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Which of the following has the greatest mass? galaxy You don't know what you've got until it's gone. I've learned that through my personal experiences. A few months ago, I woke up deaf in one ear. I did not pay much attention to it at first. It felt that I had water in my ear. However, I began to hear less and less out of that ear. I even had to ask people to talk into my other ear so that I could hear them. I didn't realize how serious it was until late in the day . One evening, when I was sitting on my bed doing chemistry homework, I fell off my bed. When trying to get up, I was incredibly dizzy . I went to see a doctor and he told me that hearing loss was common. However, hearing loss is usually bilatera _ or occurs in both ears. He said that my hearing should come back within a week. After about a week the dizziness eventually went away, but the hearing loss did not. The medicine helped and I gained some of my hearing back. After many hearing tests, the doctor diagnosed that I had permanent hearing loss in that ear. School became harder for me because I couldn't hear my teachers. I was very depressed. Finally, I bought a hearing aid. With the hearing aid, my hearing is almost back to normal. It makes school and group conversations easier. My friends, teachers and even complete strangers always ask me questions about hearing loss. I answer them patiently. I never get offended because I know this is new to them. I am delighted that I can teach them something new. What I have learned from this particular situation is that when things are desperate(;), there is always something good that can come out of it. My experiences have given me an opportunity to teach people about hearing loss and also taught me about the value of hearing. At present, the author is _ . optimistic Do you care about your memory ?The following ways can help improve your memory. Sleep: Sleep plays an important part in improving your memory. Enough sleep is very important to have a good memory. Don't watch TV while eating: Do not watch television while eating. Some people keep talking and eating while watching TV. Eating is a time when you can take a break from studying and rest your eyes. Healthy food: Healthy food is important for a healthy mind. Have milk, eggs, fish and fruits. These foods have a lot of nutrients Make the things interesting: If you find the things the teachers ask you to memorize interesting, you will memorize them more easily. For example, include music and different colors in the things you need to memorize. Repeat the things: Repeat the things by singing or talking. Repeating is a good way to memorize things. Exercise: Do exercise every day. It not only improves the body but improves the mind. Air in the morning keeps your mind clear. A clear mind is needed for memorizing things. Have a rest: Don't study for long hours. Have a rest from time to time. Studying for a long time will make you tired and you will find it harder to remember and learn things. The passage is written for _ . students Lang Lang, the young Chinese pianist, was born in Shenyang in 1982. He began to play the piano when he was 3. At the age of 5, he won first place in a piano competition in Shenyang. People thought he was a genius . From then on, playing the piano became the dream of Lang and his parents. When Lang was 9 years old, he and his father went to Beijing to study piano. His father even left his work. Although he endured great pressure , Lang never gave up his dream of becoming a concert pianist. When he was 17, Lang became famous after he played in a great concert in Chicago, US. Now 28-year-old Lang is famous all over the world for his great performances. He played at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He was also one ofTimesmagazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2009. He is one of the world's great musicians. Why did Lang Lang's father leave his work? Because Lang Lang went to Beijing to study piano and he wanted to give much help. For hundreds of years, Japan has been hit, from time to time, by tsunamis , which are caused by earthquakes or underwater volcanoes. The story of the boy Yuuki is the story of such a disaster. Yuuki lived with his family in a seaside village, below a small mountain. One day, as he played on top of the mountain, Yuuki felt a small earthquake but it was not strong enough to frighten anybody. Soon after, however, Yuuki noticed the sea darken and begin running away from the shore very fast, leaving behind wide areas of beach that had never been seen before. Yuuki remembered reading that just before a terrible tsunami, the sea suddenly and quickly rolls backward. He ran to the beach, warning the villagers who had gathered to admire the new beach land. But no one listened. They laughed at him and continued playing in the new sand. Desperate, Yuuki could think of only one thing to do. He lit a tree branch, raced to the rice fields and began burning the harvested rice. Then he called out, "Fire! Fire! Everyone run to the mountain! Now!" When everyone reached the mountain top, a villager cried out, "Yuuki is mad! I saw him set the fire." Yuuki hung his head in shame, but said nothing as the villagers screamed at him. Just then, someone shouted, "Look!" In the distance a huge dark wave of water was speeding towards the shore. When it hit the shore, it destroyed everything. On the mountain everyone stared at the village ruins in terror. "I'm sorry I burned the fields," said Yuuki, his voice trembling. "Yuuki," the village chief answered. "You saved us all." The villagers cheered and raised Yuuki into the air. "We were going to celebrate our rice harvest tonight," said one, "but now we'll celebrate that we're all still alive!" What were the people planning to do before the tsunami struck their village? Celebrate the rice harvest.
In order to make students become more interested in English studies,21 elementary schools in southeastern Korea have started to use robot teachers. The robot teacher is called Engkey. She was developed by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology. She is about one meter high and is white,egg-shaped. She takes a display panel as her face. She can move around the classroom while she speaks to students. She can also read books to students and dance to music by moving her head and arms. Now,21 robot teachers have been used to teach English. They are controlled by English teachers in the Philippines. There is a camera in each of the robot teachers. With the help of the cameras,English teachers in the Philippines can see and hear the students. At the same time,the facial expressions of these English teachers. This is very interesting. Besides helping students to become more interested in English,the robot teachers can also help children in poor areas without English teachers. Robot teachers have many good points. For example,they needn't have a rest because they don't get ill. What does the writer think of robot teachers? Nothing evokes 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! 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 fjords .The natural beauty and expansive wilderness found here have made Haines a premier center for adventure in Alaska. 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.We spend a few hours learning carving, native beading and culture from these master artists. SKAGWAY:Skagway is a lively town,which still reflects its gold rush roots and contains colorful 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 Glacier Bay National Park.We'II 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: May 15,June 17,July 16,August 14. 7 days--$3500,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. Contact: E-mail:info@alaskamountainguides.com Call:800--766--3396 Write:Alaska Mountain Guides &Climbing School P.O.Box 1081,Haines AK 99827 You can feel the history of the local place at _ . Before you argue with your boss, check with the boss's secretary to determine his mood. If he ate nails for breakfast, it is not a good idea to ask him for something. Even without the boss's secretary, there are keys to timing: don't approach the boss when he's on deadline; don't go in right before lunch, when he is apt to be distracted and rushed; don't go in just before or after he has taken a vacation. If you're mad, that will only make your boss mad. Calm down first. And don't let a particular concern open the floodgates for all your accumulated frustration. The boss will feel that you think negatively about the company and it is hopeless trying to change your mind. Then, maybe he will dismiss you. Terrible disputes can result when neither the employer nor the employee knows what is the problem the other wants to discuss. Sometimes the fight will go away when the issues are made clear. The employee has to get his point across clearly in order to make the boss understand it. Your boss has enough on his mind without your adding more. If you can't put forward an immediate solution, at least suggest how to approach the problem. People who frequently present problems without solutions to their boss may soon find they can't get past the secretary. To deal effectively with a boss, it's important to consider his goals and pressures. If you can put yourself in the position of being a partner to the boss, then he will be naturally more inclined to work with you to achieve your goals. What is the best title of the passage? A couple had a son eleven years after they married. They were a loving couple and the boy was _ . When the boy was around four years old, one day the father was very tired after work so he asked his wife to pick up their son. The mother, who was very busy in the kitchen, totally forgot about it. Later the boy lost his way on the street. When the son was found missing, the mother hurried to look for him, but she didn't find him. The mother felt very sad and didn't know how to face her husband. When the father went to the police station after hearing that the son was missing, he looked at his wife and said just four words. What do you think the four words were? The husband just said "I love you, darling." www.zxxk.com The son was missing. If she had picked him up earlier, this would not have happened. There is no point in blaming anyone. His wife had also lost her only child. What his wife needed at that moment was comfort and understanding from her husband. That is what the husband gave his wife. Several weeks later, with the help of the police, the couple finally found their lost son. The family's relationship became stronger over that time. Sometimes we spend lots of time asking who is to blame. We miss many chances to give each other support and let each other feel the warmth of human relationships. Get rid of all your unwillingness to forgive, selfishness, and fears and you will find the world is much more wonderful. Why didn't the father pick the boy up himself? William was sitting in his room working on his homework. It was something he did since he went to kindergarten. William could see outside from where he was sitting. He had a view of a beautiful sunset this time of year. It was late spring, and he sometimes found his mind wandering as he looked outside, and hated losing time like that. The sooner he finished his homework, the sooner he could go to his friend Jacob's house, where he was spending the night. William loved sleepovers with Jacob. They would do fun stuff like tell jokes, watch TV, play board games, and eat lots of junk food. Jacob also had a cool RC car that William liked to play with. But William's parents wouldn't allow him to go to Jacob's house until he finished his homework first. What was at Jacob's house that William liked to play with?
A plant would prefer Answer: We may know that there are four basic periods for human beings to pass through when you enter and live in another country. This process helps you deal with culture shock . Culture shock begins with the "honeymoon period". This is the time when you first arrive in a place where everything about the new cu1ture is strange and exciting. You see new things, hear new sounds and language, eat new kinds of food. This period can last for quite a long time because you feel very happy. Unluckily, the second period can be more difficu1t. After you have got used to your new life, you can become very tired and begin to miss your motherland, your family, your friends, your pets and so on. Al1 the little prob1ems in life seem to be much bigger and more worrying when you face them in a foreign country. This period can be very difficult and lead to moving backwards quickly. The third period is called the "adjustment period". This is When you begin to realize that things are not so bad in the new country. Your sense of humor usually becomes stronger and you realize you are becoming stronger by 1earning to take care of yourself in the new place. Things are still difficult, but you are now a survivor . The fourth period can be cal1ed "at ease at last". Now you feel quite comfortable in your new place. You can deal with most problems that you have. You may still have prob1ems with language,but you know you are strong enough to deal with them. At this time, you may feel a little uncomfortable if you go back to your motherland. During the first period of the process, you feel Answer: Who wants to carry a _ bag to school? No children. Nobody wants one shoulder to be lower than the other, and paining too. In India, most of us would look at the reduction of textbooks as a way out. But in a country like America, there are always more choices. A company called Goreader has created a "school bag" which is the size of a laptop computer, weighing about 2.5kg. The Goreader has a colour screen and can "hold" all the textbooks that a student may need, says a report in "The Asian Age" newspaper. The company plans to work closely with the publishers of test books so that these books can be supplied on the Internet. All the students will have to download their textbooks. Making notes and marking important parts of a lesson can be done just as lots of students have done on their textbooks before. At present, the plan is being tested out in a university. Richard Katzmann, the owner of the company is having his creation tested at Chicago's DePaul University, where he studied. Does that mean it is goodbye to the newspaper, and the smell of the black ink? The Goreader may be a machine _ . Answer: Put a little love in your life I remember growing up, my mom always said, "Half the fun of doing anything is sharing it with others." It is so true. Friends and mates allow us to enjoy our success and our joys, comfort us in our challenging moments, and provide a mirror for us to learn more about ourselves. I've always looked at friends as the family we choose. They enrich our lives. As Robert Louis Steven once said, "A friend is a present which you give yourself." To be a good friend or partner, it's importable be a good listener. Hear what your friend or mate has to say first rather than jumping to conclusions or getting defensive. Sometimes it is useful to be their mirror, for when they hear their words repeated back to them, it can help them to realize that what they said was not exactly what they meant to say. Patience, compassion and empathy are also important traits in being a good friend or partner. You know the old golden rule, "Care for others the way you would like them to care for you." The support of a friend during a tough time could make the difference between success and failure. Encouragement and confidence are priceless gifts that can help change a person's life. Take care, though, with whom you choose to have close relationship, for they can have a tremendous impact on your self-esteem and life path. As someone once told me,"the attitude of your friends are like the buttons on an elevator. They will either take you up or down." What will you do to your friends according to the passage? Answer: Skyler is selecting the kind of paper he wants to use to make a greeting card. He wants to select paper that does not tear easily. Which of the following features of the paper is most important for Skyler to consider? Answer:
If you think American cooking means opening a package and throwing the contents into the microwave oven , think again. On the one hand, it's true that many Americans have cold cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch and instant dinners. From busy homemakers to working people, many Americans enjoy the convenience of fast food that can be ready to serve in 10 minutes or less. On the other hand, many Americans realize the importance of cooking skills. Parents -- especially mothers -- see the importance of training their children -- especially daughters. Most Americans think that there's nothing better than a good home-cooked meal. _ . Probably every cook has his or her own way of cooking. But there are some basic skills that most people follow. For example, baking is a main method of preparing food in America. For that reason, Americans would find it next to impossible to live without an oven. American cooks pay special attention to the balance of foods, too. In planning a big meal they try to include meat, a few vegetables, some bread and often a dessert. They also like to make sure the meal is colorful. Having several different colors of food on the plate usually makes for a healthy meal. For those who need guidance in their cooking, or for those who have just run out of ideas, recipes are a great help. Recipes list all the ingredients for a dish (generally in the order used), the amount of each to use, and a description of how to put them together. From the passage, we know that _ . Answer: What does the word "heart" mean? Strictly speaking, a heart is an organ of the physical body which pumps blood into the organism . The term "heart", however, extends to more than the physical body. When lovers separate, one will often claim to have a broken heart, yet remain living. A sad gent or lady will often grasp the area between the ribs at the center of the chest, and moan in sorrow over the lost lover. Physical or not, the heart in _ is also something that pumps life into the emotional body. "Don't lose heart," says a friend to another who has been discouraged by one of life's many trials. Now how can anyone lose a heart? I ask. Easily, by getting discouraged. Again, the heart becomes a symbol of pumping life into a system but not a physical one. When one gets to the heart of the matter, she gets to its center - which gives its meaning. When people beg, "Have a heart," they are asking you to be kind - hearted - to recognize the soul in another. Having a heart - to - heart talk means sharing something from the center of our being with someone else. Speaking from the heart always impliescommunicating from what is real andessentialin our lives. Perhaps the most common definition of the word "heart", therefore, should recognize that "heart" is something essential to every human being, whether it is physical or not. The author writes this passage to_. Answer: These days,more and more young people wish to be more beautiful,So they turn to plastic surgery for help.They spend thousands of yuan on these painful surgeries to fix their nose,to change their eyelids or to take off weight from their stomachs. In fact,most people are not pleased with the way they look.Even the most beautiful actresses often wish they could change something about their looks.Should we live our whole lives believing we are ugly? Why can't we raise our head high and believe that we are as beautiful as others? A smile is beautiful on any face,whether fat,oily or hairy.And a kind heart is much more beautiful than a pretty look. So,let's feel grateful that we all have beautiful and healthy bodies that do not need surgeries! Today,I call on you to make an easy change:hold your head high! smile and be kind to others.If you do these,you will be full of confidence ,beauty, and warmth everywhere you go. The writer suggests we should believe we are as _ as others Answer: An old man walked slowly into a restaurant with his cane . His old jacket and shoes made him unusual that day. A young waitress named Mary watched him move towards a table by the window. She ran over to him, and said with a smile, "Here, sir. Let me give you a hand." Without saying a word, he gave her a smile. She pulled the chair away from the table and helped him sit down. Then she put his cane against the table so that he could reach it. In a soft, clear voice, he said, "Thank you, miss." "You're welcome, sir," she replied. "I'll be back in a moment, and if you need anything, just wave at me!" After he had finished a good meal. Mary brought him the change. 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!" The old man turned around and smiled. When Mary went to clean his table, she was shocked. Under the plate, she found a business card, a 100-dollar bill and a note. The note said, "Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself, too. It shows the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness." In fact, the old man was the owner of the restaurant. That was the first time that she, or any of his waitresses, had seen him. Mary told the old man to _ when he needed something. Answer: 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. Chaplin was born _ . Answer:
Shopping on the Internet is becoming more and more popular. Why do people use the Internet to shop? Some people say it is more convenient. They don't have to leave their homes to order something; they can shop for anything they want at any time; they can find things for sale that they can't find in the Mores near their homes. Still other people say they can find better prices on the Internet. If you want to buy something on the Internet, you need a credit card. You have to type your credit card number and information on the website and send them to the store over the Internet. You have to be sure that the store will not use your information in the wrong way. You don't want someone to get your credit card number, so be careful with it, because people sometimes steal credit card numbers from stores. TV Internet is also a good place to go window-shopping. Window-shopping is when you look at the things for sale in a store, but don't plan to buy anything. In window-shopping you can see what kinds of things you are able to get and how much they cost. Some stores like Ross Stores have a website for information about their Mores, but not for shopping. Some stores have a website for information about their stores, and you can shop on line there, such as Office Depot, Payless Shoe Source and Safeway. Some stores like Amazone.com are only for on line shopping Some people use the Internet to shop because _ . Answer: they can get things with less money. Young children are trusting of commercial advertisements in the media, and advertisers have sometimes been accused of taking advantage of this trusting outlook The Independent Television Commission,regulator of television advertising, has criticized advertisers for "misleadingness",in an effort to control advertisers,use of techniques that make it difficult for children to judge the true size, action ,performance, or construction of a toy. Fantasy is one of the common techniques in advertising that could mislead young audience.In children's advertising, advertisers are more likely to include fantasy than advertisements aimed at adults.In a content analysis of Canadian television, the author Stephen Kline observed that nearly all commercials for character toys featured fantasy play.Children have strong imaginations and the use of fantasy brings their ideas to life, but children may not be adept enough to realize that what they are viewing is unreal Fantasy situations are frequently used to attract children's attention, particularly in food advertising.Advertisements for breakfast have been found to be especially fond of fantasy " techniques.Generally, there is uncertainty as to whether very young children can distinguish between fantasy and reality in advertising. The use of pop stars such as singers and movie stars is common in advertising.The intention is for the positive qualities of the popular to be transferred to the advertised product and for the two to become linked in audience's mind.In children's advertising ,the pop stars are often vivid figures from popular cartoons.In recent years- the role of pop stars in advertising to children has often been combined with the concept of host selling.Host selling involves advertisements with regular programming in a way that makes it difficult to distinguish one from the other.Host selling occurs ,for example, when a children's show about a cartoon lion contains an advertisement in which the same lion promotes a breakfast.The psychologist Dale Kunkel shows that the practice of host selling has reduced children's ability to distinguish between advertising and the program material.Meanwhile,he also shows some other tricky advertisements. What can we learn about the fantasy technique from the passage? Answer: Children are likely to mistake it for reality. A public high school in the rural town of Boonsboro,Maryland,offers a special program recently. Top students in the ninth and tenth grades can attend single-sex classes for math,science,English and social studies. The aim is to help teenagers keep their mind on their work by keeping males and females apart. Rebecca Brown chooses the students for what Boonsboro High School calls the Academy. "What we really want to do is take that top group of kids and take them to the very highest level they can achieve here,so that they're prepared for college," she said. They need high marks and test scores and strong teacher recommendations. They also need to be involved in activities. Michael Bair has been at Boonsboro High School for twenty years and directs the Academy. His ninth-grade English class for boys centers on books that he believes boys find interesting. "The novels they're reading now,are very manly novels. They're novels that deal with the arrogance of man and the pride of man." One of those books,for example,is "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London. This classic story tells of a dog stolen from his home and sold to work as a sled dog in Canada's Klondike Gold Rush. On this day,the students are working in small groups. Vincent and Logan explain why they're drawing pictures that relate to the story. Vincent said,"The main character,Buck,gets abducted , and they send him off to the Yukon in a train. So I'm drawing part of the story where he's in the train. It gets you to _ the setting of the story and gets you to think more about what's going on in the story,the important events of the story."" Instead of just doing work sheets about it,this is a lot more fun," Logan added happily. Morgan Van Fleet likes being in the Academy. She says boys and girls act differently when they are together in a classroom. "To me,it almost seems like it's hindering your chances at developing yourself because you're more focused on 'Oh,I wish they'd shut up. Oh,what do they think of me?' instead of focusing on what's the homework or what's going on in this class,what's the lesson." In Rebecca Brown's opinion, _ . Answer: students in the program are expected to get well prepared for college When children learn a language, they learn the grammar as well as words or vocabulary. No one teaches them; children just " _ ". Before babies begin to produce words, they produce sounds. Some of these sounds will remain if they occur in the language being learned, and others will disappear. This is called the "babbling stage". A child does not learn the language "all at once". The child first speaks only one-word "sentences". After a few months, the two-word stage arises. During this stage, the child puts two words together. These two-word sentences have definite patterns and express grammatical and meaningful relationships. Still later, in the telegraphic stage, the child will produce longer sentences. These longer sentences are mainly made up of content words. The child's early grammar lacks many of the rules of the adult grammar, but gradually it will become perfect. All normal children everywhere learn language. This ability is not dependent on race, social class, geography, or even intelligence . This ability is uniquely for human. During the "babbling stage", babies _ . Answer: can only produce sound When you think of photographing people, you may think of your family reunion or the Christmas party at work. These types of pictures of people are records of fun events with nice memories. Let's take a look at another idea for taking pictures of people, with an entirely different slant. Much as anthropologists study the diversity of characteristics of people in cultural and environmental contexts, some photographers record these aspects of people in their pictures. They try to capture the emotions and humanity of people, and the photograph draws the viewer into the subject's experience at that moment in time. Taking pictures of people with this goal in mind makes the photographer and the viewer grow in the understanding of human nature. For example, a photograph of a young man trying to hitch a ride in the rain can show the experience. His poncho sparkles with the raindrops flowing in a steady stream to the ground. The lights of passing traffic highlight the contrast between the warm, dry drivers, taking no notice of his misery. Another picture of a child sleeping on a bench at a busy train station can capture the innocence of childhood contrasted with a busy world of hurried grown-ups. If you'd like to experiment with this form of photographs of people, look for ordinary people in contrasting environments or contexts. Children and the elderly pose extraordinary possibilities. The lined faces of the aged often make great subjects, reflecting character and wisdom. People are such interesting subjects. Facial expressions can convey a thousand moods and feelings. Taking pictures of people with an eye to the feel and magic of the moment will make you a better and more enthusiastic photographer. You may find yourself so taken with this new experience. Photographing people is an artful endeavor. Take the leap! In this passage, the author mainly talks about _ . Answer: taking pictures of people as a study of humanity
Scientists have recently discovered that mothers tend to hold their baby on the left.Of 255 right-handed mothers,83% held the baby on the left.And out of 32 left-handed women,78%held the baby on the left As a control( ),women were watched coming from supermarkets carrying baby-sized bags;the bags were held with no side preference. Then,dental patients were given a large rubber ball to hold during treatment.The majority held the ball to their left side,even when it was interrupted with the dentist's activities. This suggested that in times of stress objects are held against the left side. At that point,something clearly contrary was observed.A large number of mothers who brought their premature babies to a clinic were seen to hold their babies against their right side. So,115 mothers who had been separated from their babies for 24 hours after birth were observed for holding response.The experimenters presented the baby directly to midline of the mother's body, and noted how she held the baby.53% placed the baby on the left and 47% on the right.And it was also noted that the mothers of the group who had held their baby on the left had already had a baby from which they had not been separated after birth. Left-handed holding enables the baby to hear the heartbeat.In order to discover whether hearing the heart has a beneficial effect on the baby,the sound of a human heart-beat was played to 102 babies in a New York nursery for 4 days.A control group of babies was not exposed to heart-beats.The babies in the heart-beat group gained more weight and cried far less than the babies in the control group. The experiments proved that_. A. mothers have an instinct to hold their babies on the left immediately after birth B. mothers hold their babies on the left in times of stress C. mothers of premature babies do not have the instinct to hold their babies on the left D. mothers find it more comfortable to carry their babies on the left because the heart is on that side Answer: C As part of the first International Hot Spring Culture and Tourism Festival in Xianning, Hubei Province, Miss Friendship International 2009 was held in Wuhan, Hubei, China from 20th October 2009 to 9th November 2009 with 70 gorgeous contestants gathering from across the world. The city is a popular travel spotlight, known for its hot springs and red tourism. Beginning in 2005 in New York, Miss Friendship International is an international beauty contest, with the theme "beauty promotes international friendship which leads to world peace." From 2:40pm to 3:42 pm on November 7th, 7 top hot spring hotels and scenic areas in Xianning, Hubei province began an activity called "Tens of thousands of people bath in the hot spring together". 450 female university students from Xianning College formed the shape of the Arabic number"10000"in the big bath. Xianning 1st International Hotspring cultural and Tourism Festival ended _ . A. on 20th October B. on 7th November C. on 9th November D. in 2005 Answer: C Peter King, 15, and Mary King, 13, went to see a doctor. Peter had a bad cold, so the doctor gave him some pills to take. Mary had a bad cough, so the doctor gave her some cough medicine. There are the words on the bottle of the medicine: Cough Medicine Shake well before use. Take three times daily after meals. At one time: adults --------- 2 teaspoonfuls Children 8 -- 14 1 teaspoonful Children 4 -- 7 1/2 teaspoonful Not suitable for children below the age of 4 Store in a cold place. Use before Oct.2007. The medicine should be kept in _ . A. a refrigerator B. hot water C. any place D. the sun Answer: A Which word best describes the speed of a cart that has a positive velocity and a negative acceleration? A. slow B. fast C. decreasing D. increasing Answer: C A student needs to find the mass of an atom. The numbers of which atomic particles determines the mass of the atom? A. only its protons B. only its electrons C. both its protons and neutrons D. both its neutrons and electrons Answer: C
Question: I'm a Chinese student studying in Canada. I have been a boarder with the Carsons for more than a year and a half. The Carsons live in their own house, which has four bedrooms including the one in the basement which I live in. Judy does all the work in the house and Andrew is responsible for the work in the garden. When they go out in they evening, they often ask me to look after their children. Judy's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Morris, lived in another city. Judy was their only child and naturally they doted on Judy's children. They often sent the children presents. Last April Mr. Morris died. Now that Mrs. Morris was quite alone, I expected that Judy would want her to come and live with them. One day, Margaret, Judy's daughter, told me grandma was coming to live with them and her daddy and mummy would want my room back. The news didn't surprise me and the next day I went to Judy and asked her about it. I said I couldn't think of living in their basement room any longer if it was needed for Mrs. Morris. Judy seemed surprised at first. Then she told me there was no deed for me to move, for they hadn't yet come to any decision about her mother coming to live with them. "Naturally I'm worried about my mother. She has been in poor health." She smiled sadly and added. "To be honest, Andrew and my mother have never got on well. We'll wait a bit and see what happens. Perhaps Mohter will be all right living herself, or perhaps they will both change their minds." That was six months ago. During this time I've heard that Mrs. Morris has had two illnesses and that her health has got worse. A nursing home was mentioned once but Mrs. Morris refused to go there. So up to now she's still living alone and I'm still living in the basement room. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? A. Mrs. Morris loved her grandchildren very much. B. Judy had no brothers or sisters to look after her mother. C. The Carsons once suggested that Mrs. Morris go to live in a nursing home. D. Mrs. Morris was coming to live with the Carsons, so they asked the speaker to move. Answer: D Question: Mars appears to be flowing with small streams of salty water,at least in the summer,scientists reported Monday."It suggests that.it would be possible for there to be life today on Mars,"NASA's science mission chief,John Grunsfeld,said at a news conference on September 28,2015. The streams are about 12 to 15 feet wide and 300 feet or more long,scientists said."What we're dealing with is wet soil.thin layers of wet soil,not standing water,"said Aifred McEwen of the University of Arizona at Tueson!the principal scientist for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's high-resolution imaging experiment. Because liquid water is essential to life,the findings could have major implications for the possibility of Martian life.The researchers said further exploration is needed to determine whether microscopic life exists on the planet. The presence of liquid water could also make life easier for astronauts visiting or living on Mars.Water could be used for drinking and for creating oxygen and rocket fuel.NASA's goal is to send humans there in the 2030s. The evidence of flowing water consists largely of dark,narrow streaks on the surface that tend to appear and grow during the warmest Martian months and fade the rest of the year. Mars is extremely cold even in summer,and the streaks are in places where the temperature is as low as minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit.But salt can lower the freezing point of water and melt ice. The source of the water is a mystery.Scientists noted it could be melting ice.It could be an underground aquifer,which is rock or sand that can hold water.It is possibly water vapor from the thin Martian atmosphere,Or it may be a combination Michael Meyer,lead scientist for NASA's Mars exploration program,said the only definitive way for now to determine whether there's life on Mars is to collect rocks and soil for analysis on Earth - something a U.S.lander set for lift-off in 2020 will do. What would be the best title for the text? A. Streams of Water Spotted on Mars B. Astronauts will Land on Mars C. NASA's Mars Exploration Program D. A Breakthrough in the Exploration of Mars Answer: A Question: A man punished his 5-year-old daughter for wasting some expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was little and he became more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box and put it under a Christmas tree. However, the little girl brought the gift box to her father the next morning and said, " This is for you, daddy." The father was embarrassed by his earlier anger, but he got angry again when he found the box empty. He spoke to her in a serious manner, "Don't you know young lady, when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside the package?" The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh Daddy, it is not empty.I blew kisses into it until it was full." The father was moved. He fell on his knees and put his arms around his little girl and he begged her to forgive his unnecessary anger. An accident took the life of the child away only a short time later and it is told that the father kept the gold box by his bed for all the years of his life. Whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems, he would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the child who had put it there. The man easily got angry because _ . A. his daughter often wasted water B. his daughter didn't send him gifts C. his family was very poor D. his daughter asked him for gifts Answer: C Question: Three quarters of Britain's parents are too busy to read bedtime stories to their children,according to a study. The study was carried out by CITV to start their new children's show Bookaboo,which is designed to encourage anyone to pick up a book and read with their children at any time of the day. Worryingly,the study showed that only three percent of fathers now find the time to read to the kids compared to 89 percent of mothers. Lucy Goodman,creator of Bookaboo,said,"It's important for young boys to be able to share a book with dads,granddads or male carers and it can be fun and rewarding,too." Of the dads who said they didn't read to their kids, 87 percent blamed work while more than a third said they were too tired. While 89 percent of mums said they did read to their children,more than half of them said cleaning distracted them and 49 percent were distracted by other household things. Researchers also found parents are now relying heavily on other people to lend a hand with reading to their children with grandparents doing the most,followed by sisters and brothers,aunts and uncles. While 95 percent of parents read to their children at some point,only five percent read to their children during the day. More than one in ten said they read every couple of weeks or less,and five percent could not remember the last time they shared a book. The study found parents also seem content with allowing their children to immerse themselves in TV programs or playing computer games rather than reading. Exgoalkeeper David Seaman,who is a dad of two,has been a guest in Bookaboo. He says,"I think it's important that fathers do read to their children because it's a special time. Sometimes my two children will come to listen to the same book--it's a magical moment and I advise fathers just to try it." According to the study,fathers don't read to their kids mainly because _ . A. they are too busy with work B. they don't think it necessary to do so C. they are distracted by household things D. they like to play computer games in their free time Answer: A Question: Not being the greatest fan in the world of live performance, I took a deep breath before I en tered the building, the castle theatre, and prepared myself to be bored, expecting to find it more interesting to watch the audience than the show. Then I got the shock of my life. Wadaiko Inchiro are a group of ten young Japanese men and women using traditional drums with a history going back more than 1500 years. The drums were once used for festivals and religious ceremonies and also as a means of communication during wars. Today they give an ear-blasting performance which punches out rhythms with the power to wind you. They're a welcome relief from the Scottish pipers. Unlike other performances, the best seats are at the back of the house. Not only will your ears be protected from full blast, but you will get a fantastic view of the whole set. On stage are some of the biggest drums you will ever see and a cast wearing red, white and black headscarf. There had been almost no publicity for the show, but the house was full of people desperate, one could only assume, for something a bit different from the unrelenting performances appearing at this world-famous festival. The solid 60-minutes show starts as it means to go on. The drums rumble into fever-pitch action as the ten-strong company strike their sticks with startling control. Their rhythmic frenzy almost immediately drugs you into submission. Trapped inside the beating of the drums, you carried swiftly through warrior war cries to emotional rhapsodies . Not only is this display musically impressive, but the dance is strikingly beautiful. Moving between the enormity of the drums, the slight Japanese characters have complete synchronicity with the flying of their sticks, which they ceremonially cross and use to command. The biggest drum is played only by Inchiro, the leader of the group. When I ask why this is so, he refuses to admit that he is being precious about this monster of an instrument and says, "When someone else can play it as I do, I will happily move aside." Dressed all in red, he stands before it as thought he is worshipping at an altar; as he raises his sticks to the drum, he touches it sometimes tenderly and sometimes murderously. Inchiro and his drum produce a range of sounds from thunder to the trickle of rain. According to the writer, there were many people watching the performance because _ . A. the drummers are dressed in different colors B. they wanted to see something unusual C. the people in the group are famous D. the show had been well advertised Answer: B
Nick is a student. He has four friends. They are Ben, Eric, Peter and Andy. But they are all very different. Nick is confident and kind. He is also a good listener. All of his friends like to talk to him about their problems. This is his best quality. Ben is the quietest friend of them. He is not energetic and active like Eric, or outgoing like Peter. But he is so patient and fair. When they have an argument, Ben is always there to listen to everyone and make sure that everybody stays friends. Andy is very clever and hard-working. He does the best in exams at school. It is really kind of Andy to help Peter with his homework when he is having trouble. They get along well with each other like brothers. Who is always there to make sure that everyone stays friends when they have an argument? Ben This year, the World Mental Health Day on Oct 10 was marked by the theme: "Depression: A Global Crisis". According to the World Federation for Mental Health and the WHO, depression has moved beyond the medical domain to become a social problem. Statistics from the Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center show that of the 287,000 people who commit suicide in China every year, 70 percent are victims of depression. "This equates to one depression victim taking their life every three minutes," cited CCTV recently. According to the Beijing-based Capital Medical University, the number of depression patients has been on the rise in the past years and now accounts for 5 to 10 percent of the population, more than the global average of 5 percent. Wang Shaoli, vice-president of Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, a medical center specializing in mental health, said that what makes depression so widespread is that everybody can get it. "No one is immune to depression," said Wang. "It has become a social problem because depression kills one's social capabilities, such as communication, and leads to a negative social mentality." According to Wang, depression can be treated with medicine and early psychological consultation. The real problem is the lack of awareness surrounding the issue. "People with mental health illnesses are discriminated against," said Wang. "So they are reluctant to go to hospital and often keep the pain to themselves, which only makes matters worse." Only one in 10 depression victims are properly treated in China, according to the Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center. "When people get depressed, it becomes part of their thoughts, making them negative, even desperate," said Wang. "And the ideas are difficult to change." That's why Wang suggests early intervention. "Normally it takes about nine months to treat depression," said Wang. "But in most cases, patients drop treatment half way when they feel some progress." How is Para1& 2 mainly supported when it tells that depression has become a social problem? By giving data Dave and John were playing catch in the living room. Rose told them that was dumb, but she did not stop them. She kept writing in her notebook. If they wanted to get in trouble, then they could. It was not her responsibility. Dave told John to go long. Dave did not have good aim and missed John's hands when he threw the ball. Instead he hit the lamp and knocked it over. He was glad he did not hit the dishes. Nor did he hit the cat. John was not glad that he hit the lamp, but was glad that the lamp was not broken. When John's dad came home, he was very happy that John came clean about the lamp even when it was not broken. After telling them off for playing inside, John's dad made them all a cake. The cake had lemon frosting, which was Dave's favorite. Rose cannot eat lemon, so she let Dave have her slice. He chose to take Rose's cake home to his Bro. Dave thanked her a lot. What were not touched by the ball? The dishes and the cat. My 3-year-old son and I lived a very hard life because I had been out of work since two years ago. Being poor is a terrible feeling when your 3-year-old finishes his meal and says: "Can I have some more bread and jam please, Mummy?" And you break down in tears, because you don't know how to tell him that there is no more food. With PS6, I went to the supermarket, picked up some food and started to cook at home. It was time for me to make a change and get back on my feet. I began to write a series of articles for the website named Hunger Hurt in July 2011. A few months later, local food bank gave me some help-- with some free vegetables every month, which made my life a little easier. I began to write recipes , posting them on my blog. To my surprise, families, students and those poor people told me how much it helped to see healthy recipes made from affordable supermarket vegetables. My Life took unexpected turns. I was invited to give a speech on food , interviewed for an Oxfam report on food banks and asked to write a cookery book. When I got the money from the book, for the first night in almost two years, I went to bed without worrying. Now, I have a well-paid job and a beautiful home, and I'll never forget the days when I worked hard for a good life. The writer started to cook because _ . she had to feed themselves in a cheap way Many families find that when it comes to a Caribbean getaway, they prefer bigger hotels. If you're considering an Aruba vacation, there are plenty of resorts that will suit your every need. Aruba Marriott Resort and Casino This resort is on Aruba's famous palm Beach, and has the largest rooms of all Aruba hotels. A recent upgrade gives it a very fashionable look and feel. The resort offers excellent services on site including delicate fine dining and a 24-hour casino. Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Popular with families, this resort stands out by its style and elegance. The most attractive aspect is the Spanish-style architecture and garden-like grounds. you will find waterfalls flowing into the beautiful man-made lake which add to the relaxing atmosphere. This hotel offers plenty to enjoy. Renaissance Aruba Ocean Suites This resort is absolutely fantastic for families with young children and features 40 acres of private beaches. The pool complex features several outdoor pools, two pool-side bars, and a swim-up bar. There is also a kids club which offers many activities. Guests at this hotel even have full access to the Radisson Aruba Resort Casino & Spring. Occidental Grand Aruba This resort is set on a beautiful white sandy beach and offers everything from sailing to late-night dancing. There is always plenty to do on the resort free of charge, but if you want to pay a little extra you can book yourself in for deep-sea fishing, golf, or private tennis lessons. If you want your children to enjoy themselves you'd better choose _ . Renaissance Aruba Ocean Suites
September can be a depressing month. The summer holidays are over, it's time to go back to work or school and Christmas is four months away. However, for some people it's the perfect time to get away. These days more and more people are taking their holidays late in the year and for good reasons. Holidays in autumn can be cheaper, the resorts are less crowded and the weather isn't as extreme as it is in the summer. So, where are the best places to go? Here are our top tips. Sardinia (in Italy) has an average temperature of 27degC in September. It also has "Autunno in Barbagia" (Autumn in Barbagia) a series of festivals that take place in 27 villages in Barbagia, a mountainous region of inland Sardinia. The festivals continue from September to December, so there's always something happening. There are street markets, craft workshops and there's lots of eating and drinking (This is Italy, after all). Dubrovnik Croatia has become very popular in summer but it's quieter and more pleasant once the crowds have left. The weather is still warm but less humid. You can take a ferry to the popular beaches on the islands of Sunj and enjoy it with locals. Dahab Egypt, is extremely hot in the summer with temperatures up to 38degC. However, the autumn is cooler while the sea is still warm. This makes Dahab the perfect place for snorkeling and windsurfing. There are also interesting historical sites to visit such as the Coloured Canyon, with its dramatic rock formations, and St Catherine's Monastery, at the foot of Mount Sinai. Kas is a relaxed fishing village on the Lycian coast in southern Turkey. There are plenty of things to do and the temperature has dropped (so you can actually enjoy doing them!) Kas is a good place to stay if you want to walk part of the Lycian way: a long-distance footpath that stretches for 500km from Fethiye to Antalya through the ancient land of Lycia. There are also watersports, of course. The best time to go diving is supposed to be after the first rains of autumn (usually between late September and early October) when the fish become most active. Marrakech Morocco is another good destination. The city itself is a fascinating place to spend a few days. When you have had enough of that, go to Tigmi, a beautiful hill town about 20 kilometers away. There's a hammam (a Turkish bath) and a large heated pool, which makes it the perfect place to relax. Wherever you go this autumn - have fun! Which of the following places may not be close to sea? Answer: Marrakech CONFUCIUS would be happy if he lived in the modern world. He would see his works and philosophies still popular among teenagers even though they speak Internet slang , like PK, PLMM and GG. In Changzhou No 2 Middle School, Jiangsu, all Senior 1 students now take a course in "Lun Yu" (The Analects of Confucius, <<>> ), once a week. The school aims to improve students' appreciation of the Confucian heritage as well as ancient Chinese civilization. "Students' attendance in this course will _ 30 percent of their Chinese score on the final exam. This reward encourages their interest in the course, which is difficult but full of wisdom," said Cao Yongzhong, a Chinese teacher at the school. It won't be easy for students to enjoy The Analects of Confucius in ancient Chinese as they have so many other subjects to learn and exams to prepare for. Cheng Yun, 17, didn't like the "additional burden" at first, but now it turns out to be a course that she looks forward to. "I thought it would take up my time for homework, but it doesn't. Confucius' sentences are short and concise . I even use some of his wise sayings in my compositions, which makes my writing more persuasive," Cheng said. Despite the fact that all students are required to learn some chapters of the book when in junior school, they may be too young to understand the truths revealed by Confucius. "Although I prefer the language we use nowadays to Confucius', 'The master said' in the book does help me shape my personality," said Zhang Junzhuo, 17. Here are some of Confucius' sayings. See if you can figure out to which sentences they are in "The Analects of Confucious": * Learning without thought is labour lost; thought without learning is perilous. * The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions. * The gentle man is open and at ease; the mean man is full of worries and anxieties. * Don't do to others what you would not want done to yourself. * The mechanic who wishes to do his work well must first sharpen his tools. What can we infer from the passage? Answer: The No. 2 Middle School stress that students should enjoy ancient Chinese civilization. What quickly changes the Earth's surface? Answer: an earthquake Have you ever dreamed of visiting a planet in the Milky Way? While the trip sounds exciting, it would take years and years to reach the place that we are going to. So in the future, bedtime for astronauts may be more than a few hours of regular shut-eye. They would have to sleep for years. European researchers are now doing hibernation experiments. The study may help them understand whether humans could ever sleep through the years it would take for a space flight to distant planets. "If there was an effective technology, it could make deep-space travel come true," said Mark Ayer of the European Space Agency last month. What seems like science fiction is not completely impossible. Researchers have been able to use chemicals to put living cells into a sleep-like state where they don't age. They have now moved on to small, non-hibernating mammals like rats. The results will be out soon. A major challenge is the fact that cells can be very simple systems, but body organs are far more complex . "It's like moving from a simple Apple computer to a supercomputer," said Marco Biggiogera, a hibernation researcher at Italy's University of Pavia. Just like bears and frogs, the hibernation of human beings would cause a person's metabolism to lower so they would need less energy. Medical research, however, is just half of a space flight hibernation system. There is the challenge of designing a suitable protective place to live. Such a place would provide the proper environment for hibernation, such as the proper temperature. It would also have to monitor life functions and serve the physiological needs of the hibernator. According to Ayer, the six-person Human Outer Planets Exploration Mission to Jupiter's moon Callisto, could be an opportunity to use human hibernation. The mission aims to send six humans on a five-year flight to Callisto, where they will spend 30 days, in 2045. , . According to the article, the research _ . Answer: has made some progress "People are ruder today because they are rushed and more 'time poor' than ever before," says Patsy Rowe, " _ " Due to our strong attraction to electronic equipment it is a wonder more people don't wake up each morning and greet the singing birds with a complaint about the noise. Here are some examples of rudeness. Some people prefer to do almost everything over the internet. To them, dealing with an actual human is like an evolutionary step backward. It feels very slow because humans don't work at 4G speeds. When you have dinner with friends, you will often notice someone paying more attention to his mobile phone. We have programmed ourselves to think that every new message brings life-changing news, so taking calls and checking our texts are more important than talking to the people we are with. What is worse, some people even tend to send anonymous rude messages by email. However, rudeness is never acceptable. Don't assume it is OK to be rude if the person you're in touch with won't recognize you. If you have something awful to say, have the courage to face the person and say it, write a letter or email and sign it, or forget it. Upsetting people with unsigned messages is cruel and annoying. We shouldn't blame technology for our shortcomings. Technology is here to help us, but we should not allow it to take over our lives. An important step is admitting our shortcomings. People spend a lot of time pointing out bad manners but it would be even more helpful if we'd publicly recognize good manners when we see them. The author thinks sending unsigned awful messages is _ . Answer: hateful
We live in the computer age. People use computers to do much of their work, such as playing games, listening to music, shopping and so on. But few people know how to take care of them. Please remember the following when you use your computer: 1.Keep your computer in a dry cool room. Too much heat is bad for computers. 2. Do not smoke near your computer. Smoking is also bad for them. 3. Do not drink or eat near computers. A little water and pieces of food in the keyboard are also bad for a computer. 4. Keep your screen clean and do not have it too bright. They are bad for your eyes. Make sure the screen is not too far or too near your eyes when you use a computer. Why shouldn't we keep the screen of a computer too bright? Because it's bad for _ . A the computer B our eyes C our bodies D our environment Answer: B Musicians wanted We want four good musicians for our rock band. Are you a musician? Can you sing? Can you play the piano, the guitar or the drums? Do you want to be the best musician? If you want to join us, please send an e-mail. Our e-mail address is rockband2009@pep. corn.cn. Or you can call Mr. Liu at 790 -4566. Teachers needed Are you an art teacher? Can you paint( ) or draw well? Are you good with children? We need two teachers for our art club. Please find Mrs. Wang for more information or call 628 -1183. What can we know from the two ads ? A The art club has an e-mail address. B Mrs. Wang is in the rock band. C There are many children in the art club. D The rock band needs three teachers. Answer: C A team is a group of people with a common goal. A school's football team has two goals. One goal is to win. That is what the team wants to do. The other goal is to build character. Character is what a person values, how a person gets along with others. That is why schools have football teams. They want to help students build good values. Each team member builds character. They learn to cooperate . They learn to make good decisions. They work hard. They practice every day. They learn to follow the rules. Each team member has a position . Each position is part of winning. No one player has the ability to win the game for the team. Only if the team works together does a team win. People often say, " _ " Whether the team wins or loses, at the end of the game they congratulate the other team. That is called sportsmanship. While they fight to win during the game, it is just a game. They cannot be angry with the other team. If they are, they'll hear from their coach. _ makes sure the team reaches the school's goal. The coach cares about the whole team. The coach gives each player advice. When the team wins, everyone celebrates. And the coach is glad. But after the season is over, the coach is still happy. The coach gets to see the players as they go to school every day. The character they have built is part of their success in school, too.[:Zxxk.Com] Some coaches say that if you go into a classroom at their school you'll be able to tell the players. It is not that they are bigger than the other students. It is the ones who are helping other students work. Teamwork is part of their lives. Some coaches think football players are different from others because they are _ . A taller B bigger C more helpful D more talented Answer: C Scientists have been puzzled by the phenomenon that migrating birds fly not just in groups all the time, but in "V" formations and they have tried to figure out what benefit birds get from this particular formation. Now, a research group from University of London may have found the answer -- migrating birds fly in a "V" to save energy, according to a study published in the journal Nature. When a bird flaps its wings, it stirs the air around it and causes it to move indifferent directions. Scientist found in the study that the air creates an upward-moving wave at the tips of the wings, which means that if a bird flies around the wingtips of another bird, it can get a boost from the rising air and therefore use less energy to stay in the air. Apart form the "free ride" strategy, scientists were also surprised to observe that migrating birds timed their wing beats and adjusted their positions in a very precise way to maximize the lifting effect while avoiding areas where the air move downward. "They're able to sense what's going on from the bird in front, where this 'good air' is coming from and now how to position themselves perfectly in it," lead researcher Steven Portugal told BBC. In fact, the "V" formation has long thought to help birds fly more efficiently . A previous study showed that birds' heart rates went down when they were flying together in a "V" formation. Jet fighters were also found to be able reduce their energy use by up to 18% by staying near the wingtips of other jet fighters. Both of these findings led scientists to suspect that the "V" formation had an efficiency purpose, but until now they still lack proof. "For scientists, the new study provides an insight into an interesting natural phenomenon. But it could mean even more for aircraft companies -- helping them understand how they can _ that with their plane formations to save fuel, said Portugal." What is the author's purpose in writing this article? A To explain how birds benefit from migration. B To introduce how migrating birds find their way. C To tell some applications of migrating birds' "V" formations. D To report new findings about migrating birds' "V" formations. Answer: D Mobile phone has become a problem for high schools. Some high-school students in Australia are not allowed to carry mobile phones during school hours. Mobile phone used among children has become a problem for the school. Several children have got mobile phones as Christmas presents, and more students will want them. Marry Brown, a headmaster, said that mobile phone was a distraction to students during school hours and it also gave teachers so much trouble in their classrooms. Teachers were also saying that sometimes students might use phone messages to _ during exams. She said some schools had tried to ban mobile phones. Some parents felt unhappy because they couldn't get in touch with their children. Many teachers said students should not have mobile phones at school. But there was a good reason that they could leave their phones at school offices. They also said they were easily lost and were a distraction for studies. Some high schools in Australia have stopped students from carrying phones _ . A because they are students B when they are free C when they are at school D because they are children Answer: C
Question: 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. The writer feels grateful even now to the boy who asked the question because the boy _ . A. invited him to join in their game B. liked the book that he was reading C. broke the long silence of that summer evening D. offered him an opportunity that changed his life Answer: D. offered him an opportunity that changed his life Question: The oil from palms has a wide variety of uses and is found in food, soaps and shampoos. An international team found a gene that made some of the trees produce more oil than others. Dr Rajinder Singh, from government agency the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, said, "The oil palm has three fruit forms: a thick-shelled type --the Dura; those that don't have any shell--the Pisifera; a third form produced as a cross between the thick shell and the one without the shell--the Tenera, which are more of the fleshy fruit to produce the oil," and the researchers identified the gene producing this trait. While oil palm growers attempt to grow only the thin-shelled Tenera variety, up to 10% of the seeds can be contaminated , and turn out to be the other less oily plants. Prof. Martienssen, from the Cold Spring Harbour Laboratory, said, "We can now use that gene in genetic testing, which will allow growers as well as producers to know exactly what sort of tree they are planting before it produces fruit. It takes a long time for these trees to produce fruit, but by being able to predict exactly what sort of fruit that trees will produce, it will greatly assist growers." The researchers say this could offer a more sustainable form of agriculture. Prof. Martienssen said, "This finding gives us huge hope. We hope to maximize land usage and produce a lot more on the same amount of land, because we do not want to destroy the rainforest any more." However, the environmental group WWF-UK said that the global demand for oil palm was growing rapidly, making the expansion of plantations inevitable. Adam Harrison, the organization's food and agriculture policy officer, said, "In a sense it does not matter if a 'good' variety replaces forest or a 'bad' one, the wildlife and communities that need access to that land will suffer. So for palm oil to be sustainable, the process of allocating land needs to be controlled. There is an abundance of low-carbon, low-wildlife and conflict-free land available and there is no more need for forest areas to be changed." What can we infer from the passage? A. The plantation of oil palms has decreased in recent years. B. The Dura produces less oil than other two types of palm fruit. C. It takes less time to produce fruit, Pisifera, than other two types of fruit. D. The researchers are trying to produce more palms with the fruit, Tenera. Answer: D. The researchers are trying to produce more palms with the fruit, Tenera. Question: On Thanksgiving Day, nine years ago, I stole my father's car. He was 88 years old and living in a retirement community in Ojai. The previous July, he had failed his driver's test, but he'd kept driving without a license, as if he had forgotten that he didn't have a license, or as if he hadn't cared, but something had to be done. On Thanksgiving morning, I drove up to fetch him for a turkey dinner, and while he finished getting ready, I stole his spare car keys. So Dad spent the night at my house. The next day, after a long talk in which he still refused to relinquish his keys, I drove him home with a friend, who would drive my father's car back to my place. I was so nervous and eager for the whole thing to be over, so I got a speeding ticket on the way. My father never fully forgave the theft of his car, although as the months passed and his dementia worsened. One reason my father had been so eager to keep driving was that his younger brother Wes lived in a county home. Wes had been born mentally challenged and later suffered from schizophrenia , my father had driven monthly to see him. It seemed right to help them see each other. So, seven years ago, Jim and I borrowed a van equipped for a wheelchair ,picked up Wes and took him for Thanksgiving with my father. At my father's place, we moved Wes in his chair out of the van and up to the door. When the brothers saw each other, their faces lit up. "Is that you, bud?" Wes called out, half rising from his seat. "Wes!"My father cried. They grasped each other's hands firmly, smiled at each other, their joy obvious. Slowly, we made our way back to my father's apartment; my husband walked alongside my father while I pushed Wes in his chair. That was last time my father saw his brother. Wes passed away a few months later. My father continued to worsen. That was our last Thanksgiving together. He died in 2011, a few months shy of his 96th birthday. That means there will be no car tricks this year, no wheelchair van and there will never again be multiple generations of our family at the same table. Father kept driving without a license because _ . A. He didn't care about it B. He had forgotten he didn't have a license C. He wanted to see his brother monthly D. He wanted to show he was still young Answer: C. He wanted to see his brother monthly Question: We lived in a very quiet neighborhood. One evening I heard a loud crash in the street. Earlier that evening my wife had asked me to go to the store to get some soft drinks. It seemed like this would be a good time to let my teenage daughter Holly practice her driving, so I sent her to the store in my truck. At dinner my son talked about how much he liked my truck. I enjoyed having it, but I said, "Guy, my heart is not set on that truck. I like it but it is just metal and won't last forever. Never set your heart on anything that won't last." After hearing the loud noise, the whole family ran outside. My son shouted, "Dad! Dad! Holly crashed your truck." My heart sank and my mind was flooded with conflicting thoughts. Was anyone hurt? Who else was involved? As I ran to the door, I heard a voice in my heart say, "Here is a chance to show Holly what you really love. She'll never forget it." The accident had occurred in my own driveway. Holly had crashed my truck into our other vehicle, the family van. In her inexperience, she had confused the brakes and the gas pedal . Holly was unhurt physically but when reached her, she was crying and saying, "Oh, Dad, I'm sorry. I know how much you love this truck." I held her in my arms as she cried. Later that week a friend dropped by and asked what had happened to my truck. I told her the whole story. Her eyes moistened and she said, "That happened to me when I was a girl. I borrowed my dad's car and ran into a log that had fallen across the road. I ruined the car. When I got home, my dad knocked me to the ground and began to kick me." Over 40 years later, she still felt the pain of the night. _ I remember how sad Holly was on the night she crashed our truck, and how I comforted her. One day, when Holly thinks back on her life, I want her to know that I love her a thousand times more than any piece of property. I repaired the van, but the dent in my truck is still there today. Every day it reminds me of what really matters in my life. Which of the following descriptions is true according to the passage? A. When the author first learned about the crash, he regretted sending his daughter to the store. B. The author allowed his daughter to use his truck because his son was too young to drive. C. When the author saw the crash, he was sorry for the damage to his beloved car. D. By comforting his daughter, the author showed how much more he loved her than his truck. Answer: D. By comforting his daughter, the author showed how much more he loved her than his truck. Question: It took me more than 10 years to realize that the world has no shortage of fashion designers who have the ability to make trendy and elegant garments, but that it is badly in need of, simply, clothes designers. My own definitions would set fashion and clothing greatly apart. It is a fact that, in the shopping malls, there are plenty of beautiful garments whose unpredictability makes our life color1ful and interesting. You are almost convinced: You can buy whatever you dare to think. There is no doubt that fashion designers are usually with high qualifications. They study fashion trends, select color1s, and make sure the final production of their designs is done properly. However, as experience grew with age, my attraction to arts became ever stronger. I have a strong desire for clothing to stand as does paint to the painter, as does stone to the sculptor, as a simple and particular language of an individual creation, which draws the audience from an appreciation of the surface to deeper thoughts with the world of the soul. I believe that the most meaningful creative motives should arise through caring for other people, the great care of humanity--a concern for human feeling and spirituality. _ , but it is bigger than love, and it is unconditional. I believe the greatest works of art can touch the deepest and strongest parts of human feelings and the world of the spirit, and only these works can be the memories of history, preserving the most valuable feelings that have ever existed, and inspiring a greater awareness of ourselves. I am not satisfied if people only appreciate clothing if it merely satisfies their desire. I believe clothing could be a specific creative language for communicating ideas and thoughts, for inspiring you and shaping your behavior. Those clothes fashioned out of necessity possess a power that can continue to exist across the ages. This is what I have tried to achieve, the clothing to return to its original simplicity, the clothing to help people regain the natural sense. The true fashion today should not follow the trends. It should instead uncover the extraordinary in the ordinary, for I believe the pleasure you get from the clothing is not its price, but its spirit. According to the writer, most fashion designers are _ . A. lack of imagination B. deep in thought C. unproductive D. trendy Answer: D. trendy
I arrived in the UK last weekend to learn English. So far I have already made a few friends and had some traditional English food there. But after having three days of hamburgers, sandwiches and potatoes, I thought none could be more delicious than Chinese food, especially my favorite --huo guo. You can't imagine how excited I was when I got to know that there was going to be a free meal of hotpot to welcome the new students. On the way to the canteen, I seemed to smell huo guo in the air. To my surprise, when I stepped into the room, I didn't see any sign of huo guo. Where was it? With many questions in my head, I sat down to have the free meal. After talking with an English girl, I got to know that Chinese huo guo is completely different from hotpot. Chinese huo guo is written in two words-hot pot; and hotpot, one word, is a traditional English dish. Hotpot is made from mutton and onion. On the top are pieces of potatoes. People put it in the oven all day in a heavy pot on a low heat. It takes very little effort to prepare. You can often see it at parties in the UK because it's easy to prepare for a large number of people and is not expensive. Hotpot doesn't taste bad. However, I still miss huo guo-hot pot, two words! Hotpot is often prepared for parties because it is _ . A very p opular B quite expensive C easy to prepare D good for health Answer: C When I was about twelve, I headed to a restaurant for dinner with my family. It was winter, and on that particular night, the wind was really blowing. As my mom and I headed towards the restaurant from our car, a girl about my age and her mother came up to us. They asked if we had any spare change. My mom immediately asked where they kept their things. They pointed to an old car in a parking across the street. The girl said there were six of them living in that car, which was the same size as my own family. My mom said she had something to do after handing the people a few dollars. She sent me inside the restaurant with my dad and my three siblings. But she didn't come. Later, I found out she had gone home and practically emptied our cupboards into a few bags. Then, she brought that food over to the car and handed the bags to the family. I wasn't there when that part happened, but I can only imagine the joy it brought to their faces. A few days later, when I actually found out about what she had done, I asked her why she helped those people. She told me that they were not lucky. I remember the face of that girl who had asked us for change, she was the same age as me, yet we looked so different. Here I stood, dressed in almost new clothes, headed to dine in a restaurant and then back home to the bedroom I shared with my younger sister. I remember thinking that the other girl didn't have any food to eat. and she was heading back to a cold car shared with five other people. After painting this picture in my mind, I understood why my mom had done what she did. I will never forget what she did that night, and how she taught me one of the best lessons I ever learned. What might be the author's purpose in writing the text? A To tell us to show love to others. B To seek help for the poor family. C To give a brief introduction of her mother. D To complain about some social problems. Answer: A As a teenager, Simon Weston wasn't particularly good at his studies, but he was a good football player. He could also be naughty sometimes so his mother decided Simon should join the army when he was sixteen to teach him some discipline . She was right; Simon really enjoyed army life and became a well-respected member. However, Simon's life was changed forever in 1982. Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, which belong to Britain, and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher declared war . Simon was on board a ship taking troops to the Falklands when it was attacked and set on fire. In an act of great heroism, Simon tried to save one of his friends from being burnt alive. Sadly, he failed and was seriously burnt himself. At the age of 21, Simon's life seemed over. Simon had 70 operations to rebuild his face and body. He was so badly burnt that his mother walked past him in the hospital without recognizing her son. Simon struggled to call out, "Mum, it's me, Simon." Hearing his voice, his mother broke down in tears. Many thought Simon would die, but to everyone's astonishment, he survived. Although he experienced terrible pain, Simon never gave up hope. After months of treatment, Simon slowly started to recover and, although he would be terribly scarred for the rest of his life, he was able to leave hospital. This was when _ . The physical pain slowly disappeared; however, the emotional pain became worse. Simon started to gout but was wounded by the stares of people who looked at him like he was some kind of freak . He felt like saying, "I wasn't born like this you know. I was injured defending my country." It took great courage for Simon to continue to go out. Eventually, Simon became involved in charity work and met his wife Lucy with whom he has three children. Life has never been the same for Simon but his Bravery is an example to us all. What can we infer from the text about Simon? A He succeeded in saving his friend in danger. B he became an excellent professional soldier. C he didn't get along with other soldiers. D he found life in the army very terrible Answer: B In Singapore, many school students spend a lot of time on their studies. People always think that good schooling is the key to success . So, many of these students try their best to get good grades in their tests. They have a lot of homework every day and tests are usually a big problem to them. Sometimes, a few students even have to go to evening classes after school because of the pressure of the tests. Students have many after-school activities to do at school, such as sports games, dance groups, swimming and rock-climbing. On weekends, they have enough time to do what they like. Most students like to listen to pop music. Hollywood films, Hong Kong and Singapore films are very popular, too. Some of them also spend free time surfing the Internet, e-mailing their friends, playing computer games. They sometimes go to cafes, fast food restaurants, shopping centers and big bookstores. They also join in community service . So life for students in Singapore is not easy but _ and colorful. Which of the following is the best title of the passage ?. A Life of students in Singapore B School rules in Singapore C Tests in Singapore D Students' problems in Singapore. Answer: A On "Super Bowl Sunday", millions of Americans are glued to their TVs. They are eating pizza, chicken wings and chips and cheering every move. They're watching the Super Bowl. Why are Americans so crazy about American football? Well, it is more exciting than other sports. One team can lose possession of the ball in a minute, which may allow their opponents to make a touchdown . Then that team may win the game unexpectedly. The Super Bowl also entertains its audience with a great halftime show. The football field is turned into a stage. Then an impressive performance of dancing and singing with special effects occurs. Since the Super Bowl is the most-watched TV program in America, commercial airtime is also very expensive. Big money is also spent on commercials. They draw the viewers' attention and advertise their image or products during the commercial break. After football season, the "March Madness" begins. The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) competitions begin with 68 men's college basketball teams. They play until the field is reduced to the "Final Four". The winning team becomes the national champion. The NBA (National Basketball Association) All-Star game is also held in February. The best players from all the teams play in this game. Baseball is no doubt American's national sport. From grandpas to young kids, whole families go to ball games together. They wear their favorite team's caps or even carry their mascot . Our family went to watch Wang Chien-Ming play in D.C. once. We ate hot dogs, waved flags and sang during the 7th inning stretch. If you are not a sports fan yet, come and pick a sport or a team. Go to a ball game with your family, and cheer your team on. Sports are definitely a part of American culture one should not miss. The passage is mainly written to _ . A inform readers of the three popular sports in America B teach readers how to understand the sports culture in America C encourage readers to fit in with American culture through sports D show readers the importance of sports in young people's life in America Answer: C
Today is my first day at Merchiston Castle School,and I was really nervous about it, because I have never visited the school before and didn't take any summer course. Despite my anxiety,I soon relaxed once I arrived; the staff were so nice that I felt my spoken English was better than it actually was! As soon as I walked into the dayroom of my boarding house,I was absolutely amazed by the friendly atmosphere; everyone was so friendly that a boy as shy as I had no difficulty in setting in,and I made many new friends on my very first day,although I was struggling to remember all the names. Also I realized there were other international students in the house from all over the world,such as South Korea,Japan and Russia.Although their English was not so fluent,it didn't take long for us to understand each other at all.In some ways,it was even better to practice Enlgish by speaking to the international students,because we were both learning. As a boarder,the quality of food is something I consider very important,and Merchiston has not let me down.The school kitchens are run by a professional catering company,and the quality of food is excellent,also they take the issue of a healthy diet really seriously.I remember once I was asked to take more salad for my meal by a member of the kitchen staff for I did not have enough vegetables.This brings to another point of being a boarder:you need to learn how to look after yourself and be responsible for yourself.One of the huge advantages of being a _ is that we can have breakfast in the school,which means we don't have to pull ourselves out of the bed as early as the daypupils! Why was the writer nervous when he was at Merchiston Castle School on the first day? A. Because he had no friends and relatives there. B. Because he didn't know the school well. C. Because he was not good at English. D. Because he was shy. Answer: D Photos that you might have found down the back of your sofa are now big business! In 2005, the American artist Richard Prince's photograph of a photograph, Untitled (Cowboy), was sold for $ 1, 248, 000. Prince is certainly not the only contemporary artist to have worked with so-called "found photographs"--a loose term given to everything from discarded prints discovered in a junk shop to old advertisements or amateur photographs from a stranger's family album. The German artist Joachim Schmid, who believes "basically everything is worth looking at", has gathered discarded photographs, postcards and newspaper images since 1982. In his on-going project, Archiv, he groups photographs of family life according to themes: people with dogs; teams; new cars; dinner with the family; and so on. Like Schmid, the editors of several self-published art magazines also champion found photographs. One of _ , called simply Found, was born one snowy night in Chicago, when Davy Rothbard returned to his car to find under his wiper an angry note intended for some else: "Why's your car HERE at HER place?" The note became the starting point for Rothbard's addictive publication, which features found photographs sent in by readers, such a poster discovered in our drawer. The whole found-photograph phenomenon has raised some questions. Perhaps one of the most difficult is: can these images really be considered as art? And if so, whose art? Yet found photographs produced by artists, such Richard Prince, may riding his horse hurriedly to meet someone? Or how did Prince create this photograph? It's anyone's guess. In addition, as we imagine the back-story to the people in the found photographs artists, like Schmid, have collated , we also turn toward our own photographic albums. Why is memory so important to us? Why do we all seek to freeze in time the faces of our children, our parents, our lovers, and ourselves? Will they mean anything to anyone after we've gone? In the absence of established facts, the vast collections of found photographs give our minds an opportunity to wander freely. That, above all, is why they are so fascinating. The author's attitude towards found photographs can be described as _ . A. critical B. doubtful C. optimistic D. satisfied Answer: C Do many people you know drive a car? How do you get a license to drive a car in your hometown? Head the following handbook and you will find out how to get a learner License and how to drive safely in Australia. About your Learner License To prepare new and young drivers for the complex task of driving, all learner driver applicants must successfully complete a special "Road Ready" course to qualify for their Licenses. About the Road Ready Course In the Road Ready course, you will take part in exercises to help raise awareness of the complexities of safe driving.You will he assessed on your level of participation and understanding of the topics.The final stage of the course is computerized, multiple choice road rules knowledge test. The course is conducted over several sessions and takes up to 15 hours to complete. Obtaining a Learner License Any person aged 15 years and 9 months or more may apply for a Learner License to drive a car. The Learner License is valid for 24 months but must be held for a minimum of six months.The driver must attain the age of 17 years before attempting a practical driving test. To obtain a Learner License an applicant must: Provide proof of identity, age and residence. Complete and pass a Road Ready course. Pass a knowledge test on the road rules and safe driving practices. Pass an eyesight test. When driving, learner drivers must be accompanied by a person holding a FULL license.Learner plates must be displayed on the front and the back of the vehicle while it is being driven by the learner. Drive and Survive, Avoid Driver Fatigue Driving when you are fatigued can be deadly.30% of single vehicle crashes in country areas involve a fatigued driver. For long trips over 2 hours: Have plenty of rest breaks at least every two hours.Have a coffee break or walk around and stretch your muscles. Slay somewhere overnight if it's a really long distance. Don't drive when you would normally be asleep. Get a good night's sleep before the trip. Share the driving. Take a passenger who will chat and keep you alert. Don't drink and drive.Before and during the trip eat properly, avoid any alcohol and don't take medicine that may cause tiredness. When you feel sleepy, stop and sleep. Remember that you can become drowsy even on short trips.If you have been working or partying hard, avoid driving if possible. When driving, learner drivers _ . A. can drive by themselves on the roads with light traffic B. have to display their Learner Licenses on the front and the back of their cars C. must be accompanied by either of their parents D. can't drive alone without being accompanied by a person with a full license Answer: D The physicians in a hospital form the center of medical staff. But they could not provide effective medical care to their patients without the help of numerous other medical employees. From the viewpoint of the patients, the nursing staff is particularly important. Nurses are usually in close contact with patients as long as they are in the hospital. A nurse does not study for as many years as a doctor. however, each must be equally dedicated. Caring for sick persons requires a great deal of patience and concern. Most nurses work long days, and they often must work at odd hours or during the night. Under the supervision of the head nurse, the nursing staff must provide nursing services on a 24-hour basis and attend to patients' needs. This responsibility continues around the clock, and so nurses must work in shifts. A shift is a period of duty, usually eight in length. The nurses on the ward rotate their shifts. Some take turns working night duty; others work odd shifts. A nurse must always be alert. She can never afford to be careless. This is true in all nursing situation, but it is especially true in the intensive care unit. Patients under intensive care are critically ill, and they must be monitored at all times. The nurses who do intensive care duty have one of the most demanding jobs in the hospital. Serving as a nurse can be a very rewarding job. But it is not an easy one. Not every person is suited to become a nurse. Only very dedicated people have chosen nursing as a profession. Nurses work in shifts because _ . A. they are careless. B. nursing services must be provided continuously. C. they work at night from time to time. D. a shift is usually eight hours long. Answer: B It was reported last week that developers could take photos from Apple mobile and Google Android devices without the phone owners knowing that the images were being taken. In Apple's case, developers can also obtain the location information for each photo. Senator Charles Schumer said in a telephone interview that his office had spoken with officials at both Apple and Google on Monday. "We asked them if they could find a way on their own to prevent Apple from having access to private information," Mr. Schumer said. "They were friendly and open to the idea that this ought to be changed." On Sunday, Mr. Schumer said that he planned to send a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking the agency to investigate Apple and Google after the privacy concerns came to light. Claudia Bourne Farrell, an F.T.C. spokeswoman, said the agency had received the letter but she could not comment further. "It worries people to think that one's personal photos, address book, and who knows what else can be obtained and even posted online without permission," Mr. Schumer wrote in his letter to the F.T.C. "If the technology exists to open the door to this kind of privacy invasion , then surely technology exists to close it, and that's exactly what must happen." Mr. Schumer said if Apple and Google could not come to an agreement to fix the problem, then he would be forced to take the issue further. He said other companies had been willing to work with his office to fix issues. "I'm optimistic that we can get this changed without any regulation," he said. "If it's not changed, then we'll turn to the F.T.C., and if that doesn't work then we'llconsider legislative approach." The F.T.C. has warned companies to try to be more vigilant in their efforts to protect consumers when it comes to privacy. Where can we read about the passage? A. In a science report. B. In a magazine C. In a newspaper. D. In a textbook. Answer: C
The day was dark and stormy; puddles could be seen all over the ground, making the yard look like a tiny pond. Conner frowned as he let the curtain drop back down. There was no way that mommy was going to let him go out and play today. She would say that it was too muddy and he would get wet. Conner thought to himself, "But what if I don't ask her?" Smiling, Conner pushed open the sliding door to the back yard. Slipping on his rain boots, he rushed outside and began to run and jump from puddle to puddle, sending large showers of water up around him with every jump. After he had jumped in all of the puddles he looked back towards the house to find mommy standing in the doorway watching him with a smile on her face. She giggled as she too pulled on her rain boots and joined him in jumping from puddle to puddle. What does mommy do when she sees Conner outside A. mommy tells him to come in and takes away his rain boots B. Nothing mommy never saw him outside. C. smiles and joins him in his play D. mommy shuts the sliding door Answer: C Welcome to Cambridge Dictionaries Online! Cambridge University Press publishes a range of dictionaries for learners of English all around the world. You can search our dictionaries using the search box at the top of the page. New for elementary learners We've added two new choices to Cambridge Dictionaries Online-Essential British English and Essential American English. Both are for elementary, and lower intermediate learners of English, and are specially written to make the definitions and examples easy to understand. They cover all of the vocabulary that elementary and lower intermediate students need to make progress, and help students to arrange their learning by showing the words that should be known at Al, A2, and B1 levels. You can look up the dictionaries from the dropdown box at the top of the page. More than just a dictionary Don't forget to visit our New Words, which keeps you up to date with those words and meanings that are just starting to be used in English. There's also About Words, our fascinating blog about how the English language behaves. You can give your opinion on new expressions or blog posts by voting or leaving comments, so get involved! Tell your friends! If you find something you like, you can now share it with your friends. Just elide on the relevant icon to spread the word. You can also become a fan on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or add a Cambridge Dictionary toolbar to your computer -- it's now easier than ever. Do you like Cambridge Dictionaries Online? Could you make it even better? Let us know your thoughts and ideas! Email us and let us know: dictionary@cambridge.org. Paul Heacock Dictionaries Publishing Manager Cambridge University Press The new-added Cambridge Dictionaries online are probably most suitable for _ . A. college students B. English teachers C. adult English learners D. middle school students Answer: D Which set of animals don't compete for food? A. dolphin and fish B. hyena and bear C. whale and cat D. eagle and raven Answer: C Everyone wants to achieve true happiness in life. But the biggest factor holding most of us back is actually our ownselves. The Huffington Post released a list of seven mistakes we need to let go of in order to become happier people. Let's take a look. 1.Placing too much emphasis on fulfillment Those who put a lot of pressure on themselves to be happy feel more lonely on a daily basis than those who do not, according to research conducted at the University of Denver, US. 2. Keeping it all in Keeping it all together during tough times can hurt you. Crying is the body's emotional response to outside triggers .By _ it, you may be damaging your mental and physical health. 3. Looking at your smart phone all the time Connecting with others may be the key to happiness, but a recent University of Michigan study found that the more time participants spent on social networking sites, the less happy they felt. 4. Not moving It's no secret that a healthy lifestyle is a big part of happiness. Something as simple as a walk can help you increase your creativity and expose you to essential vitamins. 5. Not reflecting on the past In a 2013 study on nostalgia and emotion, participants reported a higher sense of physiological comfort when they looked back on the past. Affection for heartwarming memories helps people relate their past experiences to the present in order to create a greater sense of meaning. 6. Resisting change A study on the psychology of choices shows that the human brain naturally tries to avoid loss--but that resistance can cause stress. Whether it's fear of the unknown or fear of losing what you currently have, the pressure to hold on to the present can harm your future life satisfaction. 7. Not being mindful Setting aside time for meditation allows your body to relax, cultivates an attitude of gratitude and lowers your stress level, according to researchers at University of California, Los Angeles, US. According to the article, to be a happy person, it is important for us to _ . A. set goals and achieve as much as we can B. avoid recalling the past C. do exercise in our spare time D. spend more time on social networking sites Answer: C Preventing obesity and smoking can save lives, but it doesn't save money, reported researchers. "It was a small surprise, for it is against the common belief," said Pieter Van Baal, who led the study. "But it makes sense. If you live longer, then you cost the health system more." The researchers found that from age 20 to 56, obese people racked up the most expensive health costs. But on average, healthy people lived 84 years. Smokers lived about 77 years, and obese people lived about 80 years. Smokers and obese people tended to have more heart disease than healthy people. Therefore in the long run, the thin and healthy group cost about $417, 000, from age 20 on. Smokers cost about $326, 000 and obese people $371, 000. "The result throws a bucket of cold water onto the idea, based on guesswork, that obesity is going to cost trillions of dollars," said Patrick Basham, a professor of health politics. "If we're going to worry about the future of obesity, we should stop worrying about its financial impact," he said. "The benefits of obesity prevention may not be seen immediately in terms of cost saving in tomorrow's budget, but there are long-term gains," said Van Baal. "These are often immeasurable when it comes to people living longer and healthier lives." In the meanwhile, he said that governments should recognize that successful smoking and obesity prevention programs mean that people will have a longer chance of dying of something more expensive later in life. "Lung cancer is a cheap disease to treat because people don't survive very long. But if they are old enough to get Alzheimer's one day, they may survive longer and cost more. We are not advising that governments stop trying to prevent obesity," Van Baal said. "But they should do it for the right reasons." What would be the best title for this text? A. Recent Medical Study Shows Truth about Health B. Preventing Obesity and Smoking May Cost More C. Obesity and Smoking Lead to Expensive Diseases D. Governments Change Attitude towards Obesity and Smoking Answer: B
