness of these three people. For what does the speaker admire the Turkish woman and the Chinese boy? Their strong mind.
I guess I always knew about the little fish treat, but this past summer it was all I could see. Pipin and Nemo were balancing on one front flipper , flying through hoops, dancing with the trainer, and we were all applauding -- the little kids screaming with delight. That's when the trainer, who wore a little treat bag on her belt, slipped Pipin and Nemo a fish. Each time they successfully performed a trick, they'd get an immediate reward. These creatures weren't really dancing, of course. They were performing a series of movements that they knew would produce a fish. It's such a good show because the sea lions look like they're having such fun. These talented performers who love to be in front of an audience seem almost human. Somewhere in our faith journey, _ . You see how you've spent years jumping through hoops, balancing a ball on your nose, not because it's really who you are, but because you've always done it and the system rewarded you for your performance. But when you've done that for ten or twenty years, you start to ask yourself, "Whose approval am I working for? What do I really believe?" Suddenly you see it: you've spent most all your life taking direction from other people. They've told you what to believe in, what to work for, what to value, how to live your life. You don't want to end your life like Sinclair Lewis's George Babbitt, the middle-aged real-estate broker who has everything and reached the top. But on the last page of Babbitt, George is speaking to his son Ted, who cannot follow in his father's steps. He wants to leave college and head off on his own way. "Dad, I can't stand it any more," the boy says. "Maybe it's all right for some fellows. Maybe I'll want to go back some day, but now, I want to get into mechanics." Babbitt, seeming old and subdued, says, "I've never done a single thing I've wanted to in my whole life!" The Good-Bye Gate brings us naturally to a second passage, leading from dependency to self-possession. As you start separating from the whole worn-out system, you discover that where there is supposed to be a self, there really isn't. The sea lions were pleased to perform in front of the audience because they _ . Answer: You do not need every word to understand the meaning of what you read. In fact, too much emphasis on separate words both slows your speed and reduces your comprehension. First, any habit which slows down your silent reading to the speed at which you speak or read aloud, is inefficient. If you point to each word as you read, or move your head, or form the words with your lips, you read poorly. Less obvious habits also hold back reading efficiency . One is "saying" each word silently by moving your tongue or throat; another is "hearing" each word as you read. These are habits which should have been outgrown long ago. The beginning reader is learning how letters can make words, how written words are pronounced, and how sentences are put together. Your reading purpose is quite different, which is to understand meaning. It has been supposed that up to 75% of the words in English sentences are not really necessary for expressing the meaning. The secret of silent reading is to find out those key words and phrases which carry the thought, and to pay less attention to words which exist only for grammatical completeness. An efficient reader can grasp the meaning from a page at least twice as fast as he can read the page aloud. He takes in a whole phrase or thought unit at a time. If he "says" or "hears" words to himself, they are selected ones, said for emphasis. Saying each word to yourself as you read _ . Answer: Catalin Baciu from Romania wanted to make money in Germany. So, he and his wife, Oltita went to Bucharest, the capital city of Romania to get legal papers to move to Germany. However, when they arrived, they were surprised by what they saw. "Hundreds of street children were living in a busy and dirty city of two and a half million people. Many of them were using drugs. They all seemed lost. Most of them were under ten years old. Oltita had tears in her eyes," Catalin said. Many of these streets children were orphans . They had grown up in the government orphanages, but had run away. They thought any place would be better than the orphanages. But the streets were cold and hard. The winters were freezing. The children had to sleep in warm sewers under the ground. Many of the children even became involved with crime and violence . The Baciu's did not like the sight of so many pitiful children in Bucharest. They wanted to leave immediately and go to Germany. However, that night, Catalin and Oltita stayed with a friend in Buchares. "The friend we were staying with was working with street children. I was deeply touched by what he and his fellows were trying to do...they were sacrificing their jobs and lives to save street children, " Catalin said. After that visit, the Baciu's completely changed their life plan. Instead of moving to Germany, they began working with street children in Bucharest. They started by opening a home called House of Hope, which provided a warm and loving place for children who needed to get away from the streets. Many hospitals and business workers called House of Hope when they found troubled kids. Everyone knew the House of Hope would help. The Baciu's opened House of Hope _ . Answer: Shundagarh is a village on India's east-facing coast.It is a village of simple mud and grass houses built on the beach just above the waterline.The Khadra Hills rise immediately behind the village,to a height of one hundred and fifty meters.A simple,good-hearted old man,whose name was Jalpur,farmed two small fields on the very edge of these hills.From his fields he could see the fishing boats that travelled up and down the coast.He could see the children playing on the sands;their mothers washing clothes on the flat stones where the Shiva River flowed into the sea;and their fathers landing the latest catch or repairing nets and telling stories that had no end. All Jalpur owned in the world were the clothes he wore day in and day out,the miserable hut that he slept in at night,a few tools and cooking pots--and his fields.The corn that he grew was all that made life possible.If the weather was kind and the harvest was good,Jalpur could live happily enough--not well,but happily.When the sun was fierce,and there was little or no rain,then he came close to the line between life and death. Last year the weather had been so kind,and the harvest promised to be so good,that Jalpur had been wondering whether he could sell all that he had and live with his son farther up the coast.He had been thinking about doing this for some years.It was his dearest wish to spend his last days with his son and his wife.But he would go only if he could give;he would not go if it meant taking food out of the mouths of his grandchildren.He would rather die hungry than do this. On the day when Jalpur decided that he would harvest his corn,sell it,and move up the coast,he looked out to sea and saw a huge wave,several kilometers out,advancing on the coast and on the village of Shundagarh.Within ten minutes everyone in Shundagarh would be drowned.Jalpur would have shouted,but the people were too far away to hear.He would have run down the hill,but he was too old to run.He was prepared to do anything to save the people of Shundagarh,so he did the only thing that he could do: he set fire to his corn.In a matter of seconds the flames were rising high and smoke was rising higher.Within a minute the people of Shundagarh were racing up the hill to see what had happened.There,in the middle of his blackened cornfield,they found Jalpur;and there they buried him. On his grave,they wrote the words: Here lies Jalpur,a man who gave,living: a man who died,giving. Why didn't Jalpur live well? Answer: I am a good mother to three children. I have tried never to let my profession stand in the way of being a good parent. I no longer consider myself the center of the universe. 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 to me. Without them, there would be nothing to say to you today. So here's what I wanted 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, our minutes. _ . 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. How did the author form her view of life? Answer:
Question: The nucleus of MOST atoms consists of A. neutrons only B. protons and neutrons C. protons and electrons D. neutrons and electrons Answer: B Question: The Wall Street Journal Asia Edition(prefix = st1 /U. S.), the Globe and Mail(Canada), the Guardian(U. K. ),among other foreign news agencies,have recently published articles on China's earthquake relief. They have all praised the earthquake relief efforts made by the Chinese government. The Wall Street Journal Asia Edition published an article on May 21 saying that on the eighth day of the most serious natural disaster to hit China in decades, rescuing survivors from the ruins had been quickly replaced by the _ challenge of helping them. The article said that people overseas have been deeply impressed by earthquake relief efforts by the Chinese government. The Associated French Press(AFP) reported on May 21 that Chinahas become more open during the campaign. Aircraft loaded with relief supplies from Ukraine,Russia,the United States, Singapore and other countries have arrived in disaster areas in southwestern China. The Associated Press(AP) published an article on May 21 reporting that Chinais making great efforts to deal with an extremely difficult task caused by the earthquake how to provide temporary shelter far so many people. The article said that many tents have been built;and food and medical care are provided to the people whose lives have been completely disturbed by the earthquake. The Global and Mail of Canada published an article on May 20 that said the rapid earthquake relief work in Sichuan demonstrates China's powerful economic strength. An article carried in the British Guardian said that one week after the Sichuan earthquake,China began a three-day national mourning period at 14:28 on may 19, and all Chinese people stood in silence for three minutes in memory of the victims. The ongoing search and rescue action is encouraged by one miraculous survivor after another: Chinese officials said that,so far, no epidemic had occurred after the earthquake. What is the best title of the passage? A. Foreign media praiseChina's earthquake relief work. B. The rapid relief work in Sichuan showsChina's powerful economic strength. C. The most serious natural disaster hitChinain decades. D. Many people's lives were disturbed by the earthquake. Answer: A Question: Many people who work in London prefer to live outside it, and to go in to their offices or schools every day by train, car or bus, even though this means they have to get up early in the morning and reach home late in the evening. One advantage of living outside London is that houses are cheaper. Even a small flat in London without a garden costs quite a lot to rent. With the same money, one can get a little house in the country with a garden of one's own. Then, in the country one can rest from the noise and hurry of the town. Even though one has to get up earlier and spend more time in trains or buses, one can sleep better at night and during weekends and on summer evenings, one can enjoy the fresh, clean air of the country. If one likes gardens, one can spend one's free time digging, planting, watering and doing other jobs which are needed in a garden. Then, when the flowers and vegetables come up, one has the reward of one who has shared the secret of Nature. Some people, however, take no interest in country things: for them, happiness lies in the town, with its cinemas and theatres, beautiful shops and busy streets, dance-halls and restaurants. Such people would feel that their life was not worth living if they had to live it outside London. An occasional walk in one of the parks and a fortnight's (two weeks) visit to the sea every summer is all the country they want: the rest they are quite prepared to leave to those who are glad to get away from London every night. People who think happiness lies in the town would feel that _ if they had to live outside London. A. their life was meaningless B. their life was invaluable C. they didn't deserve a happy life D. they were not worthy of their happy life Answer: A Question: A study by St.. Louis University has found that a lovable dog named Sparky and a robotic dog, AIBO, were about equally effective at reducing the loneliness of nursing home residents. The study confirmed previous findings that dogs have a good effect on nursing home residents. Dr. Andrew Smith led the Stanford University team that built a home-assistance robot. "If humans can feel an emotional tie with robots, some day they could be not just our assistants, but also our companions," he said. To test whether residents responded better to Sparky, a trained dog, or the Sony-made robotic dog, researchers divided 38 nursing home residents into three groups at three long-term care centers in St. Louis. One group had weekly 30-minute one-on-one visits with Sparky; another group had similar visits with AIBO; a control group had no contact with either dog. The groups' respective levels of loneliness were tested by having them answer a number of questions at the beginning and near the end of the visits. After two months, both groups that had contact with the dogs were less lonely and more attached. Most of the elderly regarded Sparky, a 9-year-old dog, as an audience for their life stories, said investigator Marian Banks. "He listened attentively, wagged his tail, and allowed them to pet him," said Banks, who adopted and trained Sparky after finding him in a street behind her home seven years ago. Those who were together with AIBO took a little longer to warm to the robotic creature. Over time, however, they grew comfortable with him, and petted and talked to him. He would respond by wagging his tail, vocalizing, and blinking his lights.. "AIBO is charming once you start to interact with him," said the study's author, Dr. William Banks, "He's an attractive sort of guy. He gives a feeling of being personal, not just a robot." Before the new study, it was known that _ . A. robots were effective at reducing people's loneliness B. robots could build close connection with humans C. dogs could help get rid of old people's loneliness D. dogs and robots were equally effective at reducing loneliness Answer: C Question: There are four people in Jim 's family. They are Kate, Jim, their father and mother. Jim is Kate's brother. He is fourteen. Kate is Jim's sister. She is twelve. They are in the same middle school. Jim is in Class One, Grade Three. Kate is in Class Two, Grade One. They are good students. Their father Mr. Green is a teacher. He is thirty-nine. He teaches English in a school near his home. Their mother is a teacher, too. But she teaches Chinese in a different school. Now they are all at home. Mr. Green and Mrs. Green work _ . A. in different family B. in the same school C. in a factory D. in different schools Answer: D
Fun, and maybe more Nickname: tatoosun Email: tatoosun2003@yahoo.com When to travel: Jun 2007 - Aug 2007 Who am I: Slender African girl in her late 20's. Quite charming, loving, pretty, fun to be with. My travel plans: Nothing in mind for sure, just looking to come with you. Who am I looking for: Looking for a white male between 40-50 years, someone who is full of energy and lively. When was this ad published: Nov 11 2006, Sat. 20yr old aussie looking for travel companion Nickname: Aly Email: alyssia _ europe@hotmail.com When to travel: May 2007 Who am I: a lovely girl, with fun, honest, caring. My travel plans: I will be traveling to Europe cities, then the world!! Whom am I looking for: An extremely fun and entertaining male / female, middle-aged. Someone that I can enjoy every travel moment with. When was this ad published: Nov 12, 2006, Sun *Just for fun Nickname: Queen Email: qrutta@yahoo.co.uk When to travel: Jan 2007 - Dec 2007 Who am I: Young slender girl, looking to see Asia with anyone who wants to travel. My travel plans: I most prefer a white man in his late 30's to have fun with me as he travels either on business or leisure trips. Whom am I looking for: someone who is kind, loving, honest, friendly, good sense of humor, adventurous. When was this ad published: Nov 6, 2006, Mon By Road Around the World Nickname: H N Solanki Email: ragwani@hotmail.com When to travel: May 2007-Aug 2007 Who am I: I am 55. From my childhood, have this dream to go around the world by hitch hiking. However this is now changed and I want to go by Road. My travel plans: Going throughout the world and studying various people, culture and habits. Whom am I looking for: A female companion, and she must have similar interest as me. When was this ad published: Oct 3 2006, Tue A middle-aged man wants to travel during the summer in 2007; he should send email to _ . Answer: tatoosun2003@yahoo.com What does water taste like after a substance is dissolved in it? Answer: similar to object One beautiful day, there was a watermelon. This watermelon was sitting on a bench. The bench was on the grass. The grass was in the park. It was a beautiful place. But Watermelon had a problem. It was bored. All of its friends were busy! "I'm so bored!" cried Watermelon. "Come talk to me!" answered a voice from the park. "But who are you? Where are you?" asked the watermelon. "I am a rock. I am behind you." Watermelon turned around. Off in the distance, it saw the rock. "But Rock, you are so far away! Can you come closer?" "No, I can't. I am a rock. I am big and flat and heavy. I am not round like you. I can't roll to join my friends. I can't play with everyone like you can. My shape is no good. No good at all. But I want to play! I want to talk!" "That is a very sad story, Rock. But what can I do?" "Can you roll?" "Well, yes, yes I can." "Then roll over here!" And so Watermelon did. They talked for a long time. They sang songs. They played games. It was so much fun that Watermelon did not see the weather was changing. Suddenly a strong wind blew, and it pushed Watermelon away. "Help! Help! I am rolling away, help!" "Quick, Watermelon! Get behind me!" Rock was afraid for his new friend. Watermelon rolled behind Rock, and there it was protected by Rock from the dangerous wind. "You saved me! Thank you" "No problem!" "You may be big and flat and heavy. And maybe you can't roll around like me. But I am very happy because of that! I am safe because you are what you are!" Who is Watermelon's new friend? Answer: Rock I was having a great morning until I sat down in front of my office computer. "Your password has run out," a server message flashed on my screen, with instructions for changing it. Coming up with a new code doesn't seem like a big deal unless you work at my company, where we have to change it monthly, using at least one uppercase character, one lowercase character, one symbol, and one number. Oh, and the whole thing can't be fewer than eight characters. And I can't use any of the same passwords I've used in the past three months. Suddenly I was cross. What didn't make it any better was that I was deeply depressed after my recent divorce. The flashing cursor was still waiting for me to type a password that I'd have to re-enter many times for the next 30 days. I remembered a tip from my former boss: I'm going to use a password to change my life. I decided to choose a password, which would remind me that I shouldn't let myself be a victim of my recent breakup and that I was strong enough to do something about it. I made my password Forgive@h3r. I had to type this statement several times a day. Each time my computer would lock. Each time my screen saver with her photo would appear. Each time I would come back from eating lunch alone. In my mind, I wrote "forgive her" every day. The simple action changed the way I looked at my ex-wife. That constant reminder led me to accept the way things had happened at the end of my marriage and adopt a new way of dealing with my depression. As the month wore on, I felt slow healing began to take place. By the time my server reminded me to reset my password the following month, I felt free. What is the best title of the passage? Answer: How a Password Changed My Life Earthquakes happen without warning .They can happen any time of a day,at any point during the year.But don't worry because most are so weak that they cannot be felt. Only a few big ones hurt people. However,it's important to know what to do when an earthquake is happening. Do NOT go outside.You could get injured from falling glass or parts of buildings.If you are outside,stay away from buildings and power lines . Stay under a desk,table,or other strong furniture .Hold on to it.Or stay in a corner of the building.Cover your face and head with your arms and cover your mouth with a towel or clothing.Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Keep away from windows,pictures or advertisements on the wall or the building,and anything else that could fall and hurt you.Most people get injured by falling things during an earthquake,not by the shaking itself. Also keep away from a fire.You could fall down and burn yourself on the fire. If you are driving when an earthquake happens,stop the car if it's safe.Stay inside your car until the earthquake stops,and don't drive near bridges. Try not to stop by power lines or trees.These could fall and hurt you. Most earthquakes are too ----to hurt people. Answer: weak
Question: Read the instructions of the medicine before you take your choices. Adults : 2 tablespoonfuls Children: according to age 10----14 years 4 teaspoonfuls 5----10years 2 teaspoonfuls 3----6 years I teaspoonful Repeat above doses every 1/2 hour to 1 hour if needed until 8 dose are taken. If you do not get better within two days, see a doctor. SHAKE WELLBEFORE USING. In this passage 'choice" means _ . A. not eating B. decision C. choose D. eating Answer: B. decision Question: Glasgow Fireworks 25th July 2012 Location: Glasgow Green Tickets: This event is free, and no ticket is required Events:Celebrate Bonfire Night , with Glasgow's famous and splendid musical fireworks show. The night is not just about fireworks though; there will be pre-show music and fun with Clyde 1's Romeo and Knoxy, amusements and food and drink booths. Enough to make sure that everyone is entertained! The timetable: 5:30 pm amusements (ends 9:30pm) 6:30 pm Pre-show music and fun with Clyde 1's Romeo and Knoxy 7:30 pm Fireworks show begins Notice: * Entry is free, and it is usually very busy. Make sure you get there early for a good view (unless you're 7 feet tall). * You should enter Glasgow Green from the west end of the park. There is no other public entry. * If you're driving, please be concerned about road closing time. All roads to Glasgow Green will be closed to vehicles between 5:30 pm and 9:00 pm. * Join our mailing list to stay up to date with all the latest information on www. Glasgow Green. com. Should it be put off or called off, we will keep you informed as soon as possible! For Your Safety * Do not bring fireworks, sparklers, alcohol or pets to the Glasgow Green Fireworks. * Follow the directions of staff and police. * Dress properly - We live in Glasgow and there is always a good chance we will get rubbish weather! If you go to the show by car, you have to get there _ . A. before 5:30 pm B. after 9:30 pm C. around 6:30 pm D. between 5:30 pm and 9:00 pm Answer: A. before 5:30 pm Question: Teachers say the digital age has had a good and a not-so-good influence on the American teenagers. More than 2,000 high school teachers took an online survey. 75 percent of the teachers said the Internet and digital search tools have had a "mostly good" use for their students' research habits and skills, But 87 percent agreed that these technologies "make the students not have enough attention." And 64 percent said the technologies "do little to help them in courses." Judy Buchanan is a director of the National Writing Project. Ms. Buchanan says digital research tools are helping students learn more, and learn faster. Teachers really like these tools, because they are ways to make some of learning exciting. Young people enjoy using these tools. And the goal is to help them become creative students of meaningful work, and not just that kind of copyist. But one problem the survey found is that many students don't have a good understanding of how to use the digital knowledge well. In other words, they trust too much of the information. Judy Buchanan says these students have not developed the skills they need to tell whether the online information is good or bad. Another problem the survey found is something that might not seem like a problem, at all, being-able to quickly find information online. Teachers say the ability of their students to work hard to find answers is becoming weaker. They say students depend too much on search engines and do not make enough use, of printed books or research, librarians. Besides, many teachers are also worried about the problem that the Internet makes it easy for students to copy work done by others, instead of using their own abilities. What does the writer want to tell us by writing this passage? A. Digital search tools have quite a lot of advantages. B. Students don't know how to use the digital search tools. C. Many teachers are worried about the students' abilities. D. Students should learn how to use the digital tools in a right way. Answer: D. Students should learn how to use the digital tools in a right way. Question: In the bushes of Northern Africa, a baby lies warm and safe in a cave . He lies among baby wolves , next to Mother Wolf, and he is not afraid. Outside the cave, Shere Khan, the man-eating tiger, shouts angrily, wanting to kill. "No!" says Mother Wolf. "He belongs to me. He will live to run with the other wolves and be like my son. And I will call him Mowgli." The years pass, and Mowgli--the man's baby, grows up with the wolves. He learns the Law of the Jungle from his teachers, Baloo, an old brown bear and Bagheera, a white elephant. He has many adventures , and many friends among the animals of the jungle. But he still has an enemy. Shere Khan the tiger has not forgotten him. He waits for the day when he can catch the man's child--and kill him. If you want to know more about the story, just read The Jungle Book! Who teaches the man's baby the Law of the Jungle? A. Shere Khan and Mother Wolf. B. Mowgli and Mother Wolf. C. Baloo and Bagheera. D. Baloo and Shere Khan. Answer: C. Baloo and Bagheera. Question: Top lists are lecturing people on everything from "100 places to visit" to "100 books to read ". Aren't you just tired of being told what to do with your time? Now you have a list to end all lists! Take a look at the following two examples from the list of "101 things not to do": Swim with Dolphins ? Swimming with dolphins is one of the world's most profitable tourist activities. However, every dolphin will welcome having their busy, tiring day interrupted by tourists screaming and pushing around them in the water. Worse yet, when dolphins get too near to the boats loaded with tourists, they could get caught up in ropes and killed by propellers . Here's a little secret. Dolphins look like smiling at you, but actually they're just opening their mouths. Go to See the Mona Lisa? There must be something about the mysterious smile. The 6 million people who visit the lady in the Louvre every year can't all be wrong, after all. But they can be quite annoying, standing in front of you, holding up their cameras to prevent you from seeing anything. In fact, it is hard for you to see the painting clearly because you have to stay away from it for security reasons. After queuing for hours, many tourists can remain in front of the painting only for 15 seconds at most. If the mysterious lady in the picture knew her fate, she wouldn't just be smiling, she'd be laughing. So, still long to see the Mona Lisa? If you want to find out more about the list, read Visit and buy the book at a 20% discount. What does the author think about going to see the Mona Lisa? A. It is wrong to go and see the mysterious smile. B. It is not as satisfying as expected. C. Fifteen seconds in front of the painting is enough. D. Queuing for hours is worthwhile. Answer: B. It is not as satisfying as expected.
