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Every month, Julia and her cousins would go to visit their grandparents. They would be excited because their grandfather would give them a few coins. Then they would buy toys and sweets. The grandparents commented that, behaving like this, the children would never learn to manage their money. So they planned a special test, in which the children would have to show, over the course of a year, just what they could manage to get with those few coins. Some thought that they would save their money, but Rubin and Nico continued spending it all on sweets. So they give up saving. Monty decided to manage his money by exchanging it: buying and selling things, or bettering it with others. Soon he surprised the whole family. He had accumulated lots of money. However, Monty was not very careful, and he got involved in more and more risky deals. A few months later he became penniless after a losing bet. Alex, had a will of iron. He saved the money and at the end of the year he had collected more money than anyone. Even better, with so much money, he had managed to buy sweets at a reduced price, so that on the day of the competition he was presented with enough sweets for more than a year. And even then, he still had enough left for a toy. He was the clear winner, and other children learnt the advantages of knowing how to save and how to wait. There was also Julia. Poor Julia didn't enjoy the competition because even though she had a wonderful secret plan, she had spent her money without giving her plan enough time to work. However, she was so sure that her plan was a good one, that she decided to carry on with it, and maybe change the expressions on her s' faces, who had seemed to be saying "What a disaster that girl is. She couldn't manage to save anything." When she was about to complete the second year of her plan, Julia surprised everyone by turning up at the grandparents' house with a violin and a lot of money. She did it very well. Previously, the s' general view on Julia is that . A she is a shy and quiet girl with great dreams B she is a mysterious girl with so many secrets C she is ambitious and always focuses on her goals D she is untalented and she shouldn't be thought highly of Answer: D. she is untalented and she shouldn't be thought highly of The Chinese New Year is the most important festival for the Chinese people. It usually comes in January or February. It takes about 15 days to prepare for it. On the eve of the festival, people close the shops and stay at home. They all get together for a big dinner. They stay up late and enjoy dumplings at midnight for good luck. In the morning, people dress in their best clothes, and usually the old stay at home, the young go out to pay a New Year Call . It is an important time for the young. The young people bow to the old people. The Chinese call this "Ke Tou". This means "touching the ground with the forehead ". Then the young people give their best wishes to the old people. The old people give children gifts or lucky money. They are very polite and do not use bad words on the Spring Festival Day. It,s the most important day of the year. On the eve of lunar New Year, Chinese people stay up late and eat dumplings because A they're hungry B they want to get good luck C they like Chinese food very much D they want to read books Answer: B. they want to get good luck Will there be a time in our lives when cars don't crash? When we can just sit back and relax and our cars will drive themselves. Auto technology experts say "yes". And they say that some of those advances may happen quicker than you might think. They will require the users to input the name of the destination or the complete address of the location that they want to go and the cars' artificial intelligence takes them there automatically without a driver. They will run on solar power in the daytime and ethanol fuel at night. Toyota, BMW and Honda will completely control the trade of driverless car business together and will have the cheapest driverless cars. Fossil fuels will be completely incompatible with these cars. Driverless cars will not require a driver's license of any grade to operate. Anyone with basic literacy and computer skills who are at least 16 years of age will be legally allowed to operate the vehicle with absolutely no restrictions. This would give the young users permission to operate the driverless cars on major highways as well as secondary roads without needing a separate classification. In addition to all this, drunken people will be able to use their own automobiles to return home because they are not "driving" the vehicle. What's more, car insurance will become _ because there will be no more automobile accidents after the year 2025. This is because the driverless car will have all safety methods in place by the car's artificial intelligence to prevent automobile accidents. Global positioning systems will become mandatory in all newly-manufactured cars after 2010, and will be the most important part in the driverless car. Who will not be able to use driverless cars? A Adults with basic literacy and computer skills. B Adults who are drunk. C Adults without computer skills. D Adults without a driver's license. Answer: C. Adults without computer skills. What if handheld tools know what needs to be done and were even able to guide and help inexperienced users to complete jobs that require skill? Researchers at the University of Bristol have developed and started studying a novel concept in robotics--intelligent handheld robots. Historically, handheld tools have been straight, unintelligent instruments that are _ of the context they operate in, are fully directed by the user, and therefore, lack any understanding about the task they are performing. Dr. Walterio Mayol-Cuevas and PhD student, Austin Gregg-Smith, from the University's Department of Computer Science, have been working in the design of the robot as well as in understanding how best to be with a tool that "knows and acts". Compared to other tools such as power tools that have a motor and perhaps some basic sensors , the handheld robots developed at Bristol are designed to have more degrees of freedom to allow greater independence from the instructions of the user, and importantly, understand the steps being carried out. This allows for a new level of co-operation between user and tool, such as the user providing directions and the tool performing the detailed task. Handheld robots, aim to share physical similarity with users but are neither fully independent as is a humanoid robot nor are part of the user's body. The aim with handheld robots is to develop the intuitiveness of using traditional handheld tools while adding planted intelligence and action to allow for new abilities. Dr. Mayol-Cuevas, Reader in Robotics Computer Vision and Mobile Systems, said, "There are three basic levels of autonomy we are considering: no autonomy, semi-autonomous when the robot advises the user but does not act, and fully autonomous when the robot advises and acts even by correcting or refusing to perform incorrect user actions." What is the new concept in robotics? A Full control by the user. B Improvement in intelligence. C Larger size of the robots. D Help for the experienced users. Answer: B. Improvement in intelligence. Austin Children's Museum This 7,000-square-foot museum focuses on entertaining and educating children up to age 9. In its World City Exhibit , children can go shopping, order lunch at a restaurant, pretend that they're doctors or workers, and more. In other fun exhibits, they learn about Austin's history, explore the world of water, and experience life on a large Texas farm. Open time:From Tuesday to Saturday, 10:00 a. m. ~5:00 p. m. On Sunday, 12:00 a. m. ~5:00 p. m. Address:201 Colorado St, Austin, Texas 78701 Phone:512-4722499 Brooklyn Children's Museum Founded in 1899, it is the world's oldest children's museum, famous for different exhibits and special events. The Mystery of Things teaches children about cultural and scientific objects and Music Mix welcomes young performers. Open time:From Wednesday to Friday, 2:00 p. m. ~5:00 p. m. On Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a. m. ~5:00 p. m. Address:145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn, New York 1213 Phone:718-7354400 Children's Discovery Museum This museum's exhibits explore the connections between the natural and the created worlds, and people of different cultures and times. Open time:From Monday to Saturday, 10:00 a. m. ~5:00 p. m. On Sunday, from noon. Closed on holidays. Address:180 Woz Way, Guadalupe River Park, San Jose, California 95110 Phone:408-2985437 Children's Museum of Indianapolis This museum is the largest of its kind. Exhibits cover science, culture, space, history and explorations. The largest gallery , the Center for Exploration, is designed for ages 12 and up. Open time:From Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a. m. ~5:00 p. m. Closed on Thanksgiving Day and December 25. Address:300 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, Indiana 46208 Phone:317-3343322 Which of the following is NOT exhibited in Children's Museum of Indianapolis? A Culture. B History. C Special events. D Explorations. Answer: C. Special events.
My sisters and I have dreamt of a home in the city, but when the Alcott family found itself in a small house at the South End without a tree in sight, only a back yard to play in, and no money to buy any of the beautiful things before us, we children all opposed it and longed for the country again. Anna soon found little pupils, and walked away each morning to her daily task, pausing at the corner to wave her hand to me in answer to my greet with the duster . My father went to his office downtown, mother to her helping the poor, the little girls to school, and I, Lousia, was left to keep house, feeling like an aged sea-gull as I washed dishes and cooked in the basement kitchen where the only thing I could hope for was someone talking with me. Good drill, but very hard, and my only comfort was the evening reunion where all met with such various reports of the day's adventures, we could not fail to find both amusement and instruction. Father brought interesting and attractive news from the upper world; mother, usually in low spirits because she would give away her clothes with sad tales of suffering from the darker side of life; gentle Anna gave a modest account of her success as a teacher, for even at seventeen her sweet nature won all who knew her, and her patience gained her the support of the most naughty pupil. My reports were usually a mixture of sadness and happiness, and the children poured their small joys and troubles into the family where comfort and mercy were always to be found. Lousia's daily responsibility was _ . Answer: to run the house Forty-two of the fifty American states offered some kind of public online learning this past school year.One state,Michigan,now requires all students to have an online learning experience before they finish high school.Even the idea of a school has changed since the rise ofthe Internet in the 1990s. A new report from the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy at Indiana University says eighteen states have full-time virtual schools.There are no buildings.All classes are online. Florida started the first statewide public virtual school in the United States in 1997.Today,the Florida Virtual School offers more man ninety courses.56,000 students were enrolled as of December.Almost sixty percent were female.The school's website says each student was enrolled in an average of two classes. Florida Virtual School has now opened the Florida Virtual Global School.Students in other countries pay for classes.Janet Heiking teaches an English class.She lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.Her students live as far away as Africa and Japan.She says they are taking her Advanced Placement class to prepare for attending an American college.They can earn college credits by passing the AP test. So how good are virtual schools? Studies have shown mixed results, as a new report from Indiana University notes.For example, students at Florida Virtual School earned higher grades than those taking the same courses the traditional way.And they scored higher on a statewide test.But virtual school students in Kansas and Colorado had lower test scores or performed at a lower level than traditional learners.Studies also find that virtual schools may not save much in operating costs. Education experts say the mixed results suggest the need for more research to find the best ways to teach in virtual schools.A1so, they say schools of education need to train more teachers to work in both real and virtual classrooms. From the passage we learn that _ . Answer: both real and virtual classrooms need more trained teachers On a cold evening I was waiting for a taxi in New York. About 5 minutes later, I was picked up by a driver, and he said how terrible some people were. I knew there was a part of me that wanted to be silent, but I had to listen out of kindness. The man told me that he had just come from JFK Airport without a customer. During the taxi ride, what started as anger changed slowly and he mentioned that he had read an article which said that the happiest people are the ones that give, so he hoped he'd have more chance to give in his life. I was really starting to enjoy being with this man. As we arrived at the place where I wanted to go, I paid my money by credit card. I pulled out an extra $20 and said, "Sir, since we've been talking about giving this whole time, I want to share that feeling with you. I've already paid my money, but here's an extra little bit. You can tell the next passenger in this taxi that their ride is a gift from another." I thought I was pretty cool at this point, but he turned toward me, tears in his eyes, and said, "Sir, I have a better idea. You give that $20 to a homeless person around here and I will give the next passenger a free ride myself. It was a great honor meeting that man and learning the lesson of how everyone gives and adds joy to another with their generosity. What would be the best title for the text? Answer: A lesson learned from a taxi driver WASHINGTON--More than one in 10 of the nation's airline pilots are cleared to carry a handgun while flying, and the number will continue to grow, according to a Transportation Security Administration projection. The Federal Air Marshal Service, a TSA agency that runs the armed-pilots program, reports that 85,000 to 90,000 pilots and crewmembers flying domestic passengers and cargo planes are eligible to carry a gun. That puts the number of armed pilots at about 9,500. The TSA projects the program to grow to 16.5% of eligible pilots by the year 2011. Aviation experts were surprised and alarmed that so many pilots are toting guns in the sky. "That's a big number compared to what I thought it would be," said aviation-security consultant Rich Roth, who said he had predicted there would be fewer than 1,000 armed pilots. The 5-year-old program trains pilots for one week and arms them with 40-caliber semiautomatic pistols. "That's a scary number," said Joseph Gutheinz, a former Transportation Department special agent and aviation attorney in Houston. "By allowing so many pilots the opportunity to fly armed, we're giving terrorists opportunity to identify somebody who has a gun and overpower him." Capt. Bob Hesselbein, head of security for the Air Line Pilots Association, said the number of armed pilots is "a tremendous deterrent " to hijackings. "The challenge of an organized terrorist team is to take control of the cabin, then the flight deck." Armed pilots have come under scrutiny since March 22 when the gun of a US Airways pilot fired in the cockpit of Flight 1536 as it approached Charlotte from Denver. No one was hurt, and the plane landed safely after the bullet pierced the fuselage. Why did the US Airways pilot fire his gun in the cockpit of Flight 1536 as it approached Charlotte from Denver? Answer: The passage doesn't give the reason. The tragic death of celebrity Wang Bei has made people aware of the risks of cosmetic surgery, which is becoming increasingly popular. A survey on the reaction to Wang's death, conducted by Tencent, which runs China's most popular instant-messaging service, received more than 600,000 responses, as of press time Monday.Forty-one percent of respondents expressed sorrow over her death, saying, "It's a pity she died at such a young age." Some 31 percent said she should have been more cautious and less vain, while 10 percent were enraged at the hospital that conducted the surgery.The remaining 18 percent were indifferent. A common thread of online discussion is why someone considered beautiful was so dissatisfied with her looks.Some netizens said Wang was a victim of society's unrealistic ideal of beauty: double eyelids, an aquiline nose and the pointed chin typical of Western celebrities.Others said her death underscores the limits to which people will go to achieve fame and fortune.Young people, see cosmetic surgery as the key to wealth and love. "They want to improve their appearance to find better opportunities at work and in marriage," says Ding Xiaobang, a plastic surgeon with the Peking Union Medical College Hospital."We're living in a highly competitive society.People regard appearance as a weapon and a means of empowerment...Most of them tell me, 'I don't care how much I spend, just make me look beautiful'." In the past decade, Ding says he Has seen a growing number of patients, like Wang Bei, who are young and naturally good-looking.The surgeon attributes this trend to people becoming richer, the standards of beauty changing, competition and frustration. "Some are frustrated with life and use surgery as a way to try and recover," lie says. The surge in demand for plastic surgery has resulted in a rise in the number of unauthorized business establishments and surgeons conducting such procedures. Meanwhile, experts say, young and beautiful people who still seek plastic surgery need to address their self-awareness issues and be more accepting. "They've built their identity around the admiration of others and fail to establish a system to assess themselves," says Zhu Wenbo, a psychologist with Blue Bay Psychological Consulting Center in Chengdu."People's opinions always change, so this is not a reliable way to evaluate oneself." The purpose of the text is to_. Answer: emphasize that young people should re-evaluate themselves rationally.