If you have a brother or sister, you already know you are different from each other. You live together in the same house and the same parents, but you have different personalities . Why is this? One possible reason is the way your parent treat you. First -born children receive all the attention from their parents. Most families have twice as many photos of a first-born than any other child. Parents usually give first-born more responsibility and depend on them to take care of younger brothers and sisters. As a result, first -born are often responsible, hard-working, and jealous . They often want to do well at school and work. There are more first-born American Presidents, for example, George Bush, George Washington, and Lyndon Baines Johnson than second or last-born children. When a second child arrives, parents are more relaxed. The second child has to compete with the first-born for the parents' attention and love. Their children often choose different sports and hobbies to do well at school and work, but have to be creative to get their family's attention. They are often friendly and cool. Many famous talk-show hosts were born last. We can learn from the passage that _ . Answer: there are more first-born successful people than second or last-born people It all started a year before when my daughter Suzanne and I were shopping in Sydney. In the window of a sports shop I noticed a photo of a group of young people climbing the rock along a canyon . "That's what I'm going to do next year," I said. Suzanne laughed. "Sure, Mom! Don't forget you're 65 years old. " I didn't feel l was that age! I joined a club and trained weekly. Each day I felt my physical energy increase and, along with it, my confidence. Then Suzanne pointed out, "It's good, but how can you clear away the fear of height?" "I've got it worked out, " I replied bravely. "We're going to the indoor climbing center. " While I was going up the high wall, I was afraid to look down as if a terrible animal was after me. Some time later, as I reached the ground, I sat down heavily on the floor. Later that night, as I lay in bed, I encouraged myself, "You've climbed the wall! You'll certainly make it! " We set off with our packages to the Grand Canyon. When we reached it, I found the canyon was a huge black hole--far deeper than I had imagined. As the guide clipped me onto the rope, _ . Time lost all meaning as I pushed my body forward. Only the strong rope kept me from losing hope. I began to think it would never end when everyone had stopped. "This is as far as we go, and we can climb out after a few steps, " the guide said finally. Two and a half hours later, we returned to the car park at last. I began to shake, one hard step after another. Getting onto the bus, I fell into the seat I had left so confidently a lifetime before. Then, while I was in the seat catching my breath, a feeling of happiness spread through me. I had done it, at the age of 66. ,. What can be learned from the passage? Answer: Where there is a will, there is a way. It was a sunny night. Jim was having a drink with his friend. He drank too much, and he had to leave at half past eight because he had a ticket for a music festival, which would start at nine o'clock. It was half past an hour's walk from the pub to the theatre. Jim knew a _ that would only take ten minutes, but it meant crossing rails , and was dangerous. He took the shorter way, however, and when he reached the rails, he tripped and fell over. Then he fell asleep with his face down. After a while, a train came. When the driver saw a body lying on the track, he tried hard to stop the train. When it finally stopped, it was several meters before the body. The driver quickly got off and checked. Luckily, he found the man was still alive, but sleeping. Though the driver tried hard to wake him, Jim just kept sleeping. The driver took Jim to the hospital, where he woke up at last. When Jim was told what had happened, he decided to give up drinking. "I'm so lucky that I have a chance to turn my life around,' he said. What did Jim learn from the experience? Answer: To stop drinking. Federal regulators Wednesday approved a plan to create a nationwide emergence alert system using text messages delivered to cell phones. Text messages have exploded in popularity in recent years, particularly among young people. The wireless industry's trade association, CTIA, estimates more than 48 billion text messages are sent each month. The plan comes from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act, a 2006 federal law that requires improvements to the nation's emergency alert system. The act tasked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) with coming up with new ways to alert the public about emergencies. "The ability to deliver accurate and timely warnings and alerts through cell phones and other mobile services is an important next step in our efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they need to take action to protect themselves and their families before, and during, disasters and other emergencies," FCC Chairman Kevin Martin said following approval of the plan. Participation in the alert system by carriers--telecommunications companies is voluntary, but it has received solid support from the wireless industry. The program would be optional for cell phone users. They also may not be charged for receiving alerts. There would be three different types of messages, according to the rules. The first would be a national alert from the president, likely involving a terrorist attack or natural disaster. The second would involve "approaching threats," which could include natural disasters like hurricanes or storms or even university shootings. The third would be reserved for child abduction emergencies, or so-called Amber Alerts. The service could be in place by 2014. What is the purpose of the approved plan? Answer: To warn people of emergencies via messages. Is it a tree? Is it a bear? If you're looking at a tree in the shape of a bear, it's a topiary . A topiary is a tree or bush that is trained into a shape. Growing a topiary garden takes both time and skills. A topiary gardener should make a drawing first. The drawing shows the final shape that the gardener likes. The gardener then chooses a bush for the topiary. It may be one that just planted or one that is already in place. In June of the plant's first year, the gardener looks for new leaves. When the leaves grow, it's time to shape the bottom of the bush. It needs about five years. The top is not _ during this time. In the fifth year, the bush grows tall enough for shaping. Then the gardener begins to shape the whole bush. Once a topiary has been started, it needs care all year. In the summer it must be cut many times to keep its shape. This cutting also helps the bush grow. In the winter the bushes don't grow. The gardeners have to brush snow off the plants, or snow may hurt some parts of them. Topiary gardening is a very old art. The Romans did it in the first century. In the sixteenth century, people in Europe liked topiaries too. By the late 1600s, topiaries were also grown in America. Today it's popular in many parts of the world. The topiary gardening first began _ . Answer: in Rome
Mayday is a rock band from Taiwan that was formed in the late 1990s with five members, namely ,Ashin (vocalist), Monster and Stone (guitars), Masa (bass) and Guan You (drums). Formerly making music under the name of So Band, they officially came to be known as Mayday in 1997, with the name originating from Masa's online nickname. Mayday's songs are written mostly in Min Nan (Taiwanese dialect) and Mandarin . They are popular for capturing the zeitgeist of Taiwanese youth in the 1990s which was an era of dreams, growing up, loneliness, love and disaffection. Mayday has made no secret of its admiration of the Beatles whom they cite(...)as influencing their ideals of rock music.The eighth track of their fifth album has a track called John Lennon where the band espouses its dreams to become the "Beatles of the Chinese World"and one day, to become better than them. Other diverse musical influences include the Irish band U2, the British band Oasis, the Japanese pop music artists Mr. Children, Sting as well as the Chinese rocker Wu Bai and China Blue. In lyrics on recent albums, Ashin has alluded( )to several cultural icons notably the Chinese mythical monkey-god Sun Wu-Kong, Mickey Mouse, Superman, Neil Armstrong and Che Guevara. Ashin has also cited movies and novels as inspiration for his songs including "Viva Love"which was inspired by avant-garde Taiwanese director Tsai Ming Liang's 1994 movie, Vive L'Amour and the song "Armour" which was influenced by a Chinese drama Crystal Boys and Haruki Murakami's novel, Kafka On the Shore. Which of the following is true about the members of Mayday? A. Each member plays a part separately in the rock band. B. Monster and Masa play the guitars in the rock band. C. Masa has a nickname online when he performs in the rock band. D. Before it got famous,the rock band was not called Mayday. Answer: D Still waiting for little green men to make contact? _ . A leading astronomer has concluded there probably aren't any aliens out there - meaning we are absolutely alone in the universe. Even though there may be tens of thousands of other distant planets similar in size to Earth, the conditions on them are likely to be too hard to support life-forms such as ET. Dr Howard Smith, a senior astrophysicist at Harvard University, believes there is very little hope of discovering aliens and, even if we did, it would be almost impossible to make contact. So far astronomers have discovered a total of 500 planets in distant solar systems - known as extrasolar systems - although they believe billions of others exist. But Dr Smith points out that many of these planets are either too close to the sun or too far away, meaning their surface temperatures are so bad that they could not support life. Others have unusual orbits which cause vast temperature variations, making it impossible for water to exist - the most important thing for life. Dr Smith said, "We have found that most other planets and solar systems are wildly different from our own. It means it is highly unlikely there are any planets with intelligent life close enough for us to make contact." But his suggestions contradict other leading scientists who have claimed aliens almost certainly exist. Only last month Professor Stephen Hawking said the fact that there are billions of galaxies out there made it reasonable to think there were other life-forms in the universe. Researchers from the University of London have recently suggested that aliens could be living on as many as 40,000 other planets. But Dr Smith said: "Any hope of contact has to be limited to a relatively tiny space around the Earth, reaching maybe 1,250 light years out from our planet, where aliens might be able to pick up our signals or send us their own. But communicating would still take decades or centuries." What's the main idea of the text? A. There must be other life forms in the universe. B. We can communicate with aliens in decades. C. The chances of finding aliens are slight. D. Many other planets are quite different from the Earth. Answer: C In this age of media technology where the Internet is playing a more and more important role in our lives,how do you usually get information? For many students and office workers,their first Interact stop is the search engine Google:For any information they want,they's imply type in a keyword, click "enter",and within seconds relevant web pages appear out. So are people still reading books? The answer is surely yes.It's simply not realistic to use acomputer to read a novel But reading habits in China,and other countries,are changing.Mr Li,a businessman,says his purpose in reading is to get practical knowledge."I like stories of successful people and books that give advice on how people become successful.Besides,I read books with basic knowledge,"said Li. "I like funny books,especially Japanese funny books,"said Xing Mingyan,a junior student,who reads purely for entertainment. "I like to read cook books,"said Miss Zhang,an office worker,who usually reads magazines. "And I usually buy fashion magazines." It seems that the purposes of reading have changed a lot.People don't tend to read for entertainment as much.They usually read to learn.Books that teach people how to be more successful,wealthier or more beautiful stay on the best--seller charts for a long time.People are also interested in buying funny books and magazines.Just remember how the funny novels of Jimmy Liao took China and other countries by storm. But educators say reading is important to teach people and also to develop their imaginations and language skills.No matter what you like to read,why not turn off the computer and television and read a good book,make yourself comfortable and open the door to another world? Which of the following is Tree? A. Educators say reading is useful in improving people's language skills. B. Xing Mingyan,a senior student,especially likes Japanese funny books. C. Jimmy Liao's serious stories made him well-known in China and other countries. D. Miss Zhang likes reading funny magazines and fashion magazines. Answer: A Almost no young people today know who the cartoon character Oswald the Rabbit is, but they certainly recognize his successor, Bugs Bunny. Oswald, Bugs, and hundreds of other characters were created by Walt Disney, perhaps the most famous cartoonist in history. Born in prefix = st1 /Chicagoin 1901, Walt Disney always wanted to be an artist. After returning from World War I, in which he drove an ambulance, Disney worked as a commercial artist. He enjoyed drawing cartoons more than anything else, and decided to try his hand at a technology that was new at the time, moving pictures. In the 1920's, he produced several films where he made cartoon characters move as if by magic. The technique Disney used was painstaking. He made hundreds or even thousands of repeated drawings of the same character. In each drawing, the character was changed just a bit. A film was taken of the series of drawings, and when it was shown, the characters appeared to move. The process, called animation, is still used today, although computers have made the process much easier. In 1928, Disney created his most famous character, Mortimer Mouse, who we know today as Mickey. The mouse starred in a cartoon called Steamboat Willie, which was unusual because it involved the use of a sound track. Within the next few years, Disney invented many of his other characters. The list of Disney's animation successes is long and memorable. It includes Pinocchio, Dumbo, Bambi, Cinderella, and Peter Pan. Perhaps his most remarkable animated film is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Created in 1937, it was an immediate success. Today, more than fifty years later, it is still one of the most popular films for children. What is one of the chief differences between animation today and in Walt Disney's early years? A. More people like animated movies. B. Fewer people like animated movies. C. Computers have made the job easier. D. Computers have made the job harder. Answer: C In winter Hammerfest is a thirty-hour ride by bus from Oslo, though why anyone would want to go there in winter is a question worth considering. It is on the edge of the world, the northernmost town in Europe, as far from London as London is from Tunis, a place of dark and cruel winters, where the sun sinks into the Arctic Ocean in November and does not rise again for ten weeks.I wanted to see the Northern Lights. Also, I had long harboured a half-formed urge to experience what life was like in such a remote and forbidding place. Sitting at home in England with a glass of whisky and a book of maps, this had seemed an excellent idea. But now as I picked my way through the grey, late-December slush of Oslo I was beginning to have my doubts. Things had not started well. I had overslept at the hotel, missing breakfast, and had to leap into my clothes. I couldn't find a cab and had to drag my unreasonably overweighted bag eight blocks through slush to the central bus station. I had had huge difficulty persuading the staff at the Kreditkassen Bank on Karl Johans Gate to cash sufficient traveller's cheques to pay the overcharged 1,200-kroner bus fare-they simply could not be made to grasp that the William McGuire Bryson on my passport and the Bill Bryson on my traveller's cheques were both me-and now here I was arriving at the station two minutes before departure, breathless and steaming from the endless uphill exertion that is my life, and the girl at the ticket counter was telling me that she had no record of my reservation. "This isn't happening," I said. "I'm still at home in England enjoying Christmas.Pass me a drop more port, will you, darling?" Actually, I said, "There must be some mistake. Please look again." The girl studied the passenger list. "No, Mr Bryson, your name is not here" But I could see it, even upside-down. "There it is, second from the bottom,, "No," the girl decided, "that says Bemt Bjornson. That's a Norwegian name" "It doesn't say Bernt Bjornson. It says Bill Bryson. Look at the loop of the 'y', the two 'I's. Miss, please." But she wouldn't have it. "If I miss this bus when does the next one go?""Next week at the same time.,, Oh, splendid. "Miss, believe me, it says Bill Bryson." "No, it doesn't." "Miss, look, I've come from England. I'm carrying some medicine that could save a child's life."She didn't buy this. "I want to see the manager." "He's in Stavanger." "Listen, I made a reservation by telephone.If I don't get on this bus I'm going to write a letter to your manager that will cast a shadow over your career prospects for the rest of this century." This clearly did not alarm her. Then it occurred to me. "If this Bemt Bjornson doesn't show up, can I have his seat?" "Sure." Why don't I think of these things in the first place and save myself the suffering? "Thank you," I said, and dragged my bag outside. Why did the author mention the Kreditkassen Bank on Karl Johans Gate? A. To suggest that people there could be ridiculous and stubborn. B. To introduce the cultural differences in northern Europe and England. C. To give an example of an interesting story during his journey. D. To indicate that the bus fare was very expensive. Answer: A
My name is Mary Green. I live in a new house with my parents. There is a beautiful and a small room for me. I like it very much. Now let me tell you something about my new house. My new house is on a busy street. There is a big, new and clean park across from my house. I can see the flowers in it from my room. We often take a walk in the park after dinner every evening. There is a big supermarket near my house. It is between a hospital and a cinema. We can buy fruits, vegetables and food in the supermarket. They are good but cheap. My school is near my house. So I always go to school on foot. I like my new house. Do you like it? We can't buy _ in the shopping mall. A fruits B vegetables C food D flowers Answer: D. flowers Anne Frank's life was short and tragic. Yet her brave spirit has survived in her diary. She wrote this diary while hiding from the Nazis during World WarII. Anne's father prepared a hiding place for his family. He sealed off several rooms at the back of his office building, and he covered the entrance with a movable bookcase. In July 1942, Anne, her mother and her father, her sister Margot, and four Jewish friends stepped behind the bookcase into the hidden rooms. The Frank family and their friends stayed shut away in secret for over two years. Brave friends risked their lives to bring them food. But constant fear and loss of freedom were hard to bear. For comfort, Anne started to write a diary. She was very good at expressing her thoughts and feelings in words. Anne was 13 when she stared to write. Her diary shows that, just like other teenagers, she looked forward to adult life. She hoped to have a career as a writer, and she longed to find love. She had high ideal and wished "to be useful or give pleasure to people around me." Throughout her time in hiding, Anne kept her faith in human nature. She wrote, "In spite of everything, I still believe that human beings are really good at heart." In 1944, the Frank family's hiding place was given away to the Gestapo(German secret police). Anne was sent to the Bergen-Belsen prison camp in Germany. She died at the camp in 1945 at the age of 15. Otto, Anne's father, was the only member of the Frank family to survive the war. He published her diary in 1947. Since then it has been published in more than 50 languages. Millions of people have visited the family's hiding place in Amsterdam. Anne Frank's story still inspires people to fight against all kinds of race discrimination. In Anne's diary, people can read her wishes except_. A getting love from others B serving others C punishing Germans D survival from the war Answer: C. punishing Germans Many people would interpret "the American dream" as "living like an American" --- a two-story house with a white picket fence ; a family with two cars; and two children. However, the current economic situation is affecting the American way of life for 4.4 million people living in the US, according to a new census data. "It's going to have a long-term impact and to say it's going to end is optimitic," says Cheryl Russell, former editor-in-chief of American Demographics magazine. "We're just in the middle of a big transition." So what is the new normal? Marrying later. The average age of the first marriage has increased to 28.7 for men and 26.7 for women, up from 27.5 and 25.9 respectively in 2006. Fewer babies. There were 200,000 fewer births among women aged 20 to 34 in 2010 compared with two years before. This was despite the fact that the number of women of child bearing age had gone up by more than 1 million. Breaking up is harder. The number of divorces has been falling for 25 years as people wait longer or choose to live together before tying the knot. There were about 65,000 fewer divorces in 2010 than in 2008, a 7 percent decrease. Crowded living. Unemployment is forcing more people to live together. Ther number of households where people lived with "other s" climbed from 6.7 percent in 2006 to 7.2 percent in 2010. Going public. Private school enrollment decreased from 13.6 percent in 2006 to 12.8 percent in 2010. Fewer cars. The percentage of households without a car rose again to 9.1 percent against 8.8 percent in 2006. The percentage of households with two or more cars fell from 58 percent to 57.1 percent. What is the article mainly about? A The interpretation of "the American dream". B The significance of the current economic crisis. C The traditional American way of life. D Changes to the American lifestyle. Answer: D. Changes to the American lifestyle. Many processes on Earth occur at or near tectonic plate boundaries. Which geological events are most common along tectonic plate boundaries? A erosion and deposition B hurricanes and tornadoes C earthquakes and volcanoes D tidal waves and sedimentation Answer: C. earthquakes and volcanoes A young boy arrives at a barber shop and the barber _ to his customer, "This is the most foolish kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you." The barber puts a dollar bill in one hand and two cents in the other, then calls the boy over and asks,"Which do you want,son?"The boy takes the cents and leaves. "What did I tell you?"says the barber."That kid never learns!" Later,when the customer leaves, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream store."Hey, son! May I ask you a question ? Why did you take the cents instead of the dollar bill?" The boy licks his ice cream and answers,"Because the day I take the dollar, the game is over!" Who do you think is the most foolish in this passage? A The young boy. B The barber. C The customer. D The author. Answer: B. The barber.
Years ago, I was watching a detective show on TV where the fingerprints of a criminal are required. The hero invites the bad guy to his home and offers him a glass of water. The man takes the glass and drinks the water. After he leaves the hero dramatically brings out a handkerchief and picks up the glass. His expressions show the satisfaction at a job well done. The bad guy will soon be arrested. At that time, I found it amazing - how can prints on a glass identify people? My dad explained that if you were to press your thumb on an inkpad and then on a sheet of white paper you will leave a smudge or print, which no one else in the world can make. The same would be true for each of your fingers. The Chinese were the first to use a fingerprint as a type of identification - it was used as a signature on important documents, although they had no way of independently matching it with the owner. Each print is one-of-a-kind and no two people have the same characteristic. Scientists and criminologists (those who study criminal characteristics) determine the differences between fingerprints by a careful study of their curves and not by their general shape or pattern. In 1892, an English scientist, Sir Francis Galton, published a book on using fingerprints to solve crimes. At the same time in Argentina, a police researcher Juan Vucetich was also working towards a fingerprint classification system. However, it was in 1896 that Sir Edward Henry, then serving as Inspector General of Police in India, developed the print classification system that would eventually be used globally. Sir Edward Henry and his assistant Khan Haque discovered that all fingerprints could be systematically classified according to their general curve patterns. He divided them into three classes on the basis of their general pattern: loops , whorls , and arches . By counting the curve between any two points in the pattern, each of the ten fingers could be classified into a particular group. Taking the group together as a unit you have a complete system of classifying fingerprints. In June 1897, the world's first fingerprint bureau was set up in Calcutta and in 1901, Sir Edward Henry was appointed head of Scotland Yard in London, where he applied the system. This system, called the science of fingerprint identification, is still used by police departments all over the world today with few changes. Fingerprints were first used in China to _ . A sign documents B capture criminals C show respect D prove identity Answer: A A group of professional people put this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined: "When my grandmother got arthritis , she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails any more. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love." Rebecca-----age 8 "Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs." Chrissy-----age 6 "Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny----age 7 "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, and then he wears it every day." Noelle----age 7 "My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night." Clare---- age 6 "Love is when my mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." Chris----age 7 Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four-year-old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing. I just helped him cry." What is the purpose of the passage? A To present a survey B To explain the meaning of love C To report a contest D To show children's love Answer: B Healthy food is a general term applied to all kinds of food that is considered healthier than the types of food sold in supermarkets. For example, whole grains, dried beans, and corn oil are health food. A narrower classification of healthy food is natural food. This term is used to distinguish between types of the same food. Raw honey is a natural sweetener, while refined sugar is not. Fresh fruit is a natural food, but canned fruit, with sugars and other additives is not. The most exact term of all and the narrowest classification within health food that has been grown on a particular kind of farm. Fruits and vegetable that are grown in gardens, that are treated only with organic fertilizers, that are not sprayed with poisonous insecticides , and that are not refined after harvest, are organic food. Meat, fish, dairy and poultry products from animals that are fed only on organically-grown food and that are not injected with hormones are organic food. In choosing the type of food you eat, then, you have basically two choices: inorganic, processed food, or organic, unprocessed food. A wise decision should include study of the reason why processed food contains chemicals, some of which are proved to be poisonous and that vitamin content is greatly reduced in processed food. Bread is typically used by healthy food supporters as an example of a processed food. First, the seeds from which the grain is grown are treated with a chemical that is extremely harmful. Later, the grain is sprayed with a number of very deadly insecticides. After the grain has been made into flour, it is made white with another chemical that is also poisonous. Next, a dough conditioner is added along with a softener. The conditioner and softener are poisonous, and in fact, the softener has sickened and killed experimental animals. A very poisonous antifungal compound, is added to keep the bread from getting moldy . Other food from the supermarket would show a similar pattern of processing and preserving . You see, we buy our food on the basis of smell, color1 and texture, instead of vitamin content, and manufacturers give us what we want, even if it is poisonous. The alternative? Eat health foods, preferably the organic variety. What is the passage mainly about? A Healthy food. B Bread processing C Processed food. D Poisonous food. Answer: A (Happy Children's Day!) Come and see the Indian elephants and the tigers from America. The bears are waiting to meet you, and the monkeys from Thailand are waiting to throw things at you. The lovely dogs from Australia are waiting to laugh at you, and the giraffes from Zambia are waiting to look down on you. Tickets: Adults: Y=60, Children: free Time: June1-June2 9:00 a.m.-----7:00 p. m Keep the park clean! Do not touch, give food or go near the animals. How many kinds of animals are talked about in the poster ? A 4 B 5 C 6 D 7 Answer: C riding a bike helps prevent A music B inflation C environment harm D economic stability Answer: C
Have you ever known someone with a "photographic memory"? It's easy to assume that people with super memories are super intelligent, but the key to their ability is in the methods that they use to remember information. By learning and mastering some basic techniques, you can also boost your memory. Here are some tips to make it happen. Get enough sleep Sleep is our body's way of "rebooting" out systems. Besides allowing our bodies to recover, sleep also helps our brains to process all of the information that they have received during the day. When we fail to get enough sleep, our brains experience an overload of memory. Organize before you memorize It turns out that brains work much like today's computers do. The more efficiently we store information, the more available storage space we'll have. So when memorizing information, store it into chunks that are logically grouped. Use visual and auditory input Our senses have a crucial role in creating our memories. Pictures, graphs, and recordings can help to make our memorization more concrete. These types of techniques are particularly effective for those who are "visual" or "auditory" learners. Certain _ techniques work better for certain people. Make memorization meaningful It's one thing to memorize facts and figures for the sake of doing it. It's quite another thing to make the information meaningful. Make it personal and seek a deeper understanding of the information. These basic steps will help you to memorize more information, and memorize it faster. Connect new information with previous knowledge You'll be able to store information faster, by linking new information that you memorized, with information that you memorized in the past. By linking new information with old information, you'll improve both your short-term and long-term memories. While not all of us are born with a photographic memory, by using these tips you can transform you brain into a super computer. Forget about needing to say "I forgot" throughout the day. This passage was written mainly for _ . Answer: Rob Kalin learned the secret to success while he was still in his baby bed. At age one, the Boston-bom teacher's son dragged around a stuffed rabbit that had been lovingly sewn by one of his mother's students. True, one of the ears was sewn on backward, but that just added to its magic. "It was always special to me," Kalin remembers of his first handmade craft . Kalin's appreciation for the simple and the simply eccentric inspired him to create etsy. com, an online craft fair, probably the largest market for handmade goods in the world. Last year, 350,000 woodworkers and other craftsmen sold their one-of-a-kind crafts on the four-year-old site. They sell everything from hand-knit sleeves for Macbooks ($32) to myrtle-wood electric guitars ($3,200). And in an age of chain stores, it seems there's still a big market. More than three million consumers in 150 countries purchased about $87.5 million worth of crafts on Etsy last year. Emily Worden, founder of Elemental Threads, a custom handbag and jewelry company, signed up with Etsy when she started her company two years ago. She pays Etsy a 20-cent standard fee for each item she lists on the site, plus a 3.5 percent commission on everything sold. Etsy allows her to track the number of times customers click on a particular item to view it. "We can see that our necklaces are a popularly viewed item and which color1s and sizes get the most views," she says. "That is a guide to evolving our product lines." Today, Etsy's staff has ballooned to 70 employees, and the company reportedly earns more than $12 million a year. Kalin's father was a carpenter and taught him early on how to use his hands. Indeed, in high school, he put his skills to work -- developing the photos of his classmates and handcrafting a graduate ID to attend design classes. Eventually, he was admitted to New York University, studying classics and working as a carpenter. Kalin has also started sewing some of his own clothes. "I have to make something physical at least once a month," says Kalin, "or I go crazy." What do we know about the crafts sold on etsy.com? Answer: A holiday is any day when people lay aside their ordinary duties and cares. The word came from Old English. At first, holidays honored some holy events or persons. People in Great Britain and other countries speak of holidays as Americans speak of vacations. Every nation has its special holidays. China _ New Year's Day (January 1), May Day and National Day as legal holidays , as it was on Oct.1,1949 that the People's Republic of China was founded. The Chinese have long celebrated the Chinese lunar year. In the United States, congress has declared several days as legal holidays such as New Year's Day (January 1), Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, Washington's birthday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day and so on. Some holidays celebrated special events in the development of a country, such as Greece's Independence Day, Italy's Liberation Day and India's Independence Day. In the United States, banks and schools usually close on a legal holiday. When such a holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday is usually observed. Schools and organizations often observe days known as traditional holidays, although schools and business do not close then. Those holidays include Valentine's Day and Halloween. If a legal holiday falls on Sunday in the USA, people usually celebrate on _ . Answer: For most of the 20th century, Asia asked itself what it could learn from the modern, innovating West. Now the question must be reversed. What can the West's overly indebted and sluggish nations learn from a flourishing Asia? Just a few decades ago, Asia's two giants were stagnating under faulty economic ideologies. However, once China began embracing free-market reforms in the 1980s, followed by India in the 1990s, both countries achieved rapid growth. Crucially, as they opened up their markets, they balanced market economy with sensible government direction. As the Indian economist Amartya Sen has wisely said, "The invisible hand of the market has often relied heavily on the visible hand of government." Contrast this middle path with America and Europe, which have each gone ideologically over-board in their own ways. Since the 1980s, America has been increasingly clinging to the ideology of uncontrolled free markets and dismissing the role of government---following Ronald Regan's idea that "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. "Of course, when the markets came crashing down in 2007, it was decisive government intervention that saved the day. Despite this fact, many Americans are still strongly opposed to "big government." If Americans could only free themselves from their antigovernment doctrine(,), they would begin to see that the America's problems are not insoluble. A few sensible federal measures could put the country back on the right path. A simple consumption tax of, say, 5% would significantly reduce the country's huge government deficit without damaging productivity. A small gasoline tax would help free America from its dependence on oil imports and create motivations for green energy development. In the same way, a significant reduction of wasteful agricultural subsidies could also lower the deficit. But in order to take advantage of these common-sense solutions, Americans will have to put aside their own attachment to the idea of smaller government and less regulation. American politicians will have to develop the courage to follow what is taught in all American public-policy schools: that there are good taxes and bad taxes. Asian countries have embraced this wisdom, and have built sound long-term fiscal policies as a result. Meanwhile, Europe has fallen prey to a different ideological trap: the belief that European governments would always have infinite resources and could continue borrowing as if there were no tomorrow. Unlike the Americans, who felt that the markets knew best, the Europeans failed to expect how the markets would react to their endless borrowing. Today, the European Union is creating a $580 billion fund to prevent sovereign collapse. This will buy the EU time, but it will not solve the bloc's larger problem. What has contributed to the rapid economic growth in China and India? Answer: For hundreds of millions of years, turtles have struggled out of the sea to lay their eggs on sandy beaches, long before there were nature documentaries to celebrate them, or GPS satellites and marine biologists to track them, or volunteers to hand-carry the hatchlings down to the water's edge lest (for fear that) they become disoriented by headlights and crawl towards a motel parking lot instead. A formidable wall of bureaucracy has been erected to protect their prime nesting on the Atlantic coastlines. With all that attention paid to them, you'd think these creatures would at least have the gratitude not to go extinct (die out). But Nature is indifferent to human notions of fairness, and a report by the Fish and Wildlife Service showed a worrisome drop in the populations of several species of North Atlantic turtles, notably loggerheads, which can grow to as much as 400 pounds. The South Florida nesting population, the largest, has declined by 50% in the last decade, according to Elizabeth Griffin, a marine biologist with the environmental group Oceana. The figures prompted Oceana to petition the government to upgrade the level of protection for the North Atlantic loggerheads from "threatened" to "endangered"-- meaning they are in danger of disappearing without additional help. Which raises the obvious question: what else do these turtles want from us, anyway? It turns out, according to Griffin, that while we have done a good job of protecting the turtles for the weeks they spend on land (as egg-laying females, as eggs and as hatchlings), we have neglected the years spend in the ocean. "The threat is from commercial fishing," says Griffin. Trawlers (which drag large nets through the water and along the ocean floor) and longline fishers (which can deploy thousands of hooks on lines that can stretch for miles) take a heavy toll on turtles. Of course, like every other environmental issue today, this is playing out against the background of global warming and human interference with natural ecosystems. The narrow strips of beach on which the turtles lay their eggs are being squeezed on one side by development and on the other by the threat of rising sea levels as the oceans warm. Ultimately we must get a handle on those issues as well, or a creature that outlived the dinosaurs will meet its end at the hands of humans, leaving our descendants to wonder how creature so ugly could have won so much affection. What constitutes a major threat to the survival of turtles according to Elizabeth Griffin? Answer:
The Amber Room belongs to the eight wonders of the world. It was given the name because almost several tons of amber were used to make it. First it was designed for the palace of FrederickI. Then Frederick William I, the next king of Prussia, sent it to Peter the Great as a gift of friendship from Prussian people. Later, CatherineII had the Amber Room moved to a palace outside St. Petersburg where she spent her summers and she told her artists to add more details to its design. Unfortunately, during the Second World War, the Nazi German was at war with Russia. In September 1941, the Nazis secretly stole the Amber Room and sent boxes of the Amber Room on a train for Konigsberg. After that what really happened to the Amber Room remains a mystery. The Amber Room was designed for _ . Answer: FrederickI Furrow leased in writing a 100-acre farm from Quark for five years at $2,000 per year, with an option to purchase "five acres of the land for $10,000 cash" at the end of the lease term. Before the lease was executed, Quark orally promised to have a five-acre parcel surveyed before the end of the lease term. Furrow took possession of the farm and paid the rent for five years. During the fifth year, having decided that he would exercise the purchase option, Furrow planted several fruit trees and built a large grain silo on the property. At the end of the term, Furrow tendered Quark $10,000 and demanded a conveyance, but Quark repudiated the option agreement and retook possession of the farm. He had never had the five-acre parcel surveyed.Assume for this question only that Quark is not liable to Furrow for breach of a land-sale contract. In an action by Furrow against Quark for the reasonable value of the improvements that Furrow added to the farm, which of the following theories would best support Furrow's claim? Answer: Quasi-contract, for benefits unofficiously and nongratuitously conferred upon Quark by Furrow. Jane is a school girl. She is twelve. She studies at a middle school. She is in Grade Seven. She is a good girl. Jane gets up at seven in the morning. Then she has her breakfast. For breakfast she has eggs and a cup of milk. She doesn't have tea for breakfast. After breakfast Jane goes to school. At twelve she comes home from school. She has lunch with her mother. For lunch she has hamburgers and salad. She likes salad, but she doesn't like hamburgers. At seven she has supper with her father and mother. They have chicken and vegetables. Her father likes chicken, but Jane doesn't. Jane has dinner with _ . Answer: her parents Which characteristic can a puppy inherit from its parents? Answer: spotted fur Engineering students are supposed to be examples of practicality and rationality ,but when it comes to my college education I am an idealist and a fool. In high school I wanted to be an electrical engineer and, of course, any reasonable student with my aims would have chosen a college with a large engineering department, many famous professors and lots of good labs and research equipment. But that's not what I did. I chose to study engineering in a small liberal-arts university that doesn't even offer a major in electrical engineering. Obviously, this was not a practical choice; I came here for more noble reasons. I wanted a broad education that would provide me with flexibility and a value system to guide me in my job. I wanted to open my eyes and expand my vision by communicating with people who weren't studying science or engineering. My parents, teachers and other adults praised me for such a wise choice. They told me I was wise and grown-up beyond my 18 years, and I believed them. I headed off to the college and sure I was going to have an advantage over those students who went to big engineering "factories" where they didn't care if you had values or were flexible. I was going to be a complete engineer: technical expert and excellent humanist all in one. Now I'm not so sure. Somewhere along the way my noble ideas crashed into reality, as all noble ideas finally do. After three years of struggling to balance math, physics and engineering courses with liberal-arts courses, I have learned there are reasons why few engineering students try to reconcile engineering with liberal-arts courses in college. The reality that has blocked my path to become the typical successful student is that engineering and the liberal arts simply don't mix as easily as I supposed in high school. Individually they shape a person in very different ways. The struggle to reconcile the two fields of study is difficult. At present, the writer is studying _ . Answer: Engineering in a small liberal-arts university.
Question: Jessica went to sit in her rocking chair. Today was her birthday and she was turning 80. Her granddaughter Annie was coming over in the afternoon and Jessica was very excited to see her. Her daughter Melanie and Melanie's husband Josh were coming as well. Jessica had a lot to do before they got here, but she was very tired. After taking a nap for half an hour Jessica got up and walked to the drier. She moved the dry clothes into a basket. Next, she took the clothes out of the washer and put them into the drier. She pressed the button on the drier to get it started then walked back out of the room. She also needed to feed her duck. The chickens in her backyard did not need to be fed as they belonged to her neighbor. Jack the dog had been fed earlier that morning and Becky the cat always had food in her bowl. After Jessica finished feeding the duck she came inside and heard the telephone ringing. She answered the phone to hear Annie's excited voice say "Happy birthday grandma!" Annie said they would be over very soon. Jessica smiled because she loved her family more than anything. She was very excited. She sat back on her rocking chair and waited until her family arrived. What was the Grandmother's name? A. Jessica B. Annie C. Becky D. Melanie Answer: A Question: Almost every family buys as least one copy of a newspaper every day. Some people subscribe to as many as two or three different newspapers. But why do people read newspapers? Five hundred years ago,news of important happenings--battles lost and won,kings or rulers overthrown or killed--took months and even years to travel from one country to another. The news passed by word of mouth and was never accurate. Today we can read in our newspapers of important events that occur in far away countries on the same day they happen. Apart from supplying news from all over the world,newspapers give us a lot of other useful information. There are weather reports, radio, television and film guides, book reviews, stories, and of course, advertisements. The bigger ones are put in by large companies to bring attention to their products. They pay the newspapers thousands of dollars for the advertising space, but it is worth the money, for news of their products goes into almost every home in the country. For those who produce newspapers, advertisements are also very important. Money earned from advertisements makes it possible for them to sell their newspapers at a low price and still make a profit. Before the time of the newspaper, _ A. bad news traveled quickly and good news slowly B. few people cared about events that took place in far away countries C. kings and rulers were often overthrown or killed D. news was passed from one person to another Answer: D Question: A man bought a new pair of trousers for his primary school mates' reunion dinner. When he tried it out at home, he found that the trousers were too long by 10cm. He asked his mother to help him shorten the pants. His mother said she could not do it as she was not feeling well. So the man asked his wife .His wife said she was very tired that night, so she could not help him. Then the man asked his daughter. His daughter apologized for not able to do it because she had agreed to go dancing with her boyfriend. "Ah well!" The man decided to wear his old trousers to the reunion. Later that night, his mother thought to herself, "My son has been very nice to me. I'll just help him before going to bed." So she shortened the pants by 10cm. Then his wife thought," My husband knows I am always busy and seldom ask me to help him. " So she shortened the man's pants by another 10cm. His daughter came home from dancing, and thought, "Daddy loves me very much. And he is such a cool daddy, allowing me to go out with my boyfriend. I would help him to shorten his pants." So she shortened her daddy's pants yet another 10cm. The next day, three ladies told the man that his pants were shortened. He tried them on and found that his pants had become shorter by 30cm! He laughed heartily, and said, "I must wear this pair of pants to show my schoolmates that my mum, my wife and my daughter are such loving people." At the dinner, his old classmates were very _ of his loving family. What would you do if it happened to you? Laugh out loud or start yelling? Many of us have "High EQ" when dealing with the outsiders, "Low EQ" when dealing with our own family members! Please be more patient with your families! Destiny is lucky enough to find the people who love you so much and bear everything of you. The best title of this passage is _ . A. Pants Shorten by 30cm B. A Loving Family C. The Reunion D. High EQ or Low EQ Answer: A Question: One day a teacher was giving her young students a lesson on how the government works. She was trying to explain the principle of income tax . "You see ," she began , speaking slowly and carefully , "each person who works must pay part of his or her salary to the government . If you make a high salary, your taxes are high. If you don't make much money, your taxes are low ." "Is that clear?" she asked. "Does everyone understand the meaning of income tax?" The students nodded. Are there any questions?" she asked. The students shook their heads. "Very good!" she said." "Now, I would like you to take a piece of paper and write a short paragraph on the subject of income tax." Little Joey was a slow learner. He had lots of problems with spelling and grammar, but this time he at least seemed to understand the task.. He took his pen and after a few minutes, he handed the teacher the following composition: Once I had a dog. His name was Tax. I opened the door and in come Tax. After the teacher's explanation, _ . A. not all the students understood the meaning of income tax B. many of the students were still puzzled C. all the students shook their heads D. few students disagreed with their teacher Answer: A Question: Yesterday I went to our local grocery store. I often go to their deli counter, and I understand that it can get a little confused for the workers. So normally none of them ever take the time to smile or seem overly friendly. But yesterday it was completely different. I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted with a very welcoming smile by the young man behind the counter. He never sighed heavily or slumped back and forth like he didn't want to be there. He was all by himself and quite a long line. But not once did he act concerned about it. He just did his job efficiently and acted very kind the entire time. I was so impressed that I approached the manager. I explained to her that I often visit the deli counter and I have never been greeted with such kindness. She agreed with me that he was a wonderful person and she thanked me for sharing my feelings with her. As I was walking away,I could hear her approaching the young man with,"I just got a wonderful compliment(praise) about you." I couldn't hear everything she was saying,but I knew that she did thank him. I couldn't help but smile! Later I had to pass by the deli counter to get onions. There was no one there,except the diligent young man. He didn't say anything,he just smiled at me. I realized that I hadn't done a huge deed that day,but that small deed made a small difference to someone.I love seeing people smile. I just received my smile cards and I wish I had one with me that day. _ It's amazing how good I felt after that. So,friends,the next time you are in a grocery store,retail store,restaurant,or anywhere that someone is working hard,letting them know in some way can mean so much. I hope you get a smile out of it like I did! The writer found it was different yesterday because _ . A. the young man was very busy B. the young man was concerned about so many customers C. the writer was warmly greeted by a young man D. the young man acted very kind all the time Answer: C
A study found that young people have a stronger and more unpleasant scent than the elderly,while elderly people's smell was the most distinctive,less intense and unpleasant. Researchers said the change in our smell is driven by the chemicals we release through our glands and the bacteria on our skin. To test whether or not it really exists,scientists collected a series of samples from three groups of 12 to 16 donors,aged 20 to 30,45 to 55 and 75 to 95.Volunteers wore special T-shirts fitted with underarm pads as they slept for five nights,after which the pads were cut up and put in glass jars. A separate group of 41 people aged 20 to 30 was then asked to smell two jars at a time and asked which group of the donors was older,as well as rating how strong and unpleasant each smell was. When asked to specify whether a particular sample was from a young,middle aged or old person,they were much more successful at identifying older people. Despite being the most distinctive,the older people's smell was also rated as being obviously less intense and less unpleasant than those from the other groups. Researchers said their findings appeared to contradict people's negative ideas about the old person's smell but admitted other factors,like smelly breath or skin,could be to blame for its bad reputation. "Similar to other animals,humans can give off body scents that allow us to identify biological age,avoid sick individuals and pick a suitable partner. Elderly people have a distinctive scent that younger people consider to be not very unpleasant. This was surprising given the popular conception of old age scent as smelly. However,it's possible that other sources of body scents,such as skin or breath,may have different qualities," said Dr Johan Lundstrom,who led the study. According to the passage, people usually think that _ . A old people's scent is simply from their breath B old people have a bad reputation mainly for their skin C old people's scent is terrible and unpleasant D old people give off a more pleasant scent Answer: C Animals like the lion are known as carnivorous (meat-eating) animals. They feed on smaller animals. But many other animals eat grass or plants. They are called herbivorous (plant-eating) animals. You may be surprised to learn that there are carnivorous plants as well as carnivorous animals. Plants that grow in poor soil need other food. They trap (catch by a trick) small insects and take their bodies as food. The pitcher plant is a common carnivorous plant. This plant has a clever trap like a pitcher or jar. It even has a lid to keep out of the rain. The mouth of the pitcher is covered with something sweet like honeydew . Insects come to the plant to feed on the honeydew. When they have eaten all that is round the mouth, they go into the pitcher to look for more. There is more honeydew deep in the pitcher and they go down to feed on it. The inner wall of the pitcher is covered with fine hairs. These hairs point downwards so that the insects cannot climb out of the pitcher. They are trapped in it. They die there, and their bodies are taken as food by the plant. The text mainly talks about _ . A carnivorous animals B herbivorous animals C small insects D pitcher plants Answer: D Being outgoing is good for your life. Those who are more outgoing like to meet lots of people and have more fun in life. In fact, being outgoing is not as hard as you think. Even shy people can be outgoing. You can start becoming outgoing with your best friend or a group of friends. But the real challenge comes when you meet strange people or new friends. Smile more, and usually they will return your smile. In this way, you may have some talks. Start a talk. Just a smile "Hello" or "How is it going" is a good start. If you want to make interesting talks, you should read news in newspapers and prepare your views, or surf the Internet for new information and then keep that in mind. The easier way to become more outgoing is to go out. This is also the most important step . Go to a park, beach, club, party or any other place that you think can be fun, and you may make new friends there. The easiest way to be outgoing is _ . A talking B smiling C playing D going out Answer: D ARE you a dog person or a cat person? With so many photos and videos of cats and dogs doing cute things online, it's easier than ever to answer which of these furry friends you like more. There are many reasons why people prefer one type of pet over the other. So, have you ever wondered what your preference for cats or dogs says about you? In fact, a 2010 study done by Sam Gosling , a psychologist at the University of Texas, US, and his graduate student Carson Sandy found that dog people are more extroverted agreeable and serious than cat people. "Cats will occasionally engage in social activities, but usually after only a few minutes they will abandon the game. Dogs, on the other hand, will often engage in play, like fetching a thrown lull, for hours at a lime," said Modem Dog magazine. Just on the basis of dogs' nature being more sociable than cats', you may expect that the personalities of dog people also reflect higher sociability. And Cosling's study found that dog people are generally about 15 percent more extroverted and 13 percent more agreeable, both of which are associated with social altitude. In addition, dog people are 11 percent more conscientious than cat people. "Conscientiousness" is a tendency In show self-discipline ,to complete tasks and aim for achievement. This quality also shows a preference for planned rather than spontaneous behavior. In comparison, cat people an; about 12 percent more anxious, but they are also 11 percent more "open" than dog people, due to a general appreciation for art, emotion, imagination, curiosity, adventure, unusual ideas and variety of experience. And people high on openness are more likely to hold unconventional beliefs. Despite vast differences, there an some things that cat people and dog people have in common. "Both types of people consider themselves close to nature, dislike animal-print clothing and generally optimists. " noted Mother Nature Network. According to the article, both dog people and cat people _ . A are generally self-disciplined B are usually positive and care about nature C are likely to hold unconventional beliefs D like to wear animal-print clothing; Answer: B Scientists have proved that sleeping and learning go hand in hand. Even a short nap can boost our memory and sharpen our thinking. But the relationship goes deeper than that. "The brain is not passive while you sleep," scientist Anat Arzi said. "It's quite active. You can do many things while you are asleep." Arzi and her coworkers didn't try to teach the sleeping volunteers any complex information, like new words or facts. Instead, the scientists taught volunteers to make new connections between smells and sounds. When we smell something good, like a flower, we take deep breaths. When we smell something bad, we take short breaths. Arzi and her co-workers based their experiment on these reactions. Once the volunteers fell asleep in the lab, the scientists went to work. They gave them a whiff of something pleasant and meanwhile played a particular musical note. They didn't wake up, but they heard--and sniffed deeply. Then the scientists gave the volunteers a whiff of something terrible and played a different musical note. Again, the volunteers heard and smelled--a short snort this time--but didn't wake up. The researchers repeated the experiment. After just four repetitions, volunteers made a connection between the musical notes and their paired smells. When the scientists played the musical tone that went with good smells, the sleepers breathed deeply. And when the scientists played the musical tone that went with bad smells, the sleepers breathed briefly--despite there being no bad smell. The next day, the volunteers woke up with the sound-smell connection. They breathed deeply when hearing one tone and cut their breaths short when hearing the other, which must have been unusual for them. Imagine walking down the street and taking a deep breath upon hearing a particular sound! In the study, the volunteers were taught _ . A to become active during sleep B to tell the difference between smell C to learn new words and scientific facts D to make sound-smell connections Answer: D
The Couch Surfing network is an online community stretching across the globe with over one and a half million members. The basic concept is to provide a platform for travelers to contact people who are willing to put them up free of charge. Travelers connect with potential hosts online and, if they like each other, exchange details to make farther arrangements. Basil is one traveler from Switzerland who is currently couch surfing with a Chinese host in Beijing. "I thought staying in hostel is nice but you mostly meet foreigners and speak English. If you use Couch Surfing you have chance to meet people living here and really get a chance to know the life of the place you visit. " Basil was speaking during a regular meeting of Beijing network of Couch Surfing with a membership of almost 2,000. Although some people may have concerns about meeting complete strangers and giving them full access to your house, Beijing group member Fred Sharp from California says that the Couch Surfing community is one that generally attracts trustworthy people. "I have never had a problem with guests. I'd say that this Couch Surfing community worldwide is a fairly trustworthy community like I say, always be cautious, make sure that you read everyone's profile that you're considering hosting, and if it doesn't feel right just say' no', it's OK. " Originally launched in the US as a non-profit organization in 2004, Couch Surfing is growing fast across the world. China is no exception with around 30,000 members and hundreds more signing up each week. One of them is Beijing resident Hai Yan who joined in November 2009. She says the first time she hosted a guest was a very positive experience. "My first guest was from Italy. He was very kind and helpful. He bought me a present from Italy, a handbag. It's a famous brand!" As the organization grows from strength to strength, hotel owners across the world will be watching very closely and possibly thinking twice about raising their prices too high. The Couch Surfing network is intended to _ . Traffic jam and cities, it seems, go hand in hand. Everyone complains about being stuck in traffic; but, like the weather, no one seems to do anything about it. In particular, traffic engineers, transportation planners, and public officials responsible for transportation systems in large cities are frequently criticized for failing to solve traffic jam. But is traffic jam a sign of failure? Long queues at restaurants or theater box offices are seen as signs of success. Should transportation systems be viewed any differently? I think we should recognize that traffic jam is an unpreventable by-product of successful cities, and view the "traffic problem" in a different light. Cities exist because they promote social interactions and economic transactions.Traffic jam occurs where there are lots of people but limited spaces. Culturally and economically successful cities have the worst traffic problems, while _ cities don't have much traffic. New York and Los Angeles are America's most crowded cities. But if you want access to major brokerage houses , you will find them easier to reach in crowded New York than in any other large cities. And if your firm needs access to post-production film editors or satellite-guidance engineers, you will reach them more quickly through the crowded freeways of LA than through less crowded roads elsewhere. Despite traffic jam, a larger number and wider variety of social interactions and economic transactions can be made perfect in large, crowded cities than elsewhere. Seen in this sight, traffic jam is an unfortunate consequence of prosperity, not a cause of economic decline and urban decay. So while we can consider traffic jam as increasing costs on the areas of big cities, the costs of inaccessibility in uncrowded places are almost certainly greater. There is no doubt that traffic jam brings the terrible economic and environmental damage in places like Bangkok, Jakarta, and Lagos. But mobility is far higher and traffic jam levels are far lower here in the US, even in our most crowded cities. That's why, for now, we don't see people and capital streaming out of San Francisco and Chicago, heading for cities like California, and Illinois. According to this article, which statement about "New York" and "Los Angeles" is true? Have you ever had a doctor write you a prescription for three laps around a local trail ? How about a prescription for sit-ups? These treatments may not be as typical as the drugs that are usually used to treat our problems, but maybe they should be: a new report shows that regular exercise can be just as effective as prescription drugs for patients with depression and anxiety. "Individuals who exercise report fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, and lower levels of stress and anger, " said the paper's co-author, Jasper Smith, director of the Anxiety Research and Treatment Program at Southern Methodist University. " Exercise may help patients with depression re-establish positive behaviors. For patients with anxiety disorders, exercise reduces their fears of fear and related bodily sensations such as a racing heart and rapid breathing." In a separate study, published in Physical Therapy journal, scientists studied 161 women who' d recently given birth to babies, and decided them into two groups. New mothers tend to develop post-partum depression , and the scientists wanted to find out whether exercise could prevent such problems. One group of women was given specialized exercises as part of an eight-week parenting education program, while the other was given only written education. The physical element seemed to do the trick; the researchers report that the number of women identified as "at risk" for post-partum depression was reduced by half in the exercising group. Another recent study shows that even when a patient has a chronic illness like cancer or a heart condition, regular exercise can dramatically increase wellbeing by reducing anxiety. Researchers from University of Georgia analyzed 40 clinical trials involving almost 3,000 patients, and found that the patients who reported exercising regularly had a 20% reduction in symptoms of anxiety compared to those who didn't exercise. As a result, they were more likely to follow their recommended treatment plan. Of course, there are still some situations where prescription drugs are necessary, and we recommend you leave it to your doctor to determine when that may be. But in many cases, the best medicine may simply be to get up off the couch and go for a walk. What is the text mainly about? How many odorant receptors do honey bees have? The Time Machine This move is based on a science fiction story. A scientist and inventor decides to prove that time travel is possible. He wants to change the past. To test his idea, he travels 800000 years into the future with the help of his own invention -- a time machine... It will be put on in the National Theatre on Aug. 25thto 29th. E.T A group of aliens visit the earth and one of them, E.T.. gets lost and is left on this planet. He is found by a 10--year--old boy, Elliot. Soon the two begin to communicate and start a different kind of friendship .E.T. want to go home, but if Elliot helps him, he'll lose a friend...It'll be shown in the National Theatre on Aug. 26thto 30th. Mission to Mars In the year 2020A.D., a mysterious storm kills all but one crew member of the first manned mission to Mars. A rescue mission is Iaunched... It will be on in the National Theatre on Sep. 1st TO Sth. ,A, B, C, D,. If you are interested in aliens, you can watch
Have you seen Avatar? It's a popular 3D movie, and you may have to wear a special pair of glasses - 3D glasses, to see it. The 3D glasses make the images from the movie look as if they are coming straight at you. 3D movies are really exciting to watch. More and more 3D movies are coming to theaters. Some say that 3D TV sets will come into our homes in the near future. 3D technology can make TV and movies more exciting. However, people with eye problems may get headaches if they spend too much time watching 3D movies. Why? When we look at an object, each eye sees it at a different angle . Our eyes send the two images to our brain, and the brain puts them together. 3D technology uses two film projectors . One projects left-eye-image and the other projects a right-eye-image. 3D glasses allow us to see a different image in each eye. So, when we are watching a 3D movie, our brain can't put together the images sent to our eyes. The brain needs to work harder at "reading" the images. That makes it easier for people with eye problems to get dizzy or have headaches. Dr John Hagan, an eye doctor in Kansas City, said if your eyes can't focus on the same object at once, you will have trouble watching 3D movies. When we look at an object, _ . Answer: Cultural rules determine every aspect of food consumption. Who eats together defines social units. For example, in some societies, the nuclear family is the unit that regularly eats together. The anthropologist Mary Douglas has pointed out that, for the English, the kind of meal and the kind of food that is served relate to the kinds of social links between people who are eating together. She distinguishes between regular meals, Sunday meals when relatives may come, and cocktail parties for relatives and friends. The food served symbolizes the occasion and reflects who is present. For example, only snacks are served at a cocktail party. It would be inappropriate to serve a steak or hamburgers. The distinctions among cocktails, regular meals, and special dinners mark the social boundaries between those guests who are invited for drinks, those who are invited to dinner, and those who come to a family meal. In this example, the type of food symbolizes the category of guest and with whom it is eaten. In some New Guinea societies, the nuclear family is not the unit that eats together. The men take their meals in a men's house, separately from their wives and children. Women prepare and eat their food in their own houses and take the husband's portion to the men's house. The women eat with their children in their own houses. This pattern is also widespread among Near Eastern societies. Eating is a metaphor that is sometimes used to signify marriage. In many New Guinea societies, like that of the Lese on the island of New Ireland in the Pacific and that of the Trobriand Islanders, marriage is symbolized by the couple's eating together for the first time. Eating symbolizes their new status as a married couple. In U.S. society, it is just the reverse. A couple may go out to dinner on a first date. Other cultural rules have to do with taboos against eating certain things. In some societies, members of a family group, arc not allowed to eat the animal or bird that is their ancestor. Since they believe themselves to be children of that ancestor, it would be like eating that ancestor or eating themselves. There is also an association between food prohibitions and rank, which is found in its most extreme form in the caste (social class) system of India. A caste system consists of ranked groups, each with a different economic specialization. In India, there is an association between caste and the idea of pollution. Members of highly ranked groups can be polluted by coming into contact with the bodily secretions, particularly saliva ,of individuals of lower-ranked castes. Because of the fear of pollution, Brahmans and other high-ranked individuals will not share food with, not eat from the same plate as, not even accept food from an individual or from a low-ranking class. According to the passage, eating together indicates all the following EXCEPT_. Answer: Mum, it's me. Hopefully, this Mothering Sunday you will get to hear those three words. I will, of course, try to phone you. I hope we will be able to speak for the allowed 10 minutes. But I suspect many inmates will be using the phone, so if I don't call and if we don't speak, then this is what I would have said: It's not your fault that I am here. I know that deep in your heart you have questioned whether my current circumstance is somehow your fault, if the reckless stupidity of my past is somehow a failure on your part. It is not. Only one person is to blame, only one person should hurt -- me. You have always taught me that when the room goes dark, you can wait for the lights to be switched back on or you can search in the dark and turn the light on yourself. You are my light. You always have been and always will be. There is nobody I admire more, nobody I have strived harder to please in my life, which is why my current failure hurts me so much. I am so sorry that I will not be there to see you, but I want you to know that now, as always, you are here with me. In my darkest hours, and in the coldest loneliness of my past few months, my mind has so often wandered to the past, to when it was you and me -- and I have been able to smile. Yours is the strength that I draw upon. A parent's job is to make sure that they pass on the best of themselves to their children. You have done that. It is the inner you in me that will get me through _ . I have failed you so epically, but you have never failed me. If I think back to the tears I shed when Dad left, all those years ago, I see you through their misty glaze. You holding me and you telling me we'd be OK, and we will be. We are and always will be the best team. Childhood heroes such as footballers, actors and rock stars are _ . If the job's done right, a child's heroes should be their parents -- you are mine. The strength you showed after the divorce from Dad to find your biological parents, to go to university and get your teaching qualifications, to begin your life again, is the strength that I draw on now. It is the belief in myself, it is the belief you have in me, that tells me that once I am released I can and will rebuild my life. I will make you proud again. I will make you happy to have me as your son. Yours is the will that gets me through every day. I don't believe you can judge a person for the mistakes they make, as we all make them, but you can judge them for what they do afterwards. And after this, when it is all over, you will still have a son with the same hopes and dreams. They have not diminished. If you can dream it, then you have to believe it can happen -- right? So this Mothering Sunday, please think back to that morning in the 80s, the first Mother's Day without Dad, when a six-year-old me got up early and made breakfast for you. Do you remember it? Could you ever forget? A slice of bread a doorstep thick and a wedge of cheese equally dense. You didn't have to eat it, but you did, chewing every dry mouthful. I know now why you forced yourself -- because it had been made with love. Well, things don't change this year -- this letter is that bread and cheese (it sure has plenty of the cheese!). I love you so much. I am sorry I have let you down, but you have taught me that we will always pick ourselves up and become better than we were before. Thank you for everything and this year, more than ever: Happy Mothering Sunday. Love, your son According to the passage, what made the author most upset at present? Answer: Once there was a young girl named Angel. Angel was very nervous because she was about to give a speech for school. The student that gave the best speech would win free tickets to see the fireworks. Angel had spent a lot of time practicing her speech because she really wanted to win. She practiced in front of her cousin, Noah. She practiced in front of her stuffed tiger, Kitten. She practiced saying her speech as she stood on one leg and looked at the ceiling. She even practiced burping her speech! Despite all that practice, Angel was still very nervous. So many other kids were giving speeches that day and they all were going to try their best! As Angel was walking in to the school she saw a penny on the ground. Her mother had always told her that pennies were lucky so she picked it up. With the penny in her hand she felt less nervous. It was her new lucky coin. When Angel's turn came she gave her speech. She remembered all of the words to her speech and she remembered to smile at the right times. Her hard work and her lucky coin worked. She won the free fireworks tickets! Angel's teacher, Mr. Coffee, was so proud of her that he turned her lucky coin into a necklace. Angel wore it everywhere she went from then on. The fireworks were pretty cool too. What is the tiger's name? Answer: My name is Maria. I'm 13. I live in New York City. I often go to school by bike. Riding a bike is good exercise for me. I like watching NBA matches on TV very much. I watch them every week. It's real fun for me. I like pop music a lot, too. My favorite singing star is Michael Jackson. At school, music is my favorite subject. I have a good voice and I play the violin well. I have a dream of being a singer like Madonna. I'm Linda. I'm 12. I live in Los Angeles. I like playing football and basketball. I play football or basketball every day with my friends after school. I like animals and I also like animal stamps. I have panda stamps from my pen pal. They are very good. On weekends I often go to the mountains to paint pictures. I have painted some very nice pictures. Painting is my life, so I want to be a painter when I grow up. I'm Sophia. My home is in Washington D.C. I like reading and watching programs about travel and history. I often stay at home reading on weekends. At school, I like French very much and I'm good at it. I'd like to be a guide. I can go around the world and meet a lot of people. That would be great fun. Linda wants to be _ when she grows up. Answer:
"I can't see clearly, because I don't wear my glasses today." We always hear people saying something like this. Glasses are very important to many people. Do you know how they were invented and developed? Glasses took a long time to develop into what you can find in the glasses store today. The Chinese first used colored glasses as fashion. They thought that those glasses had magic, but they didn't think that glasses could help eyes to see clearly. In 1262, the inventor, Roger Bacon, discovered the amazing function of lenses , and he thought that glasses could be used to help people to see. Twenty years later, in Florence, Italy, the inventor, Alessandro di Spina, made the first pair of glasses that could help people to see. Although these glasses worked, scientists didn't understand how glasses helped eyes to see. They thought that eyes sent out light onto whatever a person was looking at, and then the light came back to the eyes. Johannes Kepler finally found out how glasses worked. Inventors continued to improve glasses. In 1784, Ben Franklin created glasses that had bifocal lenses. Many years later, in 1827, George Airy made circle-shaped glasses to correct _ , an eye problem that stops the eyes from seeing things clearly. _ made the first pair of glasses that could help people to see. Answer: Animation means making things which are lifeless come alive and move. Since earliest times, people have always been astonished by movement. But not until this century have we managed to take control of movement, to record it, and in the case of animation, to retranslate it and recreate it. To do all this, we use a movie camera and a projector . In the world of cartoon animation, nothing is impossible. You can make the characters do exactly what you want them to do. A famous early cartoon character was Felix the Cat, created by Pat Sullivan in America in the early nineteen twenties. Felix was a wonderful cat. He could do all sorts of things no natural cat could do like taking off his tail, using it as a handle and then putting it back. Most of the great early animators lived and worked in America, the home of the moving picture industry. The famous Walt Disney cartoon characters came to life after 1928. Popeye the Sailor and his girl friend Olive Oyo were born at Max Ficischer in 1933. But to be an animator, you don't have to be a professional . It is possible for anyone to make a simple animated film without using a camera at all. All you have to do is to draw directly on to an empty film and then run the film through a projector. Which of the following statements best describes the author's attitude towards cartoon making? Answer: Decreasing grain prices along with growing costs of production means Chinese farmers are unlikely to see a significant rise in income next year. [:ZXXK] China's economic planning chief Ma Kai expressed the concern as the government undertakes an ambitious program to improve rural people's lives. Grain prices have been dropping since April; and prices of wheat, corn and rice fell 5 per cent from August to October compared with the same period last year, Ma, minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, told an annual meeting on development and reform held over the weekend. Meanwhile, prices of production materials rose 9.1 per cent year on year during the first 10 months. The situation makes it difficult to achieve a "new socialist countryside," which was last week highlighted as a new concept and "common action" of the whole Party and nation. Vice-Minister of Agriculture Yin Chengjie also said China's entry to the World Trade Organization also creates _ for income rises for the country's 780 million farmers. Farmers' income is expected to increase by 5 per cent this year, hitting the target set by the central government at the beginning of this year. Last year, per capita net income of Chinese farmers reached 2,936 yuan (US$362), up 6.8 per cent year on year, and the highest increase since 1997. Ma also said China would continue to seek fast, steady economic growth in 2012 but more efforts will be made to deal with the challenges brought about by overheating in some industrial sectors . (from China Daily, December 5, 2011) The writer thinks it difficult to achieve a "new socialist countryside" because _ . Answer: Most people hate change, which is sad since we often go through intense changes in life. And for some of us, even the smallest changes can upset our day. So the question is: Why do most of us find making adjustments to our lives so hard? Fear of change is nothing new. Over a century ago, the Parisians were unhappy over a particular addition to their city: the Eiffel Tower. In fact, the citizens were so angry about the plans for the tower that they protested its construction. As strange as it may seem, their anger was completely natural. They were given no choice about the huge change that was going to be made, so they became angry. But we get upset over changes even when we do have a say in the matter and think about them carefully. Changes are brought about every day by the decisions we make: which school to attend, which job to take, whom to marry. Voluntary changes also make most of us uneasy because we don't know how those changes will affect our future. People have discovered that the key to overcoming the fear and anger associated with change is to be flexible . When they are flexible, people can adapt to new situations more easily. Being flexible is especially important in the 21st century as technology makes change occur faster than ever before. Those who oppose change, especially with technology in the workplace, may find themselves out of a job. When change comes, and you have no choice but to face it, embrace it. A positive attitude helps a lot. In fact, the change may turn out to be the best thing for you. That new job you got may end up being much better than your old one. You may make the best friends of your life in the new city you moved to. Don't merely focus on how you feel about change; instead decide to accept the change. The change is the reality, and it's up to you whether the change will be a success or a failure. What is the best title for the passage? Answer: Why do scientists perform multiple trials of the same experiment? Answer:
Mr. Zhang, our geography teacher, held a map of the world and asked us where we would like to travel. Li Ming said, "I like countries with an interesting history, such as China, Egypt, Greece and Italy. They are all old countries with a long history. You can see many old buildings in these countries, such as the Great Wall, the Pyramids and the Acropolis ." The teacher asked, "Do you want to go to places with beautiful beaches?" Yang Ying said, "Of course. It's pleasant to visit places with fine weather and beautiful beaches. For example, the U.S.A., Australia and Malaysia have beautiful beaches." Shanshan said, "I know many countries in Southeast Asia have beautiful beaches. But I like visiting countries where the people are very friendly and helpful to visitors." Mr. Zhang said, "Remember: hotel, food and souvenirs always cost us much money. So we should make a good plan before we go to visit other countries." ,. Who wants to visit countries with a long history? A. Li Ming. B. Yang Ying. C. Shanshan. D. Mr. Zhang. Answer: A. Li Ming. Mr. Ellis is very old. He has seen many changes in his home town. He knows that things are different now. But he never forgets the old days. He likes to talk about them. He often talks about his favourite birds, the robins (----). "When I was a boy, these houses were not here. There were wide fields and tall trees. Every spring robins would come. Thousands of them would fly up to the north from the south. They spent the winter in the south. Some would build their nests in the trees near our houses. Then people started to cut down trees, and they built more houses. The robins stopped coming. They couldn't build their nests near our houses because there were no trees." "Now there are too many houses and too many roads. There are no places for the robins. They do come any more ." Mr. Ellis often talks about _ . A. his old house B. the old days C. his life now D. his family Answer: B. the old days It was a hot summer day. My dad and I were getting ready to go out for a ride on the boat with my friend Katie and the dog when the phone call came, the call that made that bright, beautiful day a cold, dark, gloomy one. I had just put on my suit, shorts, and tank top, and packed my bag with sunscreen and everything else I would need for the day. I ran into my parents' room to find Dad. When I saw him on the phone, he was crying. I'd never seen my dad cry before. My heart sank. What possibly could have happened? "Max, I'm so sorry," I heard him say. That's when it hit me. I knew that Suzie had died. Max has been my dad's best friend for years. Suzie, his daughter, had a rare disease that mainly affected her body. Her brain was OK. She knew what was going on; she knew that she had problems and was different from other kids. Once she told her dad that she wished she could die and be born in a different body. Yet although she couldn't live a normal life ,she was still happy. When Suzie and I were little, we spent quite a bit of time together. As we grew up, we grew apart. She lived in New York, and I lived in the Midwest. When Suzie was ten she had to live in a hospital in Virginia. About eight months before she died, Max gave us her number at the hospital and we talked at least twice a week until the end. Suzie was always so excited to talk to us and wanted to know every detail about my life. She wanted to know everything I did and every thing I ate. _ After we found out about her death, we made our plans to go to New York for the funeral. When she was alive, I sent her a Beanie Baby and she sent one back to me. I had bought her another one but never had the chance to send it to her, so I took it to put in her casket . Her funeral was very different from any funeral I'd ever been to. After they lowered her casket, each one of us put a shovelful of dirt over her. I remember crying so hard, I felt weak. My cheeks burned from the tears. My whole body was shaking as I picked up the shovel, but I'm glad I did it. When Suzie and I first started calling one another, I thought it would be more of a burden on me, but I was completely wrong. I learned so much from her. She gave me more than I could ever give to her. I will never forget her or the talks we had. I now know that I must never take anything for granted especially my health and the gift of life. What is the most important lesson the author learned from Suzie's death? A. Never let go of a friend even if you are apart. B. Be thankful for what we have in our life. C. Talking with a friend can cure your illness. D. We can learn more from our friends than they do from us. Answer: B. Be thankful for what we have in our life. Flashlights run on batteries in order to light up. Those use chemical energy, light uses A. mechanical energy B. Light energy C. Hyper energy D. solar energy Answer: B. Light energy With her adopted son, she travels the world making movies and dispensing hope. Angelina Jolie lives in two worlds: Hollywood, where she makes movies and stays in five-star hotels, and the refugee camps of Africa and Asia, where she works with the UN, bringing hope to the homeless. She feels most alive, most herself, she says, working with refugees, yet still feel grateful for life. At 24, Jolie won an Oscar for playing in Girl Interrupted, but found little satisfac-tion in stardom or the wealth that came with it. The daughter of actor Jon Voight and actress Marcheline Bertrand, she had already seen the downside of celebrity--her parents divorced when Jolie was a child. And she always burst into tears when metioned that. After she finished shooting Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Jolie volunteered to be a UN ambassador and returned to Cambodia to visit refugee camps. She found a calling, and realized that her fame and money could be used to accomplish a world of good. Now the mother of son Maddox, 3, whom she adopted in Cambodia, Angelina Jolie hopes to adopt more children. We caught up with her in Beverly Hills on a day away from the set. She talked to us about her role as the mother of Alexander the Great (played by Colin Farrell) in her new movie, Alexander, her passion for helping the homeless, and her longing for a partner with whom she might share it all. The success of the film Girl Interrupted _ . A. didn't bring Jolie any fame B. didn't make Jolie rich C. made Jolie tired of the society D. didn't make her content Answer: D. didn't make her content
Instead of a normal court hearing, the trial on Wednesday appeared more like a prepared drama. Hundreds of reporters waited outside the court, in the hope of learning "shocking" information about the case, which includes well-known military singer Li Shuangjiang's son, who gang-raped a woman with another four men on February. The case was not a public hearing because it includes teenagers, whose privacy must be protected under law, but many details had been exposed by the lawyers before the trial. Lawyers of all five suspects and the woman's lawyer made a lot of debate on the Internet before the trial, making the case more confused. Wu Ming'an, a law professor from the China University of Political Science and Law, said it was a pity to see such a "performance" by the lawyers. "It can be understood that the two parties freely spoke their opinions, but it's not professional or wise to see lawyers do the same," Wu said. "Instead, the lawyers should guide and persuade their clients to calm down, especially for such a non-public and sensitive case." China has no clear rule to manage lawyers' behavior before trials, "but it should be general knowledge that the lawyers of the two sides cannot _ too many details, particularly in a case that includes teenagers", Wu added. Yi Shenghua, a lawyer who has been following the case, said it does more harm than good to both parties for such detailed information to be exposed before the trial. "It's OK for lawyers to speak, but what is said must be reasonable and legal. Although judgments should not be affected by public opinion, it's hard for them not to be," he said, suggesting judicial authorities should speak out if the case goes wrongly. Trials must be conducted based on evidence, while lawyers should protect their clients' rights instead of adding fuel to the flames, Yi said. In my eyes, the most important aspect of the case, lies in how to make lawyers do their work more professionally and reasonably. From Yi Shenghua, we know that _ . A The lawyers' behavior before trials hasn't been ruled. B It doesn't matter whether the detailed information is exposed before the trial. C What lawyers say must be reasonable and legal. D It is hard for judgments to be affected by public opinion. Answer: C. What lawyers say must be reasonable and legal. Decomposers are important to the flow of energy in an ecosystem because they A are at the top of every food chain. B eat things other organisms do not eat. C make up a large portion of the top layer of the soil. D break organic material into parts that can be reused. Answer: D. break organic material into parts that can be reused. Hi, my name is Amy. I am a Grade 7 student, and I would like to tell you something about my class and myself. There are ten classes in Grade 7.In each class, there are about forty students. I think that my class, Class 4 is the best .That is because all the students in my class work very hard and the teachers are all very nice to the students. But I am not one of the best students in the class. I love reading, and I am very good at Chinese and English. I don't find Maths very interesting, so I am not good at it. I want to work hard at it. My teacher, classmates and my parents would like to help me with my Maths. What does Amy love doing? A Singing B Reading C Swimming D Watching TV Answer: B. Reading The University of Wales, Bangor has been rated the top university in the UK for the help and support provided for students by theTimes Higher Education Supplement.We want to make sure all our students are happy and that they enjoy their time here in Bangor. We realize that you may need some support during your time here to solve some personal problems or difficulties. Our Student Services Centre and the Students' Union can offer the following: * An advice service that is free and confidential. * You'll have a personal teacher in your department. * A Peer Guide will welcome you to Bangor during your first week and answer any question you might have. * Student Services and Security are on call during the day and there is a warden on call at evenings and weekends at all our halls of residence. * Personal support and advice on a variety of problems through the Students' Union Welfare Advice Centre. * Nightline, a confidential support service run during the night by students for students. * A team of staff volunteers are available to deal with any serious incident which happens outside normal university hours. * Health care in daily surgeries where you don't need an appointment. You will need to register with a local General Practitioner . We also have a nurse who can make visits to your place when necessary. * An adviser for international students. * A room where local postgraduate students who live at home and travel to the university each day, can spend their free time. The university welcomes applications from disabled students and aims to provide equal opportunities for all. For more information please see our Student Services pages. The University of Wales, Bangor is well-known for _ . A the care and support offered to students B its super teachers and star students C its attention to disabled students D teaching quality and achievements Answer: A. the care and support offered to students Bars are very important in providing a place where people can meet and make friends. People who enjoy a drink in a local bar are happier and have more friends. They are more likely to be engaged in conversations in small community pubs, and social skills improve after a drink. Professor Robin Dunbar of Oxford University said, "Friendship and communities are probably the two most important factors influencing our health and well-being. Making and maintaining friendships is something that has to be done in the real world. The digital world is simply no substitute(n.). Given the increasing tendency for our social life to be on the Internet rather than in real life, having relaxed, accessible places where people can meet old friends and make new ones becomes even more necessary." Tim Page, chief executive of CAMRA, said, "Bars offer a social environment to enjoy a drink with friends in a responsible community setting. The role of community bars in ensuring well-being cannot be overstated. For that reason, we all need to do what we can to ensure that everyone has a 'local' near to where they live or work." Bars have long been part of British society and have played a key role in British social life since the 16thcentury. Bars came to represent the heart and soul of a community, providing both a place of entertainment and an engine for community bonding. In a world before the arrival of the motor car, the bar provided a venue in which people could get friendships and a sense of community. But the closing decades of the 20th century witnessed major changes in both the style of bars (for example, themed bars) and their numbers. As of 2015, the number of bars declines sharply, with bars continuing to close at an average rate of 29 a week. What does Robin think is the tendency for social life? A More people will go to bars. B People will maintain friendships C People will trust the digital world D People will communicate more online. Answer: D. People will communicate more online.