The Coalition for the Homeless is an organization that seeks to _ the needs of the homeless population in the United States. It is a network of offices, some of which provide food and houses for the homeless population, and some of which fight for the passing of laws that would give every American the right to a place to call home. According to the Coalition's studies, of over two hundred million people living in the United States, up to three million are homeless--and the number is still growing. Since the late 1970s, fast-rising house prices, large cuts in government supported housing programs, and economic recession have make it impossible for many Americans to meet housing costs. Sadly, this has resulted in a number of persons being forced to leave their homes and/or unable to find new affordable homes. According to another research, families with children appear to be the fastest-growing part of the homeless population, making up 39% of it. The old idea of a homeless person, that of the single man who gets drunk all the time, is no longer true. A much larger part of the population now finds itself homeless. Even worse, once a person becomes homeless, he often finds it impossible to find a job, since most employers require anyone who wants a job from them to provide a home address on a job application. Homeless people often have difficulty finding a job because _ . A they often don't have enough work experience B they mostly have a drinking problem C they aren't supported by government programs D they have no home address Answer: D Mrs Jones was still cleaning the house when her husband came back from work. She was wearing dirty, old clothes and no stockings and her hair was not tidy. She looked dirty and tired. Her husband looked at her and said, "Is this what I come home to see after a hard day's work?" Mr Jones' neighbour, Mrs Smith, was there. When she heard Mr Jones' words, she quickly said goodbye and ran back to her house. Then she washed and combed her hair carefully, put on her best dress and her most beautiful stockings, painted her face, and waited for her husband to come home. When he arrived, he was tired. He walked slowly into the house, saw his wife and stopped. Then he shouted angrily, " And where are you going this evening ?" Why did Mrs Smith run back quickly to her house when she heard Mr Jones' words? A She was afraid of Mr Jones. B She didn't like Mr Jones, so she didn't want to see him any more. C She thought she should do something before her husband went back. D She wanted to watch TV. Answer: C When trouble comes, what do we usually do? We pick up our mobile phones and call for help. That's easy, right? But in an emergency, many people are unable to call for help. Floods and earthquakes come suddenly. Wars can hurt or kill. Successful communication can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. Meet French NGO Telecoms Sans Frontiers (Telecommunications Without Borders ). Its goal is to use mobile communication technology to help people in need. TSF began in 1998. First, they opened their main base in France. Then in 2003, they started another base in Nicaragua. The next year they opened their Thailand base. Now if a disaster hits anywhere in the world, TSF is ready. They can send workers to a disaster area to set up communication systems within 24 hours. Once TSF arrives at a disaster area, they set up telephone connections and Internet service. They share these services with other international helpers on the scene such as the UN or UNICEF. Mobile communication helps other volunteers do their jobs better. TSF also offers three-minute phone calls to local people who need to contact their loved ones. These communications can allow people to get together again after being separated . Often the callers are moved to tears after speaking to a relative found to be still alive. Then the families can decide on a safe course of action for their family members. Since 1998, TSF has helped thousands of people in many countries. Most of the TSF workers does not get paid with money, but the satisfaction of helping others and changing lives is often a great reward. Which of the following is TRUE? A TSF has a history of over 20 years. B Most TSF workers are volunteers. C TSF provides services for local people only. D TSF had opened 4 bases all over the world by 2004. Answer: B A fit and healthy teenage rugby player died 12 hours after taking treatment for acne ,an officer,Mary Hassel,said today. She said Shaun Jones,14,died "as a result of complications of medical treatment". Shaun,who was described by his mother as "vain" about his appearance,saw Dr Jones,his family doctor,about spors on his back and shoulders after learning his friends had been given medication to deal with similar problems. The boy,who had previously used Clearasil to treat the spots,was diagnosed with mild acne and given a prescription. But when he went to his local chemist's with his mother,he was told the drug was not available. They said they had contacted Dr Jones(in fact they didn't),and Shaun could be given different pills which were the same as the drug originally prescribed. Mrs. Jones noriced there was no safety instructions included in the box,but thought nothing of it at the time. Shaun took the drug just before going to bed at 10:30 pm. Little more than an hourlater, he complained of shortness of breath and tighmess in his chest. Mrs. . Jones initially contacted an out--of--hours GP service but was told no doctor was available. When Shaun's condition became worse,he was rushed to the Royal Glamorgan Hospital by ambulance in the early hours of the next morning. Despite treatment there,and at the University Hospital of Wales,Cardiff,where he was transferred,Shaun died at 10:40 am the following day. Doctors at the hospital believe an unusual reaction to the acne drug could have caused his death. Hassel said she would write a report to the Lord Chancellor's office imdedining the impor-tailce that "doctors prescribe drugs and doctors make adjustments and patients receive drugs with the correct information attached". The reason why Shaun was transferred to the University Hospital of Wales was that _ A there were no doctors available at his local hospital B his family doctor suggested he be transferred there C he was expected to get better treallment at the hospital D the doctors in RoyalGlamorganHospitalwere too busy Answer: C One day my dad was walking home and he had a big ice-cream cone. He had chocolate and vanilla and strawberry ice-cream on top of each other. He was moving his head back and forward to some music that he was playing when a spider dropped on his ice-cream for a little bite. My dad saw right away that a spider was on it and he brushed the spider off. After the spider was put on the floor, a fly flew into his ice-cream, right where the spider had been! Oh how terrible! My dad made the spider leave and right after that he saw an alligator come running up to him wanting a bite of his ice-cream too! My dad dropped his cone, ran away, and bought a yoghurt instead. He thought about buying a dingdong, but since dinner time was so close and he had such a big lunch, he thought a yoghurt would be better. It's a much safer and better dessert. 165 words. What kind of ice-cream was in the cone? A Strawberry, peach, blueberry B Vanilla, vanilla, chocolate C Chocolate, vanilla, blueberry D Chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry Answer: D
What is language for ? Some people seem to think it's for practicing grammar rules and learning lists of words --the longer the list, the better, That's wrong. Language is for the exchange of ideas and information. It's meaningless knowing all about a language if you can't use it freely.Many students I have met know hundreds of grammar rules,but they can't speak correctly or fluently .They are afraid of making mistakes.One shouldn't be afraid of making mistakes when speaking a foreign language.Native speakers make mistakes and break rules,too.Bernard Saw once wrote, " _ ." But the mistakes that native speakers make are different from those that Chinese students make.They're English mistakes in the English language.And if enough native speakers break a rule,it is no longer a rule.What used to be wrong becomes right.People not only make history,they make language.But a people can only make its own language.It can't make another people's language.So Chinese students of English should pay attention to grammar,but they shouldn't overdo it. They should put communication first. When we speak a foreign language, we should _ . Answer: not be afraid of making mistakes The ancient Egyptians appeared to be among the first early civilizations to learn how to grow roses. In 1888, at Hawara in the El Faiyum area of Egypt, two-thousand-year-old roses were found in ancient tombs. The discovery suggested roses were an important part of the complex burial ceremony which took place when an important person died. The roses found in the tombs are thought by modern experts to be the oldest preserved flowers ever found in the world. They must have been cut and dried before flowering so that they would remain undamaged. Over the centuries, the roses had shrunk and became tight balls, but on careful examination it was discovered that the petals themselves were hardly damaged. Egypt's skill in mass-cultivation of roses in early times led to the flowers becoming an important export product. At the height of the Roman Empire, Egypt exported large quantities of roses to the Roman courts. Wealthy Romans loved the beautiful color1s and sweet smells of roses. So the Romans attempted to grow their own roses and they eventually mastered the art of mass cultivation. Egypt then decided to concentrate on growing grain instead of roses, so grain soon took over as the number-one agricultural product of Egypt. Roses were appreciated in other early civilizations too, including Greece and Persia. They are a decorative feature on coins, sculpture, and vases dating back thousands of years. There is also evidence that roses were highly valued by the Chinese who believed that the flowers could be used to help treat a wide range of illnesses, from toothache to skin and chest diseases. In the modern world, the rose has not lost its popularity as the "Queen of Flowers" -- the name given to it by the Greek poetess Sappho. Even today more roses are sold than any other flower. Modern techniques have enabled people to create ever more beautiful roses. Transportation by air makes it possible to grow roses in countries with favorable climates and sell them within twenty-four hours in profitable markets all over the world. Tons of roses are transported this way every week. Roses from Ecuador, a country in northern South America, can be bought in Holland, even though that country itself has a huge rose-growing business. The roses discovered at Hawara in 1888 were _ . Answer: finely preserved "My dream has come true.I have always wanted to be a Grand Slam champion." These are the words of the Chinese tennis player Li Na after she became the first Asian woman to win the Australian Open final on Jan.25th.2014. "People were saying I'm getting old.So this is a great success for such an old woman." the 32-year-old girl joked. Miss Li has a tattoo . She has dyed her hair many different color1s.And, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she told her fans to "shut up" when they got too noisy in their support. Li Na was born in Wuhan.She started to play tennis at the age of 6.She once recalled: "As a child. I suffered a lot because every day I had to wake up early to practice.After school I had to practice more.I didn't have time to play." Luckily, the strong girl didn't give up. thus making history for Chinese tennis time after time.Now the new champion is already thinking about winning another Grand Slam title."When you have one title, surely you will think about another," she says. not hiding her ambition. "Chinese people are so lacking in confidence on the tennis court.If there is a person like me who can prove we Chinese can do it, the other young players in China will feel the same." she said. Which of the following is WRONG about Li Na? Answer: Li Na said she lacked confidence on the tennis court. Bum rate is the speed at which a startup business consumes money. My rate would be $ 50,000 a month when my new media company started. So, I began looking around for individuals who would be my first investors. "Angel money" it was called. But when I reviewed my list of acquaintances to find those who might be able to help, I found the number got small. With no other choices, I began meeting with the venture-capital companies. But I was warned they took a huge share of your company for the money they put in. And if you struggled, they could drop you cold. As I was searching for "angel money", I started to build a team who trusted me even though I didn't have money for paychecks yet. Bill Becker was an expert in computer programming and image processing at a very famous Media Lab at M. I.T. With his arrival, my company suddenly had a major technology "guy" in-house. Katherine Henderson, a filmmaker and a former real-estate dealer, joined us as our director of market research. Steve White came on as operating officer. He had worked for the developer of a home-finance software, Quicken. We grabbed him. We had some really good people, but we still didn't have enough money. One night, my neighbor, Louise Johnson, came for a visit. She and I were only nodding acquaintances, but her boys and ours were constant companions. She ran a very good business at the time. Louise was brilliant and missed nothing. She had been watching my progress closely. She knew I was dying for money and I had prospects but could offer no guarantees of success. She told me that her attorney had talked to mine and the terms had been agreed upon. She handed me an envelope. Inside was a check for $ 500,000. I almost fell down. I heard her voice as if from heaven. "I have confidence in your plan," she said. "You' 11 do well. You're going to work hard for it, but it' s satisfying when you build your own company." Who would have thought I'd find an angel so close to home? There were no words sufficient for the moment. We just said good night. She left and I just stood there, completely humbled and completely committed. Louise decided to lend money to the author because _ . Answer: she knew his plan would succeed What causes erosion? Answer: gales
In the second half of each year, many powerful storms are born in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean seas. Of these, only about half a dozen becomes the strong, circling winds of 75 miles per hour or more that are called hurricanes, and several usually make their way to the coast. There they cause millions of dollars of damage, and bring death to large numbers of people. The great storms that hit the coast start as soft circling wind hundreds -- even thousands -- of miles out to sea. As they travel aimlessly over water warmed by the summer sun, they are carried westward by the southeast winds. When conditions are just right, warm, moist air flows in at the bottom of such a wind, moves upward through it and comes out at the top. In the process , the moisture in this warm air produces rain, and with it the heat is changed to energy in the form of strong winds. As the heat increases, the young hurricane begins to move in a counter-clockwise motion . The life of a hurricane is only about nine days, but it contains almost more power than we can imagine. The energy in the heat released by a hurricane's rainfall in a single day would satisfy the entire electrical needs of the United States for more than six months. Water, not wind, is the main source of death and destruction in a hurricane. A typical hurricane brings 6 to 12 inch downpours, causing sudden floods. Worst of all is the powerful movement of the sea -- the mountains of water moving toward the hurricane center. The water level rises as much as 15 feet above normal as it moves toward shore. Which statement about a hurricane is wrong? Answer: It sometimes brings the sea water level to the height of 15 feet. Young children from poor families are more likely to consume junk food and fizzy drinks than their richer companions. A study of 1,800 four- and five-year-olds found more than half of those from poor backgrounds drank at least one a week, compared to just four in ten _ kids. They also drank less milk and consumed more fruit juice which is also linked to child obesity caused by high sugar intake . The phenomenon also relates to children who spend more than two hours a day in front of a TV or playing computer games--whatever their social circumstances. A companion study also found children from poor families were more likely to eat chips, sweets and chocolate. Professor Kate Storey said, "when you are looking at that age group, and such a large percentage of very young kids in the study are consuming a large amount of soda ,it is quite concerning. " The researchers carried out the study by surveying the parents of their participants to find out their dietary habits. Professor Storey said, "If you are drinking a lot of soda and fruit juice, they can displace consumption of water and milk, which are important not just for ending thirst, but for developing healthy bones and teeth, and health and wellness in general." Co-researcher Dr John Spence said, "Dietary behavior and intake patterns are influenced heavily by what happens in the first few years with children, and they maintain those patterns throughout childhood and into adolescence ." In addition to basic health education, this study identifies a need in how we are dealing with poverty and recognizing there is more to poverty than simply the number of dollars people have. Professor Storey said that shows how education can make a difference and lead to healthier eating habits, regardless of what is happening at home. "Many families live in places that might not be very healthy for them and, as a result, they make unhealthy food choices. You can start making a difference in different places. It calls for action in multiple settings, schools and communities, for example. That light-bulb moment can happen in a variety of places," Professor Storey added. According to Dr John Spence, children's habits in the early stage of life can even affect _ . Answer: their living patterns of youth Get a Life is a website that helps middle school students answer the question --What do you want to be when you grow up? "It encourages teenagers to have a big dream; it tries to find out what is possible; it makes a plan for children to get where they want to go," said Combs, one of the persons who set up the website. [:ZSSxxSSk.Com] Get a Life suggests teenagers let their hobbies and interests decide what to do in the future. It encourages them to look for activities that help them try to do some jobs and get important knowledge and skills. It also offers information about fast-growing and well-paid jobs, and provides job training for teenagers. "Middle school is the perfect time for students to find out their interests, to have many different experiences and do something for their future jobs," a middle school teacher said. "Our world will become a better place if we make our _ s wide and try new things. Our students can't wait until high school or university to begin building their dreams. Right now is the right time to get a life." "This website is exactly what these children need for a better future. If our children can make better plans for their future, it is more possible for them to succeed," Combs said. According to the passage, the website is _ for children. Answer: helpful The most popular names in the west Every year in Englishspeaking countries,people list the most popular names. Here are some examples. In the United States at the moment the three most popular names for girls are Emily,Emma and Madison. For boys,they are Michael,Joshua and Mathew. In Britain a parent today might call their little girl Grace,Jessica or Ruby. If they have a little boy they could call him Jack,Thomas or Oliver. In China names have very clear meanings. If a girl is called Mei,her name means "beautiful". If a boy is called Wu,his name means "like a soldier". Names in Englishspeaking countries are like this too. The girl's name Joy is probably partly chosen because the parents wish their daughter to be joyful and bring joy to others. If a girl is called Ruby,it may be because of the beautiful red precious stone. Parents often pick names that can be shortened. This can be confusing for Chinese people. Parents might choose such names because they want to be able to speak to their kid in a personal way. For example,a popular name is William. But William can be shortened to Will,Willy,Bill and Billy. The same is true of the favourite old name for a girl,Elizabeth. Elizabeth can be shortened to Beth,Liza and Liz. Another reason why kids get the names they do is that parents want to name their boy or girl after someone who is famous,such as an actor,a pop music star or a sports star. David is a popular name in Britain,partly because of the fame of the footballer David Beckham. Which name may have something to do with "gladness"? Answer: Joy. Nowadays more and more people care about the exploitation of the natural _ , such as oil. Though there're many kinds of resources, with the fast increase of population and the increase of many more factories, the more we use, the fewer there will be left for the future. Oil is getting less and less year after year. It's said that oil can last for only 50 years. Natural gas perhaps will last about 38 years. Oil can be used in many ways and it's difficult to imagine what the modern world will be like without oil. But oil isn't easy to find and get out of the earth. Men must study the rocks. When they think the rocks in a certain place may have oil, a metal tower is built. A machine in the tower cuts a hole down into the ground. At the same time, a steel pipe is pushed down to stop the sides from falling in and to keep out water. At last if the men are right, usually the oil rushes up the sides with great force by the pressure of the gas in the top of the rock, and it rushes high into the air. If the oil catches a light, there will be a terrible fire. So a kind of cover is fixed on the top of the pipe, and the oil can run out through taps . If we are near the middle of the oil field, we can also get gas. Such gas is sent through pipes to towns far away and used in houses and factories like coal gas. Today oil is under pressure as never before. The price of oil keeps rising all the time. In many countries, the governments encourage people to save oil as much as possible. The oil is getting _ but its price is getting _ . Answer: less and less; higher and higher
Dear Cary, I'm writing because I've understood you've struggled with alcoholism .I've been fighting mine ever since I went through 9-11.After that, _ .I've taken some medicine and it has helped somewhat.I can manage about a month without drinking, but after that I end up having a crazy stage where nothing matters except drinking.After a week or so of heavy drinking,! start having nightmares of people jumping.After that, it's a week of not being able to get out of bed. I was supposed to travel to a conference but didn't make it because I got so drunk at the airport that I fell down on my face and spent the rest of the day in the emergency room.I have been hiding from my family since then.Fortunately they won't be expecting me to come back for a week or so.Otherwise, they would notice the bump on my forehead and two black eyes. I don't really know what I'm asking you.Cary, I need a way out that doesn't involve causing pain to my family.I'm taking medicine, but' I still have these attacks every few months.If there's alcohol in the house, I can't stay away from it.It seems that this will never end.I'm afraid of what will happen if something bad happens, like a family member dying, or getting fired again. Thanks for reading. Yours T We know from the passage that Cary _ . HOUSTON (Reuters) -- Houston tops a U.S. magazine's annual fattest cities list for the fourth time in five years, with four other Texas cities in the top 25. Fast food restaurants -- Houston has twice the national average number -- are partly to blame for the dishonor,Men's Fitnesseditor-in-chief Neal Boulton said. "Americans work long hours, don't take vacations, and when they're faced with the worst food choices, they indulge in those," he said. High humidity, poor air quality and some of the nation's longest commute times also helped Texas' most populous city unseat Detroit, the 2003 heavy weight champion, the magazine said. Houston Mayor Bill White, who has worked with a major food company to develop healthy food products and the city's public schools to improve lunch menus, called the report "mostly ungrounded and nonsense." "On the other hand, it calls attention to real issues the mayor is trying to deal with," his spokesman, Frank Michel, said. The magazine said it looked at factors such as the number and types of restaurants, park space, air quality, weather and the number of health clubs. Philadelphia, Detroit, Memphis, Tennessee, and Chicago followed Houston on the seventh edition of the fat list. Texas cities Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth and El Paso were in the top 14, which Boulton said was no surprise. "It's pure big indulgence, just _ , and that's part of the culture," said Boulton. Seattle ranked as the fittest city. Austin and Arlington, a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb, were the only Texas cities on the fit list. Austin was 19th and Arlington 22nd out of 25. What decides the magazine's annual fattest list? In a living statue, just as the name implies, somebody transforms himself or herself into a statue. Last year, I came across an article in a magazine describing living statues in the streets of some Australian cities. The article was vividly written, except that there was not even a single picture; one could only imagine what a scene it would have been! All the harder, then, to believe that I ran into the "wonder" in prefix = st1 /Barcelonathis year. The performers - the living statues - were street artists at Las Ramblas. Las Ramblas is the most famous street in Barcelona. Especially in summer, thousands of tourists go to the seaside by passing through this street, making it a center of shops and bazaars. Not only can you find tourists there, but also thieves, cheats, cops...among whom the living statue artists are the most special group. They were covered with greasepaint in different color1s, wearing season - disproportional clothes, standing on a pedestal for several hours without making even a single move. Are they real or _ , the guests were wondering...and then suddenly the statues came to life, just for a few seconds to shift positions. But the movement of the statues seemed like someone just had breathed life into them. They really do look like statues, and that's how they got their name. Usually there is a jar or a hat in front of them. They would change to another pose whenever some tourist puts a coin in the hat. You may take photos after giving a Euro, or even less, but be careful not to touch the statues, unless you want yourself to be covered in paint. It's a really special experience, don't you think? We can infer from this passage that Las Ramblas is_. The small unframed painting called "Fisherman" was signed by a little-known Italian artist, Maveleone (1669-1740). When it was sold recently in New York for $ 27000, the seller, Mr. Oliver Pitt, was asked to explain how the picture had come into his possession. Pitt said, "I didn't know it was so valuable. I'm not an art expert. Photography is my hobby. I bought 'Fisherman' in Italy in 1970 for $140.the picture was dirty, and I couldn't see the artist's signature. But anyway it wasn't the picture that I like. I bought it because of the frame." "It's most unusual frame, made of tiny, silvery sea-shells. They are set in such a way that they reflect perfect light onto the surface of a picture. I now have a photograph of my wife in that frame, and I'll never part with it." "When I returned to New York I showed the painting in its frame to a customs officer. I told him that I had paid $140 for it but admitted I didn't know its actual worth. The customs man valued it at $ 140, and I was asked to pay duty on that value. I did so, there and then." "Later, I took off the frame, and that uncovered Maveleone's signature. My wife suggested in fun that the painting might be a valuable one, so I cleaned it and put it up for sale." As a result of his explanation, Oliver Pitt had to appear in court. He was accused of knowingly making a false statement of the value of a picture so as to cheat the Customs Department. Pitt was not happy. "I told the truth as I knew it then," he said, "What else could I say?" And then the judge agreed with him. "The Customs Department is to be responsible (blame)," he said, "for making a true valuation of goods bought into the country, so that the correct amount of duty may be charged. Mr Pitt did not cause or try to cause the mistake that was made. He paid the duty that was demanded. If now, the Customs Department finds that its valuation was not correct, it cannot be allowed to have another try. Pitt is not guilty. Pitt met the customs officer _ , where the officer was employed to _ . To us it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains, But actually the umbrella was not invented as protection against the rain, Its first use was as a shade against the sun! Nobody knows who first invented it, but the umbrella was used in very ancient times. Probably the first to use it were the Chinese in the eleventh century BC. We know that the umbrella was used in ancient Egypt and Babylon as a sunshade. And there was a strange thing connected with its use: it became a symbol of honor. In the Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by those in high office. In Europe, the Greeks were the first to use the umbrella as a sunshade. And the umbrella was in commonly used in ancient Greece. But it is believed that the first persons in Europe to use the umbrella as protection against the rain were the ancient Romans. During the Middle Ages, the use of the umbrella practically disappeared. Then it appeared again in Italy in the late sixteenth century. And again it was considered as a symbol of power. By 1680, the umbrella appeared in France and later in England. By the eighteenth century, the umbrella was used against rain throughout most of Europe. Umbrellas have not changed much in style during all this time, though they have become much lighter in weight. It wasn't until the twentieth century that women's umbrellas began to be made, in a whole variety of colors. In Europe, the umbrella was first used against the rain _ .
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of natural disasters over the past few years,and it is assumed that global warming and climate change could cause even more disasters in the future.Some of the world's leading cities are facing disasters like floods and heat waves. prefix = st1 /London London's flood defenses are getting older.Since 1 982,the Thames Barrier has protected the city from the threat of flooding,but it was only designed to last until 2030 and close once every two or three years.About 26 years later the barrier now closes five or six times a year and according to Environment Agency predictions,by 2050 the barrier will be closed on almost every tide if the problem is not addressed. There are 26 underground stations,400 schools,1 6 hospitals,an airport and 80 billion worth of property in London's flood risk area, so large scale flooding would be disastrous. Paris Over a six week period in July and August 2003,more than 1 1,400---mainly elderly people--died in France from dehydration and extremely high body temperature in a deadly heat wave.Heat waves of similar intensity are expected every seven years by 2050,so what can be done to make sure such a disaster does not happen again? One solution is to have air-conditioners installed in elderly care homes.But this is considered a short-term solution,as the increase in demand for electricity also increases carbon emissions . InParisthe local authorities are encouraging architects to design new types of buildings such as the building"Flower Tower,"which uses a covering.of bamboo to act as a natural air-conditioner. Shanghai Shanghai is the fastest growing city on Earth.It has a population of 1 8 million and is only 4 meters above sea level.Sea levels are predicted to rise by 20 cm within the next century. An estimated 250,000 people move to Shanghai every year in search of work, placing extra demands on energy consumption.China relies heavily on coal--fired power stations,but these emissions increase temperatures and,in turn,warmer seas increase the risk of typhoons. The purpose of the passage is_. Answer: to warn us of the increasing natural disasters in big cities Which processes change magma into igneous rock? Answer: cooling and crystallization "Avoid the rush hour" must be the slogan of large cities all over the world. Wherever you look it's people, people, people. The trains which leave or arrive every few minutes are packed. The streets are so crowded; there is hardly room to move on the pavements. It takes ages for a bus to get to you because the traffic on the roads has almost come to a standstill. Even when a bus does at last arrive, it's so full, it can't take any more passengers. The smallest unexpected event can bring about conditions of complete chaos. The strange thing is not that people stand these conditions, but that they actually choose them in preference to anything else. Large modern cites are too big to control. People living there are forced by their environment to take a wholly unnatural way of life. They lost touch with the land and rhythm of nature. It is possible to live in such an air-conditioned existence in a large city that you can hardly tell the season. A few flowers in a public park may remind you that it is spring or summer. All the simple, good things of life like sunshine and fresh air are hard to find. Even the distinction between days and nights is lost. The funny thing about it all is that you pay dearly to live in a city. The demand for accommodation is so great that it is often impossible for ordinary people to buy a house of their own. The cost of living is also very high. Just about everything you buy is likely to be more expensive than it would be in the country. Besides, the crime rate in most cities is very high. If you think about it, they're not really fit to live in at all. Can anyone really doubt that the country is what man was born for and where he truly belongs? It is unusual that _ . Answer: people still choose to live in a city Britain's Solo Sailor Ellen MacArthur started sailing with her aunt when she was eight. She loved it so much that she saved her money for three years to buy her first small sailing boat.When she was 18,she sailed alone around Britain and won the "Young Sailor of the Year" award. But Ellen really became famous in 2001.Aged only 24,she was one of only two women who entered the Vendee Globe round the world solo race,which lasted 100 days.Despite many problems,she came second in the race out of 24 competitors and she was given a very warm welcome when she returned. Ambition and determination have always been a big part of Ellen's personality.When she was younger,she lived in a kind of hut for three years while she was trying to get sponsorship to compete in a transatlantic race.Then she took a one-way ticket to France,bought a tiny seven-meter Class Mini yacht,slept under it while she was repairing it,and then she raced it 4,000 kilometers across the Atlantic in 1997,alone for 33 days. Ellen has had to learn many things,because sailing single-handed means that she has to be her own captain,electrician,sail maker,engineer,doctor,journalist,cameraman and cook.She also has to be very fit,and because of the dangers of sleeping for long periods of time when she's in the middle of the ocean, she has trained herself to sleep for about 20 minutes at a time. And she needs courage.Once,in the middle of the ocean,she had to climb the mast of a boat to repair the sails at four o'clock in the morning with 100 kph winds blowing around her.It took her many hours to make the repairs.Ellen says,"I was exhausted when I came down.It's hard to describe how it feels to be up there.It's like trying to hold onto a big pole,which for me is just too big to get my arms around,with someone kicking you all the time and trying to shake you off." But in her diary,Ellen also describes moments which make it all worthwhile: "A beautiful sunrise started the day,with black clouds slowly lit by the bright yellow sun.I have a very strong feeling of pleasure,being out here on the ocean and having the chance to live this.I just feel lucky to be here." In the Vendee Globe race,Ellen won _ . Answer: the second place What is least likely to absorb light? Answer: foil
Archie is a boy with dreams. His dreams are never boring. He thinks of them all day. He always thinks out exciting ways to play. One day, he made a _ . That was one of his dreams. He got his friends in it and that made his friends happy. It really ran fast. Later, he dreamed of a big and nice park. But when he told his friends about it, his friends didn't believe in him. They said it was difficult. But Archie still thought of it. He believed in himself, so he started it. At last, Archie succeeded. His park was fun and many people liked it. What did people think of Archie's park? A They couldn't stand it. B They minded it. C They liked it. D They didn't love it. Answer: C This could be the perfect gift for the partner, who embarrasses you on the dance floor. Smart socks, which can teach to dance, may be the answer for _ The socks have been developed as a running tool to help runners improve their skills. Thanks to the socks, users can accurately record not only know far and fast they run but also how well. It means the user maximizes theirperformance, and reduces damage to body and prevents hurt. The hi-tech socks are made of special fibers that watch the movements of your feet. They look, feel and can be washed like normal clothes. Sensorsrecordeach movement and send it by an ankle transmitter to a smart phone. Then a "virtual coach" application shows the information and can tell the user what they are doing wrong, and help to improve skill in any task with feet. The socks should be useful to athletes and weekend joggers. "People think running is so easy and of course everybody can do it but not necessarily safely and well," Dr Davide Vigano said. A recent study showed that between 60 and 80percent of runners got hurt per year. This is pretty much more than any other human activity. Researchers say the technology can also be developed to teach people how to dance, play sports such golf, or even to help to teach women to walk better in high heels. Mr. Vigano said, "People could all benefit from the idea. We have had interest from all sorts of sports, like skiing, football, cycling and golf. Anything where you have to use your feet can use it. It could even be put in high heels to help women walk in them safely." Socks are just the start, and the technology could be used in gloves, hats and boots. The socks, anklet and software package, are expected to be sold for around PS120, which will go onsalein March. According to Dr Vigano, _ A 60 to 80percent of runners would like to buy the smart socks. B users can run as fast as they like with the socks. C everyone can make good use of the smart socks. D no runners will get hurt, thanks to the socks. Answer: C The Nobel Prizes in physiology or medicine, physics and chemistry are the most respected prizes in science. But talk to scientists in private, and many will complain why (besides jealousy, perhaps) are some scientists unhappy with the Nobels? One reason is that the committees can often be slow to recognize achievement. Alfred Nobel specified in his will that the prizes should reward work done in the previous year. But experience soon showed that this was risky, as medals were given out for discoveries that later proved questionable. So a degree of caution is probably advisable. Sometimes, though, it can lead to strange results. Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, for instance, had to wait until 1983 to win a prize for work he had done in the 1930s on the structure of stars. However, Albert Einstein never won a prize for his theory of relativity. Even though some pretty suggestive evidence had been produced by Arthur Eddington in 1919, relativity, which has later passed every experimental test ever thrown at it, was still considered somewhat risky and obscure. Another criticism concerns the tradition that no more than three people can share a prize. Science is rarely this clear-cut. Take this year's physics prize, which recognised Peter Higgs for predicting the existence of the mass-bestowing particle that now bears his name. Dr Higgs was only one of several people with a claim. Two other teams---- Rober Brout and Francois Englert, as well as Gerald Guralnik, Carl Hageh and Tom Kibble----- submitted papers on the same idea to the same journal that published Dr Higgs's work, all within a few months of each other. Science often works like this, with different people coming up with similar ideas at similar times. In the event, the committee decided to honour Dr Engler (Brout is dead, therefore unqualified), whose paper was earlier than Dr Higgs's but did not explicitly predict a particle, over Dr Guralnik and his collaborators, who were more comprehensive but published a few weeks later. According to the passage why some of the scientists are unhappy with the Nobels? A because usually the Nobels award work done in the previous year. B just because they envy those who have won the Nobles. C because different people often come up with similar ideas at similar times. D because the Nobles are quite possibly slow to recognize achievement Answer: D More than 50,000,000 people live in the rainforests of the world and most of them do not hurt the forest they live in. They eat the fruits that grow on the forest trees, but they do not cut them down. They kill some animals to eat, but they do not destroy them. When we cut down the rainforests, we destroy these forest people, too. In 1900, there were 1,000,000 forest people in the Amazon forest. In 1980, there were only 200,000. The Yanomami live along the rivers of the rainforest in the north of Brazil. They have lived in the rainforest for about 10,000 years and they use more than 2,000 different plants for food and for medicine. But in 1988, someone found gold in their forest, and suddenly 45,000 people came to the forest and began looking for gold. They cut down the forest to make roads. They made more than a hundred airports. The Yanomami people lost land and food. Many died because new diseases came to the forest with the strangers. The Yanomami people tried to save their forest, because it was their home. But the people who wanted gold were stronger. Many forest people try to save their forests. Chico Mendes was famous in Brazil because he wanted to keep the forest for his people. "I want the Amazon forest to help all of us-forest people Brazil, and all the Earth," he said. A few months later, in December 1988, people who wanted to cut down the forest killed Chico Mendes. In Borneo, people were cutting down the forest of the Penan people to sell the wood. The Penan people tried to save their rainforest. They made _ across the roads into the forest. In 1987, they closed fifteen roads for eight months. No one cut down any trees during that time. In Panama, the Kuna people saved their forest. They made a forest park which tourists pay to visit. The Gavioes people of Brazil use the forest, but they protect it as well. They find and sell the Brazil nuts which grow on the forest trees. Those people built roads and airports in order to _ . A carry away the gold conveniently B make people there live a better life C stop spreading the new diseases D develop the tourism there Answer: A Sometimes the easiest way to get somewhere is on the back of a bike. More and more people are using cars in many places in Africa today. However, things are different in Malawi( ).Bikes are the most popular in this African country. Bike riding is a way of life in Malawi. People use them to carry heavy things. They also use bikes to carry people, especially tourists. These years, taking a " bicycle taxi" to travel around Malawi has become quite popular among tourists from all over the world. If you go to Malawi, you will find a lot of bike taxis waiting on the sides of the roads. The riders make the bikes comfortable for passengers to sit on . You can jump on a bike taxi and get around at a very low cost. Alice is a 21-year-old student from Canada. She enjoys the special bike riding a lot. "I really like the bike taxi," she says. "It's easy and cheap." Alice usually pays just $1 for going shopping in town. 28-year-old Panjira Khombe began to ride a bike taxi two years ago. The young man enjoys this job."I used to make boats for a living, but that's a hard job. Being a bike taxi rider is easy for me and I don't mind carrying heavy people," he says. In Malawi _ are the most popular way for people to get somewhere. A cars B bikes C trains D buses Answer: B
Question: Do you notice that though students spend the same amount of time in class, some get better grades than others? In some ways, it's because they are different listeners. When having classes, some of them listen carefully. We call them _ listeners. Some just daydream or talk to others. They are ineffective listeners. How are some listeners effective? First of all, they don't care about some poor situations, like an uncomfortable seat or a personal problem. They say "No" to anything that will stop them from understanding and remembering. After leaving a class or meeting, they remember what the speakers said, not the room conditions or the speaker's accent . Effective listeners always pay attention to the message itself. They try not to be influenced by their own feelings or opinions. They do not decide if the thing is boring, too easy, or too difficult before listening. They like getting the challenge of new ideas. To help remember difficult ideas, they write down important words and phrases. However, ineffective listeners often daydream. They don't like to hear what they don't agree with or easily understand. They are often so busy taking notes that they miss the speaker's main idea. These listeners leave a speech or a class with a notebook full of words, but the notebook means nothing. Do you wish to do well in your study? Start to be an effective listener. It may help. According to the passage, the writer mainly wants to tell people the _ . A. listening ways of poor listeners in class B. problems of ineffective listening. C. differences between 2 kinds of listeners. D. ways and good points of effective listening Answer: D Question: The rocks that form most of the Sierra Nevada are granitic rocks. This means that the mountains were most likely formed by A. strike-slip faults. B. transform boundaries. C. volcanic activity. D. land subsidence. Answer: C Question: Living and dealing with kids can be a tough job these days, but living and dealing with parents can be even tougher. If I have learned anything in my 16 years, it is that communication is very important, both when you disagree and when you get along. With any relationship, you need to let other person know how you are feeling. If you are not able to communicate, you _ .When you are mad at your parents, or anyone else, not talking to them doesn't solve anything. Communication begins with the concerns of another. It means that you can't just come home from school, go up to your room and take no notice to anyone. Even if you just say "Hi", and see how their day was for five minutes, it is better than nothing. If you looked up the word "communication" in a dictionary, it would say "the exchange of ideas, the conveyance of information, correspondence , means of communication: a letter or a message". To keep a good relationship, you must keep communication strong. Let people know how you feel, even if it's just by writing a note. When dealing with parents, you always have to make them feel good about how they are doing as a parent. If you are trying to make them see something as you see it, tell them that you'll listen to what they have to say, and ask them politely to listen to you. Shouting or walking away only makes the situation worse. Here is an example: one night, Sophie went to a street party with her friends. She knew she had to be home by midnight after the fireworks, but she didn't feel she could just ask to go home. That would be rude. After all, they had been nice enough to take her along with them. Needless to say, she was late getting home. Her parents were mad at first, but when Sophie explained why she was late, they weren't as mad and let it go. Communication is the key here. If Sophie's parents had not been willing to listen, Sophie would have been in a lot of trouble. Communication isn't a one-way matter: it goes both ways. Just remember: if you get into a situation like Sophie's, telling the other person how you feel-------listening is the key to communication. All the following statements are correct except " _ ". A. Communication is a two-way matter B. It is better to say "Hi" to others than say nothing C. If you don't agree with others, you'd better let them know D. When dealing with parents, you only need to listen to them Answer: D Question: Which of these animals might eat a steak? A. Chicken B. Lion C. Cow D. Buffalo Answer: B Question: Which of the following describes a reason why companies irradiate some fruits and vegetables before they are sold to the public? A. to improve the flavors by increasing the sugar content B. to speed up the ripening of produce picked too early C. to partially cook the produce before canning or freezing D. to extend the shelf life by killing existing microorganisms Answer: D