Question: Knowing the best way to study will help you to be a better student. By using your tin7eproperly, you can do your homework snore quickly. Learning to study is not difficult. The first thing to remember is that you must be willing to learn It doesn't mean that yep must always like the subject. It does mean, however, that you must be willing to do whatever is necessary to learn Try to understand why it is important and how it will help you now arid later to do and learn other things. Knowing mathematics facts will be useful in your whole life. Knowing how to spell makes any kind of writing easier. Sometimes the subject that you think is going to be uninteresting will be exciting when you begin to work at it and understand it more clearly. Learning things can be fun if you are willing to work with them Here's some advice for you; have a certain time each day and a quiet place with good lighting for study, so that you can concentrate on your study without interruptions; have eve- rything ready before you sit down to study, a dictionary, paper, a pen and books; be sure you understand what you should learn before you start;read carefully and pay special attention to the most important things;when memorizing, first find out the main parts and then recite the whole thing,check your homework after you finish it; never forget the importance of review and preview. Don't try to spend a lot of time researching learning methods. There are many students who know many good learning methods but don't study well. They forget that the most useful learning method is to study hard The main purpose of the article is to _ . A. prove that learning is not difficult, B. make parents interested in study C. tell the importance of self-teaching D. tell the students how to study well Answer: D Question: Why I Don't Spare "Spare Change" "Poor but honest." "The deserving poor." These words always come to my mind when I think of "the poor." But I also think of people who, perhaps through alcohol or drugs, have ruined not only their own lives but also the lives of others in order to give way to their own pleasure. Perhaps alcoholism and drug addiction really are "diseases," as many people say, but my own feeling ---- based, of course, not on any serious study ---- is that most alcoholics and drug addicts belong to the "undeserving poor." And that is largely why I don't give spare change to beggars. But surely among the street people there are also some who can rightly be called "deserving." Deserving what? My spare change? Or simply the government's assistance? It happens that I have been brought up to believe that it is proper to make contributions to charity, but if I give some change to a beggar, am I making a contribution to charity and thereby helping someone, or, am I perhaps simply encouraging someone not to get help? Or, maybe even worse, am I supporting a cheat? If one believes in the value of private charity, one can either give to needy people or to charitable organizations. In giving to a beggar one may indeed be helping a person who badly needs help, but one cannot be certain that one is giving to a needy person. In giving to an organization, on the other hand, one can feel that one's money is likely to be used wisely. True, facing a beggar one may feel that this particular unfortunate person needs help at this moment ----a cup of coffee or a sandwich ----and the need will not be met unless I put my hand in my pocket right now. But I have come to think that the beggars whom I meet can get along without my spare change, and indeed perhaps they are actually better off for not having money to buy alcohol or drugs. I know nothing about these beggars, but it's my impression that they simply prefer begging to working. I am not generalizing about street people. I am talking about the people whom I actually meet. That's why I do not give "spare change," and I don't think I will in the future. Why doesn't the author give money to street people? A. He doesn't think they need help. B. He doesn't have enough money to give. C. He is not convinced they will use it rightly. D. He believes they can get help from the government. Answer: C Question: Singaporean singer Stefanie Sun goes to Tahoua, West Africa to visit the children who have _ and war. Stefanie Sun is touched by those poor kids there: "Some children are already 3 or 4 years old, but they are so thin that you can hold them with your single arm. You can see scare and hopelessness in their eyes. The children only wish to have food to eat, and can survive and go to school. However, these basic needs are like dreams to them." Stefanie Sun is deeply touched by a 4-month baby who weighs only 2.5kg! Stefanie says that the children have nothing but leaves to eat during famine. The reconstruction in that area needs enough food, education, and clean water. Stefanie Sun is a singer, who is from _ . A. West Africa B. Taiwan C. China D. Singapore Answer: D Question: A water company uses lab tests on the water supply before sending the water through pipes to people's homes. How do these lab tests help people? A. by adding minerals and nutrients to the water B. by checking the water to make sure it is safe to drink C. by filtering chemicals and organisms out of the water D. by stopping harmful substances from entering the water Answer: B Question: Convenient location 5 minutes from Washington ,D.C. and one block to Crystal City METRO ,Crystal City Underground. Alexandria. Free Parking, free Deluxe Continental Breakfast and complimentary Hotel Shuttle Service to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. 14000 Jefferson Davis Hwy(endurance on S. Eads St.) Phone (703) 979-3722 DAYS INN ARLINGTON Days Inn Arlington is located two miles from the Pentagon ,Lincoln Memorial .There is a restaurant which serves American style food ,plus two meeting rooms and an outdoor pool. Complimentary shuttle service runs to the Rosslyn Metro Station. Complimentary parking is available on the property .An experienced staff welcomes our guests. Phone(703)525-0300 THE HIGHLANDER MOTOR INN Comfortable rooms at moderate rates . Convenient location only minutes away from Washington area attraction. Near VA Square METRO Station and Ballston Commons Shopping Mall. Free continental breakfast ,free parking. Phone(703)524-4300 HYATT REGENCY CRYSTAL CITY Conveniently located next to Washington National Airport and two miles from Washington D.C. Complimentary Shuttle to and from National Airport ,metro ,local restaurants and shopping .Experience a view to remember at out rooftop restaurants "Chesapeake Grill." Call for Reservations. Phone(073)418-12341 If you want to stay in a hotel which provides free parking and free breakfast , which telephone numbers will you ring to ask for further information? A. (703)979-3722 or (703)524-4300 B. (703)524-4300 or (073) 418-12341 C. (073)418-12341 or (703) 525-0300 D. (703)525-0300 or (703)979-3722 Answer: A
Miss Li is a teacher. She teaches in a middle school. She gets up at half past five in the morning. She has breakfast at 6:00.After that she goes to school by bike. She gets there very early. She cleans her desks and chairs for other teachers. Classes begin at 8:00.She and the other teachers work hard. She goes home at 4:00 in the afternoon. Then she does some housework .After dinner she reads books and goes over the students' homework. She goes to bed at about ten. She get up at _ in the morning.. Answer: On April 1st, Mike decided to fool his friends. At lunch time he said to Tom, "I think we're going to have a test this afternoon." "Test?" said Tom, "Really?" "Yes, it's quite true," said Mike. "When I was passing by Mr. Green's room, he was talking with another teacher about the test. Tell John, Rose and Joan about it." Later Tom told them about the test. Soon almost all the students knew about it. "How foolish they are!" he thought. When class began, Mr. Green said, "Class, we're going to have a test today." Mike was surprised. The test was too hard for him. After class, all his classmates thanked him very much. But he could only smile. "How foolish I was !"he thought. It really was April Fools' Day for Mike. _ his classmates believe him before class. Answer: My name is Linda. I'm a girl. I live in Canada .I have two big eyes. My eyes are green. I have long, red hair. I am 1.6 meters tall. I have long arms and long legs. I like black .Black is my favourite colour. I have a friend in China. Her name is Lin Na. She has two big eyes ,too. But her eyes are black. Lin Na is short. She is only 1.5 meters tall. She has long hair, too. But her hair is black. She likes yellow. She has many yellow clothes. Yellow is her favourite colour. Lin Na an d I look different, but we are good friends . Linda's friend likes _ Answer: Swimmers wanted Can you swim? Do you like children? Can you help them with swimming on weekends? Come and join us. Call Jane at 330-9786 Chess Club Do you like to play chess? Do you want to play chess well? Mr. Chen can teach you. You can come here every Friday afternoon. Tel: 6723-1940 Add : Room 102 in School's P.E. Building Let's learn English Can you speak English? Do you want to learn English? Join the English Club now. Time: 9:00 a.m. --- 11:30 a.m. (from Monday to Friday) Call Henry at 543-1248 Musicians Wanted Boys and girls, are you music lovers? Can you sing or dance? Can you play any instruments ? Welcome to our Star Rock Band . Please call Victor at 891-3453 or send an e-mail to music@yahoo.com. What can Mr. Chen teach you? Answer: The hotter a liquid gets, the faster Answer:
Question: Most young architects--particularly those in big cities--can only dream about working in a building of their own. And making that dream come true often means finding a building no one else seems to want, which is exactly what happened to David Yocum and his partner, Brain Bell. Their building is a former automobile electrical--parts firm in Atlanta. From the outside, it looks too old, even something horrible, but open the door and you are in a wide, open courtyard, lined on three sides with rusting walls. In 2000, Yocum and Bell found this building in the city's West End. Built in 1947, the structure had been abandoned years earlier and the roof of the main building had fallen down. But the price was right, so Yocum bought it. He spent eight months of his off-hours on demolition , pulling rubbish out through the roof, because it was too dangerous to go inside the building, The demolition was hard work, but it gave him time to think about what he wanted to do, and "to treasure what was there--the walls, the rust, the light," Yocum said. "Every season, more paint falls off the walls and more rust develops. It's like an art installation in there--a slow-motion show." Since the back building had been constructed without windows, an all-glass front was added to the building to give it a view of the courtyard, and skylights were installed in the roof. The back of the building is a working area and a living room for Yocum and his wife. A sort of buffer zone between the front and the back contains a bathroom, a kitchen and a mechanical room, and the walls that separate these zones have openings that allow views through to the front of the studio and the courtyard beyond. Yocum and Bell, who have just completed an art gallery for the city, feel that the experience from the decoration of their building, focusing on the inside rather than the outside, has influenced their work. It has also given these architects a chance to show how they can make more out of less. Working on the old building, Yocum and Bell _ . A. pulled rubbish out through the roof B. removed the skylights from the bathroom C. presented a slow-motion show in an art gallery D. built a kitchen at the back part of the old building Answer: A Question: Amanda Clement grew up in Hudson,South Dakota.Baseball was always her favorite sport.Once in a while her brother Hank and his friends would let her play first base in their games.More often,however,they asked her to umpire for them,because they knew her calls would be fair and there would be no arguing. One day in 1904,Amanda and her mother traveled to Hawarden,Iowa,to watch Hank play for the home team against Hawarden.When they arrived at the ball field,two local teams were waiting to play a preliminary game.The umpire hadn't arrived,so Hank argued that the teams should let his sister serve as umpire.The players finally agreed. Amanda,then sixteen and standing five feet,ten inches tall,made perfect calls.She was so good that players for the main game asked her 10 umpire for them and even offered to pay her.Thus,at sixteen,Amanda Clement became the first paid female baseball umpire on record.She is honored in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown,New York. Hank and his friends often asked Amanda to umpire for them because A. they wanted to make her happy B. she called them brothers C. no one else wanted to do it for them D. she knew the rules well and was fair Answer: D Question: One day, John Randolph rode on his horse to a town many miles from his home. The road was strange to him, so he traveled very slowly. When the night fell, he stopped at a nice roadside inn for accommodation .The innkeeper welcomed him. A fine supper was prepared. The innkeeper talked about the weather, the roads, the crops. However, his guest ate silently. Next morning after breakfast, Mr. Randolph paid his bill and was ready for his journey. Leading his horse to the door, the innkeeper said, "Which way will you travel, sir?" Mr. Randolph looked at him and answered, "I've paid you my bill. Should I pay you anything more? I travel the way I wish to go." But not far from the inn, to his surprise, there were two ways. He searched for a while but there was no sign to help him. The innkeeper was still standing by the door. He called to him: "My friend, which road leads to Lynchburg?" The innkeeper answered, "Sir, you have paid your bill and don't owe me a cent. Travel the way you wish to go. Good-bye!" As bad luck would have it, Mr. Randolph took the wrong road. Though out of his way, he lost much time, all because of his rudeness. According to the passage, the innkeeper was trying to be _ at first. A. friendly B. silent C. cool D. serious Answer: A Question: Earlier this year,my oldest daughter got braces on her teeth,and let's just say she did not go quietly into that dentist's chair.Fear and hate pretty much describe the days leading up to her first appointment. So when she finally walked out with shiny teeth,a sore mouth and a broken spirit,I told her I was proud of her and took her to Ben &Jerry's for an ice cream reward.Two weeks later,we returned to the scene of the crime.The dentist spent about 45 seconds checking her teeth before sending her on her merry way.Before I could start the car, she was placing her ice cream order.She was shocked when I told her that she wasn't going to get a reward every time we get her teeth checked. Clearly,she's not alone.According to some parenting experts,kids are easily addicted to a benefit--producing system of parental rewards and bribes--it's not all ice creams,candies and cool toys.Some parents are offering their children prizes to just let them sit down and behave in a restaurant--or sleep in their own beds--or score a goal in the next soccer game. While the experts agree that occasional awards are okay, the danger lies in the system's overuse.Kids quickly gain a sense of entitlement ,where they come to expect a big reward for every good thing that they do,no matter how small.To keep things in check,experts say parents should reduce the number of rewards they offer,make sure rewards match the behavior and explain the real benefits of behaving for the sake of behaving. Have you used bribery or a reward system with your kids? Was it successful? Do your kids expect more because of that system? The intended readers of the passage are _ . A. children B. teachers C. doctors D. parents Answer: D Question: Interview With God I dreamed I had an interview with God."So you would like to interview me?"God asked."If you have the time,"I said."My time is eternity."God smiled,"what questions do you have in mind for me?""What surprises you most about humankind?"God answered,"That they get bored with childhood,they rush to grow up,and then long to be children again.That they lose their health to make money... and then lose their money to restore their health.That by thinking anxiously about the future,they forget the present,such that they live in neither the present nor the future.That they live as if they will never die,and die as though they had never lived."God's hand took mine and we were silent for a while.And then I asked,"As a parent,what are some of life's lessons you want your children to learn?To learn they cannot make anyone love them.All they can do is to let themselves be loved.To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others.To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love,and it can take many years to heal them.To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most,but is one who needs the least.To learn that there are people who love them dearly,but simply have not yet learned how to express or show their feelings.To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently.To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another,but they must also forgive themselves.""Thank you for your time,"I said humbly."Is there anything else you would like your children to know?"God smiled and said;"Just know that I am here always." .In answering how many questions did God give "me" his opinion? A. One. B. Two. C. Three. D. Four. 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! On the first day, _ . A. though the writer was anxious,he soon relaxed B. he found the dayroom of his boarding house terrible C. he made many new friends,but he didn't remember any of their names D. he thought he spoke English better than the staff in the school Answer: A. though the writer was anxious,he soon relaxed Greece's finance minister says his country's financial situation is "terribly urgent" and the crisis could come to a head in a couple of weeks. Yanis Varoufakis gave the warning after eurozone finance ministers met in Brussels to discuss the final EUR7.2bn tranche of Greece's EUR240bn EU/IMF bailout . Ministers said Greece had made "progress" but more work was needed. The Greek government is struggling to meet its payment obligations . Earlier, Greece began the transfer of EUR750m (PS544m, $834m) in debt interest to the International Monetary Fund -- a day ahead of a payment deadline. "The liquidity issue is a terribly urgent issue. It's common knowledge, let's not beat around the bush," Mr Varoufakis told reporters in Brussels. "From the perspective of timing, we are talking about the next couple of weeks." Greece has until the end of June to reach a reform deal with its international creditors. Its finances are running so low that it has had to ask public bodies for help. The crisis has raised the prospect that Greece might default on its debts and leave the euro. In a statement, the eurozone finance ministers said they "welcomed the progress that has been achieved so far" in the negotiations," but added: "We acknowledged that more time and effort are needed to bridge the gaps on the remaining open issues." Eurogroup chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem said there had to be a full deal on the bailout before Greece received any further payments. "There are time constraints(;) and liquidity constraints and hopefully we will reach an agreement before time runs out and before money runs out." he said. There had been fears that Greece would default on its IMF debt repayment due on Tuesday. However, a Greek finance ministry official was quoted as saying that the order for repayment had been executed on Monday. Almost EUR1bn has been handed over to the IMF in interest payments since the start of May. It is unclear how the government came up with the funds, but the mayor of Greece's second city Thessaloniki revealed last week that he had handed over cash reserves in response to an appeal for money. Which of the following is the best title of the passage? A. The EU Get Challenged. B. The International Monetary Fund Reform. C. The EU Face Economic Crisis. D. Greece Two Weeks from Cash Crisis Answer: D. Greece Two Weeks from Cash Crisis Two-thirds of the world's major rivers have now been disrupted with more than 50,000 dams in an attempt to stole water and provide power. In the US,there are more than 85,000 dams,disrupting large and small rives, and in most cases transforming natural flow.The most famous of these,the Hoover Dam, constructed in the l930's,is mainly responsible for the fact that the Colorado River no longer reaches the ocean. Dams, besides all their attractive benefits, also have negative impacts. Creating a reservoir means a large area must be flooded. Communities may lose their land, houses and culturally impotent sites. Environmentally, the new reservoir can be a paradise for wildlife, especially birds. However, it can cause greenhouse gas emissions and poison the water for fish. Also, the dramatic rise and fall of water levels during dam releases is too extreme for plains and animals to cope with, resulting in dead zones around the shores of reservoirs. Fish that lay their eggs in the shallows, for example, may find a few hours later that those sites are high and dry. Dams don't just block water flow. They also prevent fish migrations, and are a barrier to sediment flows. Instead of rushing downriver, sediments get backed up against the dam wall, which cause the reservoir level to increase over time.However, sediments which are rich in nutrients have become a problem. The fertility of the entire system can be influenced, with soils lost during seasonal rains not being replaced. Perhaps the biggest problem can be seen in deltas , often host to large cities,which are sinking into the oceans. Groundwater is being extracted to feed the city, causing the urban weight to sink and sediments washed away by the ocean are no longer being replaced. The result is that sea level rise in cities from Shanghai to Alexandria. Where can we most probably read this passage? A. In a travel magazine B. In a science report C. In a personal diary D. In a chemistry textbook. Answer: B. In a science report Tom and Mike were good friends. Sometimes they were kind to each other, sometimes they were not. But all of their classmates said they were like brothers. One day they went out for a walk together. At noon they were very hungry and they went into a restaurant to have lunch. The waiter came up to them and asked,"What can I do for you?" "Please bring us two apples first." said Tom. When the waiter put two apples on the table, Mike took the bigger one at once. Tom got angry, "You are impolite,Mike. Why don't you take the smaller one?" Tom said. "But I am right."said Mike with a smile,"if I let you take first, which one will you choose?" "Of course I'11 take the smaller one. "said Tom. "Yes."Mike said,"If you take the smaller one,the bigger one will still be mine. Don't you think so?" "Oh!"Tom couldn't answer. Tom and Mike were _ A. always kind to each other B. sometimes kind to each other C. dear brothers D. friends of different school Answer: B. sometimes kind to each other In ancient Greek mythology we learn about a young man named Narcissus. He was so beautiful that he fell in love with his own reflection . He became obsessed , but soon realized that what he loved was not real. As a result, he became sad and died. In the place where he had stood appeared a soft yellow flower -a narcissus. This is where the word "narcissism" came from. Unfortunately, narcissism is often used to show disapproval because it is usually used to mean being self-centered and not caring about others. However, part of the reason that narcissism carries these negative meanings is that many people admire themselves in an unhealthy way. But the truth is that good self-love is necessary for our mental health, scientists say. A study published 10 years ago shows that low self-esteem is responsible for many social problems, and it can affect teenagers seriously. When they feel less confident and not as good as their classmates, teenagers are more likely to suffer from depression, commit suicide, get pregnant and bully others, according to the BBC. The other reason that narcissism is considered an ugly thing is because we are taught that we should care more about others than ourselves and that it's better to give than to receive. Thinking about others is the right thing to do, without question. But psychologists say that the love of others is actually based on self-love. If you see yourself as an unpleasant stranger, how can you be capable of making friends with anyone else? After all, you are closer to yourself than anyone else. After years of study, scientists also found that parents play a big part in building a child's self-belief. Only if the parents approve and accept their children, do they feel loved and learn to love themselves. The next time you look in the mirror, try to tell yourself that you are one of a kind. Pick out your best qualities and be proud of yourself. What would be the best title for the passage? A. Love others or yourself? B. Learn to love yourself C. Self-love D. Narcissism Answer: B. Learn to love yourself
While the 1970s pop psychotherapy movement focused on the importance of letting anger out, more recent research suggests that there's a smarter, healthier way to react to life's misfortunes with forgiveness. In a recent study, it was found that when individuals were about to forgive, they experienced greater joy, a greater sense of control over life and less depression. Sound appealing. Why holding a grudge can be harmful? Your boyfriend blows you off for an important date. If you stay angry at him, you'll probably get fresh flowers on your doorstep and maybe a romantic meal or two. But grudge-holding only gives us the illusion of power. If you hold on to that anger on a chronic basis, then it has power over you, eating away at your peace of mind and perhaps even your immune system. A study by Kathleen Lawler, Ph. D., a psychology professor at the University of Tennessee, confirms that people who are unable to forgive report more stress in their lives, more illness and more visits to the doctor than do forgiving folk. Going from a grudge to forgiveness A few ways to develop your capacity to tolerate--Try writing a daily "forgiveness" reminder in your journal; it may sound out of date, but it's a great way to help gain control over your emotional life.--Write a letter to your offender, detailing exactly what's bothering you. Then throw it. You'll feel better, even if your message never reaches its intended target.--What, exactly, makes your blood boil? Forgiveness isn't about swallowing anger or being a doormat. It's not about forgetting, either. On the contrary, it's about acknowledging an offence with your eyes wide open--and then releasing the anger. That means not quarrelling with the person who hurt you, but focusing on the good parts of your life. *An act of courage Are you still not convinced that it's worth it to put your energies toward forgiving? Besides the benefits to your mental and physical health, true forgiveness is a sign of strength and spiritual virtue . "It takes a lot of moral muscle to forgive," says Dr Witvleit of Hope College in Michigan. The bottom line: Forgiving eventually benefits the forgiver more than the person who has done wrong. So start putting your own well-being first, and live life with as much interest and love as you can. The author most probably wants to . Answer: instruct the reader Flashlights Answer: illuminate pathways in an overgrown forest At home, ordering food from a menu is a normal, everyday routine. I don't even give it a second thought. In China, it's a whole other story! Here, ordering is a fun game of trial and error, and the adventure begins before the food is even served! Many restaurants in central Beijing advertise "English language menus", but the translations can just add to the confusion. Although accompanying pictures can be a helpful relief, the translations often make the whole experience even more amusing. During my first few weeks in China I tried some delicious dishes with strange names. As an experiment, my friends and I would order things like "students addicted to chicken gristle " and "red burned lion head". It was always fun to see what landed on our table. Eventually we learned that "lion head" was actually pork, and "students" are "addicted" to diced chicken with green pepper. Recently, I came across a busy restaurant down a narrow side street in a Beijing hutong. It was lunchtime and the small room was packed with people sitting on small stools eating noodles. I was hungry and cold, and the steaming bowls looked irresistible! I sat myself down and called out for a "caidan!" In response, the waitress pointed to a wall at the back of the restaurant. The wall was full of Chinese characters describing numerous dishes. There was only one sentence in English: "crossing over the bridge noodles". I had never heard of the dish and had no idea what it would taste like. I took a gamble and ordered one bowl of "crossing over the bridge noodles". A few minutes later the waitress carried over a heavy bowl full of broth and I quickly dug in. It was the best bowl of noodles I had ever tasted! I have been back again and again and each time I point at the one English sentence - "crossing over the bridge noodles". I always enter a restaurant in China feeling excited and a little nervous. Who knows what the next ordering adventure will reveal? How does the writer find the English-language menus in many of Beijing's restaurants? Answer: Confusing but amusing. White House Tours Members of the public can visit the White House now. Requests must be made through one's Member of Congress . These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 am to 11:00 am Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 am to 12:00 pm Fridays, and 7:30 am to 1:00 pm Saturdays (except for holidays). Requests can be made up to six months in advance and no less than 21 days in advance. All White House tours are free. If you wish to visit the White House and are a citizen from a foreign country, please contact your embassy for help in making a tour request. All visitors 18 years of age or older will be required to present a valid photo ID. All foreign visitors must present their passport. All other forms of foreign identification will not be accepted. All visitors should call the 24-hour Visitors Office information line at 202-456-7041 to determine if any last minute changes have been made in the tour schedule . Forbidden Items: l Cameras or video recorders l Handbags, book bags, backpacks or purses l Food, drinks, or cigarettes l Any pointed objects l Guns, or knives of any size The U.S. Secret Service has the right to forbid any other personal items. Umbrellas, car keys, and cell phones (including those with cameras) are permitted. However, guests will not be allowed to use cell phones inside the White House. Please note that there is no place to store forbidden items for visitors. Those who arrive with forbidden items will not be allowed to enter the White House. Restrooms / Public telephones The nearest restrooms and public telephones to the White House are in the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion (the park area south of the White House). Restrooms and public telephones are not available at the White House. The Disabled Please contact your Member of Congress if you cannot hear or see clearly and need help during your White House tour. Guide animals are permitted in the White House. We can learn from the text that in the White House people can _ . Answer: bring guide animals if necessary Work Your Mind Here's something to think about the next time you ask your teacher for help: struggling with schoolwork on your own can help you learn. According to a recent study, the more you struggle while you are learning new information, the better you can remember it later. This theory might surprise you. When teachers are presenting new information, they often give students lots of help. But a new study shows this may not be the best way to support learning. "Don't be too quick to get help when learning something new," education expert Manu Kapur told TFK. "Try to work on it yourself even if it means trying different ways." Kapur came up with the idea that struggling can lead to better learning. Then he tested it out on students in Singapore. He separated students into two groups. In the first group, students were asked to solve math problems with the teacher's help. In the second group, students were asked to solve the same problems by helping one another, instead of getting help from the teacher. With the teacher's help, students in the first group were able to find the correct answers. Students in the second group did not solve the problems correctly. But they did come up with a lot of good ideas. The students were then tested on what they had learned. The group without any help from a teacher scored much higher than the group who had help. Kapur said working to find the answers helped students understand the process, not just the solution. Kapur's advice for kids is to put a lot of effort into learning something new rather than going to your teacher for help. "Simply doing a little work or nothing at all won't work," says Kapur. "The struggle needs to be a genuine attempt to figure out or solve a problem in as many ways as possible." What is most important in learning knowledge? Answer: Grasping the learning course.