Question: A huge cloud of dust rose and an overpass disappeared. This was the scene in Zhuzhou,Hunan Province on May 17.Nine people were killed and 16 injured. Things were similar last year in the Sichuan earthquake. Thousands of people were buried in the ruins and lost their lives. What if we could have warned them? People are always _ to find a way of preventing buildings' collapse. Better materials and technology help,but they are not a solution. Just like humans,a building has its own life cycle from "birth" to "death".If we know when a building is going to collapse,we can repair it in advance or get out of it before it falls. Now,scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a material that turns red before it breaks. The invention could be used in things like climbing ropes or bridge supports. The research was led by Nancy Sottos,a professor at the university's Beckman Institute,and Douglas Davis,a graduate research assistant. The secret behind the colorchanging material is a type of molecule .A molecule is a group of atoms held together by chemical bonds. Imagine you and your friends standing in a circle,holding hands. Each person stands for one atom,your hands represent the bonds,and the entire circle represents a molecule. If one person lets go of his or her hands,the molecule changes color. The research team put the molecule into a soft material. When the researchers stretched the material,it turned bright red for a few seconds before it broke into two pieces. When they repeatedly stretched and relaxed the material,without breaking it,it only turned a little red. The major problem is that light can get rid of the red color. When the team shone bright light on the molecule,the broken bond was fixed,and the color disappeared. If the bright light keeps the red color from appearing,the material's warning system will be useless. Scientists still have a lot of work to do before the colorchanging molecules can be used outside the lab. What can we infer from the passage? A. The colorchanging molecules are certain to be used outside the lab. B. There will be no collapse with the help of the colorchanging material. C. There is a long way to go before the material can be applied. D. The problem caused by bright light will be solved by scientists. Answer: C Question: Not all memories are sweet. Some people spend all their lives trying to forget bad experiences. Wars and traffic accidents can leave people with terrible physical and mental _ Often they appear again in dreams. Now American researchers think they are close to developing a pill , which will help people forget bad memories. The pill is designed to be taken immediately after a frightening experience. They hope it might reduce , or possibly erase the effect of sad memories. In November, some scientists tested a drug on people in the US and France. The drug stops the body producing chemicals that fix memories in the brain. So far the research has suggested that only the mental effects of memories may be reduced, not that the memories are erased. The research has caused plenty of argument. Some think it is a bad idea, while others support it. Supporters say it could lead to pills that prevent or treat soldiers' troubling memories after war. They say that there are many people who suffer from terrible memories. "Some memories can destroy people's lives. They come back to you when you don't want to have them in a dream. They usually come with very sad feeling." said Roger Pitman, a scientist of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. "This could relieve a lot of that suffering." But those who are against the research say that it is very dangerous to change memories because memories give us our identity . They also help us all get away from the mistakes of the past. "All of us can think of bad events in our lives that were terrible at the time but make us who we are. I'm not sure we want to erase those memories," said Rebecca Dresser. The passage is mainly about _ . A. a new medical invention B. a new research on memories C. a way of erasing sad memories D. an argument about the research on the pill Answer: D Question: My six-year-old granddaughter stares at me as if she is seeing me for the first time. "Grandma, you are an antique," she says. "You are old. Antiques are old. You are my antique." I am not satisfied to let the matter rest there. I explain, "An antique is not only just old; it's an object existing since or belonging to earlier times such as a work of art or a piece of furniture. Antiques are valuable." We look around the house for antiques. There is a large desk that was handed down from an aunt to our family. "It's very old," I tell Jenny. "I try to keep it polished, and I show it off whenever I can. You do that with antiques." When Jenny gets older and understands such things, I might also tell her that whenever I look at the desk or touch it, I am reminded of the aunt who was dear to me and gave me the desk as a gift. I see her face again, though she is no longer with us. I remember myself as a little girl standing against this antique, listening to one of her stories. Our tour of antiques continues. There is a picture on the wall purchased at a yard sale. It is dated 1867, and it is not in very good condition. There is a vase on the floor. I'm not certain where it came from, but I didn't buy it new. And then there is an old-style bed, sent to me forty years ago from an uncle who slept in it for fifty years. "The one thing about antiques," I explain to Jenny, "is that they usually have a story." For a moment Jenny looks thoughtful. "I don't have any antiques but you," she says. Then her face brightens. "Could I take you to school for our antiques show?" "Only if I fit into your backpack," I answer. And then her antique lifts her up and gives her a big hug that will last through the years. It can be inferred from the text that _ . A. Jenny loves the author very much B. the author agrees to Jenny's request C. Jenny doesn't like the author's antiques D. the author's explanation confuses Jenny Answer: A Question: Why does the leaf of a plant look green? A. Because it absorbs green light B. Because it reflects green light C. Because it absorbs only yellow and blue light D. Because it reflects a mixture of yellow and blue light Answer: B Question: It is widely acknowledged that it is by no means an easy task to bring up a child well.And our ancestors already understood it well."It takes an entire village to raise a child."That's an old proverb that is being quoted more and more often these days.And I'm pleased about that. Today,more and more schools are reaching out to involve parents, community members and businesses to help shape a child's future. Parents need to be involved in their children's education in many ways.Helping children with homework and studying,going on a field trip,teaching a craft or coaching a child's sports team are all great ways to be involved with your child's education.And don't forget to communicate with teachers -- they need and respect your input.Studies show that children learn more and schools function better when parents and schools work together.It's important to stay in touch with your child's education all through his or her school career. Communities can help children create and achieve new goals.Help with homework, read to a child,coach a children's team,or provide emotional support.Help solve problems and build self-esteem .Kids need role models and advisers can be role models by sharing their experiences and wisdom. Businesses can also help shape our children's future.invite a class from your local school to visit your workplace.You may be providing a glimpse that opens a new world of possibilities.Show students what goes on during a typical day.Give a mini course for students:how to use a computer;how products are made;how machinery works.You may have a developing electrician,teacher,nurse,or even a newspaper reporter on your hands. It really does take an entire village to raise a child.So share the responsibility-- and the joy-- of bringing a child to his or her full potential. The implied advice in the proverb"It takes an entire village to raise a child." is that _ . A. All the people in a village should give food to a child B. More than one party is responsible for a child's future C. Children should be brought up in the village where they were born D. Schools should be set up in the village where a child was raised Answer: B
April 22 is Earth Day. Everyone on Earth should care about and protect the earth! The earth has warmed by about 1degF over the past 100 years, but why and how? Well, scientists are not quite sure. Maybe the earth gets warmer and warmer on its own. But many scientists say that people are doing many things which makes the earth warmer. First, greenhouse effect is a very important reason for the change of the earth. People give out too much energy into the air every year. It makes the earth warmer. Climate change is another important reason. Sometimes it becomes too hot and sometimes too cold. Sometimes there is too much rain and sometimes too little. The change of the climate makes the earth warmer. In turn, the warmth of the earth changes the climate, too. When the earth becomes warmer, there may be more rain and a rise in sea level. It will affect the growth of plants, animals and people. On a Pacific island, 100 people have to move to higher ground because the sea is rising. These people can no longer live on the coast. Before that, two islands without people went underwater in 1999. Scientists say that the seas can rise by nearly one metre by 2100. People can affect the earth's air, land and water. As for us, we can do many things to protect the earth. For example, we can use fridges less. We can tell more people about protecting the earth. Earth Day is probably set for people to _ . Answer: Recently, an almost literal case of lifeboat ethics occurred. On Aug. 4, Graham and Sheryl Anley, while boating off the coast of South Africa, hit a rock. As the boat threatened to sink the husband got off, but his wife was trapped in the boat. Instead of freeing his wife and getting her to shore, Graham grabbed Rosie, their pet dog. With Rosie safe and sound, Graham returned for Sheryl. All are doing fine. It's a great story, but it doesn't strike me as especially newsworthy. News is supposed to be about something fairly unique, and recent research suggests that, in the right circumstances, lots of people also would have grabbed their Rosie first. We have strange relationships with our pets. We lavish our pets with adoration and better health care than billions of people receive. We speak to pets with the same high-pitched voices that we use for babies. As an extreme example of our feelings about pets, the Nazis had strict laws that guaranteed the humane treatment of the pets of Jews being shipped to death camps. A recent paper by George Regents University demonstrates this human involvement with pets to an astonishing extent. Participants in the study were told a situation in which a bus is out of control, bearing down on a dog and a human. Which do you save? With responses from more than 500 people, the answer was that it depended: What kind of human and what kind of dog? Everyone would save a brother, grandparent or close friend rather than a strange dog. But when people considered their own dog versus people less connected with them--a distant cousin or a hometown stranger--votes in favor of saving the dog came rolling in. And an astonishing 40% of respondents, including 46% of women, voted to save their dog over a foreign tourist. What does a finding like this mean? First, that your odds aren't so good if you find yourself in another country with a bus bearing down on you and a cute dog. But it also points to something deeper: our unprecedented attitude toward animals, which got its start with the birth of humane societies in the 19th century. We prison people who abuse animals, put ourselves in harm's way in boats between whales and whalers and show sympathy to Bambi and his mother. We can extend empathy to an animal and feel its pain like no other species. But let's not be too proud of ourselves. As this study and too much of our history show, we're pretty selective about how we extend our humaneness to other human beings. Which of the following is true according to the article? Answer: The wedding took place in a Birmingham hotel.The bride and her father arrived in a new black American sports car.Her father looked nervous and uncomfortable in front of the cameras.The bride wore a silk wedding dress.She smiled nervously at the waiting photographers and went to a room on the first floor where she met her future husband for the very first time. Carla Germaine and Greg Cordell were the winners of a radio station's competition.The aim of the competition was to find two strangers prepared to marry without having met each other.Miss Germaine,23,is a model.Mr.Cordell,27,is a TV salesman.They were among the two hundred people who entered for a particular "experiment" organized by BMRB radio in Birmingham,England.Greg and Carla were among eight finalists who were interviewed live on radio.They took a lie detector test and the station also spoke to their friends and family about their personalities.The competition judges included an astrologer who declared that they were suited. The couple celebrated their wedding with a wedding breakfast and a party for 100 guests in the evening,but not everyone shared their joy.Miss Germaine's mother looked anxious throughout the wedding and Mr.Cordell's parents are reported to be less than delighted. Organizations,including the marriage guidance service Relate,have criticized the marriage.As one expert put it,"we have enough problems getting young people to take marriage seriously.Marriage should always be about love." The couples are now on a Caribbean honeymoon followed by journalists.Their other prizes include a year's free use of a wonderful apartment in the centre of Birmingham,and a car.But will it last? Some experts believe that _ . Answer: From Rome and Venice to the rolling hills of Tuscany and the charm of Milan, Italy is a bottomless well of attractions. It is a motherland of artists and scientists that changed the shape of the world. Here are some places you should see on your vacations to Italy. Valley of the Temples Welcome to Sicily and one of its most amazing attractions. The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is an extensive archaeological site containing the well-preserved remains of various Doric temples dating from the 5thcentury B.C. In accord with standard criteria for both Greek and Roman temples, all structures face east so that the statue of the god housed inside will be illuminated by the rising sun. The site being located on a ridge overlooking the town, the term "valley" is obviously a misnomer ,but it quite captures the vastness of the place. Uffizi Gallery The reputation for being one of the finest universally acclaimed museums of all time comes courtesy of masters like Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo and Rubens. Their timeless works are proudly displayed on the top floor of the palace in Florence. Historic Centre of Siena Siena may not equal Florence in overall artistic achievement, but its charm makes it a place that no other can compare to. Centered on Piazza del Campo, the historic district is a container of 12th-century Gothic, and a mirror of the Middle Ages. Full of pearls of architecture and cultural highlights, the historic centre of Siena is an excellent trip back in time, ideally to be taken in summer. Grand Canal Taking the water bus along the Canal Grande is like going back through centuries of history. The famous Venetian waterway runs more than 3.5 km through all six districts of the historic center. The impressive Renaissance palaces rub shoulders with Gothic arches and marble mixes with gold. Numerous landmarks never cease to provoke admirable sighs on the way. Where can one probably find this passage? Answer: It's time for your family to relax and have fun! The following family adventures have links for you to get more information. Take the Rides of Your Life Visit Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, to seek thrills "Even though it's located off the beaten track, experts regularly praise Cedar Point as the best overall theme park of the country," says U.S. News & World Report. The park calls itself the roller coaster capital of the world, and with 16 to choose from, it's hard to argue. It's open daily from May 10 through Labor Day; weekends only from Labor Day through November 2. Tickets start at $ 48.99 per person if purchased online. http://www.cedarpoint.com. Wander Free on a Dude farm Dust off your cowboy boots and ready your cowboy hats for a visit to this Rocky Mountains paradise. Located in Augusta, Montana, "The farm has everything an aspiring cowboy or girl could long for," says Sunset magazine, including hiking trails, fishing trips, campfires with sing-alongs, and, of course, horseback rides. The large farm operates from June through September; kids-only and adults-only programs are available. Total cost starts at $ 1,360 per adult, $ 1,276 per teen, and $ 1,168 per child. http://www.Triplejranch.com. Dig for Dinosaurs Most kids (and adults) love dinosaurs, and to make their wildest dreams come true, head to Fruita, Colorado. The Museum of Western Colorado offers Dino Digs for children ages five and older. You can choose from one-, three-, and five-day expeditions. "Imagine how your child will feel when she helps unearth the fossilized bones of ancient species," says Outside magazine. It lasts from May to October. Digs start at $ 125 per person. http://www.museumofwesternco.com. Surf Sand Dunes Swap your snowboard for a sand-board, and head to Sand Master Park in Florence, Oregon. Real Simple recommends learning the basics at this private dune park, "which offers board rentals and lessons ---- often taught by world-champion sand boarders." Then you can hit the "slopes" to test your skills. From March to June, and September to November. Rentals for a sand-board start at $ 10 per day; lessons start at $ 45 an hour per person. http:/'www.sandmasterpark.com. What is special about Cedar Point? Answer:
My grandfather died more than twenty-five years ago. I was fifteen. He was kind, strong, fair, and very funny. When I was a young musician, he was my biggest fan. I played my violin for him when he visited, and he loved everything, but each time he had one request. "Could you play 'Amazing Grace'?" he asked, full of hope and with a twinkle in his eye, because he knew my answer was always, "I don't know that one!" We went through this routine at every major holiday, and I always figured I'd have time to learn it for him later. About the time I entered high school and started guitar, Grandpa got cancer. The last time I saw him alive was Thanksgiving weekend in 1985. My mom warned us that Grandpa didn't look the same anymore and that we should prepare ourselves. For a moment I didn't recognize him. He looked so small among all the white sheets. We had all gathered in Ohio for the holiday, and I'm sure we all knew we were there to say good-bye. I can see now that Grandpa held on long enough to see us each one more time. I remember how we ate in the dining room and laughed and talked while Grandpa rested in his hospital bed. I wonder if it was sad for him to be alone with our voices and laughter. _ The next morning I found my moment alone with him. I pulled out my guitar, tuned to his appreciative gaze, and finally played for him "Amazing Grace." I had worked on it for weeks, knowing it never mattered whether I actually played it well and choosing not to believe as I played that it was my last concert for my biggest fan. The cancer had stolen his smile, but I saw joy in his eyes. He held my hand afterward, and I knew I had done something important. I argued with people all through college about my music major. I was told by strangers that music wouldn't make me any money and it wasn't useful like being a doctor. But I know firsthand that with music I was able to give my grandpa something at a point when no one else could. When the author finally played "Amazing Grace" for Grandpa, _ . she brought him love and comfort It was a Sunday morning, and I was in a terrible mood. Two of my friends had gone to the movies the night before and hadn't invited me. I was in my room thinking of ways to make them sorry when my father came in. "Want to go for a ride, today, Beck? It's a beautiful day." "No! Leave me alone!" Those were the last words I said to him that morning. My friends called and invited me to go to the mall with them a few hours later. I forgot to be mad at them and went with them. I came home to find a note on the table. My mother put it where I would be sure to see it. "Dad has had an accident. Please meet us at Highland Park Hospital". When I reached the hospital, my mother came out and told me my father's injuries were extensive. "Your father told the driver to leave him alone and just call 911, thank God! If he had moved Daddy, there's no telling what might have happened. A broken rib might have pierced a lung...." My mother may have said more, but I didn't hear. I didn't hear anything except those terrible words: Leave me alone. My dad said them to save himself from being hurt more. How much had I hurt him when I hurled those words at him earlier in the day? It was several days later that he was finally able to have a conversation. I held his hand gently, afraid of hurting him. "Daddy... I am so sorry...." "It's okay, sweetheart. I'll be okay." "No," I said, "I mean about what I said to you that day. You know, that morning?" My father could no more tell a lie than he could fly. He looked at me and said, "Sweetheart, I don't remember anything about that day, not before, during or after the accident. I remember kissing you goodnight the night before, though." He managed a weak smile. My English teacher once told me that words have immeasurable power. They can hurt or they can heal. And we all have the power to choose our words. I intend to do that very carefully from now on. The reason why the author's father said he forgot everything about that day is that _ . he just wanted to comfort his son When a first-time father saw his newborn son, he immediately noticed the baby's ears obviously standing out from his head. He expressed his concern to the nurse that some children might be made fun of his child. A doctor examined the baby and reassured the new dad that his son was healthy---- the ears presented only a small problem with its appearance. But the nervous father continued. He wondered if the child might suffer psychological effects of ridicule, or if they should consider plastic surgery . The nurse assured him that it was really no problem, and he should just wait to see if the boy grows into his ears. The father finally felt more optimistic about his child, but now he worried about his wife's reaction to those large ears. She had been delivered by operation, and had not yet seen the child. "She doesn't take things as easily as I do," he said to the nurse. By this time, the new mother was settled in the recovery room and ready to meet her new baby. The nurse went along with the dad to lend some support in case this inexperienced mother became upset about her baby's large ears. The baby was in a blanket with his head covered for the short trip through the cold air-conditioned corridor. The baby was placed in his mother's arms, who eased the blanket back so that she could look at her child for the first time. She took one look at her baby's face and looked to her husband and gasped, "Oh, Honey! Look! He has your ears!" No problem with Mom. She married those ears...and she loves the man to whom _ are attached. The poet Kahlil Gibran said, "Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart." It's hard to see the ears when you're looking into the light. According to the doctor and nurse, the baby's ears _ . only caused a small problem. When I was seven years old, my family made me an ant farm. First, we put clean sand in a thin glass box. Then we waited for the ants to arrive. After the ants were in the glass farm, they started to make tunnels . I was amazed that each one knew exactly what to do. Each had its own job. On the fifth day a tragedy happened. I put my face so close to the glass farm that I knocked it over. All the tunnels fell down. Although the ants remained alive after their earthquake, one by one began to die. I was scared as I watched them give up building their tunnels to carry the bodies to a corner the farm. My mother said that the ants were dying of sadness. They simply could not stand that their tunnels were gone. Although much time has passed, I still think of that ant farm. Mom had hoped it would teach me about the natural world, but it taught me much more. Over the years, I came to realize the importance of teamwork. Working together, the ants were able to make an amazing world for themselves. I also learned that they should be admired for their hard work. But there was an even larger lesson that I did not realize until recently: Adversity is a natural part of life, and must be accepted. Unlike the ants, we cannot give up when we are sad. We have to realize that if a tunnel is gone, we must build another. Giving up, I say, is not a good choice. Among the following events, which one happened first? The ants got into the glass box. Mother stayed at home cooking and cleaning while Father left for work. Two or more children took the bus to school. In the evening, all the family members got together at home again. This is what a traditional family was like twenty years ago. But now great changes have happened in British families. As many as 2 out of 3 marriages now end in divorce , and many children have to live with one parent and only see the other at weekends or during holidays. There has been a great increase in the number of working women with children. Many women have to work to support themselves and their children. Even in the family where there is no divorce, both parents have to work in order to survive. Also women are no longer happy to stay at home taking care of children. Many of them have jobs and some of them can even make more money than men, the traditional _ . What's more, the increasing number of single-parent families have caused an increase in the crime rate among children in a way. It is thought that if a child doesn't have a father, he or she will be harmed. However the changes may be good for some people. For women it's now much easier to have well-paid jobs. Although it is difficult to be a working mother, it is no longer seen as a bad thing for children. As for some children, they learn how to solve problems by themselves at an early age. According to the passage, a "breadwinner" refers to a person who _ . works to support the family
Science has a lot of uses. It can reveal laws of nature, cure diseases, make bombs, and help bridges to stand up. Indeed science is so good at what it does that there's always a temptation to drag it into problems where it may not be helpful. David Brooks, author ofThe Social Animal, The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement, appears to be the latest in a long line of writers who have failed to resist the temptation. Brooks gained fame for several books. His latest bookThe Social Animal, however, is more ambitious and serious than his earlier books. It is an attempt to deal with a set of weighty topics. The book focuses on big questions: What has science revealed about human nature? What are the sources of character? And why are some people happy and successful while others aren't? To answer these questions, Brooks surveys a wide range of subjects. Because of this, you might expect the book to cover a variety of facts. But Brooks has structured his book in an unusual, and perhaps unfortunate way. Instead of introducing scientific theories, he tells a story, within which he tries to make his points, perhaps in order to keep the reader's attention. So as Harold and Erica, the hero and heroine in his story, live through childhood, we hear about the science of child development and as they begin to date we hear about the theory of sexual attraction. Brooks carries this through to the death of one of his characters. On the whole, Brooks's story is acceptable if uninspired. As one would expect, his writing is mostly clear and, to be fair, some chapters stand out above the rest. I enjoyed, for instance, the chapter in which Harold discovers how to think on his own. While Harold and Erica are certainly not strong characters, the more serious problems withThe Social Animallie elsewhere. These problems partly involve Brooks's attempt to translate his tale into science. According to the author, which of the following could be a strength of the book? A Its clear writing. B Its convincing points. C Its strong characters. D Its strong basis. Answer: A. Its clear writing. The constant demands, together with the exhausting effects of interrupted sleep, can make it hard to find the time and energy to exercise or prepare healthy meals. Here are some tips for common problems new moms face: Problem: No time to cook proper meals. When you're caring for a baby, cooking proper meals seems like a luxury. Instead you rely on convenience meals and processed foods. Solution: Try to get more support. Friends, family members, and neighbors are often delighted to help, so don't feel you have to do everything yourself. Use the extra time to prepare some healthy meals. Follow the basic rules of cutting down on fat and increasing fruit and vegetable intake. Problem: Sugary or high-fat snacks. Tiredness can leave you feeling sleepy, run-down, and in need of an immediate help from sweets and high-fat snacks. Solution: Turn snacking to your advantage. Eat high-fiber, low-fat, low-sugar snacks; these will fill you up without adding too many calories. For an energy boost, eat a banana, which is high in potassium -- a mineral essential for muscle and nerve function -- or try a handful of raisins , which are high in iron but low in fat. Problem: No time or energy to exercise. A baby is a constant demand on your time, so you're too tired or busy to exercise. Solution: Increasing activity levels will help you obtain a net calorie loss, while toning exercises will tighten your muscles. Though you may feel too tired to do any exercise, it is worth persevering (,) because in the long run your energy levels will increase. Involve your baby in your postnatal exercises; start by walking with the child in a carriage or sling(;). Swimming is another aerobic exercise that you can both enjoy by joining a mother and baby class. Many pools have childcare facilities, so you can swim a few laps on your own. Problem: Lack of sleep. The new baby interrupts your sleep, _ your energy and leaving you tense and exhausted. Solution: Practice some relaxation techniques whenever you have a few free moments. Meditation, visualization, or yoga can help your body recover and give you more energy. What's the common problem that new moms don't face? A Living on convenience meals and processed foods. B Having sweets to get rid of tiredness and sleepiness quickly. C That new moms find it hard to have time and energy to exercise. D Sleeping too long can make them fat. Answer: D. Sleeping too long can make them fat. Jeans have become one piece of clothing worn by the most people in the world. Everybody wears them, from the farmer to the lawyer and from models to housewives. But why have jeans become so popular?You'll get many answers. For some people they look cool, for others jeans are just comfortable. Jeans were first stronger trousers made for farm workers in the states of the American west. In the eastern part of the US jeans were hardly worn at all. They were connected with farm people and the workers. So the rich wouldn't like to wear them. It was James Dean and Marlon Brando that made them popular in movies and everyone started to wear them. They were a symbol of the _ of young people during the 1950s and 1960s. So these new trousers were not allowed in American schools and sometimes in theatres and cinemas. As time went on,jeans became more acceptable. American people in Europe and Japan often wore them when they were not on duty to show that they were Americans. The trousers showed the world a happier way of life, something that people needed, especially after what they had gone through in World War II. Jeans had other advantages as well. They didn't need to be washed as often as other trousers and women didn't need to iron them. This became more important as more and more women started working and had less time for housework. Today jeans are an important part of our lives. They are always washed a few times before they are sold to give them a faded look. What is the best title of the passage? A Jeans --- Symbol of Wealth B Jeans --- Working Women's Best Choice C Jeans --- Popular Piece of Clothing in Our Daily Life D Jeans --- Part of the Lives of Farm People and Workers Answer: C. Jeans --- Popular Piece of Clothing in Our Daily Life Mike was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always happy and always had something interesting to say. If someone asked him how he was doing, he would reply, "Couldn't be better!" He was really a care-free young man and never felt tired. Mike used to say, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, 'Mike, you have two choices today. You can choose to be happy or you can choose to be upset.' I choose to be happy. Each time something happens, I am always ready to learn a good lesson. I choose to learn from life." I tried to understand what he said. Indeed life is all about choices. Every situation is a choice. The bottom line is: You're living your life and you make it either happy or sad. Several years later I had a car accident and my legs were seriously injured. When I was lying on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or choose to die. I chose to live. People like to say, "Choose the one you love and love the one you choose." Why not choose the one we love and live happily? Which of the following is NOT true? A Mike tried to be happy every day. B Mike chose to learn from life. C The writer learned from Mike. D The writer was unhappy every day. Answer: D. The writer was unhappy every day. More and more people are coming under the umbrella of fatness in modern times. Not just adults,but even children are getting overweight. Today some of the newborn babies are also born fat. It has been proved that the people living in the developed Western countries are more likely to become overweight. There are a number of causes behind this. The people in the developed countries including the United States almost enjoy all the comforts of life. Almost all the things in the lives of the people living in these countries are at their fingertips. A very limited amount of movement and physical effort is required to do any kind of job. Because of the fact that these countries are quite developed,most of the jobs that the people take up are desk jobs. So the lifestyle of them is just around the office desk. Most of the developed Western countries are cold ones. Nature demands that people eat the food that can somehow make them stand the coldness. Therefore,wine,fatty dairy products,bread,junk food and red meat become an important diet in these countries. However,the blame cannot be entirely put on the unhealthy eating habits of the people. Technology allows them to import almost all the food products that they do not grow. Although some healthy food are grown in the countries nowadays,the quantity is very limited. It is not enough to meet the demand. So when they are not available and fatty foods are cheaper,then people prefer to go for the eating habit that they have always been following. People in the developed countries often _ . A carry umbrellas with them B blame the fatness on the weather C grow a lot of healthy foods in their countries D eat to protect themselves from the cold Answer: D. eat to protect themselves from the cold
Question: Everyone must go to bed early and get up early, or we won't be healthy and clever.Is this true? Maybe it is.The body must have enough sleep.Children of your age need ten hours'sleep every day.If you don't go to bed early, you won't have enough sleep .Then you can't think properly and can't do your work properly.You will not be clever.Some people go to bed late and get up late.This is not good for them.We must go to bed at night when it is dark.The dark helps us to sleep soundly.When the daytime comes, we must get up.This is the time for exercise.If you lack exercise, you will become weak.Exercise keeps a strong body.Exercise helps the blood flow around inside the body.This is very important.Blood takes food to all parts of our body.The brain also needs blood, we think with our blood.If we keep our body healthy and take exercise, we can think better. Children of your age need _ A. ten hours' sleep B. nine hours' sleep C. twelve hours' sleep D. eight hours' sleep Answer: A. ten hours' sleep Question: Rebecca, who is a 25-year-old woman, has a rare condition. She can remember all the events she has experienced in her life. The events are so vivid, as if they happened just moments ago. But her vivid memories often become a reality. Rebecca said, "When I relive memories, the emotions come back. So if it's something that happened when I was younger, my emotions are about what I felt then. I also re-experience pain. For example, I remember falling over and hurting my left knee when I was three. When talking about it now, I'm getting pain in my left knee." However, there are times when Rebecca's memories prove to be too overwhelming, and she has learnt relaxation and mindfulness techniques to solve. "At school, it is a _ . I'm not very quick at processing things, so there is always so much going through my mind. At night, I have to sleep with the radio on and a soft light. If it's too dark or quiet, my mind just recalls all these memories and I can't sleep," Rebecca said. In addition, Rebecca has no control over whether the memories she recalls will be positive or negative - recalling painful experiences with such vividness that she has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. Rebecca said, "Recently, I went back to my old school for my sister's high school graduation. Being in that building again brought all those memories flooding back. I burst into tears and had to leave." Rebecca and her mother Mrs. Barnes got in touch with the University of California in 2011. It was there that Rebecca knew she had Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM). It's reported that Rebecca is one of just 80 people worldwide, who have HASM. "Finding out about HASM has been such a positive experience. Now, Rebecca has been more positive and able to do things independently, which has been excellent," Mrs. Barnes said. What's wrong with Rebecca? A. She hardly sleeps well at night. B. She usually gets hurt easily by others. C. She can't distinguish between reality and dreams. D. Her vivid memories lead her to experience sufferings. Answer: D. Her vivid memories lead her to experience sufferings. Question: The dodo is among the most famous extinct creatures, and _ for human-caused extinction events. Despite its bad name, and the fact that the species was alive during recorded human history, little is actually known about how this animal lived, looked, and behaved. A new study of the only known complete skeleton from a single bird takes advantage of modern 3-D laser scanning technology to open a new window into the life of this famous extinct bird. The study was presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in Estrel, Berlin. Leon Claessens, Associate Professor at the College of the Holy Cross, and lead researcher on the study said that, "the 3-D laser surface scans we made of the fragile dodo skeletons enable us to reconstruct how the dodo walked, moved and lived to a level of detail that has never been possible before. There are so many outstanding questions about the dodo bird that we can answer with this new knowledge." A complete dodo skeleton, found by an amateur collector and barber, Etienne Thirioux, on the island of Mauritius between 1899 and 1917, has remained unstudied, even though it is the only complete dodo skeleton from a single individual bird known to exist. All other skeletons are incomplete combinations, meaning that they are gathered from more than one individual. In addition, Thirioux constructed a second, partially combined skeleton, which contains many bones that also belong to a single bird. "Being able to examine the skeleton of a single, individual dodo, which is not made up from as many individual birds as there are bones, as is the case in all those other combined skeletons, truly allows us to appreciate the way the dodo looked and see how tall or fat it really was," said Juilan Hume, of the Natural History Museum UK, a co-author on the study. The scans were performed on site in Durban, South Africa, and allow examination of the biology of this mysterious extinct bird in detail for the first time. Using the newest digital tools and techniques, the scans provide an insight into how the flightless dodo may have developed its giant size, and how it walked and lived in its forest home. According to Kenneth Rijsdijk, a biologist from University of Amsterdam, "the skull of the dodo is so large and its mouth so strong that it is easy to understand that the earliest naturalists thought it was related to sharks and other birds of prey , rather than the pigeon family." What is special about the dodo skeleton found by an amateur collector? A. It is gathered from more than one individual. B. It reminded unstudied between 1899 and 1917. C. It is the only complete dodo skeleton from a single individual bird. D. It can be examined with 3-D laser scanning technology. Answer: C. It is the only complete dodo skeleton from a single individual bird. Question: What is a worldwide increase in temperature called? A. greenhouse effect B. global warming C. ozone depletion D. solar heating Answer: B. global warming Question: As is known to all, colors appear in every language to express people's feeling and thoughts.Then, what is the situation in American English? Red is a hot color.Americans may say they are red hot about something unfair.They are red hot when they are very angry about something.The small hot-tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hot for their color and their fiery taste.Fast loud music is popular with many people.They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland Jazz. Pink is a lighter kind of red.People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health.The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century.It comes from the fact that many babies are born with nice pink skin that shows that they are in good health. The color black is often used in expressions.People describe a day on which everything goes wrong as a black day.People or things on a blacklist are connected with things illegal now.But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations. The color green is natural for trees and grass.But it is an unnatural color for humans.A person who has a sick feeling in his stomach may say he feels a little green.A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green. Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has.That person may say he is green with envy.Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or greenbacks.Dollars are called greenbacks because green is the color of the back side of the paper money. People use "in the pink" to express they are in good health because _ . A. the expression has a very long history B. the color pink makes people feel happy C. people think the color pink is gentler than red D. healthy babies are born with nice pink skin Answer: D. healthy babies are born with nice pink skin
Naturally, American schoolchildren love holidays. And they get a lot of them each year. Besides having national holidays such as Thanksgiving and Presidents' Day off from school, students get longer breaks in the spring and during the summer holidays .In fact, kids in US only go to school for about 180 days a year .To students, holidays are perfect .However, parents think there are advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, school holidays allow families to spend time together. Many American parents take time off from work during June ,July or August to travel with their children on vacation either in US or a foreign country. On the other hand, schoolchildren get much more time off school than parents get vacation time. This means that parents with young children may have to pay more in babysitting or daycare costs. As well, the long summer holidays mean that students sometimes get bored . Besides going on trips with their parents, American students enjoy taking part in different kinds of activities during the holidays. For example, some kids enjoy summer camps and outdoor adventure holidays. Such trips are great for adventurous students. _ also have a lot to offer students who aren't usually interested in traditional PE activities. You can do courses in survival skills, for example. Students learn how to make a camp in the forest, which wild food they can eat and how to find their way back to the center. Students who are not excited about summer camps and outdoor adventure may take part in courses in computer game design, filmmaking and photography during the holidays. Finally, the traditional school trip to foreign countries is always popular. Students can practice their foreign language skills and experience everyday life in a different culture. Which of the following is ture ? Answer: My friend had mentioned the other day that her father had a lot of children's toys he was looking to give away. She knew I have a three-year-old daughter so she thought of me first. I told her I would love it if I could get some nice things for my daughter, which I wouldn't otherwise have been able to afford. When I met her father, he began to explain he was too poor once and that he would hate to throw away things that can be very useful. Before he showed me what he was giving away, I thought the toys would be mostly lego's or things like that. When he was showing me around I saw a bed, a slide, a kitchen set and many other things that just blew my mind. He told me to write a list of everything my daughter could use and as my eyes were wide, he told me not to feel guilty. He said I was helping him by getting rid of the stuff. As I was looking around I did feel guilty, but I tried to remain more grateful than guilty. Every time I tried to thank him for giving me and my daughter all this wonderful stuff he would thank me right back. I wanted to believe that he was just thanking me so that I wouldn't feel so guilty but in reality I believe that he was as grateful as I was that these toys would be put to good use. In the eyes of charity, it makes sense to feel grateful, but guilt is just as normal. I know that we could have lived without a slide, which is why I do feel guilty, but I am grateful all the same because my daughter really does enjoy all these nice things! Why did the old man want to give away his toys? Answer: Every day since March 8, people all over the world keep asking the same question: Where did Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 go? It turns out to be the biggest mystery in modern aviation history. In the early hours of March 8, a Boeing 777 took off from Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur . It was heading to Beijing. But about two hours into the flight, the plane lost contact. There were 239 people on board the Malaysia Airlines flight, including 154 Chinese. About 12 countries, including China, the US and Australia, have joined the search for the missing plane and passengers. The plane's disappearance was a "mystery", said officials. The plane was flying at a height of more than 10,000 meters when it suddenly lost contact. The weather was clear. The pilots didn't make any distress calls . When a plane crashes, broken parts are usually recovered. But up to April 2, officials have not found anything. People are also talking about a possible hijacking. Interpol said that two people on the flight used stolen passports. But that information alone isn't evidence of a hijack. The investigation is still going on. It could take months or even years to find out what happened to the flight. "We are looking at all possibilities," said Malaysian Transport Minister Hishamuddin Hussein. "The most important thing now is to find the plane." On March 24 came a piece of sad news. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said that the plane "ended in the southern Indian Ocean". Everyone on the plane died. But the mystery is still not solved. Nobody is giving up. China has said it will work hard to find out the truth at all costs. Which country was the Flight MH370 flying to ? Answer: Teens who become addicted to their cellphones may be placing their health at risk by harming their ability to sleep well,a new Swedish study suggests. "The message is that teenagers who use their cellphones excessively are much more stressed, much more restless, much more tired, and have a great tendency to develop sleep deprivation as a result of their calling habits, " said the study author Dr. Gaby Bader. He focused on the experiences of 21 healthy Swedish boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 20. The teens kept what the authors described as "regular working/studying hours" and were not previously diagnosed with any particular sleep irregularity. He observed that the above-15 call group kept more irregular sleeping hours than the lower-use group,had more difficulty falling asleep,more difficulty waking up,and experienced more sleep disruptions . Bader said that among young people,a ly recent technological invention like the cellphone has quickly become existed nearly everywhere,giving rise to considerable pressure to keep in touch. And this pressure can develop into an addiction,with serious negative results for teenager health. "We see more and more people--especially the young generation-- who grew up with these kinds of items and gadgets in their hands," Bader said. "And they become dependent on the technology. So,we have to teach young people to be structured. To know when to have the cellphone on,and when to switch it off. To avoid becoming the slave of technology,instead of the master. " Dr. Mary Carskadon expressed little surprise with the finding. " Interpersonal contact is one of the things that's best at keeping us awake," she observed. "And so,a young person receiving cellphone texts or phone calls is going to have more deep disturbances. And they are going to be tired and restless,and probably,as a result,going to use more stimulants .And judgment is not always the best in our teenage years. So, that's where I think parental attention to this issue may be useful. " According to Dr. Mary Carskadon,how to deal with the problem? Answer: Five or six years ago, I attended a lecture on the science of attention. A professor who conducts research over in the medical school was talking about attention blindness, the basic feature of the human brain that, when we concentrate on one task, causes us to miss just about everything else. Because we can't see what we can't see, our lecturer was determined to catch us in the act. He had us watch a video of six people tossing basketballs back and forth, three in white shirts and three in black, and our task was to keep track only of the tosses among the people in white. The tape rolled, and everyone began counting. Everyone except me. I'm dyslexic , and the moment I saw that tape with the confusing basketball tossers, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep track of their movements, so I let my mind wander. I became curious, though, when about 30 seconds into the tape, a gorilla walked in among the players. She (we later learned a female student was in the gorilla suit) stared at the camera, beat her chest with her fist, and then went away while they continued passing the balls. When the tape stopped, the professor asked how many people had counted at least a dozen basketball tosses. Hands went up all over. He then asked who had counted 13, 14, and congratulated those who'd scored the perfect 15. Then he asked, "And who saw the gorilla?" I raised my hand and was surprised to discover I was the only person at my table and one of only three or four in the large room to do so. He'd set us up, trapping us in our own attention blindness. Yes, there had been a trick, but he wasn't the one who had played it on us. By concentrating so hard on counting, we had managed to miss the gorilla in the midst. Attention blindness is the fundamental organizing principle of the brain, and I believe that it presents us with a great opportunity. My take is different from that of many neuroscientists: Where they see the shortcomings of the individual, I sense an opportunity for cooperation. Fortunately, given the interactive nature of most of our lives in the digital age, we have the tools to control our different forms of attention and take advantage of them. It's not easy to admit that everything we've learned about how to pay attention means that we've been missing everything else. It's not easy for us logical, intelligent, confident types to admit that the very key to our success -- our ability to discover a problem and solve it, an achievement obtained in all those years in school and beyond -- may be exactly what limits us. No one ever told us that our way of seeing left out everything else. What's the total number of basketball tosses by the players in white shirts in the video? Answer:
Expo 2010 is held in Shanghai from May 1 to October 31.People all over the world are looking forward to it.Here are several golden rules on how to best plan your hip. Rule 1:Do your homework Read everything you call before going.Really study the maps.Know the pavilions.Arrive at the entrance nearest Io the things you want to see.Have a plan.It will make a big difference. Rule 2:Allow plenty of time Expo 2010 is the largest attraction event in the history of the world.It will take many days to see it.Plan to spend from five to eight days or more seeing it. Rule 3:Pace yourself Expo is enormous.The distances are punishing.It is better to spend a day seeing a single area than to man hack and forth all over the site.Remember to wear the most comfortable shoes.Never mind what they look like. Rule 4:Get going in May At many Expos the crowds are smaller in May and in early June than any other time.And beware the last two weeks.During every Expo, people delay their visits and then in early October they suddenly realize."Expo will close soon! I haven't seen it!'' As a result, the last several weeks usually have the most crowded days of the entire Expo. Rule 5:Find out what everyone else is doing-and do the opposite If you don't like large crowds and long lines.do the opposite.Here is all example:Most people go on Saturdays or on holidays, So avoid Saturdays and holidays.Go on weekdays when most people are at work. Rule 6:Turn up Expo 2010 is the largest celebration in China's history-an amazing once-in-a-lifetime event.When it is gone and it will never be seen again.So whatever you do,don't miss it! Expo 2010 will last _ . Answer: six months Which of the following is an example of a physical change but not a chemical change? Answer: A water pipe freezes and cracks on a cold night. Good morning. My name is Eric. This is my schoolbag. What color is it? It's blue and white. And what's this in English? It's a pen. It is a black pen. This is a ruler. It's yellow. The schoolbag is _ . Answer: blue and white Teens don't understand the big fuss . As the first generation to grow up in a wired world, they hardly know a time when computers weren't around, and they eagerly catch the chance to spend hours online, chatting with friends. So what? But researchers nationwide are increasingly worried that teens are becoming isolated , less skillful at person-to-person relationships , and perhaps numb to the cheatings that are so much a part of the e-mail world . "And a teen's sense of self and values may be changed in a world where personal connections can be limitless," said Sherry Turkle . Another researcher , Robert Kraut , said he's worried about the "opportunity costs" of so much online time for youths . He found that teens who used computers, even just a few hours a week, showed increased signs of loneliness and social isolation. "Chatting online may be better than watching television , but it's worse than hanging out with real friends," he said . Today's teens, however, don't see anything strange in the fact that the computer takes up a central place in their social lives. "School is busy and full of pressure. There's almost no time to just hang out," said Parker Rice, 17. "Talking online is just catch-up time." Teens say they feel good about what they say online or taking the time to think about a reply. Some teens admit that asking someone for a date, or breaking up, can be easier in message form, though they don't want to do so. But they insist there's no harm. The purpose of the text is to _ . Answer: draw attention to teens' computer habits Milk was one of the main foods of people long before history was written. It will probably keep on being one as long as there are animals that give milk. Even the word "milk" is very old. It comes from Sanskrit ( ), one of the oldest languages known to man. A very old picture of _ has been found. It was drawn more than five thousand years ago. In the years long ago, people got their milk from their own animals. But later new inventions made the milk industry a big business. In 1851 Gail Borden found a way to take some of the water out of milk. This made it keep much longer. Four years later, Louis Pasteur introduced a way to kill the bacteria ( ) in milk. Next, a special milk bottle was made. This was followed by the invention of machines that could fill bottles with milk. These discoveries had a great effect on the milk industry. They meant that milk could be stored longer. Some people believe that milk drinking will become less popular that it has been. But remember how long milk has been an important food and think of many ways in which it is useful. It seems safe to say that milk industry will always be important. Milk industry will be always an important one because _ . Answer: milk has been an important food for a long time and is widely used.
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. From the passage we can infer that if Maveleone had been a well-know artist _ . the customs officer wouldn't have valued the painting at $ 140 Can you make a telephone call? Of course you make it in Chinese. But the call in English is quite different from the one in Chinese. If you want to ask somebody to answer the telephone, you cannot say, " Please ask Mr/Mrs/Miss... to answer the telephone." Instead, you must say, " May I speak to Mr/Mrs/Miss..., please?" If you want to ask who is answering the telephone, you should say " Who is that?" or " Is that ...( somebody ) speaking?" instead of " Who are you ?". If you want to tell the other one who you are, you should say, " This is ...( somebody ) speaking." The title for this passage should be _ . How to Make a Call in English A gunman opened fire in Orlando's Pulse nightclub early morning Sunday , killing approximately 50 people and injuring another 53 . Clubbers were enjoying an evening at Pulse , which describes itself as " the hottest gay bar in Orlando , " when shots started to go off around 2 am. A hostage situation occurred , and didn't end until authorities used a vehicle armed to teeth to break down the door of the building and kill the gunman at around 5 am . Sunday morning's attack surpasses the shootings at Virginia Tech in 2007 and Sndy Hook Elementary School in 2012 to become the worst mass shooting in US history . Authorities have identified the shooter as 29-year-old Omar Saddiqui Mateen from Fort Pierce , about 120 miles southeast of Orlando . CNN reports Mr. Mateen was previously trained as a security guard . The federal government and FBI " have suggestions the individual has leanings towards Islamic terrorism , but right now we can't say definitely , " says Ron Hopper , assistant special agent of FBI's Orlando bureau . But Mateen's connection to Islamic terrorism has not been proven , leading authorities to also investigate the shooting as a possible hate crime against the LGBT community . The Orlando blood donation facility tweeted that the bank was in " urgent need " of donations Sunday morning following the shooting . But within hours , they announced their bank was at capacity due to the long lines of volunteers who showed up to donate . However , after the initial tweet at 10:40 Sunday morning , criticisms of the United States' stand on blood donation by the LGBT community resurfaced on social media from those who wanted to help but were prohibited due to their sexuality . " It's legal to buy an AR-15 assault rifle . It's illegal for a gay man to donate blood to victims of the massacre . The world makes no sense . " said John Barcus . ( LGBT : a community of four types of people ; lesbian , gay , bisexual , transgender .) What do we know about the shooting from the passage ? The police had to rely on heavy equipment to kill the gunman . Music probably isn't the main reason for where you choose to eat something, but restaurant owners put a lot of thought into what they play. In a recent article about music's role in restaurant design, author Mark Brandau details the different ways sound influences sales. Here are a few "notes" to keep in mind the next time you need to pick a restaurant: It's someone's job to design playlists. Restaurant owners hire experts to build music playlists for different times of the day. A restaurant owner says, "Lively songs encourage quick dining and faster table turns at meal time." What you hear at lunch won't be what you hear at dinner. And what you hear after dinner will be something totally different. If a restaurant wants to increase late-night sales, music is very important to creating the right atmosphere. Music builds brands . Nick Vojnovic, president of Little Greek, had been in the business for 20 years. He began to realize how important music is to the restaurant experience after listening to a manager from The Cheesecake Factory speak about using music to develop brand identity. Where have you heard that before? Restaurants may be using the same music providers. Ambiance Radio provides playlists for Little Greek in Florida, and also Schlotzsky's and Union Square Cafe in New York City. Vojnovic, who started his business at Chili's, pointed out that years ago, background music was changed only once per quarter. Music helps restaurants choose diners. Brandau explains that some restaurants would like to turn up the music, not to bother certain groups of customers, but to stay true to their main diners. If college kids are a restaurant's main diners, the restaurant will surely play music that makes older people feel uninvited. The passage mainly discusses the relationship between music and _ . restaurant sales Wikipedia: The Online Know-It-All If you want to find out a piece of information about anything, the best place to search for it is Wikipedia. The name "Wikipedia" is from the Hawaiian word wiki, meaning "quick". This online encyclopedia is written by thousands of people around the world. Anyone with Internet access can write, add or make changes to Wikipedia articles if he or she finds it incorrect or not well written. In this way, people who know a lot about a certain subject can write about it even if they are not university professors. But contributions cannot damage Wikipedia because many experienced editors are watching pages and techies can write editing programs to keep track of or correct bad edits. Where there are disagreements on how to present facts, editors work together to arrive at an article that fairly represents current expert opinion on the subject. Wikipedia is quite different from paper-based reference sources in important ways. Unlike printed encyclopedias, it is continually created and updated, with articles on historic events appearing within minutes, rather than months or years. What's more, Wikipedia includes articles written in about 285 languages. This fact makes it one of the few websites on the Internet that are truly international. It was started in 2001 by Larry Sanger and Jimmy Wales, as a free online English-language encyclopedia project. Since its creation, it has grown rapidly into one of the largest reference websites, attracting nearly 500 million unique visitors monthly. There are more than 77,000 active contributors working on more than 22,000,000 articles in different languages. As of today, there are 4,396,866 articles in English. So, if you are looking for some information, why not try Wikipedia? It's free, multilingual,and informative. From the passage we know that _ . Wikipedia catches a wide audience
I left university with a good degree in English Literature, but no sense of what I wanted to do. Over the next six years, _ , just trying to earn an income. I tried journalism, but I didn't think I was any good, then finance, which I hated. Finally, I got a job as a rights assistant at a famous publisher. I loved working with books, although the job that I did was dull. I had enough savings to take a year off work, and I decided to try to satisfy a deep-down wish to write a novel. Attending a Novel Writing MA course gave me the structure I needed to write my first 55,000 words. It takes confidence to make a new start--there's a dark period in-between where you're neither one thing nor the other. You're out for dinner and people ask what you do, and you're too ashamed to say, "Well, I'm writing a novel, but I'm not quite sure if I'm going to get there." My confidence dived. Believing my novel could not be published, I put it aside. Then I met an agent who said I should send my novel out to agents. So, I did and, to my surprise, got some wonderful feedback. I felt a little hope that I might actually become a published writer and, after signing with an agent, I finished the second half of the novel. The next problem was finding a publisher. After two-and-a-half years of no income, just waiting and wondering, a publisher offered me a book deal--that publisher turned out to be the one I once worked for. It feels like an unbelievable stroke of luck--of fate, really. When you set out to do something different, there's no end in sight, so to find myself in a position where I now have my own name on a contract of the publisher--to be a published writer--is unbelievably rewarding . How did the writer feel halfway with the novel? Answer: Uncertain. It was May 5. It was Mary's birthday. She came home, and saw a card on the table. It said, "There's a present for you, Mary. Go and look for it in your room." Mary ran to her room. Her parents were watching her. They were smiling. On her bed she saw a new red box. She thought, "What's in the box?" She opened it. There was nothing but a card in it. Mary took it out and read. "Dear Mary, I'm your present. My first letter is in the word 'book', but not in 'look'. My second letter is in 'ink', but not in 'thank'. You can find my third letter in both 'ink' and 'book'. And my last letter is in 'she', but not in 'ship'. What am I?" Mary thought hard. B-I-K-E! She smiled and said, "Aha, I know, Mom. But where is it?" Her mother said, "Look at the back of the card." Mary turned it over and read, "Come and look for me in the garden." Mary hurried to the garden. There under a big tree she found her present--a nice new bike! "Happy birthday, Mary!" her parents said. "Thank you, Mom and Dad." Mary's parents were _ Answer: very kind and funny Tom was the best baseball player in his neighborhood. He also enjoyed playing basketball, but he wasn't very good at it. Every morning he would get up and go out to the baseball field, and every night he would dream about his favorite players. He loved the Yankees, and knew he would someday play for them. One day when Tom was practicing at the field, a man in a nice suit came out of a long car and walked over to Tom. The man said that he worked for the Yankees, and was there to see Tom play! Tom was so excited he could scream! Knowing that the man was watching, he played the best game ever that day. When he was done, the man told Tom that he was good enough to play for the Yankees, and to pack his things right away. Tom hurried home as fast as he could, and started to pack up all his clothes. His mom walked in and asked what Tom was doing. "I'm going to play for the Yankees ma!" Tom said. Tom's mom was so excited that she took Tom and the whole family out for dinner. Grandpa, Grandma, Mom and Dad were all there, and bought Tom a big cake! As Tom said goodbye to everyone, he couldn't help but feel sad that he would be gone for so long. "Don't worry son, we'll be at all the games cheering you on!" said his dad. This made Tom happy again, and as he left to be with his team, he knew that he had finally made it. Who told Tom that his family would be at all the games? Answer: His dad The iMOVE database is a foreign-language information platform for persons interested in job opportunities offered by German companies. The information can be obtained in seven languages: German, English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Arabic. All programs in the area of professional training are carried out by German training providers. All these programs have a clear content to meet your special needs. Programs which take place in Germany are carried out in English. Many of the German training providers have stated their training activities towards the international market. Therefore, they also offer courses abroad. These courses are taught in English or the language of the target country. Providers will be glad to supply you with additional information on these courses. You can contact the provider directly to find out more about a program and the training provider. To guarantee high standards in the database, iMOVE has developed quality standards for training providers and their services. All of the training facilities in the iMOVE database have to follow these quality criteria . All training providers who publish their international training programs in the iMOVE database have recognized general terms and conditions. The iMove database is intended for people who _ . Answer: want to be employed by German companies Long long ago, a young man found a spring of delicious clean water while he was going through the desert. He brought some back to the oldest man in his village, who had been his teacher before. After a four-day journey he sent the water to the old man who took a deep drink, smiled warmly and thanked his student for the sweet water. The young man returned to his village happily. The next day, the teacher let another student taste the water. He spat it out, saying it was awful. It went bad because it had stayed in the old leather container for so many days in such hot weather. The student asked his teacher why he pretended to like the awful water. The teacher _ , "You only tasted the water. I tasted the gift. The water was simply the container for love and kindness. And nothing could be sweeter than these." I think we understand this lesson best when we receive small gifts of love from very young kids. Whether it's a slice of bread or a piece of colored paper, the natural and right response is to show our thanks and happiness because we get love from the gift. To show our thanks doesn't always come naturally. Unfortunately, most children and many adults only see the thing itself. They never feel the meaning of the thing. We should tell ourselves and teach our children about showing thanks and happiness to the persons who give the gifts from their hearts because gifts from the heart are really gifts of the heart. What does the writer want to tell us? Answer: We should show thanks and happiness when we get the gifts from the heart.