In the 13th century , the famous Italian traveller, Marco Polo, travelled a long way to China.During his stay in China, he saw many wonderful things. One of the things he discovered was that the Chinese used paper money. In western countries, people did not use paper money until the 15th century. However, people in China began to use paper money in the 7th century . A Chinese man called Cai Lun invented paper almost 2,000 years ago. He made it from wood. He took the wood from trees and made it into paper. He then put these pieces of paper together and made them into a book. Now paper still comes from trees. We use a lot of paper every day. If we keep on wasting so much paper, there will not be any trees left on the earth. If there are no trees, there will be no paper. Every day, people throw away about 2,800 tons of paper in our city. It takes 17 trees to make one ton of paper.This means that we are cutting nearly 48,000 trees every day. Since it takes more than 10 years for a tree to grow, we must start using less paper now. If we don't, we will not have enough time to grow more trees to take the place of those we use for paper. So how can we save paper? We can use both sides of every piece of paper, especially when we are making notes. We can choose drinks in bottles instead of those in paper packets. We can also use cotton handkerchiefs and not paper ones. When we go shopping, we can use fewer paper bags. If the shop assistant gives us a paper bag, we can save it and reuse it later. Everyone can help to save paper. If we all think carefully, we can help protect trees. But we should do it now , before it is too late. Which of the following is NOT the way of saving paper? A To use both sides of every piece of paper. B To use the paper bags from shops more than once. C To use cotton handkerchiefs instead of paper ones. D To grow more trees. Answer: D The largest earthquake ( magnitude 9.5) of the 20th century happened on May 22, 1960 off the coast of South Central Chile. It generated one of the most destructive Pacific-wide tsunamis . Near the generating area, both the earthquake and the tsunami were very much destructive, particularly in the coastal area from Concepcion to the south end of Isla Chiloe. The largest tsunami damage occurred at Isla Chiloe---the coastal area closest to the epicenter . Huge tsunami waves measuring as high as 25 meters arrived within 10 to 15 minutes after the earthquake, killing at least two hundred people, sinking all the boats, and flooding half a kilometer inland. There was large damage and loss of life at Concepcion, Chile's top industrial city. Near the city of Valdivia, the earthquake and following aftershocks generated landslides which killed 18 people. At the port city of Valparaiso, a city of 200,000, many buildings collapsed. A total of 130,000 houses were destroyed --- one in every three in the earthquake zone and nearly 2,000,000 people were left homeless. Total damage losses, including to agriculture and to industry, were estimated to be over a half billion dollars . The total number of death related with both the tsunami and the earthquake was never found accurately for the region. Estimates of deaths reached between 490 to 5,7002 with no distinction as to how many deaths were caused by the earthquake and how many were caused by the tsunami. However, it is believed that most of the deaths in Chile were caused by the tsunami. Where did the largest tsunami damage occurred? A Concepcion B Isla Chiloe C Valdivia D Valparaiso Answer: B A group of frogs were travelling through the woods. Two of them, Nick and Jack, fell into a deep pit . All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told Nick and Jack that they were as good as dead. Nick and Jack ignored what the other frogs said and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their strength. The other frogs went on telling them to stop, and that they were as good as dead. Nick listened to them and gave up. Finally, he fell down and died. Jack continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the frogs around the pit shouted at him to stop the pain and just die. Jack jumped even harder and finally got out. When he was out, the other frogs asked, "Did not you hear us?" Jack explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him all the time. Jack finally got out because _ . A the pit wasn't deep B he thought the others encouraged him C he climbed a ladder D his friends pulled him out Answer: B Black wallet with some money. Come to Room 502 in the evening, or call 9796788. WANTED IMMEDIATELY A boy or a girl to deliver newspapers Pay: $ 10 per day Hours: 3:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. from Mon. to Sat. For more information Call Mr. Jones on 8947659 Call Jeff on 3338651 SINGLES' CLUB A club for single people looking for new friends. Ages: 25-40 Activities: parties, swimming, concerts, dances, etc We meet every Friday at 8:30 p.m. 28 Garden Street Tel: 7026449 E-mail: singleclub@yahoo.com If you have lost a black wallet, you can call_to ask for it. A 3338651 B 8947659 C 7026449 D 9796788 Answer: D Four years ago my sweet mom went to be with her Lord. She did it her way. I got the call at work, and I headed home quickly. Mom and Dad lived on a small farm that they had owned since I was seven. I hated going there every weekend. There was nothing for a young girl to do but watch the one station on the old TV set, if the weather allowed reception . My mom, on the other hand, loved the peace and quiet of the land and loved to work in the garden among her flowers and vegetables. The place was simple, with no indoor plumbing or heat. We had a big wood stove in the kitchen that did its best to heat the little farmhouse, but it always seemed cold and too quiet to me. In the evenings, my mom and I would sit for hours singing in the little kitchen. I sang the melody and Mom harmonized. Her favorite song was "Moon River" and we sang it over and over. Mom told me stories about how when I was a little girl, I could sing before I could talk. She loved to tell how my playpen sat in the kitchen next to the radio and there was one song I particularly loved called "Ivory Tower". As time passed, I had my own children and went to visit the farm every week or two. The kids loved the farm and the tractor rides with my dad. Me, well, I still hated the silence of the farm. While my mom loved to sit at her kitchen table and look out at her garden and flowers and retell all the old stories, I missed the hustle and bustle of my life at home. But I sat there listening quietly as she _ . Now, I sat back in the silence and the silence was deafening so I finally leaned over to turn on an old radio. Music always comforted me. My heart skipped a beat. "Moon River" was playing on the radio. I sat there stunned, with a tear running down my cheek, as I listened to every familiar note. Then the radio announcer of this oldie station came on. "Here's one we haven't heard in a while," and an unfamiliar song began. I began to cry harder as I heard the words sung over the airwaves. "Come down, come down from your Ivory Tower...". Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage _ . A The writer was able to sing before she could speak. B The writer preferred to live a busy life in the city. C The writer was still quite familiar with the song "Ivory Tower". D The writer treasured all her childhood memories in the small farmhouse. Answer: C
Many of us believe that a person's mind becomes less active as he grows older.But this is not true,according to Dr.Lissy F.Jarvik,professor of psychiatry at the University of California,Los Angeles,and a board member of the New Center for Aging at the Veterans Hospital.She has studied the mental functioning of aging persons for several years.For example,one of her studies concerns 136 pairs of twins, who were first examined when they were already 60 years old.As Dr.Jarvik continued the study of the twins into their 70s and 80s,their minds did not generally decline as was expected. However,there was some decline in their psycho-motor speed. This means that it took them longer to accomplish mental tasks than it used to.But when speed was not a factor,they lost very little intellectual ability over the years.In general,Dr.Jarvik's studies have shown that there is no decline in knowledge or reasoning ability.This is true not only into the 30s and 40s,but into the 60s and 70s as well. As for learning new things,and ability to remember,studies by Dr.Jarvik and others show that the old are equal to the young.It is true that older people themselves often complain that their memory is not as good as it once was.However,much of what we call"loss of memory"is not that at a11. In the cases where the older person's mind really seems to decline,it is not necessarilv a sign of a decay due to becoming old or"senility".Often it is simply a sign of a depressed emotional state.This depression usually can be got rid of by counseling with a psychologist,or medicine which fights depression. In American society,when an older person loses something,we tend to call him or her"senile".But notice that when a younger person loses something,he does not blame it on senility or loss of memory.He finds some other excuse! The word"senility"most likely means_. A. excellent health B. weakness in body and mind because of old age C. occasional forgetfulness D. giving up one's life Answer: B. weakness in body and mind because of old age "Mobile phones killed our man,"screamed one headline last year. Also came claims that an unpublished study had found that mobile phones cause memory loss. And a British newspaper devoted its front page to a picture supposedly showing how mobile phones heat the brain. For anyone who uses a moblie phone, these are worring times. But speak to the scientists whose work is the focus of these scared and you will hear a different story. What we do have, however, are some results suggesting that mobile phones'emission have a variety of strange effects on living tissue that can't be explained by the general radiation biology. And it's only when the questions raised by these experients are answered that we'll be able to say for sure what moblie phones might be doing to the brain. One of the odd effects comes from the now famous"merrory loss" study. Alan Preece and his colleagues at the prefix = st1 /UniversityofBristolplaced a device that imitated the microwave emission of mobile phones to the left ear of volunteers. The volunteers were all goood at recalling words and pictures they had been shown on a computer screen. Preece says he still can't comment on the effects of using a mobile phone for years on end. But he rules out the suggestion that mobile phones have an immediate effect on our cognitive abilities."I'm pretty sure there is no effect on short-term memory," he says. Another expert, Tatterasll, remarked that his latest findings have removed fears about memory loss. One result, for instance, suggests that nerve cell synapses exposed to microwaves become more----rather than less-----receptive to under-going changes linked to the memory formation. It would be an even happier outcome if microwave turned out to be good for you. It sounds crazy, but a couple of years ago a team led by William Adey at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in California, found that mice exposed to microwave for two hours a day were less likely to develop brain tumours when given a cancer-causing chemical. So should we forget about mobile phone radiation causing brain tumours and scrambling our minds? "If it doesn't certainly cause cancer in animals and cells, then it probably isn't going to cause cancer in humans,"says William. And while there's still no evidence that mobile phone does mangle your memories or give your cancer, the _ is:Don't panic. What is the attitude of Preece on the suggestion that mobile phones have an immediate effect on our congnitive abilities? A. Positive B. Negative C. Unknown D. Wait and see Answer: B. Negative A green roof is a roof of a building that is covered with vegetation over a waterproof membrane . It is a proper method of growing plants on the roof and does not refer to the mere green color of the roof. People benefit a lot from these green roofing systems, and they are gaining popularity day by day. Human beings have occupied major areas of land and transformed them into huge buildings, which has severely affected the environment and the natural habitat of bird and insects. Green roofing compensates for that. It creates a natural habitat for creatures like bees, grasshoppers and other insects. Modern roofs need a lot of energy to control the temperatures in winter and summer. However, green roofs reduce the amount of energy required for controlling temperatures, thus making them energy-efficient. As green roofing is highly energy-efficient, it can act as a encouragement for people who are interested in green roofing systems and their benefits. It will increase the market value of the building and fetch the owner a great share of profit. As the vegetation requires a water supply, there is a inbuilt water preservation layer in the green roof system. This layer helps to keep the rainwater. It makes full use of the rainwater and prevents wastage. During heavy rains, the water runs off the flat roof. The green roof prevents this overflow by slowing down the volume of running water. Green roofs can compensate for the lost greenery in urban areas and increase the artistic value of an area. Your building will look beautiful, coated with green vegetation. Green roofs can serve as local community garden and create a natural atmosphere, giving physical and psychological benefits like reducing stress levels in people and keeping them physically fit. Besides, people can start their own small-scale cultivation and experience the pleasure of gardening. How do the plants on green roofs get watered? A. Rainwater is often kept in the green roof system for later use B. They mainly make use of the wasted water in people's lives C. The plants on green roofs usually need little water D. People have to water the plants from time to time Answer: A. Rainwater is often kept in the green roof system for later use A farmer had a faithful horse who was old and couldn't do much work. So the farmer no longer wanted to give him anything to eat and said, " If you can bring me a lion here, I will keep you." The horse was sad, and went to the forest. There he met a fox. After the fox heard the story, he said. "I will help you. Just lie down, as if you were dead, and do not move.'' The horse did what the fox asked, and then the fox went to the lion and said, "A dead horse is lying out there. Just come with me, and you have a rich meal." The lion went with him, and they were both standing by the horse, the fox said, "Now let me tie the horse to your tail and you can take it home and eat it." The fox's words made the lion very happy. But the fox tied the lion's legs together with the horse's tail. When the fox finished his work, he said to the horse, "Pull the lion to the farmer." Then the horse pulled the lion away with him at once. The lion was very angry but he couldn't do anything. When the farmer saw the lion, he was in a good mood , and said to the horse, " You can stay with me.'' And he give him enough food to eat until the horse died. Which of the following is TRUE? A. The farmer was angry with the fox. B. The fox helped the lion eat the horse. C. The farmer accepted the horse at last. D. At last the horse left the farmer. Answer: C. The farmer accepted the horse at last. Our Web Editor Jan Fields has always loved two things----writing and teaching, so she's done both throughout her professional career. After graduating from college with a BA in Journalism, she quickly found that writing for newspapers didn't fulfill her dream. So she switched to magazines and soon began teaching magazine writing. Still, something didn't feel quite right. She wanted more challenges and creativity. In the 1980s, Jan answered a call to rewrite a year's children's church lesson. She quickly found That writing stories and activities for children offered all she desired. She dove in and has never looked back. Her work has appeared in Ladybug, Shining Star and many others. As Jan continued building credits in children's magazines, educational magazines, and parenting Magazines, she looked for opportunities to pass along what she had learned to other writers. Soon, teaching small community college classes wasn't enough---she wanted to help other writers to find success in creating material for children. In 2001, she discovered the Institute of Children's Literature and she's been happily instructing students here ever since. To best meet her students' needs, she's constantly searching out new information. As a web editor, Jan looks after the needs of all the visitors to this site. She moderates the Scheduled Events discussion groups and the Writer's Retreat forum, writes for the Writer's Support Room, and edits the Writer's Support Room and Writing Tips articles. Jan is always open to suggestions for new ways to meet the needs of the writing community. Feel free to email her. She's eager to hear from you. Which of the following is true according to the passage ? A. Jan fields is now working for magazines like Scheduled Events, and Writer's Retreat. B. Jan has stopped writing for magazines related to children, education and parenting. C. Jan works for web sections like Writer's Support Room and Writing Tips. D. The passage is an advertisement to sell a children's church curricula. Answer: C. Jan works for web sections like Writer's Support Room and Writing Tips.
When I was young, my father used to grow carnations ----- a kind of flower which was red, pink and white. He took care of them with much love and devotion. Every day he came back home from work, he would enjoy watching them. Everyone who saw them admired them for their beauty. And he used to tell us, "No one should touch my flowers." One day, my younger sister Clemence, who loved dad very much, wanted to help him. So she cut the carnations from their stems one by one and arranged them on the ground. She believed that dad would be very pleased to see them that way. When mom and I realized what my sister had done, we became completely speechless. However, my sister had no idea why no one showed her any appreciation. When my dad arrived, he went straight to see the flowers as usual. Seeing his flowers lying on the ground like dead animals, he was shocked at first. He looked towards the street to see if it was any of the neighbor's children who could have done it. Then he looked at mom in silence. Finally mom, who always taught us to tell the truth no matter what, said, "No bad neighbors did this great job, only your lovely daughter Clemence." Dad's face changed into a smile and then he said, "Do I have a better flower than my lovely daughter?" My younger sister smiled and hugged dad strongly. How did Clemence feel when she had the carnations cut? A Lucky B Upset C Helpful D Worried Answer: C All 20 children who died in a shooting at a school in Connecticut were aged between six and seven, according to an official list of the dead. The state's chief medical examiner said the gunman used a rifle as his main weapon, and all the victims appeared to have been shot several times. The gunman, named in media reports as Adam Lanza, killed his mother before driving to the school and opening fire. Six adults, all women, were also killed before the gunman shot himself dead. The head teacher at Sandy Hook school in Newtown, Dawn Hochsprung, is listed among the dead, along with adults Rachel DaVino, Anne Marie Murphy, Lauren Russo, Mary Sherlach and Victoria Soto. Eight boys and 12 girls were killed - all but four of them were aged six. The youngest, Noah Pozner, celebrated his birthday only last month. A woman who worked at the school was the only person to be shot and survive. Scores of people have left flowers at a memorial outside the school, and on Saturday evening hundreds attended a candlelight vigil . President Barack Obama is to visit Newtown on Sunday to meet families and speak at an interfaith vigil at the town's high school. After the attack, he urged "meaningful action" against gun crime in the US. "As a country we have been through this too many times," he said in an emotional White House address. How many people of the school got shot during this heartbreaking event? A 26. B 27. C 20. D 12 Answer: B Maybe you love them and want to pet every one you see.Or maybe you're afraid of them and want to move to a dogfree neighborhood.Either way,dogs are a part of life.Millions of people have dogs as pets.You'll see them all over town,in the city,country,and even when you're on vacation. Like many kinds of pets--no matter how small or cute they are--dogs need to be respected as animals that,under certain conditions,could hurt you.Nearly 5 million dog bites happen every year in the United States.No one wants a dog bite,but how do you prevent one? One dog expert has come up with an easy way for kids to remember some tips to prevent dog bites.It spells "DOG SAFE". Don't tease,please:Teasing a dog can make it angry enough to bite.For instance,if a dog has food or a toy,never try to take it away.You wouldn't like it if someone took your snack while you were eating it! Only pet with permission:Never pet a dog without asking the owner if it's OK.Some dogs don't like to be touched by strangers. Give space:Little kids especially might run right up to a lovely dog and try to pet it or give it a hug.But dogs need space.Crowding a dog can frighten or anger the dog. Slow down:Some dogs like to chase and bite.Of course,you don't want to be chased or bitten!The way to avoid it is to go slow around dogs.Never run toward them or away from them.If a dog you don't know runs toward you,freeze.If you need to get away,back up slowly. Always get help:You may want to bring home a dog that seems lost or injured.But animals who are lost or injured may be very frightened or in pain.Find a grownup instead who can decide how to care for the animal. Fingers together:When feeding a dog a treat,put the treat in the palm of your hand and keep your fingers and thumb close together.Why?The dog is less likely to get confused about which is the treat--the doggie snack or your finger! Even good dogs can bite:Some people are very surprised when their dog bites someone,but all dogs can bite.Avoid doing things that make dogs scared or angry,such as backing them into a corner or bothering them when they are sleeping. You won't make a dog angry if _ . A you let it alone while it is eating B you pretend to take its food away C you exchange toys with it D you play together with it Answer: A The group of people introduced themselves to me and my German classmate Julia. They were from a production company, currently in the process of filming a movie based in DuAn, a rural area a few hours north of Nanning. They tried to explain the plot of the film, but neither mine nor Julia's Chinese was good enough to fully understand what they were saying. They then asked if we would be interested in being part of the project. I came to China to experience new things and new opportunity, and being in a movie sounded so exciting. So in less than a second, I jumped at the chance of being in the film. Julia on the other hand was not so enthusiastic. It took 30 minutes to convince her to be part of the film, and she eventually accepted the chance. That afternoon we were taken to the production company's office to meet the director and some of the cast. We all sat together, drinking tea, talking about why I and Julia were in China and about the film. It seemed a little bit like a dream. Ever since I was a small child, I dreamed of becoming a movie star, but I would never have guessed that my dream would come true, especially now in China. At the end of the talk, we were given scripts and had a few photographs taken. We were given the production schedule and ensured that our scenes would only be shot at weekends so it wouldn't interfere with our studies. We left the office excited about the film, but unknowing what filming was actually like. On our first day of filming, we were picked up in the early morning from the university and we drove deep into the countryside. We arrived on location and waited for our scene to be shot. We watched as the other actors and crew went about their work, busy shooting and re-shooting the same scene from different angles and perspectives. I never knew how much effort and care went into filming even the most short and simple scene. It was then our turn to shoot, and I was very nervous and very excited. Which of the following is a suitable title for the passage? A A foreign girl's adventure. B A foreign girl's experience as an ''actress''. C A foreign girl's college life in China. D A foreign girl's trip to the countryside. Answer: B It had been a long time since I had been to Jacksonville, Florida. I had driven to town hoping to see the old barber shop where my hair had been cut as a child. I parked my truck and decided to try and locate a telephone to see if the Florida Barber College had moved to a new location. After walking about a block I saw an open shoe store. I walked inside and asked if I could use their telephone book. Unable to find a listing for the Barber College, I picked out the number of a local beauty salon, hoping they might tell me if the barber college was still in business. The number was busy, so I decided to wait and try again in a few minutes. As the salesman and I stood talking the front door opened and a young man about twenty came into the store pushing himself in a wheelchair. "I need a new pair of shoes," said the customer. As he turned the corner, there was a blanket across his lap. I was shocked to see that the young man had no legs. "A gift for a friend?" I asked the boy. "No," he replied. They are for me," he continued, with a smile on his face. I just smiled back and watched to see what would happen next. "What type of shoe would you like?" asked the clerk. "How about a pair of cowboy boots?" The man pointed to the back wall where three or four pairs of boots were displayed. The salesman, sharply turning, headed off to the backroom. "Isn't this fun?" the boy asked me. I moved my hand to let him know that I did not understand his question. "When I was a kid, my parents used to buy me a new pair of shoes every year. That was such a wonderful feeling. Something I have never forgotten. The smell of the leather and the pride I felt when I walked around the store showing off my new shoes." The salesman came walking down the aisle with a large box. He sat it down on the floor, took out one boot and handed it to the young man. The boy closed his eyes. He placed the boot against his nose, and drew in a large breath. I did not know what to say as tears began to fall on the young man's cheeks. "What type of accident did you have?" I asked him. "Farm accident," he said, as he tried to clear his voice. "Do you want the cowboy boots?" the salesman asked him. "Oh, yes!" he answered. "I see buying a new pair of shoes still gives you that good feeling you talked about," I told the young man, as I smiled. "Yes it does." he said "And I may have someone, and his feet to share it with some day." The author writes about the barber shop at the beginning of the article in order to _ . A introduce the background of the story B see if the Barber College had moved to a new location C find a listing for the Barber College D pick out a local beauty salon Answer: A
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of natural disasters over the past few years,and it is assumed that global warming and climate change could cause even more disasters in the future.Some of the world's leading cities are facing disasters like floods and heat waves. prefix = st1 /London London's flood defenses are getting older.Since 1 982,the Thames Barrier has protected the city from the threat of flooding,but it was only designed to last until 2030 and close once every two or three years.About 26 years later the barrier now closes five or six times a year and according to Environment Agency predictions,by 2050 the barrier will be closed on almost every tide if the problem is not addressed. There are 26 underground stations,400 schools,1 6 hospitals,an airport and 80 billion worth of property in London's flood risk area, so large scale flooding would be disastrous. Paris Over a six week period in July and August 2003,more than 1 1,400---mainly elderly people--died in France from dehydration and extremely high body temperature in a deadly heat wave.Heat waves of similar intensity are expected every seven years by 2050,so what can be done to make sure such a disaster does not happen again? One solution is to have air-conditioners installed in elderly care homes.But this is considered a short-term solution,as the increase in demand for electricity also increases carbon emissions . InParisthe local authorities are encouraging architects to design new types of buildings such as the building"Flower Tower,"which uses a covering.of bamboo to act as a natural air-conditioner. Shanghai Shanghai is the fastest growing city on Earth.It has a population of 1 8 million and is only 4 meters above sea level.Sea levels are predicted to rise by 20 cm within the next century. An estimated 250,000 people move to Shanghai every year in search of work, placing extra demands on energy consumption.China relies heavily on coal--fired power stations,but these emissions increase temperatures and,in turn,warmer seas increase the risk of typhoons. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? Answer: The researchers, led by Hwang Woo-suk, insist they cloned an Afghan hound, only to help investigate human disease, including the possibility of cloning stem cells for treatment purposes. But others immediately renewed calls for a global ban on human reproductive cloning before the technology moves any farther. "Successful cloning of an increasing number of species confirms the general impression that it would be possible to clone any species of mammals, including humans," said Ian Wilmut, a reproductive biologist at the University of Edinburgh who produced the first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep, from an adult cell nearly a decade ago. Researchers have since cloned cats, goats, cows, mice, pigs, rabbits, horses, deer, mules and gaur, a large wild ox of Southeast Asia. So far, efforts to clone a monkey or another primate with the same techniques have failed. Uncertainties about the health and life span of cloned animals continue to exsist; Dolly died at a young age in 2003 after developing cancer and arthritis. Wilmut and others _ Hwang's achievement, reported Wednesday in the journal Nature. But they said politicians and scientists must face the larger issue -- how to go on with the research without crossing the moral boundary of copying human life in the lab. "The ability to use the technology is hopeful," said Robert Schenken, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. "However, the paper also points out that in dogs as in most species, cloning for reproductive purposes is unsafe." The cloned puppy was the lone success from more than 100 dogs implanted with more than 1,000 cloned embryos. In a news conference in Seoul, the cloning team also condemned the reproductive cloning of humans as "unsafe and inefficient." Human reproductive cloning already is banned in South Korea. Other nations, including the United States, are divided on whether to ban just human cloning or cloning of all kinds, including the production of stem cells. Accrding to the passage, scientists haven't been able to clone a _ so far. Answer: When Mrs.Joseph Groeger died recently in Vienna,Austria,people asked the obvious question,"Why did she live to be 107?" .Answers were provided by a survey conducted among 148 Viennese men and women who had reached the age of 100.Somewhat surprising was the fact that the majority had lived most of their lives in cities.In spite of the city's image as an unhealthy place,city living often provides benefits that country living can lack.One factor seems to be important to the longevity of those interviewed. This factor is exercise.In the cities it is often faster to walk short distances than to wait for a bus.Even taking public transportation often requires some walking.Smaller apartment houses have no elevators ,and so people must climb stairs.City people can usually walk to local supermarkets. Since parking spaces are hard to find,there is often no alternative to walking. On the other hand,those who live in the country and suburbs do not have to walk every day.In fact,the opposite is often true.To go to school,work,or almost anywhere else,they must ride in cars. To reach the third floor of a building, it would probably be most healthful _ Answer: I will never forget the lesson about my window. Four years ago, I moved to a house in a large town. One of my new neighbors' house was only a few feet away from mine. There lived a woman. Through one of my windows, I could see her reading by her window every afternoon. Several months later, I found I couldn't see the woman clearly. I thought her window was too dirty. I said to myself, "Why doesn't she clean her window? It looks terrible!" One afternoon, I decided to clean my house including the window. I felt tired after three hours of hard work. So I sat down by the window for a rest. What a surprise! I could see the woman reading there clearly again! By that time, I realized that my own window was too dirty, not hers! I really felt _ for myself. I had been watching her through my dirty window in the past days! The experience is very important for me. So I try to clean the window of my heart before judging others. How long has the writer lived in the house according to the passage? Answer: Since the first Earth Day started on April 22, 1970, people around the world have been encouraged to protect the environment and natural resources.Gaylord Nelson started this holiday.On the first Earth Day, 20 million people took part in Earth Day events. Earth Day activities can include learning something about technology like cars that are more environmentally friendly and special houses that save energy and water.An organization called the Earth Day Network encourages people to use clean energy which doesn't pollute the environment.Most of our energy comes from fossil fuels that are found underground. Coal, oil and natural gas are examples of fossil fuels.Fossil fuels come from plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Burning fossil fuels to create energy pollutes the air and water. Many scientists think that burning fossil fuels also increases the temperature of the earth. To reduce the use of fossil fuels. scientists are experimenting with hydrogen-powered cars. These cars don't pollute the air like gas-powered cars. Some scientists guess that by 2025, fossil fuels will run out.When people can no longer use gasoline, they may use fuel cells instead. Fuel cells use hydrogen to create energy. People do not need to worry about hydrogen running out, because it is renewable and replaceable. In Washington, D.C., a few people drive cars that run on fuel cells. When these cars need more energy, drivers can go to a hydrogen pump.The first hydrogen pump for the public opened in November 2004, marking an important step toward a cleaner environment. When do fossil fuels pollute the air? Answer:
A city child's summer is spent in the street in front of his home,and all through the long summer vacations I sat on the edge of the street and watched enviously the other boys on the block play baseball. I was never asked to take part even when one team had a member missing--not out of special cruelty, but because they took it for granted that I would be no good at it. They were right,of course. I would never forget the wonderful evening when something changed. The baseball ended about eight or eight thirty when it grew dark. Then it was the custom of the boys to retire to a little stoop that stuck out from the candy store on the corner and that somehow had become theirs. No grownup ever sat there or attempted to. There the boys would sit, mostly talking about the games played during the day and of the game to be played tomorrow. Then long silences would fall and the boys would wander off one by one. It was just after one of those long silences that my life as an outsider changed. I can no longer remember which boy it was that summer evening who broke the silence with a question;but whoever he was,I nod to him gratefully now. " What's in those books you're always reading?" he asked casually. "Stories," I answered. "What kind?"asked somebody else without much interest. Nor do I know what drove me to behave as I did,for usually I just sat there in silence,glad enough to be allowed to remain among them;but instead of answering his question,I told them for two hours the story I was reading at the moment. The book was Sister Carrie. They listened bugeyed and breathless. I must have told it well,but I think there was another and deeper reason that made them so keen an audience. Listening to a tale being told in the dark is one of the most ancient of man's entertainments,but I was offering them as well,without being aware of doing it,a new and exciting experience. The books they themselves read were the Rover Boys or Tom Swift or G.A. Henry. I had read them too,but at thirteen I had long since left them behind. Since I was much alone I had become an enthusiastic reader and I had gone through the booksforboys series. In those days there was no reading material between children's and grownups' books,or I could find none. I had gone right from Tom Swift and His Flying Machine to Theodore Dreiser and Sister Carrie. Dreiser had hit my young mind,and they listened to me tell the story with some of the wonder that I had had in reading it. The next night and many nights thereafter,a kind of unspoken ritual took place. As it grew dark,I would take my place in the center of the stoop and begin the evening's tale. Some nights,in order to taste my victory more completely,I cheated. I would stop at the most exciting part of a story by Jack London or Bret Harte,and without warning tell them that was as far as I had gone in the book and it would have to be continued the following evening. It was not true,of course;but I had to make certain of my newlyfound power and position. I enjoyed the long summer evenings until school began in the fall. Other words of mine have been listened to by larger and more fashionable audiences,but for that tough and athletic one that sat close on the stoop outside the candy store,I have an unreasoning love that will last forever. Sometimes the writer stopped at the most exciting part of a story to _ . Answer: experience more joy of achievement Homework will not be a concern for pupils attending a pioneering new secondary school in Norfolk. Instead, the 1,100 children will stay longer at school, doing extra study at school as part of the extended school day, which could last until about 5 pm. Rather than setting homework that pupils could struggle with at home, where there may be limited access to computers, they will do that as independent study in the day. When they go home they should enjoy quality family time. That has been really well received by parents who respect the fact that family time will be family time. But the school would still expect youngsters to study at home ahead of important exams. Independent learning at school would ensure equality because kids who get help with homework from parents might rely on others too much. Peter Devonish , a teacher at the school, said, "Having the children at school a bit longer to strengthen their learning is a really good idea, because they can have their time with the family." But he warned. "A disadvantage is that our school is in the countryside, which means it's not so perfect to get children home at that time." Mr. Devonish said they also set pupils project-based homework, such as looking at an energy-efficient house, which allowed them to combine independent study with working with their parents. Craig Morrison, another teacher, said, "A large problem with homework has been that not enough is done with it. With homework, a lot of effort can go into it, so it's about celebrating what children do rather than processing it in terms of marking it and handing it back." How will students spend their longer days at school? Answer: They will study all by themselves. Bob Butler lost his legs in a 1965 landmine explosion in Vietnam. He returned home as a war hero. Twenty years later,he proved once again that heroism comes from the heart. Butler was working in his garage in a small town in Arizona on a hot summer day when he heard a woman's screams coming from a nearby house. He rolled his wheelchair toward the house,but the dense bush wouldn't allow him to approach the back door. So he got out of his chair and crawled through the dirt and bushes. "I had to get there,"he says. "It didn't matter how much it hurt." When Butler arrived at the house,he traced the screams to the pool,where a three year old girl,Stephanie,was lying at the bottom. She had been born without arms and had fallen in the water and couldn't swim. Her mother stood over her baby screaming loudly. Butler dove to the bottom of the pool and brought little Stephanie up to the deck. Her face was blue,she had no pulse and she was not breathing. Butler immediately went to work performing CPR to revive her while Stephanie's mother telephoned the fire department. She was told the rescue team was already out on a call .Helplessly,she sobbed and hugged Butler's shoulders. As Butler continued with his CPR,he calmly reassured Stephanie's mother. "Don't worry,"he said. "I was her arms to get out of the pool. It'll be okay. I'm now her lungs. Together we can make it." Seconds later the little girl coughed,regained consciousness and began to cry. As they hugged and rejoiced together,the mother asked Butler how he knew it would be okay. "When my legs were blown off in the war,I was all alone in a field,"he told her." No one was there to help except a little Vietnamese girl. As she struggled to drag me into her village,she whispered in broken English,'It okay. You can live. I be your legs. Together we make it.'" "This was my chance,"he told Stephanie's mom,"to return the favor." When Butler heard the woman's scream, he _ . Answer: tried his best to the house without second thought Everyone dreams of changing the world. But can teenagers really make a difference? And how can they go about it? Michael Norton's book 365 Ways to Change the World is a good starting point. The book gives an idea or task for every single day of the year. The tasks include offering to work at a local homeless shelter and planting a tree. The book says that one simple act, no matter how small, can help someone in need. It may even influence other teens to do something. Nathan Anthony, a student at Maple High School in Modesto, California, US, agrees. "It is impossible to get anything in life without giving something to someone or working hard at school or workplace," Anthony said. Another Maple student, Ariane Mota, has the same idea." Giving is our way of repaying those who help us," she said." Whether it is a helping hand or a donation, we should help others to make their day or life better." But how often do teens see peers helping a stranger or doing something nice for someone? According to Anthony, not a lot. He and Mota both believe this needs to be changed. "I help my friends by telling them that their lives are better than those poorer people," Anthony said." Humor is also a great tool." So whether you're helping to find a cure for bad illness or simply smiling at a stranger, do something every day to help change the world for the better. Which of the following does not change the world for the better? Answer: Eating a delicious meal It's hard to make friends if you stay at home alone all the time. Be outgoing , get out of the house and do things with other people. It's easier to make friends when you follow these: Show people what you are good at. Talk about the things you like and you do best. People will be interested in you if there is something interesting. Look people in the eye when talking with them. That way, they'll find it easier to talk to you, or people may think you're not interested in them and stop being interested in you. Be a good listener. Let people talk about themselves before talking about yourself. Ask lots of questions. Show an interest in their answers. Make friends with the people you really like, not just with those who are easy to meet. Be friendly to people. That way, you'll have a bigger group of people to choose and more chances for making friends. You should be _ if you want to have more chances for making friends. Answer: more friendly
George Stephenson was born in 1781 in a poor family. He had to start work when he was only eight.When George was fourteen, he became his father's helper.He spent a lot of time learning about engines .And on holidays he often made one engine to pieces and studied each piece carefully.Soon he became a very good worker though he could not read or write.He began to learn English letters when he was seventeen years old.Every day after he did twelve hours of hard work, he walked a long way to have lessons from a young school teacher. On his eighteenth birthday,he wrote his own name for the first time in his life.George invented many things in his life.The train was the greatest one among them.Today when we take trains from one place to another,we'll think of this great man---George Stephenson. He spent a lot of time learning about engines and soon he became _ . Answer: a good worker According to the Small Business Association, more than 50 percent of all small businesses fail within the first five years. This is not the case for Apiary Fund CEO, Shawn Lucas. Shawn has grown a very successful business focusing on teaching people how to trade foreign currencies. The Apiary Fund not only gives their traders some of the best Forex education possible but also gives their traders money to trade with. The Apiary Fund had a slow start but has now become a company that recently hit $1 billion in trader volume . The Apiary Fund's success has come from the great business concept, and work ethic . * Business Concept The Apiary Fund has a very special but effective business concept, which Shawn Lucas discovered many years ago. You are probably wondering, where did this business concept come from? Shawn, while working as a Financial Advisor, received a phone call one day from a man he hadn't ever spoken to before. The man asked Shawn to go with him to China to do an analysis of a Chinese company's trading systems. The company at the time was under investigation for a possible violation of intellectual property rights. He agreed to go and before he knew it he was on a plane to China. During the analysis of this Chinese company Shawn noticed the company had a very effective business method. He noticed that the risk manager had created a system that protected the company from rarely posting a losing day. The risk manager made this all possible by putting restrictions on the amount a trader could lose. If one of the traders lost even a small amount the risk manager would then be notified . Shawn left China with a business concept that would later consume much of his life. After returning home, Shawn was devoted to creating a similar risk management system as the Chinese company had created. That risk management system turned into a successful business called the Apiary Fund. * Work Ethic The business concept alone didn't magically make the Apiary Fund into a booming business. The Apiary Fund became successful from hard work and devotion. This hard work and devotion has recently brought the Apiary Fund to hit a trading volume high of $1 billion. Shawn Lucas believes that by the end of this year the Apiary Fund can expect to see double or triple that volume. The company has experienced immense growth by making a few changes to their program structure, which has since increased growth by about five times within the last year. Successful businesses are hard to start, but with a good business concept and great work ethic anything is possible. Shawn and the Apiary Fund are a great example of both. The inspiration of the Apiary Fund's business concept comes from . Answer: a Chinese company Mrs White was going to have her first baby very soon. Yesterday her husband took her to a hospital.So Mr White helped her get into car and drove her there. A nurse took Mrs White to her room and told Mr White that he could go home and she could call him when the baby arrived . But Mr White said he liked to wait at the hospital. The nurse said ."You may wait outside." Mr White was walking up and down at about midnight when the nurse came out of the room and said with a smile."Which would you like better, a boy or a girl?""A girl," said Mr White."I have an elder sister,and she loves me.""Well,"said the nurse,""it's a boy this time.""That's all right,"said Mr White happily,"That's my second choice." Why did Mr White like to have a girl? Answer: Because his elder sister loved him. Hello, my name is Gina. John, Anna and I are good friends. We are in the same grade. But they are in Class Five and I am in Class Three. We get up at 7:00 and go to school at 7:30. In the morning we have four lessons. We have English every morning. John and Anna have English at 10:00 in the morning and I have _ at 11:00. English is my favorite subject. Math is their favorite. And we all like P.E. In the afternoon, we have three lessons. At 2:30 we have the art lesson in the same classroom. After school we often play soccer. We all like soccer. Sometimes we watch TV at my house. We don't play any computer games. Gina and her friends all like _ Answer: P.E. and soccer Suppose a key man in your firm had just met with a terrible accident. The doctor tell you that this man upon whom you depend for directing sales, checking your books or for performing some other important roles, will be laid up for months, You'd have to replace him, wouldn't you? And probably at a pay about equal to his ? Then you'd be faced with double paying for one job because stopping the pay of an injured man would simply be out of the question. You can prevent this kind of unproductive outgo on your payroll by providing your key man with the protection of Travelers Business Accident Insurance! This insurance provides total medical expense and a weekly income in case a key man is disabled for some time. Should the disability prove everlasting, an income for life is certainty. Why not make out a list of your key men now? Then get together with Travelers Insurance Company, and let us tell you how little it costs to apply this much needed protection to your business. Write and we'll serve you! Why would the pay be doubled? Answer: Because the double pay is for two persons.