The greatest recent changes have been in the lives of women. During the twentieth century there was an unusual shortening of the time of a woman's life spent in caring for children. A woman marrying at the end of the 19th century would probably have been in her middle twenties, and would be likely to have seven or eight children, of whom four or five lived till they were five years old. By the time the youngest was fifteen, the mother would have been in her early fifties and would expect to live a further twenty years, during which custom, chance and health made it unusual for her to get paid work. Today women marry younger and have fewer children. Usually a woman's youngest child will be fifteen when she is forty-five and is likely to take paid work until retirement at sixty. Even while she has the care of children ,her work is lightened by household appliances and convenience foods. This important change in women's way of life has only recently begun to have its full effect on women's economic position. Even a few years ago most girls left school at the first opportunity and most of them took a full-time job. However, when they married, they usually left work at once and never returned to it. Today the school-leaving age is sixteen, many girls stay at school after that age , and though women tend to marry younger ,more married women stay at work at least until shortly before their first child is born. Many more after wads, return to full or part-time work. Such changes have led to a new relationship in marriage, with both husband and wife accepting a greater share of the duties and satisfaction of family life, and with both husband and wife sharing more equally in providing the money and running the home, according to the abilities and interest of each of them. When she was over fifty, the late 19th century mother _ . A. would expect to work until she died B. was usually expected to take up paid employment C. would be healthy enough to take up paid employment D. was unlikely to find a job even if she is now likely Answer: D. was unlikely to find a job even if she is now likely The keys to reaching or staying at a healthy weight are regular exercise and good eating habits. Teens should get 60 minutes or more of physical activity a day. Note the word "activity". As long as you're getting your body moving, it doesn't have to mean doing difficult exercise or going to the sports hall every day. All that matters is that each week you get the right balance of activity, including aerobics , strength building, and flexibility exercise. Make exercise a habit by arranging some time every day. On days when you have soccer practice or an aerobics class, you may have no trouble exercising for an hour or more. But most of us are busy, and 60 minutes a day for exercise seems like a lot of time. The good news is that it's OK to divide it into shorter exercise breaks throughout the day. Just as you might have a healthy snack to stop yourself from getting hungry, exercise snacks can keep energy levels high. So get up 15 minutes early and do some stretching activity. Walk fast or run slowly for 15 minutes after lunch. Do the same thing after school -- or walk or bike home. Add to that taking the stairs, PE class, and walking between classes during the day, and you've probably reached your 60 minutes. Here are five simple ways to make an exercise lifestyle change: The writer thinks many people probably misunderstand the word"activity" to be " _ ". A. physical activity B. body movement C. sports hall exercise D. outdoor exercise Answer: C. sports hall exercise Li Peng is a good student. On weekdays he gets up at six in the morning. He has breakfast at home. Then he reads English from 6:30 to 7:00. He goes to school at seven. He has four classes in the morning. He has lunch at school, but on Sundays he has lunch at home with his family. He has three classes in the afternoon. He leaves school at 5:00. He often has dinner at home. In the evening he sometimes watches TV. Sometimes he does his homework. He goes to bed at ten o'clock every night. Where does he have lunch on Sundays? A. At home B. At school C. In a store. D. At his uncle's home Answer: A. At home Zhang Kai is a student at North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power . He has led a group of college student volunteers since last year. They help children at a primary school with their studies and daily lives. "When I was a small child", Zhang said, "I knew March 5 was a day for people to learn from Lei Feng and help others, but I didn't know the real meaning of the spirit of Lei Feng. Now when I see the smiling faces of the kids I have helped, I deeply understand Lei Feng. Helping others makes me happy." Lei Feng (1940-1962) is one of the most famous soldiers in Chinese history. He lost his parents when he was very young. His neighbors brought him up. He died in an accident at 22. He did many good deeds in his short life. For example, he gave his own money to the parents of another soldier. And bought tickets for a woman he didn't know without telling her his name. On March 5, 1963, Chairman Mao called on people to "Learn from Lei Feng" and made the day "Lei Feng Day". Today almost 50 years has passed since Lei's death. Some people say that the spirit of Lei Feng is outdated . But many people think we need to promote that spirit again. There have been many reports about the coldness of people toward strangers. This has made many Chinese people think deeply about themselves. "The most important thing is that we must be ready to help others and make it a habit." said Huang Tianze, a student from Jianlan High School in Zhejiang. Which of the following words best describes Lei Feng? A. clever B. kind-hearted C. handsome D. lovely Answer: B. kind-hearted A study found most people use their smart phones for an hour and 52 minutes a day. Most of this time is taken up with texting, emails and surfing the web, but only around 20 minutes is spent making three calls. The survey of 2,000 people found that social media apps, calculators , calendars and cameras were also seen as particularly important functions. Navigation apps such as Google Maps were popular too - with one in six people admitting they would feel unable to travel around an unfamiliar city without _ . The study also found checking Facebook and taking pictures of others are carried out more frequently than making calls. Also on the list were the calendar to remember appointments and birthdays, mobile banking and the news are apps that make day-to-day life a little easier. Tom Barr said: 'The functions on a mobile phone have developed and improved drastically over the past 10 years. With so many ways to keep in touch nowadays, people are using the functions that are convenient for them. As we get less and less time to ourselves, we need more convenience in our lives and less difficulty. While calling can be more personal, it doesn't always save your time.' Scientists at Rice University wanted to see if the latest mobile technology would be used by the students to improve their learning. But a year later, the researchers concluded that it's not enough to give students the right technology, but said they need guidance about how to use it. Why don't most people make a lot of calls? A. Because calling can be more personal. B. Because it doesn't always save your time. C. Because social media apps are important functions. D. Because calling is more convenient. Answer: B. Because it doesn't always save your time.
In Los Angeles, drivers spend sixty-one hours every year stuck in traffic.These drivers know all too well how bad the traffic can be."There're too many cars, and you can't move around a lot." Professor Cyrus Shahabi also knows about traffic jams.He lives more than 65 kilometers from his office at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles.He is always late even with the help of a navigation system. He decided to develop a program called ClearPath for that.He says his program uses historical data to predict traffic conditions even before the driver leaves the house. "What's unique is that we use a lot of data that's currently become available including traffic data, weather data, and we analyze that so that we can predict what's going to happen in front of you when you leave home." Professor Shahabi says his system does more than just respond to current traffic conditions.With ClearPath, he says, a driver can decide what time he wants to leave, and ClearPath will give the fastest route.It looks at the entire road network, including surface streets as well as highways, before the driver hits the road.Professor Shahabi hopes to have ClearPath available nationwide and overseas once they can collect traffic data from other cities. "I always thought thatLos Angeles had the worst traffic, but now I know that Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Tokyo, believe it or not, Singapore, Hong Kong certainly are examples that can immediately use this." Professor Shahabi hopes to share this new technology with companies that already have navigation systems, such as Google and Apple. What is unique about ClearPath? Answer: It helps drivers know the road conditions ahead of time. One day a dentist was starting his morning work. Suddenly a man ran in. His face was red and he could only say "Quick! Quick!" The dentist thought he must be very ill. His assistant helped to make the poor man sit in a chair. The dentist gave the man some medicine to make him sleep. Then, he looked into the man's mouth and pulled out all the bad teeth. As soon as the man woke up, he said in a low voice, "Quick, doctor, quick." "It's all right now," the dentist told him, "It's over." "You don't understand," said the man, "I came to tell you your house is on fire." The man ran in _ . Answer: to tell the dentist that his house was on fire Scientists in Colombia have trained a team of rats to help remove land mines from the countryside. Land mines are small bombs hidden in the ground and designed to explode when someone steps on them. When trained, the rats can smell special metals in the mines and then signal to their human team. Then why use rats for such an important job? In the past, dogs have been used to find bombs. Rats have a good sense of smell and can respond to orders, just like dogs do. But rats are much lighter than dogs. They stand less of a chance of setting off the mines, which explode under a certain amount of weight. What's more, the best rats are cheaper to keep than dogs. It costs about the same amount of money to take care of one dog as it does 70 rats. The rats have already been used in Tanzania, an African country with many land mines. Luisa Fernanda Mendez and her team in Colombia are training the even lighter Wistar rats. These are the white rats with red eyes that scientists often use in laboratory experiments. " _ even train their babies to perform their jobs, which saves us a lot of time, " Mendez said. Colombia has the second-highest rate of deaths from land mine accidents in the world. Last year, land mines killed 695 people -- 56 of whom were children. A criminal group called the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, as well as other organizations, have placed the mines. FARC are strongly against Colombia's government. The group has placed mines all around its own bases and in many places in the countryside. In the past, the Colombian government hired peasants and poor farmers to find mines. Many of them died trying to find the well-hidden bombs. Colombian police official Erick Guzman hopes the team of rats can come to the rescue . "These rats will be a great help," he said. What is the passage mainly about? Answer: Specially-trained rats help clear land mines. It was September 5, 2009. Lexi Youngberg, then 16, was on vacation in Spring Lake, Michigan. She was riding on a small boat with her friends, Robby and Kaitlin, when a motorboat crashed into them. The sound was so loud that other boaters heard it over the roar of their engines. The teen boy who had been driving the motorboat stepped on the gas by mistake. Kaitlin, 23, had only small cuts, but Robby, 15, had been badly cut by the propeller . And Lexi was floating facedown in the water. When one boater swam to Lexi, she was breathing. However, she was unconscious. She had a deep cut on her head. And the lower part of her left leg, just below the knee, was gone. A doctor rode up in another boat and tried to save Robby, but it was too late. For Lexi, the good news is that she survived while the bad news is that she lost one of her legs forever. When Lexi looked at her swollen leg, she felt hopeless. But as time passed, Lexi began to feel stronger. She was grateful that her life had been spared, and she decided to make the most of it. At the end of November 2009, Lexi met with Dr. John Hardy, who was an expert at making artificial legs. She hoped he would help her get back to doing the things she loved. Three years after the accident, Lexi moved on with her life. In spring 2011, she joined a soccer team in her school. That fall, she started college. Lexi is thankful that she can still do the things she loves. One day, she wants to be a physical therapist and work with those with disabilities. But first she plans to compete in the Paralympics. Whatever Lexi decides to do, one thing is certain: Nothing is going to get in her way. The main purpose of the text is to _ . Answer: tell us the story of a brave teen Excused from recycling because you live in a high rise with a rubbish chute ? You won't be for long. Miami's Mark Shantzis has made it simple for those living in tall buildings to use the chute and recycle too . In Shantzis' Hi-Rise Recycling System, a chute leads to a pie-shaped container with six boxes that can turn around when operated. The system , which fits in the same space as the chute and container now in use, enables glass , plastic , paper , metal , and other rubbish to go into separate boxes . The system is controlled from a board next to the chute door. The board has a button for each class of recycling materials (as well as for unrecyclables). At the press of a button, a microcomputer locks all other floors' chute door and sets the recycling container turning until the right box comes under the chute. The computer also counts the loads and gives a signal by phone when the box is full. And a particular piece of equipment breaks up the nonrecyclables Sorting recyclables before they are collected saves the use of expensive materials recovery equipment which otherwise has to do the sorting . Such equipment often makes recycled materials very expensive, so expensive that tons of recyclables remain wasted . Shantzis believes his system could help recycled materials become more cost-effective. Before dropping rubbish into the chute you have to _ Answer: press the correct button
Up to two-fifths of a food crop is often wasted because it is "ugly", a report on food waste has shown. Produce grown in the UK that does not meet retailer standards on appearance is often given to animals or thrown out even though it is healthy to eat. The report from the UK's global food security program also showed that the average household throws away more than 5kg of food a week, and nearly two-thirds of that waste is avoidable. The waste costs PS 480 a year per household on average, and PS 680 per family. Households throw away a fifth of the food they buy, wasting it for reasons ranging from cooking too much to not using it before it goes bad, the study showed. Consumption is the top area where food is wasted in the UK, the study said. Farmers respond to consumer demands for high-quality food with standards that can lead to the crop being wasted. Some supermarkets have started marketing "odd shapes and sizes" of fruit and vegetables, though. Also, more UK consumers are prepared to accept "ugly" fruit and vegetables, amid concerns over sustainability and food prices, the research said. In developing countries, much of the loss of food occurs during post-harvesting storage, processing and packaging. Tackling waste globally is necessary to feed a growing world population sustainably. One in eight people worldwide doesn't have enough food, the report said. Around a third of food produced globally is lost or wasted. Professor Tim Benton, an expert on food security at the University of Leeds, said: "Over 5 million people in the UK live in poverty, where basic food provision is a daily challenge." Nearly 400,000 people used food banks last year, according to the Trussell Trust. "At the same time, 15 million tons of food is wasted annually, with nearly half thrown away within UK households. Reducing the scale of losses and waste throughout the food system is a crucial step." The report highlights priorities for research to help reduce food waste, including improving harvesting and packaging technologies and seasonal weather prediction. Food waste in developing nations is mainly due to _ . poor technology in food industries Helping your child to read and write at home will improve your child's skills and confidence---it will also better equip them for learning in the classroom environment. Reading and writing skills are needed by every child in every subject in every year of their school life and outside school. As parents, you can play an important role in improving your children's literacy by practicing reading, writing, spelling and speaking with them outside school. This kit includes a number of tips on how to help. By listening, asking questions, giving information, and reading with your child outside school hours---you can make a difference. Students who improve their reading and writing will increase their vocabulary and their ability to use English correctly. This kit includes tips on how to help your child to read, write and spell, such as: reading aloud each night including children in everyday conversations listening to your child reading your child's writing using a dictionary encouraging your child to talk about events that don't involve the parents trying not to ask questions that require a "yes" or "no" answer practicing reading and writing by filling in forms, writing letters, sending cards, or e-mails. The Premier's Reading Challenge is also a wonderful way to encourage your child to read. You can help your child by encouraging him or her to join the Challenge and discuss the books they are reading. From this passage we know parents can help their children improve _ . reading and writing skills A 34-year-old mother has spoken of how she woke up thinking she was 15 years old and living in 1992. Naomi Jacobs, from Manchester, was convinced she was still a teenager. In her mind, John Major was Prime Minister and George Bush Sr. was running the White House. She also showed how she screamed when a boy appeared and called her "Mum". Mobile phones and e-mails were puzzling and Google, Facebook and YouTube sounded like made-up words, she said. Ms. Jacobs, who had no memory of the years, was told by doctors that she had Transient Global Amnesia (TGA). She has now written a book about the experience which happened in 2008. "I fell asleep in 1992 as a brave, very confident know-it-all-15-year-old, and woke up as a 32-year-old single mum living in a rented house," Ms. Jacobs said. "The last thing I remember was falling asleep in my bed, dreaming about a boy in my class. When I woke up, I looked in the mirror and had the fright of my life when I saw an old woman with wrinkles staring back at me. Then a little boy appeared and started calling me Mum. That's when I started to scream. I didn't know who he was. I didn't think he was much younger than I was, and I certainly didn't remember giving birth to him. I began sobbing uncontrollably. I just wanted my mum. I couldn't get my head around going to bed one night and waking up in a different century." TGA is a rare type of amnesia which can occur suddenly, affecting around three people per 100,000 each year. Fortunately, permanent memory loss is rare. Ms. Jacobs' memory started to return after eight weeks. Some people who often suffer from migraines also appear to be more likely to have TGA. The cause of TGA is unknown. Some think that it may be caused by a temporary cut of blood flow to parts of the brain involved in memory. What was the last thing Naomi Jacobs could remember? She fell asleep dreaming of a boy in her class. Shirley Temple Black, who lifted America's spirit as a bright-eyed child movie star during the Great Depression, peacefully passed away at her California home on Monday evening at 85, surrounded by her family and caregivers. Temple, born on April 23, 1928, started her entertainment career in the early 1930s and was famous by age 6. Temple was 3 when her mother put her in dance school, where a talent scout spotted her and got her in Baby Burlesks, a series of short movies with child actors playing in adult movies. Movie studio directors took notice of her and in 1934 she appeared in the film Stand Up and Cheer! and her song and dance caught people's attention. Movies such as Little Miss Marker and Bright Eyes featured her signature song. In 1935, she received a special Oscar for her "outstanding contribution to screen entertainment" in the movie Stand Up and Cheer! She made some 40 feature movies, including The Little Colonel, Poor Little Rich Girl, Heidi and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, in 10 years, starring with big-name actors like Randolph Scott, Lionel Barrymore and Jimmy Durante. Temple was a superstar before the term was invented. She said she was about 8 when crowds shouting their love for her made her realize she was famous. "I wondered why," she recalled. "I asked my mother and she said, 'Because your films make them happy.' " Her child career came to an end at 12. She tried a few roles as a teenager--including opposite future president Ronald Reagan in That Hagen Girl - but retired from the screen in 1949 at 21. Temple was only 17 when she married for the first time to John Agar, who would eventually appear with her in two movies. Their five-year marriage produced a daughter. In 1950 she wed Charles Black in a marriage that lasted until his death in 2005. She and Black had two children. Temple's interest in politics was sparked in the early 1950s when her husband was called back into the Navy to work in Washington. After Temple got married to Charles Black, _ . she might have begun her political life I got married in 2008. My husband and I are very emotional and have loads of dreams in life. Now I want to share a hidden part of my life. After one month of my marriage, I started working because I could not sit home. To accomplish our dreams, we are both working hard day and night in spite of belonging to a good family. Life is very strange. When any turn happens, one cannot know. I started working because I was very ambitious. I used to wonder about people who worked to earn their bread but I never knew in my wildest dreams that I would be part of the crowd who work to earn a livelihood. I was blessed with a daughter in November, 2009. She was just three months and 15 days old when I rejoined my job. My husband supported me and my family supported me but I never wanted to work again because I belonged to a family where a mother should give her full attention to her child. Keeping all the values aside that I learnt from my parents, I went back to work and will work till my last breath. I missed my daughter every second. She has started recognizing and throwing expressions for likes and dislikes. I cannot share my feelings with anyone, as I do not want anyone to know that I am broken completely from inside. My husband and my daughter are my greatest strength but I ignore them just to earn money and fulfill my dreams that I have. If one day, my daughter complains to someone about her mom, please tell her that she is my reason for survival and happiness and she is the only one who brings smile to my face. The author wrote this passage in order to _ . show her love for her daughter