The USA is a land of immigrants. Between 1815 and 1914, the world witnessed the greatest peaceful migration in its history: 35 million people, mostly Europeans, left their homelands to start new lives in America. Why did these people risk everything by leaving their homes and families? First, what forced emigrants to make the decision to leave? One major cause for European farmers to leave was the rise in population which in turn led to land hunger. Another was politics. There was an increased taxation and the growth of armies, and many young men fled eastern Europe to avoid being forced to join the army. Physical hunger provided another pressing reason. Following the collapse of the economy of southern Italy in the 1860s, hundreds of thousands decided to start a new life in America. Religion also encouraged millions to leave the Old World. In short, people chose to leave their homes for social, economic and religious reasons. As a result, by 1890 among a total population of 63 million, there were more than nine million foreign-born Americans. But what were the attractions? First of all, there was the promise of land which was so scarce in Europe. Next, factories were calling for workers, and pay conditions were much better than back home. Men were needed to open up the West and build the long railroads, and new towns needed settlers to live in and to develop business. There was the space for religious people to practice their faith in peace. This immigration meant that by around the 1850s Americans of non-English had started to be more than those of English. As we know, there were losers. To start with, there were those unwilling immigrants, the slaves who had been used as a source of cheap labour. Nor should we forget the equally unlucky American Indians. By 1860 there were 27 million free whites, four million slaves and a mere 488,000 free blacks. Nowadays, the USA is still seen by millions as the Promised Land. As always, it remains an attractive place to those who think it will offer them a second chance. What is not the cause for people to leave their homeland? A The search for religious freedom. B The search for adventure. C Unwillingness to join the army. D Economics. Answer: B 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. In Britain,people may call a little girl _ . A Emily B Grace C Mathew D Oliver Answer: B Mr. Jackson was a doctor in a small town. He was very absent-minded . One afternoon, he went to visit a friend who lived not far from the town. They had dinner together and then talked and talked, for Mr. Jackson was very fond of talking. It was already midnight, then one o'clock, two o'clock and still Mr. Jackson kept on talking. But this time the friend was feeling very tired and kept looking at the clock on the wall. He didn't want to be impolite , but at last he said, "Charles, my dear friend, I don't want to put you out, but I have to go to work at six tomorrow morning, I must go to bed now. " "Oh, my God!" said Mr. Jackson in surprise. "I thought you were at my house. " Which is wrong? A Charles's friend was very tired. B Mr Jackson talked with his friend at his own house. C They had a long talk. D Mr Jackson didn't live in the country. Answer: B Thick feathers can be used to stay what? A frigid B frosty C freezing D toasty Answer: D According to the recent survey , only forty percent of children in our school feel happy, Why? Do you know what "happiness" means? A lot of money? No homework every day? High marks or anything else? In fact , happiness is always around you put your heart into it. When you are in trouble at school, you r friends will help you; When you study hard at your lessons, your parents are always taking good care of your life and your health; When you get success, your friends will say congratulations to you; When you do something wrong, people around you will help you to collect it; When you do something good to others, you will feel happy ,too. All these are happiness. If you notice a bit of them, you can see that happiness is always around you. All these can't be bought with money. It's a feeling of your heart. When you come across difficulties, you can say loudly you are very happy, because you have more chances to challenge yourself. As the saying goes , lift is a revolving door. When it closes, it also opens. If you take every chance you get, you can be a happy and lucky person. Which of the following is this passage about? A Life B Happiness C Good luck D Chance Answer: B
ARIEL, West Bank: A suicide bomber blew up near Israeli soldiers outside a Jewish settlement in the West Bank yesterday, killing at least three people and wounding about 30 Ron Nachman, mayor of the settlement of Ariel. "Soldiers were among the casualties . "People on the spot said the bomber blew up after soldiers eating at a food stand in a petrol station at the entrance of the settlement found him. According to some people on the spot accounts reported by Israeli media, a soldier shot and wounded the bomber, who then exploded. The Magen David Adorn ambulance service said at least three people were killed and at least 30 wounded in the blast , which set the bomber burning at Ariel, about 25 kilometers east of Tel Aviv. A fire brigade official said: "The bomber was still burning when we got there and we put out the fire immediately." Meanwhile, a blast shook homes in Lebanon's largest Palestinian refugee camp early yesterday, damaging buildings but causing no injuries, Palestinian sources said. They said the bomb was planted outside the home of a member of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction in Ain el-Hilwch camp, and exploded while the family was sleeping. Some of people including _ were killed or wounded in the blast accident. Answer: soldiers The riches in the world are not found in the famous gold and diamond mines,where many men and women are digging for them.Most riches in the world are found in the cemeteries and grave yards,buried with people's dreams,aspirations,and unfulfilled potential.Why is it so? Countless men and women died without ever having the courage to follow their own paths.Maybe because they were afraid to violate some kinds of social norms, maybe because they were afraid to be alone,or maybe simply because they preferred to settle for the familiar.They went to the graves,with a song that would never be heard,a piece of poetry never be written, a dance step never be initiated and a heart full of dreams and aspirations,leaving behind a life full of potential yet no legacy. Michael Jordan,one of the greatest athletes once said,''I can fail,but I cannot afford not to try." Life remains a beautiful journey if we learn to take that step and to work that path.Every challenge and defeat in the process becomes a light post that sharpens the vision and shapes the direction forward. "In my world nothing goes wrong,"said the great Indian sage Nmaja Dhahta Majraj.We must learn to trust the greatness within all of us and know that each of as is here to bring our unique contribution to the universal monument.If each of us learns to dance to the music we only can hear, society as a whole will evolve naturally and spiritually toward love,peace and happiness,and will be void of jealousy,envy and discrimination. And Henry David Thoreau would say, "If a man does not keep pace with his companions,that is because he hears a difierent drum.''And one truly believes that the path to success and happiness passes through the dancing to such a unique drumbeat.Therefore,do not die with the music still playing inside you. What's the author's opinion on riches? Answer: They are people's dreams and aspirations. One day an old man is selling an elephant. A young man comes to the elephant and begins to look at it slowly . The old man goes up to him and says in his ear, " Don't say anything about the elephant before I sell it, then I'll give you some meat." "All right," says the young man. After the old man sells the elephant, he gives the young man some meat and says, " Now, can you tell me how you find the bad ears of the elephant?" " I didn' t find the bad ears," says the young man. "Then why do you look at the elephant slowly?" asks the old man. The young man answers, "Because I never see an elephant before , and I want to know what it looks like." We know that the _ . Answer: young man is not a bad man Scientists suggest that, due to human activities, earth has lost waterways and about half of its original forest lands, endangering many animals and plants in their natural living spaces. However, human activity seems to benefit some living things, such as Answer: rats and roaches Over thousands of years, human beings have been learning about more and more about this world, and have figured out many ways to avoid risks and make our lives easier. Even in ancient times, we used fire to frighten away animals, built simple boats to cross waters, and armed ourselves with sharpening stones and sticks. Nowadays, with advanced technology and instrument, people know the world better than ever. It's surprising how much people already know about this world and how much we've changed our lives by using the knowledge we have. But if you think we know everything, that's wrong. I guess sometimes we have to accept the limitation on our understanding of the world. No matter how much we're already known about the world, there are things that remain mysterious. I learned this from my pregnancy which ended in the 6th month, due to a placental abruption . I started to see my OB/GYN every month, taking vitamins regularly, doing all the lab tests to make sure we were expecting a healthy baby. All the results looked promising, and we thought we would have a healthy baby girl in January next year. Even in the week before placental abruption, when I was in hospital because of a sudden bleeding, doctors didn't believe there were any bad possibilities after reading my blood tests. Unfortunately it still happened. Later, I asked my doctor "So what caused this?" She said, "I don't know. We probably will never know." After leaving the hospital, I sometimes do feel frustrated for what happened. But I already accept the fact that there are simply things that we do not know. No matter how well you plan and monitor your life there are uncertainties that can not be predicted and thus can not be avoided. _ Her name was Janet. She came to the world in April, and left us 6 months later. Though we never had the chance of meeting her, she is always our beloved daughter. In the late May 2013, during our first OB visit, we saw a little heart beating happily inside its mother. We couldn't even tell that was a baby, but we knew the magic was happening. The first three months was a disaster, Janet showed her power by making her mama throw up every day. Daddy became the cook of the family, and spent hours learning new dishes to please his picky wife. In the 12th week, we saw her again during an OB screening. When the doctor tried to measure her, she suddenly waved her hand to us, as if saying "I know you are spying on me again." Every regular OB check became our favorite experience, when we could hear her heart beating and knew she was enjoying herself. In the 18th week, one day when daddy was singing, she suddenly kicked her mama. We never felt so happy. Since then, she became more and more naughty, doing all sorts of exercise in her warm little house. We started to think about names, decorate her pink room, and shared the news with our friends. For young parents, there are always a lot to learn! Then it was the end of 25th week. A sudden bleeding terrified mama and daddy. After staying in the hospital for three days, things looked all right again, and Janet did not seem to be affected. However, the night after we went out of the hospital, a much worse contraction started which caused placental abruption. When we went back to the hospital, mama survived from an emergency operation, but Janet's heart was no longer beating. Janet, thank you for all the joy you brought to us. We love you and we will miss you forever. Rest in peace! The tone of the passage is _ . Answer: emotional
WASHINGTON--There are more than 222 million TVs in American homes. And it would make Frank Vespe very happy this week if every one was turned off. Vespe is head of the TV--Turnoff Network, the Washington organization behind TV Turnoff Week. For TV Turnoff week, American kids are encouraged to go one week without watching TV. This year it runs from April 23 to 29. "Our real meassage here is to see what lift is like without TV and then make watching TV a conscious decision,"said Vespe. Vespe said that most of the kids who go without television for a week go back to watching, but not as much."They watch more selectively. They do more things as a family. It helps them put TV in its place. One kid who is turning off her television is Sarah Foote, 9, of Virginia." Sarah admits it won't be too hard to give up TV. She's allowed to watch only educational television, and her favourite show from last year isn't on any more. Of course, there are plenty of good things about TV: programmes can be entertaining, even educational. Even so, some experts aren't sure TV Turnoff Week is the answer. "Too much TV is not good. A little bit of TV for young kids is good because it adds to their vocabulary. The bottom line is moderation ,"says Susan Neuman, a university educator who studies kids and reading. Neuman says the real problem is that parents do not keep track of what their kids are watching. They do not set limits on TV viewing. Also, in some families, TV might be the only thing there is to do. What message does Sarah have for other kids? "It's a very good idea. I survived a whole week without TV. It also teaches you to enjoy time doing different things and not being sucked into something on TV, because you do not want TV taking up all of your time,"Sarah said. The purpose of the TV--Turnoff Network is to_. Answer: People use their mouths for many things. They eat, talk, shout and sing. They smile and they kiss. In the English language, the word "mouth" has many meanings. But some of them are not so nice. For example, if you say bad things about a person, the person might protest and say "Do not bad mouth me." Sometimes, people say something to a friend or family member that they later regret because it hurts that person's feelings. Or they tell the person something they were not supposed to tell. The speaker might say, "I really put my foot in my mouth this time." In other words, he might feel sad for saying the wrong thing. Sometimes when one person is speaking, he says the same thing that his friend was going to say. When this happens, the friend might say, "You took the words right out of my mouth!" Some people have lots of money because they were born in a very rich family. There is an expression for this, too. You might say such a person "was born with a silver spoon in his mouth." This rich person is the opposite of a person who lives "from hand to mouth." This person is very poor and only has enough money for the most important things in life, like food. ,. The passage mainly tells us _ . Answer: A toy car rolls at a constant speed down a straight inclined track. When the car reaches the flat surface at the base of the inclined track, the speed of the car decreases. Which statement best explains why the speed of the car decreases when it reaches the flat surface? Answer: Here are some tips that may help you live a beautiful life. When you wake up in the morning, think about what you are going to do. No matter how you feel, get up and dress up. Take a thirty-minute walk every day. And when you walk, smile. Spend more time with old people over the age of seventy and young kids under the age of six. Smile and laugh more. And try to make at least three people smile each day. Life is very short, so don't wastetime hating others. Time _ almost everything. Give time time. Call your family and friends often. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what they are going through. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. Each night before you go to bed, say to yourself, "Today, I did ... I feel great." Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Try to "pass all your tests". The lessons you learn will last a lifetime . To live a beautiful life, what should we do? Answer: A job used to be the next step after a diploma. But now, young people aren't in any rush to start working. Less than 78 % of people aged 20 to 34 either have jobs or are looking for work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (USA). That's down from the peak of 83 % in 2000, and the lowest since the 1970s. The biggest thing keeping young people out of work is the weak economy. But there are other reasons as well -- what economists call "structural changes". Staying in school: Economists generally agree that, aside from the economy, extended education is the biggest reason why today's youth are shunning the job market. More people are going to college now -- 25 % more compared to 2000 -- and they're taking longer to finish. There are a few reasons why young people are spending more years at school. First, they're getting more advanced degrees. "We used to say that a high school degree wasn't sufficient to provide a middle class income," said Bill Rodgers, a professor and chief economist at Rutgers University's Heldrich Center for Workforce Development. "Now what we're saying no longer is a bachelor's degree. " Second, college is getting more expensive. Rodgers believes the increased financial burden of higher education is also causing people to take longer to finish, as they'll take fewer classes per semester or drop out for periods of time before scraping up enough money to enroll again. Staying home: Since 2000, married women between the ages of 25 and 34 have been leaving the labor force at a slightly higher rate than young people at large, according to BLS. There could be many reasons for that, but Rodgers thinks stagnant (not growing) wages and rising child care costs are two of them. "The recession has caused a lot of people to think what they want in their lives," said Rodgers. "They've decided they want to spend time with their kids. " Young people in America are spending more years at school because _ . Answer:
What is funny? The short answer is: Who knows? The joke that causes a burst of laughter from one listener might be met with a puzzled look from another. In general, you should avoid jokes at any business or social gathering where there are more than two people in your conversational group. If there are only two people -- and they consist of you and your best friend -- go ahead and tell it. Admittedly, a few people possess a perfect sense of timing, appropriateness, and joke delivery. You are probably not one of them. You might be quite funny and have many great jokes. But there's a place for jokes -- over dinner with family, hiking with friends, but business or social affairs with colleagues and acquaintances are not it. It takes a whole other level of joke-telling ability to put a joke into the more formal conversations. The best jokes come into the conversation so that by the time listeners realize a joke is in progress, the punchline that produces humour is being delivered -- to their surprise and delight. Jokes don't translate well when you're in a group with mixed backgrounds: those whose first language is not English, those who might not understand a special term or an "in" expression, young people who wouldn't catch a reference to some bit of culture familiar to older people -- and vice versa . Never joke about another person in the group -- about their name, habits, hometown, profession, appearance, or past. It's not a question of whether the joke is cheery or appropriate. No one enjoys being singled out this way. When you are the subject of the joke, the laughter doesn't feel good no matter how hard you try to tell yourself they're not laughing at you. Because that's what it feels like. What do you say if you realize your joke upset someone? Apologize as briefly and as sincerely as you can, and hope that someone changes the subject. Try saying: "I'm sorry. I should have known better" or "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." What do you do if people don't get your joke or don't appear to find it as funny as you do? First, do not retell it, only louder this time, hoping the point of the joke will be seen. Second, don't try to push people to get it. People do not like people whose jokes they don't understand. They feel stupid and need to blame someone. If you want to leave with the goodwill of your listeners, say something to make them feel less foolish. You could say: "I don't know why I tell jokes when I'm so poor at it." The world needs laughter, and good humour is a success wherever it goes, so this caveat about joke-telling is not meant to dampen high spirits or to advocate dull conversation. If you're a gifted story-teller and you know people love your jokes, go for it. We need your kind. The rest of us will save our jokes for family and close friends. When people do not understand a joke they hear, they tend to _ . A. believe it's the joke-teller's fault B. get someone to retell the joke C. ask for explanation D. say something foolish Answer: A. believe it's the joke-teller's fault Fifteen years ago, I entered the Boston Globe, which was a temple to me then. It wasn't easy getting hired. But once you were there, I found, you were in. Globe jobs were for life-guaranteed until retirement. For 15 years I had prospered there--moving from an ordinary reporter to senior editor. I would have a lifetime of security if I stuck with it. Instead, I had made a decision to leave. I entered my boss's office. Would he be angry? I wondered. He had a famous temper. "Matt, we have to have a talk," I began. "I came to the Globe when I was twenty-four. Now I' m forty. There' s a lot I want to do in life. I'm resigning. " "To another paper?" he asked. I reached into my coat pocket, but didn't say anything. I handed him a letter that explained everything. It said that I was leaving to start a new media company. We were at a rare turning point in history. I wanted to be directly engaged in the change. "I' m glad for you," he said, quite out of my expectation. "I just came from a board of directors meeting and it was seventy-five percent discouraging news. Some of that we can deal with. But much of it we can' t," he went on. "I wish you all the luck in the world," he concluded. "And if it doesn't work out, remember, there is always a place here for you." Then I went out of his office, walking through the newsroom for more good-byes. Everybody was saying congratulations. Everybody--even though I'd be risking all the financial security I had carefully built up. Later, I had a final talk with Bill Taylor, chairman and publisher of the Boston Globe. He had turned the Globe into a billion-dollar property. "I' m resigning, Bill," I said. He listened while I gave him the story. He wasn't looking angry either. After a pause, he said, "Golly, I wish I were in your shoes. " What did Bill Taylor mean by saying "I wish I were in your shoes."? A. The writer was to fail. B. He would do the same if possible. C. The writer was stupid D. He would refuse the writer's request Answer: B. He would do the same if possible. Where is the sun at noon A. straight above your head B. off 20 degrees to the southwest C. near the western horizon D. on the other side of the earth Answer: A. straight above your head Two more cases of H7N9 bird flu virus have been detected in Zhejiang province, including a man who died last week, authorities said on Wednesday. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that a 38-year-old patient surnamed Hong from Hangzhou, the provincial capital, who died in hospital on March 27, had the virus. Hong was infected on March 7 while working in neighboring Jiangsu province. He returned home on March 18, according to the Zhejiang health department. The other patient, surnamed Yang, is a 67-year-old man. He developed a cough and fever on March 25 and was admitted to hospital on Tuesday. None of the people who came into close contact with the patients have developed symptoms of the flu, the health department said. On Sunday, two men in Shanghai died from H7N9. A woman in Anhui province and four men in Jiangsu province remain in _ condition, which makes a large number of people scared to death. All patients had fevers and coughs in the early stages before developing pneumonia and breathing difficulties, China's health authorities said. Experts say genetic analysis shows that the H7N9 virus can be treated with Tamiflu, an antiviral drug that may slow the spread of influenza(,) in the body. Wang Xianjun, head of the Shandong provincial center of disease control, said H7N9 is sensitive to neuraminidase-inhibiting medicine such as Tamiflu, Qilu Evening News reported on Wednesday. There are no effective vaccines for H7N9 as yet, Wang said, but using Tamiflu may be effective in the early stages. From the whole passage we can learn that _ . A. two men in Shanghai and a woman in Zhejiang province died from H7N9. B. the H7N9 virus can be cured with an antiviral drug called Tamiflu. C. all the patients infected with H7N9 had fevers and coughs in the early stages. D. only one patient has died from H7N9 in Anhui. Answer: C. all the patients infected with H7N9 had fevers and coughs in the early stages. Living near the beach may come with an extra perk : better health. A new study analyzed information from more than 48 million people in England and found that the nearer they lived to the coast, the more likely people were to report good health within the past year. Living near the coast may be associated with better health because the seaside environment reduces stress, the researchers said. They pointed to another British study that found that people who took trips to the coast experienced more feelings of calmness and relaxation than those who visited urban parks or the countryside. The difference from living near the coast was relatively small. But a small effect, when applied to an entire population, can have a substantial impact on public health, said study researcher Ben Wheeler of Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry in Exeter, England. However, it's too soon to advise people to hit the beach to improve health, Wheeler said. The study only found an association, not a cause-effect link, and it's possible that other factors could explain the results. For instance, it could be that people who are wealthier, and therefore healthier, are more able to move to desired locations such as the coast, Wheeler said, a phenomenon known as the migrant effect. But the study did find that the association between coastal living and better health was strongest for those living in the poorest areas, which perhaps indicates that wealth cannot explain the results, Wheeler said. Because the study looked at only England--an island country in which everyone lives within 72 miles of the coast--it's not clear whether the findings would apply to other populations. Far from England, a health expert not involved in the study said that while the British research certainly doesn't prove that people's health and the place they live are linked, it's possible that _ to the seas does something for our bodies. If future studies confirm the results, the next step would be to find out it is what coastal environments that can benefit health. Wheeler said it may then be possible to bring those benefits to people living in other areas, through virtual environments, for instance. According to the researchers, living near the sea _ . A. doesn't nearly affect the British population B. can cure some difficult diseases in a way C. can help get over one's stress D. means freeing from sadness or troubles Answer: C. can help get over one's stress
Question: Tom and I are good friends. Tom is an English boy, but I am a Chinese girl. My name is Li Hua. He is 12 and I am 13. He is in Class One. I'm in Class One, too. Tom has a nice football. He can play it. I have a computer. I can play computer games, but I can't play football. It's difficult. Tom teaches me to play football, and I teach him to play computer games. Now I can play football and Tom can play computer games. Tom can play _ now with my help. A. football B. basketball C. computer games D. volleyball Answer: C Question: The Dixie Chicks used to be known as the biggest-selling female group in music history. Now they are known as one of the most disputed . In 2003, Natalie Maines, the lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, was in the news. During a concert in London, she criticized President Bush for his political actions. She spoke less than two weeks before the invasion of Iraq. The Chicks did not realize the effect of those words. They soon lost their fans. They even received death threats. The comment changed the direction of their lives, music, and beliefs. Now, their new album Taking the Long Way shows their new musical direction. It is about acting and thinking freely. Maines openly sings about criticizing the president. She says she learned about herself by expressing her beliefs. The album also represents the Chicks' new musical style. In the past, they only sang songs influenced by country music. They did not always write their own music. Now, they are adding some rock sounds to their song collection, and they wrote every song on the album. Taking the Long Way quickly became the top-selling album in the country when it was released at the end of May. But many country music radio stations will not play music by the Dixie Chicks. Many people in the country music industry now oppose the band for criticizing the president. However, the Dixie Chicks continue to stress the importance of standing firmly and bravely for what they believe in --no matter what people may think or say. Although the new album quickly became the top-selling album after being released, _ . A. the Dixie Chicks will never become the biggest-selling female group again B. it's not easy for the Dixie Chicks to get rid of the influence from country music C. there are many objections and negative attitudes toward the Dixie Chicks D. the Dixie Chicks can't get public acceptance of their musical style Answer: C Question: The man beside her looked familiar. She felt like she knew him. Then when he opened the book on his knees, she at once knew who he was. "Now, if anyone ever has a doubt regarding factorisation , just once, read page number thirteen in your textbook. There would be no more doubt." She smiled at the memory, remembering his patient, cool face. She recalled one by one, all the memories of her middle school Math teacher. He was a widower , always looking sad. He looked tailor-made for a librarian, silent as his books, or a romantic poet, but a mathematics teacher was the last guess anyone could make about him. Oh, how they used to make fun of him, play tricks on him and laugh behind his back! He never laughed but smiled politely at everybody. Sometimes he would make silly mistakes on the blackboard, and then apologize as he erased it out. He always gave in to the girls' demands of shortening his class. His correction was always careless and merciful , and the middle school girls relied on this fact to pass through the hardest of mathematics exam papers. But she didn't remember him for this. Long shiny hair and soulful big eyes. A tall, slim frame. His daughter. They had been best friends and always hung about together. She recalled eagerly all the fun they had in middle school, wild and carefree...until his daughter went down with pneumonia . She could never forget the suddenness and the meaninglessness of it, the feeling of emptiness. After that, he looked even sadder. But, life went on. Now, after almost 25 years, sitting beside him, with a dirty city bus aisle between them, she gathered her courage and said, "Mr. Rao? I'm an old student of yours. You taught me in middle school." He looked at her for a while. "I do not even seem to remember any student." She knew he was lying. "I am sorry about your daughter." There was a pause in their conversation, and it was filled with all kinds of noises. Then he spoke, looking away. "I do not need any sympathy. In fact, all my new students think I never had any kids." He had a smile, but his eyes were sad. "Where do you work now?" she asked. "Future Generation High School." She swallowed, in excitement. The school where her daughter studied. "Do you happen to know Jaya Kumari?" Something flashed across his face. Anyone else would consider the expression as recalling something. But she knew it was pain. Then his face was calm again. "No." His answer was short. "Well, she is my daughter." Her daughter was a topper, a gold medalist in the Math State Competitions. He was pretending. The bus stopped. She stood up and looked down at him. "I was your daughter's best friend. You must surely remember me..." "Excuse me," he said, looking nervous. "I do not want this conversation. Someday, you'll see that it is easier to bury the past." He said, and went back to his graph. "Her loss was hard on me too," she continued calmly. "I named my daughter after her." According to the passage, when the woman was in middle school, Mr. Rao was probably_. A. soft-hearted B. irresponsible C. indifferent D. strict Answer: A Question: Have you ever felt annoyed when left talking to yourself after your mobile phone battery runs out in the middle of a call? If yes, then here comes some good news. Scientists are now perfecting a way to recharge electrical equipment while on the move. Researchers from theprefix = st1 /Netherlands,FranceandPortugalannounced last week that they have developed very thin solar panels that can be put on clothes. They can also be added to furniture and rooftops. They change light from the sun into electricity. In about three years, you'll be able to wear a jacket that will recharge your phone as you walk. For camping fans, the development could lead to a tent which charges batteries all day so you can have light or music at night. The basic technology of wearable solar panels is the same as that used for traditional solar panels. Pairs of sheets of semi-conducting silicon are linked together to form the panel. But scientists made them much thinner by using different silicon. At one micrometre, they are of the same thickness as photographic film. "This technology will make it easier for people to use clean energy sources," said a physicist in theNetherlandswho led the team of scientists. But the thin panels are not as efficient as the thicker ones. While some solar panels now operate at an efficiency of about 20 per cent, the new flexible panels are only 7 per cent efficient. But the thinner panel is cheaper. An A4 sized panel put onto the back of a jacket cost less than US$13. It could charge a cellphone during a summer walk in the countryside. As long as you stay within range of the transmitting masts that relay a call to the networks, phones will never again run out of power. The thin panel has the following advantages EXCEPT that _ . A. it is flexible B. it is more efficient C. it is cheaper D. it uses clean energy Answer: B Question: In 1945, a 12-year-old boy saw something in a shop window that set his heart racing. But the price-five dollars-was far beyond Reuben Earle's means. Five dollars would buy almost a week's groceries for his family. Reuben couldn't ask his father for the money. Everything his father made through fishing went to her mother, Dora, who struggled to feed and clothe their five children. Nevertheless, he opened the shop's weathered door and went inside. Standing proud and straight in his flour-sack shirt and washed-out trousers, he told the shopkeeper what he wanted, adding ,"But I don't have the money right now. Can you please hold it for me for some time?" "I'll try,"the shopkeeper smiled."Folks around here don't usually have that kind of money to spend on things. It should keep for a while." Reuben respectfully touched his worn cap and walked out. He would raise the money and not tell anybody. On hearing the sound of hammering from a side street, Reuben suddenly had an idea. People built their own homes in Bay Roberts, using nails purchased in sacks from a local factory. Sometimes the used sacks were disposed of at the construction site, and Reuben knew he could sell them back to the factory for five cents a piece. That day he found two sacks, which he sold to the man in charge of packing nails. The boy's hand tightly clutched the five-cent pieces as he ran the two kilometers home. Near his house stood an ancient barn. Reuben found a rusty soda tin and dropped his coins inside. Then he climbed into it and hid the tin beneath a pile of hay. It was dinnertime when Reuben got home. His father was ready to serve dinner as Reuben took his place at the table. He looked at his mother and smiled. Slim and beautiful, she was the center of the home, the glue that held it together. Her chores were never-ending, but she was happy as her family and their well-being were her highest priority. Every day after chores and school, Reuben _ the town, collecting the nail sacks. Summer vacation came, and no student was more delighted than Reuben. Now he would have more time for his mission. All summer long, despite chores at home weeding and watering the garden, cutting wood and fetching water -- Reuben kept to his secret task. Then all too soon fall arrived, and the winds blew cold and gusty from the bay. Reuben wandered the streets, diligently searching for his treasures. Often he was cold, tired and hungry, but the thought of the object in the shop window sustained him. Sometimes his mother would ask:"Reuben, where were you? We were waiting for you to have dinner." "Playing, Mum. Sorry." Dora would look at his face and shake her head. Boys. Finally the time had come! He ran into the barn, climbed to the hayloft and uncovered the tin can. He poured the coins out and began to count. Then he counted again. He needed 20 cents more. Could there be any sacks left anywhere in town? He had to find out and sell them before the day ended. Reuben ran down Water Street. The shadows were lengthening when Reuben arrived at the factory. The sack buyer was about to lock up. "Mister! Please don't close up yet." The man turned and saw Reuben, dirty and sweat stained. "Come back tomorrow, boy." "Please, Mister. I have to sell the sacks now -- please."The man heard a tremor in Reuben's voice and could tell he was close to tears. "Why do you need this money so badly?" "It's a secret." The man took the sacks, reached into his pocket and put four coins in Reuben's hand. Reuben murmured a thank you and ran home. Then, clutching the tin can, he headed for the shop. "I have the money,"he solemnly told the owner. The man went to the window and retrieved Reuben's treasure. He wiped the dust off and gently wrapped it in brown paper. Then he placed the parcel in Reuben's hands. Racing home, Reuben burst through the front door. His mother was busy in the kitchen. "Here, Mum! Here!"Reuben exclaimed as he ran to her side. He placed a small box in her work-roughened hand. She unwrapped it carefully, to save the paper. A blue-velvet jewel box appeared. Dora lifted the lid, tears beginning to blur her vision. In gold lettering on a small, almond-shaped brooch was the word "Mother". It was Mother's Day, 1946. Dora had never received such a gift; she had no finery except her wedding ring. Speechless, she smiled radiantly and gathered her son into her arms. What message is conveyed through the story? A. Happiness comes from giving. B. Money can't buy everything. C. Where there is a will, there is a way. D. A mother understands what a child does not say. Answer: C
Question: We've talked about snails and their slow move. But much of the time snails don't move at all. They're in their shells ---sleeping . Hot sun will dry out a snail's body. So at the least sign of hot sun, a snail draws its body into its shell and closes the opening with a thin cover. Then it goes to sleep. A snail will die in a heavy rain. So whenever it rains, it goes inside its shell house and goes to sleep. A snail can sleep for as long as it needs to. It can take a short sleep. Or it can sleep for days at a time. And it spends all the winter months in its shell, asleep. In spring the snail wakes up. Its body, about three inches long, comes out of from the shell. When hungry, the snail looks for food. It can't see very well. Its eyes, at the ends of the top feelers are very weak. But its sense of smell is very strong. It helps the snail to the new greens. Then the snail's little mouth goes to work. A snail's mouth is no longer than the point of a pin . Yet it has 256,000 teeth! The teeth are so small that you can't see them. But they do their work.. If you put a snail in a hard paper box, it will eat its way out. And if a snail wears out its teeth, it will grow new ones. Mostly, a snail looks for food at night .But on cloudy days it eats in the daytime. It eats all day long. A snail can go on eating for hours and never feel full. Which of the following in not true? A. A snail doesn't like living under the sun. B. In winter the snail doesn't eat or move. C. The snail's teeth can't be worn out.. D. The snail's strong sense of smell helps to find things far away. Answer: C. The snail's teeth can't be worn out.. Question: TLike most big projects, learning to manage your mother well is what you should do. Here are what I believe the best steps towards a better relationship with her. They are not necessarily surprising or revolutionary, but they have worked for many people. Try them. Remember your mother's age. As children, we often do not think of our mother as having an age. Even when we become conscious of her as an individual, age does not change our view; she is still our mother. Knowing our mother's age, not just in numbers of years but in terms of her psychological and physical state, often helps us to understand her better. Listen to your mother. I have found that sometimes the things my mother told me long ago are remarkably useful. If your mother knows that you respect her point of view, even if you do not share it, it will help her feel close to you. Remember that your mother has a past. A key step in managing our relationship with our mother is to find out about her early life. Niclle's mother suffered much during the Second War World War. "My parents are both Jewish-Turkish. They met in France and married young for love. They were in their twenties when war broke out and because they were Jews, they had to go into hiding. She does speak to me about the war, and I think it is important to know what she went through. It is a part of her life that must have affected her deeply. " Sometimes, in learning about our mother's past, we know that it can encourage us to think about her whole life. Ask your mother about your childhood history. My grandparents died when I was young. If you are fortunate enough to have living family, think of your life as _ and ask as many questions as you can to put the picture together. Understanding your roots and your childhood can help you now more clearly who you are, as part of a family which you share with your mother. Keep a sense of humor about your mother. When we hear about someone else's misfortunes with their mothers and are amused by them, our laughter is one of recognition. I have often listened to stories of difficult mothers and I have also listened to the following piece of advice they have found most helpful is: "Don't have a sense of humor failure about your mother. " Remember that managing your mother is really about managing yourself. Taking any measure to managing our mother is the issue of how we manage ourselves. No matter how difficult we find her, it is important to remember that is not her behavior it self that is causing us discomfort, but the way we feel about her behavior. We should follow the way of her life. At the heart of managing your mother is being able to accept your flawed self. Only then are you able to accept your mother---with all her failings. The main purpose of writing the text is _ . A. to give information about how we think of your mother. B. to improve the relationship with your mother. C. to keep a sense of humor about your mother all day long. D. to accept your mother---with all her failings. Answer: B. to improve the relationship with your mother. Question: The ability to memorize things seems to be a vanishing technique.So what can we do to bring out brain cells back into action? A newly published book on memory, Moomvalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything, by American journalist Joshua Foer, makes a telling point, one that is an analysis of the importance of memorising events and stories in human history; the decline of its role in modem life; and the techniques that we need to adopt to restore the art of remembering. As For points out, we no longer need to remember telephone numbers.Our mobile phones do that for us.We don't recall addresses either.We send emails from computers that store electronic addresses.Nor do we bother to remember multiplication tables .Pocket calculators do the job of multiplying quite nicely.Museums, photographs, the digital media and books also act as storehouses for memories that once we had to keep in mind. As a result, we no longer remember long poems or folk stories by heart, feats of memory that were once the cornerstones of most people's lives.Indeed, society has changed so much that we no longer know what techniques we should employ to remember such lengthy works.We are, quite simply, forgetting how to remember. And let's face it, there is nothing sadder than someone who has lost their mobile phone and who finds they cannot even phone home or call their parents or partners because they cannot remember a single telephone number.That is a sad example of loss of personal independence.So, yes, there is a need for us to he able to remember certain things in life. Therefore, Foer's book outlines the methods that need to be mastered in order to promote our memories and regain the ability to recall long strings of names, numbers or faces.In the process, he adds, we will become more aware of the world about us. The trick, Foer says, is to adopt a process known as " elaborative encoding", which involves transforming information, such as a shopping list, into a series of "absorbing visual images".If you want to remember a list of household objects--potatoes, cottage cheese, sugar and other items, then _ them in an unforgettable manner, he says.Start by creating an image of a large jar of potatoes standing in the garden.Next to it, imagine a giant tub of cottage cheese--the size of an outdoor pool--and then picture Lady Gaga swimming in it.And so on.Each image should be as fantastic and memorable as possible. Using methods like this, it becomes possible to achieve great feats of memory quite easily, Foer says.It certainly seems to have worked for him: he won the annual US Memory Championships after learning how to memorize 120 random digits in five minutes; the first and last names of 156 strangers in 15 minutes; and a deck of cards in under two minutes."What I had really trained my brain to do, as much as to memorise, was to be more mindful and to pay attention to the world around," he says. These techniques employed by Foer to master his memory were developed by Ed Cooke--a British writer and a world memory championship grandmaster.He acted as Foer's trainer during preparations for the book and helped him achieve his championship performances." Memory techniques do just one thing: they make information more meaningful to the mind, making the things we try to learn unforgettably bright and amusing," said Cooke. Which of the following is conveyed in this article? A. People become more independent with modern equipment. B. The memory's role in life is declining in modem society. C. Memory techniques can make information less meaningful. D. Ed Cooke is the first one who benefited from Foer's techniques. Answer: B. The memory's role in life is declining in modem society. Question: Which of these processes can cause layers of rock to be arranged so that the youngest layers are found below older layers? A. melting and hardening B. cooling and heating C. deposition and cementing D. uplifting and faulting Answer: D. uplifting and faulting Question: The supermarket of the past is racing toward a high tech future. And clever marketers are starting with their youngest customers. Publix Supermarkets in the prefix = st1 /U.S.city of Atlanta,Georgiahave begun testing TV Karts for little kids. Moms can shop in peace while their kids ride along watching their favorite TV shows. Marketers say the TV Karts bring about income by keeping children entertained so parents can shop longer. If the TV screen is not enough to hold a child's attention, parents can drop them off at a play center at Wegman' s supermarket in Virginia. There is adult care so parents can scan the grocery aisles without having to rush. And there are high tech toys for grown - ups, too. This computerized tablet is called the "Shopping Buddy". The small computer keeps a running tab of every item in the shopping cart. Customers can e - mail their grocery list and the device will let them know if any of the items are on sale. It also shows the location of the products. Stop and shop marketing manager Mike Grimes says the device can even take a deli order from customers on the other side of the store and let them know when it's ready for pick up. "The shopping buddy has two primary benefits to shoppers. The first - saving money, extra savings. The other thing it saves is time." If you really want to save time, "Veggie Vision", a computerized scale and camera, identifies various fruits and vegetables and automatically prices them for you. And when it's time to pay, a finger may be all you need. It takes just a few seconds for a machine to identify your unique fingerprint and debit your account. Two thousand stores in the U.S. now have the "Pay by Touch" biometric technology. Customers sign up by providing a bank account number and a fingerprint. Some European stores are testing tiny radio transmitters on their goods. The wireless devices can tell if a product is nearing its expiration date or needs to be restocked. And someday, as an I. B. M. commercial shows us, those transmitters will mean you may not even need your fingerprint to make a purchase. In the "Pay by Touch" supermarkets,_. A. you can pay your list by touching the goods B. you can pay with your bank account number and fingerprint C. a radio transmitter will tell you the life period of the goods D. a special machine will recognize who you are and pay for you Answer: B. you can pay with your bank account number and fingerprint
Lina is a Chinese tennis star. She plays tennis well. She plays tennis every day. She has some tennis rackets and tennis balls. She has lots of healthy food. For breakfast, she has eggs and milk. She usually plays tennis for three hours in the moming. Then she has a big lunch-carrots, rice, fish and meat. After that she plays tennis for two hours in the afternoon.For dinner, she has chicken, apples and soup. After dinner, she watches tennis on TV for half hour. She has a busy life. She is _ A free B unhealthy C healthy . D boring Answer: C Mark felt that it was time for him to take part in his community activities, so he went to the neighborhood meeting after work. The city councilman was leading a discussion about the decreasing life quality. The neighborhood faced many problems. Mark looked at the charts taped to the walls. There are charts for crime, parking problems, and for problems in vacant buildings. People were supposed to suggest solutions to the councilman. It was too much for Mark. "The problems are too big," he thought. He turned to the man next to him and said, "I think this is a waste of my time. Nothing I could do would make a difference here." Mark thought some more on his way to the bus stop. "People should just take care of themselves," he decided. "That's enough to do. I can't take on all the problems of the world." As he neared the bus stop, Mark saw a woman carrying a grocery bag and a baby. She was trying to unlock her car, but she didn't have a free hand. As Mark got closer, her other child, a little boy, suddenly _ into the street. The woman tried to reach for him, but as she moved, her bag shifted and groceries started to fall out. Mark ran to take the boy's arm and led him back to his mother. Then he picked up the groceries while the woman smiled in relief. "Thanks!" she said. "You have got great timing!" "Just being neighborly," Mark said. As he rode home, he glanced at the walls of the bus. On one of them was "Small acts of kindness add up." Mark smiled and thought, " Maybe that's a good place to start." This passage mainly wants to tell us _ . A how each of us can help make a difference B how a neighborhood meeting can solve its problems C how citizens react to the problems they face D how problems are solved through group action Answer: C As the mobile phones so widely appear in our daily life, someone said it would be cool if you didn't have a mobile phone nowadays. It might be true to some extent, but as for an adult, a mobile means contact. It connects your work, relatives, friends, etc. It should do great deeds for us. Months ago, my uncle gave his dear son a phone, because my nephew's school is far from his home. He can only come back once a term, and the phones haven't been so expensive yet. However, someone has criticized the young people for playing on mobiles, but not using. They are fond of sending messages, taking pictures and so on. They buy expensive, high level and fashion types for showing. They play on the mobiles day in and day out ..... Holy cow! So, what happens to youngsters around you? Do they have a phone? What do they use it for? Do you think it's necessary for teenagers who are still in school to have a phone? POSTER 1: In my view, mobile phones are only a tool for communication purpose, just like any other tools which have the potential to be misused. In my opinion, I can see young people using it for security reason, emergency purpose, etc. If the parents can afford to pay big phone bills for their kids, well, that's their business, like the old saying goes, _ --- Mary Smith POSTER 2: From psychological point of view, teenagers are more likely to be relaxed or pleasure-oriented. They would like to make something different. Buying brands that are considered "COOL" is important to them. They want others to like and admire themselves, and sometimes, even exaggerate their own personality to show off. This can be seen as a kind of psychology during this certain range of age. --- Dick Gates Currently, people should tend to be more sociable, and age should not be seen as a barrier for teenagers to own their phones. They also need to set trends on the social circuit . But here parents should play an important role in controlling their children about how to use the phones more properly. What is Dick Gates' attitude towards whether teenagers should use mobile phones? A Supportive. B Objective. C Negative. D Uninterested. Answer: B This is an old story. One day, a man was not happy when his six-year-old daughter made a box with some paper. The family didn't have much money. So the father thought his daughter wasted the paper. The next day, the little girl gave the box to her father and said, "Dad, today is your birthday. This box is for you." The man was happy. But he was not happy again when he found there was nothing in the box. "Why didn't you put anything for me in the box?" He asked his daughter. The little girl looked at him and cried, "Dad, I put my love in the box. _ 's all for you!" The man felt sad and said sorry to his daughter. Sometimes, we can't see love with our eyes. Why was the father was not happy again when he opened the box? A Because he didn't like the box. B Because there was nothing in the box. C Because he thought his daughter wasted paper. D Because he didn't have money Answer: B If Catlin was the painter of the American Indians and Bierstadt the painter of the Rocky Mountains, the artist of the Western cowboys and settlers was Remington. Born in New York, the son of a wealthy publisher, Remington was a boxer and a football player at Yale University -- the last man would expect to become the artist of the Old West. But as a boy he loved horses and fed on the journals of some famous writers. At the age of nineteen, he left college to look for adventures. He traveled from Montana to Texas as a prospector . Remington had always been interested in journalism. Now he began to write about and to paint and draw what he saw. The subject of the "Winning of the West" attracted the East. Magazines and newspapers were filled with account of prospectors' adventures, and of battles with cattle thieves and other outlaws -- all the tales that were then news and have become legends since. There were also stories by many other writers. Often these were presented by drawings and paintings from Remington's hand, but it was as a successful journalist that Remington was a great artist. During his youth, Remington _ . A showed his gift as an artist B was influenced by his father C enjoyed sports and reading D learned journalism at Yale University Answer: C
There was a very friendly cow named Mary who loved to walk around the town and eat lots of grass. Mary loved grass so much, but she hated when she got a mouthful of weeds or dirt. One day when Mary was looking for some tasty grass, she spotted a pretty purple flower. Without thinking she ate the flower and got very sick. Mary walked home feeling very bad, and when she passed some green, orange, and red flowers, she didn't dare to eat them. When Mary got home her mom asked her why she was so sick. Mary could tell her mom, dad, and brothers Donny and Sam would be mad at her if she said she ate a flower so she lied. She told them that a bee stung her and she wasn't feeling good today. Then she lay down in her bed and took a long nap to feel better. What lie did Mary tell? A. She ate dirt B. She had to take a nap C. She ate weeds D. She was stung by a bee Answer: D. She was stung by a bee It was nearly dark. The sun was dropping down the mountains far away. Little Tom came back home with tears in his eyes. "What's the matter, Tom? How's your trip?" his mother asked with a big smile. "I failed. The mountain is so high and full of big or small stones on the way. I still go ahead. But I was tired and it was so late that I had to come back." Tom cried. "It doesn't matter. You are only 14 years old after all. You will have another chance ." his mother said. "But, standing at the top of the mountain is my dream!" Tom said. His father came over and asked, "Did you see the green trees on your way to the mountain?" "Sure, and there are a lot of beautiful flowers by the side of the road." Tom replied. "Did you hear the birds singing?" his father asked. "There are many kinds of birds singing in the trees, and the sound was very sweet." Tom said. "Did you feel the beauty of nature?" his father asked. "Yes, the blue sky, the white clouds, the green trees and the colorful flowers made a nice picture." Tom answered. "That's enough!" his father smiled and said, "Please remember, son. For often, achieving what you expect is not the most important thing. Although you didn't reach the top of the mountain, you got a lot on the way." It is true that not every goal will be achieved, not every job will end up with a success, and not every dream will come true. The most beautiful scenery is on the way. Tom's parents wanted Tom _ . A. to be friendly B. to be clever C. to be happy D. to be healthy Answer: C. to be happy U.S. first lady Michelle Obama arrived in Beijing on Thursday evening, the official Xinhua news agency said, beginning a hotly anticipated week-long trip during which she will promote education and cultural ties. Obama, a Harvard-educated lawyer, is expected to spend Friday with China's _ first lady, Peng Liyuan, who is admired at home as both a glamorous songstress and fashion icon. Besides Beijing, Obama will visit the western historic city of Xi'an and the southern city of Chengdu, where she will visit a panda preserve. Obama's two daughters are accompanying her, as well as her mother. She also plans to visit American and Chinese students to promote education and cultural exchanges, and visit historical landmarks like the Great Wall of China. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the visit would help deepen ties between the world's two largest economies. "We believe that this visit will play an important role in increasing mutual understanding between the two countries and expanding friendship." Hong told reporters ahead of Obama's arrival. News of Obama's arrival spread fast on Sina Weibo, where users speculated on what the trip would bring - as well as what Obama would wear and eat. "Two intellectual women playing the game of great power politics - how beautiful." wrote one user. According to the Foreign Ministry spokesman,which of the following is NOT true? A. The visit would help deepen ties between the world's two largest economies. B. The visit will play an important role in increasing mutual understanding between the two countries. C. The visit will promote education and cultural exchanges. D. The visit will expand mutual friendship between the two countries. Answer: C. The visit will promote education and cultural exchanges. Amy and Mark Blaubach were very excited about adopting a child from an orphanage . They thought they would adopt a baby girl. After waiting one and a half years, the social worker asked them to consider adopting a six-year-old boy named Jerry. After the adoption papers were signed, Amy asked if Jerry had a good friend at the orphanage. Jerry said his best friend was Zack. That was the first time that Amy heard about Zack. Then Jerry went to his new home with Amy and Mark, where he lived happily and adjusted very well. However, Jerry kept talking about his best friend that he had left behind at the orphanage. So Amy became determined to try and find out more about Zack. She came across a database specifically for families who had adopted children from the orphanage where she met Jerry. The database allowed parents to enter their child's name and his or her adoption information. As Amy looked through the database, she found what appeared to be a possible match of her son's best friend. After sending a new e-mails back and forth, Amy was sure to have the right Zack. He had adopted by Rae and Bruce Hostetler two weeks before. To her surprise, the two families were living in the same city. Then she decided to give these two friends a special reunion On a sunny Sunday, the two boys finally met each other again. When Jerry asked Zack, "Do you remember me?" Zack quickly answered, "Yes! Let's go and play!" That led to hours of laughter and play. Rae and Amy were excited to see how well their sons got along, and what an amazing bond they had. Thanks to both families, that special bond between Zack and Jerry can continue for the rest of their lives. After Jerry left the orphanage _ . A. he wasn't happy in his new home B. he couldn't adapt to his new environment C. he missed his friend very much D. he left guilty about leaving his friend behind Answer: C. he missed his friend very much The plan: turn Mars into a blue world with streams and green fields, and then fill it with creatures from the earth. This idea may sound like something from a science fiction , but it is actually being taken seriously by many researchers. This suggests the future for the "red planet" will be the main topic for discussion at an international conference hosted by NASA this week. Leading researchers as well as science fiction writers will attend the event. Turning Mars into a little earth has long been a topic in science fiction," said Dr Michael Meyer, NASA's senior scientist for astrobiology ."Now, with scientists exploring the reality, we can ask what are the real possibilities of changing Mars." Most scientists agree that Mars could be turned into a little earth, although much time and money would be needed to achieve this goal. But many experts are shocked by the idea. "We are destroying our own world at an unbelievable speed and now we are talking about ruining another planet," said Paul Murdin from the Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, UK. Over the past months, scientists have become increasingly confident .They will find Martian life forms. Europe and America's robot explorers have found proof that water, mixed with soil, exists in large amounts on the planet. What's Paul Murdin's attitude to the plan? A. He is for the idea. B. He is active in the idea. C. He is against the idea. D. He doesn't care about it. Answer: C. He is against the idea.
Today I find myself in one of the safest cities in the world, Singapore. But the truth is, even here in Singapore, security cannot be taken for granted. It is a small nation that has no natural resources to speak of, even something as basic as water is constantly threatened to be cut off by Malaysia. Months after the September 11thattacks on US oil, a plot to bomb American soldiers near their military base in Singapore was uncovered by the local authorities. The United Nations has tried for more than half a century to architect peace for the world. But it has clearly failed. The grand horrors of the World Wars may have stopped but only in the forms they had existed before. When the enemy is unseen and there are no front lines, have we in fact created a more peaceful and secure place? Where have we gone wrong? Perhaps it is because the international body has never understood that peace was, is, and will never be something it can manage. Not recognizing this truth, the methods it provides are often short-lived and some even dangerous. Solutions for threatening situations tend to require the countries to carry out economic and political reforms so that they will become idealized democratic society like America or Britain. The UN fails to consider that hundreds of years of evolution gave rise to these strong democracies. So the result is further chaos and corruption, worse for all. Actually, an international organization or a government cannot possess peace to give away, but there are those who do possess it. Those who own peace are us, as individuals who cherish life, not our own but all others'. The act of achieving peace lies in us when we choose to respect social and cultural differences and appreciate that all our lives are fragile. The purpose of the passage is to show us _ . human beings can achieve peace by cherishing and respecting others The United States does not require business to pay workers who are sick or caring for a new baby. President Obama and some other U.S. lawmakers want to change time-off policies. Supporters say paid leave is the right thing to do. Opponents say it will kill economic growth. In 2014, the United Nations reported that Papua New Guinea and the U.S. are the only two -- out of 185 -- countries in the world that do not offer workers paid time off to care for newborns. However, several state governments and some private businesses in the U.S. have provided the benefits for their workers. Not every American agrees that requiring businesses to pay workers for leave is a good idea. Tricia Baldwin is a business woman. She is secretary and treasurer for her family's company. Her company employs 400 workers. She says giving all of them paid leave would ruin her company. Instead, Reliable Contracting gives paid leave to employees who have stayed with the company for at least five years. She says paid leave is simply another government order that adds more costs to doing business. President Obama supports paid leave for workers. Recently, he proposed a measure called the Healthy Family Act. It would allow workers to earn up to seven paid days of sick leave a year to care for themselves or family members. Mr. Obama also wants Congress to approve a measure giving all workers six weeks of paid leave to have and care for a new baby. U.S. lawmakers who support the proposed measure say paid leave is good for the families and for businesses. Representative Don Beyer says paid leave is an encouragement to parents to return to the job. Mr. Beyer says training a new employee can cost a company a year's worth of income. But U.S. lawmakers who oppose the bill say they do not want to restrict businesses by requiring them to provide paid leave. They are offering a different measure. The Working Families Flexibility Act would allow employees to work extra hours and earn either time off or more pay. Tricia Baldwin opposes paid leave because it will _ . add more costs to doing business October 15th2008 is the first Global Handwashing Day, whose goal is to create a culture of hand washing with soap. Activities are planned in more than twenty countries to get millions of people in the developing world to wash their hands with soap. 150,000 bars of soap were given to schools in prefix = st1 /Ethiopia, where the Education Ministry asked 1,000,000 schoolchildren to wash their hands for _ . Experts say people around the world wash their hands but very few use soap at critical moments such as after using the toilet, after cleaning a baby and before touching food. The organizers say all soaps are equally effective at removing disease-causing germs . They say the correct way to wash is to wet your hands with a small amount of water and cover them with soap. Rub it into all areas, including under the fingernails. Rub for at least 20 seconds. Then, wash your hands well under running water. Finally, dry your hands with a clean cloth or wave them in the air. They say soap is important because it increases the time that people spend washing. Soap also helps to break up the grease and dirt that hold most of the germs. And it usually leaves a pleasant smell, which encourages people to wash again. They say washing with soap before eating and after using the toilet could save more lives than any vaccine or medicine. It could help reduce cases of diarrhea by almost half. And it could reduce deaths from pneumonia and other breathing infections by one-fourth. Diarrhea is the second leading cause of child deaths, killing more than 1,500,000 children a year. Pneumonia is the leading cause, killing about 2,000,000 children under five each year. Hand washing can also prevent the spread of other diseases. When people get germs on their hands, they can infect themselves by touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Then they can infect others. Which of the following situation doesn't belong to a critical moment? While washing the dishes Miss Wang is a young teacher of English in a middle school in Chongqing. She loves teaching very much. One day when she was giving an English lesson, she found Mr. Li, the headmaster, sitting at the back of the classroom. After class, Mr. Li told her that he came to her class to find out how much English and Chinese she was using in class. The result was about half English and half Chinese. She was using Chinese when she gave instructions and explained some grammar rules to her students. Mr. Li suggested that she should use English as much as she could in class. So Miss Wang made the following plans: Join an English club and practice speaking English. Learn more English teaching expressions by heart. Have a five-minute talk with students in English before class. She used body language to make herself understood if students could not follow. One year later, she found she could speak English _ in class. ,. Mr. Li came to Miss Wang's class to _ . find out how much English and Chinese Miss Wang was using in class Beijing's historic hutong are in danger of disappearing. That's the warning from residents and historians, who have called on authorities to do more to protect this unique part of the capital's culture. In 2000, Beijing still had 1,300 hutong, according to amateur historian Zhang Wei. But he estimates that since then, at least half of them have disappeared. According to regulations, people can report illegal buildings to urban patrol officers, known as chengguan, and buildings found to be illegal will be demolished by force. However, a China Daily reporter found that it was not an easy task, and lots of additional structures built by their owners were found in hutong. Many owners added a second floor or even more floors to their houses, especially in buildings near main streets, in order to rent more apartments and make more money. Zhang, the historian, said that to better protect the hutong, the government should offer more compensation to residents willing to move away. Guo Dazhi, a photojournalist in Beijing, lived in a hutong for nearly 30 years before moving to eastern Chaoyang district. Guo hopes that the government can solve the problem by moving residents out of hutong with policies such as public renting programs. However, the Beijing Commission of Urban Planning said in a report in July that the relocation of residents from old areas was very expensive.According to the report, allocating 10,000 residents costs 1.5 billion yuan . How many hutong exist up till now? 600
WASHINGTON The head of the World Bank says for the first time in human history, it is possible to end poverty around the world. Jim Yong Kim told a Washington audience Tuesday, he wants to make ending world poverty by 2030 a top goal for the bank and governments around the world. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim says that the problems of poverty, hunger and inequality are wide, urgent and a matter of survival of millions. "We know that despite the great successes of the last decade, there are still about 1.3 billion people living in extreme poverty, 870 million who go hungry every day, and 6.9 million children under five dying every year," he said. But Kim told a Washington audience that the previous successful efforts to cut the number of people living in extreme poverty by half give them hope. "We are at an moment in history, when the successes of past decades and an increasingly favourable economic outlook combine to give developing countries a chance-for the first time ever-to end extreme poverty within a generation," he said in a speech at Georgetown University. "Our duty now must be to ensure that these favourable circumstances are matched with deliberate decisions to realize this historic opportunity." Kim says success will require increasing the speed of economic growth, particularly in South Africa and South Asia. But he warned that civil unrest could happen if economic growth does not help people at all income levels, and also include women and youth. Kim says that the World Bank and other development agencies will have more resources to get this job done right. "Meeting this 2030 goal will take extraordinary effort," he said. However, Kim warned that all the progress in fighting poverty could be destroyed by climate disasters unless the nations of the world do more to prevent climate change. Which of the following gives Jim Yong Kim the hope to end world poverty? Answer: A decreasing number of people are living in poverty. Charlie Chaplin was one of the greatest and most widely loved silent movie stars. From Easy Street (1917) to Modern Times (1936), he made many of the funniest and most popular films of his time. He is best known for his character "the little tramp ". It is this kind-hearted character that we connect with the time of silent movies. Born in London in 1889, Chaplin first visited America with a theater company in 1907. Appearing as Billy in the play Sherlock Holmes, the young Chaplin toured the country twice. On his second tour, he met Mack Sennett and was signed to Keystone Studios to act in films. In 1914, Chaplin made his first short film, Making a Living. That same year, he made thirty-four more short films. These early silent shorts allowed very little time for anything but physical comedy, and Chaplin was extremely good at it. Chaplin was known as one of the most demanding men in Hollywood. No matter how big or tiny the size of the part, Chaplin walked each actor through every scene. Chaplin knew that a successful scene wasn't simply about the star, but about everyone on the screen. He required that all the actors and actresses work together in every performance. The only way to achieve it was to keep complete control over every scene. As he became more popular, he used more and more creative and difficult filming techniques. Movies such as his 1925 hit, The Gold Rush, required endless reworking of scenes and rebuilding of sets. Though Chaplin is of the silent movie era, his achievements were carried over into the films of today. His strictness and concern for the processes of acting and directing made his films great and led the way to a new and more wonderful cinema. Chaplin's working life in entertainment lasted over 75 years, from the Victorian stage and the music hall in the United Kingdom as a child performer, until close to his death at the age of 88. According to the author, Charlie Chaplin _ . Answer: had a great influence on modern films Which best describes sexual reproduction in all animals? Answer: Egg and sperm join together. Many students in China are learning English. Some of these students are small children. Others are teenagers . Many are adults . Some study at school, others learn by themselves. A few learn English language over the radio, on TV, or in the films. One must work hard to learn another language. Why do all these people want to learn English? It is difficult to answer that question. Many boys and girls learn English at school because it is one of their subjects. They study _ and maths and English. Some people learn English because it is useful for their work. Many people often learn English for their higher studies, because at college or university some of their books are in English. Other people learn English because they want to read newspapers and magazines in English. Which of the following is true? Answer: Different people have different reasons for learning English. Another cultural aspect of nonverbal communication is one that you might not think about: space. Every person perceives himself to have a sort of invisible shield surrounding his physical body. When someone comes too close, he feels uncomfortable. When he bumps onto someone, he feels obligated to apologize. But the size of a person's "comfort zone" depends on his cultural ethnic origin. For example, in casual conversation, many Americans stand about four feet apart. In other words, they like to keep each other "at arm's length", people in Latin or Arab cultures, in contrast, stand very close to each other, and touch each other often. If someone from one of those cultures stands too close to an American while in conversation, the American may feel uncomfortable and back away. When Americans are talking, they expect others to respond to what they are saying. To Americans, polite conversationalists empathize by displaying expressions of excitement or disgust, shock or sadness. People with a "poker face", whose emotions are hidden by a deadpan expression, are looked upon with suspicion. Americans also indicate their attentiveness in a conversation by raising their eyebrows, nodding, smiling politely and maintaining good eye contact. Whereas some cultures view direct eye contact as impolite or threatening, Americans see it as a sign of genuineness and honesty. If a person doesn't look you in the eye, American might say, you should question his motives--or assume that he doesn't like you. Yet with all the concern for eye contact, Americans still consider staring--especially at strangers--to be rude. How far people keep to each other while talking is closely associated with their _ . Answer: culture
In a cold winter, a couple had to move out of their big house because fo bankruptcy . The husband worked day and night but with no care of his wife. SO she thought, " He doesn't love me any more , he just thinks about his work." One day, she wanted to take a shower , but her husband stopped her at the door. "Let me take it first, Ok?" "Why not let me take it first?" she asked. "I'm tired, dear. You take it later, OK?" She was very sad. On a rainy day, she found nothing to do and turned on his computer. After a few minutes, her eyes were full of tears....It was his diary: Today I was quite sad. She asked me why I was always taking the shower first, and I said I was tired. She was unhappy. I wasn't as rich as before! We moved to the small house and it was very cold. I found that if one person took the shower first, the bathroom could get a little warmer. So I always rushed to the bathroom first. When she took the shower, the bathroom could get warmer, at least 1degC. i can't give her more, but at least I can give her 1degC love. The woman thought her husband didn't love her because _ . Answer: he always worked with no care of her Newspapers are an important source of information. Many people begin their days by reading the paper. In this way they learn what is going on in the world. Sometimes,however,they don't have the time to read the news carefully and must be satisfied with a quick look at the front page,at other times they may be in such a hurry that they have time only to _ at the headlines. There are newspapers to satisfy every reader. In big cities there are many types with several different editions every day. In small towns there are few newspapers and perhaps only one edition each day. In some areas the paper is printed weekly. Most papers have several editions,especially on Sundays when the editions are larger than usual. There are,besides the front page with the most important news,the sports news,the society page,the amusement section,a business page and so on. People read newspapers to _ . Answer: get some information Although hurricane season doesn't begin until June 1, a Pacific storm has already struck. El Salvador, which was ruined by a Caribbean storm in 1995, was hit by Hurricane Adrian on Friday. This is the first Pacific-born hurricane to ever reach land in this Central American country. Some 14,000 people left from the western coast of El Salvador. The storm weakened as it crossed land, heading east. Heavy rains created deadly flooding problems in the hurricane' s wake. Adrian is the first Pacific storm of the season. It reported maximum continuous winds of 75 miles per hour, the minimum strength of a hurricane. A Category 3 hurricane, Adrian also caused damage and flooding in Honduras. It is expected to break up before reaching the Caribbean Sea on the eastern coast of Central America. Hurricane season typically begins June 1 and lasts through November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted seven to nine hurricanes for the 2005 season. "It is difficult to make any kind of an exact prediction of how many of these will strike land," NOAA administrator Conrad Lautenbacher said. He predicts two to three hurricanes will strike the U.S. this season. Last year, six of nine hurricanes reached Category 3 strength or higher. Four of those hit Florida within a six-week period. Altogether, Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne caused more than $40 billion in damage in the Sunshine State. This year' s forecast is based on ocean temperatures. Warmer temperatures produce more tropical storms, which can then turn into hurricanes. "The issue, really, this year is the unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic," said Frank Lepore of the National Hurricane Center. The passage implies that _ . Answer: hurricane season comes early this year What is pulling your finger over a guitar string an example of? Answer: making music with an instrument The newspaper seller was a clean, neat man, of about forty with a rather serious, unsmiling face. He didn't speak much to the customers or to his helpers, but when he did he spoke slowly and quietly, as if to himself. He believed in efficiency, not conversation. And this was how the office workers, rushing to catch their trains, preferred it. It had been a good day. Lunch-time had been warm and sunny, and many people had bought magazines to read outside with their sandwiches. Now it was cold and rainy, and people wanted an evening paper for a cheerless journey ahead and a dull evening indoors. At 6:30, with the main rush over, he started to collect the money together and count it. Then he left the stand and went home. It was the assistant's turn this evening to look after it till eight o'clock, when it would be packed away for the night. His large white Mercedes was in the private car park of a large prefix = st1 /GovernmentBuilding. He'd parked there for six months, pretending to be part of a heating firm working in the building. They would find out about him soon, and he'd have to park in a garage again, which was annoying. Their charges were far too high. A couple of junior clerks, regular customers, happened to see him getting into his car. "Must be a lot of money in papers, eh?" one of them shouted. He just smiled coldly in reply, and got into the car, placing the bags of money on the floor. He thought about the clerks on the way home. Like the majority of his customers, despite their white shirts and dark suits, they probably made in a week as much as he could make in a good day. The assistant's job that evening was to_. Answer: sell papers until 8 o'clock
According to the Periodic Table of the Elements, mercury (Hg) is different from other metals because mercury is A. solid at room temperature. B. liquid at room temperature. C. lighter than all other metals. D. heavier than all other metals. Answer: B One Tuesday, we got up, had breakfast and got ready for school. We picked up our school bags and went to school. I opened my school bag to get my homework after I went into the classroom and sat down. My school homework needed to be handed in. But it was not there! I remembered I had put it in my school bag. I thought back to Monday afternoon. I finished my school homework, put it in my school bag, and went out to play softball with the neighbor kids. My sister Sara was not out playing as usual. She read a book inside the house. She must have taken my homework while I was playing softball outside as no kids came inside our house on Monday. After school I ran to the place where my sister and I usually meet. There was Sara. She didn't seem to be laughing at me. She is good at giving false information. "Sara, what have you done with my homework?" I asked. She said she hadn't seen it! "What should I do?" I thought. I waited for a chance to talk to Mom. In Mom ' s room, I cried and shouted: I couldn't help shaking. I told her about my missing school homework. Hearing this, Mom left the room, went into the kitchen hurriedly and started looking in the trash. She pulled my school homework out of the trash! Mom said, "I' m sorry, Teri. I saw that your school bag was too heavy, so I cleaned it out for you. Your homework didn't look any different from the waste paper which I threw away." I realized that I had misunderstood my sister. I apologized to her. And I learnt a good lesson from this experience. What did the writer most probably learn from the experience' A. Apology is very important in our life. B. It feels terrible to be wronged by others. C. It 's wrong to doubt others without facts. D. It is unlucky to have poorly-educated parents. Answer: C People often say that money talks. They mean that a person with a lot of money can say how he or she wants things done. But it is not easy to earn enough money to gain this kind of power. Ask anyone in business. They will tell you that it is a jungle out there. The expression probably began because a jungle is filled with wild animals and unknown dangers that threaten people. People in business have to be careful if they are to survive the jungle out there. They must not be led into making bogus investments. Bogus means something that is not real. Nobody is sure how the word got started. But it began to appear in American newspapers in the 1800s. A newspaper in Boston, Massachusetts, said the word came from a criminal whose name was Borghese. Borghese wrote checks to people although he did not have enough money in the bank. After he wrote the checks, he would disappear. So, people who were paid with his checks received nothing. The newspaper said Americans shortened and changed the criminal's name Borghese to Bogus. People trying to earn money must be also aware of the risk of being ripped off. A writer for a magazine said he first saw the expression used in 1971. It was on a sign that a student carried during a protest demonstration at a university. The message on the sign was that the student felt cheated. To be successful, a person in business works hard and tries to get down to brass tacks. This expression means to get to the bottom or the most important part of something. For example, a salesman may talk about his product without saying the price. You get down to brass tacks when you say, "it sounds good, but how much does it cost?" Word expert Charles Funk thinks the expression comes from sailors on ships. They clean the bottom of a boat. When they have removed all the dirt, they are down to the copper pieces that hold the ship together. So, if we get down to brass tacks, we can prevent rip-offs and bogus ways of earning money in that jungle out there. And, some good luck will help, too. When you ask how much it cost, it means _ . A. you declare you won't be cheated B. you get down to the real issues C. you care nothing about the quality D. you are always caring about money Answer: B For my grandmother's 70th birthday, my family and I visited South Korea. While there, I was attentive to Korean high schools and students. I was surprised by how different Korea's public high schools are from America's. Korean high schools can be all-girls, all-boys or co-ed unlike our standard co-ed high schools. There are three grades: "go 1" (10th), "go 2" (11th) and "go 3" (12th). ''Go" is the first syllable of the word "go-deung-hakkyo", which, simply translated, is "high school". In America, unless you want to go to a private school, you don't have to take an entrance exam. In Korea, however, students must take a test to get in because of the many choices of schools. Another difference I couldn't help but notice was the students' appearance. With very few exceptions, all wear uniforms. A name tag with the student's name, grade and homeroom number must also be worn. Girl's skirts can't be above the upper part of the knee, and it is forbidden to dye your hair or wear accessories except small earrings. There are strict regulations for appearance to achieve neatness, and it seems the only freedom students have is with their choices of hair style, socks and shoes. The final difference was the _ of the classes. There may be 40 students in a classroom, but the number can be less or even more, depending on the population of the town or city. Although there are many students per classroom, they are very close, which I think is a result of not changing classrooms for different subjects. There are no levels in the subjects and the teachers are the ones who switch classrooms. They just have ten-minute breaks between subjects. In each class, students are ranked by their grades. This causes strict competition, and Korean students do a lot of studying. To help them, all schools have extra study classes after school. One other fact that helped me appreciate living in America is that Koreans have school on Saturdays. Although it's only a half day, I think I speak for most Americans when I say we could never imagine ourselves in school on a Saturday. Korea's public high schools are clearly different from America's. I had imagined them to be just like our schools, but now I have a clear picture of how different they are. According to the rules, the students of Korea can _ . A. go to different high schools without exams B. wear any clothes except uniforms at school C. attend different classes as they like D. have different hair styles Answer: D My daughter and I collected the empty cans and bottles in our home this morning.We had 6 full garbage bags later so I knew we would be spending a bit more of time at the recycling center.When we got there,a man and his kids were also doing the morning recycling and were using two of the four machines to recycle their plastic and cans.Luckily,we were able to use the 2 remaining machines. Of course,there were others that came,but when they saw the two families with garbage bags full of recycled things,they quickly left.However,one woman came in with just 5 cans and looked as if she was in a hurry.So I stopped what I was doing and let her in to recycle her cans.Of course,she was grateful,and it felt good to let her go ahead of me.But that was not the whole story. My daughter and I continued to work through the bags,but the plastic recycling machine stopped working because it was full.My daughter was left with nothing to do.The other family was still using the other two plastic recycling machines,but it seemed that they were almost done.I just told my daughter we would have to wait until they were done.But the man of the other family came through with another act of kindness.He offered to let us go ahead of him.I was really surprised,because we had more than 5 bottles,but he didn't seem to mind.I happily accepted _ It was great to give and then to get an act of kindness in turn.It was small,I didn't expect it,but it surely brightened up my day. Which of the following best describes the topic of this passage? A. A good name is sooner lost than won. B. A little is better than none. C. All men cannot be first. D. One good turn deserves another. Answer: D
It's the end of class. When the bell rings, students of Luohu Foreign Languages School in Shenzhen quickly take out their cell-phones. They want to log on to their microblogs to check the funny things that have happened in the last hour. Since last year, the trend of microblogging has swept the country. Recent surveys show that most students in middle schools have a microblog, and some even update their blogs over five times per day. "We learn many fresh and interesting things on microblogs and they have become popular topics in class," said Liang Jianmin, 14, a student at Harbin No 3 Middle School. "If you do not know about them, you are out of the loop ." It is also a great place for students to _ stress. "My parents always ask me to study hard, and encourage me before exams, but actually it adds pressure ," said Zhang Yazhe, 15, a student in Luohu Foreign Languages School. "When I share these feelings on my microblog, I get many replies from friends in the same situation, which makes me feel better." But parents are worried that microblogging could be a waste of time. Some misleading messages may even cause danger to kids, they said. Shen Mingde, a professor at the China Education Association, suggests parents not worry too much as long as kids are not crazy about microblogging. Instead, it can become a window for parents to understand their children. "If parents can read their children's microblogs, they'll know their thoughts, thus leading to better communication and solutions to problems," he said. Micro blogging tips for kids 1. Don't microblog for more than one hour a day. 2. Never microblog in class. 3. Try to talk face to face with people instead of just microblogging. 4. Be critical . Don't trust all the messages on a microblog. Liang Jianmin thinks people are out of the loop if they do not know _ . A. the popular topics in class B. the popular songs in class C. fresh and interesting things on the Internet D. many fresh and interesting things on TV Answer: C I really love my job because I enjoy working with small children and like the challenges and awards from the job. I also think my work is important. I wasn't an excellent student because I didn't do much schoolwork. In my final term I started thinking what I might do and found I didn't have much to offer. I then found myself a job, looking after two little girls. It wasn't too bad at first. But the problems began when I agreed to live in. I would be there if my boss had to go out for business in the evening. We agreed that if I had to work extra hours one week, she'd give me time off the next. But unluckily, it didn't often work out. I was getting very tired. Because I had too many late nights and early mornings with the children. One Sunday, I was in the park with the children, and met Megan who used to go to school with me. I told her about my situation. She suggested that I should do a course and get a qualification if I wanted to work with children. I didn't think I would be accepted because I didn't take many exams in school. She asked me to phone the local college and they were really helpful. My experience counted for a lot and I got on a part-time course. I had to leave my job with the family, and got work helping out at a kindergarten. Now I've got a full-time job there. I shall always be thankful to Megan. I wish I had known earlier that I could have a success, even if I am not top of the class at school. What do you think of the writer when she was a student? A. An excellent student B. A hardworking student C. A bad student D. A lazy student Answer: D What do you think of a forest, what do you see? Just trees? Or do you see many other things, such as singing birds, colorful plants and wild flowers? The forest is a whole of its own. It is full of many different living things. But even though they are all different, they have one thing in common: they all need each other in order to live on. The trees feed the forest "people" by making food in their leaves; by using sunlight to join water and minerals from the soil and air. Their deep network of roots joins the soil together and stops it from dying out, making it possible for living things to live in it. Human beings are like the living things in the forest. We need one another in order to live. We need the farmers to grow our food, railroad and truck drivers to bring it to our shops and clerks to sell it to us. We need people to prepare our food and cook it and others to take our waste things away. Then, of course, we need doctors, nurses, government leaders, mailmen, telephone operators, and many others. We also need other human beings in another way. We need people for friendship, to talk over our problems, exchange ideas. Think how lonely and unhappy you would be if you lived all alone. Life is a matter of giving and taking. We need to help other people as much as we need other people to help us. Think what a good feeling you have when you have done something for someone else. You know, being a volunteer is so great! The writer mainly wants to tell us _ . A. we need people for friendship B. the forest is a whole world of its own C. we need one another in order to live on D. the forest is full of different living things Answer: C Eddie liked music very much when he was at school, but when he went to the university he decided to study medicine instead of music. When he passed his examinations and became a doctor, he had to work in a hospital for some time. There he discovered that a lot of patients were happier and caused less trouble if pleasant music was played to them When Eddie got an office and began to work for himself, he decided to keep his patients happy by having a tape recorder in his waiting-room play beautiful music for them. But soon after the tape recorder had been put in, Eddie's nurse heard a woman, who was sitting in the crowded waiting-room one morning, complained, "Here we're all waiting to see the doctor, and he's just playing the violin in his office instead of doing his work." Eddie became a student of medicine at university _ . A. because he had lost interest in music B. because he thought medicine was more important than music C. to find out new use of music in hospital D. for reasons unknown from this passage Answer: D Have you ever wanted to travel back in time? What about traveling into the future? There's an easy way to do it. One way you can make a time travel journey is by writing a letter to your future self to be opened in the future. To your future self, the letter will be a visit from the past. What can be gained by writing a letter to yourself? Depends on how good your letter is. You have the chance to say something to your future self. What would you want to say? You'll be able to talk to yourself 5,10,15 years down the road. There may be instructions for your future self, or you may have goals that you will want to reach. There are a lot of things you could include in your letter or letters to yourself. The more you include, the better the letter will be to you. Be creative with what you put in your letter. Include a picture of yourself or family to show the period from which the letter came. You can store your letter in many different ways. You can give your letter to a friend or family member to keep and mail to you. If you can get others to take part, have them write letters to themselves as well and ask someone to be the letter holder until it's time to send the letters. You can also use a service online to store your letter and e-mail it to you. Ready to write to yourself two and a half years down the road? Why do you put a picture in your letter? A. To check up on your goals. B. To share your feelings with your family. C. To show the time when the letter was written. D. To find out your thoughts and feelings now. Answer: C
A shark is hunting prey, and the prey is an underwater creature with eight arms. The prey escapes by A flying away B releasing dark fluid C crying loudly D being friendly Answer: B. releasing dark fluid It was hot during Christmas in A new york B ayers rock C seattle D denver Answer: B. ayers rock Either out of confusion or discomfort we sometimes express our feelings in an unclear way. One key to making your feelings clear is to realize that you most often can shorten them in a few words: hurt, glad, confused, excited, angry, and so on. In the same way, with a little thought you can probably describe very briefly any reasons you have for feeling a certain way. In addition to avoiding too long expressions, a second way to prevent confusion is to avoid _ your feelings by saying "I'm a little unhappy" or "I'm pretty excited". Of course, not all feelings are strong ones. We do feel degrees of sadness and joy, for example, but some communicators have a tendency to downplay almost every feeling. Do you? A third danger to avoid is expressing feelings in an indirect or coded manner. This happened most often when the sender is uncomfortable about showing his or her feeling in question. Some codes are verbal ones, as when the sender hints more or less subtly at the message. For example, an indirect way to say "I'm feeling lonely" might be "I guess there isn't much happening this weekend, so if you're not busy, why don't you drop by?" Such a message is so indirect that chances are small that your real feeling will be recognized. For this reason, people who send coded messages stand less of a chance of having their feeling understood and their need met. Finally, you can express yourself clearly by making sure that both you and your partner understand that your feeling is centered in a specific set of environments rather than being indicative of the whole relationship. Instead of saying "I hate you", say "I hate you when you don't keep your promises"'. Rather than "I'm bored with you", say "I'm bored when you talk about your money." According to the writer, "I'm bored with you" is an expression _ . A that strengthens our feelings B that downplays our feelings, C that will make our listener confused D that is made in a coded manner Answer: C. that will make our listener confused A blocked airway can kill someone in three to four minutes, but it can take more than eight minutes for an ambulance to arrive. So a simple procedure such as opening someone's airway can save their life while they're waiting for emergency medical help. This means you're more likely to give first aid to someone you know than a stranger. There are many misconceptions surrounding first aid. Below are the 'most popular' ones with details of what you should do. You should put butter or cream on a burn. The only thing you should put on a burn is cold water - keep the butter for cooking. Put the affected area under cold running water for at least ten minutes. The best way to treat bleeding is to put the wound under a tap. If you put a bleeding wound under a tap you wash away the body's clotting agents and make it bleed more. Instead put pressure on the wound with whatever is available to stop or slow down the flow of blood. As soon as possible call 999. Keep pressure on the wound until help arrives. Nosebleeds are best treated by putting the head back. If you put the head back during a nosebleed, all the blood goes down the back of the airway. Instead advise them to tilt their head forwards and ask the person to pinch the end of their nose and breathe through their mouth. You need lots of training to do first aid. You don't - what you mostly need is common sense. You can learn enough first aid in a few minutes to save someone's life - whether it's from a book, attending a course or watching videos online. Remember: anyone can save a life Which of the following statement is RIGHT? A When a person's nose bleed, please put the head back. B You can learn first aid in quickly in different ways. C When a person is burnt, crap the burn until help arrives. D Not everyone can do first aid to save a life. Answer: B. You can learn first aid in quickly in different ways. Marilyn M.Arnold 4500 Ridgewood Road Memphis,Tennessee 38116 Tel:9015990316 Email:efg@yahoo.com Objective To obtain a position that will enable me to improve my organizational skills,educational background,and ability to work well with people. Experience Lead Teacher La Petite Academy,Memphis,TN. June,2011July,2012 --Planned activities that would promote growth in language,social skills. --Provided children with individual attention. --Communicated with parents on a regular basis. Education At present,studying Science in Elementary Education at the University of Memphis. Fahd EI Zoghat American University of Beirut Tel:00963116820300 (Damascus) Email:abc@aub.edu.lb Objective To secure a promising position that offers both a challenge and a good opportunity for growth. Experience 20102011 --Assisted a professor in the computer simulation of digital circuits. --Assisted an instructor in the area of radar systems. --Worked as a research assistant with a professor in the area of digital image processing. Education Stanford University,Palo Alto,CA Madeline Little 555 Maple Dr.Hartford,CT 06105 Tel:(860)5550820 Email:m.e.little@gmail.com Objective To obtain a position as a Salesman Associate to improve the ability to work well with people in Summer. Experience September 2009Present --Aid students in person and via phone with questions regarding course registration. --Assist with all other office administrative duties. --Nominated for Employee of the Year in 2011 due to excellent performance. 20052008 --Teammate on Hartford High School women's soccer team. Education ABC Community College Hartford,CT Bachelor of Arts James Todd Wells 7444 Vesta Drive Little Rock,Arkansas.72210 Tel:(501)555555 Email:jtwell@mail.net Objective To secure a position with a wellestablished organization with a stable environment that will lead to a lasting relationship. Experience 20012011 --Worked in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Unit Admissions of Outpatient Services at Hickingbotham Center admitting patients.Worked as liaison representative between family members and doctor. --Worked also in Emergency Room admissions checking in patients.Entered personal data and followed up on insurance verification . Education University of Arkansas at Little Rock,Little Rock,Arkansas Which one may be short of independent working experience? A Marilyn M.Arnold. B Fahd EI Zoghat. C Madeline Little. D James Todd Wells. Answer: B. Fahd EI Zoghat.