John von Neumann was the oldest of 3 children of an banker, and his speed of learning new ideas and solving problems stood out early. At 17, his father tired to persuade him not to become a mathematician because he may lead a poor life being a mathematician, and so von Neumann agreed to study chemistry as well. In 1926, at 23, he received a degree in chemical engineering and a Ph.D. in mathematics. From then on, mathematics provided well enough for him, and he never had to turn to chemistry. In 1930, von Neumann visited Princeton University for a year and then became a professor there. His first book was published in 1932. In 1933, the Institute for Advanced Study was formed, and he became one of the 6 full-time people in the School of Mathematics(Einstein was one of the others) World War II hugely changed von Neumann's areas of interest. Until 1940 he had been a great pure mathematician. During and after the war, he became one of the best mathematicians who put mathematics theories into practice. During the last part of the war he became interested in computing machines and made several fundamental contributions After the war, von Neumann continued his work with computers, and was generally very active in government service. He received many awards, was president of the American Mathematical Society and was a member of the Atomic Energy Commission. He died in 1957 of cancer. Von Neumann made several great contributions and any one of them would have been enough to earn him a firm place in history. He will be remembered as one of the greatest minds of the 20th century. Von Neumann really was a legend in his own time, and there are a number of stories about him. His driving ability is a part of his legend. He reported one accident this Way: "I was driving down the road. The trees on the right were passing me in an orderly fashion at 60 miles per hour. Suddenly one of them stepped in my path." Which of the following is true of Von Neumann? Answer: He received many rewards in his life An African farmer had heard tales about other farmers who had made millions of dollars by discovering diamond mines. These tales so excited the farmer that he could hardly wait to sell his farm and go prospecting for diamonds himself. So he sold the farm and spent the rest of his life wandering the African continent, searching unsuccessfully for the shining stone that brought such high prices on the markets of the world. Finally, broke and worn out, he threw himself into a river and drowned. Meanwhile, back at the farm, the man who had bought his farm happened to be crossing a small river on the property one day when he saw something shining at the bottom of the river. He picked it up. It was a sparkling stone - a good size stone - and, admiring it, he later put it on his fireplace mantel as an interesting curiosity. Several weeks later, a visitor admired the stone, looked closely at it, lifted it in his hand and nearly fainted. He asked the farmer if he knew what he'd found. When the farmer said no, that he thought it was just a piece of crystal, the visitor told him he had found one of the largest diamonds ever discovered. The farmer was astonished. He told the man that his small river was full of these brilliant stones, and his farmland was covered with them. Not all were as large, perhaps, as the one on his mantel, but they were sprinkled generously throughout his property. Needless to say, the farm the first farmer had sold, so that he could search for a diamond mine, turned out to be the most productive diamond mine on the entire African continent. The visitor nearly passed out after a close look at the stone because _ . Answer: the discovery was too good to be true Every time you go shopping, the vegetables and fruit look so tempting that you wish you could buy all of them. Some people are lucky and can grow the fruit and vegetables in the gardens that they have. While getting fresh vegetables, they can also achieve great cost cutting. Mushrooms are expensive and can also go bad very quickly. Mushrooms can also be grown easily in a dark environment. In fact it's better than growing other vegetables since you really don't need an outdoor space. A special type of soil that is good for growing mushrooms is easily available. Actually mushrooms aren't even vegetables; they are fungi and for this reason, you don't even require sunlight to grow them. Well how does one go about growing mushrooms? You could always Google "growing mushrooms" and you will find a number of mushroom growing kits available online that area effective and not very expensive either. Mushrooms can be added to any dish that you cook. Simply use them in pizzas, salads and anything that you pretty much fancy. Grow mushrooms in your own house and use them whenever you want. Fresh mushrooms are tastier than the ones that are stored in your refrigerator. If you have had a really good crop of mushrooms, then you can even store them. Ideally you should use the white variety of the mushrooms. Simply pick them, slice them and put them on a cookie sheet in a freezer. When they area frozen, just put them in a zip lock and you can use them when you want to. They give a really great taste to the dish that you are making. Thaw them before you use them. You should try growing mushrooms, since it's cost-effective. Furthermore, you can eat the fresh mushrooms any time that you want. What is an advantage of growing vegetables according to the passage? Answer: You can save lots of money If practicing an attitude of gratitude during the storms of life is too much for you right now, that's OK. When things are tough, most people have a hard time being thankful. They're so caught up in what's wrong in the present moment that they simply can't see some things are still right. If that's true for you, then accept it. You're going through a particularly difficult or unhappy period of time, and you don't like it one bit. Very normal, very human. But remember this: there is always something to be grateful for. It maybe only a small comfort right now, but it is a start. Make a list of some of the terrible things that didn't happen. For example: You're in debt...but you're not homeless. You lost your job...but you didn't lose your health. You broke your leg...but you didn't break your neck. Your mother has Alzheimer's disease...but your father doesn't. No matter how bad things are, they could always be worse. Start finding gratitude for what might have happened, but didn't. It does help a lot. Of course, you may not be thankful for everything-- but you can always be thankful for something. The writer thinks it _ for people to feel unhappy in time of difficulty. Answer: understandable When someone says extinct animals, you may think about dinosaurs . But now many other animals are becoming less and less in number. These animals might disappear from the earth very soon. Take a look at the following animals. They are all in danger. The African Elephant The African elephant is a clever animal. It has a very good memory. But people kill it for its tusks . Half of the African elephants have disappeared. The African Lion The African lions have nowhere to live because of wars in Southern Africa. Besides, hunters and farmers often kill them. The Tortoise George is a tortoise. It is the last Pinta Island giant tortoise. It was found in 1971. Now it lives in a research station. It can still live for another 200 years. But it is the last one of this species of tortoise. The Tadpole Shrimp Maybe you've never seen a tadpole shrimp. This is one of the oldest species on the earth. People have found them in fresh water pools on four continents . A tadpole shrimp can only live for two months or less. According to the passage, we know that George _ . Answer: is the last one of its species
Millions of people all over the world spend their holidays travelling. They travel to visit other countries, modern cities and ancient towns. They travel to enjoy these special places, or just to relax. It is always interesting to discover new things and different ways of life, such as by meeting different people, trying different food, and listening to different music. People who live in the country like to go to big cities. They like to spend their time visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at restaurants. People who live in the city usually like a quiet holiday by the sea or in the mountains, with nothing to do but walk and bathe in the sun. Most travellers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them. Then, perhaps years later, they can look at the photos and be reminded of the happy time they once had. People often travel by train, by boat or by car. All means of travelling have their advantages and disadvantages and people choose one according to their plans and the places they are going. If we travel a lot, we will see and discover a lot of things that we could never see or experience at home, though we may read about them in books and newspapers. The best way to study geography is to travel, and the best way to get to know and understand people is to meet them in their own homes. What's the best way to study geography? Do you enjoy watching beautiful sunsets and seeing wildlife in some of the best parts of Wisconsin? Do you like being around people who share the same respect and love for natural resources? If you say"yes", then a fisheries biologist is a great career choice for you. As you can probably guess, education is very important. A Bachelor of Science degree in fisheries or biology is strongly recommended . Many biologists have a Master's degree. But it's not only good education that prepares you for a career as a fisheries biologist--field experience is also important. Volunteer work, internships and short-term fish technician positions are good ways to gain valuable training that can give you an edge in the competitive job market. In addition to good education and field experience, a fisheries biologist needs other skills. You'll spend a lot of time working with the public, so it's important to feel comfortable talking to a variety of people. Good communication, listening, and presentation skills are a must. A common _ among many people is that fisheries biologists get to fish all the time. Most biologists wish that were true. But as a fisheries biologist, you are especially busy during the fishing season, which leaves little time for you to actually go fishing. It's sad, but true. Each day brings something different in the life of a fisheries biologist. In the spring and fall, you spend a lot of time on the water shocking fish in order to sample the population, studying fish, and talking with people. The winter is spent analyzing fish data and communication with the public. So if you find fish interesting and fun to learn about, and like working both outside and inside, consider a career as a fisheries biologist. You'll never be bored! We can infer this passage was written to _ . Even plants can run a fever, especially when they're under attack by insects or disease. But unlike human, plants can have their temperature taken from 3,000 feet away--straight up. A decade ago, adopting the infrared scanning technology developed for military purposes and other satellites, physicist Stephen Paley came up with a quick way to take the temperature of crops to determine which ones are under stress. The goal was to let farmers precisely target pesticide spraying rather than rain poison on a whole field, which invariably includes plants that don't have pest problems. Even better, Paley's Remote Scanning Services Company could detect crop problems before they became visible to the eye. Mounted on a plane flown at 3,000 feet at night, an infrared scanner measured the heat emitted by crops. The data were transformed into a colourcoded map showing where plants were running "fevers". Farmers could then spotspray, using 50 to 70 percent less pesticide than they otherwise would. The bad news is that Paley's company closed down in 1984, after only three years. Farmers resisted the new technology and longterm backers were hard to find. But with the renewed concern about pesticides on produce, and refinements in infrared scanning, Paley hopes to get back into operation. Agriculture experts have no doubt the technology works. "This technique can be used on 75 percent of agricultural land in the United States, " says George Oerther of Texas A & M. Ray Jackson, who recently retired from the Department of Agriculture, thinks remote infrared crop scanning could be adopted by the end of the decade. But only if Paley finds the financial backing which he failed to obtain 10 years ago. In order to apply pesticide spraying precisely, we can use infrared scanning to _ . Some birds find locations with Japanese high school students either walk or ride bicycles if the distance is not too great. In other cases, students must take public buses and trains. After junior high school, students attend schools based on their high school entrance examination scores. So some students travel a great distance to attend the school. At School The school day begins at 8:30. Then students assemble in their homeroom classes for the day's studies. Each homeroom has an average of 40-45 students. Students stay in their homeroom classrooms for most of the school day. Only for physical education, laboratory classes, or other subjects requiring special facilities do students move to different parts of the school. Between classes and at lunchtime, classrooms can be noisy, lively places. Some schools may have a cafeteria , but most do not. In most schools, students bring a box lunch from home, prepared by the mother in the early morning hours. Japanese students spend 240 days a year at school, 60 days more than American students. Students in high schools take three years' each of the following subjects mathematics, social studies, Japanese, science, and English. Other subjects include physical education, music, art, and moral studies. All the students in one grade level study the same subjects. Given the number of required subjects, electives are few. Afterschool Activities Club activities take place after school every day. Students can join only one club, and they _ change clubs from year to year, so the clubs are relatively stable. Clubs are made up of sports clubs (baseball, soccer, judo, kendo, etc.) and culture clubs(English, broadcasting, science, etc.). New students usually are encouraged to select a club shortly after the school year begins in April. Clubs meet for two hours after school each day and many clubs continue to meet during school vacations. Most Japanese high school students often have their lunch _ .
Perfect Disaster All around us buildings shook. We decided to leave the town. We stopped once we had left the buildings behind us. The carts were moving in opposite directions, though the ground was perfectly flat, and they wouldn't stay in place even with their wheels blocked by stones. In addition, it seemed as though the sea was being sucked backwards, as if it were being pushed back by the shaking of the land. Certainly the shoreline moved outwards, and many sea animals were left on dry sand. Behind us were frightening dark clouds that opened up to show fire--like lightning, but bigger. Not long after that the clouds reached down to the ground and covered the sea. Now came the dust, though still thin. I looked back. A dense cloud appeared behind us, following us like a flood pouring across the land. Then a darkness came that was not like a moonless or cloudy night, but more like being in a closed and unlighted room. You could hear women and children crying, men shouting. Some were calling for parents, others for children; they could only recognize them by their voices. Darkness and ashes came again, a great weight of them. We stood up and shook the ash off again and again; otherwise we would have been covered with it and crushed by the weight. At last the cloud became thinner and thinner until it was no more than smoke or fog. Soon there was real daylight. The sight that met our still terrified eyes was a changed world, buried in ash like snow. --from Pliny's letter to a friend The carts wouldn't stay still because _ . Answer: the earth was shaking We know good manners are important. Today I am going to tell you something about manners in different countries. I think you already know that people in different countries usually have different ways of doing things. Something that is rude in one country may be quite polite in another. For example, in Britain you mustn't lift your bowl to your mouth when you are having liquid food. That is considered bad manners in Britain. But in Japan you needn't worry about making a noise when you drink something. It shows that you are enjoying it. In Britain we try not to put our hands on the table at all during a meal. In Mexico, however, guests are expected to keep their hands on the table _ a meal. In Arabic countries we must be careful with our hands. You see, in Arabic countries you mustn't eat with your left hand. This is considered to be very impolite. So, what should you do if you visit a foreign country? Well, you needn't worry. You can ask the native people there to help you and you can just watch carefully and try to do what they do. In Britain we try not to put our hands _ during a meal. Answer: on the table The consumer plays a very important role in the global efforts to reduce C02emissions . Households use one third of the final energy and produce around two thirds of city waste in the European Union. Besides,housing, food,and private transport make up almost 80% of environmental pressures. Therefore there's no doubt that consumers can make a real difference in fighting climate change. To direct consumers towards more environmentally-friendly decisions,we need clear and simple instructions to guide consumption behavior. Actually, two thirds of consumers find it hard to figure out which products are better for the environment, for 58% Europeans think that many businesses just pretend to be green so as to charge higher prices. Thus industry should work harder to give consumers more information about the carbon footprint of their product. For example, inform customers of products made from materials that are recycled,renewable, and/or less carbon-intensive. People prefer high-quality products that will last long and won't go out of style, though they might sometimes cost more, especially in time of crisis. Firms that make durable or recyclable products cause people to behave more responsibly, which may help put an end to our "throw-way" culture. However, it is not enough to remind people of green products. It's more important to direct people to follow a practical lifestyle model. Regulations alone cannot achieve this purpose. We call for good business communities to create a loyal group of "sustainable consumers". It's advised that companies had better _ especially in the time of crisis. Answer: make more durable products A person wants to dry pips from sunflowers and then can plant those pips knowing that they have enough Answer: nutriment Dogs are social animals and without proper training, they will behave like wild animals. They will soil your house, destroy your belongings, bark excessively, fight other dogs and even bite you. Nearly all behavior problems are perfectly normal dog activities that occur at the wrong time or place or are directed at the wrong thing. The key to preventing or treating behavior problems is learning to teach the dog to redirect its normal behavior to an outlet that is acceptable in the domestic setting. One of the best things you can do for your dog and yourself is to train its obedience. Obedience training doesn't solve all behavior problems, but it is the foundation for solving just about any problem. Training pens up a line of communication between you and your dog. Effective communication is necessary to instruct your dog about what you want it to do. Training is also an easy way to establish the social rank order. When your dog obeys a simple request of "come here, sit," it is showing obedience and respect for you. It is not necessary to establish yourself as top dog or leader of the pack by using extreme measure. You can teach your dog its subordinate role by teaching it to show submission to you. Most dogs love performing tricks for you to pleasantly accept that you are in charge. Training should be fun and rewarding for you and your dog. It can enrich your relationship and make living together more enjoyable. A well-trained dog is more confident and can more safely be allowed a greater amount of freedom than an untrained animal. Why do pet dogs love performing tricks for their masters? Answer: To show their willingness to obey.