What abiotic factor would most likely signal a population of birds that it is time to migrate from north to south? Heat, light, and sound are all different forms of ___. When Chemical X is added to a certain liquid, the chemical breaks into Substances Y and Z. It is not possible to break Substances Y and Z into simpler particles. Which statement is best supported by this evidence? Thirty years ago, Lake Ponkapog in Hartwell, New Jersey, was full of life. Many birds and animals lived beside the water, which was full of fish. Now there are few birds, animals, and fish. The lake water is polluted. It is in a colour of dirty brown, and it is filled with strange plants. How did this happen? First, we must think about how water gets into Lake Ponkapog. When it rains, water comes into the lake from all around. In the past, there were forests all round Lake Ponkapog, so the rainwater was clean. Now there are many homes around the lake. People often use the chemicals in their gardens. They use other chemicals inside their houses for cleaning and killing insects. There are also many businesses. Businesses use chemicals in their machines of shops. Other chemicals fall onto the ground from cars or trucks. When it rains, the rainwater picks up all the chemicals from home and businesses and then carries them into the lake . They pollute the water and kill the animals. Boats on the lake are also a problem. Lake Ponkapog is a popular place for motorboats . But oil and gas from boats often get into the lake. So more bad chemicals go into the water this way. People in Hartwell are worried . They love their lake and want to save it. Will it be possible? A clean lake must have clean rainwater going into it. Clean rainwater is possible only if people are more careful about chemicals at home and at other chemicals on the ground. And they mustn't use motorboats any more on the lake. All these may change people's lives. Only then can Lake Ponkapog be a beautiful, clean lake again. In the past, the water in Lake Ponkapog was made clean by _ . For two organisms to be classified as the same species, they must produce offspring that are
My passion started decades ago as a kid on a flight to India. I was attracted by how such a large airplane was able to glide smoothly above the clouds. I made it a goal to become a pilot. I am now a pilot for American airlines. Though being a pilot consumes my life,it is a job worth doing. My job is slightly different compared to that of a typical pilot. Most pilots have their routes they fly. They then familiarize(...)themselves with the routes. However, in my case,I participate in any job where a pilot is immediately required. It is true that some days I might have a workday from nine in the morning to five in the afternoon. In fact,some days,I might even begin my work at three in the morning when I am needed to fly. Sometimes, as for the typical day,I do not have one. Having been on the job for over two decades,I have learned some important life lessons. As I greet passengers boarding the airplane,I realize I,along with other airline pilots, have enhanced the lives of those who we are serving. In fact, there is one particular experience that I will never forget. A family was walking in from the gate, explaining that their beloved one was ill and had to be taken to a big hospital in another city immediately. It was at this point that I realized just how important my job was. Therefore, my life as an airline pilot is definitely not for everyone. However,my job is something I enjoy thoroughly and will continue to do till I am old enough. As a pilot, I have been able to experience so many different types of situations in different places throughout the world. For anyone interested in piloting, I would recommend going for it. What is the main difference between the author's job and a typical pilot's? A. The author's working time is not regular. B. The author has his regular route he flies. C. The author has to get up very early every day. D. The daily working time of the author is longer. Answer: A. The author's working time is not regular. Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the guestroom. Instead the angels were given some space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied,"Things aren't always what they seem." The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer. After sharing a little food they had, the farmer and his wife let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning, the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their only income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was very angry and asked the older angel, "How could this happen?" "Why didn't you watch out for the cow? The first family had everything, yet you watched over his house," she accused . "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, you didn't help." "Things aren't always what they seem," the angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so greedy and unwilling to share his good fortune, I asked God if I could seal the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmer's bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I asked God if the angel could take the cow instead. So things aren't always what they seem." Why did the older angel let the farmer's cow die? A. Because God wanted the older angel to take the cow. B. Because she wanted to teach the younger angel a lesson. C. Because she wanted to save the farmer's wife. D. Because she was sympathetic to the rich. Answer: C. Because she wanted to save the farmer's wife. Mary Walker works at a bank. She begins working at eight in the morning. She has a break at noon for one hour. She stops working at five in the afternoon. At five the bank closes. Everybody goes home. Some people drive home. Some ride bikes. Some take the bus or the train. But Mary walks home. She likes to walk. She walks, and walks, and walks and walks. Mary lives eight miles from the bank. She walks for three hours. At eight in the evening, Mary is at home. She eats dinner. At ten she goes to bed. Mary is tired . She is 82 years old. Where does Mary eat dinner? A. At home. B. At the bank. C. In a shop. D. In a restaurant. Answer: A. At home. Soup on my nose, a nearly spilled glass of wine and chocolate down my white blouse, as blind dates suggest, this was a really messy one. I have never made so much noise with plates and glasses, nor had I dined with a never-before-met companion. This blind date was quite different: we could see nothing. "Put your left hand on my shoulder, and then we'll take small steps forward," said Michael, the visually impaired server, in an East London accent. We three felt our way carefully bumping past heavy curtains before being arranged at the dining table, where we would eat and drink three completely secret and unseen courses. Welcome to Alchemy in the Dark, Hong Kong's first full-time restaurant in total darkness. Upon arrival, diners briefly tell the chef on their allergies , lock away their mobile phones and enter the windowless restaurant, which can seat 25. When the meal is over, the contents of the delicious menu are shown --- often to the diners' surprise. "This is definitely duck," my friend said, while eating chicken. "This soup," I declared, "is carrot and coriander." Even the too-close smell did not reveal the real tomato and cumin flavors. Dining in the dark changes everything: the sense of smell is heightened, manners go out of the window ----using your hands to feel around the plate becomes normal--- and there is a strange thrill in being able to ignore your facial expressions. Best of all? You don't have to spend hours beforehand wondering what to wear. Alchemy in the Dark is at 16 Arbuthnot Road, Central, (tel: 6821 2801) and is open Monday to Saturday, from 7pm to 11pm. Reservations are required. A three-course meal with wine pairing costs HK$700 per person. Five per cent of all profits go to the Hong Kong Society for the Blind. From the passage we can learn that the author _ . A. had the table booked B. shared the meal with a friend. C. practiced how to eat in total darkness. D. chose her clothes in advance for the meal. Answer: A. had the table booked Upon reaching an appropriate age (usually between 18 and 21 years), children are encouraged, but not forced, to "leave the nest" and begin an independent life. After children leave home, they often find social relationship and financial support outside the family. Parents do not arrange marriages for their children, nor do children usually ask permission of their parents to get married. Romantic love is most often the basis for marriage in the United States; young adults meet their future spouses through other friends, at jobs, and in organizations and religious institutions. Although children choose their own spouses, they still hope their parents will approve of their choices. In many families, parents feel that children should make major life decisions by themselves. A parent may try to influence a child to follow a particular profession but the child is free to choose another career. Sometimes children do exactly the opposite of what their parents wish in order to be independent. A son may decide not to go into his father's business on purpose because of a fear that he will lose his autonomy in his father's workplace. This independence from parents is not an indication that parents and children do not love each other. Strong love between parents and children is universal and this is no exception in the American family. Coexisting with such love in the American family are cultural values of self-reliance and independence. Most young adults in the U.S. get married because of _ . A. their parents B. financial concern C. love D. family background Answer: C. love
Question: Love to sink into your chairs and relax when you get to school? Then you will not be happy to hear that schools all over the world are seriously considering exchanging traditional desks for ones with no seats at all -- Yes, that means you will be encouraged to stand through those already too long math and science lessons! Why would anyone even think of putting kids to such cruelty? Experts say it improves their health and helps fight obesity. While that may seem a little far-fetched , the officials at the few schools around the world seem to agree. Among them are educators from the College Station Independent School District in Texas, who recently completed a week-long experiment involving 480 students across three elementary schools. The 374 kids that agreed to participate in the study were provided with a device that helped record step count and calorie consumption over the entire period. All 25 teachers involved in the study reported that students appeared to be more alert and concentrate better, when allowed to stand. The one thing that did surprise the researchers was that younger kids were more willing to stay standing than kids in higher grades. They believe this may have something to do with the fact that after years of being asked to "sit still", older kids have a harder time adjusting to this unexpected freedom. American schools are not the only ones reporting success with stand-up desks. Four Catholic schools in Perth, Australia, which have been testing them since October 2013, have seen similar results. In May 2014, Grove House Primary School in Bradford, West Yorkshire, became Europe's first test one, with a seven-week trial that involved the use of desks made by Ergotron in their fifth-grade classrooms. While official results are not out yet, early reactions from both teachers and students, have been extremely encouraging. The findings of these studies and others done previously, all seem to mean that allowing kids to move around in classrooms is a win-win for students and teachers -- it helps kids get healthier and provides educators with a more engaged audience. Why do the teachers like the standing desks? A. Because the educators can draw the students' attention. B. Because the teachers can keep the students healthy. C. Because the students can have a walk in the classroom.. D. Because the standing desks can keep the students concentrated. Answer: D. Because the standing desks can keep the students concentrated. Question: Today, nearly 400 animals are listed as threatened or endangered animals in the United States. Many are at risk of becoming extinct or disappearing permanently. Unless efforts to save these vulnerable animals succeed, many of the country's greatest creatures will be lost forever. From the facts listed, guess which animals are endangered. Click on the picture to find out more about each of these animals in trouble. American Crocodile American crocodiles are about 12 feet long. They live on land and in shallow water, swamps and marshes. American crocodiles like to float in the water with only their eyes and noses above the water surface. American crocodiles eat mostly small animals, which they grab with their strong jaws and sharp teeth. American crocodiles lay eggs. They hide their eggs under twigs and leaves, or bury them in the sand. Some crocodiles help their young hatch, and then carry them to the water in their mouth. Habitat Southern Florida, Mexico, Central and South American, Caribbean islands. Why It's Endangered Overhunted for its skin and habitat destruction. Peninsular Bighorn Sheep Bighorn sheep can weigh as much as 280 pounds and stand about 3 feet tall. They live in dry, desert mountain ranges, near rocky cliffs. Bighorn sheep eat grass, twigs and leaves. Male sheep are called rams and can be recognized by their huge, brown horns. The horns curl back over the ears, down,and up past the cheeks. They live in herds or groups. The male sheep with the biggest horns are usually in charge. Male horns can weigh as much as 30 pounds. Males will use their massive horns to fight. The fights can last as long as 24 hours. Females are called ewes. They are smaller than rams and have shorter, smaller horns. Habitat Nevada and California to west Texas and south into Mexico. Why It's Endangered Loss of habitat, hunting illegally, drought and disease. Where can we find both American crocodiles and Bighorn sheep according to the passage? A. Southern Florida. B. California. C. Mexico. D. West Texas. Answer: C. Mexico. Question: Do you know that it is your own immune system working against the virus that makes you uncomfortable when getting a cold, but not the virus itself? So when you have got a strong immune system and the virus is strong enough too, you will possibly get terrible cold symptoms( ) ? Vitamin C won't stop a cold It is claimed that Vitamin C helps by increasing white blood cells. However, many tests have shown that it does not prevent colds. At best, it only slightly reduces the rime of symptoms. Staying indoors won't protect you One of the most likely sources of cold viruses is your computer mouse or desk. A study of the cold virus in offices found that 47% of desktops, 46% of computer mice and 45% of telephones had cold viruses on them. Wrapping up warm won't protect you Colds are more common in autumn and winter. That's because the cool, wet and cold weather drives people indoors, where viruses may more easily jump from one person to another. And the distinct peak in colds is in September and early January, which is likely due to the return of students to schools and colleges after the summer and winter vacation. Old granny's chicken soup is right Granny's chicken soup is an old cure for colds since a long time ago. Scientists say it is true. Chicken soup does help cure a cold. Many canned soups are just efficient as homemade ones. It is _ that makes you uncomfortable when getting a cold. A. the virus itself B. Vitamin C C. the terrible cold symptom D. your own immune system Answer: D. your own immune system Question: Dear Jenny, I'm very busy on Friday. At 8: 00 I have math. It is not fun. The teacher says it is useful, but I think it is difficult. Then at 9: 00 I have science. It is difficult but interesting. At 10: 00 I have history. After that I have P. E. at 11: 00. It's easy and fun. Lunch is from 12: 00 to 1: 00, and after that we have Chinese. It is my favourite subject. Our Chinese teacher, Mr. Wang, is great fun. My classes finish at 1: 50, but after that I have an art lesson for two hours. It is really relaxing! How about you? When are your classes? What is your favourite subject? Your friend, Yu Mei Who is the letter from? A. Jenny. B. Yu Mei. C. Mr. Wang. D. DK. Answer: B. Yu Mei. Question: Jealousyis a very common problem in daily life. It's everywhere. For example, if someone does better than you, you will get annoyed because you want to be No. 1. We may become jealous of a best friend's top marks in an exam, or of the girl in art class who is praised by the teacher all the time. We get annoyed because these good things are happening to someone else but not to us. It's bad to feel jealous. We should be pleased with the things we have. But we still wish we had the money of this person and the talent of that person. Instead of sharing their happiness, we just feel jealous and unhappy with ourselves. And, too often, these feelings are expressed by _ the people weenvy. However, envy is also a kind of compliment to others. We see that other people have styles and talents different from our own. By comparing ourselves with others, we can know what welack. And we can turn this comparison, the envy of others, into a kind of power. Therefore, being a bit jealous of others lets us know what we are like and what we want to be like. It can push us to become what we really want to be. ,A, B, C, D. What should be the right attitude towards jealousy? A. It's a good thing. B. It's just a bad thing. C. It's a kind of compliment to others. D. It makes us know what we are like and what we want to be like. Answer: D. It makes us know what we are like and what we want to be like.
In the depths of my memory, many things I did with my father still live. These things come to represent, in fact, what I call joy and love. I don't remember my father ever getting into a swimming pool. But he did love the water. Any kind of boat ride seemed to give him pleasure. And he loved to fish; sometimes he took me along. But I never really liked being on the water, the way my father did. I liked being in the water, moving through it, having it all around me. I was not a strong swimmer, or one who learned to swim early, for I had my fears. But I loved being in the swimming pool close to my father's office and spending those summer days with my father, who would come by on a break. I needed him to see what I could do. My father would stand there in his suit, the only person not in swimsuit. After swimming, I would go inside his office and sit on the wooden chair in front of his big desk, where he let me play with anything I found in his top desk drawer. Sometimes, if I was left alone at his desk while he worked in the lab, an assistant or a student might come in and tell me perhaps I shouldn't be playing with his office things. But my father always showed up and said easily, "Oh, no, it's fine." Sometimes he handed me coins and told me to get myself an ice cream... A poet once said, "We look at life once, in childhood; the rest is memory." And I think it is not only what we "look at once, in childhood" that decides our memories, but who, in that childhood, looks at us. Which of the following is probably the best title of the passage? A. Swimming, my favorite sport B. Father, source of joy and love C. Memories of past days D. Interesting summer activities Answer: B. Father, source of joy and love Today is November 8th. It's Gina's birthday. She is twelve. Jim, Kate and Bill are her friends. They want to buy some presents for Gina. They go to the store near the school. There are lots of things in the store. They buy a big cake , two boxes of color pencils, a pencil case and some nice books. They want to buy two dolls for Gina, but the dolls are too dear . _ is near the school. A. Their home B. A factory C. The store D. The farm Answer: C. The store Believe it or not, oceans and seas are easy to be harmed by the development of human society. They are also influenced by man-made pollution easily. It is human beings that do great harm to the ocean ecosystems . The coral reefs are fine ecosystems that provide food and protection for many ocean creatures. The coral in almost all of the oceans is in danger from pollution.Chemicals from factories end up in the seas and oceans and destroy coral reefs. If the coral systems die some ocean creatures will be sure to die out. Protecting the ocean also has something to do with the protection of ocean wildlife like dolphins. The fishing industry depends on modern ways to catch many fish in order to earn more money. But the nets for fishing also _ other sea animals. The fishing boat workers are advised to check their nets and set other ocean animals free. But the boats are in a hurry to make money and often other ocean animals are caught with fish. Offshore oil spills can destroy the ocean environment because oil kills all ocean life. The world depends on oil and because there is a great amount of oil off the shore of many countries, the need for oil is more important than the risk of the oil spill. However, the fact is that one human mistake can lead to an ocean environmental accident that will cause years of damage to the fine ocean ecosystems. Oil spills will kill all the creatures in the area of the spill. The oil will be washed up on shore and destroy the ecosystems along the shore including birds. Everyone who cares about the environment should be interested in protecting the ocean, and all of us should do something for the protection of the ocean. Why do people continue to get oil in the sea at the risk of oil spills? A. Because they believe the oil spill can be stopped. B. Because there is a large amount of oil in the sea. C. Because they are in great need of oil. D. Because getting oil in sea is easier than on land. Answer: C. Because they are in great need of oil. On March 1, Green and Brown orally agreed that Brown would erect a boathouse on Green's lot and would dig a channel from the boathouse across Clark's lot to a lake. Clark had already orally agreed with Green to permit the digging of the channel across Clark's lot. Brown agreed to begin work on the boathouse on March 15, and to complete all the work before June 1. The total price of $10,000 was to be paid by Green in three installments: $2,500 on March 15, $2,500 when the boathouse was completed, and $5,000 when Brown finished the digging of the channel.Assume that Green paid the $2,500 on March 15, that Brown completed the boathouse, that Green paid the second installment of $2,500, and that Brown completed the digging of the channel but not until July 1. Assume further that the absence of a writing is not raised as a defense. Which of the following is/are correct? I. Green has a cause of action against Brown for breach of contract. II. Green is excused from paying the $5,000. A. I only B. II only C. Both I and II D. Neither I nor I Answer: A. I only Paula Radcliffe, chasing a third London marathon title , says she has became a stronger person after her terrible experience at the 2004 Athens Gaines. Radcliffe, who failed to complete the Olympic marathon and the 10,000m last August, said: "Athens made me a stronger person and it made me care less about criticism " "In the past I wanted to please everyone, but now I am going to listen even more to the people around me." She didn't care about criticism made at the weekend by Liz McColgan, who felt Radcliffe should have rested and let her body recover after her failure inprefix = st1 /Athens. "Liz is someone I look up to but she hasn't spoken to me since last year and if she really eared for me, I'm sure she would have contacted me." Instead Radcliffe won the New York City marathon just 11 weeks afterAthens. "In New York I wasn't in my best state but I did know I was good enough to win the Radcliffe insisted her only goal in Sunday's race would be winning a third title and not chasing world records. However, RadcIiffe has not ruled out m the future chasing her "final" world record time and questioned sayings that marathon runners have the ability in their career to produce only four or five world-class times. "I don't think that -- although _ ," said. RadcLiffe. "That changes from person to person." Radcliffe is sure she can better her winning London 2003 performance at some point in the future. Following a successful three-month training period in theUnited States, the 31-year-old will chase a third title on Sunday after her first victory in 2O02 and again 12 months later. Radcliffe clocked a time of 2:18:56 in her first 42.2-kdnmetre race three years ago. Afterwards she set a "mixed course" mark of 2:17:18 five months later In Chicago before lowering that to a time of 2:15:25 m the 2003Londonevent. Which of the following is true according to the passage? A. Radcliffe broke the world record in theNew York Citymarathon. B. Radcliffe didn't fully recover before theNew York Citymarathon. C. Radcliffe won her first marathon title in theNew York Citymarathon. D. Radcliffe had a 3-month training before theNew York Citymarathon. Answer: B. Radcliffe didn't fully recover before theNew York Citymarathon.