Do You Want to Be an Artist? Do you want to be an artist? Come to our club. We have guitar, violin, piano and drum lessons for just Y=240 each. You can also learn to sing or dance for just Y=180 each. If you like art, you can be satisfied, too. Art lessons are just Y=200 each. If you want to learn to play the guitar and to dance ,you will pay Y= _ . Answer: "I find myself glancing at my watch to see how long I've been standing in line," she said. "Everywhere I go, I notice if the dumpster gates are open or if there's trash in the parking lot." Ms. Clark is a "mystery shopper", one of thousands of contract workers that companies hire to pretend as regular customers in order to judge customer service, cleanliness and whether a store is selling a product that meets company specifications . Mystery shoppers can be found or, rather, not found, everywhere from restaurants and automotive shops to convenience stores and department stores. They play a constant cat-and-mouse game with store and restaurant employees and managers. However it's not all fun and games. Once in the field, a mystery shopper will typically visit several stores or restaurants per hour, taking mental notes while inside, then jotting down physical notes after they leave. It's important for mystery shoppers to be as exact as possible, because the client companies are looking for data they can use to improve their service. The questionnaire won't say, "Does the trash can need to be emptied?" What an educated shopper will say is, "The trash can to the left of the front door was overflowing with 10 pieces of trash on the ground." Companies don't need opinion but facts. Nowadays mystery shoppers are armed with a number of high-tech devices, such as a digital scale and a digital thermometer, as well as a handheld PC for recording the entire experience. It's a challenging job but a rewarding one. Mystery shoppers can be full time or part time, but the full-time workers tend to stick to standard mystery shopping while part-timers often choose the less complex reward-based programs. In _ , the shoppers stay disguised only until the "shop" is finished, and then reveal themselves to the store management and award prizes to employees who provided excellent service. To be a mystery shopper, it's important to be a good observer, but sometimes it's important to have the right profile , too. Companies often hire shoppers from particular backgrounds to better blend in with clients' regular customers. If a secret shopper will be sent in, for example, to do a high-end automotive shop, the candidate must have a particular profile that meets a high-end, luxury car-type buyer profile. "It's a challenge to perform your shop without being discovered," Ms. Clark said, "because most of the people that we work for are very aware of the mystery shopping program." According to the text a "mystery shopper" would not have to_. Answer: Would it surprise you to learn that, like animals, trees communicate with each other and pass on their wealth to the next generation? UBC Professor Simard explains how trees are much more complex than most of us ever imagined. Although Charles Darwin thought that trees arc competing for survival of the fittest, Simard shows just how wrong he was. In fact, _ : trees survive through their co-operation and support, passing around necessary nutrition "depending on who needs it". Nitrogen and carbon are shared through miles of underground fungi networks, making sure that all trees in the forest ecological system give and receive just the right amount to keep them all healthy. This hidden system works in a very similar way to the networks of neurons in our brains, and when one tree is destroyed, it affects all. Simard talks about "mother trees", usually the largest and oldest plants on which all other trees depend. She explains how dying trees pass on the wealth to the next generation, transporting important minerals to young trees so they may continue to grow. When humans cut down "mother trees" with no awareness of these highly complex "tree societies" or the networks on which they feed, we are reducing the chances of survival for the entire forest. "We didn't take any notice of _ ." Simard says sadly. "Dying trees move nutrition into the young trees before dying, but we never give them chance." If we could put across the message to the forestry industry, we could make a huge difference towards our environmental protection efforts for the future. What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: There are three airports in New York. When you arrive at one of them, you can take a bus or taxi to any place in New York. Public transport . In New York there's a good bus and subway service. If you are planning to use the subway a lot, you should buy a subway ticket for ten journeys because it's cheaper. But you don't have to use public transport, because there are lots of places you can go to on foot, like The Empire State Building , 5thAvenue and Central Park. The New York taxis are a part of the city experience , so you should take at least one taxi during your visit! Hotels. There are lots of good hotels in New York. The best is _ on 5thAvenue but you don't have to pay a lot to stay in the city; there are lots of small hotels. Eating out. There are many kinds of food in New York and you shouldn't eat at McDonalds every day. There are good restaurants in Little Italy and Chinatown, for example. Shopping in New York is fun. There are big shops on 5thAvenue. They are open seven days a week. But be careful when you look at the prices; you have to pay a special 8% tax on everything you buy in New York. Places to see. Finally, there are a lot of places to see in New York -- Times Square, the Statue of Liberty. And you shouldn't go home without climbing the Statue of Liberty. When you visit New York, you should _ . Answer: Since the 1970s, scientists have been searching for ways to connect the brain with computers. Braincomputer interface(BCI) technology could help people with disabilities send commands to machines. Recently, two scientists, Jose Millan and Michele Tavella from the Federal Polytehnic School in Lausanne, Switzerland, show a small robotic wheelchair directed by a person's thoughts. In the laboratory, Tavella operated the wheelchair just by thinking about moving his left or right hand. He could even talk as he watched the vehicle and guided it with his thoughts. "Our brain has billions of body cells . These send signals through the spinal cord to the body part to give us the ability to move. But spinal cord injuries or other conditions can prevent these weak electrical signals from reaching the body part." Tavella says. "Our system allows disabled people to communicate with outer world and also to control machines." The scientists designed a special cap for the user. This head cover picks up the signals from the scalp and sends them to a computer. The computer finds meanings of the signals and commands the wheelchair with an engine. The wheelchair also has two cameras that tell objects in its path. They help the computer react to commands from the brain. Prof. Millan , the team leader, says scientists keep improving the computer software that finds meanings of brain signals and turns them into simple commands." The practical possibilities that BCI technology offers to disabled people can be grouped in two kinds: communication, and controlling objects. One example is this wheelchair." He says his team has set two goals. One is testing with real patients, so as to prove that this is a technology they can get advantages from. And the other is sure that they can use the technology for long. BCI is a technology that can _ . Answer:
Growing roses is quite a difficult task without knowing the right way. If you are attracted by the beauty of roses and need some tips for growing them, read on for some tips about taking care of rose plants. * You have to buy a good plant, preferably around two years old. * While most rose plants can tolerate around six hours of sunlight every day, some varieties need eight hours of sunlight exposure. The shade-loving roses need only four hours of sunlight. * You will have to soak the roots overnight, before planting. If you plant it in a container, then the watering should be done daily, whereas garden roses need water once or twice a week. * The next point is the application of fertilizers , which is mainly needed by rose plants in containers. Most of the varieties do not need fertilizers, as they can feed on the nutrients that exist in the soil. There is no need of fertilization during November and December, and the frequency of fertilization can be reduced during the summers, especially after April. It can be restarted in September and has to be increased during the growing periods. * Cutting the stems promotes the growth of the plant and also aids flowering. It should be done regularly to remove dead or diseased leaves and stems. Rose plants can be successfully grown by beginners too! With some care and consideration, all your efforts would definitely be worth it once you smell the fragrance of beautiful roses. You should stop fertilizing rose plants in _ . Answer: November A source of heat is used to make Answer: pastries Which does light from the sun arrive at in final time length? Answer: Pluto Argentina in the late nineteenth century was an exciting place.Around 1870,it was experiencing an economic boom,and the capital,Buenos Aires,attracted many people.Farmers,as well as a flood of foreigners from Spain and Italy,came to Buenos Aires seeking jobs.These jobs didn't pay well,and the people felt lonely and disappointed with their new life in the city.As the unhappy newcomers mixed together in the poor parts of the city,the dance known as the tango came into being. At the beginning the tango was a dance of the lower classes.It was danced in the bars and streets.At that time there were many fewer women than men,so if a man didn't want to be left out,his only choice was to dance with another man so that he could attract the attention of the few available women.Gradually,the dance spread into the upper classes of Argentinean society and became more respectable. In Europe at this time,strong interest in dance from around the world was beginning.This interest in international dance was especially evident in Paris.Every kind of dance from ballet to belly dancing could be found on the stages of the Paris theaters.After tango dancers from Argentina arrived in Europe,they began to draw the interest of the public as they performed their exciting dance in cafes.Though not everyone approved of the new dance,saying it was a little too shocking,the dance did find enough supporters to make it popular. The popularity of the tango continued to grow in many other parts of the world.Soldiers who returned to the United States from World War I brought the tango to North America.It reached Japan in 1926,and in 2003 the Argentinean embassy in Seoul hired a local tango dancer to act as a kind of dance ambassador,and promote tango dancing throughout South Korea. What can be the best title for the text? Answer: The History of the Tango Six Chinese Characters Dear students, our country has a long history. Chinese characters usually have more than one meaning and some of them are particularly loved by Chinese people. Here are the top six lucky ones. Please note we use "pinyin" here because "pinyin" is the Chinese spelling system for the characters. For example, "fu" is the "pinyin" for good luck in Chinese. "pinyin" "fu" is only the phonic ( ) part of the character and if you want to know the meaning of good luck "fu", you must read the Chinese character because "fu" also represents other Chinese characters that sound the same. 1. "fu" means blessing, good fortune, good luck. Chinese character "fu" is one of the most popular ones used during Chinese New Year. It is often displayed upside down on the front door of a house or an apartment. The upside down"fu" means good luck comes since the character for upside down in Chinese sounds the same as the character for "come". 2. "Iu" means prosperity. It is used to mean official's salary( ) in feudal ( ) China. 3. "shou" means longevity. Chinese character "shou" also means life, age or birthday. 4. "xi" is happiness. The doubled character "xi" means double happiness. It is usually displayed everywhere at Chinese weddings. 5. "cai" is wealth or money. Chinese often say "money can make a ghost turn a millstone". It is to say money really can do a lot of things. But, still-money can't buy everything. 6. "he" means harmomous. People's harmony is an important part of Chinese culture. When you have harmomous relations with others, things will be a lot easier for you. Which sentence is right according to the passage? Answer: Money isn't everything.
Question: She handed me a five dollar bill through the car window, then turned and walked away. I don't know her name, nor where she was going ,but I know I will never forget that stranger who generously saved me from a lot of frustration and prevented me from walking a mile or more to my destination. That day My husband, Leo, and I were already a half hour late for an important conference . We had taken the wrong fork in the expressway, and found ourselves stuck in traffic that was blocked for four miles due to a serious accident. When we finally were able to exit, we tried to find parking lots near the hosting hotel. But they were all full. Not expecting this, neither of us had brought change; all we had was a twenty dollar bill. When we did find some space in a lot two blocks away from the conference, we were unable to pay the automatic box for parking. So we needed five dollars. We asked several people approaching the pay box if they could change a twenty. "No", "No", "No" were their answers. So, _ , we walked back to our car, got inside, and started to back out. We were going to look for other parking spot on the street that would surely have taken us a longer distance away. Just then, one tapped on the window on the passenger side. It was a short, medium-built woman, who was all bundled up in jacket and scarf, wearing jeans and boots. Surprised, I was reluctant, at first, to roll the window down. What could she possibly want? I lowered the window just enough to hear what the woman had to say. Through the window, she shoved a five dollar bill. "I don't have change," she said, "but here is an extra five dollar bill. Use it to pay for your parking spot." I was floored! Was this woman, whom I'd never seen before, actually giving me this much money? Yes, that was exactly what she was doing! She wouldn't take the check I offered her for the cash. She just walked away. The problem the author had in parking their car was that _ . A. they couldn't pay for parking by check B. neither of them had money with them C. they had no five-dollar bill D. there was no parking lot near the conference Answer: C. they had no five-dollar bill Question: By November 30, 2015, the comedy Goodbye, Mr. Loser had got more than 1,400 million yuan in ticket sales. It was amazing that a film with common actors who had their first shows in the film got such great success. What's more, the actors were all stage performers and they improved their acting skills by making this film. The comedy tells about a common middle-aged man who has no job but problems. He seems to be a loser in life and never gets any success. He causes many jokes and is laughed at a lot. And because of his bad luck, he feels upset most of the time. Later, a sudden accident changes his life and he starts to realize how important the family to him. Goodbye, Mr. Loser was the first movie made by Happy Mahua Pictures. The film came out on September 30, 2015. Because of its great success, the film company became famous overnight. During the seven-day holiday for National Day in 2015, the ticket sales were just behind the most popular film being shown at the same time-Lost in Hong Kong. Goodbye, Mr. Loser had got over _ yuan by November 30, 2015. A. 140,000,000 B. 14,000,000 C. 1,400,000,000 D. 14,000,000,000 Answer: C. 1,400,000,000 Question: I had to knock on the taxi to get his attention.Finally,the driver,a man about 60,looked up from behind the wheel and apologized,"I'm sorry,but I was reading a letter." He sounded as if he had a cold or a cough. Since I was in no hurry,I told him to finish his letter.He shook his head,explaining that he had already read it several times and almost knew it by heart.Curious,I asked whether it was from a child or maybe a grandchild."This isn't family,"he replied."though he might just as well have been a regular member of the family.Old Ed and I grew up together." They were always friends.But since he moved away from the neighborhood 30 years ago,it'd generally just been postcards at Christmas time between them.A couple of weeks ago,Ed died."I should have kept in touch." He repeated this,more to himself than to me.To comfort him,I said sometimes we just didn't seem to find the time."But we used to find the time," he said."Take a look." He handed the letter over to me. The first sentence "I've been meaning to write for some time,but I've always delayed it." reminded me of myself.It went on to say that he often thought about the good times they had had together.When I read the part where it said "Your friendship really means a lot to me,more than I can say because I'm not good at saying things like that",I found myself nodding in agreement. We had gone several kilometers and were almost at my hotel, so I read the last paragraph: "So I thought you'd like to know that I was thinking of you." And it was ended with "Your Old Friend, Tom." "I thought your friend's name was Ed," I said. "I'm Tom," he explained. "It's a letter I wrote to Ed before I knew he'd died. I never put it in the mailbox. I guess I should have written it sooner." His face was pale as he wiped his eyes with a handkerchief. When I got to my hotel room I didn't unpack right away.I had to write a letter and post it. What message does the passage probably try to convey? A. Comfort your friends when they are feeling down. B. Life is unpredictable so live each day as if it were your last. C. Remember to always mail your letters after expressing your words. D. Always make time to value and experience your lasting friendships. Answer: D. Always make time to value and experience your lasting friendships. Question: Jack and Mike are on holiday in France. Mike loves visiting old building. So does Jack. In the village Jack and Mike see a beautiful old church , but when they come into the church, some people are there. They don't know what the people are doing. "Oh! Just sit quietly , and act like the others!"Mike says. Because they don't really know French, so they stand, kneel and sit to follow other people. At that time, the priest says something. And the man who sits next to Jack and Mike stands up. "We should stand up, too!"Jack whispers to Mike. So, Jack and Mike walk to the priest. "What's so funny?"Jack asks in English. With a smile on his face the priest says, "Boys, there is a newbaby born, we ask the father to stand up." Mike shakes his head. He smiles and says, "We should understand what people do before we act like them!" Why are Jack and Mike in the church? A. They want to see the priest. B. They are on holiday. C. The church is an old building. D. They want to see the baby. Answer: C. The church is an old building. Question: If you are a human, you can't help but experience the time when everything seems to be going wrong and you feel as if your life is completely out of control.It is during the low time that words of encouragement from family, friends, coworkers or even strangers can boost your spirits.It is also during the low time that destructive words can be devastating and make you sink deeper and deeper into depression. For example, consider this story about a group of frogs who were traveling through the woods when two of them fell into a deep pit .All of the other frogs gathered around the pit.When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two unfortunate frogs they would never get out. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump out of the pit.The other frogs kept telling them to stop.Finally, one of the two frogs took notice of what the other frogs were saying and simply gave up.He died.The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could.Once again the crowd of frogs shouted at him to stop the pain.The more they shouted, the harder he jumped and finally he made it. When he got out, the other frogs asked him why he continued to jump when they were all shouting at him to tell him to give up.The frog explained to them that he was a little bit deaf.He thought they were encouraging him the whole time. Every time you have a chance to say either something positive or negative to another human being, do choose the chance to say something positive! Don't let those opportunities get away from you.Your words have a large amount of power.Use them wisely.You really never know just how much they can mean to someone else. Why did the frog that succeeded in jumping to safety neglect the other frogs' comments? A. Because he would like to jump out of the pit. B. Because he could hardly hear what the other frogs said. C. Because he didn't want to give up his hope. D. Because he had a positive attitude toward life. Answer: B. Because he could hardly hear what the other frogs said.
He must have been completely lost in something he was reading because I had to tap on the windshield to get his attention."Is your cab available ?"I asked when he finally looked up at me.He nodded,then said apologetically as I settled into the back seat,"I'm sorry,but I was reading a letter."He sounded as if he had a cold."I am not in a hurry,"I told him."Go ahead and finish your letter."He shook his head."I've read it several times already.I guess I almost know it by heart." "Letters from home always mean a lot" I said. "This isn't family," he replied."although it might just as well have been family.Old Ed was my oldest friend.In fact,we used to call each other 'Old Friend'--when we'd meet.I'm not much good at writing." "I don't think any of us keep up our correspondence too well,"I said."I know I don't,but I take it he's someone you've known quite a while?" "All my life.We were kids together, went to school together and all the way through high school.""There are not too many people who've had such a long friendship,"I said."Actually,"the driver went on,"I hadn't seen him more than once or twice year over the past 25 or 30 years because I moved away from the old neighborhood and you kind of lose touch even though you never forget." "You said 'was'.Does that mean---?" he nodded."A couple of weeks ago." "I'm sorry" He didn't say anything more,and we rode on in silence for a few minutes.But I realized that Old Ed was still on his mind when he spoke again,almost more to himself than to me." "I should have kept in touch with him." "Well,'' I agreed,"we should all keep in touch with old friends more than we do.But things come up and we just don't seem to find the time." When I got to my hotel room I didn't unpack right away.First I had to write a letter --and mail it. What can you conclude from the passage? A The driver is out of touch with his old friend for at least 25 years. B The driver doesn't like to read the letter. C The driver's friend must have died. D The driver's friend must be angry with the driver because he doesn't like to write letters. Answer: C At the age of 95, Olga Kotelko attracted great attention at the World Masters Athletics Championships. This 5ft-tall Canadian became the oldest recorded woman indoor runner, high jumper and long jumper at the competition. Olga now has more than 30 world records to her name and has won more than 750 gold medals. But she sees herself as nothing special, describing herself as just a plain Jane. As one of 11 children brought up on a farm, she has always been active, milking cows and doing other housework. She has now outlived all her brothers and sisters and most of her friends but when asked what her secret is, she says there isn't one. "I think your age is just a number. It's not your birthday; it's how you age that makes the difference. It's your attitude to all the things that happen in your life that plays the biggest part." So can we all turn ourselves into nonagenarian superheroes? Research from Newcastle University suggests that as every 24 hours pass, we add an extra five hours to our lives -- that's over 2 months each year--partly because of improving living conditions and medical development. And in the UK the number of people who are living into their 100th year has nearly increased by four times since the 1980s. So ageing is not a terrible thing. While Olga's genes might help her, we're not all prisoners to our own. After all, 75% of our later lives could be down to the lifestyle we choose to lead. A good diet and regular exercise are key. Besides, developing friendships in mid-life also works. Dr Holland, director of Aston University's research centre for healthy ageing, says: "The more friends you have when you're 50-60 years old, the less likely you're to be lonely in later life; the less lonely you are, the less likely you're to be ill as the years go by." Olga Kotelko's words suggest that _ . A we shouldn't count our age up like numbers B we shouldn't celebrate our birthday as we get old C we should try to have a positive attitude towards life D we should learn to change according to what happens Answer: C Rubbish sorting probably doesn't sound like much fun. But there is a new mobile game that may change your opinion about it, and you might even learn something while you play it-Meet Sortee. Meet Sortee is a puzzle game developed by Flow Studio, a UK company. It makes you think deeply about everyday objects and their meanings. The rule of the game is quite simple. Two bins are placed on either side of the screen. Each of the bins has a label next to it and the label explains what it is for. When an object, such as a car or an apple, appears on the screen, you need to decide which bin it should be sorted into and then send it there by moving your finger. The game seems easy enough at first. But as you move on to more levels, it gets harder. The number of bins increases to three or four and the time given gets shorter. You need to think and move faster. That can be really difficult. There are 400 0bjects in total and more than 100 bins in the game. The more objects you correctly sort, the more game coins you can get It's a bit like working in a rubbish recycling center, but it has no bad smell. You can download the free game from Apple's app store , but it only lets you play the first few levels. If you want to open the next 40 levels, you need to pay 6 yuan for the full game. What's the best title of the passage? A A mobile game. B Rubbish sorting. C Apple's app store. D A recycling center. Answer: A Which nongaseous compound can be made from two elements that are gases at room temperature? A water B table salt C iron oxide D carbon dioxide Answer: A My name is Lisa.I have a bird.She is white.So I call her Xiaobai.Xiaobai is only two years old.She's not big.But she is beautiful and clever.She can speak. One day I go shopping with my sister Gina and Xiaobai.At Green Clothes Store Gina sees a red skirt and says, "Look! Lisa! That red skirt is very beautiful." Xiaobai answers her instead of me, "No.I think you look nice in that green skirt." Gina says, "OK.I listen to you." Then she asks the shop assistant, "How much is the green one?" The shop assistant looks at Xiaobai, opens her mouth but says nothing.At last she says to Gina, "I never see a bird that can speak these words.It's great! You can take this green skirt.Oh, you don't need to pay for it." Gina is very happy.She asks me and my bird to have a big lunch in Leo's Restaurant and then we go home. Gina likes the _ . A white T-shirt B red skirt C green skirt D red sweater Answer: B
How many things can you do at the same time? Eating and reading are easy. Reading and playing the violin are difficult. But some people can do many things at the same time. Bob is a one-man _ . In this picture Bob is playing the drums and the guitar with his feet. He is playing the drums and the guitar with his feet. He is playing the cymbals between his knees and the accordion with his hands. He's also playing the bells with his hands. What a talented man Bob is! The writer thinks that Bob is very _ . Answer: wonderful An old lady went out shopping last Sunday. She came to a bank and saw a car near the door . A man got out of it and went into the bank . She looked into the car. The keys were in the lock. The old lady took the keys and followed the man into the bank. The man took a gun out of his pockets and said to the clerk , " Give me all the money . " But the old lady didn't see this. She went to the man and put the keys in his hand and said, " Young man , you're foolish . Never leave your keys in your car. Someone's going to steal it . " The man looked at the old woman for a few seconds. Then he looked at the clerk and then he took the keys and ran off the bank, got into his car and drove away quickly without any money . ,. The young man _ . Answer: ordered a clerk to give him the money Dear Anne, I like your column very much. I met a girl four years ago at a gym. She was the one who originally approached me and we became good friends. Then one day, she made me really angry, so angry that I just left and we never saw each other again. Looking back, I really regret ending things that way. It was a cowardly act on my part, but I had a terrible temper at that time and let the smallest thing get to me. Recently, I've started thinking about her again and I looked up her e-mail address. I thought about writing to say "Hi" and apologize for what I did but I'm not sure. She could still be angry with me, or maybe she has forgotten me. I feel very lonely and I want to see her again. What should I do? Tom Dear Tom, She may still be angry with you, and she may have forgotten the friendship between you, but that doesn't mean she doesn't deserve an apology. Tom, how many of us have wished for the day that someone who treated us badly saw the light and finally owned up? But we rarely get that kind of expected result. So sure, e-mail her and say "Hi". Tell her you have been thinking about her and just want to apologize for getting angry and being a coward by walking out on her. But you should remember if she thinks you're apologizing just because you are lonely, she might dismiss your sincerity. Therefore, don't mention that. If she wants to see you again, she'll make sure that happens. Even if she doesn't want to be your friend, I can assure you, she'll appreciate the gesture. And it might make you think twice next time you get angry. Anne Anne wants to tell Tom that _ . Answer: an apology is better late than never Public schools in New York,America's biggest city, commonly have numbers for names.But this is unusual.In the United States,the process of naming a school often involves parents and the community as well as elected school leaders. Researchers say school names can show civic values and also shape them. For example,naming a school after a historic person becomes a way to teach students about that person's importance in history. A new study examines the naming of American public schools.The study is from the Manhattan Institute,an organization that does public policy research.The study shows that fewer and fewer schools are being named after people.Instead. more schools are being named after the local areas or natural features like hills.trees or animals.The researchers say these changes raise questions about the civic duty of public education. The looked at seven states with 20% of all public school students in the country. They found the similar result in every state: new school are less likely to be named after people. This is true especially with presidents. For example, in Arizona, public school in the past 20 years were almost fifty times more likely to be named after such things as landforms or plants . School officials say they try to choose names that will not offend anyone. For example, a few years ago the city of New Orleans banned the naming of any school after a person who owned slaves. Other school system have rules against naming new schools after any person, living or dead . The researchers say naming a school after a person can lead it important debates about democratic values. call for more research to identify the causes and effects of the changes in school names. The causes may include changes in American culture as well as in the political control of school systems. One area worth exploring , they say, is the link between trends in school names and weak results for public schools on measures of civic education. If the passage appears in a newspaper, which column will it be ? Answer: Culture Theangelshavefinallybeenconnectedtogether andthebowshaveallbeencarefully fixed across the branches.After three months of hard work, 16-year-old Suzy Jordan's tree is finally appearing at the yearly Festival of Trees in honor of her best friend, Emily Austin. "All that's needed now is a real angel,"says Suzy,"to help 13-year-old Emily recover from a recent bone marrow transplant and finally remove the leukemia " "Emily is the strongest person I know.There's always such brightness about her,"says Suzy,a student ar Orem High School. Last year,when Emily's cancer was _ ,she helped Suzy and other students decorate a red-and-white Christmas tree for Primary Children's Medical Center at the Festival of Trees. "It was so much fun for her,"says Emily's mother, Laurie,"she's seen the inside of the hospital more than a school since she was 5". But the good conditions didn't last long.In August, Suzy learned that her friend's leukemia returned, becoming worse.And she knew exactly what to do show her support. "Emily was so excited about helping out with the festival tree last year that I decided to surprise her by giving away a tree of my own,"she says. Because of being in hospital, Emily won't be able to see the tree."But I'm taking pictures to surprise her,"says Suzy."I want her to know that she'll always be an angel to me." Suzy's tree has given Emily's family hope for a miracle ."It has given Emily hope that she has a chance to be a normal girl and do all the things other girls do,"says Laurie Austin. Suzy's greatest hope is that she'll be able to give away more trees to the festival, with one big difference."The best wish of all,"she says,"is that Emily will be there with me, putting on the decoration." Suzy Jordan decorated a tree to _ . Answer: show admiration for Emily Austin
Now we're always hearing about road accident, and when we're in a car we try to drive carefully, but how many of us take the same degree of care in our homes? Any large hospital will tell you the number of the accidents that happen in the home is almost the same as those on the road. One of the commonest and most dangerous causes of home accidents is wrong and careless use of electrical equipment. People will continue to use a loose plug or pull out a plug without first turning off the power. In spite of warnings, one will carry an electric heater into the bathroom when he is going to have a bath. Sometimes one forgets to cut off the power before mending a lamp or something else. All this will cause accidents. So the rule about anything that work by electricity is:Switch off before you touch anything and don't pretend you know when you actually don't. If you've got children in the house, it's always best to keep medicines of any kind out of their reach. Otherwise, they may be taken for candies or a new kind of drink. When there are older people living with you, you have to take particular care in a number of ways in order to make them safe and happy. Fire, of course, is always a risk. So, remember not to dry clothes in front of fires, or leave stoves in the middle of rooms where they can easily be knocked over. And don't forget to keep the children away from fire. Smoking, too, may cause fire. So you'd better give it up. Safety first may mean a little more time and care, but it may save you a lot of trouble. We can learn from the text that _ . A. people should never be allowed to carry an electric heater into the bathroom B. the improper use of the electrical equipment is the most dangerous cause of home accidents C. people should cut off the power first before using the electrical equipment D. both the children and the older people should be taken special care of at home Answer: D. both the children and the older people should be taken special care of at home Jimmy is an automotive mechanic, but he lost his job a few months ago. He has a good heart,but always afraid to apply for a new job. One day, he gathered up all his strength and decided to attend a job interview. His appoint--ment was at 10 a.m. and it was already 8:30. While waiting for a bus, he saw an elderly man wildly kicking the tyre of his car. Obviously there was something wrong with the car. Jimmy immediately went up to lend him a hand. When Jimmy finished working on the car, the old man askedhim how much he should pay for the service. Jimmy said there was no need to pay him; he just helped someone in need, and he had to rush for an interview. Then the old man said,"Well, Icould take you to the office for your interview. It's the least I could do. Please, I insist."Jimmy agreed. Upon arrival, Jimmy found a long line of applicants waiting to be interviewed. Finally his name was called. The interviewer was sitting on a large chair facing the office window. Rocking the chair back and forth, he asked,"Do you really need to be interviewed?"Jimmy's heart sank."With the way I look now, how could I possibly pass this interview?"He thought to himself. Then the interviewer turned the chair and to Jimmy's surprise, it was the old man he helped earlier in the morning. "Sorry I had to keep you waiting, but I was pretty sure I made the right decision to have you as part of our workforce before you even stepped into this office. I just know you'd be a trustworthy worker. Congratulations!"Jimmy sat down and they shared a cup of well-deserved coffee . Why did the old man offer Jimmy a ride? A. He was also to be interviewed. B. He needed a traveling companion. C. He always helped people in need. D. He was thankful to Jimmy . Answer: D. He was thankful to Jimmy . New York City is a very large city with 8 million people. How do so many people move on their way to work and school? In New York you can travel by subways, bus, taxi and private car. The subway runs on the railroad lines under the city. It crosses the city at different points and goes to all parts of the city. Travelling by subway is the fastest way to get around the city. The second way to travel is by bus. It is a slower way to travel. You can also travel by taxi. This is very expensive, but the taxi will take you to every place you want to go to. If traffic is heavy, the taxi will be slow. During the mornings and afternoons, there is the "rush hour". This is the time when the traffic is very heavy with people going to and from work.. The last way is to use your private car. It's not good to drive during the "rush hour". If there is an accident on the road, you will have to wait for a long time. The best time to travel is from 9 a.m to 4.pm . Traffic will be less crowded during this time because most people are already at school or at work at that time. How many ways of travelling are mentioned in the passage? A. Two B. Three C. Four D. Five Answer: C. Four A rainy environment results in A. more overcast days B. more sunny days C. less overcast days D. a dry environment Answer: A. more overcast days If you know the following fact, you'll understand why many people suffer from foot problems. The average person walks the equivalent of three times around the Earth in a lifetime. That is enormous wear and tear on the 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles that make up the foot. In a recent survey for the American Podiatric Medical Association, 53 percent of respondents reported foot pain so severe that it affected their daily function. On average, people develop pain in their 60s, but it can start as early as the 20s and 30s. And usually women give care to their feet while men don't. "A lot of people think foot pain is part of the aging process and accept it, and walk with pain," said Dr Andrew Shapiro. Though some foot problems are inevitable, their progress can be slowed. The following questions will help you assess whether you should take more preventive action as you age. Do you have flat feet or high arches ? Either puts feet at risk. Shoes that support the arch and heel can help flat feet. People with high arches should look for roomy shoes and softer padding to absorb the shock. Proper exercises also strengthen muscles, supporting the foot. Do your shoes fit? In the survey, more than 34 percent of men said they could not remember the last time their feet were measured. 20 percent of women said that once a week they wore shoes that hurt, and 8 percent wore painful shoes daily. Feet flatten and lengthen with age, so if you still stick to the shoe size you wore at the age of 21, get your feet measured. Do you walk? Putting more mileage on your feet is the best way to exercise the muscles and keep them healthy. If your feet are 26 cm long at 23, what is the probable length of your feet when you are 43? A. 26.2 cm B. 25.2 cm C. 26 cm D. 25 cm Answer: A. 26.2 cm
Question: I was born in Brooklyn. My father was a small-business man and we never had much money. He supported the family, moved us to Merrick on Long Island, when I was 11. He just recently died at age 96. He was still driving and playing golf right to the end. He was the only guy I knew who at age 90 could shoot under his age. I guess that taught me something about perseverance. I went to the University of Michigan as an engineering student in 1960. I was standing outside the student union building when Senator John F. Kennedy made a campaign speech that essentially announced his plan for the Peace Corps. He talked about how students could provide service for the country. It was an important moment for me. After I graduated, I worked as a computer programmer for I.B.M. for two years. By then, the Vietnam War was in full swing and the draft had accelerated. I didn't agree with the war and was interested in finding alternatives. I.B.M. applied for a delay for me twice but the application failed. I went to work at M.I.T.'s Instrumentation Labs on a project designed to create a rescue vehicle for lost submarines . I thought this job would keep me out of the draft, but M.I.T. hadn't put in the proper paperwork and I got called in for my physical. The day before my physical, I broke my ankle playing tennis and, of course, my draft board didn't believe a word of it. I had to provide X-rays. I had tears in my eyes from the pain, but a smile on my face. I started John Snow Inc. in 1978 (Dr. Snow is considered the father of modern epidemiology because he traced the source of a cholera epidemic in the 1850s). We had a very clear vision of what we would be. It would not be about making the most money but having the most impact. My goal was to attract talented people who had that passion to focus on primary care, women's health, child health, and to do great work. I also run a nonprofit called World Education, which focuses on literacy. What motivates me is going to the field, either in the United States or overseas, and seeing the people whose lives we affect. I didn't grow up rich but had the advantage of growing up in the United States and getting a good education. I couldn't have started J.S.I. in many other places. And I believe there is a duty to try and assist people who are struggling against tough situations. What kept the author trying to achieve his goal? A. His father's good health when he lived to be over 90. B. His poor family. C. His father's keeping living an active life to the end. D. Kennedy's speech about his plan for the Peace Corps. Answer: C Question: People like to tell me rubbish. Not just friends, but strangers ,too. Once, at the airport, my husband stepped off an escalator before me. When he realized I wasn't with him, he looked back and saw me hugging ( ) a stranger. I'd asked the man behind me: "Did you have fun in Vegas?" His answer broke me heart. After 50 years away, I'd come to say goodbye to the lover of his life, _ was dying of cancer. "I should have married her 50 years ago," he said. I hugged him, and then he was gone. Moments later, my husband said: "He told you all that on the escalator?" I nodded. "Maybe he just needed to tell somebody, And I happened to ask." When someone wants to talk, you just need to ask a question. The words don't matter. It's the tone in your voice and the look in your eyes and the caring in your heart that count. Sometimes I think the whole world is crying out to be heard. And yet, we don't ask the question or say the things we need to say to those who matter most to us while there is still time, and a chance, to do so. Recently I heard from a reader who shared with me the eulogy she'd written after losing her mother. I wish her mother could have read it. I can only hope her mother knew all the things her daughter wrote about her--that she was known so well and loved so much. I like to think people will say a few nice things about me when I'm gone. But given a choice, I would rather hear those things before I go. Wouldn't we all? That started me thinking. I need to tell my children I am proud of them. They know it, but it can't hurt to say it again. I need to tell my sister I will forever in her debt . I was the one who left. She was the one who stayed, who's "been there" for our family--for our mother, our dad, our brothers and me. And to my husband, I need to say, well, he puts up with a lot. In fact, I need to say a lot of things to whole lot of people. Maybe you do, too. You can tell me, if you want. But maybe you should tell them first. According to the writer, what matters least when someone wants to talk? A. The question you ask. B. The way you speak. C. The way you look at someone. D. the caring in your heart. Answer: A Question: The trip to the United State opened my eyes to the fact that there are a lot of similarities as well as differences between American youth and French youth. The first difference is in appearance. Going around in the U.S., I found that American youth do not really care about their appearance. In the morning, they choose something in their closet and wear it with another thing, often of different colors and styles, without wondering whether their choices make them look strange. The reason behind this is that they don't care what people look like, but are just interested in their ideas. I think it's great, but it also causes problems. Since they don't care about their appearance, they don't really care about their weight. Often they get fat without realizing it. There are differences in relationships too. When the American youth fall in love, they don't really think of the future. Also, there are differences in the rules concerning behavior that is allowed. In some _ , the French are more accepting. For example, in America it is generally unacceptable to make physical display of love. Lovers, actually, can't kiss or hold each other everywhere they want. People think that not showing love in public places is a way to respect others. On the contrary, the French youth can do almost everything they want. As for other types of relationships, there are also big differences. Americans act differently from French people in front of unknown people. When an American girl, for example, arrives in front of people she has never met before, she will talk with them, trying to create a kind of tie between her and this new circle of people. The French girls will just think about rather than really do this kind of thing because they are too shy and lacking in self-confidence. To finish, I noticed that in American classes, when pupils want to say or ask something, they just do it. In general, they don't really care how the others will judge them. In France, it's not the same case. If somebody wants to ask something, he/she will think about it before speaking up. I appreciate the freedom in Americans' behavior, ideas, and ways of expressing themselves. When American youth fall in love with each other, they _ . A. will not hold each other B. will rarely display their love in public C. will always think about their future D. will kiss wherever they like Answer: B Question: Every year there is the Spring Festival in China. Usually it is in January or February . It is the most important festival in China. So before it comes, everyone has to prepare things. They buy pork, beef, chicken, fruit and many other things. And they often make a special kind of food called "dumplings". It means "come together" in Chinese. On the day before the festival, parents buy new clothes for their children and children also buy presents for their parents. On Spring Festival's Eve, all the family members come back to their home. This is a happy moment. They sing, dance and play cards. Others get the dinner ready. When they enjoy the meal, they give each other the best wishes for the coming year. They all have a good time. When they are having dinner on Spring Festival's Eve, the Chinese . A. eat Candy B. eat moon cakes C. never drink D. give each other the best wishes Answer: D Question: Mrs. White comes from America. She is an English teacher in No. 12 High School of Guangzhou. She speaks Chinese a little and often has Chinese classes. She likes here very much. She often says the Chinese people are very nice. She is Lucy and Lily's mom. Lucy and Lily live in America with their dad, Mr. White. They are students. They have some Chinese pen pals. ,. Does Mrs. White speak Chinese? A. Yes, but a little. B. No, she doesn't. C. She speaks Chinese well. D. Seldom(, ). Answer: A
While the presence of rats in homes may cause anxiety and annoyance, they rarely result in driving out the residents. But is exactly what happened to the inhabitants of the 10squaremile Hawadax Island off the coast of Alaska, almost 230 years ago. Now thanks to a fiveyear effort by scientists, the terribly silent "Rat Island" as it had been called for many years has been returned to its rightful owners ----birds! Hawadax Island is part of a chain of volcanic islands in the Bering Sea called the Aleutian Islands. The rats that arrived there in 1780, when a Japanese ship carrying them broke down nearby, completely destroyed the native population because the environment of the island was not built to defend its animals from these predators. There isn't any tree on the Island, which meant that the birds were accustomed to building their nests low in the ground, giving the rodents easy access to both eggs and baby chicks. As years passed, the birds that had called the island home for thousands of years became endangered and eventually, disappeared completely. In 2007, the U.S. FWS (Fish and Wildlife Service) started a serious plan to rid the island of the rats and try bringing back the beautiful birds that had once called it home. Given that there were an estimated 10,000 rodents inhabiting "Rat Island" and the fact that they reproduce rapidly, it was not an easy task. But by 2009, the Island was officially declared rat free! Then slowly but surely, the birds began to return. Unfortunately, some of the pioneers were unintentionally killed from the leavings of the raticide, a poison that had been used to wipe out the rodents. But now it seems things are becoming more stable and the Island is starting to increasingly look like its former self. Before the transformation, "Hawadax", also known as "Rat Island", was a silent and ghostly place with bird bones, snail remains and rocks covered in rat feces . Today, birds' singing and flying in and out is a common sight. Tufted puffins and song sparrows, which had long disappeared, are gradually making their way back. Scientists have also been observing an increase in ground nesting and shorebirds. Though the Island is still not back to its full glory, the signs are encouraging and things can only get better, as time passes. Which would be the best title for the passage? Alaska's Rat Island Returns to a Bird Paradise The kids were playing outside. They were drawing with chalk. They drew many things with the chalk. One of those things was a star. There was nothing else for them to do because it was the weekend. Then they stopped drawing with the chalk a little later. They did not want to go on because they were tired. They walked a little then started to splash by the lake that was nearby instead. They thought it was a good idea because it was a hot day. They played for hours. They were making a lot of noise and laughing and talking. They went home. They did this because they were very tired. They all ate some bread. They were now quiet. They couldn't have anything else to eat until their mother called them for dinner. They waited and did not say a word. They were resting. Soon it would be time for the family meal. What did the kids draw? A star. Smiling girls have their luck. It fits Huang Ruijia well. The 15-year-old student comes from Chengdu Experimental Foreign Language School. On March 22, 2014,she won third place(junior category)at the 12th China Daily "21st Century Lenovo Cup" National High School English Speaking Competition, which was held in Beijing. During the competition, many contestants kept a serious face. But Huang was smiling all the time. Her good manners also won her the Best Style prize at the contest. "Smiling shows confidence, which is an important quality for speakers," said Meng Qingtao, associate research fellow at the National Institute of Education Sciences, and one of the judges . "Huang's smile brought judges closer to her, and also cured her stress." Huang only became a smiling girl two years ago. At the time she was busy preparing for a speaking competition. One day, when she was practicing in front of the mirror, she was shocked by what she saw. "I saw a poker face reciting a cold speech," said Huang. "Who would like to listen to a speaker like that?" Since then Huang decided to face everything with a smile. It has worked in speaking competitions and in many other situations in her life, such as building friendships. Once Huang and her friend had a fight and were mad at each other. After three days, Huang said she wanted to talk but didn't know how to start. She then decided to give a smile, the friend smiled back and gave her a hug in return. "This is the power of smiling," said Huang. "You can make a difference in your life simply by smiling." Huang Ruijia succeeded because she was always _ in the competition. smiling Regarded as one of the English language's most naturally gifted poets, John Keats wrote poetry that concentrated on imagery, human nature, and philosophy. Although Keats didn't receive much formal literary education, his own studies and passion brought him much success. Additionally, his own life situation influenced his poetry greatly. Growing up as a young kid in London in a lower, middle-class family, the young John didn't attend a private school, but went to public school in Enfield, near his home. His teachers and his family's friends regarded him as an optimistic boy who liked playing and fighting much more than minding his studies. After his father's death in the early 1800s, followed by his mother's passing away due to illness, he began to view life differently. He wanted to escape the world and did so by reading anything he could get his hands on. At around the age of 16, the teenage John Keats began studying under a surgeon so that he too might become a doctor. However, his literary appetite had taken too much of his time, especially with his addiction to the poetry of Edmund Spenser. He was able to have his first full poem published in the Examinerin 1816, namedO Solitude! If I must with thee dwell. Within two months in 1817, Keats had written an entire volume of poetry that would be published, but criticized sharply in Blackwood's Magazine. However, the negative response didn't stop him. John Keats' next work to be published was Endymion, which he wrote in 1817 and was published in May 1818. The story involves a boy who falls in love with the moon goddess and leads him on an adventure of one boy's hope to overcome the limitations of being human. FollowingEndymion, he wroteIsabella. During this time, John Keats began seeing his limitations in poetry due to his own limit in life experiences. He would have to have the "knowledge" associated with his poems. His next work wasHyperionthat would attempt to combine all he learned. However, a bout with tuberculosis while visiting Italy kept him from his work and eventually took his life in 1821. Like his mother, John Keats _ . died of sickness Mr. White was over 80 years old, but he looked younger than his age. He played Tai Chi in the park every day, so he was very healthy. It was 11:30. It was time for him to walk home. He usually got home thirty minutes later. One day, Mr. White didn't get home until 12:30. His family worried about him. After a short while, a police car stopped in front of their house. What happened? "The old man was lost and he called us for help," the policeman said. When the policeman left, Mr. White's daughter asked her father, "Dad, you go to the park every day. How can you be lost?" "I'm not lost at all. I'm just tired. I don't want to go home on foot," answered Mr. White with a smile. Mr. White went to the park to _ . play Tai Chi
HK's family affair The 32nd Hong Kong Art Festival, to be held early next year, will be based on the theme of "family". The art festival, considered to be Asia's best, was launched in 1973. "We hope that people from Beijing and from all over the world will go to Hong Kong to enjoy the multiple performances in our art festival," Douglas Gautier, the festival's management director, told a press briefing in the capital. In the 34 days of the festival, which runs from February 8 to March 7, 2004, the audience can choose from 111 performances of 51 programmes staged by 700 foreign performers, 450 local artists and 160 actors from the mainland. Programmes vary from classical music, jazz, world music, Western and Peking opera, drama and dance to outdoor spectaculars. The programmes include Beethoven's only opera Fidelio, Shakespeare's drama Romeo and Juliet, the ballet Mozartina and African dances, to name just a few. The lineup includes the English Touring Theatre, Prague Chamber Orchestra, Zurich Ballet, the Spanish National Dance Troupe, as well as Europe Galante, the Petersen Quartet, pianists Angela Hewitt, and arc-Andre Hamelin, and saxophonist Jan Garbarek. In an effort to increase attention, hotels and airlines are offering discount packages along with art festival ticket sales. For more information, please check _ Where is this material from? A Literature Magazine B Textbook C Website _ D Newspaper Answer: D I may not be the wisest person on this planet.but I will tell you a little secret to happiness:Help other,,and live life.It is that simple.Just help a friend study for a test,or volunteer at a nursing home .I learned this after a long,hard search. I was feeling really down because my long4ime friend had died.Then I started a six-week volunteering at a nursing home all day every Saturday.My routine was to serve the meal and clean up.After that,I would wait for the head nurse to tell me what to do. One day I was told to go to Room 117 to make sure the patient was all right.In the room I found a boy of eight sitting in his bed watching a movie.I was shocked to see a child in this seemingly forgotten nursing home for the old.He was so small and weak that you had to look closely to find him.He motioned for me to sit down.I grabbed his medical chart from which later I found out he had a terminal illness. We started to talk,and I found out that his family rarely visited,and all he did ever7 day was watch TV.I wanted to cry for him,and for my lost friend.As we talked,he had a smile on his face,and I asked him why. "The entire two hours I've been here you've never lost that smile.With this horrible disease,how do you still manage to stay happy?" He thought for a moment,and then said that too many people are dead even before they die. They walk around feeling that God has cursed them and that they have nothing to live for. The boy said that he would not be like that.He wakes every morning thankful to see another sunrise.He keeps his window open so that he can smell the flowers and feel the heat of the sun.He also said that he has hope. "Too many people haven't seen much of that around here," he said," Life is full of hope and we need to live life before it is gone." I don't know what happened to him.I assume he passed away,but his lesson lives on.I now wake up and live each day to the fullest.The key to life is not money or fame,but the lessons we learn from it. The writer participated in the volunteering job in order to _ . A find out the secret B search for help C enrich experiences D get out of sadness Answer: D Which action is the best method to separate a mixture of salt and water? A using a magnet to extract the salt B adding a colored dye to the mixture C pouring the mixture through a filter D boiling the mixture until the water evaporates Answer: D If you've ever owned a chimney, you know that it can get pretty dirty. There's a whole lot of soot that gets stuck on the inside. That stuff has to get cleaned, or you could have a serious fire risk. While nowadays we have easier ways of doing this dirty job, in the way back days somebody used to climb up the chimney and clean all that soot. And the thing is, not just anybody could do it. You had to be really small to fit up in the chimney, so they used to give the task to kids - some as young as four or five years old. They worked for their boss known as a master-sweep. They were often covered in soot, and were very likely to get burned. They often developed what became known as soot wart, a form of cancer. Are your unfairness bells ringing? William Blake's certainly were. The physical dangers and widespread unfairness of the chimney-sweeping job really stuck in his throat, so much so that he wrote not one, but two poems called "The Chimney Sweeper". The first poem (the one we're discussing here)was published in 1789 in a book called Songs of Innocence. These little poems took children and the joys of childhood innocence as their subject. As you've probably guessed by now, many of the poems in Songs of Innocence, like "The Chimney Sweeper", are about the ways in which childhood innocence is destroyed by unkind old adults. For Blake, innocence is, in many ways, a total joke. It doesn't exist, because it's always taken away by the realistic world - chimney-sweeping, death, poverty, etc. What does a five-year-old chimney sweeper in 18th-century England have to do with you? More than you might think. It is reported that 150 million kids are in child labor in developing countries. Many of them work long hours and face dangerous health risks. Like Blake's chimney sweeper, these kids are not even given a chance at innocence because experience keeps getting in the way. Which of the following can best describe the chimney-sweeping job? A Easy and interesting. B Dirty and dangerous. C Pleasant and well-paid D Challenging and creative. Answer: B Now machines are widely used all over the world. Why are machines so important and necessary for us? Because they can help us to do things better and faster. A washing machine helps us to wash clothes fast. A printing machine helps us to print a lot of books, newspapers, magazines and many other things fast. Bikes, cars, trains and planes are all machines. They help us to travel faster than on foot. The computer is a wonderful machine. It was invented not long ago. It not only stores information but also stores numbers millions of times as fast as a scientist does. Let's study hard and try to use all kinds of machines to build China into a modern country. A printing machine can help us _ . A print a lot of books B read more books C invent many machines D wash clothes fast Answer: A
In our deep mind, we all talk to ourselves -- an inner monologue that might seem rather pointless. But as a study shows, the act of giving ourselves mental messages can help us learn and perform at our best. Researchers have identified the most effective forms of self-talk, collected here -- so that the next time you talk to yourself, you know exactly what you should say. Self-talk isn't just motivational messages like "You can do it!" or "Almost there," although this inside cheering section can give us confidence. A review of more than two dozen studies, published last year in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science,found that there's another kind of mental message that is even more useful, called "instructional self-talk." This is the kind of running description we engage in when we're carrying out a difficult task, especially one that's unfamiliar to us. Think about when you were first learning to drive. Your self-talk might have gone something like this: "Foot on the gas pedal , hands on the wheel, slow down for the bend here, now put your blinker on..." Over time, of course, giving yourself instructions becomes unnecessary -- but while you're learning, it does three important things. First, it promotes our attention, focusing us on the important part of the task and keeping out distractions. Second, it helps us manage our effort and make decisions about what to do, how to do it, and when. And third, self-talk allows us to control our cognitive and reactions, making us stay on tasks. In a recent study of students learning to throw darts in a gym class, Athanasios Kolovelonis and his colleagues at the University of Thessaly in Greece found that self-talk is most effective when involved in a cycle of thought and action. First comes forethought, when you set a goal for yourself and make a plan for how to get there. That's followed by performance, when you enact the plan to the best of your ability. Last comes self-reflection, when you carefully evaluate what you've done and adjust your plan for the next time. Self-talk can play a key part in this cycle. During the forethought stage, consider carefully what you'll say to yourself. You can even write them down. Repeat these self-instructions during the performance stage. With practice, you may find that your self-instructions become shorter; research has found that these words can become powerful signals. After the action is over, consider how you might change your self-talk to improve your performance next time -- so that at the moment it matters, the right words are ringing in your ears. According to the passage, what are you supposed to say to yourself first if you are learning to ride a horse for the first time? A How can I speed up? B No problem! I can make it! C What a big horse! I am scared! D Hold the rein and get on the horse! Answer: D Hi! My name is Lisa. I'm a student in Shanghai. I'm in Class Nine, Grade Five. Wang Tao and Li Fang are my friends. They are in Grade Five, too. They are not in my class. They are in Class Seven. I'm 12. They are 12, too. Mr. Cheng is my teacher. His telephone number is 8869254. What is Mr Cheng's job? A worker. B teacher. C doctor. D manager Answer: B Hi, I'm Li Ping. I am 15 years old. I am pretty healthy. I like doing all kinds of sports, such as football, basketball, running and swimming. Every morning, I get up early and do exercise. I play basketball on Wednesdays and Saturdays with my friends every week. I do my homework every day. I like watching TV, but I can't watch it every day on school nights. I only watch it on Saturday evening. I am neither fat nor thin. My eating habits are very good. I try to eat a little meat and lots of vegetables and fruit. And I never eat junk food. Do you know me? I'm Zhao Hui, a 14-year-old student. I am a little fat. I like eating meat. I eat meat three or four times a week. I especially like eating junk food. I want to eat it every day, but my parents don't allow me to eat it every day. I only eat it once or twice a week. I don't like exercise at all. Sometimes, I swim with my friends because I like it. I know exercise is good for my health. From now on, I have to exercise every day. How often does Zhao Hui eat junk food? A Every day. B Once or twice a week. C Twice or three times a week D Three or four times a week. Answer: B I've been home from Hawaii less than a week, and I've almost adjusted to being back at work (the 30 degree temperatures are a different story). I came back from my trip with a ton of energy, a great fun and so many wonderful memories. I also came back with some unexpected realizations about my business and my role as chief executive. Here's what I've decided: First and foremost, I'm still too caught up in the details. When I glanced at my e-mail each day I was away, I noticed so many messages,customer requests, etc. that I would have addressed immediately if I had been at the office. By putting myself in a position where I "couldn't" respond to these e-mails, I realized that the majority of them didn't require my response. I was worried that our new operations manager Amaya might get stuck in things without me there, but it turned out that she was just fine. When she had questions about the storage history of a customer, for example, she turned to the team and got her answers. It gave me new appreciation for my employees and their ability to help each other. I often get involved with the engineers on decisions related to our data centers. While I was gone, they had to make important decisions on a number of data center projects. They analyzed the options, and determined the proper course of action. I now realize that I don't need to be as involved in the details of this aspect of the business. Finally, I learned that having an auto--response message on my e-mail is the BEST. People immediately knew my status and were given contact information for other people who could help them. I saw all of my e-mails but didn't need to answer them. Somehow, everything just got done. So what does this mean for me? Well, that's a big, important question that involves my ever evolving role here. I thought I was doing a pretty good job pulling out myself from the details, but now I realize I can step back even more, so long as I'm keeping an eye through ongoing team and individual checkpoints. It'll require some restriction on my part, but it'll give me more time to work on other projects, like some marketing ideas I've been toying with. I may even plan a few more vacations! Which of the following is RIGHT about Amaya according to the passage? A She appreciates the author very much. B She is not familiar with her work very much. C She is an operations manager, helping other employees. D She's a person solving problem about the storage history of a customer. Answer: B To me, music is food and water. I can't live without it. I know this is not true for everybody. Many people don't listen to music and they can get along quite well. But music is everywhere in our life. For example, when you watch films or TV plays, do you find them interesting if there is no music? You would find them _ . And when you are waiting for the train or the plane, you would like music because it makes the time seem shorter. It is true that music is everywhere in our life. Some people like to sit by the sea and listen to the sound of the sea. Some enjoy listening to the singing of birds. Those sounds are some kinds of music. So music has meaning for everyone in some way or other. Of course, it has special meaning for people like me. We spend our lives playing or writing music. Someone said, "Through music, a child goes into a world of beauty, learns to take care of others and makes his mind and body strong." Music is an important part of our lives. The passage tells us that the writer _ . A likes to sit by the sea B is not interested in music C likes to travel by plane D likes music very much Answer: D
Question: Tu Youyou, an 84-year-old female scientist, became the first Chinese to win a Nobel Prize in science on Oct 5. Before that, she ever won the 2011 Lasker Award for finding out artemisinin (Qinghaosu), which saved millions of lives. She was grateful for the Lasker prize, but said, "It is just a scientist' duty. I will go on fighting for the health of all humans." Tu kept her work in the 1960s and 1970s. In that age, Malaria could took away people's health. Scientists all over the world had already tried over 240, 000 times but failed. Tu Youyou, a member of the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, began to study Chinese herbs. Before 2011, people didn't know Tu very much. Many friends played jokes with her "the Professor of Three None's" : no degree , no study experience abroad, not a member of any Chinese national colleges. But she is hard-working. She read a lot of traditional Chinese medicine books and did a lot of researches on the disease. In February, 2012, Tu was named National Outstanding Females (One of the Ten) Tu is now a model of Chinese medical workers. Tu Youyou became very famous _ . A. in the 1960s B. in 1970 C. before 2011 D. after 2012 Answer: D Question: Below are the best four applications(,app) to help you organize your closet--and trust us, there really is something for everyone. Closet If you're looking to create your own digital closet, then this app is for you. Closet helps you categorize your outfits and keeps you uptodate on what you've already worn. PROS : Very simple and userfriendly. Great for helping you look at your own closet without feeling overwhelmed. CONS : No social interactions. Pose The app makes things insanely easy for the indecisive shopper. So if you're debating whether or not to buy something, you can get a second opinion. The app also gathers photos of items that you wish to buy and items you already own, so they are all in one spot. PROS: When you sign up, you fill out a short survey that helps identify your personal style and subsequently finds people with similar taste that you can follow for inspiration. CONS: The phone application is more visually appealing than the actual website. Stylitics It allows you to categorize your clothes by color, brand, pattern and more. And if you're wondering whether you have already worn an outfit, simply check your style calendar. PROS: The app comes with a "Today in Fashion History" tip so you can brush up on your style knowledge. CONS: You can't view your style profile using the app yet unless you log on to the site. Walk in My Closet If you're browsing the Internet, looking for something to buy, you can instantly add the item to your virtual closet so that your wish list items are all in one place. Besides sharing your closet with other users, you can also sell items you no longer want. PROS: The "Moodboard" is a great way to gather inspiring looks that you like from other users and fashion experts. CONS: The luggage feature, which allows you to prepare outfits for an upcoming trip, is only available on the site; it would be useful if it were on the app. What can we learn about Walk in My Closet from the passage? A. It is a simple and userfriendly app. B. It helps you confirm your personal style. C. It combines both shopping and organizing your closet. D. It requires you to log on the site to view your style profile. Answer: C Question: (CNN)---NBA star Yao Ming announced his retirement during a news conference in China on Wednesday."I need to make a personal decision," Yao said."I am ending my basketball career. I am very grateful. I would like to thank my family members and my parents. And most of all, the Houston Rockets." Voted an All--Star player eight times while playing for the Houston Rockets, he was one of the most successful overseas players in the league. Yao has chalked up a career average of 19 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.9 blocks . His field-goal percentage was 52.4. In recent years, however, he struggled with foot and ankle injuries, and missed the 2009-2010 seasons. He suffered a fracture on his left ankle, and missed last season after playing only five games. Yao has been undergoing treatment and training in recent months, but some doubted he could make a comeback. The 30-year-old said he struggled to learn English when he first came to the United States, and grew a lot during his time in the country. " 9 years ago, I came to Huston as a tall, skinny player. I grew to a man there. I also had my daughter there. I thank you all," Yao said during the packed news conference in Shanghai. Yao's retirement came the year as another NBA giant Shaquille O'Neal. Both seven-footers had battled for many years. Kobe Bryant said Yao opened up doors for Chinese players to feel they could play in the NBA."All that started with Yao," Bryant said. How old was Yao when first appeared as a Houston Rockets player? A. Nine years old. B. Twenty-one years old. C. .Twenty-nine years old. D. Thirty years old. Answer: B Question: Robins will often devour A. rocks B. wood C. glue D. grasshoppers Answer: D Question: At a primary school in a small town in the east of South Carolina, second-grade teachers Carneau and Lynne are convinced that separating primary boys and girls produces immediate academic improvement in both genders David Chadwell, South Carolina's coordinator of single gender education says, " Boys and girls learn,hear and respond to their surroundings differently. We can teach boys and girls based on what we now know." Male and female eyes are not organized in the same way,he explains. The composition of the male eye makes it sensitive to motion and direction. " Boys interpret the world as objects moving through space," he says. The male eye is also drawn to cooler color1s like silver and black. It's no accident that boys tend to create pictures of moving objects instead of drawing the happy color1ful family,as girls do in class. The female eye,on the other hand,is drawn to warmer color1s like red, yellow and orange. To attract girls, Chadwell says, the teacher doesn't need to move as much as in boys' class. Using descriptive phrases and lots of color1s in presentations or on the blackboard gets their attention. Boys and girls also hear differently. " When someone speaks in a loud tone,girls interpret it as yelling, " says Chadwell. " They think you're mad and can shut down. " Girls are more sensitive to sounds. He advises girls' teachers to watch the tone of their voices. Boys' teachers should sound more forceful, even excited. A boy's nervous system causes him to be more cautious when he is standing, moving, and the room temperature is around 6.Stress in boys,he says, tends to increase blood flow to their brains, a process that helps them stay focused. Girls are more focused when they are seated in a warmer room around 75degF. Girls also respond to stress differently. When exposed to threat and conflict, blood goes to their guts ,leaving them feeling nervous or anxious. These differences can be applied in the classroom, Chadwell adds. " Single gender programs are about maximizing the learning." Which of the students is most likely to stay focused? A. A boy sitting in a warm room. B. A standing boy faced with stress. C. A girl standing in a cold room. D. A girl facing a lot of pressure. Answer: B
Question: My sister Sharon and I look very different. She's tall, and I'm short. She has short curly dark (,) hair, and I have long straight blond hair. We both have dark eyes, but Sharon wears glasses, and I don't. And she always wears large earrings . I don't wear earring. Sharon and I do many things together . We watch movies together, and we often go shopping. We play tennis together every Saturday. Often, people don't know that Sharon and I are sisters, because we look so . But we are also good friends. What does Sharon look like? She _ . A. is tall and has dark hair B. doesn't wear earrings C. has long straight blond hair D. is short and dark hair Answer: A. is tall and has dark hair Question: Which of the following is a SOURCE of light? A. Earth B. planet C. star D. moon Answer: C. star Question: For some people, music is no fun at all. About 4% of the population is what scientists call "amusic". People who are amusic are born without the ability to enjoy musical notes. Amusic people often cannot tell the differences between two songs. As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amuics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. In fact, most people cannot begin to understand what it feels like to be an amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping center can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics have to stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in social loneliness. "I used to hate parties," says Margaret, a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify this unusual condition. Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different from those of people who can enjoy music. The difference is complex , and it is not connected with poor hearing. Amusics can understand other non-musical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding common speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can't see certain colors. Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed . For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem music. Now she knows that she is not alone. That makes it easier for her to explain. When people invite me to a concert, I just say "No, thanks. I'm amusic." says Margret. What causes amusics different from most people according to scientists? A. Their brains. B. Their lack of colors. C. Their problems with speech. D. Their poor hearing. Answer: A. Their brains. Question: Almost two-thirds of children want their parents to spend more time reading to them before bed, and most prefer Mum's storytelling to Dad's, researchers said. They carried out a study that showed younger children aged 3-4 were most hungry for more stories, with over three-quarters saying they wished their parents read to them more often. More than half of all children aged 3-8 said story time was their favourite _ with their parents. "The results of our research confirm the traditional activity of storytelling continues to be a powerful learning and emotional resource in children's lives," said child psychologist Richard Woolfson. Storytelling ranked higher than television or video games among pastimes for kids, and 82 percent said reading a story with their parents helped them sleep better, according the survey of 500 children aged 3-8 in Britain. The best storytellers were mothers who used funny voices to illustrate different characters or made their own special sound effects to keep the story moving, researchers said. When mum and dad are not at hand, celebrities will do: over 30 percent of children said they would like to hear a bedtime story from Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, with teen idols Zac Efron, Miley Cyrus and Emma Watson. "It can be very difficult for parents to find the time to read with their children, but these moments can help build strong relations and play a vital part in their child's development," said Woolfson. The author develops the passage mainly by _ . A. pointing out similarities and differences B. following the natural time order C. comparing opinions from different fields D. providing examples and statistics Answer: D. providing examples and statistics Question: Animal moms are great moms. You might be surprised at some of these moms. Octopuses The mother octopus lays about 50,000 eggs. For about 300 days, she stays with the eggs, cleans them and protects them. She does not leave to feed. However, this animal mom dies as soon as the eggs are hatched . Crocodiles A crocodile mother puts a lot of time and effort into raising her babies. She starts by building a nest , which she guards for over two months! When the eggs are ready to hatch, the young crocs call out to their mother, who digs them out and helps them hatch. She then carries them in her mouth down to the water, where she will guard them for several more weeks or months until they learn to hunt on their own. Bats Bats become moms by hanging head up in a cave, giving birth. Catching the youngster before it can fall to the ground below, she puts it in a pouch . Bat moms may carry babies with them when feeding for the first few days. As the little bats get bigger and heavier, moms help them hang on the wall of their caves and return often to feed them. It continues for about three weeks, until the babies are grown up and able to fly on their own. Koalas The animal mom gives birth after a pregnancy of only 35 days. The hairless baby climbs into its mother's pouch and lives there for another five months. When the little koala is between five and eight months old, it leaves the pouch for short periods of time but returns for safety. Once it is too big to return to the pouch, it will climb onto its mother's back and ride there until it is about 12 months old. How long does a young koala usually stay with its mom? A. 35 days. B. 5 months. C. 8 months. D. 12 months. Answer: D. 12 months.