In Wiltshire, England, volunteers are being sought to visit a nature protection area to count the butterflies living there and on surrounding fields. The project is promoted by an environmental protection organisation,which has contributed to improving the living environment for wild animals. Recently, the organisation has issued an appeal to help it observe environmental changes based on the record of butterflies and protect the environment. In the area, the local people have planted many special flowers with the help of the organisation, aiming to see whether these flowers will interest the rare and beautiful butterflies. The Project officer Sarah Marshall says, "It will be a suitable habitat for butterflies. They are great 'indicator species' as they are easily affected by climate changes so they make a brillian early - warning system for the environment." She also points out that volunteers are needed to recourd the number or species of butterflies,and based on the change happening to the butterflies, the hidden environmental problems in the area can be found out in time. The organisation is seeking volunteers to help monitor butterflies from April through to September. They will walk a fixed route and record the different butterflies they encounter along the way.Each visit should take no more than two hours, and each volunteer is expected to visit once a month to count the wildlife. "Staff will provide back up, so if the weather is poor on the day you are to visit(butterflies don't like to fly in the rain, wind or if it's too cloudy) we can have someone else do your job," Sarah points out. No previous experience is necessary as training and support will be provided,but a keen interest is essential. If you are interested, P1ease contact Sarah on (0l380) 725670,ext 278, email Butterflies are called "indicator species" because _ . Answer: While English is getting more important in our schools, Chinese has become popular among foreign kids. But Chinese can be more difficult to learn. At least 16-year-old Piao Chenglong thinks so. "English is easier for me. Chinese characters have too many strokes ," said Piao. "But I want to learn it. I want to study at Peking University when I grow up." Piao is from South Korea. He came to China in 2008. In South Korea, there are more than 300000 Chinese learners like Piao. Some South Korean students begin to learn to write the language on their first day at school. To help students learn Chinese, South Korea holds speaking competitions for high school students every year. Chinese isn't just popular in South Korea. People from all the world want to learn it. The Chinese Ministry of Education says that nearly 130 million people from 85 countries are learning Chinese. This number will be increasing to 800 million in the coming years. In America, Chinese is the second most popular foreign language after Spanish. Some American middle schools have Chinese classes. Students learn to make jiaozi and tie Chinese knots . Some even try to write and draw in Chinese way! People want to learn Chinese because China is becoming such an important country. Foreign countries want to understand China better to help them with business. The Chinese government is also helping the world learn Chinese. It has sent more than 200 Chinese teachers to more than 60 countries in the world. Many more Confucious College will be set up in the world. These colleges will teach Chinese to foreign students. Which of the following is the topic sentence for the text? Answer: Where would the amount of water decrease most? Answer: Do you like traveling? How can you make your trip interesting? Here's some advice. Read! Before you leave, you should find some information about the place, such as its geography, history and people. You can introduce that place better by reading. Take photos! If you want to take some photos, remember to choose the most special sights. Don't choose the sight you can see in other places. For example, Qingdao and Ningbo are _ cities, so don't only take photos of the sea. You should take photos of something else, too. Taste! You'd better taste some specials in the area. Food in some places is very delicious. So why not taste it? Maybe you have just one chance to taste it in your life. Write! When you visit a place, you should take a pen and a notebook, so you can write down what you see and what you think during the trip. Before we travel to a place, we should _ . Answer: The weathering of landforms depends on various factors. Which area would most likely have the fastest rate of chemical weathering? Answer:
Aquatic Adventures! Help Us Get Ready for Showtime! Trainer Program What does it take to work with seals or sea lions? Find out with Atlantis Marine World's Trainer Program and go behind the scenes with our Marine Mammal staff and: .Learn how we train our animals and help train our sea lions to learn how to paint .Go into the seal exhibit with trainers .Join in a seal training period - and get to pet and feed one of our harbor seals .Help prepare food for seals .Attend our Sea Lion Show .Get a kiss from sea lion, Java - and take home a photo Summer Adventure Days - Camp! Atlantis Style! Our camp program adds interactive excitement to your child's summer vacation. Children ages 3 to 14 discover the wonders of the sea environment through age - appropriate activities. Pirate Snorkel Adventure Yo-ho-ho, this is a whole lot of fun! Join us this summer for our interactive Pirate Snorkel Adventure and help Captain Poseidon locate missing treasure. While searching our lake, don't miss tropical fish from all around the world. When you're done, you'll walk away with some booty of your own - a $2.00 game card and a pirate eye patch featuring our very own Jolly Poseidon! Smooth Sailing: Taste Long Island Wine Cruise Now Accepting Reservations! Experience the magic of Taste Long Island, a Saturday evening wine and cheese cruise aboard the Atlantis Explorer Tour Boat. Featuring local wines, this adventure along the Peconic River is a relaxing way to enjoy both beautiful scenery and fine wines. Guests 21 and older only. Members and Green Key Cardholders enjoy 25%off. What is special about Smooth Sailing? A Guests under 21 cannot be accepted. B It provides famous wines from all over the world. C Guests usually get a discount. D It doesn't accept bookings. Answer: A Among various programs, TV talk shows have covered every inch of space on daytime television. And anyone who watches them regularly knows that each one is different in style . But no two shows are more opposite in content, while at the same time standing out above the rest, than the Jerry Springer and the Oprah Winfrey shows. Jerry Springer could easily be considered the king of "rubbish talk". The contents on his show are as surprising as can be. For example, the show takes the ever-common talk show titles of love, sex, cheating, and hate, to a different level. Clearly, the Jerry Springer show is about the dark side of society, yet people are willing to eat up the troubles of other people's lives. Like Jerry Springer, Oprah Winfrey takes TV talk show to its top. But Oprah goes in the opposite direction. The show is mainly about the improvement of society and different quality of life. Contents are from teaching your children lessons, managing your work week, to getting to know your neighbors. Compared to Oprah, the Jerry Springer show looks like poisonous waste being poured into society. Jerry ends every show with a "final word". He makes a small speech about the entire idea of the show. Hopefully, this is the part where most people will learn something very valuable. Clean as it is, the Oprah show is not for everyone. The show's main viewers are middleclass Americans. Most of these people have the time, money, and ability to deal with life's tough problems. Jerry Springer, on the other hand, has more of a connection with the young adults of society. These are 18-to-21-year-olds whose main troubles in life include love, relationship, sex, money and drug. They are the ones who see some value and lessons to be learned through the show's exploitation. Which of the following is likely to be a topic of the Oprah Winfrey show? A A new type of robot. B Nation hatred . C Family income planning. D Street accident. Answer: C "Soon, you're going to have to move out!" cried my neighbor upon seeing the largest tomato plant known to mankind, or at least known in my neighborhood. One tiny 9-inch plant, bought for $1.25 in the spring, has already taken over much of my rose bed, covering much of other plants, and is well on its way to the front door. Roses require a good deal of care, and if it weren't for the pleasure they give, it wouldn't be worth the work. As it is, I have a garden full of sweet-smelling roses for most of the year. Bushes must be pruned in early spring, leaving ugly woody branches until the new growth appears a few weeks later. It was the space available in the garden that led me into planting just one little tomato plant. A big mistake. Soil conditions made just perfect for roses turn out be even more perfect for tomatoes. The daily watering coupled with full sun and regular fertilizing have turned the little plant into a tall bush. The cage I placed around it as the plant grew has long since disappeared under the thick leaves. Now the task I face in harvesting the fruit is twofold; First, I have to find the red ones among the leaves, which means I almost have to stand on my head, and once found I have to reach down and under, pick the tomatoes and withdraw my full fist without dropping the prize so dearly won. I found two full-blown white roses completely hidden as I picked tomatoes in June. But they were weak and the leaves already yellow for lack of light. Here I am faced with a painful small decision: To tear up a wonderful and productive tomato plant that offers up between ten and twenty ripe sweet tomatoes each day or say goodbye to several expensive and treasured roses. Like Scarlett in Gone With the Wind, I'll think about that tomorrow. The writer planted the tomato because _ . A it cost only $1.25 B the soil was just right for it C there was room for it in the garden D the roses' branches needed to be covered Answer: C Mo Yan,the winner of 2012 Nobble Prize for Literature ,is very popular around the world. He is famous as one of the greatest writers in china. Mo Yan is fifty-nine years old in 2015,and his real name is Guan Moyue.The name of Mo Yan means"Don't speak".The writer said close the name to remember to close his mouth from getting himself in trouble. Mo Yan began to write in 1970s, and his first novel was"Falling rain on a Spring Night ",published in 1981.Then his second and more books were published.including "Red Sorghum"and "Big Breast and Wide Hips." CCTV reporter Dong Qian once said to him,"I always feel that a writer is like a hen,and his works are like eggs. We may not always wonder what the hen looks like while we eat eggs. But this time, it's a golden egg. So naturally, everybody wants to know this hen who laid a golden egg. That's why so many people pay much attention to you ." China was celebrating the success of this native son soon after he got the Prize, millions of Chinese expressed pleasure and pride for Mo Yan in their own ways. What is the name of Mo Yan's first novel? A Red Sorghum. B Big Breast and Wide Hips. C Falling Rain on a Spring Night. D No one less. Answer: C 2010 was a good year for American farmers. They earned about eighty-two billion dollars. That is almost one-third more than that they earned last year. And it is twenty-six percent higher than the ten-year average. Values for grain and oilseed crops are up about three percent from last year. The value of animal production is up by almost seven percent. In 2011, farm exports are expected to break the all-time high set in 2008.The Agriculture Department says exports in 2011 could top one hundred and twenty-six billion dollars. The largest buyer of agricultural products is expected to be Canada. But farm exports to China are predicted to come within five hundred million dollars of Canadian purchases. Secretary Vilsack says countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East are also buying more from American farmers. Poor growing conditions overseas played an important part in higher prices for American crops in 2010.Charlotte Hebe brand is chief executive of the International Food and Agricultural Trade Policy Council in Washington. She said drought conditions had a big effect over the summer. She said,"There were horrible weather problems, not just in Russia but also in some of the other former Soviet Union countries." Wheat prices rose after Russia stopped wheat exports,although Russia later eased the ban ."Wheat used to be America's top crop. What's interesting,though,is that wheat production has actually become less over the past few years because corn has become the most popular crop,"said economist Charlotte Hebebrand. Corn is mostly fed to animals. But Miss Hebebrand said with the recent increase in wheat prices, American farmers might plant more wheat again. Corn and wheat are the two largest crops supported by the government. What does the Agriculture Department expect in 2011? A Agriculture exports will continue to increase. B China will be the largest buyer of agriculture products C America will export food to every country around the world D Southeast Asian countries will start buying food from America Answer: A
Some people can stay up all night and still get work done the next day. I'm not one of them. After a night without enough sleep, I feel bad-tempered. I have trouble remembering things. And all I want to do is go to bed. How do you feel after you've stayed up late to finish schoolwork or the day after an overnight party? Scientists now say that your answers to these questions may depend on your genes. New research suggests that a gene called "period 3" influences how well you function without sleep. The "period 3" gene comes in two forms: short and long. Everyone has two copies of the gene. So, you may have two longs, two shorts, or one of each. Your particular combination depends on what your parents passed on to you. Scientists from the University of Surrey in England studied 24 people who had either two short or two long copies of "period 3". Study participants had to stay awake for 40 hours straight. Then, they took tests that measured how quickly they pushed a button when numbers flashed on a screen and how well they could remember lists of numbers. Results showed that the people with the short form of "period 3" performed much better on these tests than the people with the long form did. In both groups, people performed worst in the early morning. After the first round of experiments, participants were finally allowed to sleep. People in the group that performed well on the tests (those with the short form of "period 3") took about 18 minutes to nod off. While people with the long "period 3" gene fell asleep in just 8 minutes. They also spent more time on deep sleep. That suggests that people with the long form of the gene need more and deeper sleep to keep their brains working in top form. I think I must have the long form of "period 3". What about you? What kind of people need less sleep according to the research? A Those with two long copies of the gene. B Those with two short copies of the gene. C Those with one short and one long copy of the gene. D Those with three short copies of the gene. Answer: B William Herschel was born on November 15th, 1738 in Hanover in a family of musicians. In 1757,he fled to England and began earning a living as an organist and later composer and conductor. In 1772, he convinced his sister Caroline to join him as a singer. In their spare time the brother-sister team became occupied in astronomy. William died at his home in Slough, near Windsor on August 25th,1822,and Caroline on September 1st,1848. Herschel's first major discoveries were to show that Mars and Jupiter exhibit axial rotation . Herschel struck fame in 1781,when on March 13th he discovered the planet Uranus while engaged in work aimed at determining stellar parallax .This being the first new planet discovered since ancient times, Herschel, until then a mere amateur astronomer relatively unknown even in England, became world-famous. Adopting a historically proven strategy, Herschel named the new planet Georgium Sidum,in honor of the then ruling English king GeorgeIII. The trick worked once again, as King GeorgeIII gave William and Caroline the titles of"The King's Astronomer"and"Assistant to the King's Astronomer", an honor which came with a life's pension for both. In 1782 they moved to Bath, and shortly thereafter to Slough, and from this point on William and Caroline could devote themselves entirely to astronomy. The Herschels went on to discover two moons of Uranus in 1787. While Caroline became increasingly occupied with the search for comets at which she was quite successful, William became for a time interested in the Sun. Inspired by Wilson's 1774 work, he put forth the theory of sunspots ,an opinion that continued to exist well into the nineteenth century. In 1800,he became interested in the solar spectrum ,and uncovered the first evidence for solar energy output outside of the visible spectrum, in what is now known as the infrared .In 1801, he published two papers that effectively started the field of solar influences on Earth's weather. What do we know about Caroline from the passage? A She was successful in music. B She was given the title of"The King's Astronomer". C She died later than her brother. D She published two papers. Answer: C An old problem is getting new attention in the United States--bullying.Recent cases included the tragic case of a fifteen-year-old girl whose family moved from Ireland.She hanged herself in Massachusetts in January following months of bullying.Her parents criticized her school for failing to protect her.Officials have brought criminal charges against several teenagers. Judy Kaczynski is president of an anti-bullying group called Bully Police USA.Her daughter Tina was the victim of severe bullying starting in middle school in the state of Minnesota.She said, "Our daughter was a very outgoing child.She was a bubbly personality, very involved in all kinds of things, had lots of friends.And over a period of time her grades fell completely.She started having health issues.She couldn't sleep.She wasn't eating.She had terrible stomach pains.She started clenching her jaw and grinding her teeth at night.She didn't want to go to school." Bullying is defined as negative behavior repeated over time against the same person. It can involve physical violence.Or it can be verbal -- for example, insults or threats.Spreading lies about someone or excluding a person from a group is known as social or relational bullying. And now there is cyberbullying, which uses the Internet, e-mail or text messages.It has easy appeal for the bully because it does not involve face-to-face contact and it can be done at any time. The first serious research studies into bullying were done in Norway in the late 1970s.The latest government study in the United States was released last year.It found that about one-third of students age twelve to eighteen were bullied at school. Susan Sweater is a psychologist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and co-director of the Bullying Research Network.She says schools should treat bullying as a mental health problem to get bullies and victims the help they need.She says bullying is connected to depression, anxiety and anti-social behavior, and bullies are often victims themselves. According to Susan Sweater, _ . A bullies are anti-social B bullies should give victims help C students are not equally treated D bullies themselves also need help Answer: D Sheep Challenge Evolution A species of sheep lives on the Scottish island of Hirta. Hirta has plenty of grass for the sheep to eat, and no natural predators of the sheep live on the island. Some sheep have dark wool, and some have light wool. The sheep with dark wool tend to be much larger and stronger than the sheep with light wool. However, researchers have found that in the last 20 years, the sheep with light wool have increased in number. Usually, strength and size help animals survive and breed. On Hirta, sheep with light wool outnumber sheep with dark wool because sheep with light wool A produce more wool B have a more restricted diet C produce fewer offspring each year D have a better chance of surviving and reproducing Answer: D Americans have used colours to create many expressions they use every day. We say we're "in the pink" when we are in good health. It is easy to understand how this expression was born. When my face has a nice fresh, pink colour, it is a sign which shows my health is good. The colour green is natural for trees, it is an unnatural colour for humans. When someone doesn't feel well, for example, we say he looks green. When someone is angry because he doesn't have what someone else has, we say he is "green with envy". Some people are "green with envy" because someone else has more dollars, or "greenbacks". Dollars are called "greenback" because that's the colour of the backside of the money. Blue is a cool colour. The traditional blue music of American blacks is the opposite of red hot music. It is slow, sad and soulful . To be blue, of course, is to be sad. The colour black is often used in expressions. People describe a day in which everything goes wrong as a "black day". A "black sheep" is the member of a family or group who always seems to be in trouble. If someone meets a "black cat", something unlucky might happen to him. Not all the "black" expressions have bad meanings. A company "in the red" is losing money. If someone tells you to put someone "in black and white", they want you to write it down. I was really _ when I saw his nice new car. A red B blue C green D black Answer: C
In life, people come across many experiences, which they remember throughout their lives. I had a similar experience, too. I was very excited. It was the day of my last paper of the final examination. My mind was full of thoughts of how I would spend my vacation. I was especially excited of the invitation that my uncle had given me to stay with him for a few days in Cambridge. I was prepared for the subject, physics. My friends and I were on the ground doing the last minute revisions and also discussing the questions that were supposed to come in the paper. Suddenly the bell rang and we got into our classrooms. The teacher came and quickly handed out the answer paper and the question paper. The paper was of two hours and some of the expected questions came. I finished it almost forty-five minutes earlier. But since it was a rule not to collect the answer paper before the allotted time. the teacher was not collecting and I had to sit till the time was over. I checked my paper twice and corrected some of the mistakes in it. I started thinking about the place my friends and I had planned to go after the paper. Though I was thinking for a long time, the time seemed to be endless. So I thought of drawing something on the question paper and turned it overleaf. I was shocked to see that the page which I had supposed to be blank had four more questions on it which carried 20 marks and would take at least half an hour to complete. I had a quick glance at my watch. There were only 10 minutes left. I was so nervous that I was hardly in a state to write anything. They were the sub-questions of the last question. Suddenly our physics teacher came in and told all of us that in the last question, out of 6 sub-questions only 2 had to be solved. I felt very much _ . Thereafter I never made such mistakes again. But I realized that my anxiousness and excitement could have cost me to lose 20 marks and decided never to make such a mistake again. Which of the following statements is true? Answer: The writer made some mistakes during the exam. The world's greatest detective, Sherlock Holmes, is back on our screens. The new BBC TV series of Sherlock was broadcast in the UK on Jan 1. But the history of Sherlock dates back 127 years. Since the creation of Holmes in 1887, he has been taking us on adventures one after another. The Sherlock series is a playful drama, covered in crimes and mystery. It gives us a modern Sherlock for a new generation, who solves cases with the help of the Internet, cell phones and GPS. People look to Sherlock for both adventure and inspiration . Each case sends us on a mysterious journey with Holmes. The stories give life and color to our imagination: as he checks the crime scene, we join him and become detectives too, looking out for hidden clues. Yet Holmes is no Superman. He cannot fly, or turn invisible . But his powers are within all of us: reason, logical thinking and paying attention to detail. While an artist's painting is his art, Sherlock's art is his intelligence . He is human, and this is what makes Holmes a true hero for all of us. In the new series of Sherlock, most people thought Holmes was dead. But he returns after two years of hiding in the shadows. Now the whole city of London is in danger. What can Holmes possibly do? Uncover the mystery yourself by watching the new series! Sherlock was created in _ . Answer: 1887 HANGZHOU, April 4 (Xinhua) --Another H7N9 bird flu case has been confirmed in east China's Zhejiang Province, the provincial health department said Thursday, bringing the country's total number of cases to 10. The patient is a 64-year-old man from Huzhou City. He became ill on March 29 and was admitted to a hospital in Huzhou on March 31. On Thursday, medical experts confirmed that he was infected with the H7N9 bird flu strain after the provincial center for disease control and prevention said late Wednesday that he tested positive for the virus. An investigation has found that all 55 people who had close contact with the man have not showed any abnormal clinical symptoms, the department said. So far, China has confirmed 10 H7N9 cases -- four in Jiangsu Province, two in Shanghai Municipality, one in Anhui Province and three in Zhejiang. The two patients in Shanghai and one in Zhejiang have died. Health authorities and hospitals in many Chinese provinces have been on high alert for H7N9 cases. In Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi Province, which neighbors Zhejiang, five hospitals have been selected and ordered to be ready to treat H7N9 patients, though no cases have been reported there. China's health authorities have promised transparency and cooperation to the World Health Organization (WHO) in regards to human infections of the new strain of bird flu. On Wednesday afternoon, the National Health and Family Planning Commission distributed prevention and control plans and technique directives to health institutions nationwide. "So far, the sources of infection have not been clear, but based on past experiences and recent epidemiological studies, the sources could be poultry or the secretion and excrement from poultry," according to the plan. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that no human-to-human transmission of H7N9 has been discovered and no epidemiological connection between these cases has been found. In which province have no H7N9 bird flu cases been reported so far? Answer: Jiangxi. "The zoo has money problem," Grandmother Sandy said. Angel listened. She heard that Fresno's Chaffee Zoo didn't have enough money to take care of its animals. Angel loved animals. She planned to study them when she grew up. Angel's family had four cats. Angel took good care of them and made sure that they always had food and water. Angel felt sorry for the zoo animals. While the others in the family were cooking dinner, Angel was cooking up a way to help the animals. She decided to write a letter to show how she felt. At the end of the letter, she wrote: "Give a dollar, help an animal." She sent the letter and a dollar to The Fresno Bee, a local newspaper. A few days after that, Angel's letter was published. Almost immediately, people began sending in money. Angel's letter was having effect! At school, Angel went to each classroom to read the letter that appeared on the newspaper. She asked students in her school to give money to the zoo. Next, Angel was asked to appear on television. She was invited to be on a popular talk show. The workers in the zoo were very happy. Ray Navarro is the person most responsible for the animals. "Angel opened the eyes of Fresno," said Ray. "She made us see that people can make a difference." By saying "Angel was cooking up a way to help the animals", the writer means _ Answer: Angel was thinking of an idea to help the animals In today's world many people seem to be hungry for money. Some of them even lose their lives for it. Money does have its most useful effect on the poor,but once a person has a rich life,a lot more money doesn't mean more happiness. If money was everything,all millionaires would have true love, true friendship,good health and a long life. However,this is not always true. Nothing else is more pleasant than the three words which are "I love you". But can love be bought?I'm afraid not. Love means to give,not to take. To every person,health and long life are probably the most precious things. Well,can health and a long life be bought with money?The answer is "No". Of all the longest living people in the world, few of them are millionaires. True friendship can't be bought either. In a word,Where money is worshiped ,money can cause brothers to quarrel,lovers to hate,strangers to fight and so on. No matter how much money you have,it is still not enough to make you a happy person if you have no one to laugh with,no one to cry for. In fact, many millionaires _ . Answer: die earlier
Question: There are many dimensions to football's allure and appeal: top-class moves, thrilling goals, majestic star players, thunderous encounters and passionate fans. Football stirs the emotions all over the globe, brings people from contrasting cultures together, and promotes solid virtues such as fairness, team spirit and tolerance. All these facts will emerge in their most intense form at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil next summer. Millions of people will be transfixed(...)by this unique festival of sport and friendship. We are thoroughly looking forward to football of the highest quality. We're delighted to welcome the biggest names in the sport as well as those nations set to appear at the finals for the first time. And we're looking forward to greeting fans from all over the world as they fill our cities with even more colour and life. A heartfelt welcome to everyone! Brazil is a cosmopolitan country with a passion for football. The people will devote themselves to the job of ensuring the 2014 FIFA World Cup is an unforgettable experience, a fact demonstrated by the thousands of ordinary folk who have come forward as volunteers. Brazil is well prepared to host the FIFA World Cup. We have finished constructing our new, modern stadiums and an outstanding transportation system. The organization is in the enormously capable hands of the Organizing Committee headed by RonaldoLuiz Nazario de Lima. The slogan "A time to make friends" perfectly describes our intention to ensure everyone delighted in a secure and peaceful festival of football. The FIFA World Cup is a unique opportunity for Brazil to present herself as a hospitable, joyful and modern nation bursting with ideas. I am convinced that the flames of passion and togetherness _ by the FIFA World Cup in Brazil will spread to the entire world. I'm personally looking forward to a festival of goals, excitement and fair play. We Brazilians will be right behind our national team, but our aim is to act as welcoming hosts and friends to every team and their fans. Passionate and cosmopolitan Brazil is delighted to welcome visitors to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. In order to host the World Cup ,Brazil _ A. has organized groups of passionate fans B. sets up a national team C. has constructed new , modern stadiums D. tries to take a friendly disguise Answer: C. has constructed new , modern stadiums Question: What form of energy causes an ice cube to melt? A. mechanical B. magnetic C. sound D. heat Answer: D. heat Question: Dear Editor , I used to be a doctor in a children's hospital. Sometimes I treated children who had been poisoned by medicines for older family members. The children didn't know the medicine was dangerous; they just knew it tasted sweet. Children easily opened the bottle that we now use in China. Some days ago I talked about medicine with an American. He showed me a kind of plastic bottle. The design was very quite simple and I'm sure our Chinese factories could produce these bottles. The top of the bottle locks but can be opened by pressing down on it while turning. This is difficult for most young children to do, though grown-ups can open these bottles very easily. I'm certain that the price of making such tops would be very low. As a doctor, I'd love to see this done. And most parents would be grateful. Yours, Li Hua The letter was written to the editor to ask for _ . A. money from the newspaper B. the plastic bottles from the readers C. medicine from the editor D. support from the Chinese factories Answer: D. support from the Chinese factories Question: What's the most expensive place to station an employee overseas? London? Tokyo? Sao Paulo? Try Luanda, Angola. That's the finding of a survey by Mercer, the world's largest human resources consulting firm, headquartered in New York City. Two African cities (Luanda, N'Djamena) were in the top 10, along with four (Moscow, Geneva, Zurich, Bern) in Europe, three (Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong) in Asia and one (Sydney) in Australia. Switzerland alone has three cities in the top 10. Mercer's 2013 Cost of Living Survey examined data from 214 cities worldwide, comparing a market basket of over 200 goods and services, including unfurnished luxury two-bedroom apartments or three-bedroom houses, movie tickets, blue jeans, international newspapers, coffee, fast food restaurant meals, gasoline, milk and soda. If it sounds odd that Angola would be the most expensive, Mercer's Barb Marder explains that"Despite being one of Africa's major oil producers, Angola is a ly poor country yet expensive for expatriates since imported goods can be dear. In addition, finding secure living accommodations that meet the standards of expatriates can be challenging and quite costly."The survey found similar supply issues in N'Djamena, Chad, the other top 10 city in Africa. Mercer measured locations worldwide against New York, on a U.S. dollar basis, meaning that exchange rate shifts could impact the rankings. For example, although Tokyo is Asia's most expensive city for people who live in a foreign country, the weakening of the Japanese yen against the dollar makes it seem cheaper than it was a year ago. Canada, too, has become a bargain as the U.S. dollar strengthens against the Canadian dollar. Measurements were taken in March, 2013. What's the trend in the United States?"Overall, U.S. cities either remain stable in the ranking or have slightly decreased due to the movement of the U.S. dollar against the majority of currencies worldwide,"explains Mercer's Steven Nurney. However, that may change as real estate prices rise nationwide. New York is the nation's most expensive place to station expatriates. While housing is generally the most important factor in the survey rankings, the survey revealed some other significant differences in prices. For example, you may need a vodka chaser after paying $ 8.29 for a cup of coffee in Moscow, but the same coffee in Managua, Nicaragua would cost only $ 1.54. Expect to pay $ 20.10 for a movie ticket in London, versus $ 5.91 in Johannesburg. Which of the following cities may be the cheapest for employees overseas? A. Geneva. B. Sydney. C. Tokyo. D. New York. Answer: D. New York. Question: Mary has a lot of hobbies. She usually gets up early so she can run before work. She doesn't often have time to skate, but she sometimes goes on Saturdays during the winter. Mary often rides a horse near here home. She sometimes goes after work, but she usually goes horseback riding on Sundays. She loves music. She always goes to choir practice on Wednesday evenings and sings in church on Sundays. She doesn't have much money, so she seldom goes to concerts in the city. She seldom watches TV because she likes doing things outside. She usually goes to the gym if it's raining outside. She isn't often alone because she has a lot of friends. She sometimes does something alone, but she usually does her hobbies with one of her friends. She's a happy woman! Mary often gets up early because she wants to _ . A. have breakfast B. clean her room C. run D. skate Answer: C. run
The penny is getting a change. The United States Mint revealed four new designs for the 1-cent piece, to celebrate the coming 200th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's birth. United States Mint Director Ed Moy announced the new looks for the penny today in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. "These coins are a tribute to one of our greatest Presidents, whose legacy has had a lasting impact on our country," Moy said. The heads side of the new pennies will continue to bear the profile likeness of President Lincoln and the motto "In God We Trust." The back sides will pay tribute to four major parts of prefix = st1 /Lincoln's life. The first redesigned penny will feature a log cabin that represents Lincoln's birthplace, near Hodgenville,Kentucky. The second design showsLincolnreading a book while sitting on a log with his ax beside him. It shows how young Lincoln educated himself while working as a rail-splitter inIndiana. The third design shows Lincoln as a young man in front of the Capitol in Illinois. The fourth and final design shows a half-finished United States Capitol dome, which was completed in 1863 despite the violent Civil War. The writing, on the back sides of the coins will remain "United States of America," "E Pluribus Unum" and "One Cent." The first penny will be released into circulation on February 12, 2009, Lincoln's 200th birthday. This day is also the 100th anniversary of the release of the first penny, on February 12, 1909. One new coin will be released into circulation every three months in 2009. "This is an important occasion in the history of our nation's coin-age because these designs represent the first change in the Lincolncent in half a century," said Director Moy. A commemorative Lincoln silver dollar will also be released in 2009. Which is the correct order of the new coins according to the description in the passage? A a, b, c, d B b, a, d, c C c, d, a, b D b, c, a, d Answer: B A small piece of fish each day may keep the heart doctor away. That's the finding of an extensive study of Dutch men in which deaths from heart disease were more than 50 percent lower among those who consumed at least an ounce of salt water fish per day than those who never ate fish. The Dutch research is one of three human studies that give strong scientific backing to the long-held belief that eating fish can provide health benefits, particularly to the heart. Heart disease is the number-one killer in the United States , with more than 550, 000 deaths occurring from heart attacks each year . But researchers previously have noticed that the incidence of heart disease is lower in cultures that consume more fish than Americans do. There are fewer heart disease deaths, for example, among the Eskimos of Greenland, who consume about 14 ounces of fish a day, and among the Japanese, whose daily fish consumption averages more than 3 ounces. During the next two decades, 78 of the men died from heart disease. The fewest deaths were among the group who regularly ate fish, even at levels far lower than those of the Japanese or Eskimos. This relationship was true regardless of other factors such as age , high blood pressure , or blood cholesterol levels . How many lives could probably be saved each year in the United States by eating fish according to the Dutch study? A 550, 000. B 110,000. C 275,000. D 852. Answer: C San Francisco has long been a favorite place for travelers who are ready to learn languages.The mild year-round climate, shops and restaurants, bars and night-life, and some of the most beautiful scene in the US attract many visitors to this relaxing and welcoming city.Students are sure to find the San Francisco Bay Area an interesting, safe and friendly place in which they can live and study.This is the most important. English School in San Francisco is located in the heart of the city.It is one of the best San Francisco English language schools.You can see views of the city from your classroom! Many buses stop less than a five-minute walk from the school, which is also just a two-minute walk from the famous Union Square, San Francisco Shopping Centre, the Financial District, Yerba Buena gardens and the Museum of Modern Art.The school is minutes away from the cable cars to Chinatown and Fisherman's Wharf and a boat ride on the bay. San Francisco is a great place to study English and learn about American culture, offering excellent opportunities in sports, entertainment and arts.The city borders excellent beaches, and you can sail or surf all year round. San Francisco has more restaurants than any other city in the US, and is the home of many theaters, music and dance companies, as well as museums.Just walking through the many areas of San Francisco, you are certain to find something wonderful. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A English School has the most beautiful scenery in the US. B Most of the restaurants in the US are located in San Francisco. C In San Francisco, one can experience one part of American culture. D English School in San Francisco is one of the best in the US. Answer: C Research led by UK and Australian scientists sheds new light on the role that our ancestors played in the extinction of Australia's prehistoric animals. The new study provides the first evidence that Tasmania's giant prehistoric animals were still living on the island when humans first arrived. The findings suggest that the mass extinction of Tasmania's large prehistoric animals was the result of human hunting, and not climate change as previously believed. Scientists have long argued over the reasons behind the worldwide mass extinction that took place towards the end of the last ice age. The main _ are generally thought to be climate change or some form of human impact. People only arrived in Tasmania around 43,000 years ago, when the island became temporarily connected by a land bridge to mainland Australia. None of Tasmania's giant animals, known as "megafauna" were known to have survived until this time. This appeared to clear humans of any involvement in the disappearance of the island's large megafauna. This new international study reports the discovery of giant kangaroos surviving in Tasmania until people arrived, placing humans back on the list of likely culprits for the extinction of the megafauna. Using the latest techniques, the team were able to determine the age of the fossilized remains of the megafauna more accurately than ever before. The results showed that some of these animals survived until at least 41,000 years agomuch later than previously thought and up to 2,000 years after the first human settlers arrived. As climate in Tasmania was not changing dramatically at this time, the researchers argue that this is evidence of these species being driven to extinction through over-hunting by humans. It can be inferred from the results of the new study that after humans arrived in Tasmania _ . A they killed a lot of giant animals B giant animals began to disappear C they built a bridge to the mainland D climate began to change dramatically Answer: A Question: I have a one-year-old female bulldog, who has recently taken to biting my shoes when we are in the park and I'm on the mobile. She can be slightly aggressive and I'm starting to get worried and a bit annoyed. How do I stop her? ----Susan, London. Answer: You need to get this problem under control before it could escalate . I always advise owners not to talk on the mobile phone when they go for a walk with their dogs, because they should be focusing on this time with their pets, but I know people have busy lives and need to make phone calls. The behavior she is showing is either controlling or playfulness, but they both result from the same issue ---- you are not paying attention to her. If you must make phone calls while on a walk, try to still engage with your dog by speaking towards her, playing some sorts of game and so on. If that doesn't work, you'll have to try more of a training approach. You will need a training line and some treats. Start your walk in the usual way, make a phone call, and when your dog starts displaying the undesired behavior, simply stop walking --- otherwise she will see it as a game. When she is calm and looking at you, or if she sits, give her a treat; then continue walking. If she starts up again, pick up the lead, gently pull it, and tell her "no". Then ask her to sit and give her a treat if she does. The aim of this is to try to get her to forget how much fun it is biting your shoes. Do little sessions every day --- and try not to answer the phone if you know it's going to be a long conversation. Be patient and good luck! Remember that if an animal shows signs of distress or discomfort, an early visit to the vet is always recommended. The solution to dealing with the distress or discomfort of pets is to _ . A talk with them regularly B take them to see the vet C play games with them D let them bite your shoes Answer: B