Question: This is a doubtful age, but although our faith in many of the things has weakened, our confidence in the curative (,) properties of the bottle medicine remains the same. This modern faith in medicine is proved by the fact that the annual drug bill of the Health Services is increasing to huge figures and shows no signs at present of stopping to rise. The majority of the patients attending the medical out-patients departments of our hospitals feel that they have not received enough treatment unless they are able to carry home with them some tangible curative in the shape of a bottle of medicine, a box of pills, or a small jar of ointment , and the doctor in charge of the department is only too ready to provide them with these requirements. There is no quicker method of treating of patients than by giving them what they are asking for, and since most doctors in the Health Services are overworked and have little time for offering time-consuming and little-appreciated advice on such subjects as diet, right living, and the need for abandoning bad habits etc. Nor is it only the ignorant and ill-educated person who has such faith in the bottle of medicine. It is said that Thomas Carlyle (a famous Scottish writer), when he heard of the illness of his friend, went off immediately to visit him carrying with him in his pocket what remained of a bottle of medicine formerly used for a slight illness of Mrs. Carlyle's. Carlyle was entirely ignorant of what the bottle in his pocket contained or the nature of the illness from which his friend was suffering, but a medicine that had worked so well in one form of illness would surely be of equal benefit in another, and comforted by the thought of the help he was bringing to his friend, he rushed to Henry Taylor's house. History does not relate whether his friend accepted his medical help, but probably he did. It can be learned from the passage that most doctors _ . A. feel morally bound to give patients advice about diet and right living B. are reluctant to provide patients with their requirements C. are confident in the curative properties of the bottle of medicine D. tend to satisfy patients' demand for tangible medicine Answer: D. tend to satisfy patients' demand for tangible medicine Question: 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. Maria likes to buy food _ . A. in a small shop B. in a supermarket C. in streets D. in street markets Answer: B. in a supermarket Question: You know what it' s like. You' ve just arrived in Washington D. C. after a long journey and all you really want to do is lie down and relax in your hotel room. But first you have to make a few quick notes for tomorrow's meeting, check your e-mails, and perhaps print out a few- things. And you need to make a few local telephone calls, and one call to your family. And what do you usually get? Your desk is just about big enough for a cup of coffee, and there's no desk lamp~ the stationary is only several pieces of paper and the only pen there doesn't work at all. If you want to print something, you have to go to the Reception ,and when you try to use your cell phone, you find that it won't work in the U. S. A. Well, Harmony Hotel is different. Just tell us ahead of time what you're going to need, and we'll make sure that it's waiting for you when you arrive. There will be a printer in your room if you want one, and a cell phone that really works. All you have to pay for is the calls you make. We can also provide a room for business meetings, even a secretary to take notes. All we ask is a few days' notice. All of our rooms are of the same high standard and we promise not to increase prices in the next twelve months. But book now, because many people are already calling to book rooms, and we'd hate to disappoint you. Harmony--the hotel you've always wanted, but never been able to find before. Why is it best to book now? A. All of the rooms are empty now. B. Prices might increase soon. C. There may be no rooms left. D. It saves money for guests. Answer: C. There may be no rooms left. Question: It is pretty much a one-way street.While it may"be common for university researchers to try their luck in the commercial world,there is very little traffic in the opposite direction.Pay has always been the biggest _ ,as people with families often feel they cannot afford the drop in salary when moving to a university job.For some industrial scientists,however, the attractions of academia outweigh any financial considerations. Helen Lee took a 70%cut in salary when she moved from a senior post in Abbott Laboratories to a medical department at the University of Cambridge.Her main reason for returning to academia halfway was to take advantage of the greater freedom to choose research questions.Some areas of research have few chances of a commercial return,and Lee's is one of them. The powerful effect of a salary cut is probably less severe for a scientist in the early stages of an occupation.Guy Grant,now a research associate at the Unilever Centre for Molecular Informatics at the University of Cambridge,spent two years working for a medicine company before returning to university as a post-doctoral researcher.He took a 30%salary cut but felt it worthwhile for the greater intellectual opportunities. Higher up the ladder,where a pay cut is usually more significant,the demand for scientists with a wealth of experience in industry is forcing universities to make the transition to academia more attractive,according to Lee.Industrial scientists tend to receive training that academics do not,such as how to build a multidisciplinary team,manage budgets and negotiate contracts .They are also well placed to bring something extra to the teaching side of an academic role that will help students get a job when they graduate,says Lee,perhaps experience in manufacturing practice or product development."Only a small number of undergraduates will continue in an academic occupation.So someone leaving university who already has the skills needed to work in an industrial lab has far more potential in the job market than someone who has spent a11 their time on a narrow research project." What contribution can industrial scientists make when they come to teach in a university? A. Suit its research to practical applications. B. Develop its students'potential in research. C. Help it obtain financial support from industry. D. Increase its graduates'competitiveness in the j ob market. Answer: D. Increase its graduates'competitiveness in the j ob market. Question: When I was young, my father used to grow carnations ----- a kind of flower which was red, pink and white. He took care of them with much love and devotion. Every day he came back home from work, he would enjoy watching them. Everyone who saw them admired them for their beauty. And he used to tell us, "No one should touch my flowers." One day, my younger sister Clemence, who loved dad very much, wanted to help him. So she cut the carnations from their stems one by one and arranged them on the ground. She believed that dad would be very pleased to see them that way. When mom and I realized what my sister had done, we became completely speechless. However, my sister had no idea why no one showed her any appreciation. When my dad arrived, he went straight to see the flowers as usual. Seeing his flowers lying on the ground like dead animals, he was shocked at first. He looked towards the street to see if it was any of the neighbor's children who could have done it. Then he looked at mom in silence. Finally mom, who always taught us to tell the truth no matter what, said, "No bad neighbors did this great job, only your lovely daughter Clemence." Dad's face changed into a smile and then he said, "Do I have a better flower than my lovely daughter?" My younger sister smiled and hugged dad strongly. What caused my younger sister to smile and hug dad strongly? A. dad's silence B. mom's help C. dad's love D. mom's words Answer: C. dad's love
From furniture to jewelry, from the medical industry to civil engineering,three--dimensional printing can turn all sorts of ideas into objects. "I wanted to print large objects such as buildings,"said Behrokh Khoshnevis,professor of the University of Southern California.He planned to construct a house in 24 hours by applying 3D printing techniques,but he admitted there would be difficulties in meeting his goal. "For example,if you run out of ink while printing on paper,you will throw that paper away.But you cannot throw half completed buildings away if your material gets stuck,"he said.Although the printed house is not available to visit,there is a chance for people in Shanghai to see items printed in 3D. The Belgium-based company Materialize NV is currently holding a 3D printing exhibition in Shanghai that started in late 2012 and will continue until the middle of this year.The company is eager to show Asia what is possible with 3D printing. "All the pieces shown here are what cannot be made through traditional techniques. A good example of this customization is hearing aids More than l0 million people already use 3D printed hearing aids.all made according to the size of their ear."said Wim Michiels, executive vice-president at Materialise NV. "You can produce anything whenever and wherever you like.You don't need to set-up production lines for pieces that only need a limited amount of product.Setting up a production Line is a tot of work, takes a long time and is very expensive for a limited number of pieces" said Michiels. Kim Francois,managing director of Matcrialise China,said their European and American clients have at ready made the next step toward additive manufacturing with small-series production such as hearing aids. According to Khoshnevis,what is the main difficulty in printing buildings? A Time. B Technique. C Space. D Material. Answer: D. Material. It seems that beauty and women are twins.You are joking? No,I am not.Watch it for yourself! Ads on fashion TV screens,radio programs,magazines,newspapers,and the streets.Whether they have realized it or not, women are surrounded by a sea of fashion. They are taught to think that without beautiful clothes they will grow old and lose their charm. so who dares to neglect dressing up at the cost of their appearance and youth? But I do not agree with the opinion that women have to show their beauty through their appearances. The richness of their minds proves to be more beautiful and attractive than their appearances. a woman who has experienced many troubles and may be called "aunt" or"granny" can still keep up her beauty if she has such excellent qualities as knowledge,ability,a kind heart,great courage, caring for others, etc. In addition, old and young, beautiful and ugly are relative concepts .People who keep a young mind will never feel old.Interested in new things and eager to learn more,they keep up with the time. plainly-dressed women may have a type of beauty that is pure and real. Reading and learning is the best way to keep one youthful.Good books are rich soil which can feed the flower of one's heart and appearances. Which is more important to a woman in the writer's opinion? A richness of one's mind. B appearance C following the fashion D wealth. Answer: A. richness of one's mind. Tommy's birthday is next week. He is hoping for a very special gift. What are some things Tommy is hoping for? He would like a big, bouncy ball, like his friends Bobby and Joey have. One with blue stripes! He would really like some new sneakers. Danny, Tommy's best friend, got a special pair of sneakers for HIS birthday last month. They have pictures of robots on them and even light up when you walk! He would really, REALLY like a shiny new bicycle. Tommy has an old bicycle now. He is getting too big for it. He saw a red one in the store yesterday when he was shopping with his Mom. It looked like it was the right size for him! But what Tommy wants most of all is a new baby brother. Today his Mom and Dad said that he might have one very, very soon. Then Tommy and his little brother can have many fun birthdays together. That would be the best gift of all! What's wrong with Tommy's old bicycle? A it's not shiny B it's too small C it's old D it's red Answer: B. it's too small On a sunny day last August, Tim heard some shouting. Looking out to the sea carefully, he saw a couple of kids in a rowboat were being pulled out to sea. Two 12-year-old boys, Christian and Jack, rowed out a boat to search for a football. Once they'd rowed beyond the calm waters, a beach umbrella tied to the boat caught the wind and pulled the boat into open water. The pair panicked and tried to row back to shore. But they were no match for it and the boat was out of control. Tim knew it would soon be swallowed by the waves. "Everything went quiet in my head," Tim recalls . "I was trying to figure out how to swim to the boys in a straight line." Tim took off his clothes and jumped into the water. Every 500 yards or so, he raised his head to judge his progress. "At one point, I considered turning back," he says. "I wondered if I was putting my life at risk." After 30 minutes of struggling, he was close enough to yell to the boys, "Take down the umbrella!" Christian made much effort to take down the umbrella. Then Tim was able to catch up and climb aboard the boat. He took over rowing, but the waves were almost too strong for him. "Let's aim for the pier ," Jack said. Tim turned the boat toward it. Soon afterward, waves crashed over the boat, and it began to sink. "Can you guys swim?" he cried. "A little bit," the boys said. Once they were in the water, Tim decided it would be safer and faster for him to pull the boys toward the pier. Christian and Jack were wearing life jackets and floated on their backs. Tim swam toward land as water washed over the boys' faces. "Are we almost there?" they asked again and again. "Yes," Tim told them each time. After 30minutes, they reached the pier. How did the two boys finally reach the pier? A They were carried to the pier by Tim on his back. B They swam to the pier all by themselves. C They were washed to the pier by the waves. D They were dragged to the pier by Tim. Answer: D. They were dragged to the pier by Tim. When I was about eight years old, I decided that I wanted to be a famous film star when I grew up. Well, I'm not a famous film star, but I do work for a film studio, and I do meet famous actors every day. I'm a Foley artist--I make the sounds that are added to films after they have been filmed. Why does this need to be done? Well, if actors are filming a fight scene, you can't expect them to really hit each other or break each other's bones, so Foley artists have to find suitable sound. If you come into my studio and find me throwing wet towels at the wall and breaking carrots in half, don't worry. I'm just recording a fight scene. When my kids were little, they loved our Christmas films because we always needed to record the sound of children walking on snow. It doesn't often snow in California, so I had to create the sound in the studio. I used to cover part of studio floor with salt crystals and pour thick flour over the top. Then I brought my kids and their friends to the studio so that I could record them walking in the "snow". After the recording, they never wanted to leave; they stayed and played, they got "snow" in their shoes, on their clothes, even in their hair! These days studios use computers to create such common sounds as footsteps on snow. Some Foley artists see computers as a threat but I welcome the new technology. A lot of "everyday" sounds used to take a whole day to create, so there was a lot of pressure to get everything done on time. With computers, there's a lot less stress and I can devote more of my time to creating unusual sound effects. As long as people keep coming up with new ideas for films, studios will need Foley artists to come up with the sounds for them. Most modern studios _ . A spend a lot money on computers B use a lot of common sound in films C use computers for everyday sounds D give Foley artists a lot of new ideas Answer: C. use computers for everyday sounds
When I was ten, my mother worked all day so I had to take care of my younger brother. At that time my little brother was about four years old and he missed mum all the time. One day, after I had given him his dinner, he started crying for mum. He was so young and really needed mum. So I dressed him, put on his shoes, carried him on my back and walked out. Soon he fell asleep. About half an hour late, I found that he had lost a shoe while sleeping. I took him off my back and put him down. I knew we needed to find that shoe, for our mother couldn`t afford new shoes. We had to go back to find it, so I told my brother to Wait right here. A man heard it and stopped me just before I walked off. He asked me, "You are leaving your brother here to find the shoe? What would you do if he is not here when you return?" I did not know how to answer that question. He continued,: It is OK if you can`t find the shoe, but it is not OK to lose your brother." Then he sent us to mum`s workplace by taxi. I have depended on the kindness of many strangers in my whole life. I feel regretful that I cannot find them and say thank you. I don't even remember what the man`s face looked like, but he taught me a lesson--people are more important than things. ,,. Why did the younger brother cry for his mother? A Because he wanted to sleep. B Because he wanted to play outside. C Because he was hungry. D Because he missed his mother Answer: D. Because he missed his mother Alice is an American girl. She has two good friends. One is Tom, the other is Jim. They come from the same country. They are studying in Beijing now. They are at the same school-- No.2 Middle School. They have a lot of Chinese friends here. They go to school from Monday to Friday. They go to school at seven in the morning. They all go to school by subway. In the evening, they do their homework and learn Chinese. On Saturdays and Sundays they go to their friends' homes. There they learn more Chinese from their Chinese friends and their friends learn English from them. Sometimes they write to their parents in America. They tell them about China and their life in China. They all like living here . They want their parents to come to China one day. Alice , Tom and Jim come from _ . A England B Europe C the USA D different countries Answer: C. the USA Organic mass is gained in the earth by insect A JDZ clones B mushroom farmers C garbage eaters D trash removers Answer: C. garbage eaters If you want to avoid making impulse and unnecessary purchases,then just keep your hands away from tempting products. According to new research,individuals who touch possible items in stores are more likely to have an increased desire to purchase them than those who keep their hands off the products. Suzanne Shu and Joann Peck,marketing professors at the University of Wisconsin's business school conducted studies on the connection between touch and feelings of ownership and the effect of perceived ownership on the value placed on an object. For one of the experiments,the experts placed two products,a Slinky toy and a coffee mug in front of the volunteers who were undergraduate students. About half of the participants were allowed to touch the products,while the other half were asked not to touch them. The volunteers then were asked to express their sense of ownership of the products and to report how much money they were willing to pay for each. The results showed that those students who were allowed to touch the objects,reported significant increased levels of perceived ownership. They also expressed a desire to pay more money to obtain the products. The investigators also discovered that a sense of very pleasant feelings when touching products,determined how much money consumers were willing to pay. However,if the object did not feel pleasant to the touch,it significantly decreased the amount the buyers were willing to pay. Researchers said that many stores have already followed the right path. But what can be done while shopping online,when touching of an item is not possible? In this case,the experts say,just picturing in mind that they are touching it and then owning it,will cause greater feelings of ownership,and thus the consumers will be more likely to make a purchase. When you touch an object,you immediately feel some kind of a connection to it,according to the researchers. That connection stirs up an emotional reaction. And that emotion can make people buy something they would never even consider buying if they had not touched it. When people do online shopping, _ . A they will particularly want to touch the products advertised on the Internet B they just imagine its ownership and simply evaluate the objects in their minds C their imagination of the ownership resulted in significantly higher valuations of the products D they desire to possess it and do not care how much money they would pay Answer: C. their imagination of the ownership resulted in significantly higher valuations of the products Getting paid to talk about the World Cup is a great job. I'm not a football commentator , though-just an English teacher in Japan. I come to Japan two years ago, and didn't think I would stay, but Japan has that effect on you. _ . I think it's best to teach in a bigger city where there are other foreigners to mix with, rather than a small town where English teachers often complain of feeling like a goldfish in a bowl. Many people choose to live in Tokyo, of course, which is good for the nightlife factor. But I'd say that for general quality of living, cities of neither too large nor too small, like Sapporo where I live, are better choices. I teach English privately, which means I'm my own boss. If you want to devote yourself to private teaching, it's well worth doing a TEFL course first, because your lessons will be much better for it. The problem with private teaching is finding students; it took me a year to build up a full schedule of private lessons, so I started out teaching in schools part-time. Most of my foreign friends here work full-time for big English conversation schools. The salary is fine to live on, but whether you can save money depends on how much going out and traveling you do here. The schools are unwilling to take time off -even teachers with tickets for the England-Argentina game had trouble getting the day off. After reading the passage, we can see _ . A the writer travelled a lot and saved much money in Japan. B the writer teaches English in more than one school as a part-time job. C the writer enjoys watching football games D the writer spent one year in finding students for his private teaching. Answer: B. the writer teaches English in more than one school as a part-time job.