Imagine you're at a party full of strangers. You're nervous. Who are these people? How do you start a conversation? Fortunately, you've got a thing that sends out energy at tiny chips in everyone's name tag . The chips send back name, job, hobbies, and the time available for meeting-whatever. Making new friends becomes simple. This hasn't quite happened in real life. But the world is already experiencing a revolution using RFID technology. An RFID tag with a tiny chip can be fixed in a product, under your pet's skin, even under your own skin. Passive RFID tags have no energy source-batteries because they do not need it. The energy comes from the reader, a scanning device ,that sends out energy (for example, radio waves)that starts up the tag immediately. Such a tag carries information specific to that object, and the data can be updated. Already, RFID technology is used for recognizing each car or truck on the road and it might appear in your passport. Doctors can put a tiny chip under the skin that will help locate and obtain a patient's medical records. At a nightclub in Paris or in New York the same chip gets you into the VIP (very important person) section and pays for the bill with the wave of an arm. Take a step back: 10 or 12 years ago, you would have heard about the coming age of computing. One example always seemed to surface: Your refrigerator would know when you needed to buy more milk. The concept was that computer chips could be put everywhere and send information in a smart network that would make ordinary life simpler. RFID tags are a small part of this phenomenon. "The world is going to be a loosely coupled set of individual small devices, connected wirelessly," predicts Dr.J.Reich. Human right supporters are nervous about the possibilities of such technology. It goes too far tracking school kids through RFID tags, they say. We imagine a world in which a beer company could find out not only when you bought a beer but also when you drank it. And how many beers accompanied by how many biscuits. When Marconi invented radio, he thought it would be used for ship-to-shore communication. Not for pop music. Who knows how RFID and related technologies will be used in the future. Here's a wild guess: Not for buying milk. Passive RFID tags chiefly consist of _ . Language is a way to communicate with each other. We started to learn language when we were born. However, people are used to speaking their native language, so immigrants are having many problems between the first generation and the second generation because they don't have the same native language. Also, the second generation is losing their identity. Especially in America, there are many immigrants that came from different countries to succeed in the States. Because they suffer in lots of areas such as getting a job and trying to speak English, they want their children to speak English, not only at school, but also at home in order to be more successful. Because of this situation, their children are losing their identity and, even more, they are ignoring their parents whose English is not very good. I think most immigrants are trying to preserve their native language in their new country, but this doesn't help very much in getting a good job. My aunt taught Korean to her children not to help hem succeed in the U.S. she did so, hopefully, to help them establish a Korean identity. Though the second generation was born in the new country, they often get confused about their identity because they look different from others, and also, if they visit their parents' country, they will probably feel different from other people there too. My cousins told me that when they visited Korea a few years ago, they felt different from other Koreans. They could even feel it just strolling around the street because they wore different clothes and walked differently. We must realize that language is important and valuable for many reasons. Immigrants should make an effort not to be ignored by their children understand their background by teaching them the parents' language. This is very important, not only for the harmony of the family, but also in helping the second generation establish their identity. According to the text, the native language is important and valuable to immigrants in that _ . All over the world people enjoy sports.Sports help to keep people healthy,happy and help them to live longer. Sports change with the season. People play different games in winter and summer. Games and sports often grow out of people's work and everyday activities.The Arabs use horses or camels in much of their everyday life;they use them in their sports,too. Some sports are so interesting that people everywhere go in for them.Football,for example,has spread around the world.Swimming is popular in all countries near the sea or in those with many rivers. Some sports or games go back to thousands of years,like running or jumping.Chinese boxing,for example,has a very long history.But basketball and volleyball are rather new.Neither one is a hundred years old yet.People are inventing new sports or games all the time. People from different countries may not be able to understand each other but after a game they often become good friends.Sports help to train a person's character .One learns to fight hard but fight fair,to win without pride and to lose with grace The writer didn't tell us in this passage that _ . Running a marathon Have you ever taken part in a marathon? A marathon is 42km long. It is the longest race in the world. To make the runner's body work, harder training is quite necessary. A runner should start to prepare for a marathon at least three months before. Preparation may have races, many hours of running at different speeds and changes in diet . During the training time the runner must eat a fit diet. The diet should have lots of things needed in training the players. In the early days of training, runners run 80km per week. The running is increased every two or three weeks and at least two long runs per week are needed. Two weeks before the marathon, the training programme becomes less, from 100km per week down to 60km and then to 30km in the final week. On the last two days they may not run at all. Breakfast should be eaten at least three hours before the race. Easily digested food such as cereal , toast and scrambled egg is best, with as much fluid as possible. Runners should drink water about half an hour before the race to keep up the body fluid. What should a runner have for his breakfast on the day of the race? The election is over. The celebrations have ended. And the work for prefix = st1 /USpresident-elect Barack Obama has begun. The 47-year-old politician rose to the highest place because he was against the war inIraqand he planned to fix the difficult economy. But what will the first African-American president do for race relations? Obama's victory appears to have given blacks and other minorities a true national role model. For years, many looked to athletes, musicians and pop stars for inspiration. As Darius Turner, an African-American high school student in Los Angeles, told the Los Angeles Times, "Kobe (the basketball player) doesn't have to be everyone's role model anymore." A USA Today survey found that two-thirds of Americans believe relations between blacks and whites "will eventually be worked out". This is the most hopeful answer since the question was first asked in 1963. However, it's still too early to tell whether Obama's presidency will solve many of the social problems facing low-income black families. It's unlikely that Obama will be able to _ such trends overnight. However, Bil Banks, an expert of African-American Studies, says that young blacks need to find role models to follow. "That's not Martin Luther King, and not Barack Obama," he told the Los Angeles Times. "It's actually the people closest to them. Barack only has so much influence." In the opinion of black British politician Trevor Phillips, Obama's rise will contribute more to multiculturalism than to race relations in the US. For what reason did Obama win the election?
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side. Most people know this joke. But recently, some people have been much more worried about how the grizzly bear and mountain lion can cross the road. " Millions of animals die each year on the U. S. roads, " the Federal Highway Administration reports. In fact, only about 80 ocelots , an endangered wild cat, exist in the U. S. today. The main reason? Roadkill. "Eco-passages" may help animals cross the road without being hit by cars. They are paths both over and under roads. " These ecopassages can be extremely useful,so that wildlife can avoid road accidents ," said Jodi Hilty of the Wildlife Protection Society. But do animals actually use the eco-passages? The answer is yes. Paul Beier of Northern Arizona University found foot marks left by mountain lions on an eco-passage that went under a highway. This showed that the lions used the passage. Builders of eco-passages try to make them look like a natural part of an area by planting trees on and around them. Animals seem to be catching on. Animals as different as salamanders and grizzly bears are using the bridges and underpasses. The next time you visit a park or drive through an area with a lot of wildlife, look around. You might see an animal over-pass ! The writer uses the example of "ocelots" to show that _ . A an increasing number of animals are killed in road accidents B the driving conditions have improved greatly C the measure for protecting wildlife fails to work D wild animals have become more dangerous Answer: A. an increasing number of animals are killed in road accidents Which of the following is not an inherited trait of humans? A eye color B hair color C favorite food D height Answer: C. favorite food A thing is on fire and afterwards it is A salty B silly C sweet D seared Answer: D. seared Once there lived a lion in the big mountain.He was very big and strong.He often ate the other animals.Every day he went out to look for food.The small animals in the mountain were all afraid of him.Near the mountain there were four bulls .They are friends, and they often worked and played together.The tiger tried many times to catch them, but he could not do so.Every time he came near, the four bulls stood together to fight him.So he could do nothing to them. One day, the four bulls had a quarrel .After that each of them went his own way.When the lion saw this, he was happy.He caught one bull and ate him up .Then he caught another.One by one he caught all the four bulls and ate them up. The lion _ at last . A ate up all the four bulls B ate nothing C made friends with bulls D couldn't find the bulls\ Answer: A. ate up all the four bulls Hotter blood is rarely found A in horny toads B in rats C in humans D in bears Answer: A. in horny toads
New security camera can "see" through clothes New technology that can " see " through clothing and detect what ' s underneath can now be used to scan crowds, making it a potentially effective tool to prevent terrorist attacks in public places. The Thru Vision T5000 camera picks up Terahertz rays, or T-rays, which are naturally sent out by all objects and can pass through clothes or even walls. The camera can then detect metallic and nonmetallic objects hidden under clothing on still or moving objects without showing any body detail. While similar technology is seen at airports around the world, the T5000 is designed to be used in large, open areas. With a range of 25 meters, the T5000 can screen people in public places, thus avoiding bottle-necks at border crossing or security checkpoints. It also means people can be screened without knowing it. The technology develops from British astronomers' work in studying dying stars. Astronomers use T-ray cameras to see through dust and clouds in space. The company sees uses for its camera at other sites where political or business activities take place. For privacy concerns,Thru Vision Chief Executive Clive Beattie said the image produced by the camera did not show detailed parts of the body. " It's almost a shining light bulb ." Beattie said. "You don' t see the detail that people might be concerned about. " In London' s busy Piccadilly Circus--which is already filled with closed -circuit surveillance cameras-- reaction to the new technology was mixed. Some said the camera was going too far and violating privacy,but others said they are willing to put safety before privacy concerns. " There ' s surveillance everywhere anyway." said one commuter. "I don' t think it' s much of a difference. I don' t care that they can see through me because they can see me anyway." Some experts said the privacy violation of the camera was not worth the benefit. " What we should consider is how much we want to lose our privacy in order to obtain a sort of national security," said David Murakami Wood,director of the Surveillance Studies network,which deals with surveillance and privacy problems. " In most cases this isn' t real security--it ' s a sense of safety that has very little real effect. " Which is most probably the opinion of people on using the new camera? When I was 12 years old, I was at a very hard stage in life. I was short and fat, which was bad for a girl, so coordination was not one of my strongest features. On the other hand, my mother was a very talented softball player who even acted as my coach. Night after night, I would try my best to impress "my coach".Unfortunately, I just felt like a terrible disappointment to my mother. One summer afternoon, my mother told us we were going to visit Uncle David. Since we lived in an apartment, going to the country was quite a treat. My uncle David always had a way of making me feel special. When we arrived, my uncle and cousin Jeff were throwing metal rings at two holes in the ground. I was curious about what they were doing so I went over to watch. Noticing that I was standing there, my uncle asked if I had ever played washers. Being a "city girl", my reply was that the only "washers" I knew were the ones that cleaned clothes. To my embarrassment, Uncle David, chuckling ,explained that the metal rings were called washers. I was shocked to hear my uncle saying he wanted me to take his place. He then gave me the washers and gave tips on how to throw better. Unwillingly, I joined Jeff. Gradually, I found myself not only enjoying but also wanting to win this game. The washer went into the air and began to fall. Then a cloud of dust appeared as the washer sank into the hole. My first try! I had actually thrown the washer into the hole! Although 23 summers have gone by since that day, this small success in washer playing helped me get back self confidence lost when I struggled with the game of softball. Which is the RIGHT time order of the changes in the author's feelings when she was at her uncle's? It is easy to find your way about in New York. It is _ so regularly. Instead of streets winding and twisting as they do in London, they are all regular and well planned. The streets running north and south are called "avenues" and are numbered, e.g. 1stAvenue, 2ndAvenue, etc. The streets going east and west are called "streets" and are also numbered, e.g. 51stStreet, 63rdStreet. It is all much more logical than London's street names. But I couldn't help thinking how much more interesting than these dull cold numbers are London's illogical but colorful names of streets, e.g. "Bishopgate" (which is not a gate and hasn't a Bishop in it); "Haymarket" or "Corn market" (where you won't see any hey or corn) or "Poultry" (without a living chicken anywhere in sight) or "Thread needle Street" (where you won't find little girls learning to sew). The streets running from north to south are called _ . Alex Taw,a 21yearold student from Wiltshire,England.He spent last summer like any other high school graduate--hanging out with friends,preparing for college,worrying about his university fees.While most of his peers gave up on their pipe dreams,he sat down with a notebook at home,and jotted down the question:How can I become a millionaire? The result was the MillionDollarHomepage.com.Alex's initial investment was 50 pounds to buy web space and a domain name.He divided the blank homepage into one million pixels ,10,000 blocks of 100 pixels each.Each pixel was worth $1 with minimum purchase 100 pixels.Within a month Alex had earned some $37,000,enough for him to cover the entire cost of his forthcoming three years at university.In just a few months,he became a real millionaire. How did he come up with the idea of the Million Dollar Homepage? "Well,I was trying to think of a way to make some money before I started university,as I was about to take on a huge debt and I was already overdrawn .Swift action was necessary!"He said. He also added,"The important thing is that anything is possible--we are only limited by our imagination.I always had this belief that a good idea can be successful on its own.I think I've learnt that if we think deeper there are magical solutions hiding away for us to find." His personal philosophy around money is:Money is not everything,but it's an essential part of the way we live. _ He also said,"I still want to go to university.Aside from gaining knowledge about business,there are other reasons--exploring your interests,meeting new people,and being in a creative environment." Besides making contributions to society,he would try to encourage and inspire people to think of creative solutions to problems,whatever they are. Which of the following statements is TRUE? Careercast.com is out with its list of best and worst jobs of 2012. It's bad news for the writer of this story, but much brighter for the folks who program the code that keeps this website busy. Using a method that looked at physical demands, work environment, income, stress and hiring outlook, career Website Careercast.com, ranked the top 200 jobs. They also ranked the jobs with the most stress. Not surprisingly, none of the most stressful jobs show up on the best jobs list. At the top is software engineer and at the bottom is the lumberjack. Cutting trees failed to skate above the bottom 10 percent in all ranking categories, except income. "Unemployment for lumberjacks is very high, and the demand for their services is expected to continue to fall through 2016. And while working outside all day may seem like a great job perk , being a lumberjack not only is considered the worst job, but also one of the world's most dangerous," according to Careercast.com. And, for that most dangerous job, a lumberjack earns a little more than $32,000 a year. That's about $56,000 less than the easy job of a software engineer, which has the average salary at $88,000 a year, according to Careercast. Here's a complete look at the best and worst jobs. And, take a look at the most stressful jobs. You may be surprised. Best Jobs Worst Jobs Most Stressful Jobs Software Engineer Lumberjack Enlisted Soldier Actuary Dairy Farmer Firefighter Human Resources Manager Enlisted Military Soldier Airline Pilot Dental Hygienist Oil Rig Worker Military General Financial Planner Reporter (Newspaper) Police Officer Audiologist Waiter/Waitress Event Coordinator Occupational Therapist Meter Reader Public Relations Executive Online Advertising Manager Dishwasher Corporate Executive Computer Systems Analyst Butcher Photojournalist Mathematician Broadcaster Taxi Driver Who might be most interested in the passage?
Question: You can see further from which of these locations on the moon? A. mountains B. crater C. buildings D. surface Answer: A. mountains Question: Some people are lucky enough to be born with a good sense of direction and even if they have only visited a place once, they will be able to find it again years later. I am one of those unfortunate people who have poor sense of direction and I may have visited a place time after time but I still get lost on my way there. When I was young I was so shy that I never dared ask complete strangers the way and so I used to wander round in circles and hope that by some chance I would get to the spot I was heading for. I am no longer too shy to ask people for direction, but I often receive replies that puzzle me. Often people do not like to admit that they didn't know their hometown and will insist on telling you the way, even if they do not know it; others, who are anxious to prove that they know their hometown very well, will give you a long list of directions which you can not possibly hope to remember, and still others do not seem to be able to tell between their left and their right and you find in the end that you are going in the opposite direction to that in which you should be going. If anyone ever asks me the way to somewhere, I always tell them I am a stranger to the town in order to avoid giving them wrong direction but even this can have embarrassing results. Once I was on my way to work when I was stopped by a man who asked me if I would direct him the way to the Sunlight Building. I gave my usual reply, but I had not walked on a few steps when I realized that he had asked for directions to my office building. However, at this point, I decide it was too late to turn back and search for him out of the crowd behind me as I was going to meet with someone at the office and I did not want to keep him waiting. Imagine my embarrassment when my secretary showed in the very man who had asked for directions of my office and his astonishment when he recognized me as the person he had asked. How did the visitor feel when he was showed into the very room? A. He felt strange. B. He felt embarrassed. C. He felt very sad. D. He felt astonished. Answer: D. He felt astonished. Question: The City Bike program rolled into New York last spring and proved a hit, with nearly 12,000 New Yorkers signing up for annual memberships. Since 2010, over a dozen US cities have introduced bike-share programs. There're plenty of bike stations near parks and other car-free areas. The programs we looked at in major cities work the same way. You buy a 24-hour pass. During the time, you get an unlimited number of 30-minute rides. If you go over your given half-hour ride time, you start paying fees for each following 30-minute period. Here are some of the biggest bike-share program in America. Minneapolis: Nice Ride Minnesota Station : Minnehaha Ave. & Minnehaha Pkwy How much: $ 6 for a 24-hour pass. How it works: The first 30 minutes are included in the pass; $ 1.50 for the second 30 minutes; $ 4.50 for the third 30 minutes; later $ 6 for every half an hour. Chicago: Divvy Bikes Station : Lakeshore Drive and Monroe St; also Museum Campus How much: $ 7 for a 24-hour pass, with unlimited 30-minute trips. How it works: The first 30 minutes are included in the pass; $ 2 for the second 30 minutes; $ 6 for the third 30 minutes; later $ 8 for every half an hour. New York City: Citi Bike Station : Central Park So. & 6thAve; also Broadway & W.57thSt. How much: $ 9.95 for a 24-hour pass. How it works: The first 30 minutes are included in the pass; $ 4 for the second 30 minutes; $ 9 for the third 30 minutes; later $ 12 for every half an hour. Boston: Hubway Station : Tremont St. & West St. How much: $ 6 for a 24-hour pass. How it works: The first 30 minutes are included in the pass; $ 2 for the second 30 minutes; $ 4 for the third 30 minutes; later $ 8 for every half an hour. We are volunteers. If you want to know more information, please contact us. Which of the following bike-share programs costs the riders most? A. Nice Ride Minnesota B. Divvy Bikes C. Citi Bike D. Hubway Answer: C. Citi Bike Question: There are no exact differences between physics and other natural sciences because all sciences overlap .In general,however,physics is the scientific study of forces and qualities such as heat,light,sound,pressure,gravity and electricity,and the ways they affect other objects. One major branch of physics deals with the states of matter--solids,liquids and gases and with their motions.The pioneer achievements of Galileo,Kepler and Newton dealt with solid masses of matter in motion.Such studies deal with forces acting on moving objects.It is the subject of mechanics and belongs to the branch of mechanics called dynamics,the study of matter in motion.This large topic includes not only the motions of stars and ping-pong balls but also the motions of the water pumped by a fire engine and those of the air passing through the jet engine of an airplane. A branch of mechanics is statics ,the study of matter at rest.The designs of buildings and bridges are examples of problems in statics.Other branches of physics are based on the different kinds of energy,which interact with matter.They deal with electricity and magnetism ,heat,light,and sound.From these branches of physics scientists find clues which have revealed the constructions of atoms and how the atoms react to various kinds of energy. _ is often called the basis of modern physics.Among the many subdivisions of modern physics are electronics and nuclear physics.Physics is closely related to engineering.A person who uses knowledge of physics in solving everyday problems is often called an engineer.For example,electricity is one of the branches of physics;and an electrical engineer is a man who uses the "natural laws" of electricity to help in designing and electric generator . Physics is not exactly different from other natural sciences because _ . A. physics and other natural sciences have parts in common B. it is the scientific study of forces and qualities such as heat,light and sound C. it studies the ways in which forces and qualities affect other objects D. it is a part of other natural sciences Answer: A. physics and other natural sciences have parts in common Question: A woman renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office was asked to state her occupation.She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do you have a job, or are you just a ..." "Of course I have a job," said Emily."I'm a mother." "We don't list 'mother' as an occupation... 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder. One day I found myself in the same situation.The clerk was obviously a career woman, confident and possessed of a high sounding title."What is your occupation?" she asked. The words simply popped out."I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ballpoint pen frozen in midair. I repeated the title slowly, and then I stared with wonder as my statement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire. "Might I ask, " said the clerk with new interest, "Just what you do in this field?" Coolly, without any trace of panic in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't), in the lab and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out).Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?), and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it).But the job is more challenging than most careers and rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money." There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and showed me out. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants---ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (a 6 month old baby), in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt proud! I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother." Motherhood...What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door. How did the author feel when describing her job to the clerk? A. calm B. panic-stricken C. confident D. cool Answer: A. calm
Bury trip--June 18th,2016 We will be leaving the Perse School at 13:45.Please be at the school gate 10minutes early.If you are late,you may miss the bus and not be able to go!If you miss the bus,you won't get your money back.The bus is planned to arrive in Bury at 14:30,although this depends on traffic.You will have free time to walk around and we will meet at the same location where we arrived at 17:15to return to the Perse School by about 18:00. Things to do Visit the Abbey The Abbey is the min of a church which was built more than 1,000years ago.There are many nice gardens in it.And next to the Abbey,there is a big new church. Have a drink in the Nutshell This little bar is famous in Britain because it is officially the smallest bar in the country.Good things are put in small bags,and the Nutshell serves some of the area's finest beer,as well as fascinating photos. Have a look at a beer shop At the Greene King shop you can taste and buy some of the local beer,as well as food such as potato chips.There are also clothes available to buy. Several places are listed,but feel free to plan your own visit. What can we see in the Abbey? Answer: Imagine a house that keeps itself warm in the wintertime. Think of the savings in terms of fuel bills and unfriendly emissions. Such houses in fact exist, called "passive houses". The concept of these highly energy-efficient buildings took root in the 1990s, before slowly consolidating as a niche construction concept in the 2000s. Are passive houses now actively moving into the mainstream as sustainable buildings? For Brian McGarry, an economics lecturer who built a family house based on passive housing criteria in the Pyrenees this year, the arguments look convincing. As his first full winter in the low energy house draws in, we asked him to keep us informed. Do passive houses work? I had never heard of a passive house in February 2012, when I purchased a plot of land. Nor did I expect that I would be persuaded to build a pre-constructed, custom-designed house based on energy-efficient passive house criteria. It promised to be easier and quicker to build, cheaper to run, and more comfortable to live in. The objective was to incorporate the fundamental concepts of passive energy management into my project: an airtight and highly insulated building envelope; large southfacing double or triple-glazed windows (if possible, filled with argon gas) that passively capture the energy of the sun; a heat recovery ventilation system to provide fresh air; and a simple, low-cost heating system consisting of a modern wood-burning stove, a bathroom heater and a portable radiator backup for when the sun doesn't shine and temperatures decline. No significant limitations were placed on the design, and it had excellent environmental credentials. Moreover, the cost was no more than a conventional build. After six months in use, the house is proving to be both cheap to run and remarkably comfortable-staying cool in the hot summer was effortless, as long as the windows were shuttered or shaded from the sun. Nowstaying warm in the cold, high-altitude December climate also seems easy, so far. Winter arrived in force in the Pyrenees in November, with abundant snowfalls and temperatures as low as minus 8deg Celsius. Though early days, the house has responded well: the stove is lit during cold evenings but the portable radiator has not yet been needed. This type of construction seems not only to make economic and environmental sense, but to enhance our quality of life, too. What is the writer's attitude towards the passive housing? Answer: The Kyoto Protocol is a plan created by the United Nations for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.The plan aims to reduce the amount of industrial gases released into the environment.Some scientists say carbon dioxide and other industrial gases are to blame for climate change around the world.The scientists say such gases build up in the atmosphere and trap heat below.They say this results in increasing temperatures and rising sea levels. The plan is called the Kyoto Protocol because it was negotiated in Kyoto,Japan in December,1997.The goal of the agreement is to reduce the amount of emissions --industrial gases released to below the levels of 1990. Nations responsible for at least 55%of the world's industrial carbon dioxide emissions had to approve the agreement before it could go into effect.The European Union and many other industrial nations quickly approved the Kyoto Protocol.They receive credit for their own emissions if they invest in cleaned technologies in developing nations.Developing nations do not have to meet the emissions requirements of the agreement. The United States produced 36%of the world's carbon dioxide emissions in 1999.But the United States refused to approve the Kyoto Protocol.Before the Protocol was negotiated,the United States Senate voted that any treaty harmful to the economy of the United States could not be signed.President Bush has said that he supports the general idea of the treaty but will not send the treaty to the Senate for approval.Mr. Bush said that the agreement sets unfair differences between industrial and developing nations.He also said that the treaty could cause some Americans to lose their jobs. After the United States rejected the Kyoto Protocol,approval by Russia was necessary for the agreement to come into effect.Russia approved the Protocol in November,2004 and the Kyoto Protocol went into effect on February 16th,2005.157 countries have approved the agreement. It can NOT be learned from this passage that_. Answer: If you knew a bottle of water had been recycled from urine , would you drink it? Astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS) may soon do so. NASA said it would use a high-tech machine to recycle wastewater at the ISS. The machine will recycle everything from sweat , the water for washing hands, shower water, water used for brushing teeth, and even urine, to make drinking water. It will save NASA millions of dollars each year. At present, each ISS astronaut uses about 4.4 liters of water every day. It costs about $24 million a year to transport water up to ISS. NASA says that a liter of water costs about $11,000. The machine will be sent to the ISS in October 2008. NASA hopes it will recycle about 93% of all water used on the station. Will the water be clean? Scientists say the wastewater will go through a very complicated process . For example, different chemicals will be put in the wastewater; the water will be heated to 130degCto get rid of bacteria . The recycled water is thousands of times better than the water from a city tap, scientists say. At present it costs NASA about _ dollars to transport water up to an astronaut at the ISS a day. Answer: Visit New York City with your kids where there are numerous things to do which will entertain their spirits and feed their minds. The Whispering Gallery Make your way to the Whispering Gallery. Kids can get a lot of fun there. Once inside the gallery, place one person facing the corner at one end of the room and then place another person facing the corner at the opposite end. Ask one of them to whisper a phrase or a quick sentence and the person at the opposite end will be able to hear every word that was said. E.42nd St. New York, NY 10017 212-771-5322 grandcentralterminal.com American Museum of Natural History The American Museum of Natural History was founded in 1869. In addition to its impressive exhibits, permanent attractions bring the cool feeling to kids. They can enter the Fossil Halls and take in the impressive dinosaur skeletons. And the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life educates kids on the fragility of the ocean. Central Park West at 79th St. New York, NY 10024 212-769-5606 amnh.org The Scholastic Store Most parents want their children to read, and moreover, to enjoy reading. The Scholastic Store helps to make that wish a reality by publishing well-written stories that appeal to children, such as Clifford the Big Red Dog, the Magic School Bus and Harry Potter, the Scholastic Store will delight your children. 557 Broadway. New York, NY 10012 212-343-6100 scholastic.com Ellen's Stardust Diner The restaurant is a place where each person in your family can find something to eat. A diverse menu will satisfy every one's appetite. Arugula salads, grilled cheese burgers and meatloaf are all on this varied menu. The hall of beauty queens, a drive-in theatre can add to the unique dining experience. 1650 Broadway, corner of 51st St. New York, NY 10019 212-956-5151 ellensstardustdiner.com Which of the following websites helps kids learn about ancient animals? Answer:
Using your electronic that uses batteries for long periods of time makes them get very hot to the touch, which makes it a Answer: source of warmth Every New Year brings renewed expectation for a change, for a better life and for a better you. That's a wonderful thing, because this fresh start gives us a chance to reinvent our lives and ourselves. Here's how. Let go Many times we are held back by our previous failures,emotions and barriers . This is all old baggage. Let everything unhappy from the past go. Let go of failures. Let go of fears you've built up. Let go of your ideas about what your life has to be like. Let go of long-held beliefs and habits which seem to be burdens to you. Clear away distractions Clear away email, your favourite blogs and news websites. Clearaway the iPhone or Blackberry, and clear away all the _ that pull at your attention. In fact, if you can, shut off the Internet for a while. You can come back to it after you take a break. Decide what matters most today Forget about your goals for all of this year. Instead, decide what you want to do today. What matters most to you and your life? What are you most passionate about right now? What excites you? What gives you the most fulfillment ? Often the answer would be in creating something, making something new, helping others, becoming a better person, and working on a project that you will be proud of. But whatever your answer, have it clear in your mind at the beginning of the day. Reinvent yourself every day Every day, you are reborn.Reinvent yourself and your life. Do what matters most to you. It might be the same thing that mattered most yesterday, or it might not be. That isn't important. What's important is today---right now! Be passionate, and be happy! You'll have a fresh start every single day---not just on January 1 of a new year. Which of the following is the writer's suggestion according to the passage? Answer: Making yourself a person reborn every day. At Harton College--an English boarding school for boys--there are many rules. 15-year-old Bob Sanders often breaks them. The boys can go into the town in the afternoon after class. But they must return to the school at six o'clock. One afternoon Bob walked to the town. He looked at the shops and then went to the cinema. When the film was over, it was after eight o'clock. He was a little worried. He walked back to prefix = st1 /HartonCollegeas fast as possible. When he arrived, he ran quickly to the main entrance. It was locked. He went round the school . uilding to another door, which was locked, too. He looked up at the window of his dormitory on the third floor. The window was open, but it was quite dark and he could not climb up the wall easily. Then he saw another open window on the ground floor. It was the window of the headmaster's study. He looked into the room--no one was there. Bob quickly climbed onto the window sill and jumped into the room. Just then he heard a noise. Then someone turned on a light in the corridor. Bob looked around and then hid under the sofa. One minute later, Mr. Mannering, the headmaster, came in. He turned on the light on his desk, and sat down on the sofa. Then he opened a book and began to read. Bob lay under the sofa as quietly as possible. He couldn't move. The floor was cold and uncomfortable. He looked at the headmaster's shoes and socks for an hour. "Why doesn't he get up and go to bed?" Bob thought. Mr. Mannering read his book for another hour. Finally, the headmaster closed his book and stood up. He put the book on a shelf and walked towards the door. "Thank heavens he didn't find me under the sofa," thought Bob. Then Mr. Mannering stopped and spoke towards the sofa. "Would you turn off the light when you leave?" He said, and left the study. Why didn't Bob go to his dormitory? Answer: Because the wall was too high for him to climb up. Mini Book Excerpts Biography When Salinger learned that a car park was to be built on the land, the middle-aged writer was shocked and quickly bought the neighboring area to protect it... The townspeople never forgot the rescue and came to help their most famous neighbor. J. D. Salinger:A Life by Kenneth Slawenski (Random House, $27) Mystery "You're a smart boy. Benny's death was no accident, and you're the only who saw it happen. Do you think the murderer should get away with it? "The boy was starting stubbornly at his lap again. A thought suddenly occurred to Annika, "Did you ...You recognized the man in the car, didn't you?" The boy hesitated, twisting his fingers, "Maybe," he said quietly. Red Wolf by Liza Marklund (Atria Books, $25. 99) Short Stories She wants to say to him what she has learned, none of it in class. Some women are born stupid, and some women are too smart for their own good. Some women are born to give, and some women only know how to take. Some women learn who they want to be from their mothers, some who they don't want to be. Some mothers suffer so their daughters won't. Some mothers love so their daughters won't. You Are Free by Danzy Senna (Riverhead Books,$15) Humor Do your kids like to have fun? Come to Fun Times! Do you like to watch your kids having fun? Bring them to Fun Times! Fun Times!'s "amusement cycling" is the most fun you can have legally in the United States right now. Why spend thousands of dollars flying to Disney World when you can spend less than half to that within a day's drive lf most cities? Happy And Other Bad Thoughts by Larry Doyle (Ecco,$14. 99) The book Happy And Other Bad Thoughtsis intended for _ . Answer: parents with young children In tradition education, the teacher may feel that the students are not very grown up. Usually, teachers are older than students, and teachers feel that students are young and do not know much about the world. The teachers feel that they must tell the students what to do most of the time, and that they must also make the students study specific things. In open education, the teacher's methods are very different. These teachers feel that the students are human beings first, and students second. They expect the students to be responsible for the things that they do, just as adults are. A student's ideas and feelings are just as important as the teacher's. The teacher allows the students to decide what they want to do, and does not make them study what they do not want to. The teacher lets them decide what to study and how much to study. It's very important for the teacher to show how he or she feels about students. What's the theory of open education? Answer: The students are human beings first, and students second.
It helps us understand the world better if we know a little geography and have some maps at hand. But with maps in Chinese only, misunderstanding is possible in studying world events. Chinese names are long, hard to pronounce and without meaning to a foreigner. For the opening of the country maps are important and helpful and needed badly. I wish maps various languages, such as those used in the United Nations, would come out and be sold in all bookstores open to Chinese. What are the difficulties for a foreigner to use a map in Chinese? A A foreigner has nowhere to buy a map B All the bookstores only open to Chinese. C The names of Chinese people are long, hard to pronounce and without meaning. D The names of places on a map in Chinese are long, hard to pronounce and without meaning. Answer: D. The names of places on a map in Chinese are long, hard to pronounce and without meaning. Crows are found throughout many parts of the world. They are black birds with excellent hearing. In the wild they live for six to seven years. Some crows in Japan open hard-shelled nuts by dropping them in front of moving cars. Which of these is a learned behavior? A Having excellent hearing B Living six to seven years C Dropping nuts in front of cars D Having black feathers Answer: C. Dropping nuts in front of cars Sam:What's this?It's an American eraser .It's made{}in our hometown{}But it isn't mine .Hi! Jim, is this your eraser? Jim:No it isn't.. Maybe {}it's Ann's. Sam: Excuse me ,Ann. Ann;Yes? Sam: Is this your eraser? Ann: No, it isn't .I think it's Lucy's. Lucy, is this your eraser ? Lucy: Oh,yes. Thank you very much . Sam; That's all right. Jim: Look,! What are those? Lucy: I think they are oranges. Ann; No, they aren't . I think they are apples----yellow apples. Jim; Are they in a box ? Lucy: No, they are in a basket {} Sam: Whose are they? Lucy:Sorry ,we really don't know. Which is the following is right? A Ann knows the eraser is Lucy's . B Lucy knows whose the apples are . C Sam knows the eraser isLucy's . D Some oranges are in the box. Answer: A. Ann knows the eraser is Lucy's . Each year, up to six young inventors, grade K-12, in America can receive the nation's most excellent young inventors' honor, "The Thomas Edison Innovation Award ," for their invention ideas. They can receive the following honors: * Thomas Edison Innovation Award, "The Tommy", a handmade trophy * US$1,000--US$ 5,000 in prize money * All-expenses-paid trip for the inventor and one parent to the ceremony. * Chances in the future to connect with universities and industries to further the inventors' ideas * A place in history! The inventors' names and ideas can be preserved at the National Museum of Education Why do some students win award? A They are good at music. B They have great invention ideas. C They often help other people. D They are excellent sports players. Answer: B. They have great invention ideas. If two electrical conductors contact eachother, what will flow through them both? A electrifying looks B lightning C water D wind Answer: B. lightning
Question: There are hundreds of TV channels in the prefix = st1 /United States. Americans get a lot of entertainment and information from TV. Most people probably watch it for entertainment only. For some people, however, TV is where they get the news of the day. But some new TV programs or shows put entertainment and news together. This new kind of program in the United States is called "infotainment", which means information (info-) and entertainment (-tainment). These kinds of programs use actors to act out news stories, making the news of the day more interesting and exciting to people. The shows also use special effects. An example of infotainment is the show "America's Most Wanted". The producers of this program get stories from real cases that the police have dealt with. In most of these cases, the police never found the person who committed the crime . Sometimes they caught the criminal, but he or she ran away again. They use actors to play the parts of all the people in the case. At the end of the story, however, they always show "mug shots" , or police photographs, of the real criminals. We can infer from the text that the producers of "America's Most Wanted" _ . A. also work as police officers B. hope to get money from the police C. hope the program will help the police catch the criminals D. often find it difficult to persuade people to act as criminals Answer: C Question: Before you leave for the airport Ensure that you have your passports (and any necessary visas), tickets and money in your hand luggage. If packing medicines, ensure that they are in their original packaging as this will avoid delays or prevent them from being taken away at customs. Do not wrap presents as they may have to be unwrapped by security staff or customs. The Department of Health has devoted a section of their site to health advice for traveling abroad. Getting to the airport Always allow plenty of time to reach the airport. You should arrive there 2 hours before the take-off for international flights and one hour before the take-off for domestic flights. If you are driving to the airport, ensure that you have booked airport parking in advance. If you are being driven by a friend who wants to see you off, ensure that he / she knows where the short stay parking is located. If taking a taxi, ensure that the firm you intend to use has taxis available at the time you wish to travel. At the airport Be aware that increased security has considerably lengthened the time it takes to go through check in and security. Make sure you keep your baggage with you at all times and alert any member of airport staff to any unattended package. Never look after baggage belonging to other people or carry anything onto the aircraft for someone else. Keep a close eye on the display boards announcing which gate flights depart from. In the air If on a long flight, move your feet around, or get up and walk around regularly if you can. Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water or other non-alcoholic drinks. Don't eat too heavily before or during a long flight as this will help to avoid indigestion and hypertension . To reduce jet lag , have some extra sleep before the trip, get some sleep during the flight and try to make mealtimes the same as the time of meals at your destination. You should ensure that you have booked the airport parking in advance if _ . A. you are going on an international flights B. you drive to the airport yourself C. a friend drives you to the airport D. you take a taxi to the airport Answer: B Question: John had been on the road visiting clients for more than three weeks. He couldn't wait to get back to Ohio to see his wife and children. It was coming on Mother's Day, and he usually tried to make it "back home", but this year he was just too tired. He was in a small town just outside of Little Rock when he drove by a flower shop. He said to himself, "I know what I will do, I'll send Mom some roses." He went into the small shop and saw a young man talking to the clerk. "How many roses can I get for six dollars, madam?" the boy asked. The clerk was trying to explain that roses were expensive. Maybe the young man would be happy with _ . "No. I have to have roses." He said, "My mom was sick so much last year and I didn't get to spend much time with her. I want to get something special. It has to be red roses, because that's her favorite." He was firm. The clerk looked up at John and was just shaking her head. Something inside of John was touched by the boy's voice. He wanted to get those roses so badly. John had been blessed in his business, and he looked at the clerk and silently mouthed he would pay for the boy's roses. The clerk looked at the young man and said, "OK, I will give you a dozen red roses for six dollars." The young man almost jumped into the air. He took the flowers and ran from the store. It was worth the extra thirty-five dollars just to see that kind of excitement. John ordered his own flowers and had the clerk be sure that delivery would include a note telling his mother how much he loved her. As he drove away from the shop, he was feeling very good. He caught a light about two blocks from the shop. As he waited at the light, he saw the young boy walking down the sidewalk. He watched him cross the street and enter a park through two huge gates. Suddenly he realized it wasn't a park. It was a cemetery . He could see the young man turn there by gate and walk along the fence. The light changed, and John slowly crossed the crossing. He pulled over and on an impulse got out and began to follow the boy down the fence line. John was on the sidewalk, thirty or forty steps behind the boy, who walked inside the cemetery fence. The young man stopped by a small monument and went on his knees. He carefully laid the roses on the tomb and began to sob. John felt like an intruder but he couldn't leave. He stared at the little boy's trembling body and listened to his silent crying. As he cried, he heard the young man speak, "Mommy, oh Mommy, why didn't I tell you how much I love you? Why didn't I tell you one more time? Jesus, please, find my mommy. Tell my Mommy I love her." John turned, tears in his eyes, and walked back to his car. He drove quickly to the flower shop and told her he would take the flowers personally. He wanted to be sure and tell his mother one more time just how much he loved her. The best title for this passage may be _ . A. Celebrate Mother's Day B. Tell Mum I love her C. Deliver the roses D. Buy flowers Answer: B Question: Something that is beneficial to plants, especially garden plants, can be formed A. in dog bowls B. in swamp waters C. in living rooms D. in microwaves Answer: B Question: Tom was one of the brightest boys in the year, with supportive parents. But when he was 15 he suddenly stopped trying. He left school at 16 with only two scores for secondary school subjects. One of the reasons that made it cool for him not to care was the power of his peer group. The lack of right male role models in many of their lives -- at home and particularly in the school environment -- means that their peers are the only people they have to judge themselves against. They don't see men succeeding in society so it doesn't occur to them that they could make something of themselves. Without male teachers as a role model, the effect of peer actions and street culture is all-powerful. Boys want to be part of a club. However, schools can provide the environment for change, and provide the right role models for them. Teachers need to be trained to stop that but not in front of a child's peers. You have to do it one to one, because that is when you see the real child. It's pointless sending a child home if he or she has done wrong. They see it as a welcome day off to watch television or play computer games. Instead, schools should have a special unit where a child who has done wrong goes for the day and gets advice about his problems -- somewhere he can work away from his peers and go home after the other children. A teacher's work is most effective with a schoolboy when he _ . A. is with the boy alone B. teaches the boy a lesson C. sends the boy home as punishment D. works together with another teacher Answer: A
On the day of college graduation,I told my friends and family the news:I was leaving the country I had lived in since childhood.''I just need a change,"I told them,but there was more.I was running from heartbreak.My relationship with the United States is the most tough one I have ever had,as a country I loved and believed in did not love me back. Back in the 90's,my mother brought me from our home in the Caribbean islands to the U.S.when I was 4 years old.She worked as a live-in nanny for two years,playing mommy for white kids whose parents had better things to do.She didn't believe that nanny meant maid,and did whatever was asked of her.She was thirsty to embrace her American dream,hoping that her children would be educated and she might have nannies of her own. That was our path--get a "good education." When the neighborhoods with quality schools became too expensive for my mom to afford as a single parent,we went across the United States with GreatSchools. net as our compass:New Jersey,elementary school;Texas,middle school;Florida,high school;New York City,private university. For a long time I survived by covering myself in all kinds of labels so that people would ignore the color1 of my skin,yet I existed on the edge of ugly,ignorant and uncuhured."Black people don't really know how to swim,"a white lady told me when I worked as a swim instructor at my neighborhood's pool."The black children don't like to read very much," I overheard one librarian discussing with another while l sat down reading a book a couple feet away. I was never able to make America my home.When I stripped myself of the labels painfully one by one,beneath them there is a wounded color1ed woman who refuses to be faceless anymore.My face may be disgusting to some since it bears proof that race continues to be a problem.My hope is that it will force Americans to reexamine their "post--racial" beliefs. The author writes the passage to expect_. A. immigrants to get ready for more hardship B. the US to reflect on how it treats color1ed people C. her family to understand her decision D. the black people to reexamine their way of life Answer: B I began to work as a salesgirl in a department store.I got there that morning and was introduced to all the salesmen and saleswomen.Throughout the day,one of the salesmen talked with me.I thought we might become friends.That evening after work we went out for dinner.We sat together and talked,but our numbers were never exchanged. Around 10 p.m., I began my 2hour drive back. For the first part of the drive, I was thinking to myself how stupid I had been for not giving him my number.Then all of a sudden,when I had gone around a corner, I was completely over in another lane.There was no time to even hit the brakes.I hit at once.The police came and cut the top of my car off to get me out.They sent me to the hospital quickly. My mother got there late that night,and saw me lying in the emergency room.The next morning,mom called the manager and told him what had happened and that I would be in the hospital for a long time.A few hours later,I received a phone call--it was the guy I hadn't given my number.Well,he came to visit me that night and the next night.We spent a lot of time together. It was months before I would be walking and driving again,but he'd sit by me.I don't think I could have pulled through it without him.Now I can walk freely,and just this week we are planning on getting married one year after the day we met.It's just amazing how a tragedy like a car accident could bring about such a wonderful relationship! The guy got the news that the girl was in hospital possibly from _ . A. the manager B. the girl's mother C. the doctor D. the girl herself Answer: A Do you know Australia ? Australia is the largest island in the world . It is a little smaller than China . It is in the south of the earth .Australia is big , but its population is not large . The population of Australia is nearly as large as that of Shanghai . The government has made enough laws to fight pollution . The cities in Australia have got little air or water pollution .The sky is blue and the water is clean . You can clearly see fish swimming in the rivers . Plants grow very well . Last month we visited Perth , the biggest city in Western Australia , and went to a wild flowers' exhibition . There we saw a large number of wild flowers we had never seen before . We had a wonderful time .Perth is famous for its beautiful wild flowers .In spring every year Perth has the wild flowers' exhibition .After visiting Perth, we spent the day in the countryside . We sat down and had a rest near a path at the foot of a hill .It was quiet and we enjoyed ourselves . Suddenly we heard bells ringing at the top of the hill .What we saw made us pick up all our things and run back to the car as quickly as we could .There were about three hundred sheep coming towards us down the path . Australia is famous for its sheep and kangaroos . After a short drive from any town , you will find yourself in the middle of white sheep . Sheep , sheep , everywhere are sheep . Australia is _ . A. the largest country in the world B. as large as Shanghai . C. not as large as China . D. the largest island in the north of the earth . Answer: C When someone says "well, I guess I'll have to face the music", it doesn't mean that he is planning to go to hear a singer. It is something far less happy, as you are called in by your leader to explain why you did this and did that or why you did not do this or that. At some time or another, every one of us has to "face the music", especially as children. We can all remember father's angry word "I wasn't to talk to you" and only because we did not listen to him. What a bad thing it was ! In the middle or at the end of every term, we students have to "face the music". The result of the exam will decide whether we will face the music or not. If ...that means parents' cold faces and the contempt of the teachers and classmates. "To face the music" is well known to every American, younger or old. It is at least 100 years old. It really means that you have to do something, no matter how terrible the whole thing might be, because you know you have no choice. Before the exam, we'll have to "face the music". That's why _ . A. we like to take the exam B. we are afraid of taking the exam C. the exam is very important D. we are afraid to pass the exam Answer: B Last April, on a visit to the new Mall of America near Minneapolis, I carried with me a small book provided for the reporters by the public relations office.It included a variety of " _ " about the mall, for example, 140,000 hot dogs are sold each week, there are 10,000 full time' jobs, 44 sets of moving stairs and 17 lifts, 12,750 parking places, 13,000 tons of steel and $ 1 million is drawn weekly from 8 ATMs. Opened in the summer of 1992, the mall was built where the former Minneapolis Stadium had been.It was only a five - minute drive from the Minneapolis St.Paul International Airport.With 4.2 million square feet of floor space - twenty - two times the size of the average American shopping center - the Mail of America was the largest shopping and family recreation center under one roof in the United States. I know already that the Mall of America had been imagined by its designers, not only as a marketplace , but as a national tourist attraction.Eleven thousand articles, the small book informed me, had been written about the mall.Four hundred trees had been planted in its gardens, $ 625 million had been spent building it, and 350 stores were already in business.Three thousand bus tours were expected each year along with a half - million Canadian visitors and 200,000 Japanese tourists. Sales was at $ 650 million for 2008 and at $ 1 billion for 2009.Pop singers and film stars such as Janet Jackson and Arnold Schwarzenegger visited the mall.It was five times larger than Red Square and it included 2.3 miles of hallways and used almost twice as Knott' s Camp Snoopy. We can infer from the text that _ . A. Japanese visitors are most welcome to the mall B. Canadian visitors would spend $ 1 billion at the mail C. Knott's Camp Snoopy was next to the Mall of America D. the Mall of America was designed to serve more than one purpose Answer: D
More than a century ago, the composer and bandleader John Philip Sousa warned that technology would destroy music, who said, "These talking machines are going to ruin the artistic development of music in this country. When I was a boy ... in front of every house in the summer evenings you would find young people together singing the songs of the day or the old songs. Today you hear these terrible machines going night and day. We will not have a vocal cord left." Music has greatly changed in the past hundred years, which has been everywhere in our world: rivers of digital melody flow on the Internet or on disc; MP3 players with forty thousand songs can be put in a back pocket or a purse. Yet, for most of us, music is no longer something we do ourselves, or even watch other people do in front of us. It has become a radically virtual medium, an art without a face. Ever since Edison invented the phonograph cylinder , people have been assessing what the medium of recording has done for and to the art of music. Sousa was a spokesman for the party of doom; in the opposite corner are the utopians , who argue that technology has not imprisoned music but liberated it. Before Edison came along, Beethoven's symphonies could be heard only in select concert halls. Now the recordings carry the man from Bonn to the corners of the earth. Glenn Gould, after renouncing live performance in 1964, predicted that within the century the public concert would disappear into the electronic air. Having discovered much of my favorite music through LPs and CDs, I am not about to join Sousa's party. Modern urban environments are often so soulless or ugly that I'm grateful for the humanizing touch of electronic sound. But neither can I accept Gould's slashing futurism. I want to be aware of technology's effects, positive and negative. Fortunately, scholars and critics have been methodically exploring this _ for many decades, trying to figure out exactly what happens when we listen to music with no musicians in the room. The primary purpose of the passage is to _ . A. explain different attitudes of scholars and critics B. defend the view of one group from the criticism of another C. advocate an unexpected solution to a pressing problem D. present the key issues in an ongoing debate Answer: D. present the key issues in an ongoing debate Airport Information Name:Copenhagen Airport Location: Located 8km southeast of Copenhagen(capital of Denmark) No. of terminals:4 Disabled facilities: Copenhagen Airport is physically accessible throughout. Wheelchair-accessible toilets and reserved seating are provided and dedicated parking spaces are available. Passengers with disabilities are requesited to inform their airline in avdance about their needs. Car Parking: There are more than 10,000 car parking spaces in short-, medium- and long-term car parks at Copenhagen Airport. The P6, P7, and P8 areas offer short-term options directly linked terminals 2 and 3. Medium-term rates are avaiable in P1, P2, P5, P8, P10 and P12, which are all ly near the terminal buildings. Economy long-term parking is available at P15 and P17, a little further from the terminals (free tasnsit buses sre provided). The airport parking office is located between Terminals 2 and 3 and is open 24 hours. Public Transport Rail; There are direct high-speed trains to Copenhagen Central station(journey time: 14 minutes; fare; Kr36), as well as a number of other destination in Denmark and Sweden. The station and ticket office are situated in Terminal 3. Metro: The Metro M2 line connects to the city center (journey time: 14 minutes;fare: Kr24). The station is situated in Terminal 3, from which tickets can be purchased. Bus: Several buses(5A, 35 and 36)run from Copenhagen Airport to the city center(journey time: about 55 minutes; fare:Kr 30)and beyond. Taxi: Taxis are readily available from ranks outside the arrival areas of Terminal 1, 2 and 3. The ride into Copenhagen takes about 15 to 20 minutes, and prices start from Kr250. If you want to park you're your car at the airport for a long time, what should you do? A. Just park your car outside the airport B. Park your car in P15 or P17 and then take a transit bus to the terminal C. Park your car near the terminal buildings D. Call the airport parking office and then park your car in P6, P7 or P8 Answer: B. Park your car in P15 or P17 and then take a transit bus to the terminal Mr. and Mrs. Green had different ideas about where to go last weekend. Mrs Green wanted to go to Florida to see her sister, but Mr Green didn't like to go there. He wanted to go to Maine . "Florida is too hot in summer," Mr Green said to Mrs Green. "Maine is quite cold," said Mrs Green, "I like swimming, but the water in Maine is usually not warm enough." "Florida is too far," said Mr Green, "We don't have enouh time to drive there. It'll take us more than two days." Just then, the telephone rang. Mr Green answered the phone. It was his mother. "Is that Jim speaking? Please cme quickly. I need help. I'm calling from the hospital in Boston." She said. They stopped the discussion , and they left for Boston at once. Where did Mr Green want to go last weekend? A. Florida. B. Maine. C. Boston. D. London. Answer: B. Maine. My name's Geoffrey Chaucer. It was 16thApril 1386, and I was in London at an inn in Southwark. Tomorrow I would go to Canterbury, to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, together with twenty-nine other people. Before I say more, I want to tell you about some of the people with me. First there was a knight, a good man who fought well and knew many different countries. He was a true friend to everyone, and always helped people when they needed it. His clothes were old, dark, and dirty from many years of fighting. Then there was a businessman with an expensive hat on his head. The man, who looked wealthier than he truly was, always said, "I'm doing very well." A very quick thinker, he talked about ships and the sea a lot, and showed much interest in changing money from different countries. After the businessman came a franklin with a white beard. He asked people from near and far to visit him at home as he liked eating and drinking and having a good time with others. He was an important man, he knew right from wrong, and people listened to him. There was a woman from Bath. Her face was open, and nice-looking, but she couldn't hear very well. In her red dress, she was a big woman with a big smile and big teeth, laughing a lot and talking easily. She knew all about love. So there we were, all thirty of us, at the inn. The landlord, a tall fat man, brought us the best dinner in London. He would also join our journey tomorrow. After we finished eating, the landlord smiled, suggesting "We're going to Canterbury tomorrow, and that's four days from here. One by one, let's all tell a story on the road to make the time go quicker. And to the teller of the best story we can give a free dinner here at my inn when we get back. What do you say?" We all said "yes" happily to him. Then the question for us was: _ ? Which is TRUE of the people described in the text? A. The knight always wore very expensive clothes. B. The franklin usually spent time on his own. C. The woman was deaf and loved the red color. D. The businessman was not as rich as he seemed. Answer: D. The businessman was not as rich as he seemed. Millie is a little girl who is at the age of nine. She is a pupil in a primary school. She works hard at her subjects. In class, she takes an active part in all kinds of activities. She looks smarter than her classmates. One day, she was doing her homework after supper as usual. Her father was not in. Her mother was taking a shower in the bathroom. After she finished her homework, Millie asked her mother to check it for her, but her mother didn't answer her. A few minutes later, her mother was still in the bathroom. Millie felt strange. She knocked at the door. But her mother had no answer. She pushed the door open and found her mother lying on the floor. At the same time, she smelled something terrible. It was the gas. She quickly opened the window, turned off the gas and called 120 and 110 for help. Soon some doctors and policemen came and sent her mother to the nearest hospital. Her mother was saved at last. Why did the little girl know how to do that? That was because she had learned how to save herself and others in danger in school. Although Millie is _ , we should learn from her. A. a primary school pupil B. a college student C. a nineteen-year-old girl D. a middle school student Answer: A. a primary school pupil
Question: While many modern forms of communication like phone calls, e-mail, and letters, are extremely convenient. In my opinion, nothing beats speaking to another person face to face. The first and most obvious advantage that a face communication has over a letter and e-mail is that there is the ability to interactively converse. If the sender of a letter or an email does not write clearly, then much time must be spent to clear up the misunderstanding. In a face-to-face conversation, misunderstandings are easily dealt with because of the interactive nature of it. I would still argue that the face-to-face conversation is better because you can see the other person. Not all communication is verbal ; the meaning of much of what we say depends on our body language and the tone of voice. Joking and irony are particularly difficult to express and enjoy without seeing the expression on someone's face, or watching the movements of their body. Finally, if the goal of communication is to maintain or deepen the relationship with someone, the face-to-face communication offers the choice of communication by touch even if we could communicate by the video. Trust and respect between business partners can be established with a firm handshake. No amount of body language can convey the excitement of a high five between friends, and no number of words can communicate the comforting embrace of a loved one. Touch is the first basic method of our human relationships, before spoken language, and it is only available when people communicate face to face. Which of the following can communicate the feeling a loved one perfectly? A. letter B. e-mail C. phone D. face to face communication Answer: D. face to face communication Question: Jones, angry at a neighbor with whom he had quarreled, for revenge surreptitiously removed a piece of stone statuary from the neighbor's garden and concealed it in his garage. He intended to return it a day or two later, after giving the neighbor a chance to feel bad over its being stolen. Suspecting who was guilty, the neighbor had Jones arrested and charged with larceny. A. Commonwealth v. Mason. Two sisters see a wealthy neighbor's pedigreed dog on the street. They take the dog home, intending to conceal it until the owner offers a reward. Held, guilty of larceny. B. Saferite v. State. Two young men saw a motorcar on the street with the keys in the ignition. They drove the car to a neighboring town with the intention, they said, of visiting the wife of one of them. The car was wrecked on their way back. Conviction for larceny reversed. C. People v. Noblett. Defendant, a tenant of a city apartment, advertised it for sublease. Will agreed to sublease for three months, and on March 12 paid Defendant $550, the total agreed rental. Will was to receive possession on March 20, but possession was never given him. Held, not guilty of common law larceny. D. King v. Pear. From a stablekeeper, Defendant hired a horse to go to Sutton and back, saying that he would be back at 8 p.m. He did not return. Investigation shows that Defendant had given a false address, and that he sold the horse the same day. Conviction of larceny affirmed Answer: B. Saferite v. State. Two young men saw a motorcar on the street with the keys in the ignition. They drove the car to a neighboring town with the intention, they said, of visiting the wife of one of them. The car was wrecked on their way back. Conviction for larceny reversed. Question: Mike has a sports collection . He has four basketballs, five volleyballs and four soccer balls. He has seven tennis rackets and eight tennis balls. He has eight ping-pong bats and nine ping-pong balls, too. Mike has some bags in his room: four yellow bags and two green bags. He puts the basketballs in a yellow bag, the volleyballs in a yellow bag, and the soccer balls in a yellow bag. He puts the tennis rackets in a yellow bag, the ping-pong bats in a green bag, and the tennis balls and the ping-pong balls in the last bag. The tennis balls and the _ are in a bag. A. ping-pong bats B. ping-pong balls C. tennis rackets D. basketballs Answer: B. ping-pong balls Question: A shock running through a wire will A. send sand through the wire B. send water through the wire C. send smoke through a town D. send reactions through the wire Answer: D. send reactions through the wire Question: Many cultures have different ideas about why people catch colds. For example in the United States, some people think that you can catch a cold if your feet get cold. So, mothers tell small children to wear warm boots in the winter. In other places, including parts of the Middle East, some people believe that strong winds cause colds. So, on trains and buses, people usually don't like to sit next to open windows. In parts of Europe, some people think that wearing wet clothes will give you a cold. They say that after you go swimming, you should quickly put on dry clothes. Today, scientists know that colds are caused by a virus . But the old ideas are still very strong, and many _ . Which is NOT a cause of colds in the reading? A. bad food B. wet clothes C. a virus D. strong winds Answer: A. bad food
When you get up in the morning, do you find it hard to choose what clothes to wear? If so, you probably need help to make the bigger choices in your life, like what to do when you're older. Brave New Girls, by American author Jean Gade-berg, will help you make such choices. It says you must be a brave new girl. A brave new girl is one who is confident, healthy and happy. A brave new girl can realize her dreams. To be brave, you need to make a decision for yourself. Other people may tell you what to do, but you should not listen to them. You must only do what you want. If you always wear clothes like your favourite TV star, you must stop doing so. Instead, become your own star and wear the clothes you want. You have to like your body, it says. If you don't, you will not take good care of it, and it won't stay healthy. The book also says that girls must start becoming more confident. If you are confident, you'll succeed in life. A good way to become confident is to realize that you are as clever as boys. In fact you are. Just look at their grades! Only then can you realize your dreams and become who you want to be. What's the best title of the passage? Answer: To be a brave new girl. Almost everyone has dropped some food on the floor and still wanted to eat it.If someone saw you drop it, he or she might have shouted, " 5-second rule!" This so-called rule says food is OK to eat if you pick it up in five seconds or less.But is that true? Professor Anthony Hilton from Ashton University, UK, tested the rule with his students.They found that food dropped for five seconds is less likely to contain bacteria than if it sits there for longer. For the study, Hilton and his students tested a lot of foods----bread, pasta, cookies and candy--to see how much bacteria they had when they made contact with the floor.They allowed the food to lie on the different types of flooring--carpet , laminate and tile -- for three seconds to 30 seconds. Not surprisingly, the longer the food was on the floor, the more bacteria it had.And the type of floor where the dropped food landed had an effect.Bacteria are least likely to transfer from carpet, while they are most likely to transfer laminate or tiled surface after more than five seconds. The study also found that the wetter the food, the more likely it was to pick up bacteria.Although most people are happy to follow the 5-second rule, eating food dropped on the floor still carries an infection risk."It very much depends on which bacteria are on the floor at the time." Hilton told Forbes. According to the article, the infection risk of the dropped does NOT depend on _ . Answer: what the weather is like that day One day in spring four men were riding on horseback along a country road. These men were lawyers, and they were going to the next town to attend court. There had been a rain, and the ground was very soft. Water was dripping from the trees, and the grass was wet. The four lawyers rode along, one behind another, for the pathway was narrow, and the mud on each side of it was deep. They rode slowly, and talked and laughed and were very cheerful. As they were passing through a group of small trees, they heard a great fluttering over their heads and a weak sound made by small birds in the grass by the roadside. "Stith! Stith! Stith!" came from the leafy branches above them. "Cheep! cheep! cheep!" came from the wet grass. "What is the matter here?" asked the first lawyer, whose name was Speed. "Oh, it's only some old robins !"said the second lawyer, whose name was Hardin. "The storm has blown two of the little ones out of the nest. They are too young to fly, and the mother bird is worried about them." "What a pity! They'll die down there in the grass," said the third lawyer. "Oh, well! They're nothing but birds," said Mr. Hardin. "Why should we bother?" "Yes, why should we?" said Mr. Speed. The three men, as they passed, looked down and saw the little birds fluttering in the cold, wet grass. They saw the mother robin flying about, and crying to her mate. Then they rode on, talking and laughing as before. In a few minutes they had forgotten about the birds. But the fourth lawyer, whose name was Abraham Lincoln, stopped. He got down from his horse and very gently took the little ones up in his big warm hands. They did not seem frightened, but cried softly, as if they knew they were safe. "Never mind, my little fellows," said Mr. Lincoln "I will put you in your own cozy little bed." Then he looked up to find the nest from which they had fallen. It was high, much higher than he could reach. But Mr. Lincoln could climb. He had climbed many a tree when he was a boy. He put the birds softly, one by one, into their warm little home. Two other baby birds were there that had not fallen out. All cuddled down together and were very happy. Soon the three lawyers who had ridden ahead stopped at a spring to give their horses water. "Where is Lincoln?" asked one. All were surprised to find that he was not with them. "Do you remember those birds?" said Mr. Speed. "Very likely he has stopped to take care of them." In a few minutes Mr. Lincoln joined them. His shoes were covered with mud; he had torn his coat on the thorny tree. "Hello, Abraham!" said Mr. Hardin. "Where have you been?" "I stopped a minute to give those birds to their mother," he answered. "Well, we always thought you were a hero," said Mr. Speed. "Now we know it." Then all three of them laughed heartily. They thought it so foolish that a strong man should take so much trouble just for some worthless young birds. "Gentlemen," said Mr. Lincoln, "I could not have slept tonight, if I had left those helpless little robins to die in the wet grass." Abraham Lincoln afterwards became very famous as a lawyer and statesman. He was elected president. Next to Washington he was the greatest. It can be inferred that "stith" was the sound made by _ . Answer: the mother bird If you choose only to complain and escape from a misfortune, it will always follow you wherever you go.But if you decide to be strong, the hardship will turn out to be a fortune on which new hopes will arise. In an accident, a boy lost.both his arms and his father-who was the main source of support for the family.Since then, he has had to depend on the arms of his younger brother.For the sake of taking care of him, his younger brother became his shadow, never leaving him alone for years.Except for writing with his toes, he was completely unable to do anything in his life. As the two brothers grew up together, they had their share of problems and they would often quarrel.Then one day, his younger brother wanted to leave, living his own life, as many normal people do.So he was heart-broken and didn't know what to do. A similar misfortune befell a girl, too.One night her mother, who suffered from chronic mental illness, disappeared.Her father went out to look for her mother, leaving her alone at home.She tried to prepare meals for her parents, only to overturn the kerosene light on the stove, resulting in afire which took her hands away. Though her elder sister who was studying in another city, showed her willingness to take care of her, she was determined to be completely independent.At school, she always studied hard.Most of all she learned to be self-reliant. One day, the boy and the girl were both invited to appear on a television interview program.The boy told the TV host about his uncertain future at being left on his own, whereas the girl was full of enthusiasm for her life.They both were asked to write something on a piece of paper with their toes.The boy wrote: My younger brother's arms are my arms; while the girl wrote: Broken wings, flying heart. After the accident, the boy _ . Answer: depended wholly on his brother Rio de Janeiro will host the 2016 Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee announced it on October 2,2009.Rio de Janeiro beat Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid to win the bid .It will be the first South American city to host the Olympics. The city will also host the 2014 World Cup. Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city in Brazil. Population: 6 million Language: Portuguese * Rio de Janeiro has the world's largest urban forest ,Which is made up of many kinds of green plants. *Every year Rio de Janeiro holds a carnival . It is like a big party. People dress up, dance samba and have fun. It usually lasts for a week. More than two million tourists come to Rio de- Janeiro every year. About half a million people visit the city for the carnival each year. If you have a visit to Rio de Janeiro, you can see a large Number of _ in the city. Answer: trees
Here I'd like to tell you something about my aunt Mary. She is thirty years old. She has a lot of hobbies. She usually gets up early in the morning. And then she walks her dog near the river. She sometimes likes to chat with others near her home after work. She often goes fishing on Saturdays. She loves music. She always goes to the Singing Club on Sundays. She also likes going shopping. Every time she goes to the parks on fine days. She doesn't like watching TV. She is a happy woman. When does Mary often go fishing? A. On Wednesdays. B. On Sundays. C. On Saturdays. D. On Fridays. Answer: C Bangkok has become the world's top tourist destination, with 15.98 million visitors projected to visit Thailand's capital city this year, according to the third annual Global Destination Cities Index released by MasterCard on Monday. Based on data MasterCard collected from governments, central banks, related public agencies and airlines so far this year, the projection for the entire year says Bangkok is surpassing London, the previous holder of the top place, by a very narrow margin. Monday's report marked the first time an Asian city has been projected to be the top-ranked tourist destination. London came in second, with 15.96 million visitors expected in 2013, and Paris, third, with 13.92 million visitors. MasterCard looked at 132 cities. Other Asian cities that made it to the Top-20 Global Destination Cities in 2013 include Singapore at number four, with 11.75 million visitors; Kuala Lumpur at number eight, with 9.2 million visitors; Hong Kong at number nine, with 8.72 million visitors; Seoul at number 11, with 8.19 million visitors; Shanghai at number 14, with 6.5 million visitors, Tokyo at number 16, with 5.8 million visitors, and Taipei, with 5.19 million visitors. The study found that Bangkok is experiencing a large increase in its number of tourists in 2013, up 9.8% from 2009. That compares to New York's increase at 5.0% and London's at 3.8%. Paris, meanwhile, saw a small dip in its number of tourists (negative 0.7%). Caroline Lledo, who was visiting Bangkok from France, said Thailand has many offerings. "We like culture and the people are so nice. We also love shopping here," Ms. Lledo said. MasterCard Worldwide's global economic adviser Yuwa Hedrick-Wong cited overall value for money spent for why Bangkok is attractive. That is true for Thailand overall as well. What attracts visitors to Thailand? A. People and buildings. B. Shopping and environment. C. Culture, people and shopping. D. Culture and natural scenery. Answer: C Red Star Restaurant The biggest and busiest restaurant in Jinan is seeking 20 waiters who have relevant experiences in high-grade restaurants. About Y=800--1,500 per month. Red Star Restaurant is located at 66 on Park Street. Our phone number is 0531-8278-4560. 3 People wanted Need 3 people who would like to work 4 evenings per week showing films. Earn $300 per week possibly. Call 469-867-6042. Baby-sitter wanted For a year. 3 days a week. Some flexible hours required. Knowledge: above senior middle school. Call 0431-478-9971. In the third advertisement, the baby-sitter should _ . A. have a year's working experience B. accept flexible working hours C. work two days a week D. be a girl Answer: B Five or six years ago, I attended a lecture on the science of attention. A professor who conducts research over in the medical school was talking about attention blindness, the basic feature of the human brain that, when we concentrate on one task, causes us to miss just about everything else. Because we can't see what we can't see, our lecturer was determined to catch us in the act. He had us watch a video of six people tossing basketballs back and forth, three in white shirts and three in black, and our task was to keep track only of the tosses among the people in white. The tape rolled, and everyone began counting. Everyone except me. I'm dyslexic , and the moment I saw that tape with the confusing basketball tossers, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep track of their movements, so I let my mind wander. I became curious, though, when about 30 seconds into the tape, a gorilla walked in among the players. She (we later learned a female student was in the gorilla suit) stared at the camera, beat her chest with her fist, and then went away while they continued passing the balls. When the tape stopped, the professor asked how many people had counted at least a dozen basketball tosses. Hands went up all over. He then asked who had counted 13, 14, and congratulated those who'd scored the perfect 15. Then he asked, "And who saw the gorilla?" I raised my hand and was surprised to discover I was the only person at my table and one of only three or four in the large room to do so. He'd set us up, trapping us in our own attention blindness. Yes, there had been a trick, but he wasn't the one who had played it on us. By concentrating so hard on counting, we had managed to miss the gorilla in the midst. Attention blindness is the fundamental organizing principle of the brain, and I believe that it presents us with a great opportunity. My take is different from that of many neuroscientists: Where they see the shortcomings of the individual, I sense an opportunity for cooperation. Fortunately, given the interactive nature of most of our lives in the digital age, we have the tools to control our different forms of attention and take advantage of them. It's not easy to admit that everything we've learned about how to pay attention means that we've been missing everything else. It's not easy for us logical, intelligent, confident types to admit that the very key to our success -- our ability to discover a problem and solve it, an achievement obtained in all those years in school and beyond -- may be exactly what limits us. No one ever told us that our way of seeing left out everything else. Which of the following is true about the writer when the tape was played? A. Like everyone else, the writer was counting carefully. B. The writer had difficulty keeping track of the tossers' movements. C. The writer showed great curiosity about what the players were doing. D. The writer tried hard to stop her mind from wandering. Answer: B Tom noticed it was getting gloomy outside at only two in the afternoon. Which of these might be the cause? A. the witch at the top of the hill has placed a spell on the town B. a warm front has moved overhead C. a funeral is about to start at the church across the street D. the earth is moving through a dark area of space Answer: B
Beijing: prefix = st1 /Qinghai- Tibet Railway was unfolded to the public on Monday. From July 1 the service will cost a minimum of 389 yuan(hard seat) and take about 48 hours from Beijing to Lhasa. A hard sleeper(bottom bed) will cost 813 yuan, and a soft sleeper(bottom bed)1,262 yuan. The fare for an air ticket is about 2,540 yuan. Trains will run to and from Lhasa in three directions: through Beijing, chengdu/Chongqing and Xining/Lanzhou New York: The aid group Save the Children says that African nations south of the Sahara are among the worst places to be a mother. The group examined the quality of life for mothers in 110 countries. It found that Northern European nations such as Swedenwere at the top of the list. Many African nations were at the bottom. The group said the study shows that the quality of children's lives is linked to the health and education of their mothers. UK: the world's costliest city MOSCOW is this year's most expensive city for big consumers in the world, a study released by British human resources firm _ suggests. Seoul was in second place, followed by Tokyo - which topped the list in 2005, when the Russian capital was in fourth position - then Hong Kong andLondon. The findings were based on prices for 200 goods and services, especially housing, transport, food, clothing and entertainment. In the 144 cities surveyed, Beijing andShanghairanked 14th and 20th. Moscow was the_most expensive city in 2005 in the world according to the news. A first B second C third D fourth Answer: D. fourth Life on-line can be a much richer experience when you aren't restricted to just written words and still pictures.Even if you're new to the Net,you've probably heard about multimedia on-line--listening to audio,watching animations and videos,even playing in three-dimensional space.Sound and movement make information come alive. To experience it,you'll need special pieces of software called plug-ins.The term "plug-in" refers to a small,add-on piece of software which extends the capabilities of your web browser,like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer,turning your computer into a radio or TV. When you arrive at a web page which contains a file requiring a plug-in which you don't have,you will usually receive a message asking if you want to get it by downloading it and installing it into your computer.Most of the time,the installation will be automatic. Occasionally,you'll run into a downloaded file which needs to be decompressed or un-zipped before installation.Once installed,plug-ins run automatically,without you having to do anything. Many multimedia controls still need to be obtained from the developer but are installed automatically. Shockwave is a good example of this.All you need to do is go to the Macromedia site and click on the link to install the ActiveX control.The rest happens automatically.The next time you go to a "Shocked" website,the Shockwave control loads and plays the movie. Most plug-ins and controls can be downloaded for free on the Internet,although not all will work with every system.Some of them,for instance,only work with Windows 95. The correct explanation about "plug-in" is _ . A a radio or TV connected with a computer B a small,add-on piece of hardware which improves your web browser C a small,add-on piece of software which can turn your computer into a radio or TV D a small,add-on piece of software like Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Explorer Answer: C. a small,add-on piece of software which can turn your computer into a radio or TV As a young man, Tom was a famous artist with a wife and two fine sons. One night, his older son was ill. Tom and his wife thought it was nothing serious. But the boy died suddenly that night.. After his son died, Tom always felt very sad. To make matters worse, his wife also left him later, leaving him alone with his six-year-old younger son, Emie. Sadly, he turned to alcohol for help. As time went by, Tom began to lose everything he had---his land, house, etc. A few months later, Tom passed away alone in a small bar. Hearing of Tom's death, I thought,"What a complete failure!" But later, I began to change my earlier opinion. I knew Tom's now adult son, Emie. He is one of the kindest, most caring men. I saw the love between Emie and his children. And I thought that kindness and caring had to come from somewhere. One day, I asked him what made him become such a specia1 person. Emie said quietly, "My father came into my room every night, give me a kiss and said,"love you, son." Hearing his words, I understood everything. Tom didn't leave many things behind. But he had been a kind loving father, and left behind his best love. What did the writer think of Tom when he heard of his death? A Tom was a lazy man. B Tom was an unsuccessfill father. C Tom was a hard-working man. D Tom liked drinking too much. Answer: B. Tom was an unsuccessfill father. Some people like to collect stamps. Others prefer posters or coins. But Pinky Bhutia is different. She collects children. In her mountain village, in Sikkim, she is known as the wonderful young woman who adopts all the children she can. Pinky was 14 when she adopted her first child, a Nepali baby girl, whose patents passed away. Pinky's parents did not mind. Pinky left school and started working full time because she had a baby to feed. Today , she has twelve adopted children, and two sons from her marriage. Pinky is about 30 years old and she comes from a common family. If you passed her on the street, you wouldn't give her a second look. She lives in a brown mud-washed house. There is a vegetable garden outside. Red hens with noisy chicks run all over the garden looking for food. If you ask her why she provides a home to so many kids, she smiles shyly. But her eyes are serious. "I know what it is to be poor and hungry." As a child, her only dream was to eat a full meal, and her favorite amusement was watching people with shoes and imagining what it felt like. By adopting poor and homeless children she is making sure that they never feel that hopeless. Pinky feels very proud when she sees her children happy and bright, Her oldest baby, Aarita Rai, is now 20 years old, Then, there is 19-year-old Nimbe who came to Pinky because her mother was unable to look after her. She started to work in a government office two years ago. Ten-year-old Bhim and 14-year-old Kumar came to Pinky five years ago, after their father's death. They started living on a patch of land given by Pinky and grew vegetables for sale. "I like children. It's not one more mouth to feed but one more soul saved," Pinky says. We can infer from the passage that Pinky is a _ person. A kind B strict C bright D careful Answer: A. kind Heavy snow and low temperatures caused further damage across northern Europe on Monday--stranding travelers,snarling traffic and shutting schools. More than 1,000 flights at Germany's main airports in Frankfurt,Munich and Berlin were _ and many more delayed after up to 40 cm of fresh snow covering the country.Some 500 passengers slept at Frankfurt airport.Airlines advised passengers to take trains if possible. In the United Kingdom,British Airways said the severe weather continued to cause great damage to operations and further travel.Only one of two runways at London Heathrow,the world's busiest international airport,was operating after the snowstorm.Other UK airports were open,but many flights were canceled,and many passengers spent a second night at an airport terminal . Northern France was also covered by heavy snow.Air travel was reduced at Paris' two main airports,with Orly airport shutting down. In Poland,hard hit by the cold weather,six people froze to death on Sunday night,raising the death toll to 114 in the last month.Heavy snow stopped Warsaw traffic again on Monday.Warsaw airport was open but was receiving far fewer passengers than usual because of flight cancellations in western Europe. The world's busiest international airport is _ . A Berlin airport B Paris airport C Warsaw airport D London Heathrow airport Answer: D. London Heathrow airport
In many English homes people eat four meals a day: breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner.People have breakfast at any time from seven to nine in the morning.They eat porridge,eggs or bread.English people drink tea or coffee at breakfast.Lunch comes at one o'clock.Afternoon tea is from four to five in the afternoon and dinner is about half past seven.First they have soups, and then they have meat or fish with vegetables.After that they eat some other things, like bananas,apples or oranges.But not all English people eat like that.Some of them have their dinner in the middle of the day.Their meals are breakfast, dinner, tea and supper and all these meals are very necessary. People don't have _ for their dinner. A porridge B bananas and apples C some soup and meat D meat and fish Answer: A. porridge Those people, those things, such as bursts of light rain in the lake left ring watermark four scattered to each other to melt each other's impact; just like the quiet shining star, not very bright, but clearly made. They do not know how much to spend with me during the bright day and silent night. In my memory, the third year is not gray, because I still remember seeing sunrise and sunset with my friends, and it's that nice. Youth is the eye lotus spring, third year is spring season that this eye bubbled. I, however, strongly smell in the bubble years of the Problem tests. I do not exclude these, but _ . Unfortunately, after the college entrance examination, even the pressure would become the memories, and be my third year living memory of the dead evidence. In the time before we are so powerless, the only left on just the eye springs, and we have no regrets of the promise, I hope day after day, year after year, when I return to this page, people still have remembered the beauty. I have read one another frightening words: Some people say that once you start to like the memories of those, you will get old. I only admit mature, do not believe they have been growing old. My friends are growing up day by day, and were young and mature, how can I grow old ahead of time? "Heaven Rain in green and so on, and I am waiting for you, the moonlight was recovered, the faint opened the outcome." Jay's sad voicehas been completely different from the business for the time sentimental ; Bard will be the years the pace of a camel carved into the blue and white porcelain in that respect. Our future? Friends ah, I will time the other end, waiting for you. The writer of the passage is most unlikely to be a _ . A student in the third year B teacher teaching in a senior middle school C colleague in a certain college D young man studying in a middle school Answer: B. teacher teaching in a senior middle school Mr. King works very long hours every day. He usually gets up at 5:30. He brushes his teeth quickly and goes to his workplace . Then he runs with some kids. After that he takes a shower. He eats his breakfast at 7:00. His work starts at 8:10. He is good at math and many boys and girls learn math from him. All the kids like him very much. He often talks or plays games with the kids. He usually goes to bed after 22:00. He is often very tired but he likes his job and loves the kids. He doesn't work on weekends. Mr. King likes reading at home on weekends. Sometimes some kids' parents come to his home to talk about their kids. When Monday comes, Mr. King gets busy again. Mr. King is a _ . A student B worker C teacher D musician Answer: C. teacher It was the day when the UPSR results would be released. Sleepless nights, pounding hearts... Pupils were laughing with their peers or talking non-stop as their eyes searched for their parents. They looked pale, as if someone had squeezed the air from their lungs. Now I was among the anxious parents. I sat behind my daughter. She looked back, saw me and waved. I nodded. As the teachers walked in, the noise subsided. The year's results were read out. Then came the moment of truth. Pupils who had scored 5As were called out one by one and each of them stepped up on stage. When my daughter went up, I felt fine, but she was crying. I wondered why; maybe she didn't expect to score 5As. Anyway, I said a thankful prayer quietly. After the last name was called, what I saw made an impact on me. One mother just dashed from the back, crying. I thought she was the parent of the last pupil, but I was wrong. She hugged her daughter seated in the front row, saying it was all right that she hadn't scored all As. Her kid was crying. This morn kissed her daughter's forehead and walked straight to the back of the hall, wiping her tears as she walked. She didn't care about the other parents looking at her. How much pressure do we put on these 12-year-olds? All they did was studying and doing endless homework and countless practice questions. Where was the joy that they rightfully needed? As a parent, I think scoring top marks is not the main thing in life. Survival skills are more important than just chewing school texts and regurgitating them in an exam. So let your kids be kids. Let them play, cycle and climb trees. They will be children only once in their lifetime, so don't rob them of their childhood. Let's teach our kids how to be human, how to interact with others, how to help others and recognize "bad people". Teach them how to survive in this cruel world! What would be the best title for the passage? A School and family B Parents--children's supporter C Tears and fears from kids and parents D Children--the apple of parents' eyes Answer: C. Tears and fears from kids and parents What is the result of cellular respiration? A Energy for cell processes is released. B Oxygen is released for photosynthesis. C Cells undergo decomposition. D Nutrients are excreted to prevent the buildup of body fat. Answer: A. Energy for cell processes is released.