The earth is the only planet that scientists are certain has life .What does the earth have that the other planets don't ? For one thing , the earth has just the right temperature . As _ from the sun , the earth seems to be just the right distance away . The planets that are closer to the sun are so hot that their surfaces bake in the sun . The farthest planets are cold balls . When the earth developed-- which scientists believe may have happened about billions of years ago , many gases covered the earth . The gases caused the earth to be hot . But something wonderful happened . The temperature was just right for thick clouds to form . It rained very hard for a very long time . This gave the earth its oceans . Water made it possible for plants to grow . The plants created oxygen in the atmosphere . Oxygen is the gas that humans and animals breathe . Only one other planet in the solar system seems to be something like the earth . That planet is Mars . Mars is smaller than the earth , and it is quite a bit cooler . But it is not too cold for humans . On some days , the temperatures are as cold as a winter day in the northern United States . If you wore a special spacesuit , you could walk around on Mars . You would have to bring your own air to breathe , though . The air on Mars is too thin to breathe . Mars has the largest volcano in the solar system . It is sixteen miles high . The highest volcano on the earth is five miles high . The most unexpected sight on Mars is dried-up river beds . Scientists believe that Mars was once much wetter that it is now . Does this mean there could have been living things on Mars ? Scientists are not sure , but there has been no sign so far . Which planet in the solar system is most like the earth ? Answer: Half a year ago I came across a book called"Salt,Sugar and Fat. How the Food Giants Hooked US",but finished it only recently. I am far from being a fan of junk food,over-salty,or over-sweet stuff,and honestly this food doesn't appeal to me at all. Maybe it is related to the fact that I grew up in Russia and at that time we were not so exposed to the foreign, especially made in America foods. We knew Coca Cola,Pepsi,juice powder and Cheetos,but this stuff was not so cheap or available to buy it every day and we couldn't buy them in large quantities. We didn't know the word"fat"was not a bad thing but a normal of life for some people. We always had sweets and especially on holidays they were served as a dessert along with a cake. Russians like eating sweets when they drink tea. Even with my passion to desserts I still can'trelate myself to the people Michale Moss was writing about, those consumers who could not say"no" when it came to junk food. What I found interesting in the book was that the author didn't focus on diets, necessity to exercise,sleep well at night and all other things we all are pretty aware of. The aim was not to teach people how to live but instead,after having made a huge research,interviewed more than 100 people in the food industry,Moss reveals the ugly of the food business. It puts all the facts in front of us and offers a choice:to buy or not to buy. However,the answer was known at the very beginning. Moss mentions the well-known food like Coca,Cola,Pepsi,Nestle and some others and tells how skillfully the consumers can be cheated when it comes to choosing what to put in the food basket in the supermarket. We like this taste of a chocolate,the crispy chips,and sweet porridges because it was all put on test by groups of scientists who made experiments to reveal what kind of taste will be most appealing to us. It involves brain,of course. Apart from scientific researches, it was also due to successful marketing strategies and plans that people prefer to buy food. In this companies'money race,the most vulnerable victims are kids. They can't tell good from bad and love everything that makes them feel good. Commercial ads of fast food particularly targeted kids and played on the fact that mothers can't fully control what their children eat because they spent all day at work. Mothers themselves buy chocolates bars and com flakes for their kids,guided by a powerful brainwashing that actually,these products were not unhealthy, on the contrary, it was encouraged to give them to kids, because fat and sugar provide energy, so they are good,right? Giving a credit to some food companies, they made attempts to fight the trend, but consumers,who already worked a habit of eating too salty, too fatting and too sweet products,didn't react to the changes. So the companies returned to the old policy. Surprisingly,such behavior was strongly backed up by the govermment. I would definitely recommend reading this book not only to those who struggle in the battle with his addiction to fast food but also people living healthily. It casts light on many things,including how vulnerable we can be in front of corporations and their powerful and accurate marketing strategies. As to the book,the author might agree that _ . Answer: Imagine that 7 out of 10 working Americans got fired tomorrow. What would they all do? It's hard to believe it would happen. But that is what the industrial revolution did to the labor force of the early 19th century. Two hundred years ago, 70 percent of American workers lived on the farm. Today automation has eliminated all but one percent of their jobs, replacing them with machines. But these workers did not sit, doing nothing. Instead, automation created hundreds of millions of jobs in completely new fields. Those who once farmed were then working in factories that produced farm equipment, cars, and other industrial products. It may be hard to believe, but before the end of this century, _ Yes, dear reader, even you will have your job taken away by machines. In other words, robot replacement is just a matter of time, First, speedy robots being able to lift 150 pounds all day long will carry boxes, sort them, and load them onto trucks. Fruit and vegetable picking will continue to be robotized until no humans pick outside of specialty farms. Next, The work of cleaning in offices and schools will be taken over by late-night robots. The trucks will be driven by robots. We need to let robots take over. They will do jobs we have been doing, and do them much better than we can. They will do jobs we can't do at all. They will do jobs we never imagined even needed to be done, and they will help us discover new jobs for ourselves and new tasks that expand who we are. They will let us focus on becoming more human than we were. What happened in the early 19th century? Answer: He Qiangcheng, 22, a senior and geology major from Sichuan Normal University, has almost given up trying to act like his childhood hero, Lei Feng. "I once tried to help a woman with heavy luggage, and she gave me a suspicious look," he complains. "Then another time, when I returned a lost dining card to the canteen, the staff asked me to use up the cash on it rather than bothering to find the owner." But, despite having met with rejections, He still wants to be like his idol. His hero, Lei Feng, was a People's Liberation Army soldier who came to represent altruism , modesty and devotion. March 5 marks the 50th year of Lei's death. In 1963, Chairman Mao Zedong designated the day as "Learn From Lei Feng Day" and started a national campaign for people to copy his deeds. Several decades after the campaign was initiated, there has been a debate about whether the spirit of Lei lives on, and whether an altruistic role model is relevant anymore in a materialist society. Some think _ . "In a world when everyone emphasizes the importance of 'me', many of my peers think there's little ground for giving up one's interests purely for the sake of others," says Lin Zi'en, 19, a sophomore English major from South China Normal University in Guangdong. Commentators, however, point out those who regarded Lei's spirit as being outdated have misinterpreted its meaning. Yang Haibin, deputy secretary of China Communist Youth League Beijing Committee said, "Learning from Lei Feng could be a mutually caring and benefiting act, which is the basis of civilized society. And, Lei's spirit can be modern and relevant, says Yang. He believes that lending a helping hand for no reward is an early form of volunteering. "It's also about being content with a simple and humble way of life," Yang says. Hu Danhua, 21, an international business major from China University of Political Science and Law, agrees. "I've gained peace of mind and spiritual fulfillment through small acts of kindness, such as teaching village pupils. I could obtain it from nowhere else," Hu says. The passage is mainly developed by _ . Answer: While learning the science lessons, I used to get a doubt--why ear, nose, tongue and eyes should be called as special senses? The basic reason is that these are the channels through which we maintain contact with the surroundings. Though apparently it may feel like these are individual sensory organs, they do show some connectivity. Interestingly, our hearing is less sharp after we eat a heavy food. Isn't it good for a sound nap after a stomach-full meal? That does not mean we go deaf after a meal, but the hearing pitch does change after a heavy meal. We usually give credit of the taste to our tongue, but do you know that unless saliva dissolves something, our tongue cannot recognize the taste of the food eaten. Taste is nothing but the food chemicals dissolved in the saliva being sensed by the taste buds present on the tongue. Try to dry off your tongue and mouth with a tissue paper and then taste something. Women are much better smellers than men. They are born with this characteristic ability and can correctly recognize the exact fragrance of the sample. We all can store almost 50,000 different smells, which are strongly tied to the memories. Pupils do not respond to light alone, but to the slightest bit of noise around too. Thus surgeons, watchmakers and those professionals who have to perform a much delicate job do prefer to have a sound-free environment. Even a small noise can enlarge their pupils, change the focus and make their vision less clear. Each and every one of us has a particular or individualistic or characteristic smell, which is unique to us, except the twins. This smell is very subtle yet can be sensed even by a newborn. It may be due to this smell that the newborn recognizes the presence of his parents around. What may happen after you have had a rich lunch? Answer:
Question: I have been consistently opposed to feeding a baby regularly. As a doctor, mother and scientist in child development, I believe there is nothing to recommend it, from the baby's point of view. Mothers, doctors and nurse alike have no idea of where a baby's blood sugar level lies. All we know is that a low level is harmful to brain development and makes a baby easily annoyed. In this state, the baby is difficult to calm down and sleep is impossible. The baby asks for attention by crying and searching for food with its mouth. It is not just unkind but also dangerous to say a four-hourly feeding schedule will make a baby satisfied. The first of the experts to advocate a strict clock-watching schedule was Dr Frederic Truby King who was against feeding in the night. I've never heard anything so ridiculous. Baby feeding shouldn't follow a timetable set by the mum. What is important is feeding a baby in the best way, though it may cause some inconvenience in the first few weeks. Well, at last we have _ research that supports demand feeding and points out the weaknesses of strictly timed feeding. The research finds out that babies who are fed on demand do better at school at age 5, 7, 11 and 14, than babies fed according to the clock. By the age of 8, their IQ scores are four to five percent higher than babies fed by a rigid timetable. This research comes from Oxford and Essex University using a sample of 10,419 children born in the early 1990s, taking account of parental education, family income, a child's sex and age, the mother's health and feeding style. These results don't surprise me. Feeding according to schedule runs the risk of harming the rapidly growing brain by taking no account of sinking blood sugar levels. I hope this research will put an end to advocating strictly timed baby feeding practices. What does the research tell us about feeding a baby on demand? A. The baby will sleep well. B. The baby will have its brain harmed. C. The baby will have a low blood sugar level. D. The baby will grow to be wiser by the age of 8. Answer: D Question: Six days before the 63rd birthday of New China, our country received a great gift. The country's first aircraft carrier , Liaoning, has made China become the l0th country in the world to have an aircraft camer. An aircraft carrier is a kind of ship that planes can fly from and land on--like an airport on the sea. It stands for a country's military strength . It plays an important role in modern wars. In August last year, the air craft carrier began its trial run at Dalian Port in Liaoning. The carrier was at first called the Varyag. It was built in the former Soviet Union. However, the Soviets failed to finish the ship. China bought the Varyag in 1998. Now after 10 trial runs, the aircraft carrier, renamed Liaoning, is in active service. Liaoning is about 300 meters long and 70 meters wide. It can take 30 planes and hold 2,000 soldiers. According to Xinhua News, Liaoning will be used for scientific research and military training. The aircraft carrier will help protect our country and promote world peace. The BBC said that Liaoning coming into service " marks China as a rising power". ,. Which of the following about the aircraft carrier is true? A. Liaoning was developed on the basis of Varyag. B. rrhe former Soviet Union gave the ship to China for free. C. Liaoning is specially made for New China's 63 rdbirthday. D. The aircraft carrier ended its trial run at Dalian Port. Answer: A Question: There seems never to have been a civilization without toys, but when and how they developed is unknown. They probably came about just to give children something to do. In the ancient world, as is today, most boys played with some kinds of toys and most girls with another. In societies where social roles are rigidly determined, boys pattern their play after the activities of their fathers and girls are being prepared, even in play, to step into the roles and responsibilities of the adult world. What is remarkable about the history of toys is not so much how they changed over the centuries but how much they have remained the same. The changes have been mostly in terms of craftsmanship, mechanics, and technology. It is the universality of toys with regard to their development in all parts of the world and their persistence to the present that is amazing. In Egypt, America, China, Japan and among the Arctic people, generally the same kinds of toys appeared. Differences depended on local customs and way of life because toys imitate their surrounding. Nearly every civilization had dolls, little weapons, toy soldiers, tiny animals and vehicles. Because toys can be generally regarded as a kind of art form, they have not been subject to technological leaps that characterize(...) inventions for adult use. The progress from the wheel to the cart to the automobile is a direct line of ways up. The progress from a rattle used by a baby in 3,000 BC to one used by an infant today, however, is not characterized by inventiveness. Each rattle is the product of the artistic tastes of the time and subject to the limitations of available materials. One aspect of "the universality of toys" lies in the fact that _ . A. the basic characteristics of toys are the same all over the world B. technological advances have greatly improved the durability of toys C. the exploration of the universe has led to the creation of new kinds of toys D. the improvement of craftsmanship in making toys depends on the efforts of universities Answer: A Question: Does this situation seem familiar to you? Your English is progressing well, the grammar is now familiar, the reading comprehension is no problem, you are communicating quite fluently, but: Listening is STILL a problem! First of all, remember that you are not alone. Listening comprehension is probably the most difficult job for almost all learners of English as a foreign language. The most important thing is to listen as often as possible. The first step is to find listening resources. The Internet is really a useful tool for English students. You can download The RealPlayer from RealMedia.com. The RealPlayer allows you to use the Internet like a radio station. Once you have begun to listen on a regular basis, you might still be frustrated by limited understanding. What should you do? Here is some of the advice I give my students: Accept the fact that you are not going to understand everything. Stay relaxed when you do not understand -- even if you continue not to understand for a long time. Do not translate what you hear into your native language. Listen for the general idea of the conversation. Don't concentrate on detail until you have understood the main ideas. I remember the problems I had in understanding spoken German when I first went to Germany. In the beginning, when I didn't understand a word, I insisted on translating it in my mind. This method usually resulted in confusion. Then, after the first six months, I discovered two very important facts. Firstly, translating creates a _ l between the listener and the speaker. Secondly, most people repeat themselves constantly. By remaining calm, I noticed that -- even if I didn't pay much attention, I could usually understand what the speaker had said. Which of the following is a good habit when listening? A. Try to understand everything. B. Try to get the main ideas. C. Pay much attention to details. D. Translate each word in your mind. Answer: B Question: Most of us long for relationships in which we are loved and accepted. Our hearts' desire is to give and receive love in relationships that make us feel that even if others disagree with what we do or say, they still love us, accept us, and appreciate what we give to the world. While it would be wonderful to have these types of relationships with all people, we know that's hard to do. However, we can have such relationships with some others, but only when we first have them with ourselves--and, strangely, this is often the hardest relationship of all. Do you love yourself? You may think you do, but do you really? There's only one way to find out-- by taking a close look at what you think, say, and do. You may not like some of what you find, but if you are serious about really loving yourself, you can use this insight to do some positive inner work. Here're three ways for gaining greater personal insight for deeper love: Listen Closely to Your Thoughts Your thoughts will determine your actions. One thing helping you to listen to your thoughts is keeping a journal. It is not necessary for you to write in it every day, but it helps to record various insights you gain as you go about your life. Instead of using a big notebook, you might use a small notepad that you can keep in your pocket for easy access to record your thoughts as they occur to you. Whichever method you choose, what's most important is that you write your thoughts down. It will help you know what's in your heart. Be Honest with Yourself To do this, you should pay attention to your actions. Actions speak louder than words, and they always tell the truth. If you say you love your job, but your actions say otherwise, which do you think is more reliable? On the other hand, if you say you're not good at a certain job, but your actions say otherwise, that's also important. What do you do with this insight? You can use it to make more positive choices in your life. By being honest with yourself, you will act according to truth instead of just what you tell yourself. Take Quiet Time to Listen to Your Inner Voice This is similar to the first point, but it takes a step further-- beyond the natural mind to the heart that cannot be seen. You may want to use your quiet time to think deeply. However you use this time, the key is to shut out all of the noise around you by focusing deep within yourself. Breathing deeply during quiet time will also help you focus. I know it's hard to find quiet time during a particularly busy day, but it's so important-- even if it's just 10 minutes a day and you have to hide somewhere to get it. Quiet time can really make a difference in your life. Despite what your mind may be telling you, you can have love with no limits. The key is to unconditionally love yourself first. .An important way for gaining personal insight is to_. A. do some positive inner work B. keep a journal wherever you go C. look closely at what others say about us D. pay attention to our thoughts Answer: D
James Proud, a British businessman who settled in San Francisco launched a Twitter campaign called "Stop DST". Daylight Saving Time (DST) refers to the time during the summer when clocks are one hour ahead of standard time. "Daylight saving was created to save energy, and it doesn't really do that." Proud said, "but what's even worse are its negative health effects. It's both outdated and harmful." daylight saving has been linked to a surprising number of health issues such as heart attacks, but Proud has a particular interest in the topic because of its disruptive effects on sleep. Last year, German researchers suggested that our body cocks never really adjust t daylight saving, which causes a host of health problems. Till Roenneberg of Ludwig-Maximillians University said that because of DST, "the majority of the population has severely decreased productivity, decreased quality of life, increasing chance of getting illness, and is just plain tired." The week after daylight saving also witnesses a sudden increase in fatal traffic accidents, according to the University of Colorado. It is believed that this is caused both by disrupted sleep schedules and the shift of daylight hours from the morning to the evening. "Daylight saving is an economic tradition. And all economic choices involve achieving a balance. " said behavioral economist David Gerard. "Even if we decide to abolish daylight saving, there would be a large number of unhappy people." Some such people are shift works, students and parents of schoolchildren, all of whom get to enjoy an extra hour of daylight after work or class with DST. Plus, restaurants love the extra evening sales DST allows. Daylight saving has also been linked to lower crime rates, due to the "deterrent effect" of longer daylight. Basically, more light increase a criminal's chances of being seen by witnesses or police, which discourages criminal activity. Gerard also point out that an extra hour of daylight has vastly more influence in the American South, where the sun sets earlier, even in the summer, than in the north. That's why residents of southern states may values DST more. What causes Proud's greatest concern? A. DST not keeping up with economic development B. DST resulting in disorder in people's sleep schedule C. DST stopping people from working productively. D. DST not helping to save energy any more Answer: B. DST resulting in disorder in people's sleep schedule This is my world now; it's all I have left. You see, I'm old. And, I'm not as healthy as I used to be. I'm not necessarily happy with it, but I accept it. Occasionally, a member of my family will stop in to see me. He or she will bring me some flowers or a little present, maybe a set of slippers--I've got eight pairs. And then they will return to the outside world and I'll be alone again. Oh, there are other people here in the nursing home. Residents, we're called. The majority are about my age. I'm 84. Many are in wheelchairs. The lucky ones are passing through--a broken hip, a diseased heart, something has brought them here for rehabilitation . When they're well they'll be going home. The help here is basically pretty good, although there's a large turnover of staff. Just when I get comfortable with someone he or she moves on to another job. I understand that. This is not the best job to have. I don't much like some of the physical things that happen to us. I don't care much for a diaper . I seem to have lost the control acquired so diligently as a child. The difference is that I'm aware and embarrassed, but I can't do anything about it. I've had three children, and I know it isn't pleasant to clean another's diaper. My husband used to wear a gas mask when he changed the kids. I wish I had one now. Why do you think the staff insists on talking baby talk when speaking to me? I understand English. I have a degree in music and am a certified teacher. Now I hear a lot of words that end in "y". There is little need for anyone to position their face directly in front of mine and raise their voice with those "y" words. Sometimes it takes longer for a meaning to sink in; sometimes my mind wanders when I am bored. But there's no need to shout. I'd love to go out for a meal or travel again. I'd love to go to my own church, sing with my own choir. I'd love to visit my friends. Most of them are gone now or else they are in different "homes" of their children's choosing. I'd love to play a good game of bridge, but no one here seems to concentrate very well. My children put me here for my own good. They said they would be able to visit me frequently. But they have their own lives to lead. That sounds normal. I don't want to be a burden. They know that. But I would like to see them more. One of them is here in town. He visits as much as he can. Something else I've learned to accept is loss of privacy. Quite often I'll close my door when my roommate--imagine having a roommate at my age--is in the TV room. I do appreciate some time to myself and believe that I have earned at least that courtesy . As I sit thinking or writing, one of the aides invariably opens the door unannounced and walks in as if I'm not there. Sometimes she even opens my drawers and begins searching around. Am I invisible? Have I lost my right to respect and dignity? I am still a human being. I would like to be treated as one. Back to my semiprivate room for a little semi-privacy or a nap . I do need my beauty rest; company may come today. What is today, again? The afternoon drags into early evening. This used to be my favorite time of the day. Things would wind down. I would kick off my shoes. Put my feet up on the coffee table. Pop open a bottle of Chablis and enjoy the fruits of my day's labor with my husband. He's gone. So is my health. This is my world. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage? A. The staff at the nursing home mistreated the elderly people. B. Nursing home workers sometimes stole items from her drawers. C. Her children did not often visit because they felt guilty for having put her in the nursing home. D. The staff used baby talk with her because they assumed her mind had aged as her body had. Answer: D. The staff used baby talk with her because they assumed her mind had aged as her body had. While the history of technology can be traced along many lines, one of the most amazing development is that of photo technology, the technology of light.From the prehistoric invention of fire to laser beams and fiber optics , light has "continually occupied the minds of inventors".Their inventions fall into two groups: the use of light to help us see better and more interestingly, the use of light for purposes of communication. The use of light for communicating is one of the major directions that technology has taken ever since the middle of the nineteenth century.From still photography to motion pictures to television (with a development from black - and - white to color1 imagery in each), photo technology has had a great effect upon mass communication and mass education.Unlike the printed words, visual images have more impact because they are more immediate.They copy reality in a way that the printed words cannot.Unlike letter shapes, they are not abstract; unlike words, they require no symbolic interpretation by the mind.Combined with the widespread and uniform spreading of such images, photo technology affects the thinking of vast audiences and shapes their view of reality. Millions of Americans are affected by the commercially - inspired electronic manipulation of artificial images.We call it "entertainment" and can't wait to get more. As the number of commercially available television channels grows, the viewer's freedom of choice increases, but so does the burden of that choice.Increasingly he is faced with a sea of in formation and is asked to make quick choices. More significantly, the ease and rapidity of mass communication has created a supply of information greater than it can readily be absorbed.Flooded in the sea of information, the individual struggles to swim through it. According to the passage we can know that _ with the development of photo technology. A. more and more television channels are opened B. it takes less time for a new idea to be absorbed C. the number of film goers has become greater D. fewer and fewer people seem to prefer TV programs Answer: A. more and more television channels are opened Reading is not the only way to gain knowledge of the work in the past. There is another large reservoir which may be called experience, and the college students will find that every craftsman has something he can teach and will generally teach gladly to any college student who does not look down upon them. The information from them differs from that in textbooks and papers chiefly in that its theoretical part -- the explanations of why things happen -- is frequently quite fantastic . But the demonstration and report of what happens, and how it happens are correct even if the reports are in completely unscientific terms. Presently the college students will learn, in this case also, what to accept and what to reject. One important thing for a college student to remember is that if Aristotle could talk to the fisherman, so can he. Another source of knowledge is the vast store of traditional practices handed down from father to son , or mother to daughter, of old country customs ,of folklore . All this is very difficult for a college student to examine, for much knowledge and personal experience is needed here to separate good plants from wild grass.The college students should learn to realize and remember how much of real value science has found in _ and how often scientific discoveries of what had existed in this area long age. The author advises the college students to _ . A. be contemptuous to the craftsman B. be patient in helping the craftsman with scientific terms C. learn the craftsman's experience by judging it carefully D. gain the craftsman's experience without rejection Answer: C. learn the craftsman's experience by judging it carefully Last month the first baby-boomers turned 60. The enormous generation born between 1946 and 1964 is heading towards retirement. The coming "demographic cliff" will see vast numbers of skilled workers disappear from the labor force. The workforce is ageing across the rich world. Within the EU the number of workers aged between 50 and 64 will increase by 25% over the next two decades, while those aged 20 -29 will decrease by 20%. Given that most societies have a tendency to retirement at around 65, companies have a problem of knowledge management, of making sure that the boomers do not leave before they have handed over their expertise along with the office keys and their e-mail address. If you look hard enough, you can find companies that have begun to adapt the workplace to older workers. The tools they use to achieve are flexible working, telecommuting, and so forth. Some companies spend "a lot of time" on the ergonomics its factories, making jobs there less tiring. Likewise, for more than a decade, prefix = st1 /Toyota, has been unusually keen to employ older workers. IBM uses its alumni network to recruit retired people for particular projects. But such examples are unusual. A survey in America last month by Ernst & Young found that "although America foresees a significant workforce shortage as boomers retire, it is not dealing with the issue . " Why are firms not working harder to keep old employees? Mostly they are not hanging on to older workers the only way to cope with a falling supply of labor. The participation of developing countries in the world economy has increased the overall supply--whatever the local effect of demographics in the rich countries. In the author's opinion American firms are not doing anything to deal with the issue of the ageing workforce mainly because _ . A. they have other options to consider B. they are unwilling to hire older workers C. they are not sure of what they should do D. they have not been aware of the problem Answer: A. they have other options to consider
The planet that contains many ecosystems is sequentially _________ from the center of its solar system A fifth B first C third D fourth Answer: C. third About half American teenagers do not get enough sleep on school nights.They get an average of sixty to ninety minutes less than experts say they need. One reason for _ is biology.Experts say teens are biologically programmed to go to sleep later and wake up later than other age groups.Yet many schools start classes as early as seven in the morning.As a result,many students go to class feeling like sixteenyearold Danny.He is an active teen-- except in the morning."Getting up in the morning is pretty terrible.I'm just very out of it and tired.Through the first and second period I can hardly stay awake," he said. Michael Breus is a psychologist.Teens,he says,need to sleep eight to nine hours or even nine to ten hours a night.He says sleepy teens can experience a form of depression that could have big influence on their general well being.It can affect not just their ability in the classroom but also on the sports field and on the road.So what can schools do about sleepy students?The psychologist says one thing they can do is to start classes later in the morning.Studies show that students can improve by a full letter grade in their first and second period classes. Eric Peterson is the head of St.George's School in the northeastern state of Rhode Island.He wanted to see if a thirtyminute delay would make a difference.It did.He says visits to the health center by tired students decreased by half.Late arrivals to the first period fell by a third.And students reported that they were less sleepy during the day.Eric Peterson knows that changing start times is easier at a small school like his.But he is hopeful that other schools will find a way. What's the best title for the passage? A Later classes,fewer sleepy teens B Early birds have good food C Early to bed and early to rise D Fewer classes,more happiness Answer: A. Later classes,fewer sleepy teens It's good to make mistakes,and here is why. First of all,mistakes are a clear sign that you are trying new things. It's always good to try new things because when you are trying new things you are growing. If you never try anything new,how can you improve?How can you expand?The simple answer is"You can't."Look around you. With very few exceptions,either every-thing you see in your world or every single detail of every single thing is the result of someone trying something new. Another good thing about mistakes is this:When you are making mistakes,you are learning.Consider this:Edison failed 10,000 times before he perfected the 1ight bulb.When asked how it felt to fail that many times,he said that he hadn't failed 10,000 times,but rather had learned 10,000 things that didn't work. Finally,when you make a mistake you are much closer to success.Why?Because when all is said and done,you will have tried some numbers of things before you succeed.Every time you make a mistake you eliminate one of those things and are one step closer.But this all doesn't mean that you should go ahead without considering the consequences of a mistake.Quite the contrary,when you try something new you have to be willing to set some reasonable limits so that in the event that it doesn't work out the way you want it to,you will he in a position to try again. We all have limited time and money so don't blow them all on one approach to a problem.Realize that it probably won't be perfect the first time and allocate these resources properly so you can learn,make corrections,and try it again.If you accept and use your mistakes in this way,you can make great progress in your business and your career. There is an old saying that goes,"If you're not making mistakes,you're not trying hard enough."So go ahead and make mistakes.And learn.And grow.And succeed. What would the writer probably suggest we say to ourselves when we make a mistake? A Never mind,I can always try again B I'd better stay out of trouble C Ok!Now I can learn something D Look at this mess.Anyone would be upset Answer: C. Ok!Now I can learn something On March 3, 1887, the lives of two amazing women were changed forever when Anne Sullivan, a poor university graduate, arrived at the home of the wealthy Keller family to teach their six-year-old daughter Helen. It was a difficult job as Helen was unable to see, hear or speak because of illness. Anne had been suggested to the Kellers by her university professor, a close friend of Mr. Keller. Before she arrived, Anne expected her new pupil to be a quiet, weak child. But Helen was nothing like that. When Anne first walked through the Kellers' door, the energetic Helen nearly knocked her over in her hurry to feel Anne's face, clothing and bag. Helen was used to visitors bringing her sweets, and angrily tried to force open Anne's case to take her candy. But Anne calmed her down by allowing Helen to play with her watch. So began one of the most successful student-teacher relationships in history. Anne Sullivan was only twenty years old when she began teaching Helen. She had to not only teach the child all the usual school subjects, but also control Helen's sometimes wild behaviour. Her well-meaning parents allowed Helen to do as she liked at home. Realizing that such an environment was unsuitable for learning, Anne requested that she and Helen live in a small house nearby. As soon as Helen began learning, it became clear that she was especially intelligent. She quickly learned to read and write, and by the age of ten she could also speak. In 1900, Helen started studying at Radcliffe University, and graduated first in her class in 1904. She was the very first blind and deaf person to get a university degree. How did she do it? Anne Sullivan read all of Helen's books and then signed the information into her hand. Anne remained at Helen's side until her death in 1936. Helen became a world-famous writer, and fought for disabled people's rights until her death on Jun 1, 1968. According to the passage, Helen's parents _ . A allowed her to do as she wished B gave her too many gifts and sweets. C did not spend much time with her D cared little about her education. Answer: A. allowed her to do as she wished Rehan was never serious about his studies. He always wanted to play with his friends and had a bad image in his teachers' eyes. After the first term exams, it was time for result. Rehan was upset. That day, in the first class Sir Mushtaq said, "Tomorrow there will be a parent teacher meeting and you will get your result." Hearing this Rehan was worried. He went home as usual, but didn't tell his mother about the parent teacher meeting. The next day when his teacher asked him about his parents, he said, "My parents are out of town, so please give my result to me." When Rehan went back home, he told his mother that he had got 95. his mother was glad and said, "Well done, my son! Show me your report card." Now, Rehan was really worried but he said, "Mom, actually this time we haven't got any report card and our teacher only told the result orally." A result without a report card? Rehan's mother asked, but didn't ask any more questions. She also promised to buy a new bicycle for Rehan as his reward. One day Rehan came back from school, threw the bag on the floor and rushed towards his room. When his mother saw the dirty bag on the floor, she decided to clean it for him. As she opened it, she found the report card about which Rehan had lied. Rehan's mother quickly went to Rehan's room and showed him the report card. Tears started to fall down from Rehan's eyes. For many days Rehan's mother didn't talk to him. At last Rehan said sorry to his mother for cheating. He promised to get first position in his class next time. Rehan proved himself. He worked very hard and at last he got first position in the final term. When Rehan said there was no report card, his mother felt _ . A strange B glad C angry D concerned Answer: A. strange
What form of energy is being used when a person pushes a wooden block across the floor? A mechanical B magnetic C sound D electrical Answer: A How to improve my life? Many people think that they have to accept whatever life throws at them. They'll say, "This is my fate, my destiny. I cannot change it." Of course not! You don't have to suffer needlessly. Your destiny depends on you, not on any other external factors. I know someone who says she just accepts what life gives her because she has done everything she can to improve it. Guess what her lifestyle is? She wakes up in the morning, goes to work, comes back home, relaxes, chats with people, watches TV, then goes to sleep. Next day, the same routine cycle follows. Huh! Is this what she calls "doing her best"? She believes she has tried her best and just accepts it in her heart that this is the life that God has intended for her to live; that her luck can only change if God wills it. Of course God wants us to be happy and live our life to the fullest, but we have to do our share of exerting the effort to live the life of our dreams. Remember that you reap what you sow. You just don't sit around and wait for a million dollars to fall from the sky. You have to get off the couch, get your eyes off the TV screen, get your hands off the phone. Don't expect your luck to change unless you do something about it. If something goes wrong, don't just regard it as a temporary setback; but use it as feedback. Learn your lesson, make the most of the situation, and do something to solve the problem. It's not enough to think positively; you also have to act positively. If someone's life is in the trouble, do you just hope and pray that things will turn out fine? Of course not! You get to do anything you can to save the person. So it is with your own life. It is not enough to hope for the best, but you have to do your best. In other words, don't just stand (or sit ) there, do something to improve your life. What does the author think of the woman's life? _ . A positive B satisfying C colorful D passive Answer: D At the age of sixteen, I joined a volunteer group with my dad.I went on my first volunteer project in West Virginia.On the night we arrived, we discovered that "our family" was living in a trailer that was in poor conditions.A crew had been wolfing on it for two weeks, but every time they finished one problem, another surfaced. We decided the only reasonable solution was to bridle a new house - something unusual but necessary under these circumstances.The family was overjoyed with their new house that was twenty by thirty feet with three bedrooms, a bath and a kitchen. On Tuesday of that week, while we ate lunch together, I asked the family's three boys, Josh, Eric and Ryan, "What do you want for your new room?" Expecting toys and other gadgets that children suavity ask for, we were astonished when Josh responded, "I just want a bed." The boys had never slept in a bed! They were accustomed to plastic mats.That night we had a meeting and decided that beds would be the perfect gift.On Thursday night, a few adults in our group drove to the nearest city and bought beds and new bedding. When we saw the delivery truck coming, we told the family about the surprise. _ . It was like watching excited children on Christmas morning. That afternoon, as we fitted the frames of the beds together, Eric ran into the house to watch us.Too dirty to enter his room, he observed with wide-eyed enthusiasm from the doorway. As my father slipped a pillowcase onto one of the pillows, Eric asked, "What is that?" "A pillow," he replied. "What do you do with it?" Eric continued to ask "When you go to sleep, you put your head on it," I answered softly.Tears came to my eyes as my father handed Eric the pillow. "Oh...that's soft," he said, hugging it tightly. Now, when my sister or I start to ask for something that seems urgent, my dad gently asks, "Do you have a pillow?" We know exactly what he means. The author's first volunteer project was _ . A working on a poor trailer B helping a poor family C donating beds and bedding D dealing with a housing problem Answer: D Dear Da Peng, Thanks for your email. And thank you for introducing your Chinese friend Li Fang to me. You are the class monitor for this term. That's good. Work hard! Try to help your teacher. My classmates choose me as the PE monitor in our class because I run very fast. My PE teacher and my classmates like me. They also want me to _ the PE Club. I think that is a good idea. We can play basketball or football at weekends. Please send some of your photos to me. Yours, Mike Mike asks Da Peng to _ . A write an email to him soon B send some photos to him C join the PE Club with him D introduce some Chinese friends to him Answer: B The White family moves to a new city, but Mrs White's son, Bob, is not happy, because he doesn't have any friends to play with there. "Don't worry!" says Mrs White, "you'll soon make friends here." One morning, there is a knock on the door. Mrs White opens it and sees their neighbour Mrs Miller standing there. She comes to borrow two eggs to make some cakes. Mrs White gives her two eggs. In the afternoon, Mrs Miller's son, Jack comes to their home. He says to Mrs White, "my mother asks me to give some cakes and two eggs to you." "Well, thank you," says Mrs White. "Come in and meet my son, Bob." After Bob and Jack have the cakes, they go out to play football together. Jack says, "I am glad you live next door." Bob says, "I must thank your mother for coming to borrow eggs." Jack laughs and tells Bob, "My mother doesn't need any eggs, but she wants to make friends with your mother." Bob says, "Oh, I see. That's a clever way to make friends." When Jack brings some cakes and two eggs to Mrs White's house, she _ . A asks Jack to take them back home B doesn't take the cakes or the eggs C gives Jack a football as a present D invites Jack to play with his son Answer: D