A classic joke goes like this: A nurse rushes into an exam room and says, "Doctor, doctor, there's an invisible man in the waiting room." The doctor says, "Tell him I can't see him." Pretty simple, right? Here's how I tell it: "A nurse--her name is Joyce--feels a presence in the waiting room. She looks around but sees nothing. She jumps up from her desk, carefully replaces her chair, and runs down the lavender-hued hallway to the doctor's office. She knocks on the door. No response. He's not there. Where can he be? She continues down the hall, admiring a lithograph of an 18th-century Mississippi paddleboat along the way." By this time, my audience has left, but I soldier on. "She bursts into the exam room and says, 'Doctor, doctor!' The doctor, I should mention, is a urologist with a degree from Ohio State, which is where my nephew ..." You get the idea. I'm an embellisher. I can't leave a simple gag alone. I'm not the only joke-challenged member of the family. My sister's worse than I am. Her problem: She can't remember them. "'A nurse rushes into an exam room and says...'Uh, let me start all over again. 'A nurse rushes into a waiting...'No, it's not the waiting room. She just came from the waiting room. Let me start all over again. 'A doctor rushes into...' No, wait..." My uncle's different. He's guilty of taking a perfectly fine joke and selling it as the second coming of Oscar Wilde, "Okay, this is a good one. Ready? No, really, ready? Okay, fasten your seat belts. Ready?'A nurse...'Got it? A nurse? Okay, ready?'A nurse rushes into an exam room and says, "Doctor, doctor, there's an invisible man in the waiting room."' Now, this is where it gets funny. Ready?" No one is ever ready, so they leave before he gets to the punch line. My father's on Wall Street, so he hears all the jokes before they hit the Web. And he lets you know he knows them all by telling you all of them. He also knows that most people don't like jokes. So he slips them in under the radar: "I was chatting with Ben Bernanke the other day. You know Ben, don't you? The Fed chief? Anyway, we were reviewing the Fed's policy on long-term interest rates, and he told me it had evolved into its current iteration only after a nurse rushed into an exam room and said, 'Doctor, doctor, there's...' Hey, where are you going?" My brother Mark understands that the secret to good joke telling is to know your audience. When he entertained my grandmother's bridge club one evening, he made it a point to adapt the joke to them: "A beautiful blonde nurse rushes into a consulting room..." No one in my family has ever finished this joke. But as bad as it is not to be able to tell a joke, there's something worse: not being able to listen to one. Take my cousin Mitch for example. "Why couldn't the doctor see him?" he asked. "Because he's invisible," I said. "Now, I didn't get that. I thought the doctor couldn't see him because he was with a patient." "Well, yeah, okay, but the fact that the guy was invisible..." "Could the nurse see him?" "No. She's the one who said he was invisible..." "How'd she know he was there?" "Because he..." "When you say he was invisible, does that mean his clothes were invisible too?" Here's where I tried to walk away. "Because if his clothes weren't invisible," Mitch said, stepping between me and the exit, "then the doctor could see him, right?" "Yeah, but ..." "At least his clothes." "I guess..." "Unless he was naked." "Okay, he was naked!" "Why would he go to his doctor naked?" Next time you see my family and someone is telling a joke, do yourself a favor: Make yourself invisible. Which is the best title of the passage? Answer: How to Ruin a Classic Joke Which trait do children most likely inherit from their parents? Answer: shape of earlobes When you travel in Hong Kong,you must be careful of the traffic rules,because the traffic keeps to the left and it's different from that of the interior of China.Before crossing the street,you must look to the right and then to the left.If the traffic lights are red,the traffic must stop,people can go across the zebra line.If the traffic lights turn green,the traffic can go,and people mustn't cross the road. In the morning and in the evening,when people go to or come from work,the streets are very busy.The traffic is the most dangerous. When you go somewhere by bus in Hong Kong,you have to be careful,too.Always remember the traffic keeps to the left.Have a look first,or you may go the wrong way.In Hong Kong,there are a lot of big buses with two floors.You'd better sit on the second floor.From there you can watch the city very well.How interesting! It is _ to cross the streets in the morning and in the evening. Answer: dangerous prefix = st1 /Massachusetts today looks nothing like it did when the first English settlers arrived. Back in the 17th century, forest blanketed the land. Today, roads and towns cover much of the area. But the past is not dead and gone. Just an hour's drive from Bostonlies Plimoth Plantation . There you'll experience the 17th century life from the days of the Pilgrims . You can look in the Pilgrims' homes, watch the way they cook, and ask them about their daily lives. You can even help them build houses or work in the fields. When you arrive at Plimoth, you are greeted with "How do you fare?" instead of "How are you?" In this living history plantation, actors portray real people of 17th-century Plymouth. Each actor has taken the identity of someone from that period. All the actors speak the language of Shakespeare. They're happy to talk about the hardships of their lives or just share the gossip of the day. But don't try to discuss modern topics. They won't understand what you are talking about! In fall, you can enjoy a harvest dinner very similar to the first Thanksgiving. You'll dine with your hands like Pilgrims. You'll find no pepper on the table. This expensive spice was used only sparingly in cooking. You'll find no last-course "dessert," either. At the time, people ate sweet dishes right along with the meal. Cranberries were on the menu then and still are today. A short distance from Plimoth, you can visit Cranberry World. At this unique museum, you'll see how cranberries are harvested and can taste different cranberry products. Of course, the first Thanksgiving included not only the Pilgrims, but also their Wampanoag guests. If you want to find out something about the Wampanoag, explore a re-created Wampanoag HomeSite. It is just a short walk from Plimoth. Step into the Native American home and enter a different world. Native Americans dressed in 17th-century Wampanoag outfits describe how their people lived 400 years ago. Outside, you can help make a traditional boat or learn about native plant remedies . Much inMassachusettshas changed since the 17th century. But in Plimoth, the past lives on. From the text we know Plimoth Plantation _ . Answer: presents the Pilgrims' life in the 1600s. On Thursday October 3, Adam Harper decided to stop drinking coffee. Adam is a MBA student at Harvard University. He studies long hours, gets very little sleep and as a result, he drinks a lot of coffee---anywhere from five to six cups a day. Recently, Adam felt that drinking thus much coffee was making it hard for him to sleep at all. He also began having problems with his concentration , and complained of stomachaches. Adam's doctor made this suggestions: stop drinking coffee altogether. When Adam got up on October 3, he began his day without his morning coffee. By 11:00 a.m., Adam was in a terrible mood . He was tired and had a headache. At 11:30, he had a meeting with his student advisor. In the meeting, he found it almost impossible to continue. What was going on? Caffeine, a chemical found in coffee, was most likely the reason for how Adam felt. Caffeine is a stimulant that boosts energy levels and improves concentration- but only for a short time. Lowering caffeine consumption often causes a drop in blood pressure and the result is a "coffee headache", People who stop drinking coffee often say they feel tired and moody, and find it hard to focus. The good news is that these feeling usually pass after four and five days. During this time, doctors suggested taking some aspirin for the headache. So, if Adam can wait, in less than a week, he may be feeling much better. The good news shows that _ . Answer: Adam will be better if he stops drinking coffee.
On 15 September 1918 Lee Duncan, an American soldier, rescued a half-starved shepherd and her five puppies from a bombed dog's kennel on the battle fields ofprefix = st1 /France.Duncanchose two of the dogs, a male and female, while members of his group took the mother and the others back to camp. The only survivors over the next few months were the two pups Duncan had claimed, naming them 'Rin Tin Tin' and 'Nannette' after tiny French puppets the French children would give to the American soldiers for good luck. When the war ended, Duncan made special arrangements to take his pups back to his home in Los Angeles, but during the Atlantic crossing, Nannette became ill and died, shortly after arriving inAmerica. In 1922, Duncan and Rin Tin Tin attended an LA dog show, his dog performing for the crowd with an impressive high jump. After the show,Duncanreceived $350 for Rin's performance. That was the beginning of Rin Tin Tin's later involvement in many films and television series It happened that Warners had difficulty shooting an exterior scene with a wolf as they got into a low budget. Duncanquickly approached the director and told them that his dog could do the scene in one take. True to his word, Rin did the scene in one take. As a result, he and his dog were hired for the entire shoot of "Man From Hells River". The film was a hit and Rin Tin Tin became a box-office star. It was the first American dog movie star. It made 26 pictures for Warners while starring in his own live 1930s radio show "The Wonder Dog". At the peak of his popularity, Warners kept 18 trained stand-ins to reduce any stress on their dog star. The star dog was worthy of the honor of having its private _ to prepare daily lunches for him. As a band was playing classical music it slowly consumed a lunch of tenderloin steak. Which of the following is important for Rip and his master to be hired by Warners? Answer: An old English saying goes: Cold hands, warm heart, It is generally used to describe how a cool outlook often disguises a kind heart. However, Yale University researchers seem to disapprove of the old saying. They found how physically warm you are has a direct relation to ho how nice you are to people . To test the theory the scientists carried out two studies involving a total of 94undergrauates.For the first they gave half the unwitting participants a glass of hot or cold coffee and then asked what they thought of a stranger after a brief meeting They found that holding a hot cup of coffee led people to judge the stranger to be a "warmer "person, in terms of generosity and kindness, compared to a group of people who held a cup of iced coffee. In the second study the researchers had people , who thought they were evaluating a product, hold either hot pads or cold pads. Then they give the participants a choice of reward for reward for participating in the study: either a gift for a friend, or a reward for themselves. They study found that people who held the hot pad were more likely to choose the gift for a friend, and people who help the cold pads were more likely to choose the reward for themselves. "It appears that the effect of physical temperature is not just on how we see others, it affects our own behavior as well," said Professor John Bargh, a psychologist who carried out the study. "Physical warmth can make us see others as warmer people, but also causes us to be warmer -more generous and trusting -as well." The researchers believe the effect relates to childhood when emotional warmth given by a parent was often accompanied by the physical warmth of being held or hugged. Which of the following can be the title for this passage ? Answer: You have a special card which operates the electronic lock on your room door and a key for the main door of the door of the hotel. These are your responsibility and should never be lent to anyone, including your fellow classmates. If you lose them you will be charged PS20 per replacement. Do not leave your room unlocked even for short periods. Unfortunately, theft from student hotels is very common and insurance companies will not pay for stolen goods unless you can prove that your room was broken into by force. _ There are rarely any rooms available for visitors, except at the end of the summer term. Stan Jenkins, the hotel manager, will be able to tell you and can handle the booking. A small charge is made. Stan also keeps a list of local guesthouses, with some information about what they're like, price, etc. You are also allowed to use empty beds for up to three nights, with the owner's permission (for example, if the person who shares your room is away for the weekend ), but you must inform Stan before your guest arrives, so that he has an exact record of who's in the building of a fire breaks out. Students are not allowed to charge each other for this. _ There is a kitchen on each floor where light meals, drinks, etc. maybe prepared. Each has a large fridge and a food cupboard. All food should be stored, clearly marked with the owner's name, in one of these two places. Bedrooms are too warm for food to be stored, and the cleaners have instructions to remove any food found in them. After using the kitchen, please be sure you do all your washing up immediately and leave it tidy. If you use it late in the evening, please also take care that you do so quietly in order to avoid disturbing people in nearby bedrooms. Which of the following is true according to the passage? Answer: Poorer children would be offered the chance to attend lessons on Saturday to help catch up with their middle-class peers , the shadow schools secretary, Michael Gove, said today. The Conservatives would give English state schools the freedom to choose to have longer teaching hours and extra classes at the weekend; he told the Association of Teachers and Lecturers' annual conference. Gove said the move would help to close the achievement gap with richer children whose parents could afford extras such as tutoring and music lessons. He told delegates in Manchester, "For children who come from homes where parents don't have the resources to provide _ and cultural experiences, there are benefits in having those children in the learning environment, in school, for longer." "Parents would love to have schools starting earlier in some circumstances, and certainly going on later in the afternoon, given the reality of their working lives," he said. He held up the example of Kipp (Knowledge Is Power Program) schools in the US, which are often based in the poorest communities and open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, plus Saturdays. But it would be up to schools to decide to offer longer hours, Gove added. Parents said Saturday classes could become a "badge of dishonor" if pupils were forced to go while teachers raised concerns about their workload. Margaret Morrissey, of Parents Outloud, said, "I think the suggestion the government made about one-to-one teaching for these kids would be a more preferable way of improving these children's performance. I'm just not sure whether taking away a child at weekends is actually going to make them cleverer in the week." The ATL's general secretary, Mary Bousted, said, "If we want Saturday schools, then we need more teachers doing the extra hours, not the same teachers working longer." The program is intended for children _ . Answer: The Best Shopping In Sydney Sydney is one of the world's biggest cities and has something for everyone when it comes to shopping. You will find excellent Australian products alongside the best that the world has to offer. At the bottom of Sydney Tower, you can shop in 160 of Sydney's favorite stores including 16 jewelry stores and many gift and fashion shops. It's all at Westfield Centerpoint. Tel: 9231-9300 SOVEREIGN HILL This prize-winning living museum is where Australia's history comes alive! Visit daily or stay for the night and experience life of the Fold Rush days. A wonderful nightly sound and light show, Blood on the Southern Cross, tells the story of the famous Eureka Uprising. Enjoy shopping along with real life character and entertainment. 4-star hotel and breakfast. Tel: 5331-1944 ANCHORAGE RESTAURANT Come and enjoy our delicious Cantonese seafood right on the water's edge in the historic fishing port of Williamstown with views of the city center across Port Phillip Bay. Open 7 days a week. Lunch: Sunday to Friday11:00am--2:00pm Dinner: Monday to Saturday 5:00am--10:30pm Tel: 9397-6270 or 9397-7799 COOK'S COTTAGE Built by James and Grace Cook, parents of Captain James Cook, Cook's Cottage stands proud in the Fitzroy Gradens as a reminder of life in the eighteenth century, and as a celebration and commemoration of the life and travels of Captain James Cook. Open 9:00am--5:00pm daily, and until 5:30 pm during the summer. Information: 9419-4677 What is the time that Cook's Cottage is open on Saturday in the summer? Answer:
Room for Rent by East Jefferson Hospital in Metairie Room for rent for $ 500.00 per month and $500.00 damage deposit, You will have use of the refrigerator (I have two:) and the washer and dryer and the kitchen and the in-ground swimming pool.There is a one-year rental agreement but can be changed to a month-to-month after six months with a 30-day notice.There is parking in front of the house which is on a slot dead end street,.You can contact by phone at 5044551499 0r you can email me at marrt/n286@aol com.My name is Jerry. LOW'PRICE : 2 bedrooms for rent $499 with furniture9 swimming pool Any student attending university during the spring 2014 who wants to live on campus in a safe, gated community at a discounted rate: please respond.2 bedrooms/ 2 bathrooms / 1 living room.If a student is ir.retested in renting both rooms, the rate will be $479 per room, instead of- $499 (water all included).The original amount for the rent is $599, and with our discounted rate (less $100.00 a month) it is an affordable way to engage in on-campus life.Located near the swimming pool, public barbecue pit and laundry room.Ruminates are great, very friendly and trustworthy, Phone: 5049948139 Email: jguol@uno.edu Located:2000 Lakeshore Drive, UNO campus Roommate Wanted I live in an apartment with 2 bedrooms and l bathroom: on Lake Pontcbartrain surrounded by breath-taking scenery.The rent is $17000 per month and electric runs around $12.0.I am 27 years old and my husband is currently sending in Afghanistan.I am looking for a roommate to share rent and electric: woodlot $.550 per month.If interested, contact me at 9856074708.Text or call.My name is Ashley. Roommate Wanted in Slidell Roommate wanted for a 5-bedroom house in great location. Backroom is famished or unfurnished.All utilities indeed WiFi cable w/d and full use of house.Must like I'm Julie.pets, Outside smokers are OK.9857189738. If someone wants to live in the room by EAST Jefferson Hospital, he _ . Hi, everyone! My name is Wang Kai. I'm twelve. I'm in Class 5 Grade 7. Teachers' Day is coming. I want to give some presents to my teachers. Miss Zhang is my English teacher. She is twenty-four years old. She likes flowers very much. I want to give her some flowers from my garden. My Chinese teacher has a four-year-old son, Li Xin. He likes playing football a lot. I want to give my Chinese teacher a "special" present: playing football with Li Xin for a day! What about my maths teacher Mr. Zheng? He likes drawing pictures. I would like to draw a picture of him and give it to him. My friends, what presents do you usually give to your teachers? Please tell me! Wang Kai would like to _ to his English teacher. Children love to play and laugh throughout their days at school or at home. Finding the time to laugh with your children may be the best thing you can do for the relationship. Encourage your children to develop a good humor by laughing at the jokes they make up on the spot. This will help them grow confident and build their self-esteem. If you do not get the joke, you can ask why they think the joke is funny. Honest feedback will help your children develop funnier jokes. You can take them to your local library and have them pick up a few joke books. Then you can head back home or out to the park and read it together for a good laugh. You can take turns reading jokes to each other from the book or make up a few yourselves. But if they make a joke at the expense of another person, you may want to discuss the difference between making fun of yourself and making fun of others. In turn try not to make jokes at your children's expense, you need to set an example that they can follow. Learning to laugh at oneself is a great quality to attain. You can set an example by laughing at your own mistakes. This is a great way to help reduce your own stress as well as your children's. Laughing may make the situation seem lighter and easier to work through. By doing this your children will be better prepared to handle any difficulties. Most importantly laughing will bring you closer together as a family. You can have your family find different ways to laugh. You can play games. You can start a staring contest, arm wrestling contest, thumb wars contest and have a prize for the winners. You can all watch your best funny movies and act out the best parts together after enjoying them. You could hold a contest to see who can make the other members of the family laugh more by doing something funny. Kids will be able to enjoy the good time they had with their parents. The family that laughs together stays together! What can be the best title for the text? People in China, as in other parts of the world, are waiting to see how U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will deal with global problems such as the current economic slowdown once he takes office. As Sam Beattie reports from Beijing, there is widespread hope for closer U.S.-Chinese cooperation. For many students in Beijing, Mr. Obama symbolizes all that is possible in the United States. He's a popular winner here, seen as a self-made man who has made it to the top. "I think he is very charming, and a president who can create a new era," said Zhang Wei, a university student. "I like him very much and most of my friends do too." Ni Weibo, another university student, agrees. "Sino-U.S. relations still need more cooperation," she said. "I think he will help take it to a new era." China's President Hu Jintao congratulated Mr. Obama within hours of his victory, saying he hoped bilateral ties could be made stronger. Political analysts here say China will be looking for the incoming president to avoid contentious issues such as Taiwan's independence, human rights and Tibet. Instead, they say Beijing would like Mr. Obama to focus on solving the global economic crisis, and to help China's slowing economy by opening up U.S. markets. But trade relations might be _ , says Renmin University's Professor of International Studies, Shi Yinhong. He warns, "There is a possibility that President Obama will take some protectionist measures which China will not accept, then trade disputes could develop to a degree that we have not seen ever before." Despite making the headlines, Mr. Obama faces some tough challenges in managing the U.S. relationship with China. China is now a stronger and more confident country than the China his predecessors dealt with. And in this time of economic uncertainty, analysts say it's a country with which Mr. Obama will want to maintain a good relationship. What does " a sticking point"( in para.7 ) mean? American Watersports Tuesday-Saturday Located on the beach of the Sea Gardens Beach Resort, there are fun things to rent for the whole family. They offer rentals for kayaks, jet skis, and even parasail! Enjoy the water up-close or from a bird's eye view! No matter what activity you're enjoying, be sure to protect yourself and your family from the sun's powerful rays and apply plenty of sun block! 15thStreet Boat Company Monday-Saturday 15thStreet Boat Company offers rental boats of all kinds. They're sure to have what you are looking for, whether it's a small boat for a quick and simple outing or an extravagant boat with comfortable seats with a stereo and high tech navigation. You can rent a boat for half a day or a couple of days, or even weeks at a time. If you want it, they've got it. It's fun for everyone! Coconut's Watersports 9am-5pm Monday through Sunday Coconut's Watersports is open 7 days a week for your convenience and offers tons of water fun for the whole family. Jet Ski activities last 30 minutes or 1 hour and can make stops along the way. You must be at least 14 years of age to ride alone and can be as young as 3 to ride along with an adult. Everybody is required to wear a life jacket and a license is required to operate the Jet Ski. Bathing suits and shorts are recommended. Jet Ski Tours of Miami Thursday-Sunday 10am-7pm Jet Ski Tours of Miami includes onsite parking, indoor restrooms, lockers, and life jackets for participants. You may choose a one or two tour and each Jet Ski can hold up to 3 people. You must be at least 18 years old in order to ride. As long as you are accompanied by an adult, there is no age limitation for any passenger. There is a restaurant nearby to eat at. The tour visits 6 different islands and passes by Bayside and Hard Rock. You may even catch a glimpse of dolphins or a manatee resting in these fabulous Florida waters. What will you do to satisfy your son's curiously about marine animals?