I left home for New Zealand to start my new life on my 15th birthday. My father and mother took me to Hong Kong, where we had to say goodbye. When we were saying goodbye, I suddenly felt afraid that I had never had before. This was the first time I had traveled so far by myself. And going to a far-away place I have never been before made me feel terrible. I held back my tears until I could no longer see my parents. As I was wiping away my tears, I realized that, from that moment on, I would have to do everything by myself. After my arrival in _ , my teacher, Ms. Lang, showed me around my new school. A few days later, I started having classes. There were only 20 students in each class. Only math, science, social studies and English were _ , and students could choose other subjects for themselves, I chose music, Japanese and health. In New Zealand, students are very active in class. And teachers are not as serious. They often let us play games in class. We can sit with anyone we like, and the teacher can sit at her own desk or at a student's desk. The school had an easy manner, with few rules. Because there was no homework, we could join clubs or do anything we liked. I always went to the library after school, where I found a lot of books to help with my studies. Studying in New Zealand is very different from studying in China. In New Zealand, students depend on the library to gain knowledge instead of waiting for what teachers ask them to do. Time went fast. The two months flew by after I arrived. Then a week of exams began. I did not have to take these exams, because I had only been at the school for a short time. However, my math teacher encouraged me to take the math exam, as she thought I could do well. Though there wasn't much pressure on me, I worked very hard to get ready for the exam because I know that no pain means no gain. When the day of the exam came, I found that I finished the paper faster than the other students. One week later, my teacher told the whole class who had got the top mark: It was me! I got 94 percent. All my classmates were very happy and said congratulations to me. It was one of the happiest days of my life. The writer didn't have to take the exams, _ . A. so she didn't work hard to get ready for them B. but she thought she could do well and took the math exam C. but she took the math exam and did best of all in it D. so she found she finished the paper faster than the others Answer: C When Boris left school,he could not find a job.He tried hard and pestered his relatives,but they had problems of their Own. He answered advertisements until he could not afford to buy any more stamps. Boris grew annoyed,then depressed,then a little hardened.Still he went on trying and still he failed.He began to think that he had no future at all. "Why don't you start your own business?" one of his uncles told him."The world is a money-locker. You'd better find a way of opening it." "But what can I do?" "Get out and have a look round," advised his uncle in a vague sort of way."See what people want;then give it to them,and they will pay for it." Boris began to cycle around the town and found a suitable piece of a waste ground in the end. Then he set up his business as a cycle repairer.He worked hard,made friends with his customers and gradually managed to build up his goodwill and profit.A few months later, he found that he had more work than he could deal with by himself.He found a number of empty shops but they were all no good:in the wrong position,too expensive or with some other snag . But at long last,he managed to find an empty shop on a new estate where there were plenty of customers but no competition. Boris and his assistant taught themselves how to repair scooters and motor-cycles.Slowly but surely the profits increased and the business developed. At last,Boris had managed to open the money-locker and found bank notes and gold Coins inside. Boris finally chose an empty shop on a new estate because _ . A. it was not so expensive B. he had a lot of old customers there C. he could make good use of his skills there D. there were good opportunities there Answer: D An area received six inches of snow during the winter. Before the snow can continue through the water cycle as ground water or runoff, it must first ___. A. condense B. evaporate C. freeze D. melt Answer: D A teacher let her class play a game. The teacher told each child to bring a bag with some potatoes. Each potato would be given a name of a person that the child hated, so the number of potatoes in his/her bag would depend on the number of people the child hated. Some children had two potatoes, some had three and others had up to five potatoes. The teacher then told the children to carry the bag wherever they went for a week. After a week, the teacher asked, "How did you feel?" The children started complaining about the unpleasant smell coming from the _ potatoes when they had to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes everywhere they went. Then the teacher said," This is the same when you carry your hate for somebody inside your heart. The smell of hate will pollute your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot bear the smell of rotten potatoes for just one week, can you imagine what it is like to have the smell of hate in your heart for your lifetime?" Which is the best title of this passage? A. An interesting game B. Carry the smelly potatoes C. The rotten potatoes D. To excuse others is to excuse yourself Answer: D LONDON -- Life for Cathy Hagner and her three children is set to permanent fast-forward. Their full school day and her job as a lawyer's assistant are busy enough. But Hanger also has to take the two boys to soccer or hockey or basketball while dropping off her daughter at piano lessons or Girl Scout Club. Often, the exhausted family doesn't get home until 7 pm. There is just time for a quick supper before homework. In today's world, middle-class American and British parents treat their children as if they are competitors racing for some finishing line. Parents take their children from activity to activity in order to make their future bright. It seems that raising a genius has become a more important goal than raising a happy and well-balanced child. "Doctors across the country are reporting a growing number of children suffering from stomachaches and headaches due to exhaustion and stress," says child expert William Doherty of the University of Minnesota. Teachers are dealing with exhausted kids in the classroom. It's a very serious problem. Many children attend after-school clubs by necessity. But competitive pressures also create an explosion of activities. They include sports, language, music and math classes for children as young as four. "There is a new parenting trend under way which says that you have to tap all your child's potential at a young age; otherwise you will let him down," says Terry Apter, a Cambridge-based child and adolescent psychiatrist . "It isn't entirely new: there have always been pushy parents. But what was previously seen as strange behaviour is now well accepted." The writer's opinion about after-school clubs is that _ . A. activities in the country are too competitive B. children should attend four clubs at a time C. some clubs result in competitive pressures D. clubs should have more subjects for school children Answer: C
If you do not use your arm or your legs for some time, they become weak; when you start using them again, they slowly become strong again. Everybody knows that. Yet many people do not seem to know that memory works in the same way. When someone says that he has a good memory, he really means that he keeps his memory in practice by using it. When someone else says that his memory is poor, he really means that he does not give it enough chance to become strong. If a friend says that his arms and legs are weak, we know that it is his own fault . But if he tells us that he has a poor memory, many of us think that his parents are to blame , and few of us know that it is just his own fault. Have you ever found that some people can't read or write but usually they have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write and they have to remember things they cannot write down in a little notebook. They have to remember days, names, songs and stories; so their memory is the whole time being exercised. So if you want to have a good memory, learn from the people: Practice remembering. Some people can't read or write, but they usually have better memories, because _ . A. they have save much trouble B. they have saved much time to remember things C. they have to use their memories all the time D. they can't write everything in a little notebook Answer: C Alice, 35 I like shopping, but shopping with young children is not a good thing. I have to look after them while I'm shopping. I go shopping with my husband only when I buy something for him. When I look at a cheap dress, he always says, "It's beautiful on you." But when I have an expensive one in my hands, he always says, "I don't think it fits you well." So I often go shopping with my friends. It's fun. I like shopping alone, too. Maria, 26 I like shopping very much, but I never go shopping on weekends. There are too many people in shops. I don't like shopping with other people. It usually takes me much time to buy things because I never buy the first thing I see. I always look around other shops to find the same thing cheaper. I'm good at finding cheap things. I don't like buying food in small shops or street markets. I think food in supermarkets is fresh and cheap. Both Alice and Maria like shopping _ . A. with friends B. alone C. on weekends D. on weekdays Answer: B Have you ever noticed that some people are able to effortlessly remember even the most boring details, and quickly understand new things, and wished that you too could be like that? To unlock the full potential of your brain, you need to keep it active and acute. But how? Check out these tips: * Exercise & get your body moving Exercising doesn't just exercise the body; it also helps to exercise your brain. Without regular exercise your blood vessels begin to lose the ability to effectively pump blood and it also reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients that your blood carries to your brain. When the nutrients don't make it there, the brain's ability to function is compromised. To prevent this from happening, make sure you get moving every day. Walking, swimming and dancing are all excellent activities. * Get rid of stressors and seek help for depression Among the most brain-damaging stressors is severe depression, which is actually often mistaken for a memory problem since one of its primary symptoms is the inability to concentrate. If you can't concentrate, you might feel like you are constantly forgetting things. Depression increases the levels of cortisol in your brain, which affects your memory. Seek professional help to get rid of your depression -- your brain will thank you. * Feed your brain 50 to 60 percent of the brain's overall weight is pure fat, which is used to insulate its billions of nerve cells. The better insulated a cell is, the quicker you will be thinking. This is exactly why parents are advised to feed their young children whole milk. Thus, eating foods that contain a healthy mix of fats is vital for long-term memory. Some excellent food choices include fish and dark leafy green vegetables. Why should parents feed their babies whole milk? A. Because less than half of the brain's overall weight is pure fat. B. Because whole milk is very easy for babies to digest. C. Because no other food is more suitable for babies than milk. D. Because babies' brains need fat to grow and work properly. Answer: D "Tell me again how you learned to ride a horse," I would ask my father when I was a little girl in Denmark. I was no more than four years old--too little to learn to ride a horse by myself. But I liked to hear my father tell his story. And then he would begin. "When I was a little boy, as little as you are now," he would say, "I wanted to ride the horses. But I was too small to mount a horse. So I would slip into my father's stables to be with the horses and admire them. Such big, powerful animals they were! "The gentle workhorses stood quietly in their stalls, eating their hay. I would climb up the side of one of the stalls and slide over onto the horse's back. "Then I would hold its mane and imagine us running quickly over the grasslands, down to the shore, and even into the sea. "When I grew tall enough to mount a horse," he said, "my wish came true." "You swim with the horses now," I said. "You even swim with Fiery. And he has spirit!" Everybody knew about Fiery, the great black male horse with the fierce temper, and how he behaved when he first came to the stables. He raised itself on its back legs with the front legs in the air. He snorted and kicked. He rolled his eyes. And everyone was afraid of him. Everyone, except my father. I wanted to hear more. "Now tell me how you made Fiery your friend," I begged. This was my favorite story. "Well, little Else," my father went on, "I just talked to him. I talked as a friend. You must talk to a horse like Fiery. "I'd say, 'No, little horse. No, my friend. You can't run free. You must learn to let me ride you.' "And soon Fiery began to listen. He knew from my voice that I would be his friend." So Fiery let my father teach him to carry a rider. Then Fiery would take my father across the soft green grasslands or even into the lively waters of the northern sea. I loved to see Father riding Fiery without a saddle into the sea. There they swam, Father and Fiery, out in the cold, clear water. Often I would watch them from the shore, holding tight to my mother's hand. They swam so bravely. I was so proud of them! Then Father and Fiery would come splashing out of the water and run along the shore toward us. They made a fine stop--just in time! Fiery towered over us. He tossed his head and shook sea water from his shining black coat. Father was laughing and patting Fiery's neck. And I was making a wish. I wished that someday I could have a horse, too . . . but a smaller one! How does Else feel about horses after watching her father ride Fiery? A. She wants a horse just like Fiery. B. She has no interest in riding horses. C. She would like to have a smaller horse. D. She thinks horses should not go into the sea. Answer: C Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually leads to _ death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed. A-myo-trophic comes from the Greek language. "A" means no or negative. "Myo" refers to muscle, and "Trophic" means nourishment--"No muscle nourishment." When a muscle has no nourishment, it "atrophies" or wastes away. "Lateral" identifies the areas in a person's spinal cord where portions of the nerve cells that signal and control the muscles are located. As this area degenerates it leads to scarring or hardening ("sclerosis") in the region. As motor neurons degenerate, they can no longer send impulses to the muscle fibers that normally result in muscle movement. Early symptoms of ALS often include increasing muscle weakness, especially involving the arms and legs, speech, swallowing or breathing. When muscles no longer receive the messages from the motor neurons that they require to function, the muscles begin to atrophy (become smaller). Limbs begin to look "thinner" as muscle tissue atrophies. What Types of Nerves Make Your Body Work Properly? The body has many kinds of nerves. There are those involved in the process of thinking, memory, and of detecting sensations (such as hot/cold, sharp/dull), and others for vision, hearing, and other bodily functions. The nerves that are affected when you have ALS are the motor neurons that provide voluntary movements and muscle power. Examples of voluntary movements are your making the effort to reach for the phone or step off a curb; these actions are controlled by the muscles in the arms and legs. The heart and the digestive system are also made of muscle but a different kind, and their movements are not under voluntary control. When your heart beats or a meal is digested, it all happens automatically. Therefore, the heart and digestive system are not involved in ALS. Breathing also may seem to be involuntary. Remember, though, while you cannot stop your heart, you can hold your breath-so be aware that ALS may eventually have an impact on breathing. Although the cause of ALS is not completely understood, the recent years have brought a wealth of new scientific understanding regarding the physiology of this disease. While there is not a cure or treatment today that halts or reverses ALS, there is one FDA approved drug, riluzole, that modestly slows the progression of ALS as well as several other drugs in clinical trials that hold promise. Importantly, there are significant devices and therapies that can manage the symptoms of ALS that help people maintain as much independence as possible and prolong survival. It is important to remember that ALS is a quite variable disease; no two people will have the same journey or experiences. There are medically documented cases of people in whom ALS 'burns out,' stops progressing or progresses at a very slow rate. Which is NOT involved in the early symptoms of ALS _ ? A. arms B. speech C. breathing D. heart Answer: D
Award-winning director Steven Spielberg will head up this year's Cannes Film Festival jury,the organizers announced Thursday,just days after he missed out on his third best-director Oscar. Spielberg,66,one of the most powerful and respected film-makers in Hollywood,said he was flattered by the appointment. "The memory of my first Cannes Film Festival,nearly 31 years ago with the debut of E.T.,is still one of the most vibrant memories of my career,he said in a statement."It is an honor and a privilege to preside over the jury of a festival that proves,again and again,that cinema is the language of the world," he added. Ever since E.T.screened at Cannes in l982, "I've often asked Steven to be jury president,but he's always been shooting a film,"said the festival's president,Gilles Jacob. The festival is one of the highlights in the international cinema calendar and this year runs between May l5 and May 26.Spielberg's works cuts across a wide range" between entertainments films and serious reflections on history,racism and the human condition",festival organizers said in the statement. Spielberg has directed more than 50 films in his five-decade career,including pop culture touchstones such as "Jaws,"E.T.," "Indiana Jones" and "Jurassic Park." But it was not until he turned to darker subjects that he won his first Oscars.He won his first best director award in l994 for" Schindler's List" and his second best director Oscar in l 998 for "Saving Private Ryan." This year's "Lincoln "led the nominations ahead of Sunday's Oscar ceremony with l2 nods,but took home only two prizes.Ang Lee beat Spielberg to best director for "The Life of Pi". Because of his films,he's year-in year-out the equal of the very greatest Hollywood filmmakers. is not a film directed by Steven Spielberg. A The Life of Pi B Indiana Jones C Saving Private Ryan D Schindler's List Answer: A. The Life of Pi Hi, everybody. Over the past couple months, most of the political headlines you've read have probably been about the government shutdown and the launch of the Affordable Care Act . And I know that many of you have rightly never been more frustrated with Washington. But if you look beyond those headlines, there are some good things happening in our economy. And that's been my top priority since the day I walked into the Oval Office. After decades in which the middle class was working harder and harder just to keep up, and a punishing recession that made it worse, we made the tough choices required not just to recover from crisis, but to rebuild on a new foundation for stronger, more durable economic growth. Five years later, we have fought our way back. Our businesses have created 7.8 million new jobs in the past 44 months. Another 200,000 Americans went back to work last month. The American auto industry has come back with more than 350,000 new jobs --- jobs putting out and selling the high-tech, fuel-efficient cars the world wants to buy. And they're leading the charge in a business that has added jobs for the first time since the 1990s --- a big reason why our businesses sell more goods and services "Made in America" than ever before. We decided to stop our addiction to foreign oil. And today, we produce more renewable energy than ever, more natural gas than anybody, and for the first time in nearly 20 years, America now produces more oil than we buy from other countries. We decided to fix a broken health care system. And even though the task has been rough, so far, about 500,000 Americans gain health coverage starting January 1st. And by the way, health care costs are growing at the slowest rate in 50 years. And one more thing: since I took office, we've cut our deficits by more than half. And that makes it easier to invest in the things that create jobs --- education, research, and so on. Imagine how much farther along we could be if both parties were working together. Think about what we could do if the few didn't hold the economy hostage every few months, or waste time on dozens of votes to _ the Affordable Care Act rather than try to help us fix it. In the weeks ahead, I'll keep talking about my plan to build a better bargain for the middle class. Good jobs. A good education. A chance to buy a home, save, and retire. And yes, the financial security of affordable health care. And I'll look for any willing partners who want to help. Because of your hard work and tough sacrifices over the past five years, we're pointed in the right direction. But we've got more work to do to keep moving that way. And as long as I'm President, I'll keep doing everything I can to create jobs, grow the economy, and make sure that everyone who works hard has a chance to get ahead. Thanks, and have a great weekend. Which of the following is not the reason for people's frustration with the government? A The government shutdown B Unemployment rate C The addiction to foreign oil D Cancelling the Affordable Care Act Answer: D. Cancelling the Affordable Care Act Why Laughter Matters Although most people believe that laughter is one of the nature's great treatments for a whole range of mental and physical diseases, it is still a serious scientific subject that researchers are trying to figure out. "Laughter above all else is a social thing," says Baltimore neuroscientist, Robert Provine, who has studied laughter for decades. "All laughter groups laugh 'ha-ha-ha' basically the same way. Whether you speak Mandarin, French or English, everyone will understand laughter. There is a pattern generator in our brain that produces this sound." Laughing is our first way of communicating. Babies laugh long before they speak. No one teaches them how to laugh. They just do. People may laugh at a prank on April Fools' day. But surprisingly, only 10 to 15 percent of laughter is the result of someone making a joke. Laughter is mostly about social responses rather to a joke. Deaf people laugh without hearing and people on cell phones laugh without seeing, showing that laughter isn't dependent on single sense but on social interactions. And laughter is not just a people thing. Chimps tickle each other and even laugh when another chimp pretends to tickle them. Jaak Panksepp, a Bowling Green University Psychology professor, studies rats that laugh when he tickles them. It turns out rats love to be tickled--they return again and again to the hands of researchers tickling them. By studying rats, scientists can figure out what's going on in the brain during laughter. Northwestern University biomedical engineering professor, Jeffrey Burgdorf has found that laughter in rats produces a chemical that acts as an antidepressant . He thinks the same thing probably happens in humans, too. This would give doctors a new chemical target to develop drugs that can fight depression. Even so, laughter itself has not been proved to be the best medicine, experts said. Margaret Stuber, a professor at University of California, studied whether laugher helped patients. She found that distraction and mood improvement helped, but she could not find a benefit of laughter alone. "No study has shown that laughter produces a direct health benefit," Provine said, largely because it's hard to separate laughter from just feeling good. But he thinks it doesn't really matter: "Isn't the fact that laughter feels good when you do it enough?" The most important finding of Robert Provine's research is that _ . A laughter makes a person feel good B laughter depends on different senses C rats like to be tickled very much D laughter is a social response shared by all creatures Answer: A. laughter makes a person feel good When the Spanish first brought chocolate back to Europe,it was still being served as a drink,but soon went through an important change:the chili pepper was replaced by sugar. The new sweetened chocolate drink was so expensive that few could afford,but by the 17th century the drink was common among European noblemen. In England,which was somewhat more equalityfavored than the rest of Europe,chocolate was more widely available. Those who could afford it could enjoy chocolate drinks in the new coffee and chocolate houses of London. As cacao tree became more commonly available,people began experimenting with new ways of using it. Chocolate began to appear in cakes and other foods. But it wasn't until 1828 that the "modern ear" of chocolate making and production began. The introduction of cocoa powder not only made creating chocolate drinks much easier,but also made it possible to combine chocolate with sugar and then remix it with cocoa butter to create a solid. Others began to build on Van Houten's success,experimenting to make new chocolate products. In 1849,English chocolate maker Joseph Storrs Fry produced what was the world's first eating chocolate. Today,the Swiss are famous for their chocolate,and rightly so. In the late 19th century,they developed a number of processes that contributed greatly to creating the solid chocolate candy that we all enjoy today. Two major developments occurred in 1879.First,Daniel Peter,a Swiss chocolate producer,had the idea of using powdered milk (invented by Swiss Chemist Henri Nestle in 1867) to make a new kind of chocolate,milk chocolate. Second,Rudolph Lindt invented a process called "conching",which greatly improved the quality of chocolate candy by making it more mixable. The milk chocolate was invented in _ . A 1828 B 1849 C 1867 D 1879 Answer: D. 1879 My father got his first job at eleven years old. cleaning up the garbage outside of the bowlingalley . Two years later his dad died. and my fatber worked odd jobs to help put food onthe table during the Depression. Ten years after that. Dad fell in love. married Mom and had ababy girl. Eight more children followed. During those years, Dad slipped into a routine he neverbroke He woke up before six. took the train to work and wouldn't get home until after five thirly.After supper, Dad spent the rest of the evening in the basement making dental parts for extra Two years ago, at the age of sixty-four, Dad retired. When I was young, Mom and Dad did well to hide the fact that we were poor. All nine of us attended Catholic schools and we always had plenty of school supplies. We slept in wooden beds, shared one bathroom and watched television from a tiny black-and-white set in the living room. Mom and Dad never bought anything for themselves. They clipped coupons, wore the same pair of sneakers for twenty years and sewed wom clothing together every Saturday afternoon. At his retirement party. I wanted to thank Dad for all his hard work and sacrifice by buying him the best present I could think of. As I shopped though. l realized there was nothing I could buy for Dad. Dad taught me through his own faith that the greatest gifis come from the heart Finally. I left my present on the kitchen table for Dad to find before he Ieft for his frnal day at work. After reading the text. what would be the author's present for his Dad? A A big-screen television. B A vacation schedule. C A letter of grateful words. D A great retirement party. Answer: C. A letter of grateful words.
We each have a memory . That's why we can still remember things after a long time. Some people have very good memories and they can easily learn many things by heart, but some people can only remember things when they say or do them again and again. Many of the great men of the world have got surprising memories. A good memory is a great help in learning a language. Everybody learns his mother language when he is a small child. He hears the sounds, remembers them and then he learns to speak. Some children are living with their parents in foreign countries. They can learn two languages as easily as one because they hear, remember and speak two languages every day. In school it is not so easy to learn a foreign language because the pupils have so little time for it, and they are busy with other subjects, too. But your memory will become better and better when you do more and more exercises. ,. Your memory will become better and better _ . Answer: if you do more and more exercises "Extra? Extra!Gasoline hits four dollars a gallon!" No one will really be shockedexcept, perhaps, the old-timers who tell about the good old days when gas was three gallons for a dollar, and people drove around "just for the fun of it". As a matter of fact; the price of gas has been rising fast and steadily for several years, and many adjustments have already been made. There was, for a time, considerable unemployment in the auto industry, and three quarters of the garages and service stations have gone out of business. However; the bicycle and motor-scooter business has flourished ; and many people have found employment there: Now that Federal Motors has brought out its new Lilliput, which travels forty miles on a gallon, the auto business is picking up again. The factories that haven't switched over to two-wheel transportation are working on their new smaller models. There is talk, too, about bringing out new steam and electric automobiles that will be just as economical as the old cars. In the meantime, streetcars are gradually replacing buses all over the country because of the greater economy of electric power. And many people who have seldom used public transportation are now riding the streetcars while their automobiles rust in their garages. There's no market at all for their big, luxurious cars, for only the wealthy can now afford to operate them. Many people are now shopping in their own neighborhood, and small businesses are thriving. Ministers, educators, and editorial writers are pointing out that there has been a great improvement in family life. Families now stay at home more for their fun, and children and parents are becoming better acquainted. The stores report a booming business in parlor games, hobby materials, books, musical instruments and albums. People have lost their pale indoor look. The revival of the lost art of walking has brought a healthy pink back to many a cheek. This return to the heels has revolutionized the clothing styles; people now need to be ready for all kinds of weather: These conditions, however, may not last. Already our clever chemists are at work on new synthetic fuels which, they say, will put us right back where we wereon wheels. Shall w e wish them success or not? The purpose of writing this passage is _ . Answer: to show the chain reaction of the rising gas price It was terribly cold and nearly dark on the last evening of the old year, and the snow was falling fast. In the cold and the darkness, a poor little girl, with bare head and naked feet, wandered through the streets. It is true she had on a pair of slippers when she left home, but they were not of much use. They were very large, so large, indeed, that they had belonged to her mother, and the poor girl had lost them in running across the street to avoid two carriages that were rolling along at a terrible rate. One of the slippers she could not find, and a boy seized upon the other and ran away with it. So the little girl went on with her little naked feet, which were quite red and blue with the cold. In an old apron she carried a number of matches, and had a bunch of them in her hands. No one had bought anything of her the whole day, nor had any one given her even a penny. Lights were shining from every window, and there was a delicious smell of roast goose, for it was New-year's eve--yes, she remembered that. In a corner, between two houses, one of which projected beyond the other, she sank down and huddled herself together. She had drawn her little feet under her, but she could not keep off the cold; and she dared not go home, for she had sold no matches, and could not take home even a penny of money. Her father would certainly beat her; besides, it was almost as cold at home as here. The passage is probably taken from _ . Answer: a story Since ancient times, people have known about its ability to reduce pain and high body temperature. More than 2000 years ago, the Greek doctor Hippocrates advised his patients to chew on the bark and leaves of the willow. The tree contains a chemical called salicin . From salicin, researchers in the 1800s discovered how to make salicylic acid . And in 1897, a chemist named Felix Hoffmann at Friedrich Bayer and Company in Germany created acetyl salicylic acid. Later it became the active substance in a new medicine that Bayer called aspirin. The "a" came from acetyl. The "spir" came from the spirea plant, which also produces salicin. And the "in" Well, that is a common way to end medicine names. In 1982, a British scientist shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine in part for discovering how aspirin works. Sir John Vane found that aspirin blocks the body from making natural substances called prostaglandins .Prostaglandins have several effects on the body. Some cause pain and the expansion, or swelling( ; ), of damaged tissue. Others protect the lining of the stomach and small intestine. Prostaglandins also make the heart, kidneys and blood vessels work well. But there is a problem. Aspirin works against all prostaglandins, good and bad. Scientists learned how aspirin interferes with an enzyme . One form of this enzyme makes the prostaglandin that causes pain and swelling. Another form of the enzyme creates a protective effect. So aspirin can reduce pain and swelling in damaged tissues. But it can also harm the inside of the stomach and small intestine . What sickness can the medicine from the willow deal with according to the passage? Answer: Toothache There is a poster below. Read it carefully. VISIT SWANSEA ZOO! Come and see the African elephants and the new tigers from India. The Arctic bears are waiting to meet you, and the monkeys from Zaire are waiting to throw things at you. The hyenas (a _ animal, like a wolf, with a howl that sounds like wild laughter) from Tanzania are waiting to laugh at you, and the giraffes from Zambia are waiting to look down on you. Tickets Adult: $1.20 Children: Over 12: 80 cent Under 12 : Free Opening Time: 9: 00a. m. ~4: 00p. m. Except Fridays: 10: 00a. m. ~3: 00p. m. KEEP THE ZOO CLEAN! DO NOT FEED,TOUCH OR GO NEAR THE ANIMALS! A giraffe must be a kind of animal which is _ . Answer: tall
Maddie Messe, 13, has always loved Temple Run, a mobile game that sends her racing through swamps and forests to outrun a pack of crazed monkeys. What she didn't love was being forced to play as a boy -- unless she was willing to buy a female version. "I felt like l was being cheated or misrepresented," Maddie explains."Girls are just as capable of running away from monkeys as boys are." So last winter, Maddie researched 50 of the most popular iPhone games. What she found was infuriating:90 percent offered free male characters, but only 15 percent let you play as a female for free. Armed with those statistics, Maddie drafted a spirited article and fired it off to several major newspapers. The Washington Post agreed to run the piece, which attracted millions of readers around the globe -- including the makers of Temple Run! "We realized she had a point," says Natalia Luckyanova, the game's co-creator. "It was the kick in the pants we needed to say,'We should fix it.'So we did." Now you can play Temple Run with a female character for free, but Maddie hopes her campaign inspires something deeper."If you don't see characters that look like you on TV or in movies or games, speak up! Just do your research first,"says Maddie. "One well-supported argument is much more effective than a million angry complaints." Maddle's findings _ . Answer: angered her Our risk of cancer rises rapidly as we age. So it makes sense that the elderly should be routinely screened for new tumors or doesn't it? While such tracking of cancer is a good thing in general, researchers are increasingly questioning whether all of this testing is necessary for the elderly. With the percentage of people over age 65 expected to nearly double by 2050, it s important to weigh the health benefits of screening against the risks and costs of routine testing. In many cases, screening can lead to additional examinations and operations to remove cancer, which can cause side effects, while the cancers themselves may be slow-growing and may not cause serious health problems in patients' remaining years. But the message that everyone must screen for cancer has become so ingrained that when health care experts recommended that women under 50 and over 74 stop screening for breast cancer, it caused a noisy reaction among doctors, patients and social groups. It's hard to uproot deeply-held beliefs about cancer screening with scientific data. Certainly, there are people over age 75 who have had cancers detected by routine screening, and gained several extra years of life because of treatment. And clearly, people over age 75 who have other risk factors for cancer, such as a family history or previous personal experience with the disease, should continue to get screened regularly. But for the rest, the risk of cancer, while increased at the end of life, must be balanced with other factors like remaining life expectancy. A recent study suggests that doctors start to make more objective decisions about who will truly benefit from screening--especially considering the explosion of the elderly. It's not an easy calculation to make, but one that makes sense for patients. Dr. Otis Brawley said, "Many doctors are ordering these tests purely to cover themselves from medical disputes. We need to think about the wise use of health care, which means making some difficult decisions with elderly patients, and going against the misguided belief that when it comes to health care, more is always better." What is the traditional view about women screening for breast cancer? Answer: It is a must for adult women. Different people have different skin colours. Some have black skin, some have yellow skin, and some have white skin. There was a woman in Alaska. Her skin was orange in colour. It was almost the colour of orange juice. How did this woman become orange? She ate lots of tomatoes, carrots and pumpkins. She ate too many orange things. That's why she turned orange. The woman didn't want to be orange. She went to the doctor. The doctor said,"Stop eating orange things. Eat some green things." The woman did so, and she wasn't orange any more. The woman went to see the doctor because _ . Answer: she didn't like her colour More than 2,400 years ago, a sickness struck Athens. The disease is said to have killed up to one third of all Athenians, including their leader Pericles. The huge loss of life helped to change the balance of power between Athens and its enemy, Sparta, in the ancient world. Historians say the sickness began in what is now Ethiopia. They say it passed through Egypt and Libya before it entered Greece. Knowledge of the disease has come mainly from the writings of the ancient Greek historian Thucydides, who survived it. So what caused the fall of Athens? Now, a study based on genetic testing says it was probably typhoid fever. Greek researchers announced the results. Journal of Infectious Diseases published the findings online last week. Researchers from the University of Athens tested human remains from an ancient burial place in the Greek capital. The researchers collected genetic material from teeth. They say tests found genetic evidence similar to that of the modern-day Salmonella . Manolis Papagrigorakis led the University of Athens team. He says the findings throw light on one of the most debated mysteries in medical history. Typhoid fever is a life-threatening disease that is common today in developing countries. Experts say there are more than 21,000,000 cases each year. Typhoid can be spread by food or drink that has been handled by a person infected with the bacteria that causes it. Bacteria in human waste can pollute water supplies. So water used for drinking or to wash food can also spread the infection. Hand washing is important to reducing the spread of typhoid. And there are vaccines that can help prevent it. Some people recover but continue to carry the bacteria. These carriers can get sick again. And they may continue to infect others. Doctors can do tests to make sure the bacteria has left the body. How many ways of spreading the typhoid bacteria are mentioned in the text? Answer: 3. Biomass energy , often forgotten as promising alternative to oil, received its day in the sun with the gathering of the Bio-Energy World Congress and Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, late in April, 2007. Nearly 1700 scientists, businessmen and policy-makers, one-quarter from the foreign nations, gathered for a week to discuss various means of squeezing usable energy out of trees, crops, sea plants and urban waste. Biomass energy in the prefix = st1 /United Statescontributes 2.5 percent of the total supply, but this amount can be doubled by 2017 and then doubled again by the year 2027. Eight percent of Sweden's energy supply, for example, is presently coming from wood and pulp remaining. Swedenintends to raise this percentage by more intensive harvesting of waste food lying around in forests, and through the planting of so-called energy forests of fast-growing trees such as willow. Brazilis frequently pointed to as a nation with a major successful investment in energy coming from grains: it presently runs 330,000 automobiles on a water and alcohol mixture, replacing 10 percent of its previous oil supply. Brazilian representatives at the conference said they wish to double this in five years, with a final goal of total replacement. Most of the cars are built at the factory to use the mixture, while older models are changed through low-cost government programs. Which of the following statements is supported by the passage? Answer: Three-quarters of the representatives were from theU.S.
A girl complained to her father about her hard life. She didn't know what she had to do and wanted to give up. She felt tired of fighting and fighting. One problem had been finished but another came over. Her father, a cook, took her into the kitchen. He poured water into three pans and boiled them. After boiling, in the first pan was put some carrots, the second was put some eggs and the last was put with coffee. The girl waited impatiently, confused by what her father did. About 20 minutes later, her father took out the carrots and put them in a bowl. He took the eggs and put them in a bowl. After that the coffee was poured into a cup. "My sweet heart, what do you see?" he asked. "Carrots, eggs and coffee." she replied. Her father told her to close her eyes and asked her to touch the carrots. She did so and felt that the carrots were soft. After that he asked her to take the eggs and break them. After peeling them, she got the eggs, cooked and hard. The last, the father let her smell the coffee. She asked, "What did you do this for, father?" He explained that each had the same unlucky experience -- the boiling water, but each had a different result. The strong and hard carrots had become soft and weak. The _ eggs became hard after being cooked. The coffee was very special, it could change water. "Who are you?" asked her father. "When bad luck knocks at your door, what is your decision? Are you carrots, eggs or coffee?" What can we learn from the passage? A The girl's father liked to eat some kinds of food. B Bad luck always knocks at strong people's doors. C Boiled carrots, eggs and coffee had the same result. D People should make right decisions when in trouble. Answer: D After our hospital visit, my husband and I needed cheering up, so we thought we would treat ourselves to a big breakfast at our favorite restaurant. While we were waiting for our meals, we decided to use all our small change and make our wallets light, so we counted it out as we waited. I vaguely remember seeing a man sitting nearby. When our meals arrived, we found a note. It read," Your breakfast has been paid for. Hope you have a lovely day." It was a wonderful surprise as nothing like that had ever happened to us. He must have thought we could hardly pay the bill. We looked around to thank him, but he had left. As retirees ,we were grateful for the help like this, but it was the kindness of a total stranger that meant so much more to us. What have you learnt from the story? A The old couple couldn't afford the meal. B The old couple paid the meal by small change. C The old couple had a free meal in the end D The old couple bought the man a big breakfast Answer: C Around twenty years ago I was going through hard times. I could not find a satisfying job. To my shame, I had to drive a school bus to make ends meet and lived in a friend's house. One afternoon, while driving through a quiet suburban neighborhood I was so sad that I kept asking myself "Why has my life become so hard?" "What's wrong with the world?" Then I pulled over the bus to drop off a little girl and as she passed she handed me a pretty earring, saying she found it on the floor of the bus and I should keep it in case the owner came to look for it. In the evening, the owner did come to look for her earring. When I handed it to her, she got very excited and continued saying "Thanks, you're a real gentleman." I told her that she should thank the little girl who had found it. She said, "Yes, and you are a good driver, too. What a lovely world it is!" Then she left with satisfaction. I was touched by her last words. I had thought something was wrong with the world just because of my poor condition. In fact, nothing was wrong with the world. I should change my attitude towards life. I should be positive about life. At first it was hard, and then it got easier. Every day I could find things to make me happy. Then one night there was a phone call for me at my friend's house from a lady who was a manager in a large hospital. She said she had read my application form and asked me if I would like to work in the hospital. I said yes and got the job. Looking back at the experience I know the most important is to have a positive attitude towards life. What does the author want to show in this passage? A Lost things should be returned to the owner. B Life is usually hard for the young at the beginning. C One should hold a positive attitude towards life. D It is not easy to find a good job nowadays. Answer: C Brazil has become one of the developing world's great successes at reducing population growth, but more by accident than design. While countries such as India have made joint efforts to reduce birth rates, Brazil has had better result without really trying, says George Martine at Harvard. Brazil's population growth rate has dropped from 2.99% a year between 1951 and 1960 to 1.93% a year between 1981 and 1990, and Brazilian women now have only 2.7 children on average. Martine says this figure may have fallen still further since 1990, an achievement that makes it the envy of many other Third World countries. Martine puts it down to, among other things, soap operas and installment plans introduced in the 1970s. Both played an important, although indirect, role in lowering the birth rate. Brazil is one of the world's biggest producers of soap operas. Globo, Brazil's most popular television network, shows three hours of soaps six nights a week, while three others show at least one hour a night. Most soaps are based on wealthy characters living the high life in big cities. "Although they have never really tried to work in a message towards the problems of reproduction, they describe middle and upper class values-not many children, different attitudes towards life, women working," says Martine. "They sent this image to all parts of Brazil and made people aware of other patterns of behavior and other values, which were put into a very attractive package." Soap operas have helped in lowering Brazil's birth rate because _ . A they keep people sitting long hours watching TV B they have gradually changed people's way of life C people are drawn to their attractive package D they popularize birth control measures Answer: B Which is more useful? Thomas is in Grade Two now. He goes to school from Monday to Friday. After school he must do some housework. He helps his parents on the farm on Saturdays and Sundays. So he doesn't have any time to play soccer in the daytime. He often plays soccer with his friends in the moon . It's five in the afternoon. School is over. Thomas goes home and cooks for his family. After dinner he sees his friend Paul near his house and asks him to play soccer. The boy looks at the sky and sees the moon. Then he asks," Which is more useful, the sun or the moon?" "I think the moon is," says Thomas. "We need light in the evening, because we see not the sun, but the moon!" Thomas only likes _ . A the sun B the moon C Saturdays D Sundays Answer: B
Old people are always saying that the young are not what they were. The same comment is made from generation to generation and it is always true. It has never been truer than it is today. The young are better educated. They have a lot more money to spend and enjoy more freedom. They grow up more quickly and are not so dependent on their parents. They think more for themselves and do not blindly accept the life goals of their elders. Events which the older generation remembers vividly are nothing more than past history. This is as it should be. Every new generation is different from the one before. Today the difference is very noticeable indeed. The old always believe that they know best for the simple reason that they have been around a bit longer. They don't like to feel that their values are being questioned or threatened. And this is exactly what the young are doing. Wouldn't people work best if they were given complete freedom and responsibility? And what about clothing? Who said that all the men in the world should wear dull grey suits and very short haircuts? Who said that human differences can best be solved through normal politics or by violent means? Why have the older generation so often used violence to solve their problems? Why are they so unhappy and guilty in their personal lives, so occupied with mean ambitions and the desire to collect more and more wealth? Haven't the old lost touch with all that is important in life? These are not questions the older generation can shrug off lightly. Their record over the past forty years or so hasn't been exactly spotless. Traditionally, the young have turned to their elders for guidance. Today, the situation might be opposite. The old--if they are prepared to admit it--could learn a thing or two from their children. One of the biggest lessons they could learn is that enjoyment is not wrong. Enjoyment is a principle one could apply to all aspects of life. It is surely not wrong to enjoy your work and enjoy your free time. It is surely not wrong to live in the present rather than in the past or future. This emphasis on the present is only to be expected because the young have grown up under the shadow of the bomb: the constant threat of complete annihilation . This is just what the older generation has passed down to them. What's the biggest lesson the old can learn from the young generation according to the article? Answer: Enjoyment is a principle of life. People often use gestures to express our feelings, but the problem is that the gestures can be understood in different ways. It is true that a smile means the same thing in any language. So does laughter or crying. Fear is another emotion that is shown in much the same way all over the world. In Chinese and in English literature, a phrase like "he went pale and began to tremble" suggests that the man is either very afraid or he has just got a very big shock. However, "he opened his eyes wide" is used to suggest anger in Chinese whereas in English it means surprise. In Chinese, surprise can be described in a phrase like "they stretched out their tongues!" "Stretching out your tongue" in English is an insulting(, )gesture or expresses strong dislike. Even in the same culture, people differ in their ability to understand and express feelings. Experiments in America have shown that women are usually better than men at recognizing fear, anger, love and happiness on people's faces. Other studies show that older people usually find it easier to understand body language than younger people do. The best title for this passage can be _ . Answer: Gestures and Feelings In the south there were large cotton farms called plantations. Growing cotton was very hard work, so saves were brought from Africa to work in the fields. The white slave owners did not let the slaves have drums because they knew that Africans could use drums to send messages. They were afraid the slaves would help each other to run away. Most slave owners did not let the slaves keep their African dances or their religions. All the slaves had to become Christian. They sang white religious songs but they added African rhythms to the music. We call these songs "spirituals". Some spirituals told about the hard life of the slaves or their wish to run away. Although the slaves could not do African dances, in church, they clapped their hands and moved their whole bodies. Today black religious music is called gospel music In Louisiana and the city of New Orleans the slave owners were French. They let the slaves and the free blacks play drums and horns, they also let them keep their African dances. Black musicians in New Orleans put European musical instruments and songs together with African rhythms. They made a new musical sound that was later called jazz. Many of the first jazz instruments were home made. Black people also made rhythm with their hands, feet, and bodies. Later black brass bands , in the French style, became common. These bands played at special times like weddings and funerals. You can still hear early form of jazz in the city of New Orleans. The slaves were set free in 1865, ahead the Civil War between the North and the South. Since that time black gospel music and jazz have become an important part of the popular music in America. The white slave owners did not let the slaves have drums because_. Answer: they were afraid that drums would help slaves escape What's the most important thing for you to have in your life? Somebody thinks it's hard work, others think it's knowledge , love and luck... If you arrange the 26 English letters in order and use numbers to represent each of them, for example, 1 for a, 2 for b, 3 for c ......26 for z, you can change an English word into a number. So hard work becomes 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11="98," meaning 98 is its mark ;Z-X-X-K]knowledge: 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5="96;" love: 12+15+22+5="54," and luck: 12+21+3+11="47," a smallmark. None of these words can give one a full mark. What about money? It can't, either. Then what else? Don't be worried. You can always find an answer to a problem in your life, when you change your way of looking at things or doing things, or your attitude . Yes, attitude is the word. See for yourself; attitude: 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5="100," a full mark. Different attitudes lead to different kinds of life. Most time people hope for a better life. They will have a better life if they change their attitudes. When you become friendly towards others, you will meet more smiling faces. In the same way, if you take a positive attitude towards failure, you'll find it's also helpful though it has made you lose lots of things. According to the passage, if you meet with problems, the best way is to _ . Answer: change your attitude "Let's go Dutch, shall we?" Jim said after a dinner to his friends in a restaurant. What does Jim mean? Long ago, there was a kind of dinner called Dutch treat . At a Dutch treat, the invited guests were expected to pay for their own share of the food and drink. Now, Dutch treat means when friends go out to have fun, each person pays his or her own share. There are many other expressions related with "Dutch" in American English. However, most of them were first used in England in the 17th century. At that time, the British and the Dutch were war enemies. So when British people talked about something wrong or bad, they would like to use the word "Dutch". A common expression heard a few years ago was in Dutch. A friend may tell you, "You are in Dutch. The teacher is angry with you. Be careful!" When a soldier took Dutch leave, he left the army without permission. Dutch courage was the false courage produced by the effects of drinking wine. There is one expression that did come from the Dutch. That is to talk like a Dutch uncle. The Dutch were known for the strict and serious way they educated their children. According to the passage, the British in the 17th century _ . Answer: used the word "Dutch" for something bad
Question: Hunting The days of the hunter are almost over in India. This is partly because there is practically nothing left to kill, and partly because some steps have been taken, mainly by banning tiger-shooting, to protect those animals which still survive. Some people say that Man is naturally a hunter. I disagree with this view. Our earliest forefathers, who at first possessed no weapons, spent their time digging for roots, and were no doubt themselves often hunted by meat-eating animals. I believe the main reason why the modern hunter kills is that he thinks people will admire his courage in overpowering dangerous animals. Of course, there are some who truly believe that the killing is not really the important thing, and that the chief pleasure lies in the joy of the hunt and the beauties of the wild countryside. There are also those for whom hunting in fact offers a chance to prove themselves and risk death by design; these men go out after dangerous animals like tigers, even if they say they only do it to rid the countryside of a threat. I can respect reasons like these, but they are clearly different from the need to strengthen your high opinion of yourself. The greatest big-game hunters expressed in their writings something of these finer motives .One of them wrote. "You must properly respect what you are after and shoot it cleanly and on the animal's own territory . You must fix forever in your mind all the wonders of that particular day. This is better than letting him grow a few years older to be attacked and wounded by his own son and eventually eaten, half alive, by other animals, Hunting is not a cruel and senseless killing - not if you respect the thing you kill, not if you kill to enrich your memories, not if you kill to feed your people." I can understand such beliefs, and can compare these hunters with those who hunted lions with spears and bravely caught them by the tail. But this is very different from many tiger--shoots I have seen, in which modern weapons were used. The so--called hunters fired from tall trees or from the backs of trained elephants. Such methods made tigers seem no more dangerous than rabbits. There is no more hunting in India now partly because _ . A. it is dangerous to hunt there B. hunting is already out of date C. hunters want to protect animals D. there are few animals left to hunt Answer: D Question: A daughter's duty? Adult daughters are often expected to caregiver for older parents. In 2007, Jorjan Sarich and her dad moved from California to Idaho. It was where he wanted to live his rest time. "I left my occupation, I left my friends; he did the same thing," said Sarich, who bought a house with her father, George Snyder, in the China Gardens neighborhood of Hailey after his health began to decline. Though a graduate student struggling to finish her dissertation , Sarich chose to be her dad's full-time caregiver. "It's only now, several years later, that I'm realizing how much work it was. It's the kind of exhaustion that sleep doesn't cure," she said. About 6 million Americans provide care to elderly relatives or friends living outside of nursing homes. Laurel Kennedy, author of "The Daughter Trap" (Thomas Dunne Books, $25.95), says that women bear a disproportionate share of the burden -- about 70 percent of hands-on care giving such as bathing. "I want to be clear: Women don't hate this," Kennedy said. "What they hate is that everyone just assumes they'll do it." Kennedy is calling for _ equal to the rise of affordable child care and day care: Employers should help working caregivers by offering accommodations. Men should step up more often. It's unfair that women are always chosen to provide care for an elderly family member. Despite the hard work it took on Sarich -- interrupted sleep and the knowledge that his 2009 death was the end game, she would do it again. Since about half a century had gone by, she wasn't the person he remembered, and he wasn't the person she remembered either. Caring for her father changed how each saw the other. How many years did Jorjan Sarich work as her father's full-time caregiver? A. Five years. B. Only one year. C. Four years. D. Two years. Answer: D Question: Hundreds of Chinese officials are to be sacked or demoted for their part in a vaccine scandal that has added to discontent at poor oversight of food and drug safety, especially relating to children. Xinhua, the state news agency, said late on Wednesday that 357 officials are to face punishment, with 192 criminal cases already filed and 202 people detained after improperly stored or transported vaccines were sent to 59 health institutions. This is the latest in a string of food and drug safety scandals in a country where parents often import products for infants and babies from overseas to ensure quality. Many remember with fear the 2008 milk powder scandal, in which infant formula laced with melamine caused at least six deaths and 300,000 children to fall ill. Beijing last month made public an illegal operation in eastern Shandong province in which a hospital pharmacist and her daughter traded $88m in vaccines that may have been compromised because they were expired or improperly stored or transported. The China Food and Drug Administration said, however, that the vaccines posed no greater than the normal risk to patients. "We don't see that the vaccines' effectiveness has been reduced," added the health watchdog in a report. Nonetheless, health officials fear a backlash against Chinese-manufactured vaccines, which already have a reputation for being more dangerous than those made overseas. Wang Yuedan, deputy director of Peking University's immunology department, said the key to evaluating risks is to check whether package seals are broken or for pollution with micro-organisms. "The vaccines in the Shandong case don't have those problems," he said. Those vaccines had been subject to higher than normal temperatures that could have lowered their effectiveness and reduced their protective value. But the official investigation showed the vaccines "are still effective", he said. Beijing, which publicized the affair almost a year after it was exposed, and several years after it started, appeared eager to show commitment to crack down on abuses by announcing the action, political analysts said. The CFDA said a system was being set up to track vaccines from production to use. The World Health Organization warned the scandal could endanger China's public health gains if parents become distrustful of vaccines. It also expressed confidence in Chinese vaccines, saying public immunization campaigns had erased polio and sharply reduced cases of hepatitis B and measles. What's the WHO's attitude toward Chinese vaccines? A. Indifferent B. Skeptical C. Objective D. Hopeful Answer: D Question: Fanny the fly was hungry. She went to the store. She saw her friend Colin the cat at the store. Colin waved to Fanny. Fanny waved back. At the store, Fanny bought ice cream, fruit, and pasta. Then she went home. She looked in her fridge. In her fridge she saw meatballs, rice, tomato sauce, and garlic. She chose to make a pasta dinner and invite all of her friends over. She invited Colin the cat and Danny the dog. She also invited Freddy the frog and Allen the alligator. Everyone arrived to a beautiful meal made by Fanny. They all ate happily. After dinner, Fanny brought out dessert. She brought out pie, fruit, cupcakes, and ice cream. Everybody ate a cupcake. Danny ate ice cream too. Allen had some pie and fruit as well as the cupcake. Colin had some pie too. Fanny told everyone to come back for dinner again. They all said goodbye and left. Fanny was happy and full. She went to bed smiling to herself. Which friend came to dinner and saw Fanny earlier? A. Danny the dog B. Freddy the frog C. Colin the cat D. Allen the alligator Answer: C Question: Matt's hobby was collecting stamps. He had stamps from many countries, like America, Egypt and China. On his birthday, can you guess what people gave him? That's right----stamps. Matt's favorite stamps came from France. He had almost every stamp from 1954 to 2003 except one. That was a 1974 special edition . It was very hard to find. He looked for it everywhere. He asked his friends and relatives to help him. But nobody could find the stamp. It made Matt very sad. "Don't worry," his father said to him. "You'll find it one day." "I hope so," Matt said. "Be patient ,"his father said. "Don't give up." Besides collecting stamps, Matt liked writing. He had a pen friend in France. They wrote to each other every month. Matt's pen friend, Philip, gave him a big, green stamp. It looked old. When Matt received the letter, he was very surprised. On the envelope, he looked closely at the stamp. It was the 1974 special edition stamp. Matt was so happy! He told his sister, his mother and his father. "You see," his father said, "You did find your stamp. So, you see, it's good to have two things in life." "What are they?" Matt asked. "Friends and patience ." he answered. It was very difficult for Matt to find a special French stamp of _ . A. 1954 B. 1974 C. 2003 D. 2011 Answer: B
Have you ever posted letters to your friends or parents? If so, you must have put stamps on the letters before you sent them. But, how did people receive letters before stamps were invented, and who came up with the idea of using stamps? In the past, stamps and envelopes were not used. When people wanted to send a letter, they would close the paper with a seal . The person who got the letter had to pay for it. Because costs at that time were very high, most people refused to accept letters. In fact, the sender would often place secret marks on the outside of the letter. The person who was sent the letter would read the secret message. Then, they would refuse to accept the letter and did not have to pay for it. In Britain, Sir Rowland Hill introduced the "Post Office Reforms" in 1837. He decided that letters could go to any place in the country for a penny even if the letter had to go far away. The cost was to be paid by the sender of the letter. Payment was recorded by placing a small piece of coloured paper on the letter, the stamp! On May 6,1840, the first stamp called the "Penny Black" was born. Because the stamp was printed in black, the stamp became known as the "Penny Black". This is now the world's most famous stamp. This new system spread fast. The best title for this passage should be _ As the old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But Venezuela, whose beauty queens have won Miss Universe and Miss World over six times, doesn't leave it to chance. In Venezuela, girls as young as four can be found attending beauty schools, where they can learn a range of skills from how to walk to the correct way to hold a wine glass. "Hair must always be completely clean, make-up should look natural, and you should always, always wear high-heels," advises Andrea Reyes, a teacher in a school of Caracas with 160 students. Beauty contests are treated in Venezuela much as sporting competitions are elsewhere. Many Venezuelan parents believe that if their daughters can succeed and get the beauty crown, their future as famous and public persons is sure to come. As a result, the girls are trained to compete at a young age. Among former beauty queens are Irene Saez, who went on to compete for the country's president, and Eva Ekvall, whose battle with cancer helped to make more people know about the illness in Venezuela. However, voices against the trend can be heard all over the country. At one time, a feminist group tried to stop the Miss Venezuela broadcast. President Hugo Chavez has spoken out against the culture of plastic surgery in Venezuela, calling it a "frightening thing". The BBC reporter Sarah Grainger says that acceptance of the contests is partly a result of the country's "machista" view of the different roles that men and women should play, "Men are supposed to be strong and brave and women to be gentle and beautiful". Miss Universe 1996, Alicia Machado, knows the price to be paid when you're no longer seen as attractive. After winning the beauty contest, she said all she wanted to do was "eat, eat and eat". Her weight gain later and warning by the organizers of the contest to replace her as queen with the _ was among the hottest topics in the country, especially in Latin America. We can learn from the passage that _ . As we all know , the language is a very important tool for people to communicate with each other. In most of the languages , people usually begin their conversations by a kind of small talk -a casual form of conversation that "breaks the ice" or fills an awkward silence between people . That is to say , small talk means the little things we talk about to start a conversation . In English-speaking countries such as Britain, people often make small talk about the weather. " Nice day, isn't it?" "Terrible weather , isn't it?" However, we still have something special about small talk. It must be about something which both people have the same opinion about. The purpose of small talk is to let both people agree on something. This makes meeting people easier and more comfortable . People usually agree about the weather, so it is a safe topic for small talk. But people often disagree about religion or politics so these are not suitable topics for small talk. The topics for small talk also depend on where the conversation is taking place. At basketball matches, people make small talk about the game they are watching. "Great game , isn't it?" At train stations, people may talk about the transport system . " The train service is terrible, isn't it?" What can we learn from the passage ? Which of the following forms of energy is released or absorbed in most chemical reactions? A team of researchers in the UK has shown that children who were taken to the library more often and owned more books at two years old achieved higher scores in school tests when they began primary school. The research also showed that although social background has a noticeable effect on a child's readiness for school, attending pre-school and having their parents teach them a wide range of activities have a positive effect---while extended exposure to television lowers their scores. "One message coming through loud and clear is that how a child learns in his very early years is critical for a smooth transition into the educational system," said Professor James Law. "This is a very positive message, as it gets us away from the belief that a child's educational future is pre-determined by standard measures of socio-economic disadvantage, such as income, housing, or the mother's education." Data from the study shows that children from a positive communication environment had a better expressive vocabulary by their second birthday. These children went on to achieve higher scores in language, reading and maths tests when they entered school. In the early years, the communication environment was a better predictor of children's success with language than their general social background. Most children develop speech and language effortlessly, but some are slow to acquire these skills and go on to struggle with literacy and academic skills throughout their schooling. This project set out to uncover what factors contributed to these problems. Professor Sue Roulstone said, "These findings are an encouragement to all parents to provide a positive communication environment for their children from the very start of their lives. The project did identify particular aspects of the communication environment, such as having children's books around and not having the television on too much. But the main message is that, as parents, we can have an impact on how our children learn to talk by providing a range of communication experiences. And the better our children are at talking by the age of two years, the better they will do when they start school." What is implied in the passage? _ .
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. What kind of parties do the Germans often have according to the passage? Answer: reading parties Some researchers claim that people's personalities can be classified by their blood types If you have blood type O, you are a leader. When you see something you want , you strive to achieve your goal. You are passionate, loyal, and self-confident, and you are often a trendsetter . Your enthusiasm for projects and goals spreads to others who happily follow you. When you want something ,you may be ruthless about getting it or blind to how your actions affect others . Aother blood type A, is a social , "people" person . You like people and work well with them . Y ou are sensitive , patient , compassionate , and affectionate .You are a good peacekeeper because you want everyone to be happy .In a team situation , you resolve conflicts and keep things on a smooth course . Sometimes type As are stubborn and find it difficult to relax. They may also find it uncomfortable to do things alone. People with type B blood are usually individualist who like to do things on their own . You may be creative and adaptable, and you usually say exactly what you mean . Also you can adapt to situations , you may choose to do so because of your strong independent streak. You may prefer working on your own to being part of a team . The final blood is type AB . If you have AB blood , you are a natural entertainer. You draw people to you because of your charm and easy-going nature .ABs are usually calm and controlled , tactful fair. On the downside ,though , they may take too long to make decisions. And they may procrastinate, putting off tasks until the last minute. The best profession for a type AB is _ Answer: actor Chinese star Yao Ming has retired. Yao made it official Wednesday, telling a news conference that a series of foot and leg injuries forced him to end his playing career at the age of 30. "I will formally end my career,'' said Yao, who became a household name in China before starting his NBA career with the Houston Rockets in 2002. Yao played eight seasons in the NBA. "Today is an important day for me and holds a special meaning for both my basketball career and my future,'' Yao said. "I had to leave the court since I suffered a stress fracture in my left foot for the third time at the end of last year. My past six months were a painful wait. I have been thinking about my future over and over. Today I am announcing a personal decision, ending my career as a basketball player and officially retire. But one door is closing and another one is opening.'' Yao said he would return to work with his former Chinese team, the Shanghai Sharks, with the possibility of becoming general manager. He already owns the club and wants to contribute more. "My playing career started with the club. I hope I can do something for it,'' Yao said. He later appeared with his family on the stage to the applause and cheers of the crowd. He thanked a lot of people -- his family, former coaches, even players like Shaquille O'Neal -- "for making me a better player.'' Rockets general manager Daryl Morey was among those attending the farewell conference Wednesday. Morey made the long trip from Houston. Morey said 20 hours on planes was tiring but "I would be sorry if I wasn't here." "It's a big moment,'' Morey added. "Yao had a sense of humor, a great attitude and sense of responsibility. I hope we can continue his culture in the NBA.'' Yao Ming has retired from basketball because of _ . Answer: his foot and leg injuries An ant was drinking at a small river and fell in. She tried her best to reach the side, but she couldn't move at all. The poor ant got too tired but was still doing her best when a big bird saw her. What a luck! The bird threw a piece of wood in the water. With it the ant reached the bank again. While she was resting and drying herself in the grass, she heard a man coming up. He was walking without shoes on his feet and with a gun in his hand. As soon as he saw the bird, he wanted to kill her, and he would certainly do so, but the ant bite him on one of his feet and at the moment the bird flew away at once. What happened to the ant? Answer: She fell in the water It was an exciting moment for Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo, a retired married _ from Harbin, China. It was also a great moment for China because it was the country's first gold medal in the pairs figure skating competition at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. Everyone was very quiet when Shen and Zhao were skating onto the ice. They were expecting something wonderful to happen. As soon as the music started, Shen and Zhao skated around the field quickly with beautiful style; every move was perfect. When the music stopped, all the people cheered. In the end Shen and Zhao won the Olympic gold medal. In China, winter sports are not as popular as they are in America and Northern European countries. So China sent only 90 athletes to Vancouver to take in a few, carefully chosen sports. Such a good decision also led to Wang Meng and Zhao Yang winning gold medals in the little known, but exciting sports of short track speed skating. China did not win a lot of medals at these Winter Games. Most of the events are still very new to China and need to be developed. But Chinese athletes learn very quickly. For example, China's women's curling team only began in 2003, but they were No. 1 at the 2009 World Women's Curling Championship. This means that with hard work and a bit of luck, China's winter stars could soon shine on the world stage. What made China's winter athletes get such a success? Answer: Hard work and a little luck.