Normally and naturally, a daughter is more attached to her mother in comparison to her father or other siblings . The attachment is also due to the fact that the daughter finds it easier to believe in the mother on personal and biological matters at different stages while growing up. The bonding between mother and daughter will increase with their being together and going out on excursions. An excursion is a journey to some far-off place undertaken by people. It is not necessary that such a trip be taken on a lavish scale involving lots of money. It can be as short as an overnight trip to some place to improve bonding. To surprise her daughter with an unexpected excursion, mother can plan a trip to some local spa without the knowledge of her daughter. She can be ready with baggage packed and wait for the moment the daughter comes back from school. Once in the hotel they can enjoy the night together getting refreshing treatments like massage or mud packs. After relaxing spa they can laze in bed, enjoying favourite food or drink and if possible enjoying nature through the window. After a long period of relaxation, going out for a walk together will improve bonding. Going out overnight to enjoy walk at the beach, and relaxing at intervals without the interference of any other person can be a great idea of bonding. Being of the same sex, and often having the same set of likes and dislikes, they can spend time on makeup or applying nail polish. The daughter should never forget to thank the mother for the wonderful time they spent together, and the mother should never hesitate to say a few words of praise to the daughter. Going out for shopping together is a good bonding idea too. It is not essential that lots of money should be spent on shopping. The mother can take the daughter to some shops where she can buy her uniform or some other things. They can jointly enjoy window shopping, expressing love and gratitude for the other. According to the passage, mother and daughter . A had better spend some time alone B needn't share likes and dislikes C shouldn't spend too much time in a hotel D should spend much time and money on shopping Answer: A Ultimately, what one thing is needed for energy for any living thing on Earth? A carbon dioxide B the closest star C blood D oxygen Answer: B Helen Keller was born in America in June, 1880. Everything was all right when she was born. But when she was 19 months old, an attack of fever left her blind and deaf for the rest of her life. She was so young when she became blind that as she grew older she did not remember being able to see; and she became deaf before she had any idea of the importance of human speech. She lived in darkness and silence. As she grew older, she, too, wanted to express her ideas and feelings. But she realized she was cut off from others. Her parents were greatly worried. How could anyone make touch with Helen's mind and intelligence in darkness and silence without speech? Helen was nearly seven before a teacher was found. Her name was Miss Sullivan. Miss Sullivan had a lot of difficulties in teaching Helen Keller. As the child could neither see nor hear, she had to use manual alphabet. But Helen's energy and intelligence and strong spirit as well as Miss Sullivan's skill and patience, overcame all the difficulties. As Helen grew up, she became an able student, passed examination and finally took a university degree in English literature. She then devoted all herself to helping the blind and the deaf. Her personal success, together with the work she had done for others, made her one of the greatest women in modern times. She wrote many books and "The Story of My Life"is a wonderful one. Helen was finally successful mainly because of _ . A her parents' help B the manual alphabet Miss Sullivan used in teaching her C the help she got when she was studying for a university degree D her hard work, cleverness and will-power as well as Sullivan's great efforts Answer: D Which most directly requires sunlight to grow? A a rock B a cat C a bamboo stalk D a bird Answer: C Golden sunlight danced in the treetops, and children's laughter filled the park. The smell of popcorn played on the breeze, and life seemed good. It was one of the happiest Saturday mornings I had spent with my little daughter, Gigi. That is, until two strangers threw her into their car and sped away. It seemed like a bad dream. I could barely whisper when the police questioned me. For hours we waited,but there was no word on the whereabouts of the car. Tears would start to come. Then nothing. I was numb with fear. "Go home, Ma'am," the police officer said. "I'll have someone drive you. We'll also want to monitor your telephone. The kidnappers might call, and we'll want to keep track. Trust me, these guys can't get far. " After what had just happened, it was hard for me to trust anything. My friend Gloria came over that afternoon. "I heard about Gigi on the radio," she said. "Everyone is looking for the car. The interstates are all blocked." She took my hand. "Look here," Gloria said. " I want you to have this picture, and I want you to pray with me." It was a picture of a little girl sound asleep in her bed. Standing by the bed was a tall, blond angel. His hand was touching the girl's shoulder as he smiled down at her. My nerves were frazzled. "You know I don't believe in that kind of thing!" I snapped. "I'm too exhausted for any hocus-pocus right now, Gloria!I want my daughter home!" I started to shake, and then I began sobbing. Gloria placed the photo on our mantle and knelt down beside me. "Just pray with me," she said, holding my hand. I had no strength left, so we prayed and waited what seemed an eternity. Together, we waited by the phone until sunset. The phone never rang. Suddenly, the front door swung open. I looked up and screamed. There stood Gigi. "Gigi! Thank God!" I cried, throwing my arms around her, "Where did those men take you? How did you get home? Did the police find you?" "No Mommy!" said Gigi. "I was really scared because those men said they were taking me far away. We were going really fast on an old rock road never seen before. But then a tall man walked out in front of the car, and they ran off the road and hit a tree." Then the tall man ran up and opened the car door and pulled me out. He was really nice, and said I would be okay now, and that those men couldn't hurt me. I must have gone to sleep, because then I woke up here in front of our house. He must have brought me home," "But who... how did he know... where to bring you?" My voice broke and trailed to a whisper. "I don't know, Mommy," Gigi said. "But he was really friendly, and I wasn't scared of him at all." Just then Gigi noticed Gloria's picture on the mantle. "That's him!" She gave a loud cry, pointing at the picture. "Mommy, the tail blond man dressed like an angel. That's the man that pulled me out of the car!" I felt chill-bumps across my neck and arms. Gloria turned pale. "Are you sure that's the man?" Gloria asked. "Yeah, that's him. Except he didn't have wings, and he was wearing blue jeans and a tee shirt. But that's him exactly. I'd remember him anywhere!" Later that night, the police found the injured kidnappers in their damaged car fifty miles from our home. When questioned-the driver remembered making a sharp turn to avoid hitting a tall blond man and the backseat door that Gigi sat by had been completely torn off its hinges. Twenty years have gone by. We have never heard from anyone claiming to have rescued Gigi and there have been no logical explanations for Gigi's miraculous escape and return home from a wreck so far away. There have always been things that people can't explain. But, from that day forward, I believe that all experiences, positive and negative, are given to us for our strengthening and learning. Gigi now takes her little girl to the park on Saturdays. They enjoy the sunlight as it dances in the treetops, the smell of popcorn, and the laughter of children. She keeps Gloria's picture on her mantle, and she remembers her angelic friend. And, like my daughter, I have a faith that has carried me through many trials since that day many years ago. We can learn from the passage that _ . A the story was told from Gigi's point of view B the man who rescued Gigi had known her before C Gigi was sure that the angel in the picture rescued her D the writer believed what Gigi said at the very beginning Answer: C
Question: Anne and Joseph are talking about an interesting question. Why do some people change their names? There can be many reasons. Hanna changed her name to Anne because she thought it would be easier for people to remember. On the other hand, Joseph is thinking about changing his name to an unusual name because he wants to be different. People have a lot of reasons for changing their names. Film stars, singers, sportsmen and some other famous people often change their names because they want names that are not ordinary, or that have special sound. They chose the "new name" for themselves instead of the name their parents gave them when they were born. Some people have another reason for changing their names. They have moved to a new country and want to use a name that is usual there. For example, Li Kaiming changed his name to Ken Lee when he moved to the United States. He uses the name Ken at his job and at school. But with his family and Chinese friends, he uses Li Kaiming. For some people, using different names makes life easier in their new country. In many countries, a woman changes her family name to her husband's after she gets married. But today, many women are keeping their own family name and not using their husband's. Sometimes, women use their own name in some situations and their husband's in other situations. And some use both their own name and their husband's. Mr. Li uses his new name when he _ . A. stays with his family B. is at his job C. is among Chinese friends D. comes back to China Answer: B. is at his job Question: Just the mention of the TOEFL, GRE and GAMT exams brings a thought of long hours of dull paper work. But that idea is becoming increasingly out of date. As planned, computerized tests will begin next year which will bring a series of changes from test psychology to scoring techniques. From computer - equipped rooms, examinees will answer the questions on a computer. If they are sure about their choices, they can pass to the next question by pressing the entry "next". Then another question will be randomly selected from a vast test item bank and appear on the screen. After answering all the questions, examinees can choose the entry "quit" if they are not satisfied with their performance, or "score" if they want to see the result. Scores will be calculated immediately and appear on the screen. By that point, student's marks are official--there is no going back. Since they greatly shorten the painful waiting process-which used to be two or three months, computerized tests have won worldwide popularity. Besides, there will be no rushing to the registration offices( )for these exams. Computerized tests will be given every workday in an exam center with all three kinds of tests being held in the same room. All test takers need to do is to call the exam center and book their seats for a particular day. In addition it will become technically possible to apply new testing procedures. In the past,each examinee had the same set of test items despite differences in their ability. Under a computerized system, however, if the computer judges an answer is right, a question of a relatively difficult nature will follow. But if an examinee continues to give wrong answers and is judged as un-qualified by the computer system, he will be automatically _ the chance to go further in the test. Computerized tests allow the examinee to know their scores _ . A. immediately on a central computer for scoring test papers B. a few minutes after the exam with the help of a test center worker C. on the next day after they have taken the exam D. immediately after the exam by means of the same computer Answer: D. immediately after the exam by means of the same computer Question: Which is likeliest to let a spark pass through? A. a wool sweater B. a t shirt C. a rubber eraser D. a soda can Answer: D. a soda can Question: Rock singer Wu Tong says mixing musical styles is not only creative, it also shows that people can live together harmoniously. The track Linglong Tower was Wu's most popular piece when he performed in Tianjin, a city with a long tradition of quyi or narrative music. Honored as the "Shakespeare of the Asian," Cao Yu was one of the greatest playwrights of 20th-Century China. "Sunrise", Cao Yu's second play, was published in 1936. Following his first work "Thunderstorm," In 1937, the young playwright's third play, "The Wilderness," was released. In 1940, Cao Yu completed the writing of his fifth play, "Peking Man," A winner of the 2011 L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards, Professor Reng Yonghua says she could not have done it without the backing of her family. As a mother of two daughters, 12 and 14, Reng said she is lucky to have been supported by her family. Joan Chen, Gong Li, Zhang Ziyi - who's the next of their ilk? Most agree 24-year-old Liu Yifei is the likely contender to become an internationally Chinese actress.Born to a French-language professor and a dancer, Liu received training in dancing, singing and piano as a little girl. She moved to the United States at 10 and spent four years in New York City's Long Island. Wang Zhiming grew up in a family of instrument makers, but he is the only one who could actually play a violin.Wang, 51, has been making violins for more than 30 years. He grew up around violins and musical instruments. He is the third generation of instrument makers in his family, following his grandfather and father. , . What does Wu Tong do? A. A writer B. An actor C. A scientist D. A singer Answer: D. A singer Question: A gust of wind blew a canvas chair across the yard. My eyes followed the circling dirt out to the road and down toward the school bus stop. I was going to miss walking down the road to catch the big school bus that took us into town to school. I enjoyed being with the teachers and the other students. Now that I was finished with school I seemed to have lost some of the excitement from my life. As I was folding the canvas chair, Chatita Chavez drove into our yard in her father's old truck. It made short loud sounds and sent out a trail of black smoke out of its tailpipe. She got out smiling as usual and excitedly pointed toward the storm that seemed to be moving toward us. "I can't stay long, Nilda. There's a storm coming and I need to beat it home." I was glad to see her. "Yes, I think we're in for some bad weather. Come on in and have a cup of coffee at least," I said as I took her into our kitchen. "I'm so excited, Nilda! You'll never guess what I just did!" I stopped pouring the coffee and turned and looked at her. "I just went over to Edinburg and registered for junior college," she said and looked at me and smiled. "Don't you want to go take classes with me?" I was astonished. I didn't know what to say. How could I go to college? I didn't have any money. I gave Chatita a cup of coffee. "I don't know. I don't think I can. Isn't college expensive?" Chatita sat down at the table and began adding sugar to her coffee. "Not really, and I'm working part-time at the packing shed on Canal Road. You could work there, too." The wind began to gust causing the house to occasionally make sounds and shake. The lightbulb hanging over the table flashed off and on and I heard a low roll of thunder in the distance. I hesitantly asked, "Do you think I could get a job at the packing shed?" "Sure. My cousin is the boss. He'll give you a job." Mama came into the kitchen and exchanged greetings with Chatita. She must have heard our conversation. "I think it's nice that you're going to go to college, Chatita. What will you study?" my mother asked as she joined us at the table. "I want to be a teacher." "A teacher! How nice!" Mama said as she patted Chatita's arm. "A teacher?" I asked. "Don't you need a degree?" "You can start teaching before you get your degree. Clarence Duncan has been teaching in Brownsville since last year and I think Zulema will start this year." The lightbulb blinked again and went out. Mama quickly arose from the table. "I'm going to have to bring in the lanterns. I knew I shouldn't have packed them away." "Well, Nilda, do you want to go? Because, if you do, you can go over to Edinburg with me tomorrow." I hesitated, then said, "Yes. I want to go." My heart was beating fast. I couldn't believe how happy I was feeling. "But I have to talk to Mama and Papa. What if they won't let me?" "You can at least go with me tomorrow and find out what it's all about. I'll come by for you around eight." Chatita left me sitting at the table staring at my cup of coffee. It seemed so unreal, this idea of me going to college. My parents had never had the opportunity for much education. Juana had quit school to get married and Roberto and Zeke had graduated from high school as I had. But college? I would be the first one in my family to go to college. Yes, college was exactly what I wanted. The day had turned dark and the rain had started. My mother came back into the kitchen with two lanterns. "Mama, I need to ask you something." She picked up a cloth and began to clean the dust from the lanterns. She looked at me and smiled. "Mama, if I could find a way to pay, could I take classes at the junior college?" I asked, trying to control my excitement. She stopped cleaning and raised her eyebrows. "What would you study, my daughter?" "I think I want to be a teacher," I quietly replied. Mama sat down at the table across from me. "Then, I would like for you to go to college," she said in a serious tone. "What about Papa? Do you think he will allow me to go?" "Your father wants you to be happy. If going to college and being a teacher makes you happy, then he will probably allow it," she answered. I didn't say anything. I was enjoying the feeling of happiness and sense of wonder that had come over me. The two of us sat in the darkened room without speaking until I saw my mama rubbing her eyes with the edge of her apron. "What's wrong, Mama." "Nothing," she replied. "I probably got some dust in my eyes. That's all." The real reason for Mama's tears is most likely because she is _ . A. proud that Nilda wants to become a teacher B. concerned about missing Nilda once she leaves C. worried her husband will stop Nilda from leaving D. happy that Nilda can work at a job with her friend Answer: A. proud that Nilda wants to become a teacher
A newly enacted state criminal statute provides, in its entirety, "No person shall utter to another person in a public place any annoying, disturbing, or unwelcome language." Smith followed an elderly woman for three blocks down a public street, yelling in her ear offensive four-letter words. The woman repeatedly asked Smith to leave her alone, but he refused. In the subsequent prosecution of Smith, the first under this statute, Smith A can be convicted. B cannot be convicted, because speech of the sort described here may not be punished by the state because of the First and Fourteenth Amendments. C cannot be convicted, because, though his speech here may be punished by the state, the state may not do so under this statute. D cannot be convicted, because the average user of a public street would think his speech/action here was amusing and ridiculous rather than "annoying," etc Answer: C Hannah was born and raised in a poor framily. She wore hand -me -downs from her older sisters.For Christmas she usually got used toys and books .As a chilld ,she wanted to have the beautiful clothes ,cars ,and homes that she often saw on TV and in magazines. Five years after college,she became a manager.Her dream came true.She had her own company near Central Park.She took skiing vacations in the winter and travelled by ship in the summer .At the age of 30,Hannah was on top of the world. Then she had her usual health check-up.Her doctor told her that she had a serious illness.Her doctor guessed that she had less than a year to live. He advised ,"If you have any once -in -a-life time plans,do them now." Hannah spent her last months in her company.She was looked after by hospice workers.Her family and friends often visited her .The moment before she died ,she opened her eyes and said,"If you have your health,you have everything." What is the most importeant thing for people according to Hannah's last words? A Money. B Time. C Health. D Friends. Answer: C During all this time I never stopped thinking about escape. When I traveled across to the other side of the island, I could see the other islands, and I said to myself, "Perhaps I can get there with a boat. Perhaps I can get back to England one day." So I decided to make myself a boat. I cut down a big tree, and then began to make a long hole in it. It was hard work, but about six months later, I had a very fine canoe . Next, I had to get it down to the sea. How silly I was! Why didn't I think before I began work? Of course, the canoe was too heavy. I couldn't move it! I pulled and pushed and tried everything, but it didn't move. I was very unhappy for a long time after that. That happened in my fourth year on the island. In my sixth year I did make myself a smaller canoe, but I did not try to escape in it. The boat was too small for a long journey, and I did not want to die at sea. The island was my home now, not my prison, and I was just happy to be alive. A year or two later, I made myself a second canoe on the other side of the island. I also built myself a second house there, and so I had two homes. My life was still busy from morning to night. There were always things to do or to make. I learnt to make new clothes for myself from the skins of dead animals. They looked very strange, it is true, but they kept me dry in the rain. I kept food and tools at both my houses, and also wild goats. There were many goats on the island, and I made fields with high fences to keep them in. They learnt to take food from me, and soon I had goats' milk to drink every day. I also worked hard in my corn fields. And so many years went by. From the story, we can learn that _ . A the writer tried to make his stay comfortable on the island B the writer had nothing to do on the wild island C the writer tried to escape in the second canoe, but failed D the writer was in prison on the island, losing his freedom Answer: A Because sulfur cannot be decomposed by simple chemical methods into two or more different substances, it is classified as A an element. B a compound. C a mixture. D a molecule. Answer: A 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. . Does Mrs. Green buy a bag of rice? A Yes, she does. B No, she doesn't . C Yes, she is. D We don't know. Answer: A
A 2-year-od boy is being described as a hero after using Face Time to save his mother after she was badly hurt. According to a report from KGUN, Laura was trying to stop a fight between two dogs when one of the dogs bit part of her middle finger almost completely off. Laura tried to call 911 herself, but she said her hands were too badly hurt to make the call. " I asked my daughters to call 911, and they're four, and they were quite afraid to even touch the phone, because it was covered in my blood ," Laura told KGUN. The mother continued to lose a lot of blood and thought she would go into a deep sleep--until her 2-year-old son Bentley came up with a dishcloth from the kitchen. After cleaning some of the bold off his mother's iPhone, Bentley continued to use Face Time to call Laura's friend Connie. "All I could see was his little forehead. I said 'Hi Bentley' and it was quiet for a little bit. Then I heard Laura shouting," Connie told KGUN. Connie then called 911, and Bentley unlocked the door to let firefighters into the house. Laura told KGUN she is very thankful for her little hero and has since taught all of her children how to call 911. The passage is probably taken from _ . A a newspaper B a poster C a science magazine D a guidebook Answer: A Old age may not sound exciting.But recent findings offer good news for older pepole and for people worried about getting older. Researches found that people become happier and experience less worry after they reach the age of fifty.In fact,they say by the age of eighty--five,people are happier with their life than they were when they were eighteen years old. The findings came from a survey of more than 340,000 adults in the United States.The Gallup Organization questioned them by telephone in 2008.At that time,the people were between the ages of eighteen and eighty--five.The searches asked questions about emotions like happiness,sadness and worry.They also asked about mental or emotional stress. Arthur Stone in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stony Brook University in New York led the study.His team found that levels of stress were highest among adults between the ages of twenty--two and twenty--five.The findings showed that stress levels dropped sharply after people reached their fifties.Happiness was highest among the youngest adults and those in their early seventies.The people least likely to report feeling negative emotions were those in their seventies and eighties. The study also showed that men and women had similar emotional patterns as they grew older.Hower,women at all ages reported more sadness,stress and worry than men.Researchers say they do not know why happiness increases as people get older.One theory is that,as people grow older,they grow more thankful for what they have and have better control of their emotion .They also spend less time thinking about bad experiences. The researchers also considered possible influences like having young children,being unemployed or being single.But they found that influences like these did not affect the levels of happiness and well--being related to age. Which one is NOT related to the happiness of old people? A Less stress B .Away from working C Controlling of emotions D More thankfulness Answer: B Dissolving sucrose makes liquids A hot B dry C sweet D cold Answer: C Left unfettered , Anthony Konieczka, 9 years old, would happily play his Game Boy Advance or PlayStation 2 from the minute he gets up to the moment he goes to bed, 14 bleary-eyed hours later. Anthony's box is stocked with traditional toys--board games, puzzles, art supplies--and as far as he is concerned, they are relics of Christmases past. His sister Michaely, 6 years old, still likes dressing her Barbies. But once she starts playing Game Boy, it's hard to get her away. Play patterns like this could take up another Christmas for the toy department. Through September, toy sales were down 5% compared with the first nine months of last year, according to the NDP Group. Meanwhile, the video-game industry is heading for another record year. Thanks to hot new games like Halo 2 for the Xbox, the industry is light-years ahead of the toy business when it comes out. While some new toys emerge every holiday season, toymakers are heading into this one without a monster hit . Indeed, there has not been a Furby-style frenzy in years. Of 10 toy segments only two, arts and crafts and dolls, have generated sales growth over a recent 12-month period. Some of the weakest categories like construction sets and action figures are the ones aimed at boys, who suffer the most from the video games. Analysts expect one of the top stocking stuffers this season to be not a traditional toy but the new generation of Nintendo's Game Boy, the DS, which hit stores last week. The deeper issue is that shifts in play patterns are forcing toymakers to fight for shelf space in a tightening market. Boys in particular seem to be abandoning traditional toys at earlier ages in favor of consumer electronics, video games, PC software and the Internet. The fact that kids are growing more tech-savvy , a trend called "age compression ", has troubled toy companies for at least a decade. Action figures, for instance, used to be considered healthy for boys up to age 12. Now the items are mainly marketed to boys 4 to 6. A recent study found that nearly half of the US children start on video games at 4 to 5 years old--and 20% at age 3 or younger. Toy companies, of course, have long seen this trend. Several of the toys expected to sell well this season are, in fact, those that involve video gaming and DVD technologies. Mattel's Fisher-Price introduced a game system called InteracTV this year, featuring DVDs with characters like Dora the explorer. Hasbro came out with a portable color1 video player called VideoNow and has been putting classic games like Battleship and Yahtzee into hand-held electronic format. We learn from the passage that in this holiday season . A it is hard to find traditional toys in the market B toymakers are planning to design monster toys C no hit toys will come onto the market D Furby will become popular among children Answer: C The latest beliefs are that the main purposes of sleep are to enable the body to rest, allowing time for repairs to take place and for tissue to be regenerated . Lack of sleep, however, can compromise the immune system, cause depression and promote anxiety. For many people, lack of sleep is rarely anything of choice. Some have problems getting to sleep, others with staying asleep until the morning. Despite popular belief that sleep is one long event, research shows that, in an average night, there are five stages of sleep. In the first light stage, the heart rate and blood pressure go down and the muscles relax. In the next two stages, sleep gets progressively deeper. In stage four, usually reached after an hour, the slumber is so deep that, if awoken, the sleeper would be confused and disorientated. It is in this state that sleep-walking can occur, lasting no more than 15 minutes. In the fifth stage, the rapid eye movement (REM) stage, the eyes move constantly beneath closed lids as if the sleeper is looking at something. During this stage, the body is almost paralysed . This REM stage is also the time when we dream.[:Z#xx#k.Com] Sleeping patterns change with age. One theory for the age-related change is that it is due to hormonal changes. The temperature rise occurs at daybreak in the young, but at three or four in the morning in the elderly. Age aside, it is estimated that roughly one in three people suffer some kind of sleep disturbance. Causes can be anything from pregnancy, smoking, and stress to alcohol and heart disease. Apart from self-help therapy such as regular exercise, there are psychological treatments, including relaxation training and therapy aimed at getting rid of pre-sleep worries and anxieties. Medication is regarded by many as a last option and often takes the form of sleeping pills. What's the best title of this passage? A Lack of Sleep B Change of Sleep C Patterns of Sleep D Benefits of Sleep Answer: A
Question: Mr. Clinton and his 13-year-old son Tony are baseball fans. Last October 10th was Tony's birthday, so Mr. Clinton decided to drive him to New York, for the first game of the World Series . They had no ticket but hoped to buy a pair from others. After they arrived, they walked in the street for two hours, carrying a sign, "We need two tickets." Then they found the cheapest ticket was $200. They were about to leave when suddenly a man stopped them. He took out two tickets and handed them to Mr. Clinton. "How much do you want?" "Just a present." said the man, "Enjoy the game." Mr. Clinton wouldn't accept, so the man explained, "I'm Jackson. Hans is my boss. He and his wife haven't missed a World Series in 18 years. But he is ill and can't watch the game this time. So he told me to give the two tickets to people who would actually enjoy the game. Then I saw you and I followed you for a while. You seemed very sad. You made me think of my dad and me when I was a child. I dreamed of going to a World Series game with my father. But my dream never came true." How do you suppose this made Mr. Clinton and his son feel? Here is what Mr. Clinton said: "This is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to us. My boy and I must have turned to each other over 30 times and said, 'I can't believe this.' We still never forget Jackson and Hans." What's the best title for this passage? A. A special present. B. A helpful boss. C. A wonderful game. D. An excellent dream. Answer: A Question: We all know about this famous Kitty. She has no mouth,and she wasn't born out of a TV show or a video game. So how did this cute character become popular? How did she change the world? Hello Kitty was created in Japan in 1974.Sanrio,a company in Japan,was working for a new character to put on their new purse. The first picture of Hello Kitty was introduced on November 1.She was so cute that it became popular soon in Japan and all over the world. Hello Kitty is only a character,but she has a story of her own. Her full name is Kitty White,and she's even not a Japanese. She lives in the countryside outside London with her family--George White,Mary White and her twin sister Mimmy. Hello Kitty wears a red bow on her left ear while Mimmy wears a yellow bow on her right ear. Kitty loves goldfish and baking cookies,but her favourite thing is to eat her mum's apple pie! She also loves stars and candies too.She is in the 3rd grade and she weighs as much as three apples but is five apples tall.She even had a blood (.) type,which is A. Hello Kitty's appearance hasn't changed much,though she turned 40 on November 1,2014. Hello Kitty became popular because of _ . A. a Japanese story B. a video game C. her picture on a purse D. a TV show Answer: C Question: Experts say that agriculture provides fourteen percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions each year. The gases released include carbon dioxide, a major cause of global warming. Twenty-one nations around the world recently joined forces to better understand and prevent greenhouse gas emissions from farms. The Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases was launched at the United Nations conference on climate change. The meeting took place in Copenhagen,Denmark last month. Agricultural experts blame a number of farm activities for producing greenhouse gases. For example, animal waste and cattle digestive systems release methane(,) gas. Fertilized soil and the burning of crop waste also release harmful gases into the air. Experts say some methods of farming---turning the soil to prepare for planting---also release harmful carbon dioxide. An official of the European Commission's Directorate Genera1 for Research says agricultural greenhouse gas emissions can be cut. Maive Rute suggests feeding animals a diet designed to reduce emissions. The new agricultural research group says protecting against global warming is only part of its purpose. It says the world also needs to develop better farming methods to feed growing populations in poor countries. United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said no one single nation can fight agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and increase food production at the same time. This is why the _ e is important for combining resources and finding new ones. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will increases spending on farm emissions research by ninety million dollars over the next four years. The total will reach one hundred thirty million dollars. The USDA will share the research with other countries in the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases and support researchers from developing countries that belong to the alliance. Money from the Borlaug Fellowship program will let the researchers study agricultural climate change with American scientists. Mister Vilsack said that just as climate change has no borders , there should be no borders for research. How much has the USDA spent on farm emissions research so far? A. 130 million dollars. B. 220 million dollars C. 40 million dollars. D. 90 million dollars. Answer: C Question: Sodium chloride, commonly called "table salt," is made up of sodium and chlorine that have been combined chemically. Which term best describes sodium chloride? A. Acid B. Atom C. Element D. Compound Answer: D Question: Monthly Talks at London Canal Museum Our monthly talks start at 19:30 on the first Thursday of each month except August. Admission is at normal charges and you don't need to book. They end around 21:00. November 7th The Canal Pioneers, by Chris Lewis. James Brindley is recognized as one of the leading early canal engineers. He was also a major player in training others in the art of canal planning and building. Chris Lewis will explain how Brindley made such a positive contribution to the education of that group of early "civil engineers". December 5th Ice for the Metropolis, by Malcolm Tucker. Well before the arrival of freezers, there was a demand for ice for food preservation and catering, Malcolm will explain the history of importing natural ice and the technology of building ice wells, and how London's ice trade grew. February 6th An Update on the Cotswold Canals, by Liz Payne. The Stroudwater Canal is moving towards reopening. The Thames and Severn Canal will take a little longer. We will have a report on the present state of play. March 6th Eyots and Aits-Thames Islands, by Miranda Vickers. The Thames had many islands. Miranda has undertaken a review of all of them. She will tell us about those of greatest interest. Online bookings:www.canalmuseum.org.uk/book More info:www.canalmuseum.org.uk/whatson London Canal Museum 12-13 New Wharf Road, London NI 9RT www.canalmuseum.org.uk www.canalmuseum.mobi Tel:020 7713 0836 Who will give the talk on the islands in the Thames? A. Chris Lewis B. Malcolm Tucker C. Miranda Vickers D. Liz Payne Answer: C
A young man was in love with a beautiful girl .One day the girl said to him ,"It is my birthday tomorrow ". "Oh ",said the young man ,"I'll send you roses, and one rose for each year of your life." The same evening he went to the flower shop . As he knew the girl was twenty-two years old, he paid for twenty-two roses and asked the shop assistant to send them to the girl the next day . The assistant of the flower shop knew the young man very well as he often bought flowers in his shop before . When the young man left the shop , the assistant thought ,"The young man is very kind to me .He often comes to buy my flowers . In return I'll send ten more roses." He did so . The next morning thirty-two roses were sent to the girl . When the young man came to see her , she didn't want to speak to him . And he never knew why she was so angry with him . From this story we know that _ Answer: one may do something wrong even out of kindness Australia is largely a nation of immigration , with one in four of Australia's 21 million population born overseas. But immigrations hoping to become Australian citizens will soon have to take a test examining their knowledge of the country's history and institutions. While Australia prides itself on its multicultural background, the government wants newcomers to integrate more fully . Form later this year, new immigrants will have to show an understanding of the English language. They will also be required to answer 20 questions from a list of 200. Anyone who gives fewer than 12 correct responses will not be accepted. Immigrants will also have to accept what the government considers to be 10 important Australia values, including "mateship" and "giving people a fair go". Other important Australia values are said to include tolerance, compassion, gender equality and freedom of speech. The new citizenship application procedures are detailed in a 40-pages booklet . It describes Australia as "a nation at ease with the world and itself" but says that newcomers are expected to respect its values. The booklet sums up mateship as voluntary helping and receiving help from others, especially in difficult times. The immigration Minister said they aimed to achieve a balance between ethnic diversity and social stability , "particularly as we now draw people from so many different countries and so many different cultures". Critics have attacked the English language requirement, pointing out many immigrants could not speak English when they arrived. But the minister said, "We are trying to encourage people to learn English, because we think that is the way they will achieve their dreams in Australia." Which is one of the reasons for the change of application? Answer: To promote Australia ' values It's not polite to arrive at a dinner party more than 15 to 20 minutes late. The host or hostess usually waits for all the guests to arrive before serving the meal. If someone is late, the food may be spooked , and so might the host of hostess's spirit. If you will have to be late, call and tell them to start without you. It's even worse to be early !the host or hostess will probably not be ready. If you are early, drive or walk around the block a few minutes, or just sit in your car until the right time. Though it's often important to arrive at a party on time, yet on the other hand, for open houses, he host or hostess invites guests to arrive and leave between certain times, so you can arrive at any time within the times he or she gives you. It's nice to bring an empty stomach, but it's even nicer to bring a small present. The present should not cost a lot, or you might embarrass the host or hostess. Flowers, wine, or a box of candy will do fine. Never bring more as a present. In an introduction, the order of a name is (1)the given name, (2)the family name. In other words, the given name comes first. It's important not only to learn and remember names, but to repeat them often in conversation. After the introduction, we usually call friends by their given names. Older people may want you to call them by their titles and family names, such as "Mr.Jones", "Mr.Smith","Ms.Johson",or "Dr.Brown". A maiden name is a woman's family name at birth. In the United States and Canada, after a woman marries, she takes the family name of her husband in place of her maiden name. It is now becoming common, however, for women to keep their maiden names after they get married. If you find you will have to be late for a finer party, you should _ Answer: call and tell the host or the hostess not to wait for you If you go to Hawaii, you can stay at the Garden Hotel. When you go there for holiday, you will find everything as comfortable as you would expect in a first-class international hotel. Every bedroom has its own bathroom, telephone, special tables and colourful, modern sofa. In the Mitsui Restaurant, you can choose your meals from different dishes, both Eastern and European. You can also find the dishes anywhere in the country. In the Beach Bar, you can drink with your family and friends comfortably to the music of famous musicians . Or you can take your drink outside into the beautiful garden of the hotel. You can also swim in the swimming pool. In the hotel, you will find _ . It will not take you a long time to wait for your service. The Garden Hotel is right on the beach, only five minutes on foot from Hawaii's modern shopping centre. Here you will find all things at prices you can agree. The Waikiki Beachside Hotel is also one of the most famous hotels in Hawaii. Beachside Hotel is close to restaurants, bars, Honolullu nightlife, Waikiki beaches, Oahu and all of the Hawaii adventure activities! We are sure that your stay here at our Waikiki Beachside Hotel will be the best stay you have in Hawaii or the world. The Mitsui Restaurant has _ . Answer: both Eastern and Western food Cleaner Wanted Here is a job in Lanzarote for anyone suitable. Mrs. Smith is looking for a person to clean her home three times a week. If you want this job, you can email her at kerry@movistar.ner. Salesperson Wanted A position has opened for a part-time shop assistant. The assistant is needed to work for about three hours every morning, six days a week in a fashion jewellery shop. You need to be able to speak at least one language (English or German) and Spanish. Please email janer@the-tdgroup.com. Chef Wanted The Cutty Sark is seeking a new chef. The applicant must have experience and be able to start working immediately. A full-time chef is required to work about 37.6-45 hours per week. If you are interested , please come to see Mark or Rebecca at the Cutty Sark pub or call 650316301. A School Student Needed Montana Villas and Polls in Playa Blanca is seeking a school student to show rooms to their customers in summer. Any applicant must be fluent in both English and Spanish. The minimum age of the student is sixteen, and the work days are from Monday to Saturday. This is to run through July and August, and the first couple of weeks in September. To apply for this position, email info@mvplanzarote.com. Part-time Person Needed Tots To Travel is looking for a part-time salesperson. The applicant needs to be confident in sales and more importantly, he or she must have the ability to work with computers. Please contact us via email at penny@totstofrance.co.uk. Which of the following positions requires work experience? Answer: The chef in the Cutty Sark.