The train started moving. There were many people of all ages. Most of them were working men and women and young college boys and girls. Near the window sat an old man with his son, who looked about thirty years old. As the train moved, the son was filled with joy because he was very excited at the scenery outside. He said in a high voice, "See, Dad, the green trees and the scenery are very beautiful!" It made the other people feel very strange. Everyone started talking in a low voice about the old man's son. A few minutes later it started raining. Raindrops fell on the travelers through the opened window. Seeing the rain, the old man's son said happily, "See ,Dad, how beautiful the rain is!" Hearing these words, a young lady became angry with the man, as the raindrops were dropping on her new clothes. She shouted at the noisy son and his father. "Can't you see it is raining? You! Old man! If your son is not feeling well, get him to a mental hospital quickly and please don't disturb us any more!" The old man's face turned red and then he answered in a low voice, "We are on the way back from hospital. He couldn't see anything at birth. Only last week he could see again. The rain and the nature are new to him. Please _ him." All the other people became quiet. According to the passage, what does the writer want to tell us? Answer: Within a few short years, girls in Europe have become heavier smokers than boys, for reasons experts still fail to understand, according to a British study, presented last week to an international conference on smoking. Anti-smoking activists at the second "Tobacco or Health" conference in the Canary Islands pointed out that while grown-ups were giving up smoking in ever-growing numbers, more and more young people were taking up the habit, particularly girls. One 15--year--old in four is a regular smoker, according to a study made in 27 countries in Europe and the United States, Canada and Israel----Edinburgh University together with the World Health Organization. In Western Europe, girls were more likely than boys to smoke. In prefix = st1 /Germanyor In England, one third of the girls were smokers compared to one in four boys. In Eastern Europe, the girls "still fall behind" those in the Western Europe but were "catching up" quickly, said the study. The study dealt with the behaviour of 15--year--old in seven European countries over four year periods between 1986 and 1998. The percentages of young women smoking went from 17 percent to 36 percent in Austria, from 17 percent to 28 percent inNorway, from 21 percent to 28 percent inHungary. In the seven countries Austria,Finland,Hungary,Norway,Sweden,SwitzerlandandWales--more girls smoked than boys in 1998, exceptHungary. The number of boy smokers is_that of girl smokers. Answer: For many years, no one could communicate with people who had been born without hearing. These deaf people were not able to use a spoken language. But, beginning in the 1700s, the deaf were taught a special language. Using the language, they could share thoughts and ideas with others. The language they used was a language without sound. It was a sign language. How did this sign language work? The deaf were taught to make certain movements using their hands, faces, and bodies. These movements stood for things and ideas. People might move their forefingers across their lips. This meant, "You are not telling the truth." They might tap their chins with three fingers. This meant, "my uncle". The deaf were also taught to use a finger alphabet . They used their fingers to make the letters of the alphabet. In this way, they spelled out words. Some deaf people could spell out words at a speed of 130 words per minute. Sign language and finger spelling are not used as much as they once were. Today the deaf are taught to understand others by watching their lips. They are taught how to speak. In the 1700s, the deaf were taught _ . Answer: A lone fox is searching for its next meal in a meadow that used to be bountiful with food. This season, though, rabbits have all been eaten up and the field is dry and barren. The fox may Answer: Nancy's hobby is collecting sharpeners. She spends a lot of time on it after school. She has been collecting more than one hundred sharpeners from different countries. They are all different in color and size. Nancy likes sharpeners with animals and birds on them. In this way, she learns the names of many animals and birds. She also borrows books on animals and birds from her school library. She learns a lot about them from books. Sometimes Nancy has many sharpeners of the same kind. She gives them to her friends. Then they give her other different sharpeners in return. Nancy has many pen pals in many countries. She sends them sharpeners of her country. In return, they send her sharpeners of their countries. Nancy's father also gives her sharpeners. He brings them home from his friends for her. Many of Nancy's friends collect other things. Some collect coins and others collect matchboxes or stamps. But, all of them say that Nancy's collection is the most interesting of all. _ Nancy's sharpeners are different in color and size. Answer:
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. Jim and Kate are in _ middle school. A. the same B. different C. No. 2 D. same Answer: A Question: It was a long time since I visited my mother last time. The demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. She thought about it for a moment, and then agreed. That Friday after work, I drove over to pick her up. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as beautiful as an angel's. We went to a very nice and comfortable restaurant. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. A smile was on her lips."It was I who used to have to read the menu when you -were a child," she said. "Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor," I responded. During the dinner we had an agreeable conversation-nothing special but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said,"I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you." I agreed. A few days later my mother died of an unexpected heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her. At that moment I understood the importance of saying "I love you" in time and giving our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till "some other time". How can we learn about the talk between the author and the mother? A. It was pleasant. B. It wasted them much time. C. It settled the problem between them. D. It made them regret having missed the film. Answer: A Question: "Sesame Street" has been called "the longest street in the world". That is because the television program by that name can now be seen in so many parts of the world. That program became one of American's exports soon after it went on the air in New York in 1969. In the United States more than six million children watch the program regularly. The viewers include more than half the nation's pre-school children, from every kind of economic , racial , and geographical group. Although some educators object to certain elements in the program, parents praise it highly. Many teachers also consider it a great help, though some teachers find that problems arise when first graders who have learned from "Sesame Street" are in the same class with children who have not watched the program. Tests have shown that children from all racial, geographical, and economic backgrounds have benefited from watching it. Those who watch it five times a week learn more than occasional viewers. In the US the program is shown at different hours during the week in order to increase the number of children who can watch it regularly. The programs all use songs, stories, jokes, and pictures to give children a basic understanding of numbers, letters and human relationships. But there are some differences. For example, the Spanish program, produced in Mexico City, devotes more time to teaching whole words than to teaching separate letters. Why has "Sesame Street" been so much more successful than other children's shows? Many reasons have been suggested. People mention the educational theories of its creators, the support by the government and private businesses, and the skillful use of a variety of TV tricks. Perhaps an equally important reason is that mothers watch it along with their children. This is partly because famous adult stars often appear on it. But the best reason for the success of the program may be that it makes every child watching feel able to learn. The child finds himself learning, and he wants to learn more. The best title for this passage can be _ . A. TV Programs B. Educating Children C. Sesame Street D. A Great Success Answer: C Question: One of the greatest contributions to the first Oxford English Dictionary was also one of its most unusual. In 1879, Oxford University in England asked Prof. James Murray to serve as editor for what was to be the most ambitious dictionary in the history of the English language. It would include every English word possible and would give not only the definition but also the history of the word and quotations showing how it was used. This was a huge task. So Murrary had to find volunteers from Britain, the United States, and the British colonies to search every newspaper, magazine, and book ever written in English. Hundreds of volunteers responded, including William Chester Minor. Dr. Minor was an American Surgeon who had served in the Civil War and was now living in England. He gave his address as "Broadmoor, Crowthorne, Berkshire," 50 miles from Oxford. Minor joined the army of volunteers sending words and quotations to Murray. Over the next years, he became one of the staff's most valued contributors. But he was also a mystery. In spite of many invitations, he would always decline to visit Oxford. So in 1897, Murray finally decided to travel to Crowthorne himself. When he arrived, he found Minor locked in a book-lined cell at the Broadmoor Asylum for the Criminally insane. Murray and Minor became friends, sharing their love of words. Minor continued contributing to the dictionary, sending in more than 10,000 submissions in 20 years. Murray continued to visit Minor regularly, sometimes taking walks with him around the asylum grounds. In 1910, Minor left Broadmoor for an asylum in his native America. Murray was at the port to wave goodbye to his remarkable friend. Minor died in 1920, seven years before the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was completed. The 12 volumes defined 414,825 words, and thousands of them were contributions from a very scholarly and devoted asylum patient. How did Dr. Minor contributed to the dictionary? A. He helped Murray to find hundreds of volunteers. B. He sent newspapers, magazines and books to Murray. C. He provided a great number of words and quotations D. he went to England to work with Murray. Answer: C Question: In choosing a friend, one should be very careful. A good friend can help you study. You can have fun together and make each other happy. Sometimes you will meet fair-weather friends. They will be with you as long as you have money or luck, but when you are down, they will run away. How do I know when I have found a good friend? I look for certain qualities of character, especially understanding, honesty and reliability . Above all else, I look for understanding in a friend. A good friend tries to understand how another person is feeling. He is not quick to judge. Instead, he tries to learn from others. He puts himself in the other person's place, and he tries to think of ways to be helpful. He is also a good listener. At the same time, however, a good friend is honest. He does not look for faults in others. He notices their good points. In short, a friend will try to understand me and accept me. Another quality of a friend is reliability. I can always depend on a good friend. If he tells me he will meet me somewhere at a certain time, I can be sure that he will be there. If I need a favor, he will do his best to help me. If I am in trouble, he will not run away from me. There is a fourth quality that makes a friend special. A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun. We should enjoy our lives, and we would enjoy our friendship. That is why I especially like friends who are fun to be with. A good friend likes the same things I like. We share experiences and learn from each other. A good friend has a good sense of humor, too. He likes to laugh with me. That is how we share in the joy of being friends. And I know that he is looking for the same quality in me. When I meet someone who is reliable, honest and understanding, I know I've found a friend! Which of the following qualities the writer thinks is the most important in choosing a friend? A. Understanding. B. Honesty. C. Reliability. D. A sense of humor. Answer: A
Nanjing and Hangzhou summer camps offered We are looking for hard-working and open-minded English teachers to join the Nanjing (Jiangsu Province) and Hangzhou (Zhejiang Province) summer camps! Both of the summer camps will run from the beginning of July to the end of August. You will be expected to teach spoken English to Chinese students of different ages. We encourage you to bring your own culture to the classes to make things more interesting. The information of the Nanjing camp: * Working hours: 40 hours per week, 5 working days per week. * Salary: about 7,000 RMB per month. * Accommodation : free (single room). The information of the Hangzhou camp: * Working hours: 5 hours per day (= 50 min. / class x 6 classes), one day rest per week. * Salary: 20,160 RMB in total (420 RMB per day = 70 RMB / class x 6 classes). * Accommodation: free (shared room). The requirements of the summer camps: * Native English speakers (US, England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand). * A university degree. * Teaching experience. Please send us your resume , copies of certificates and passport if you are interested in the camps. E-mail: teacher1324@sina.com.cn For more information you can visit our website at http://www.Englishsummercamps.com.cn Look forward to hearing from you soon! How long will a teacher work for the summer camps? Answer: A line graph is best used to Answer: There is a sign at a Korean university asking tourists not to step into the grass to take photos. The sign is not written in Korean or English; it is written in Chinese. These signs, and signs in other countries warning Chinese tourists about their behavior, have shamed many Chinese who worry about the image of the country. Over 70 million Chinese tourists made overseas trips last year and spent $102 billion, more than the $84 billion spent by American and German tourists. For many Chinese tourists, it was their first trip abroad and they didn't know about foreign ways. And some of these tourists took their bad habits from China with them. Wang Yang, a Chinese deputy prime minister , said, "They(the tourists) speak loudly in public, carve words or numbers on tourist attractions, cross the road when the traffic lights are still red and spit anywhere. It damages the image of the Chinese people and has a very bad influence." Before you travel to a foreign country, it's important to learn some things about the country and its culture. You are guests in the country and it's important to respect your hosts. As more and more Chinese visit foreign countries, their behavior will certainly change and those shameful signs will, hopefully, disappear. How do many Chinese feel about the signs? Answer: Many places in the world need more fresh water . Every country is trying to find ways to turn salt water into fresh. Why aren't there many factories like the Symi factory? In some places, the sun isn't hot enough, or it doesn't shine every day. In these places other ways to heating sea water can be used. These ways cost more money, but they work faster than the sun. By boiling sea water with high heat,a lot of fresh water can be made quickly. But heating is not the only way to get fresh water from salt water. Other ways are tried. One way is freezing . The fresh part of salt water freezes first. To get fresh water, the pieces of ice are taken out. Which way is best? The one that gives the most water for the least money. It may be a different way for each place. Symi's way seems very good for small, hot places. It doesn't make very much water at a time. But the factory is easy to build and cost little. The Symi factory . Answer: John lived with her mother when he was young. He didn't know who his father was. The woman did some washing for the rich and could buy only some bread for her son. So the boy was short and thin. One cold morning there was much snow in the streets. A car knocked the woman down and the policemen took her to the hospital. She didn't tell John that his father deserted her before he was born until she died. She left her son the name and address of his father. John found his father, Mr. Brown, in another city. He was one of the richest shopkeepers and he had to receive his son. From then on the boy lived a rich life. He ate all kinds of delicious food and wore beautiful clothes. But he didn't go to school and could not read or write. Once his father took him to a party. He saw a newspaper lying on the floor and picked it up while others were talking about a film. He had a look at it and found a car's wheels were upward .He called out," Oh, dear! An accident happened!" All the people were surprised and began to read the newspaper. But soon they all began to laugh. Do you know why? John didn't know his father because _ . Answer:
Have you ever had the desire to wander the world and see what was out there? While some people prefer to stay in the comfort of their own home, others been bitten by the travel bug and can't wait to explore the world. Exotic places call to them. "Come to visit us and we will show you my mysteries," they say. Every year millions of people pack their suitcases or put on backpacks and flock to visit the seven continents of the world. They wander through the castles and museums of Europe, and the cities and natural of North and South America. Some visit the vast exotic cultures of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The great outback of Australia is a wonderland for those who go there. And a few lucky people even realize their dreams to visit the most mysterious continent on the earth--Antarctic. Why do people want to explore the world? It gives them a better understanding about the earth and the people living on it. It opens their minds, it gives them a feeling of accomplishment, and it makes them feel alive. So save some money, get your passport ready, and see the world. It will change your life forever. What is the passage mainly about? Answer: Advantages of traveling. Open Letter to an Editor I had an interesting conversation with a reporter recently -- one who works for you. In fact, he's one of your best reporters. He wants to leave. Your reporter gave me a copy of his resume and photocopies of six stories that he wrote for you. The headlines showed you played them proudly. With great enthusiasm, he talked about how he finds issues, approaches them, and writes about them, which tells me he is one of your best. I'm sure you would hate to lose him. Surprisingly, your reporter is not unhappy. In fact, he told me he really likes his job. He has a great assignment , and said you run a great paper. It would be easy for you to keep him, he said. He knows that the paper values him. He appreciates the responsibility you've given him, takes ownership of his profession, and enjoys his freedom. So why is he looking for a way out? He talked to me because he wants his editors to demand so much more of him. He wants to be pushed, challenged, coached to new heights. The reporter believes that good stories spring from good questions, but his editors usually ask how long the story will be, when it will be in, where it can play, and what the budget is. He longs for conversations with an editor who will help him turn his good ideas into great ones. He wants someone to get excited about what he's doing and to help him , exploring the best ways to report it. He wants to be more valuable for your paper. That's what you want for him, too, isn't it? So your reporter has set me thinking. Our best hope in keeping our best reporters, copy editors, photographers, artists -- everyone -- is to work harder to make sure they get the help they are demanding to reach their potential. If we can't do it, they'll find someone who can. The letter aims to remind editors that they should _ . Answer: give more freedom to their reporters You may have experienced the frustration of being slapped with a parking fine or finding your car held firmly in the place after leaving it parked precariously for a couple of minutes. But now a high-tech car sticker that's designed to be stuck to a car's windscreen, could help motorists avoid such a situation by allowing a traffic warden to get in touch with them. The TowStop sticker sends a text message to a driver when it is touched by a traffic warden, to allow motorists to send a reply and give them time to move their car immediately. It's designed to save drivers time and money by giving them a chance to move their car instead of having it towed away but relies on the good will of traffic wardens. Frankfurt-based IT consultant , Daniel Kalliontzis, came up with the idea and is raising funds on Indiegogo to put his EUR54 (PS43) sticker into production. Car owners can buy the sticker and place it inside their car's windscreen, having set it up with important information, such as their phone number. The message will ask them to move their car immediately .The driver could then type a reply for the warden using their smartphone, which will appear on the sticker's screen. They may choose to write something along the lines of back in two minutes in a bid to avoid a fine. The smart sticker system will rely on the good will of traffic wardens and critically, a German law. The law states: An officer has to choose the most efficient and inexpensive way for the car owner to remove the vehicle. It could be cheaper for the authorities to contact the driver than to tow his car. From the passage we know that _ . Answer: a German traffic warden is required to remind car owners to move their cars Tamara walked through the night to the little house where her </PGN0103.TXT/PGN>old nurse lived. The old woman gave her a meal. Then Tamara went out to get a car. She had enough money with her to pay for the use of a car for a few days. She wanted to go into town and see a friend, a teacher of science. She had to sit through the second part of a class before she was able to speak to him. But then he took her to his office and listened to her. She told him that she wanted to build houses on some land her husband had owned. But first she must clear it of unwanted plants. She wanted something that would kill them. Her friend wrote down a name on a piece of paper and told her to take it to a shop he knew. "You will need lots of it." he said. "Put it in water and spread it over the plants." Tamara's friend _ . Answer: advised her about what to buy I go to work at ten o'clock every night. When I ride a bike to my office, I talk with other doctors. Then I go to help all the sick people. Some nights are very quiet, but some nights are really busy, especially on weekends. On busy nights, I even have to help other doctors. I can go home at six o'clock every morning. On my way home, I can see only a few people on the street. When I get home, I eat breakfast with my family first. Then, I read newspapers. That's my habit. I can get some news from the newspapers. After that, I go to bed. My job isn't easy, but I like _ a lot because I can help people. ,. Which of the following is Not true? Answer: Every weekend, the writer is at home with his family
Question: Paris is the capial of France. Its subway is very special. You can enjoy its culture when you are in this city. First you see many people reading books in the subway. Whenever they are in the subway or at the station, there is always a book in the hand. The subway station in Paris is not big , but each of them has its special facts. Some stations looks ships. Some have clothes, caps and shoes. And every station has a big advertisement picture. But many of them are for selling clothes and cosmetics . You can meet some beggars in the subway. But the beggars in the Paris subway are also very special. They often play the violin or guitar in the train. They don't feel shy at all. Instead they think it is natural. After playing, they will go around the train and ask you to give them some money. If you want to learn more about Paris, go to the subway and enjoy its culture by yourself. How do the beggars get money from people in the subway? A. They often play the violin or guitar in the train B. They usually brush shoes for the passengers. C. They often steal money from the shops. D. They usually help the passengers carry suitcases. Answer: A Question: I told my friend Graham that I often cycle the two miles from my house to the town centre but unfortunately there is a big hill on the route. He replied, "You mean fortunately." He explained that I should be glad of the extra exercise that the hill provided. My attitude to the hill has now changed. I used to grumble as I approached it but now I tell myself the following. This hill will exercise my heart and lungs. It will help me to lose weight and get fit. It will mean that I live longer. This hill is my friend. Finally as I wend my way up the incline I console myself with the thought of all those silly people who pay money to go to a gym and sit on stationery exercise bicycles when I can get the same value for free. I have a smug smile of satisfaction as I reach the top of the hill. Problems are there to be faced and overcome. Helen Keller was the first deaf and blind person to gain a University degree. Her activism and writing proved inspirational. She wrote, "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved." One of the main determinants of success in life is our attitude towards _ . From time to time we all face hardships, problems, accidents, afflictions and difficulties. Some are of our making but many confront us through no fault of our own. Whilst we cannot choose the adversity we can choose our attitude towards it. The biographies of great people are littered with examples of how they took these kinds of steps to overcome the difficulties they faced. The common thread is that they did not become defeatist or depressed. They chose their attitude. They chose to be positive. They took on the challenge. They won. From Helen Keller's example we can infer that _ . A. Great people are born to be great and successful B. Life is hard and difficult so we have to give up C. We cannot achieve anything with an easy life D. Practice makes people successful and powerful Answer: C Question: Gadgets can be wildly expensive and quickly out-of-date, but Steven Poole is still the first to buy them. Technological innovations are often quite stupid. The idea that you might want to walk down the street holding a mobile phone in front of your face, just to experience the wonders of video calling, is clearly ridiculous. Luckily for the tech companies, however, there are some people who jump at the chance to buy into new gadgets before they are fully ready and cheap enough for the mass-market. They are called early adopters, and their fate is a terrible one. I should know, since I am one myself. Early adopters have a Mecca: it's Tokyo's Akihabara district, also known as "Electric City". There, in 1999, I bought a digital camera, a gizmo that few people in Britain had heard of. Over the next few years I watched in great sadness as digital cameras became more popular, cheaper and more powerful, until better models could be had for a quarter of the price I had paid. Did I feel stupid? What I actually did was this: I splashed out more money last year for a new one, one that let me feel pleasantly ahead of the curve once again. But I know that cannot last, and I'll probably have to buy another in a few years. Thus early adopters are betting on other people eventually feeling the same desires. And it's worse if that future never arrives. Early adopters of the Betamax home-video format in the 1970s could only look on in sadness when their investment was nullified by the success of VHS. All sorts of apparently splendid inventions, such as videogame consoles like the Atari Jaguar have been abandoned to the dustbin of history right after a few early adopters bought in. Those who invested thousands in a Segway motorized scooter on the wave of ridiculous advertising campaigns that accompanied its launch a couple of years ago can join the club. You might think we should just stop being so silly, save our money, and wait to see what really catches on. But the logic of the industry is such that, if everyone did that, no innovation would become popular. Imagine the third person to buy an ordinary telephone soon after Alexander Graham Bell had invented it. Who was he going to call? Maybe he simply bought two phones, one for a special friend. But still, the usefulness and eventual popularity of the device wasn't clear at the time. Nobody dreamed of the possibility of being able to speak to any one of millions of people. And yet if he, and the hundreds and thousands of early adopters after him, had not bought into the idea, the vast communication networks that we all take for granted today would never have been built. The same goes, indeed, for all new technologies. Those guys holding bricks to their ears that we laughed at in the 1980s made the current mobile phone possible. People who bought DVD players when they still cost a fortune, instead of today's cheap one at the local supermarket, made sure that the new format succeeded. Early adopters' desire for desires supported the future financially. And what did they get for their pains? They got a hole in their bank accounts and inferior, unperfected technology. But still, they got it first. And today they are still at work, buying overpriced digital radios, DVD recorders and LCD televisions, and even 3G phones, so that you will be eventually be able to buy better and less expensive ones. So next time you see a gadget-festooned geek and feel tempted to sneer , think for a minute. Without early adopters, there would be no cheap mobile phones or DVD players; there would be no telephone or television either. We are the tragic, unsung foot soldiers of the technology revolution. We're the desire-addicted pioneers, pure in heart, dreaming of a better future. We make expensive mistakes so you don't have to. Really, we are heroes. By saying the last sentence "Really, we are heroes." the writer wants to express that _ . A. early adopters are likely to get addicted to modern technology B. early adopters bravely spend much money buying new technology C. early adopters are as a matter of fact clever investors of technology D. early adopters help promote the development of technology Answer: D Question: Tim Berners-Lee is the man who wrote the software program that led to the foundation of the World Wide Web. Britain played an important part in developing the first generation of computers. The parents of Tim Berners-Lee both worked on one of the earliest commercial computers and talked about their work at home. As a child he would build models of computers from packing material. After graduating from Oxford University he went on to the real thing. In the 1980s, scientists were already communicating using a primitive version of e-mail. While working at a laboratory in Switzerland, Tim Berners-Lee wrote a program, which let him store these messages. This gave him another idea: write a program that will let academics from across the world share information on a single place. In 1990 he wrote the HTTP and HTML programs which form the basis of the World Wide Web. The next year his programs were placed on to the Internet. Everyone was welcome to use them and improve them if they could. Programmers used this codes to work with different operating systems. New things like web browsers and search engines were developed. Between 1991 and 1994 the number of web pages rose from 10 to 100,000. In 1994 Tim Berners-Lee formed the newly formed World Wide Web consortium , or W3C. More than 200 leading companies and laboratories are represented by W3C. Together they make sure that everyone can share equally on the web. "The Web can help people to understand the way that others live and love. It helps us understand the humanity of people." he says. Scientists began to communicate using e-mail . A. in 1980 B. after the 1980s C. before 1990 D. in the 1960s Answer: C Question: Before you leave for the airport Ensure that you have your passports (and any necessary visas), tickets and money in your hand luggage. If packing medicines, ensure that they are in their original packaging as this will avoid delays or prevent them from being taken away at customs. Do not wrap presents as they may have to be unwrapped by security staff or customs. The Department of Health has devoted a section of their site to health advice for traveling abroad. Getting to the airport Always allow plenty of time to reach the airport. You should arrive there 2 hours before the take-off for international flights and one hour before the take-off for domestic flights. If you are driving to the airport, ensure that you have booked airport parking in advance. If you are being driven by a friend who wants to see you off, ensure that he / she knows where the short stay parking is located. If taking a taxi, ensure that the firm you intend to use has taxis available at the time you wish to travel. At the airport Be aware that increased security has considerably lengthened the time it takes to go through check in and security. Make sure you keep your baggage with you at all times and alert any member of airport staff to any unattended package. Never look after baggage belonging to other people or carry anything onto the aircraft for someone else. Keep a close eye on the display boards announcing which gate flights depart from. In the air If on a long flight, move your feet around, or get up and walk around regularly if you can. Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water or other non-alcoholic drinks. Don't eat too heavily before or during a long flight as this will help to avoid indigestion and hypertension . To reduce jet lag , have some extra sleep before the trip, get some sleep during the flight and try to make mealtimes the same as the time of meals at your destination. When waiting for your flight at the airport, you should pay the most attention to _ . A. the display boards showing which gate the flight departs from B. baggage belonging to other people C. unattended package D. the time it takes to go through check in and security Answer: A
The time may soon come when we say goodbye to most of the world's languages. Today humans express themselves in over 6,000 different languages. But that is quickly changing. Many scientists say that over half of these languages will disappear within the next 50 years. After 100 years, the languages used in the world will not be more than 20. Why? It is because people from different cultures live and work together much more often than before. This brings changes. The languages of the world's main culture are replacing the languages of the smaller cultures. Most international trade takes place in world languages such as English. People respect their own cultures and traditions, but when it comes to getting a job, knowing a world language is often necessary. It may mean the difference between success and failure. Technology works on the change of languages in an even more amazing way. Modern media such as radio and television give young people in developing countries much knowledge about the world. But this knowledge doesn't come in words from the mouths of their parents or the elders in their neighborhood. It usually comes in the language of a different culture. People in different cultures think it good for them to share a popular language. They can quickly share ideas and work together. Knowing the same language means easier communication and is a basis for trust. Is the death of a small local language such a terrible thing? The answer is maybe. Many cultures may have words for many useful things we know nothing about. If their languages die, their valuable wisdom may be lost forever. The future of the world's language depends on our actions now. Will we protect endangered languages or allow them to quietly disappear? Time will have the last word. Scientists say that within 50 years, perhaps, there will be only _ languages in the world. Answer: When Johnny Cash sings, people listen. His big, deep voice rumbles out of radios and juke-boxes across North America. His records sell by the million. Country-music fans everywhere, know his big hits. They love songs like "Hey Porter", "Ring of Fire", and "Folsom Prison Blue". Johnny Cash sings about a hundred concerts a year. People like what they hear--and what they see, too. Rugged and big-shouldered, the singer stands six-two without his black boots on. He's a two-hundred-pound package of muscle and talent. And that scar on his cheek? It's a bullet hole, of course! In the minds of most people, Johnny Cash is "Mr Tough( violent) Guy". He's an ex-drug addict who was once put in prison. His grandmother was an Indian. To keep from starving he once had to live on wild rabbits killed from forty feet away with a knife. Some people say he even killed a man. In fact, most of the Johnny Cash story is just that--a story. True, years ago he had a "drug habit "for a short time. He "popped" pills. But he never used heroin or other "hard "drugs. Sometimes he'd go wild and get locked up for a few hours. But he never served a prison sentence. There's no Indian blood in his veins. He's been a killer only in song. As for the "bullet hole", it's an old scar left by a doctor who opened a cyst . People who know Johnny Cash well say he's a "gentle guy", a "generous guy'--anything but a "tough guy". How did the stories get started? Some of them, like the story about the "Indian grandmother", he made up long ago to add excitement to his career. Others, like the "bullet hole" , simply got started. Now there's little the singer can do to change people's minds. "They just want to believe it," he says. The passage shows us that many people believe _ . Answer: Not so long ago, most people didn't know who Shelly Ann Francis Pryce was going to become. She was just an average high school athlete. There was every indication that she was just another American teenager without much of a future. However, one person wants to change this. Stephen Francis observed then eighteen-year-old Shelly Ann as a track meet and was convinced that he had seen the beginning of true greatness. Her time were not exactly impressive, but even so, he seemed there was something trying to get out, something the other coaches had overlooked when they had assessed her and found her lacking. He decided to offer Shelly Ann a place in his very strict training seasons. Their cooperation quickly produced results, and a few year later at Jamaica's Olympic games in early 2008, Shelly Ann, who at that time only ranked number 70 in the world, beat Jamaica's unchallenged queen of the sprint . "Where did she come from?" asked an astonished sprinting world, before concluding that she must be one of those one-hit wonders that spring up from time to time, only to disappear again without signs. But Shelly Ann was to prove that she was anything but a one-hit wonder. At the Beijing Olympic she swept away any doubts about her ability to perform consistently by becoming the first Jamaican woman ever to win the 100 meters Olympic gold. She did it again one year on at the World Championship in Briton, becoming world champion with a time of 10.73--- the fourth record ever. Shelly-Ann is a little woman with a big smile. She has a mental toughness that did not come about by chance. Her journey to becoming the fastest woman on earth has been anything but smooth and effortless. She grew up in one of Jamaica's toughest inner-city communities known as Waterhouse, where she lived in a one-room apartment, sleeping four in a bed with her mother and two brothers. Waterhouse, one of the poorest communities in Jamaica, is a really violent and overpopulated place. Several of Shelly-Ann's friends and family were caught up in the killings; one of her cousins was shot dead only a few streets away from where she lived. Sometimes her family didn't have enough to eat. She ran at the school championships barefooted because she couldn't afford shoes. Her mother Maxime, one of a family of fourteen, had been an athlete herself as a young girl but, like so many other girls in Waterhouse, had to stop after she had her first baby. Maxime's early entry into the adult world with its responsibilities gave her the determination to ensure that her kids would not end up in Waterhouse's roundabout of poverty. One of the first things Maxime used to do with Shelly-Ann was taking her to the track, and she was ready to sacrifice everything. It didn't take long for Shelly-Ann to realize that sports could be her way out of Waterhouse. On a summer evening in Beijing in 2008, all those long, hard hours of work and commitment finally bore fruit. The barefoot kid who just a few years previously had been living in poverty, surrounded by criminals and violence, had written a new chapter in the history of sports. But Shelly-Ann's victory was far greater than that. The night she won Olympic gold in Beijing, the routine murders in Waterhouse and the drug wars in the neighbouring streets stopped. The dark cloud above one of the world's toughest criminal neighbourhoods simply disappeared for a few days. " I have so much fire burning for my country,"Shelly said. She plans to start a foundation for homeless children and wants to build a community centre in Waterhouse. She hopes to inspire the Jamaicans to lay down their weapons. She intends to fight to make it a woman's as well as a man's world. As Muhammad Ali puts it, " Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them. A desire, a dream, a vision." One of the things Shelly-Ann can be proud of is her understanding of this truth. By mentioning Muhammad Ali's words, the author intends to tell us that . Answer: The Netherlands is a small country on the North Sea. From any place in the country, the farthest point is never more than 350 kilometers away. It takes only a little more than four hours to travel by train from Vlissingen, in the southwest, to Groningen, in the northeast. More than 16 million people live there. Most of the people in the Netherlands live in the west of the country. The four largest cities, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht, are there. Amsterdam is the capital, but The Hague is the seat of govemment. The Netherlands is sometimes called Holland, because an area in the west of the Netherlands used to be called Holland. The name lives on in the names of two Dutch provinces: North Holland and South Holland. The language spoken in the Netherlands is Dutch. In the province of Friesland, Frisian is also spoken. That is a separate ( ) language, which is a little bit like English. Most of the people in the Netherlands _ . Answer: Mr and Mrs Smith just open a small restaurant. In order to attract customers ,they put a notice in front of the restaurant, and it says,"Meals on the House for Three Days. " A foreign student comes to the place. He doesn't know much English. On the second day he happens to pass by the restaurant. It is lunch time and he feels Very hungry. "well, here is a restaurant. I am going to have something to eat."He walks to the restaurant when he sees the notice. "American people are really strange . They even eat dinners on the house! But how can I get up to the top of the house?"He says. He looks around and finds a ladder near the restaurant. He is Very glad. But when he gets to the top, he hears someone shouting at him, "Hey! What are you doing up there?" Mr Smith and a policeman are standing there and looking at him. "Doesn't your notice say 'Meals on the House for Three Days'? Is it a joke ?"the foreign student asks. When they hear this, both Mr smith and the policeman laugh ."Do you know what ON THE HOUSE means ?Look it up in the dictionary ,"the policeman says. The story is in _ . Answer:
I had to knock on the taxi to get his attention. Finally, the driver, a man about 60, looked up from behind the wheel and apologized, "I'm sorry, but I was reading a letter." He sounded as if he had a cold or a cough. Since I was in no hurry, I told him to finish his letter. He shook his head, explaining that he had already read it several times and almost knew it by heart. Curious, I asked whether it was from a child or maybe a grandchild. "This isn't family," he replied. "Though he might just as well have been a regular member of the family, Old Ed and I grew up together." They were always friends. But since he moved away from the neighborhood 30 years ago, it'd generally just been postcards at Christmas time between them. A couple of weeks ago, Ed died. "I should have kept in touch." He repeated this, more to himself than to me. To comfort him, I said sometimes we just didn't seem to find the time. "But we used to find the time," he said. "Take a look." He handed the letter over to me. The first sentence "I've been meaning to write for some time, but I've always delayed it." reminded me of myself. It went on to say that he often thought about the good times they had had together. When I read the part where it said "Your friendship really means a lot to me, more than I can say because I'm not good at saying things like that", I found myself nodding in agreement. We had gone several kilometers and were almost at my hotel, so I read the last paragraph: "So I thought you'd like to know that I was thinking of you." And it was ended with "Your Old Friend, Tom." "I thought your friend's name was Ed," I said. "I'm Tom," he explained. "It's a letter I wrote to Ed before I knew he'd died. I never put it in the mailbox. I guess I should have written it sooner." His face was pale as he wiped his eyes with a handkerchief. When I got to my hotel room I didn't unpack right away. I had to write a letter and post it. Who wrote the letter? Answer: Malala Yousafzai, the teen activist from Pakistan, has just become the youngest person ever to win a Nobel Prize. In 2012, Malala survived from being shot by terrorists for speaking out for a girl's right to be educated in her native country. She is being recognized today for her global activism on education for girls. Winning this award is a huge honor, especially for such a young person. Malala's journey to the Nobel Prize has not been easy. She grew up in a dangerous district of Pakistan called the Swat Valley. This area was taken over by the Taliban. The Taliban ruled the district with an iron fist. They were especially cruel to women, not allowing them to go shopping, have jobs, or go to school. In 2009, Malala began speaking out publicly for every girl's right to an education. She blogged about how the Taliban didn't want her to go to school. She also continued to attend her local school, despite the danger involved. Then, in 2012, the Taliban tried to kill Malala to silence her. Two Taliban gunmen shot her and two other students while they were on a school bus. Malala was flown to the United Kingdom for immediate medical treatment. Malala eventually recovered from her injuries. She now lives in Birmingham, England, and continues to work hard to support girls' and women's rights around the world. "The terrorists thought that they would change my aims and stop my ambitions," she said, "but nothing changed in my life except this. Weakness, fear, and hopelessness died. Strength, power, and courage were born." The 17-year-old girl from Pakistan is sharing the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize with a children's activist Kailash Satyarthi, who is from India Satyarthi leads many campaigns dedicated to removing child labor. After recovering from being shot, Malala _ . Answer: If you like texting and are trying to lose weight, a new study found that using texting to track diet and exercise habits may help you lose weight. Previous research has shown that keeping food and exercise diaries improves the likelihood of success when you are trying to lose weight. Using a computer or a pen and paper to record information, however, can be a burden and cause some people to give up. Duke University researchers said using text messages to track eating and exercise habits can save time, and increase the chances that people will stick with their weight-loss rules. The study included 26 obese women with an average age of 38. The women used daily texting as part of their weight-loss program. The text messages focused on tracking personalized goals, such as avoiding sugary drinks or walking 10,000 steps a day. Messages also provided brief feedback and tips. Every morning, the women received a text from an automated system that said, "Please text yesterday's personal information of steps you walked and how many sugary drinks you had." Based on the women's responses to the text message, the system sent another text with personalized feedback and tips. After six months, the women who used daily texting lost an average of nearly 3 pounds, while another group of women who used traditional methods to keep food and exercise diaries gained an average of 2.5 pounds, according to the study, which was published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. "Text messaging has become popular and may be an effective method to simplify tracking of diet and exercise behavior," Dori Steinberg, who was responsible for this research, said. Steinberg said, "Text messaging offers several advantages compared to other self-monitoring methods. Unlike web-based diet and exercise diaries, data in a text message can be entered quickly on nearly all cellphone platforms so it is very convenient to receive feedback. Besides, because of the limited number of words used in text messages, it saves time." Which is NOT true about text messaging according to Steinberg? Answer: Do you like children? Do you have free time in the afternoon? We need a babysitter for our son. He's five years old. The working time is Monday to Friday, 3:00 pm to 6:pm. ( $ 5 an hour) We need help with: Looking after our son; Reading to him; Playing with him. You must work at our house. We live in Changchun, near the Culture Square . Please call Mr. Green at 5638--2949. . The babysitter must work _ . Answer: People do not analyze every problem they meet. Sometimes they try to remember a solution from the last time they had a similar problem. They often accept the opinions or ideas of other people. Other times they begin to act without thinking. They try to find a solution by trial and error. However, when all these methods fail, the person with a problem has to start analyzing. There are six stages in analyzing a problem. First the person must recognize that there is a problem. For example, Sam's bicycle is broken, and he cannot read it to class as he usually does. Sam must see that there is a problem with his bicycle. Next the thinker must define the problem. Before Sam can repair his bicycle, he must find out the reason why it does not work. For instance, he must determine if the problem is with the gears, the brakes, or the frame. He must make his problem more specific. Now the person must look for information that will make the problem clearer and lead to possible solutions. For instance, suppose Sam decided that his bike does not work because there is something wrong with the gear wheels. At this time, he can look in his bicycle repair book and read about gears. He can talk to his friends at the bike shop. He can look at his gears carefully. After studying the problem, the person should have several suggestions for a possible solution. Take Sam as an illustration. His suggestions might be: put oil on the gear wheels; buy new gear wheels and replace the old ones; tighten or loosen the gear wheels. Eventually one suggestion seems to be the solution to the problem. Sometimes the final idea comes very suddenly because the thinker suddenly sees something new or sees something in a new way. Sam, for example, suddenly sees that there is a piece of chewing gum between the gear wheels. He immediately realizes the solution to his problem: he must clean the gear wheels. Finally the solution is tested. Sam cleans the gear wheels and finds that afterwards his bicycle works perfectly. he has solved the problem. What is the best title for this passage? Answer:
In a large forest with many animals, there are only a small number of bears. Which of these most likely limits the population of bears in the forest? A supply of food B type of tree C predation by carnivores D amount of suitable shelter Answer: A 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. What would be the best title for the passage? A Queen of flowers B History of growing roses C Big archeological discovery D Rose trade around the world Answer: A Taxes, Taxes and More Taxes Americans often say that there are only two things a person can be sure of in life; death and taxes. Americans do not have a corner on the "death" market, but many people feel that the United States leads the world with the worst taxes. Taxes consist of the money which people pay to support their government. There are generally three levels of government in the United States: federal , state, and city; therefore, there are three types of taxes. Salaried people who earn more than a few thousand dollars must pay a certain percentage of their salaries to the federal government. The percentage varies form person to person. It depends on their salaries. The federal government has a graduated income tax, that is, the percentage of the tax (14 to 70 percent) increases as a person's income increases. With the high cost of taxes people are not very happy on April 15, when the federal taxes are due. The second tax is for the state government: New York, California, North Dakota, or any of the other forty-seven states. Some states have an income tax similar to that of the federal government. Of course, the percentage for the state tax is lower. Other states have a sales tax, which is a percentage charged to any item which you buy in that state. For example, a person might want to buy a packet of cigarettes for twenty-five cents. If there is a sales tax of eight percent in that state, then the cost of the cigarettes is twenty-seven cents. This figure includes the sales tax. Some states use income tax in addition to sales tax to raise their revenues . The state tax laws are various and confusing. The third tax is for the city. This tax comes in two forms: property tax (people who own a home have to pay taxes on it) and excise tax, which is charged on cars in a city. The cities use these funds for education, police and fire departments, public works and municipal buildings. Since Americans pay such high taxes, they often feel that they are working one day each week just to pay their taxes. People always complain about taxes. They often protest that the government uses their tax dollars in the wrong way. They say that it spends too much on useless and impractical programs. Although Americans have different views on many issues, they tend to agree on one subject: taxes are too high. What does the title "Taxes, Taxes, and More Taxes" imply? A Americans are not satisfied with the three types of taxes. B The three levels of government do not use the taxes in a right way. C Americans complain that taxes are too high. D Americans' taxes are diverse and confusing. Answer: A Who cares if money can't buy you love? But it can still be your best friend forever. That's one of the surprising findings in a new research paper, "The Power of Money", published in me journal Psychological Science. Like any best friend forever, money demonstrated to researchers its ability to _ us, reduce our sense of social exclusion and even reduce life's painful moments. "I was surprised" says Katherine Vohs, one of the researchers and professor at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. "The findings were surprising because no one had connected the meaning of money to pain. The money wasn't buying the subjects more friends; it was only psychologically helpful." In the research ,students were told they would be participating in a test of finger dexterity . One group was given some paper money to count, while the other group was given blank pieces of paper. Once the counting was complete, all the test subjects were asked to dip their fingers into bowls of water heated to 122 degrees--roughly the temperature of a very hot bath. Result? Those who had been counting money reported less pain than those who had not. Subjects also were asked about their feelings. Those who handled actual money reported feeling stronger even 10 minutes after they put down the cash. Combined with previous experiments, the findings confirmed what researchers have long doubted, that money acts as a general panacea in the brain, giving us social self-confidence and reducing physical pain without having to spend a dime on aspirin. But can we get the same effect by using credit cards? "No, credit cards do not have the same effect, " Vohs says. "They are scary for most people, and they in fact represent debt m many ways." The findings could have an interesting effect in the business world, where recent trends have been to issue non-monetary rewards and bonuses instead of what was thought of as "cold, hard cash". We can 1earn from the passage that _ . A the effect of money can only last until we put it down B money is both psychologically and socially helpful to us C the result of the research hasn't been confirmed by experts D credit cards have the same effect on us as money Answer: B My Town the Best Place to Be! My town is a great place to live in . It's the best place to enjoy your free time. There are three movie theaters in the town. They are all good, but the one nearest my house is the best. Shopping is also easy, There are many shops and most of them are trendy. They sell very fashionable clothes. The prices are also cheaper than in other cities, so students love to shop here. There are also a lot of video and music stores. These are very popular with students. I go to the music store every week to buy a new CD. The most crowded place for students to hang out is the park . Everyone goes there ,so it's really interesting. Sometimes there are even street performers. Some students think they are boring ,but I think they are the most creative people. I want to be a street performer, too . The cinema nearest the writer's house is _ . A the best B the worst C the most crowded D the smallest Answer: A
Why do some people live to be older than others? You know the standard explanations: keeping a moderate diet, engaging in regular exercise, etc. But what effect does your personality have on your longevity ? Do some kinds of personalities lead to longer lives? A new study in theJournal of the American Geriatrics Societylooked at this question by examining the personality characteristics of 246 children of people who had lived to be at least 100. The study shows that those living the longest are more outgoing, more active and less neurotic than other people. Long-living women are also more likely to be sympathetic and cooperative than women with a normal life span. These findings are in agreement with what you would expect from the evolutionary theory: those who like to make friends and help others can gather enough resources to make it through tough times. Interestingly, however, other characteristics that you might consider advantageous had no impact on whether study participants were likely to live longer. Those who were more self-disciplined, for instance, were no more likely to live to be very old. Also, being open to new ideas had no relationship to long life, which might explain all those bad-tempered old people who are fixed in their ways. Whether you can successfully change your personality as an adult is the subject of a longstanding psychological debate. But the new paper suggests that if you want long life, you should strive to be as outgoing as possible. Unfortunately, another recent study shows that your mother's personality may also help determine your longevity. That study looked at nearly 28,000 Norwegian mothers and found that those moms who were more anxious, depressed and angry were more likely to feed their kids unhealthy diets. Patterns of childhood eating can be hard to break when we're adults, which may mean that kids of depressed moms end up dying younger. Personality isn't destiny , and everyone knows that individuals can learn to change. But both studies show that long life isn't just a matter of your physical health but of your mental health. The aim of the study in theJournal of the American Geriatrics Societyis _ . A to see whether people's personality affects their life span B to find out if one's lifestyle has any effect on their health C to investigate the role of exercise in living a long life D to examine all the factors contributing to longevity Answer: A Even before my father left us, my mother had to go back to work to support our family.Once I came out of the kitchen, complaining, "Mom, I can't peel potatoes.I have only one hand." Mom never looked up from sewing."You get yourself into the kitchen and peel those potatoes," she told me."And don't ever use that as an excuse for anything again!" In the second grade, our teacher lined up my class on the playground and had each of us race across the monkey bars, swinging from one high steel bar to the next.When it was my turn, I shook my head.Some kids behind me laughed, and I went home crying. That night I told Mom about it.She hugged me, and I saw her "we'll see about that" look.The next afternoon, she took me back to school.At the deserted playground, Mom looked carefully at the bars. "Now, pull up with your right arm," she advised.She stood by as I struggled to lift myself with my right hand until I could hook the bar with my other arm.Day after day we practiced, and she praised me for every rung I reached.I'd never forget the next time, crossing the rungs.I looked down at the kids who were standing with their mouths open. One night, after a dance at my new junior school, I lay in bed sobbing.I could hear Mom come into my room."Mom," I said, weeping, "none of the girls would dance with me." For a long time, I didn't hear anything.Then she said, "Oh, honey, someday you'll be beating those boys off with a bat." Her voice was soft and weak.I glanced at her to see tears running down her cheeks.Then I knew how much she suffered on my behalf.She had never let me see her tears. The most probable conclusion we can draw after reading the passage is _ . A the last incident was sad enough to make Mom weep B the child's experience reminded Mom of that of her own C Mom could solve any problem except the one in the last paragraph D in fact Mom suffered more in the process of the child's growth Answer: D When my dad was a very young man, he was one of the few people in the small community of North Apollo, who owned a car. When he and Mom got married, they went on their honeymoon in that old Ford, but they had to turn around and pay a visit to the garage because the car didn't have enough power to drive them going forward. When I was too young to remember, my dad owned a truck in which we all went nutting and berry picking. It was an important day when Daddy decided to buy a family car. It must have been about 1937 or 1938 when he purchased a 1929 Chevrolet sedan. We loved that old car. On Saturday evenings, after dinner, the whole family would pile into that old square sedan, go up to Whitlinger's grocery store and buy a bag of Hershey's Kisses. Then Daddy would head out toward the country and drive all around the old country roads while we fed ourselves on chocolates. That was the highlight of our week. I didn't know which we enjoyed most, the chocolates or riding in the car. The first car I owned was a Packard touring car. My cousin Janet and I were living in Washington D.C., and mostly rode the streetcars to wherever we wanted to go. Janet's friend Kathy had learned to drive so the three of us decided to buy a car for ourselves. We picked out this old Packard because it was all we could afford. Every American living today can tell stories about the cars they have driven. I love to drive. I am most excited when I'm headed to the garage with my car keys in my hand. The car I own now is a 1998 Buick Century with a mark where I backed into a tree. I love the freedom I feel just moving down the road in that old car. I am almost certain that when I get to heaven, God will have that old car sitting there waiting for me to drive down that golden street. What does the author think of their Chevrolet sedan? A It was the first car his parents bought. B It cost his family quite a lot of money. C He had lots of fun and a happy life in it. D It often broke down on their way around. Answer: C Did anyone find the names of "Great Britain", "the United Kingdom", "England" and "the British commonwealth" which have the same meaning? Strictly speaking, these names all refer to something different. None of them are exactly the same as any of the others. The British isles refer to the main islands and several thousand small ones as well, which you can see on the map. Great Britain, or Britain, refers to the larger of the two main islands. But the word "Britain" is often used as a short form for the United Kingdom or you call it the UK. Now as for England, it refers simply to the largest of the three countries on the island of Great Britain. The United Kingdom is the name of the state and the official name of the country, which many people popularly refer to England. Finally, the Britain commonwealth is the usual name for what is left of the British Empire . This change shows the weakening of British Empire and the rising of the national liberation movements throughout the world today. If you want to write to someone in Edinburgh that lies in Scotland, you should write the address as _ . A Edinburgh, England B Edinburgh, Scotland ,Great Britain C Scotland, Edinburgh, England D Great Britain, Scotland, Edinburgh Answer: B Can you speak to dolphins? Of course you can but you won't be able to understand them! We interviewed a biologist and asked her what research on dolphin communication has shown. This is what she told us. Just like dogs, cats and other mammals, dolphins communicate by using sound, vision , touch and taste. Each dolphin has its own signature whistle to identify itself and to call others. Dolphins don't have the ability to smell, but their hearing and eyesight are excellent. We also asked Jane if dolphins have got their own language. She told us that they have and that dolphins started talking to each other from birth. They make different sounds, including whistles, squeaks and click. Sometimes they even sound like a heavy metal band! We then asked Jane if any interesting experiments have been done. She told us that a very interesting experiment had been done with a mother dolphin and her two-year-old baby in an aquarium. They talked to each other over the telephone! The two dolphins were in separate tanks which were connected by a special under water system. Unfortunately the biologists couldn't understand what the dolphins were talking about because they haven't been able to decode dolphin language yet. However, it was very clear that the dolphins knew what they were talking about. Finally we asked Jane if there was hope that we would be able to understand dolphins in the near future. She told us that she and her team have been listening to dolphins for more than 17 years, using special equipment to record and analyze their language. Unfortunately they haven't been able to decode it yet, but who knows -- maybe one day we'll get a phone call from a dolphin. The best title of the reading may most probably be _ . A An Interesting Experiment B Mother Dolphin and Baby C Animal Talk D Further Research Answer: C
Rome-Doctors and medical groups around the world last weekend reacted with strong opposition to the news that an Italian specialist is _ cloning the first human baby. DL Severino Antinod,who is the head of a hospital in Rome,has been referred to in an Arab newspaper as claiming that one of his patients is eight weeks pregnant with a cloned baby. Antinori refused to comment on the reports,but in March 2001 he said he hoped to produce a cloned embryo for implantation within two years.So far seven different kinds of mammals have already successfully cloned,including sheep,cats and most recently rabbits. Doctors showed their doubt and were strongly opposed although they admit that human cloning would finally come true unless there was a world wide ban on the practice. Professor Rudolf Jaenisch of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology says,"I find it astonishing that people do this where the result can be foretold that it will not be a normal baby.It is using humans as guinea pigs.It makes people feel sick."But Ronald Green,director of the Ethics institute at Darmouth College in the US,said it is unlikely that an eight-week-old pregnancy would lead to a birth. So far all cloned animals have suffered from some different serious disorders,many of them dying soon after their births. Doctors are opposed to human cloning because they are worried about the welfare of the cloned child if there is one. "There are no benefits of cloned human begins,just harm."said Dr.Michael Wilks of the UK. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage? A. Dcotor Severino Antinori is strongly opposed to cloning human begins. B. Up to now,seven kinds of animals have been cloned,including sheep,cats,humans and rabbits. C. Professor Rudolf Jaenisch is carrying on an experiment on cloning an eight-week-old embryo. D. Ronald Green doubts about the future successful birth of the so-called cloned embryo. Answer: D. Ronald Green doubts about the future successful birth of the so-called cloned embryo. Educational Camps 2011 21st Century Princess Program: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, July 23-27. For girls 12-15. Girls learn hair care, good manners and the importance of inner beauty. Homewood Suites by Hilton, 2001 E. Highland Ave., Phoenix. $495. www. homewoodsuites. hilton.com. (623) 848-1844. Barrow Institute Summer Camp: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, July 23 through Aug. 3. For ages 12-14. Activities include exploring laboratories and researching the effectiveness of treatments and medicines. July 23-27 for beginning students, and July 30-Aug. 3 for advanced students. Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix: $195-$220: www. thebni, com.(602) 716-2028. Digital Kids World Summer Camp: 9 a.m.--4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, July 30 through Aug. 17. For kids 6-14. Choose from a variety of technical classes, such as comic book design and video game design. Morning and afternoon camps held in weekly sessions . Digital Kids World, 5070 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $150 weekly for kids 6-9; $225 weekly for kids 10-14. www. digitalkidsworld, com.(602) 445-3925. Kids Advanced College Program: Mondays through Thursdays, July 30 through Sept. 19. For ages 8-14. Classes include lively computer design, engineering and writing. Prices and times vary. Paradise Valley Community College, 18401 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $99--$379. www.pvc.maricopa.edu. (602) 787-6804. Camp Zoo: Mondays through Fridays, July 30 through Aug. 13. For ages 4-14. Younger kids work with smaller animals, basic care giving and art projects, while older children explore animal medicine. Morning, afternoon, evening and full-day sessions available. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. $153-$280 per week. www. phoenixzoo.org. (602) 273-1341. According to the passage, we know that _ . A. 21st Century Princess Program lasts the longest B. all these activities are held in the same city C. the price of Camp Zoo is the highest per week D. Kids Advanced College Program is popular with plant lovers Answer: B. all these activities are held in the same city Henry was a carpenter of our village. Once I asked him to make a table for my family. A week later, Henry sent us the table and the bill as well. My wife said to me, "It's a beautiful table, dear, isn't it?" "I won't decide about that until I see the bill." I said. Henry was drinking a glass of water. He laughed and gave me a piece of paper. It said, Bill One dining table June 10, 2011 Cost of wood 17.00 Paint 1.50 Work, 8 hours (1 an hour) 8.00 Total 36.50 When I was looking at the bill, Henry said," It's a fine day, isn't it? Quite sunny." "Yes," I said. "I'm glad it is only the 10th of June." "Me too, " said Henry." You wait. It will be a bit hotter by the end of the month." "Yes, hotter and more expensive. The table will be 20 more expensive on June 30th, won't they, Henry? " I said, "If it isn't too much trouble, please add it up again. You can forget the date." "OK, man. You are such a guy." Henry said with a smile in his two blue eyes, and he left with the money he should get. From the story we know that _ . A. Henry got 26.5 for his work in the end B. The table will cost 20 more on June 30 C. The writer paid 36.5 for the table D. The writer got 36.5 Answer: A. Henry got 26.5 for his work in the end An example of weathering is A. a smooth sandy beach B. a smooth river stone C. a tall pine tree D. a large sharp boulder Answer: B. a smooth river stone Mr Ling lives in China. He worked in a factory and last year he retired. His wife died five years ago and his son works in Japan. He always has sports and he is in good health. One day his son called him and asked him to have a journey to Tokyo. He was very happy. He was afraid to travel by plane and took the ship. On the first morning on the ship Mr Ling met an Englishman at table. The man said to him, "Good morning!" He thought the Englishman told his name to him. So he stood up and said, "Ling Bing!" And it was repeated a few mornings and Mr Ling told a teacher about it. Hearing him, the teacher began to laugh and said, "He says hello to you in the morning." The next morning, when Mr Ling met the Englishman, he said, "Good morning!" And the Englishman stood up and said, "Ling Bing,sir." The old man told his name to the Englishman because _ . A. he hoped to make friends with him B. he wanted to say hello to him,too C. he wanted him to teach him English D. he thought "Good morning" was the Englishman's name Answer: D. he thought "Good morning" was the Englishman's name
I may not be the wisest person on this planet.but I will tell you a little secret to happiness:Help other,,and live life.It is that simple.Just help a friend study for a test,or volunteer at a nursing home .I learned this after a long,hard search. I was feeling really down because my long4ime friend had died.Then I started a six-week volunteering at a nursing home all day every Saturday.My routine was to serve the meal and clean up.After that,I would wait for the head nurse to tell me what to do. One day I was told to go to Room 117 to make sure the patient was all right.In the room I found a boy of eight sitting in his bed watching a movie.I was shocked to see a child in this seemingly forgotten nursing home for the old.He was so small and weak that you had to look closely to find him.He motioned for me to sit down.I grabbed his medical chart from which later I found out he had a terminal illness. We started to talk,and I found out that his family rarely visited,and all he did ever7 day was watch TV.I wanted to cry for him,and for my lost friend.As we talked,he had a smile on his face,and I asked him why. "The entire two hours I've been here you've never lost that smile.With this horrible disease,how do you still manage to stay happy?" He thought for a moment,and then said that too many people are dead even before they die. They walk around feeling that God has cursed them and that they have nothing to live for. The boy said that he would not be like that.He wakes every morning thankful to see another sunrise.He keeps his window open so that he can smell the flowers and feel the heat of the sun.He also said that he has hope. "Too many people haven't seen much of that around here," he said," Life is full of hope and we need to live life before it is gone." I don't know what happened to him.I assume he passed away,but his lesson lives on.I now wake up and live each day to the fullest.The key to life is not money or fame,but the lessons we learn from it. The nursing home in the passage is mainly for _ the elderly Dear Aunty, I work at a supermarket, and another girl and I share tasks we must finish before leaving. But she takes half an hour to do something I can do in ten minutes. She always has a story to tell me and stops working when she does. My boss is angry at both of us, but It's not my fault. I don't want to rat on her, but what else can I do? Flustered Dear Flustered, Let me propose a better way. Make a log of all the tasks you share, then suggest to your boss that for efficiency your duties could be divided into two separate checklists. If he's reluctant, go to plan B: the next time this girl starts telling you a story, stop working to listen and call your boss over to hear what a great storyteller she is. I'm sure he'll take it from here. Aunty Dear Aunty, I'm a college student in the Philippines who wants to be wise with money. I'm not an economics or business major student and I don't know anything about stocks. But I really want to buy assets and invest. I receive about 15,000 pesos every school term from my education plan. I don't have any idea how I should spend it. I don't want to just buy new clothes, or hang out with my friends because it would not be wise. I want my money to grow. Please enlighten me. Fastbreakplay Dear Fastbreakplay, Being wise with money is the No. 1 thing to learn. Start with a disciplined and systematic savings plan. When your savings reach a sizeable amount, then you may start investing. In the meantime, invest in yourself by reading up on stock markets and capital markets. Follow the news. Before I started investing during my senior high school years, I had already studied stock market data of the past century as I believe markets tend to repeat themselves. If you master this skill, you will master your reading of the markets. Aunty Fastbreakplay writes a letter to Aunty in order to _ . get ways to grow money In 1955, a man named Raymond Kroc together with two brothers named McDonald opened a popular restaurant in California which sold food that was easy to prepare and serve quickly. Hamburgers, French fries, and cold drinks were the main food there. Kroc opened similar eating places under the same name, "McDonald's", and they were an instant success. He later took over the company, and today it is one of the most famous and successful "fast-food" in America and around the world. Why was his idea successful? Probably the most important reason was that his timing was right. In the 1950s, most married women stayed home to keep house and take care of their children. In the 1960s, many women returned to the workplace. This meant that they had less time or energy to prepare meals, so they spent more on " TV dinners " and fast-food restaurants. Single parents also have little time to spend in the kitchen. People living alone also depend on this type of food, since _ Fast-food is not part of the diet of all Americans. Another trend of the 1960s, sometimes called the back-to-nature movement influenced many people to avoid food that was packaged or processed . This preference for natural food continued to this day. From the success of Raymond Kroc's fast-food business, we can say that social economic trends influence where and what we eat. The main purpose of the passage is to tell us _ . social and economic changes affect eating habits Tests are not fun--but they're necessary.But in places like Colorado, Connecticut and New York, we're seeing a new and problematic movement within public education to convince parents to pull their children from participating in any standardized testing.They're opting out of the exams designed to measure how well our schools are teaching our children. Let's look at why some parents are opting out.The most common argument is that standardized testing takes too much classroom time away from instruction.Yes, in too many schools and in too many districts, there is an overemphasis on testing.As a parent, I understand that problem.My daughter came home from public school one day and said class was easy now that "the test" was over.And I thought, "What are we communicating to our kids if they think the test is the most important thing--and once it's over, learning ends?" Those test-crazed districts need to change.But a new study by Teach Plus, an organization that advocates for students in urban schools, found that on average, in grades three and seven, just 1.7 percent of classroom time is devoted to preparing for and taking standardized tests.That's not shocking at all.Most people spend a larger percentage of their waking day choosing an outfit to wear or watching TV. We also shouldn't accept the false argument that testing restricts educators too much, _ innovation in the classroom or takes the joy out of teaching.That line of thought assumes that the test is the be-all and end-all--and if that's the perspective, the joy is already long gone.Teachers enter this profession because they care about kids, believe each one has the ability to succeed and want to teach far beyond minimum proficiency.The most valuable teachers are those who impart knowledge, not just information, and do so in a way that engages students and makes school interesting. "Okay," the opt-out crowd replies, "what about kids who are stressed out and suffering from anxiety because of standardized tests?" You know what? Life can be stressful; it can be challenging.The alternative is to hand out prizes just for participating, give out straight A's for fear of damaging a kid's ego--and continue to fall further and further behind as a country.I reject that mind-set . Rather than encouraging parents to opt out of testing, it would be much more productive for the leaders of this distracting movement to help improve the assessments.Make the exams more reflective of student learning.Ultimately, students and educators need test data--opting out does harm to both.And it risks endangering the progress that all of our children need. The author uses her daughter's example to show _ . some schools overemphasize testing Mold is often found growing on old bread. In a food chain, mold is a ___. decomposer
There is an old tiger in the forest . He doesn't want to look for food now. He often lets other animals get him some food to eat. One day, he sees a monkey and says,"I am hungry, monkey. Go and get me something to eat.""I can't do that now, tiger." the monkey says,"There is another tiger over there . He doesn't let me get anything for you to eat. I am afraid of him." "What?" says the old tiger. "Take me to the tiger. I want to talk to him." The monkey and the tiger go to the bridge over the river . "Now look down at the water." says the monkey. "Do you see the tiger?" "Yes, I do." says the old tiger. "Let me eat him." Then the tiger jumps into the river. Why do other animals get food for the tiger? Answer: Which city would you prefer to visit, London or Paris?London had welcomed 16.8 million foreign visitors in 2014, compared with 15.2 million visitors to Paris, according to a new report released by UK research firm Euromonitor International in January. Boris Johnson, London's mayor, is very proud."With so many fascinating museums, the best theater scene in the world, more green space than any other European city, numerous top sporting venues , a low crime rate and much else besides, it is no wonder that people from all over the globe are flocking to London in record numbers. These figures prove that London is without doubt the greatest city on the planet,"he told The Telegraph. However, Paris' mayor, Anne Hidalgo, is not as pleased. "London is in some ways a suburb of Paris," she said.The Huffington Post used the word " _ " to describe these back-and-forth insults . It refers to arguments about unimportant things, like small children fighting over a toy, or lovers arguing over the TV remote. France and Britain are separated only by the English Channel. For centuries, they fought over territory .But in fact, Paris and London are very similar. Both are centers of fashion and the arts. Even their most famous landmarks are a little similar --- the Palace of Versailles outside Paris and Buckingham Palace in London, for example. That's the trouble - they're as good as each other. As the Daily Mail put it: London and Paris are "head-to-head" in their battle for supremacy. In fact, visitors to these great cities love them equally.Hidalgo also wrote an article in The Telegraph, but changed her words slightly: "London is a suburb of Paris and Paris is a suburb of London."Does this mean these two cities could one day "grow up", stop bickering, and become friends. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the article? Answer: There is an English saying that goes,"he who laughs last,laughs the hardest."High School Musical star Zac Efron is laughing a lot these days. As a young boy,Efron was _ in school because he was always the smallest in his class and teased because he had a big space between his teeth. In sixth grade,Efron's basketball team made it to the league championships. In double overtime ,with three seconds left,he rebounded the ball and passed it--to the wrong team! They scored and his team lost the game. But history, as they say, is a thing of the past. Now at 21,Efron is one of People magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People,appears on the cover of Entertainment Weekly,Hollywood's most influential magazine,and is traveling the world promoting the third High School Musical film. Director Adam Shankman described Efron as "arguably the biggest teen star in America right now."Simply geogle"Zac Efron"and you get more than 14 million responses. Yes,it seems Efron has a lot to smile about these days. Efron was born and raised in California. He took school seriously. According to Efron, "he would go mad if he got a B and not an A in school, and that he was a class clown."It was his father who encouraged him to act. He took part in school performances and with a local theater group. He also took singing lessons. He graduated high school in 2006 and was accepted at the University of Southern California to study film. But he postponed it-why study movies when you can star in them. Now he has signed on to star in the romantic comedy Seventeen Again and to play in the remake of the hugely popular movie,Footloose.Efron is also earning more than $3 million for his role in High School Musical 3.Not bad for a 21-year-old. But Efron still remembers those bullies . "You always have to remember that bullies want to bring you down because you have something that they admire,"Efron said."Also,when you get made fun of, when people point out your weaknesses, it's an opportunity for you to rise above". Efron has risen all the way to the top of the movie business.And he can now laugh all the way to the bank. Why did Efron put off his university study? Answer: The name of our restaurant is Mediterranean Seafood Restaurant. When you hear the name you will immediately think of the sea and Europe. European countries like Spain, Portugal, Italy and France are all famous for their special cuisine and most of the best sea recipes come from these countries. These countries also produce the best wines and champagnes in the world. Our restaurant has the best seafood in the world. Enjoy the best sea recipes from the Mediterranean countries like Spain, Portugal, Italy and France. We only use fresh ingredients brought directly from the sea to our kitchen. Among the we serve, you will find the best brands of wines and champagnes on earth. We also have a large variety of colorful cocktails. If you drink one of those and eat our seafood, you'll experience a feeling that you have never felt before. We also have excellent waiters and waitresses who wear typical mariner uniforms. Mediterranean Seafood Restaurant is the best choice for seafood lovers because it has everything you need for the perfect meal. You can find every kind of seafood here. If you are tired of the typical restaurants, come here to discover the true taste of the sea. Nowhere else has the wonderful environment that we have. Most of the other restaurants offer the same type of dishes without the real flavor of the sea. You'll like the Mediterranean because the quality of our service is unique. Don't waste your time trying to find another place to eat; we have everything that you are looking for -- comfort, newness, and of course, delicious food. What is the passage mainly about? Answer: Most American children eat potatoes every day, but they don't know which part of potato is most nourishing .Take a sharp knife and cut a very thin slice from it and hold it to the light, and you will see that the potato has skin, an outside rim and the inner part. The outside rim which is right under the skin is most nutritious.But this part is often thrown away with the skin. Even the skin itself is better for food than the inside. When eating a cooked potato, if you choose the inside and leave the outside, you are wasting the best part of it. If you can't eat the whole potato, it is better to eat the outside rim and leave the inner part. A potato has _ . Answer:
Over 30% of the natural world has been seriously destroyed by humans over the last 30 years. This is because the number of people living on Earth is nearly six billion . All of these people need food, space and energy. As a result, lots of Earth's natural resources will be used up. When we destroy our earth to get natural resources such as wood or oil, animals often lose their living space. They cannot have enough food, and they will get hurt or die. The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international charity. It tries to prevent humans from destroying more of nature than is necessary. For example, in China WWF is working with the local government to reconnect some small lakes in Anhui Province to the Yangtze River and to create more protected areas so that China's natural beauty will not be lost in the future. WWF works in more than 50 countries, saving rainforests and stopping hunters from killing rare animals and protecting traditional ways of life in areas where they are in danger of being lost. WWF's main goal is to encourage development that does not harm the environment and the animals that live in it. Even though the charity is known all over the world, and a lot of people support the goals of WWF, not so many donate money often. This makes it difficult for the charity to do all the things it wants to do. Why has over 30% of the natural world been destroyed? Answer: Because there are so many people living on Earth. With long brown hair, deep blue eyes, a tall and thin figure Brad Pitt seems to be _ .He made his first appearance in a film in 1990.Though he was in the film for only 14 minutes, people flooded the cinema to see him.In his next film Pitt played the role of a fisherman.To make the film better, he learned the skill of fishing from a fisherman. Pitt, caring more about roles than money, has a special favor for the "hard" roles.After reading the screenplay of "Legends of the Fall", he was attracted by the leading character.He asked for a lower pay from the shooting team and was willing to work in hard conditions in the Rocky Mountains for six months."The film gives the chance to know life.I shall always remember the time when we were making the film," Pitt said after completing it fully. Pitt started his dream of art when he was in university.Though born in a common family in 1964, he showed his interest in film at an early age.After leaving high school, he went to university to study law.Because he loved film more than law, shortly before he could graduate, he dropped out for a life of his own, with only 325 dollars in hand, sometimes as a porter or a waiter.Thanks to his hard work, he finally opened up a new field of his own. From the passage we know _ . Answer: To achieve his goal, Pitt suffered a lot before success If you look at the night sky, you'll often see stars moving very quickly. In fact, they move much more quickly than they should according to their size and the laws of physics. Scientists do not completely understand why the speed of these stars is so high. But many believe the reason is that much of the universe is made of something called "dark matter". Groups of stars called galaxies, such as the Milky Way, might even be made up of 90 percent dark matter. How much something weighs depends on where it is. The same object weighs only half as much on Mars as it does on Earth and almost three times as much on Jupiter. So scientists prefer to talk about the mass of something rather than how much it weighs, because mass does not change. They can work out the mass of galaxies by measuring the distance between them and the speed they move at. Recently, Jorge Penarrubia, a senior academic at Edinburgh University, UK, and his team discovered something interesting: The mass of the Milky Way is only half as much as the mass of another nearby galaxy, Andromeda. This seems strange, and dark matter may explain why. Finding out more about dark matter could help us understand how the universe began, but this is not easy. Lots of scientists with different types of expert knowledge are working on the problem. We can't see dark matter, it's very difficult to measure and we can't find out its mass. Unlike stars, dark matter doesn't produce or reflect light. But we can make a good guess that it is there because of the way things move and the way light bends. Experts now think dark matter may be very different from the matter that we find on Earth. There may also be five times as much dark matter in the universe as ordinary matter. The author mentions the masses of the Milky Way and Andromeda mainly to _ . Answer: show that studying dark matter could help to answer some scientific questions An interesting experiment is taking place at the Children's Hospital in London. Dogs, cats, and even horses help sick children to get better. Dr. Marcus Finch of the Children's Hospital says,"Children have many problems as they are growing up. When they have problems, it's not easy for them to open up. But when they are with a pet animal, they feel relaxed and always smile. Animals don't speak, so they don't criticize .They listen and don't stop children. Children can talk with animals because they can believe them. Animals know how to keep secret! Also, children feel they are needed because they help to feed the animals and look after them."At the Children's Hospital, you can find children playing with cats, dogs, and goats,and riding horses. The doctors just watch them and are surprised at the power of the animals. Which of the following is TRUE? Answer: Children don't want to play with animals when they have problems. Have you wondered about the amount of time we spend talking about food and been surprised? We are always asking questions such as "Have you ever eaten?" and "What did you have for lunch?"Yet, if you travel from one country to another, you might find that other nations think differently about food. People plan to think that what they eat is normal and what everyone else eats is strange. In most parts of Asia, for example, no meal is complete without rice but in England, rice is the exception and people prefer to eat potatoes, in the Middle East, bread accompanies every meal. Eating, like so many things we do, becomes a habit that is difficult to change. The Americans seem to like drinking lots of orange juice and coffee; the English prefer to drink tea four or five times a day; the Australians prefer to drink a lot of beer; the French, like wine every day. People in different countries also like eating different kinds of meat and even within countries, different regions will have different likes and dislikes, especially in large countries like China and the former Soviet Union. In Hong Kong and the south of China, some people enjoy eating snakes but in the north of China, most people refuse to eat them. The French think that horse meat is delicious but most English people are terrified at the thought of eating it. The New Zealanders eat a lot of lamb and mutton, but never goat. The Japanese say that they do not like eating lamb and mutton because of their smell, but that they really enjoy eating raw fish more than anything else. So it seems that there is often very little common sense about what is nicest to eat or drink in different parts of the world although we may talk on the subject of food for hours. However, as people everywhere enjoy eating what they have always eaten, there seems very little point in trying to change traditional eating habits. Bread is necessary in every meal in _ . Answer: the Middle East

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