Are you afraid of tests? What will you do to prepare for a test? The following suggestions will be helpful. Pay attention to what your teacher gives about a coming test. Write down exactly what you will be tested on. Knowing what the test will cover is half done. Make a review list that includes important points from class and reading material. Then your studying notes will be in one place. What's more, rewriting the material will help you to remember it. Don't cram !Test preparation begins the first day of class, so keep on doing your reading and homework. Then you just need to review for the test--not learn all the materials. If you wait until the night before to try to learn everything, you will only put more stress on yourself. Get a good night's sleep before the test, but if you can't, don't be awake the whole night. Research shows that getting at least four hours of sleep produces the better test results. Eat a healthy breakfast to keep your mind sharp . Avoid sugar, as it will weaken your ability to concentrate . Cramming will make it difficult for students to _ . Answer: In 1933 an unknown American called Clarence Nash went to see the film-maker Walter Disney. He had an unusual voice and he wanted to work in Disney's cartoon film for children. When Walter Disney heard Nash's voice, he said, "Stop! That's our duck!" The duck was the now-famous Donald Duck, who first appeared in 1934 in the film, The Wise Little Hen. Donald lived in an old houseboat and worn his sailor jacket and hat. Later that year he became a star after an eight minute Mickey Mouse film. The cinema audiences liked him because he was lazy and greedy, and because he lost his temper very easily. And they loved his voice when he became angry with Mickey's eight nephews. Soon Donald was more popular than Mickey Mouse himself, probably because he wasn't a goody-goody, like Mickey. In the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, Donald and his friends Mickey, Goofy and Pluto made hundreds of Disney cartoons. He also made educational film about the place of the USA in the world, and safety in the home. Then in 1966 Donald Duck and his voice disappeared--there were no more new cartoons. Clarence Nash died in February, 1985. But today's Children can still see the old cartoons on the television and hear that famous voice. Who was Clarence Nash? Answer: By the time we finished, herring covered the bottom of the boat as deep as my calves . For the first time in days, my father seemed happy as a herring choker . Then he looked at the western sky, and his smile faded. The storms were sweeping out of Canada hard and fast. No one could predict their arrival. All fishermen feared them. "We're going back," my father said. He pulled the cord and started the motor. We were only two miles out, but the shoreline looked to me as far away as the moon. Over the distant hills, black clouds ran toward us like wild horses. We made it only halfway home before we met the storm. The wind came first. It lifted the lake in whitecaps. The weight of the herring made us ride low in the water, and the waves broke over our bow. My father struggled to hold us on course. I'd put on my raincoat, but I had no life jacket. Then the rain fell so hard we couldn't see the land. The boat was filling with water. I was scared, but I saw my father sitting straight, holding the boat steady into the wind, and I felt hopeful. He didn't look hurt at all. I was starting to think we were going to make it. That's when the motor died. My father pulled the cord hard, but the motor wouldn't catch. We would go down in no time. "Grab an oar ," he cried above the wind. He always carried two oars for just such a moment. We began to pull hard. My father grunted, from pain or effort I couldn't tell. He dug his oar into the violent lake and bowed into the wind again. With all my strength, I pulled on my own oar. _ I was tired. My arms felt heavy and on fire. I didn't know how much longer I could push that oar through the water. As if he heard my thinking, my father called to me, "I need you, Karl. Only a little longer." So I kept rowing. Just when I thought I had no more strength, I heard it. The sound of waves breaking against the shore. We moved into the shelter of our small cove and rode the swells toward the landing. My mother rushed through the rain to greet us. "I've been so worried," she said. She hugged me and then my father. "Nothing to worry about," he assured her. He put his hand on my shoulder. "You did well, son. How do you feel?" Tired as I was, I managed a smile. "I feel like a herring choker." The author's father decided to go back because _ . Answer: It's Sunday morning. My family are all at home. My father is sitting near the window. He's reading newspapers. He wants to know what h appens all over the world. My mother is watering the flowers in the small garden. My brother is a worker. He's watching TV. He's a basketball fanAnd he is good at p laying basketball. Now he is watching NBA on TV. Where are my twin sisters? Oh, look! Lily is listening to music. She likes popular music very much. Lucy is surfing the Internet in her room. She often writes emails to her friends. What am I doing? I am doing my homework . ,A, B, C, D What are the twin sisters doing? Answer: Which process moves an ion across a cell membrane against the concentration gradient? Answer:
Riding School: You can start horse-riding at any age. Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. (3:30p.m. on Saturday). 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: 9:00a.m.---8:30 p.m. Phone: (412) 396---6754 Fax: (412)396---6752 Sailing Club: Our Young Sailor's Course leads to the Stage 1 Sailing qualification.You'll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid.Have fun with other course member , afterwards in the clubroom.There are 10 weekly two-hour 1essons (Tuesdays 6 p.m.~8 Pp.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 your own 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 are 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 9a.m. to 4 p.m. with lessons all through the day. Opening Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00a.m. ---4:00 p.m. Phone: (412)396---6899 Fax: (412)396---6890 If you want to swim and enjoy activities which are fast and a bit dangerous,you should join _ . A. Watersports Club B. Diving Centre C. Sailing Club D. Riding School Answer: A. Watersports Club Honesty comes in many forms. First there's self-honesty. Is what people see the real article or do you appear through smoke and mirrors? I find that if I try to be something I'm not, I feel unsure of myself and take out a part from my PBA (personal bank account). I love how singer Judy Garland put it, "Always be a first-class version of yourself, instead of a second-class version of somebody else." Then there's honesty in our actions. Are you honest at school, with your parents, and with your boss? If you've ever been dishonest, I think we all have. Try being honest, and notice how well it makes you feel. Remember, you can't do wrong and feel right. This story by Jeff is a good example of that: In my second year of study, there were three kids in my math class who didn't do well. I was really good at it. I would charge them three dollars for each test that I helped them pass. I'd write on a little piece of paper all the right answers, and hand them off. At first I felt like I was making money, kind of a nice job. I wasn't thinking about how it could hurt all of us. After a while I realized I shouldn't do that anymore, because I wasn't really helping them. They weren't learning anything, and it would only get harder down the road. Cheating certainly wasn't helping me. It takes courage to be honest when people all around you are getting away with cheating on tests, lying to their parents, and stealing at work. But, remember, every act of honesty is a deposit into your PBA and will build strength. What does the author expect to show by Jeff's story? A. Honesty can be of great help. B. A bad thing can be turned into a good one. C. Helping others cheat can do good to nobody. D. One should realize the wrong in his bad deeds. Answer: D. One should realize the wrong in his bad deeds. Cameron thought of himself as merely organized. He certainly did not consider that he took great pains over anything, he did just enough to get it right. Exactly right, of course, for as he was fond of telling his staff, "if it's not exactly right, it's wrong". Occasionally a worker might be sad on hearing these words, because it meant another hour or so of going over the same bit of work, correcting the mistakes which Cameron had patiently pointed out. And doing the corrections exactly right of course. Strangely enough, his department had the reputation for performing the highest quality work in the company, and it was seen, and not only by those who worked in the department, as a sort of elite unit. Those programmes that had to work first time, straight out of the box, Cameron's men got those. "It's mission critical--give it to Cameron" was almost a catch-phrase with his team. It helped that Cameron was not merely particular about things. He wanted things done just so, not because of a personal taste, but because he had discovered through patient experimentation that this was the best way for it to be done. In Cameron's dictionary, "Take as long as you want" meant that you could work on your task not just in office hours, but that evening, and late into the early hours of the following morning if you so desired. But the project had to be in by its completion date, and yes, done exactly right. Or you did it again. But he would always be regarded, and not least by himself, as someone who had failed to meet requirements, one of those _ . You had to face it, if you were not working for Cameron, you were second best. So when word got out that Cameron had messed up, big time, the news was greeted with a mixture of sympathy, and entire relief that this perfection too was human. Working for Cameron, people felt that _ . A. they were part of an elite B. their mission was critical C. Cameron was very particular about things D. Cameron was patient and responsible Answer: A. they were part of an elite This is a teacher's family. The father's name is Lake Smith. He's forty - four. The mother's name is Kate Green. She's forty - two. The Smiths have a son, Jim, and a daughter, Ann. Jim is fourteen, and Ann is twelve. The son looks like his father, and the daughter looks like her mother. They are all in No.4 Middle School. But the Smiths are teachers; the son and daughter are students. Are Jim and Ann in the same school? ---- _ . A. They are not at school B. They are in different schools C. Yes, they are D. No, they aren't Answer: C. Yes, they are Whether you admit or not, music is rooted in our daily life, weaving its beauty and emotion through our thoughts, activities and memories. So if you're interested in music theory, music appreciation, Beethoven, Mozart, artists and performers, we hope you'll spend some time here and learn from those music articles of note for all ages and tastes. When I first started studying the history of music, I did not realize what I was getting into. I had thought that music history was somewhat of an unimportant pursuit . In fact, I only took my history of classical music class because I needed the credits . I did not realize how really attractive music history was. You see, in our culture many of us do not really learn to understand music. When I began to learn about the history of Western music, however, it changed all that for me. When most of us think about the history of music, we think of the history of rock music, we _ that the history is simple because the music is simple. In fact, neither is the case, The history of music, whether you're talking about classical music, rock music, jazz music, or any other kind, is never simple. Even when the class was over, I would not stop learning about the history of music. It had attracted my interest, and I wanted more. What is the author's purpose in writing the text? A. To advise readers to learn about music. B. To show he has a good knowledge of music. C. To ask readers to share their experience. D. To prove that music has a long history. Answer: A. To advise readers to learn about music.
Which would be considered a learned behavior? Answer: The sun causes what to happen to water at a more rapid pace when heat is added? Answer: Nutrients in soil Answer: Dear Died, Today I was at the shopping centre and I spent a lot of time reading the Father's Day cards. But as I chose add read, and chose add read again, it seemed that not a single card said what I really wanted to you. You'll soon be 84 years old, Dad,and you and I will have had 56 Father's Days together. I didn't think that you were too old. But the sad thing happened last week. I watched as you turned at the corner in your car. I didn't realize at once that it was you because _ who was driving looked so elderly. Fifty years ago this spring, we planted carrots together in a garden in Charles City, Iowa. This week, we'll plant carrots together again, perhaps for the last time but I hope not. I don't understand why planting carrots with you is so important to me. Well, I don't quite know how to tell you this, dad ... I don't like carrots.... but I like planting them with you. I guess what am trying to say, Dad, is what every son and daughter wants to say to their dad today. Praising a father on Father's Day is about more than a dad who brings home, money or shares a dinner. It's more about a dad deeply loving children who know everything and won't listen to anyone. It's about sharing. It's about loving someone more than words can say, and I wish that it would never end. Lover, Jenny How old is Jenny now? Answer: There are many kinds of cars in the world. My grandmother thinks that is because cars are like their drivers. She says, "Rich people have expensive cars, big people have large cars, and old people have old cars," But I don't agree with her. My neighbor, Mrs. Hill, is 82 years old. She drives only on Tuesday, and she drives only to the bank. She never drives more than 30 kilometers an hour. Do you think Mrs. Hill has a very old and small car? No! Her car is new. It is very large and it can go 200 kilometers an hour! My friend Mike is an artist. He draws beautiful pictures with a lot of colors. But his car is black! Mrs. Bates has a very old car. It often has engine trouble. Does she have that kind of car because she is very poor? No, she has four factories and two million dollars in the bank. My aunt Mary has a car. Every Sunday, she drives to the country with her husband, her three children , her mother and their dog. Now you read about my friends and their cars. Do you agree with my grandmother? My grandmother thinks _ . Answer:
There are some topics that readers never grow bored with, and the search for a suitable partner is one of them. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, first published in 1813, tells the story of five young women, all of whom are looking for a husband. In order to fully understand the novel, the readers must know that at the time when Jane Austen was writing, if a family was not rich, the daughters needed to marry well in order to live a comfortable, independent life. That is the reason why Mrs Bennet, the mother of the five girls, is so eager to have her daughters married. The heroine of the story is Elizabeth Bennet, and as in all good romantic novels, she and Darcy, the man she finally marries, remain separate until the very end of the story. The wealthy Darcy is a proud, unsociable man, and when Elizabeth hears that he has insulted both her and her family, she dislikes him very much. Poor Darcy then falls head over heels in love with Elizabeth, and has to work terribly hard to persuade her to change her mind about him. He succeeds of course, and they live happily ever after. Set at the turn of the 19th century, the novel is still attractive to modern readers. It has become one of the most popular novels and receives great attention from literary scholars .Modern interest in the book has resulted in a number of dramas and a lot of novels and stories modeling after Austen's memorable characters or themes. To date, the book has sold some 20 million copies worldwide. Jane Austen is rightly famous for her style. Her sentences have a wonderful rhythm , and she makes such clever, true comments about people. It is not surprising that Pride and Prejudice has lasted. What do we know about Elizabeth and Darcy? Just as the English language has changed quickly in the previous century, so has the use of it. After the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was founded in 1927, the particular style of speech of the BBC announcers was recognized as standard English or Received Pronunciation (RP) English. Now, most people still consider that the pronunciation and delivery of BBC announcers is the clearest and most understandable spoken English. English has had a strong relationship with classes and social positions. However, since the Second World War there has been a clear change of attitude towards speech snobbery , and marks of class distinction such as styles of speech have been gradually diminishing, especially in the younger generation. By the end of the 1960s, it had become clear that it was not necessary to speak standard English or even correct grammar to become popular, successful and rich. The fashionable speech of the day was no longer the special right of a special class but rather a defiant expression of classlessness. The greatest single influence of the shaping of the English language in modern times is the American English. Over the last 25 years the English used by many people, particularly by those in the media, advertising and show business, has become more and more mid-Atlantic in style, delivery and accent. In the 1970s, fashion favored careless pronunciation and a language full of jargon, slang and "in" words, a great quantity of which couldn't be understood by the outside world. What is considered modern and fashionable in Britain today is often not the kind of English taught in schools and colleges. According to the author, there was a trend in the US for young people _ . Everyone wants to have a healthy heart. Still, heart diseases affect more than 1 in 3 adults in the United States. The good news is that some simple, everyday habits can make a big difference in your ability to live a healthy lifestyle. Here are some worst habits for your heart, and how to avoid them. Watching TV Sitting for hours on end increases your risk of heart attack and stroke ,"some exercise doesn't make up for the time you sit,"says Harmony R. Reynolds, Why? The lack of movement may affect blood levels of fats and sugars. Dr. Reynolds advises walking around regularly and, if you're at work, standing up to talk on the phone. Leaving hostility and depression unchecked Are you feeling stressed or sad? It can do harm to your heart. While everyone feels this way some of the time, how you handle these emotions can affect your heart health."Those with stress are in greater danger; research has shown a benefit to laughter and social support," Dr. Reynolds says. "And it's helpful to be able to go to someone and talk about your problems." Cutting off from the world It's no secret that on some days, other human beings can seem annoying and too difficult to get along with. However, it makes sense to strengthen your connections to the ones you actually like. People with stronger connections to family, friends, and society in general tend to live longer, healthier lives. Everyone needs alone time, but you should still reach out to others and keep in touch whenever you can. Drinking (too much) alcohol Sure, studies suggest a small amount of alcohol may be good for your heart. However, too many of us drink over. Too much alcohol is linked to a greater risk of high blood pressure, high levels of blood fats, and heart failure. Which of the following is bad for those with stress and sadness? Ask runners why they run and you'll get a variety of answers; to stay healthy or to feel better. Some have an even bigger reasonto stay calm or out of prison. But Back on My Feet puts recovering addicts and the homeless on the road to a brighter future, starting with a simple step; attending group runs three tunes a week. At 5:30 a.m. on a hot July day, Back on My Feet's Team Brooklyn gathered in a parking lot. After a round of hugs and some warm-up, the group of eight volunteers and seven residents set out on a run to nearby Prospect Park. Some ran three miles, some longer, but the goal for all was to finish as a team "It's helping me put my life back together," said Jimmy, a 58-year-old cancer survivor who was homeless and a former alcohol addict. "It's healthy. It makes me feel good inside," adds Jimmy. Many are skeptical about the idea of homeless runners, according to Anne Mahlum, who founded Back on My Feet in 2007 after starting a running club for men at a shelter near her Philadelphia home. They did want to run, and in just six years, Mahlum's small running club has expanded to 10 cities around the country, and 388 active members. The only requirement for joining, besides wanting to, is insisting on at least 30 days."The first day we give them new shoes and Back on My Feet shirts," Mahlum says. "Then they run a mile the first day. And then gradually we'll encourage them to build goals. "After 30 days,residents gain access to services like financial aid,housing assistance and employment opportunities through Back on My Feet's partners. In its first year, the New York chapter has seen 41 members obtain employment, 34 gain housing and 50 work in job-training programs. That's not to say it's always easy. "I wanted to quit. But then I started to push myself,"said Adel, 39, who began running in March. "Now I would love to run a 10-mile run. Or maybe a marathon one day, who knows. I ran this far, so why not?" Back on My Feet aims to help_. My 9-year-old daughter, Susan and 5-year-old son, Robbie went to the shopping centre with me. As we got there, we saw a big sign. It said, "Petting Zoo". The kids jumped up and asked, "Daddy, can we go?" Both my wife and I were out of work. However, I said, "Sure", giving them a quarter each. They went away, leaving only fifty cents left in my pocket. A petting zoo is an enclosure for kids to play with little animals while parents shop. A few minutes later, I saw Susan walking along behind me. I was surprised and asked why. She said sadly, "Well, Daddy, a ticket for Petting Zoo costs fifty cents. So I gave Robbie my quarter." Then she said my family motto , "Love is Action!" I knew no one loves little animals more than Susan. She often watched my wife and me do and say "Love is Action!", and now she had put _ it _ into her lifestyle. It had become part of her. She knew not only "Love is Action!", but also "Love is Sacrificial Action!" I was moved. We went back to the Petting Zoo. Susan stood with her hands and chin resting on the fence and just watched Robbie feeding the animals. I had fifty cents burning a hole in my pocket. I put my hand into my pocket and took out the money. Sure, I must do that! From the passage we can infer that _ .
Besides containing attractive flowers, trees and other plants that beautify the community, eco-friendly rain gardens are healthy for the environment and the people living and working nearby. A rain garden is not very different from a traditional garden. It is just a far more eco-friendly garden. Usually it is built lower than the ground. Rain gardens make smart use of rain and storm water by temporarily holding water from rain and storms and letting it soak slowly into the ground before it runs into streams or enters the public drinking water supply. Thus, a rain garden keeps the water, allowing it to be used as needed by plants in the rain garden, rather than flowing immediately into nearby streams and going unused. The water will soak slowly into the ground within a day or two. This creates an advantage that the rain garden does not allow mosquitoes to breed. This is a simple, attractive, and eco-friendly "green" way to treat storm water. What's more, planting a rain garden helps reduce pollution and improve the environment. Without using expensive machinery and chemicals, rain gardens remove harmful chemicals in the rainwater and cut down on the amount of pollution reaching streams and rivers by up to 30%. Native plants are recommended for rain gardens because they are more used to the locals climate, soil, and water conditions. They may attract local wildlife such as native birds. Water your rain garden immediately after planting and once a week, unless you have had at least an inch of rain during the week. Once the native plants establish the necessary root system, it will require little care. Often, local governments and private businesses develop large rain gardens in their yards and in public parks as a way to improve the environment and solve flooding problems. However, you don't need to be a professional environmental engineer to create a rain garden. As long as you're eco-conscious homeowners, you can help the environment by building smaller rain gardens in your yards. One of the main reasons why native plants are recommended is that _ . Answer: they are more used to the local growing conditions The Dupont Circle park in Washington DC is a busy, crowded place. Popular restaurants and businesses around the circle attract many city residents and visitors. But few people know about the old streetcar station below the street. Braulio Agnese is the Managing Director of an organization called Dupont Underground. The group wants to change the old station into a place for the arts."We see everything from site-specific art work, which fills the space in different ways, light and sound or appliances. Or it can be used like a traditional gallery. But also as a curved space, it offers a chance for new kinds of performance. DC has quite a few experimental theater groups that would like to work in an unusual space and do different kinds of production." The system of tunnels was built in the late 1940s. But the streetcars only ran for a short time. They stopped running in the 1960s. Mr. Agnese says the station could become a symbol of how quickly Washington is changing."Changes in the last five or ten years have been tremendous. The restaurant scene is changing, new development, new opportunities. We think there is an opportunity to create something here that helps the city to move forward." Dupont Underground is just one example of the trend toward giving a new purpose to unused industrial sites. In New York, builders want to make a forgotten street car garage into a park below the street. And New York already has the popular High Line Park. It was once an old railroad path. The question is -- can Dupont Underground be as successful? Bill McLeod is Executive Director of Historic DuPont Circle Main Streets. The group helps small businesses in the DuPont Circle area. Mr. McLeod says the underground will fill a need in the area."I think there is definitely need for art space, or event space, in DuPont. And I think that will be the perfect space to activate because it's very large - it's 75 thousand square feet. Very cool, right?" Another organization tried to open a group of eating places in the space 15 years ago. That food court project failed. Mr. McLeod says the group leading the new effort has a better understanding of the project. He says the group knows it will take a lot of time and money and is successfully seeking financial support. Braulio Agnese and his co-workers hope to open the underground station to the public in the next few months. According to the text, the old streetcar station below The Dupont Circle park in Washington DC _ . Answer: is very suitable for an arts center When Nancy Lublin received $5,000 from her grandfather, she never once considered taking a vacation or paying off student loans .Instead, the 24-year-old New York University law student began thinking about helping low-income women get better jobs. "If a woman goes for a job interview poorly dressed, she won't get the job, "Lublin says."But without a job, she can't afford suitable clothes." So, with the money Lublin founded "Dress for Success' and began collecting women's clothes which were still in good condition but which their owners no longer needed." So many women have clothes lying around that they will never wear again," one of Lublin's assistants says, "Nancy's idea is so simple and yet so important to women." Many women come to Lublin's office before going to a job interview. Here, they receive a suit, shoes and any other things they need, Since it was set up, more than 1,000 women have turned to "Dress for Success" for help. Many of them have won job. Some have round jobs after being out of work for many years. Jenny, a 32-year-old woman who was recently hired as a law-firm office manager says, "I made a good impression because of 'Dress for Success'." Dress for Success attracts many women because they _ Answer: need to look smart when looking for a job American schools must obey the classroom rules. Here are some of them. If the teacher asks you a question, you should answer it at once. If you do not understand the question, you can put up your hand and ask the teacher to say it again. You must not be absent ( ) on a test day. If you are seriously ill, let the teacher know. If your teacher allows _ , you'd better take the test within one or two days after you return to class. It is rude ( ) to be late. If you are late, you should come into the classroom and go to your seat quickly. In the US it is not necessary to knock before you enter the classroom. In America, you should call your teacher by his or her last name, not "teacher". Also you should use Mr, Miss, Ms or Mrs before the last name, such as Mrs Smith or Mr Jones. In the US, it is impolite to eat, drink or chew gum ( ) during class. Don't do these until ( ) the break. If the teacher ask you a question, you should _ . Answer: answer it at once More and more Italians are leaving their country because they can not get a job. One in every three Italians say they are willing to go abroad, sometimes even to other continents to get work. Currently, about 300,000 young Italians may be living abroad. Although emigration has always been a choice for Italians, especially for those who left the country at the beginning of the twentieth century, more young Italians think leaving their home country is the only way to escape economic difficulty. These young Italians, however, are not poor farmers or laborers but bright university graduates and other talented young people. Many of them want to go to richer places, like northern Europe, but they are also prepared to go elsewhere. Most of them describe a feeling of unhappiness and frustration. They are not sure which direction their country is heading and feel no longer proud of being Italians. Many leave because they think that getting a good job is possible in other countries where all doors are open to you if you are young and dynamic. However, in Italy everything is boring and old-fashioned. Italy's economic system is largely based on family structures and the elderly who don't want to give up power. Corruption is also a big problem that simply won't go away. The Italian government is aware of the problem and says it must create new opportunities for its younger generation. But even if it starts working on a new style economy right away it may take years before things in Italy really change. The government has already passed laws which will make it easier for doctors, lawyers and other academics to start a career in Italy. Many economic experts claim that Italy is doing a lot for its older generation but very little for its youth. For example, it spends little on housing, childcare but a lot on pensions. The Italian government _ . Answer: has taken some measures to change the situation

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