George Gershwin was born in New York City in 1898. His parents were Russian Jews who had immigrated to the United States. George and his two brothers and sister had a close, happy family life. George liked playing games on the streets of New York. He liked exploring the city. He did not like school or studying. While exploring the city, George heard jazz and blues music in and out of public drinking places. However, he did not become seriously interested in music until he heard another boy playing the violin in a concert at his school. George began to take piano lessons. His teacher was a fine classical musician. He immediately recognized George's unusual ability. The teacher wrote about him to a friend: "I have a student who will make his mark in music, if anybody will. The boy is a genius, without doubt. " George studied classical piano. But his strongest interest continued to be jazz and popular music. At the age of fifteen, he left school and went to work in the music business. At that time, the New York City street where most music publishers had their offices was called "Tin Pan Alley." The piano players played the songs all day long to interested singers and other performers. George Gershwin was one of the youngest piano players in Tin Pan Alley. Soon, he was considered one of the finest there. He was already writing his own songs. He succeeded in getting one published when he was only eighteen years old. George Gershwin was now a real composer. The rest of his life was an unbroken record of success. He wrote song after song. His ideas were so endless that he was not even troubled when he once lost some music he had been writing. "There is plenty more where that came from," he said. George Gershwin had his first big hit in 1919, when he was twenty-one years old. It was a song called "Swanee." A popular entertainer, Al Jolson, sang the song. "Swanee" was made into one of the first musical recordings. George Gershwin was suddenly famous. We know from the passage that _ . A George Gershwin was born in Russia. B George Gershwin's parents had 5 children. C His teacher believed in his musical gift. D Classical piano was his favorite music. Answer: C Standing in front of the "Chilkoot Trailhead" sign for 15 minutes, I didn't take one step. I was afraid of bears. That's what was keeping me from walking the trail alone. I had hiked through black-bear country back home in Colorado, but now I was in Alaska, home to the fierce brown grizzly bear. Fortunately, a friendly couple arrived and asked me to take their picture. We started talking and soon were walking the trail together. I was relieved. Ron and Carol were from Alaska and they taught me how to stay safe in bear country. I had finally started my hike along the famous Chilkoot Trail, where more than 115 years ago, thousands of gold miners had walked. I was writing a book about the Klondike Gold Rush, and I wanted to follow in the footsteps of the miners to know what it was really like. Ron, Carol, and I walked through the forest. As I was looking around at the beautiful scenery in the forest, I tripped over a big tree root and injured my ankle . Fortunately, my ankle felt better in the morning, and we followed the trail. We went to bed early that night because the following day would be the toughest hike of all. At dawn, we started hiking up the steep , green valley. Icy glaciers covered the mountains above. Soon we were as high as the clouds and could see only 20 feet in front of us. Finally, we reached the top of the Chilkoot pass and saw a Canadian flag moving in the heavy wind. Hours later, we arrived at our campground. The following morning, my ankle was feeling fine, and my fear of bears had mostly disappeared. I said good-bye to Ron and Carol and walked alone for the next two days. Without seeing any bears the entire trip, I finally arrived at Bennett Lake. I rode the old train down to the town of Skagway and checked into my hotel. While relaxing in my comfortable bed in the hotel, I thought of the miners from the Klondike Gold Rush. When the miners reached Bennett Lake, they had to cut down trees, build boats, and travel 500 miles down dangerous rivers and lakes. Then, when they finally reached the goldfields, they had to start digging. When crossing the Chilkoot Trail, the author _ . A got help from two local miners B once tried to take a boat trip C hurt himself by accident D was almost killed by a brown bear Answer: C Fun, and maybe more Nickname: tatoosun Email: tatoosun2003@yahoo.com When to travel: Jun 2007 - Aug 2007 Who am I: Slender African girl in her late 20's. Quite charming, loving, pretty, fun to be with. My travel plans: Nothing in mind for sure, just looking to come with you. Who am I looking for: Looking for a white male between 40-50 years, someone who is full of energy and lively. When was this ad published: Nov 11 2006, Sat. 20yr old aussie looking for travel companion Nickname: Aly Email: alyssia _ europe@hotmail.com When to travel: May 2007 Who am I: a lovely girl, with fun, honest, caring. My travel plans: I will be traveling to Europe cities, then the world!! Whom am I looking for: An extremely fun and entertaining male / female, middle-aged. Someone that I can enjoy every travel moment with. When was this ad published: Nov 12, 2006, Sun *Just for fun Nickname: Queen Email: qrutta@yahoo.co.uk When to travel: Jan 2007 - Dec 2007 Who am I: Young slender girl, looking to see Asia with anyone who wants to travel. My travel plans: I most prefer a white man in his late 30's to have fun with me as he travels either on business or leisure trips. Whom am I looking for: someone who is kind, loving, honest, friendly, good sense of humor, adventurous. When was this ad published: Nov 6, 2006, Mon By Road Around the World Nickname: H N Solanki Email: ragwani@hotmail.com When to travel: May 2007-Aug 2007 Who am I: I am 55. From my childhood, have this dream to go around the world by hitch hiking. However this is now changed and I want to go by Road. My travel plans: Going throughout the world and studying various people, culture and habits. Whom am I looking for: A female companion, and she must have similar interest as me. When was this ad published: Oct 3 2006, Tue Queen will probably travel to _ according to the ad. A France B Egypt C Japan D Australia Answer: C Gray hair is simply a part of the normal aging process, and the rate you go silver is genetically predetermined. Going gray is not associated with earlier death, and premature graying is not, generally speaking, a sign of an illness or ill health in younger adults. There are, however, some specific health conditions associated with gray or white hair, but for most of us, going gray is just a fact of life. Hair color1 comes from the pigment melanin , which determines your individual shade. Hair without any melanin is pure white. The pigment is produced in cells called melanocytes, which inject pigment into the hair. At some point in everyone's lifetime, these cells slow down and eventually stop producing color1. Scientists have yet to identify the exact mechanism by which melanocyte cell death occurs. A study of more than 4,000 women and men from 20 countries determined that about 75% of people between the ages of 45 and 65 have some gray hair. In general, people of European descent gray earliest followed by Asians and Africans. It's interesting to note that a lucky 1 in 10 has no gray hair by retirement age. Beginning at age 30, your chances of having gray hair go up 10-20% per decade. It may feel like you have more grays after a stressful event, but that's probably because middle age is basically a series of anxiety-ridden events. Between working, raising kids, and caring for older parents, the "sandwich" years of 45-65 can be stressful, especially for women. They are also when we naturally start to look older. At this point, there is still no silver bullet to keep away the grays. What would be the best title for this passage? A Going gray. B Tips to make hair color1 last C Why does hair turn gray? D Gray hair is in fashion. Answer: C Some of the planet's most precious animals and plants are disappearing, according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The group, based in Switzerland, works with governments and experts to protect threatened species. On September 12, the IUCN released its Red List, a list of species at greatest risk of extinction. The list includes 41,415 animals and plants. The IUCN says that habitat destruction, hunting and other causes threaten one in four mammals, one in eight birds and one in three amphibians . Who is to blame? Scientists believe that 99 percent of threatened species are at risk because of human activity. "We are losing animals and plants at a high rate," says Julia Marton-LefEevre, director general of the IUCN. "We need to change our behavior." Warmer oceans and over-fishing are changing sea life. This year for the first time corals made their appearance on the list. The gharial, a crocodile living in India and Nepal, has lost almost 60 percent of its population in the last 10 years. It is a victim of habitat destruction. Still, the news is not all bad. Thanks to efforts made to protect it, the Mauritius echo parakeet, a bird once endangered, has seen an increase in its population. "This shows that protection methods can work," says Marton-LefEevre. "That's the message we want to send to young people." In China the new reserve itself is part of green efforts that have seen more than 2,400 nature reserves of various kinds being set up, covering more than 15 percent of the nation's land area, official figures showed. "The country's natural resources have benefited from conservation," said Lei Guangchun, director of the nature reserve department of Beijing Forestry University. "It is a big increase nowadays compared with other countries." Lei said. The total areas of China's natural reserves have covered 1.38 million km2, which accounts for 15.4% of China's area, higher than both the world average of 11% and the rate in most developed countries. Li Zhong, an official in charge of the nature reserves office with the State Forestry Administration, thought it was important to increase investment in such reserves at all levels. What do we know about the IUCN? A A union for listing animals and plants on the earth B A group of volunteers who are interested in wildlife C An organization concerning the protection of rare species' survival D A government made up officials, scientists and experts Answer: C
Six people are talking about two pie shops in a TV program. Lily: I've been going to Pie House for twenty years. Now Marie's son is taking care of the business, and he makes pies as good as his mother's. I enjoy my stay there as before. My family also like the pies. We feel relaxed while staying there. * Olive: I went to Pie Corner once. Their pies were great, too. But I feel more comfortable at Pie House. I am used to the taste there, which makes me feel happy. I'm really a fan of Pie House. * Ned: Uncle Roy used to work for my mom. Later he opened Pie Corner on the next block after he got married. At the beginning, it's not easy for him, but it is becoming more and more popular especially among young people. They think Pie Corner can often give them a surprise. * Marie: Roy was already quite _ when working with me. I mean he had different, sometimes even strange, ideas about pies. There were times I thought his pies wouldn't taste good, but they turned out magically delicious. He is really creative and can always make new pies, which attract many people. * Lee: Ned has done quite well with Pie House. His pies make you feel warm. But if you want to try something interesting, you should go to Pie Corner. *** Chuck: The two pie shops are really different from each other. If eating Roy's pies is like taking an exciting trip, then Ned's pies are just like a sweet home you go back to after a long trip. Which one to go to depends on what you like. What does 'avant-garde' mean in the reading? Answer: Believe it or not, if you do not use your arms or your legs for a long 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 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 they have better memories? This is because they cannot read or write and they have to remember things; they cannot write them down in a little notebook. They have to remember days, names, songs and stories; so their memory is the whole time being exercised. The main reason for one's poor memory is that _ . Answer: Nearly all kids have had the same experience. They are eating in a restaurant with their parents. They finished the spaghetti minutes ago. Now, they are bored. Their little brother is kicking them under the table. He is also complaining about the desserts . Yet their parents are still eating and talking...and talking...and talking. "Be patient." One parent says. "We'll have dessert soon." All kids know what happens next. After dessert, their parents drink coffee. Then they talk some more. Again, the children must wait. They have been in school all day and would rather be running and playing. Instead, they must sit in a chair and stare at a wall. Going to a restaurant doesn't have to be this way. Many restaurants say they are "family-friendly". Family restaurants, such as fast-food restaurants should play areas for children. At these restaurants, almost every play area is a big room full of climbing equipment. The room is usually, packed with happy kids. Parents can eat while the children play. Everyone is happy. The real problem begins when families want to eat a fancier meal . The parents don't want to hurry through the meal but talk to each other. They do not have bored children pestering them about leaving. That's no fun for kids either. For them, going to a nicer restaurant means just one thing: sit still and be quiet. On family blogs across the Web, dozens of parents post the same question all the time; are there any nicer restaurants with play areas for kids? Research shows that some nicer restaurants do have play areas. In warmer cities, it is easier for restaurants to build play areas outside. For example, at one restaurant kids can sail tiny little motor boats in a small, shallow pond. Parents can sit on a beautiful yard and watch the kids play. Some nicer restaurants even have indoor play areas. Research also shows that these restaurants serve more than just burgers, chickens and fries. So, it's possible for a restaurant to provide both food and a place where kids can play. These restaurants seem to be popular, too. For some, families must have reservation days in advance. For others, families might be forced to wait in long lines. Clearly, quality food and safe play areas are both good for business. What is the real problem mentioned in the passage? Answer: "Plants were expected to get larger with increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but changes in temperature, humidity and nutrient availability seem to have _ the benefits of increased carbon dioxide," said researchers from the National University of Singapore. 45 percent of the species studied now reach smaller adult sizes than they did in the past. The researchers point out that warmer temperatures and changing habitats, caused by climate change, are possible reasons for the shrinking of creatures. "We do not yet know the exact mechanisms involved, or why some organisms are getting smaller while others are unaffected," the researchers said. "Until we understand more, we could be risking negative consequences that we can't yet quantify." The change was big in cold-blooded animals. Only two decades of warmer temperatures were enough to make reptiles smaller. An increase of only 1degC caused nearly a 10 percent increase in metabolism . Greater use of energy resulted in tiny tortoises and little lizards. Fish are smaller now too. Though overfishing has played a part in reducing numbers, experiments show that warmer temperatures also stop fish growth. There is a recent report on warmer temperatures' negative effects on plankton ,the base of the marine ecosystem. Warm-blooded animals weren't immune from the size change caused by climate change. Many birds are now smaller; Mammals have been miniaturized too. Soay sheep are thinner. Red deer are weaker. And polar bears are smaller, compared with historical records. This isn't the first time this has happened in Earth's history. 55 million years ago, a warming event similar to the current climate change caused bees, spiders and ants to shrink by 50 to 75 percent over several thousand years. That event happened over a longer time than the current climate change. The speed of modern climate change could mean organisms may not respond or adapt quickly enough, especially those with long generation times. So, it is likely that more negative influences of climate change will be shown in the future. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? Answer: When the Japanese attacked America's ships at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, they did it secretly. The makers of the movie Pearl Harbor have behaved differently. The noise about Pearl Harbor, made by Disney,has reached its highest point with its premiere before the movie opens in cinemas across the US at the start of the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a time to recall national heroes who sacrificed their lives on the battlefield. As Ben Affleck is the main star, the movie seems sure to become a success in the United States at least. At almost three hours in length, it promises to be a good old Hollywood movie. There is a love story. Affleck and his co-star, Josh Hartnett, both fall in love with the navy nurse, Kate Beckinsale and, of course, there is much human courage and love of country. It's certain that Disney will be accused of "changing" history. The showing of actual events in a movie always causes arguments. Bits of the story are deliberately not mentioned in the movie. It does not address the theory held by some historians that President Franklin Roosevelt knew about Japan's intention to attack the ships in Pearl Harbor.It is said he did nothing, as he was aware that such a blow would allow him to take America into the Second World War. Japan remains sensitive about being accused of wartime atrocities . And Disney is sensitive about its business in Japan, where it has a theme park. Not all the reviews of the movie have been full of praise. A reviewer for Newsweek, who was given an early preview, acknowledged that the 40-minute sequence showing the attack itself was powerful. The attack comes quite late in the movie, however, and the reviewer was less impressed with the characters and the love story. "Almost every line of the dialogue sounds like it comes from an old movie, " the reviewer wrote. From the passage we can infer that the Memorial Day refers to Answer:
Do you wake up in the morning dreading the moment that your feet have to hit the floor for you to get ready for work? If that's the case, join most of Americans. Very few people wake up to that annoying alarm clock and spring out of bed excited about having to go to work. As if that were not enough, most of us have to fight traffic getting there, usually an hour's drive. Then, when we get to work, we have to fight with unruly co-workers or a nagging boss. And to make matters worse, you have to fight the same traffic going in the opposite direction just to get back home. Making dinner, fixing plates, eating and then straightening up afterwards is a job within itself. If that sounds like your life, you probably have a J-O-B. you know what J-O-B stands for? Just Over Broke, that's what! With a job, most Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck and hating every minute of it. I know because I was doing the same thing: trading time for money. And, I came to a conclusion that it stinks ! Big time! Looking around at my co-workers, friends and relatives, I saw that they were all doing the same thing I was doing. They were complaining about the same things I was complaining about : not having enough time or money. And, I decided that I wanted to do .[:** So, I started a home-based business. There are several to choose from. The extra income has done so much for our family. We can vacation more. We have been able to give more. And, we've even been able to do something calling save! It's been amazing. Therefore, if you're sick and tired of being sick and tired, it's time you make a change, too. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I know you aren't stupid. If you continue to do what everyone else is doing: trading time for money, you're going to keep getting what everyone else is getting: being broke and not having the time to do what is really important to you. Do your due diligence. Find a home-based business that works well for you. Go to work, and live the life you've always imagined! What does "something different" in Paragraph 4 refer to? Answer: A famous teacher was speaking to the students at our school.He began his lesson by holding up a Y=100 bill.Then he said to the three hundred students,"Who would like this Y=100 bill?"The students began to put up their hands at once. Then he said,"I am going to give this Y=100 to one of you,but first,let me do this."He then made the bill into a ball.Then he said,"Who wants it now?"The hands went back into the air. "Well,"he said,"what if I do this?"and he dropped it on the floor and stepped on it.He picked up the dirty,crumpled bill and said,"Who still wants it?"Hands went back into the air. "My friends,"he said,"you have learned a valuable lesson today.No matter what I did to the money,you still wanted it because it did not go down in value .It was still worth Y=100!" Many times in our lives,we are dropped,crumpled,and stepped on by the chances we take and the things that happen to us.We feel as if we are worth nothing.But remember,no matter what has happened to you,you will never lose your value:you are always valuable to those people who love you.Your value doesn't come from what you do or whom you know,but who you are. You are special and valuable.Don't ever forget it! We are always valuable to the people _ . Answer: 6-Day Trek in the Highland National Parks Destinations: Saigon -- Cat Tien National Park --Buon Ma Thuot --Lak Lake -- YokDon National Park Estimated trekking time: Average 4-5 hours/day Summary: This trip is ideal for those who love trekking in natural forests. From the southern part of Vietnam up to the central highlands, you will cross through two national parks. There will be opportunities to see wildlife and challenge yourself physically at a moderate level. Indulge yourself in the beauty of nature, escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, rediscover yourself in the natural world and refresh both mind and body. Highlights: Private tour Walk through the forest to a fascinating and beautiful wetland area. If you are lucky, you may be able to see many different kinds of animals using only binoculars . Night time wildlife-spotting excursion Elephant riding Includes: Travel insurance Private transportation English-speaking guide Guest house-twin shared room Meals as indicated in the itinerary Elephants Canoe Mineral water Entrance fees & all permits Excludes: Surcharges for other guides in other languages, festival season and peak season surcharges, which will be advised at time of booking Visa Gong show(80 USD/show) Tips Personal expenses This advertisement is especially targeting visitors _ . Answer: Do this and you'll be welcome anywhere. Why read this book to find out how to win friends?Why not study the technique of the greatest winner of friends the wodd has ever known?Who is he?You may meet him coming down the street.When you get within ten feet of him,he will begin to wag its tail.If you stop and pat him,he'll jump out of his skin to show you how much he likes you.And you know this show of love.There is no secret motives:he doesn't want to sell you any real estate,and he doesn't want to be your husband or wife. Did you ever stop to think that a dog is the only animal that doesn't have to work for a living?A hen has to lay eggs;a cow has to give milk;and a canary has to sing.But a dog makes a living by giving you nothing but love. When I was five years old,my father bought a little yellow--haired young dog for fifty cents.He was the light and joy of my childhood.Every afternoon amund four thirty,he would sit in the front yard with his beautiful eyes staring at the road,and as soon as he heard my voice or saw me through the bush,he was off like a shot,racing breathlessly up the hill to greet me with leaps of joy and barks of cheer. Tippy was my good companion for five years.Then one night--I shall never forget it--he was killed within ten feet of my head,killed by lightning.Tippy's death was the terrible event of my childhood. You never read a book on psychology,Tippy.You didn't need to.You know that one can make more friends in months by being really interested in other people than one can in two years by trying to get other people interested in him.Let me repeat that.You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you. The writer takes Tippy as a good example to_. Answer: BEIJING -Starting today,all indoor public places and many outdoor public places in Beijing are required to be 100-percent smoke-free, including primary and middle schools,seating areas of sports stadiums and hospitals that treat women or children. Those who break the law will face fines of up to 200 yuan( $32),and owners of the establishment will be fined up to 10,000 yuan. The Beijing government is training several thousand inspectors to be responsible for inspecting and issuing fines,and thousands of community volunteers will also come to help. But it would he difficult to carry out the law in some areas where smoking is common,such as nightclubs "Relying on punishment to control smoking is not enough. We hope that more cookers are willing to quit not because of strict rules, but because of their awareness of the harm caused by smoking"said Wang Benjin, deputy director of the Beijing Health Inspection Bureau. China has more than 300 million smokers,and more than I million people die each year due to smoking-related diseases. Beijing is home to about 4. 2 million smokers, accounting for 23. 4 percent of people. _ smoke an average of 14.6 cigarettes per day, according to a survey conducted by the Beijing Center for Disease Control last year. Just ahead of the regulation taking effect,Beijing MTR Corporation put up tobacco control posters on all trains on Subway Line 4 as part of the smoke-free campaign by the WHO "Beijing was honored with the World No Tohacco Day Award for its leadership in adopting a tough new tobacco control law. The award is a wonderful gift to people of Beijing and a wonderful gift to children of Beijing on International Children's Day-the gift of air free from secondhand smoke,"said Shin Young-soo, regional director for the WHO. We can probably read this passage in _ Answer:
Scientists are worried that an asteroid will possibly hit the earth in 2036. If scientists are right, planet earth is 24 years away from a major disaster. Scientists have been monitoring the progress of a 390-metre-wide asteroid ever since it was discovered last June. They have announced that it could hit the earth, causing huge damage, in 2036. NASA estimates that the impact from the asteroid named after Apophis and ancient Egyptian demon would release more than 100,000 times the energy released in the nuclear explosion over Hiroshima. Thousands of square kilometers would be directly affected by the explosion. The whole planet would see the effects of the dust released into the atmosphere. This is the worst possible scenario of any asteroid in recorded history. Having more than 20 years' warning of possible impact might seem plenty of time. But scientists insist that there is actually very little time left to decide. Luckily, however, they aren't short on ideas for the asteroid. The favored method is also probably the easiest--throwing a spacecraft at the asteroid to change its direction. The European Space Agency plans to test this in the next decade. One idea that seems to have no support from astronomers is the use of explosive, although this sounds more likely to the public or Hollywood producer. At present, scientists are trying to make a better estimate of how much time we have, through more observations. In spring of next year, there will be another chance for radar observation of Apophis. This will help astronomers calculate the orbits of the asteroid more accurately. If, at that stage, they can't rule out an impact with the earth in 2036, the next chance to make better observations will not be until 2016, then 2029. "If we wait until 2029 and the worst--case scenario turns out to be true, it would seem unlikely that we'd be able to do anything about 2036," warns Prof Fitzsimmons. What is the impact from Apophis if it hits the earth? Answer: It might be the worst damage caused by asteroids in recorded history. Joe got a new bicycle as a gift from one of his friends. He wanted to ride it so he looked outside his window to check the weather. There was lots of daylight and it was bright and sunny. The sky was clear and there was only a little bit of wind. He was excited that the weather was good because it meant that he can go and ride his bicycle. He took his bicycle down the stairway and told his parents that he wanted to go ride his bicycle for a little bit. After his parents said OK, he put on his helmet and went outside with his bicycle to ride it around the block. It was very fun and Joe had a great time riding his bicycle. While he was riding, he saw many interesting things like some insects that would fly around and some pets that were in peoples' backyards. He also saw some flowers growing in peoples' yards. He got back home from riding his bicycle and told his parents he had a great time. Who did Joe ask before riding his bicycle? Answer: His parents. Jim, a young farmer, was once put into prison . One day, he got aletter from his mother. "I'm so worried about our farm,"she wrote. "It'stime to plant potatoes. I can't dig all the fields by myself. Jim read the letter and became sad. "What can I do?" he thought. Then he had a good idea. He wrote to his mother, "Don't dig the fields, there's a pot of money in the earth. Don't plant potatoes until I come home. " Some days later, Jim got another letter from his mother. It said, "Two days ago, about ten men came to our farm and dug all our fields. I can't understand it. It looks as if they were looking for something. What shall I do?" Jim smiled when he read his mother's letter. He wrote a letter to his mother at once. It was very short. Guess what it would say? What would it say in Jim's second letter? Answer: You could plant potatoes now, dear mother. Should teenagers help their parents do chores? Is it important for us to learn how to do chores? I have a classmate called Li Ting. She is the only child in her family. Her parents love her so much that they don't let her do any chores. On weekdays she gets up, has meals, goes to school, has lessons, she only plays with her friends. So she doesn't know how to do chores. One day, her father was badly ill and was in hospital. Her mother had to take care of her father in the hospital and couldn't cook meals for her for a week. Li Ting didn't know how to cook meals. She had a lot of trouble cooking meals and often felt hungry. She only had instant noodles for her meals. From the story, we know it's very important for us to learn to do chores. The writer thinks it is _ for teenagers to learn to do chores. Answer: important A man fell out of his plane and fell back into it again. Two people rowed a small boat from New York to England in 56 days. One person was so big that he wouldn't fit in any hospital room. Would you believe these stories? Well, they may sound strange, but they did happen. James Cornell has more strange but true stories like these in a book called Very Strange People. Here is part of the contents of Very Strange People. The contents lists the names of the chapters or parts of the book. It also tells on what page each chapter begins. Chapter Page One A Dog's Life ..........................................3 Two A Lucky Pilot ................... ..............14 Three High Wire Act .................... .............33 Four Fat Men ............................................... 41 Five Over the Falls .........................................43 Six A House without an end ................... .............53 Seven Row, Row, Row Your Boat ................. ..............60 Eight The Tower Builder ....................... ..............85 The Earl feeds his dogs better than most people do. This story may begin on Page _ . Answer: 3
Mr .Smith is an Englishman. He teaches English well.His English classes are very interesting.He likes us and we like him,too. Mr Smith has two children--Tom and Lucy.Tom is seven and his sister Lucy is four.Tom goes to school but Lucy doesn't. Mr Smith likes to wear a T-shirt and jeans .Football is his favorite sport.After school we often have a basketball match.Sometimes Mr Smith watches and joins us.He plays basketball just for fun. Lucy doesn't go to school because _ . she is only four As a boy, Mark Twain caused much trouble for his parents. He used to play practical jokes on all his friends and neighbors. The nature of his jokes often led to violence . He hated to go to school and he constantly ran away from home. He always went in the direction of the nearby Mississippi. He liked to sit on the bank of the river for hours at a time and just gaze at the mysterious island and the passing boats. He learned many things about the river during those days. He learned all about its history and unusual people. He later made them part of the history of America in the book Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain received his genius from his mother. Obviously he didn't get it from his father. He once stated that he had never seen a smile on his father's face. On the other hand, his mother had the ability to say humorous things. The same ability made Mark Twain an extremely humorous public speaker. It is inferred that what affected Mark Twain's character mostly was _ . his mother's genius for humor "Have you ever heard the old saying, "Never judge a book by its cover"? This is a good rule to follow when you try to judge the cleverness of others by their looks and performance. Some people have minds that shine only in certain situations. A young man with an unusual gift in novel writing may find himself speechless before a pretty girl. But don't make the mistake of thinking he might not be that clever. With a pen and paper, he can tell what he thought very well. Other people may fool you into mistakenly thinking they are clever by putting up a good front. A student who listens carefully and takes notes in class is sure to make a good impression on his teachers. But when it comes to exams, he may get scores much lower than his classmates. We may conclude that:you can't judge someone by appearances. The only way to tell whether a person is clever or not is to get to know him by observing how he reacts to different situations. The more situations you observe, the more accurate your judgement is likely to be. So take your time. Don't judge the book by its cover. Thepassage suggests that in judging a person's intelligence we should _ . have patience and be careful Who owns the large American companies that produce cars, washing machines, and television sets? They are owned by a large group of people called stockholders. A company must have money to build factories and to buy machinery. To get this money, it sells shares of stock . Each share of stock is a share in the ownership of the company. The person who buys a share of stock becomes a part owner of the company. He is called a stockholder. A company can have thousands of stockholders. Sometimes a very large company is owned by millions of stockholders. Few persons can afford to buy a whole company, but the average individual can become part owner of a business. He can save his dollars and buy a share of stock in a large company. A person does not have to be wealthy to be a stockholder. When a company makes money, each stockholder may receive a dividend check, which is his share of the profits . Parts of a company's profits are not paid out to the stockholders. This money is used by the company so it can grow larger. If the company does well, its shares of stock become more valuable. More than 20 million people own shares of stock in America's companies. By owning stock, they are helping America's businesses grow. They are also putting their money to work to earn more money. A dividend is the stockholder's share of the _ . company's profits Single-celled organisms can reproduce and create cells exactly like themselves without combining genes from two different parent cells. When they do this, they use a type of asexual reproduction.
Playing basketball isn't a sport for women.That's what Jewell Chapman's high school headmaster told her in 1961 when he forbade the girls to play basketball."We were very sad,"said Chapman,a player for her high school team of Des Moines. Nearly 50 years later,Chapman is back on the basketball playground.She is 62 years old and plays for the Hot Pink Grannies,joining about 10 other women on a team whose uniforms are black trousers and hot pink socks.They play in the Iowa Granny Basketball League. It is one of the twelve of basketball leagues for women over 50 that have spread up across the country.For some, it's an opportunity to exercise and socialize;for others,it's a once-refused chance to compete."You see more and more senior women's teams taking part in state and national competitions,"said Michael Rogers,a professor in sports studies at Wichita State University."In the future it will be a common thing to have leagues like this." Yearly researches by the National Sporting Goods Association show the number of women of 55 and older who play basketball at least 50 times a year has grown from 16,000 in 1995 to nearly 131,000 ten years later. The women on the Hot Pink Grannies are good-natured but they are competitive when game time comes."I think I'm tough,"says Hot Pink Granny Colleen Pulliam, 69, showing her biceps in a game against the Strutters, known for their bright yellow socks. Granny Basketball Leagues and similar groups are scattered through much of the country, including California,Connecticut, Louisiana,New Mexico,North Carolina,Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. This passage mainly tells us about_. A. American Granny Basketball Leagues B. American women basketball teams C. Chapman and her team D. more old women's joining basketball teams in prefix = st1 /America Answer: D "The zoo has money problem," Grandmother Sandy said. Angel listened. She heard that Fresno's Chaffee Zoo didn't have enough money to take care of its animals. Angel loved animals. She planned to study them when she grew up. Angel's family had four cats. Angel took good care of them and made sure that they always had food and water. Angel felt sorry for the zoo animals. While the others in the family were cooking dinner, Angel was cooking up a way to help the animals. She decided to write a letter to show how she felt. At the end of the letter, she wrote: "Give a dollar, help an animal." She sent the letter and a dollar to The Fresno Bee, a local newspaper. A few days after that, Angel's letter was published. Almost immediately, people began sending in money. Angel's letter was having effect! At school, Angel went to each classroom to read the letter that appeared on the newspaper. She asked students in her school to give money to the zoo. Next, Angel was asked to appear on television. She was invited to be on a popular talk show. The workers in the zoo were very happy. Ray Navarro is the person most responsible for the animals. "Angel opened the eyes of Fresno," said Ray. "She made us see that people can make a difference." Ray Navarro thought that Angel _ . A. was most responsible for the animals B. was good at making animals happy C. helped the people in Fresno D. could cure blind people Answer: C "BANG!" the door caused a reverberation . It was just standing there, with father standing on one side, and I on the other side. We were both in great anger. "Never set foot in this house again!" stormed father. With tears welling up in my eyes, I rushed out of the flat and ran along the street.The street lights were shining, causing rather sad-feeling. I walked around aimlessly. A young father who held a child in his arms walked past me. I felt as if I saw my childhood from another space: happy and carefree. But now ... I don't know whether it is because I have grown up or because dad is getting old. We differ in our ways of thinking. He always put his opinions of behavior on me. Whenever I do something wrong, he never admits it. We are just like two people coming from two different worlds. It feels like there is an iron door between us that can never be opened. I wandered the streets, without a destination in mind. My heart was frozen on this hot summer night. As I walked on there were fewer and fewer people on the streets, until I had only the street lights to keep me company. When I finally reached the high-rise apartment block in which I lived, I saw that the light was still on. I thought to myself: "Is father waiting for me, or is he still angry with me?" In fact, it was nothing. Perhaps, dad was throwing away some of his old stamps. Perhaps he thought they were useless. I never had the courage to tell him that I liked collecting stamps. All the lights were off except father's. Dad was always like this. Maybe he didn't know how to express himself. After shouting at me, he never showed any moments of regret. However, after an argument he has the habit of _ while I am sleeping. This was how he always was.He has been a leader for so long that telling everyone else what to do has become his second nature. The light was still on. "Am I wrong?" I whispered, maybe... With the key in hand, I was as nervous as I had ever been. At last, I decided to open the door. As soon as I opened the door tears ran down my face. I suddenly realized that the iron door that I had imagined between us did not exist at all. Love--it's second to none! What made the writer think of his childhood? A. The sight of the street lights. B. The sight of the empty street. C. The sight of a father with a child in his arms. D. The sight of light in his own house. Answer: C Li Qiang and Li Gang are brothers. But their living habits are different. Now let's go to Li Qiang's room. Li Qiang cleans his bedroom every day and puts his things away. Look! There is a computer on the desk. There are two balls under the bed. A guitar and a kite are on the wall. Some books are on the shelf. So he must be a careful boy. Now let's go to Li Gang's room. The room is not clean. Can we see his clothes on the desk? Oh, yes. We can see a football and a knife on the desk, too. Li Gang never does any cleaning on weekends. So his room is in a mess. What do you think of Li Qiang and Li Gang? Li Qiang is a good boy. Li Gang must learn from his brother. ,. What does "in a mess" mean in Chinese? A. . B. . C. . D. . Answer: D Ten Chinese PhD students are demanding that Beijing Normal University Professor Yu Dan be away from her television show on CCTV10. They argue that her on-air explanations of Confucius's Analects (<<>> ) are "incorrect and misleading". Yu is known for explaining Confucius's Analects to a TV audience. But some complain that her explanations are unfaithful to Chinese tradition. But Yu doesn't seem to worry too much about her critics, saying, "It's a matter of personal choice. Some like KFC, while others like McDonalds." STEALING some online gamer's password might seem less harmful than credit card theft. It does keep the victim from wearing himself out all night playing. But it is not all that nice, says 19-year-old Zhang Qiwen, in Shanghai. Last August, Zhang accidentally downloaded a Trojan while playing Warcraft. The Trojan is a type of virus used by hackers to steal people's passwords. Overnight the Trojan transferred all the "gold" (game credits) from Zhang's private account to an unknown account. Zhang hopes the police will find and punish the thief, who can also pocket some cash since the stolen "gold" can go on sale online. New England's largest indoor public garden has opened here in a historic park, and officials expect it to become a center for learning about plants as well as a top attraction for visitors. The glass-walled Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, which opened on March 2, offers a tropical garden, an orchid garden, and a Mediterranean room with a collection of citrus trees. The center also has two classrooms and will offer gardening classes provided by the University of Rhode Island. Roger Williams Park, named for the city's 17th-century founder, also has a zoo. The park already attracts more than 2 million visitors a year, and Providence Mayor David Cicilline said that he expects the new center will attract more and more visitors to Providence. Where is Roger Williams Park? A. It's in England. B. It's in Providence. C. It's in a botanical center. D. It's in a famous zoo. Answer: B
Watching television makes it easier for toddlers to kick and scream, according to a U.S. study. Children under two should not watch any TV. The longer they sit in front of the box, the worse their behavior becomes. Just having the TV on in the background, even if the child wasn't watching it, was also connected to troublemaking behavior although the relationship wasn't as strong, said the researchers. "Parents should be smart about TV use," researcher Jennifer Manganello from the University at Albany, New York, said. "They should limit the time that children use TV, pay attention to the content of TV programs, and consider how TV is used throughout the home." The study looked at 3,128 women from 20 U.S. cities who had a child between 2005 and 2008. While there was some diversity of education among the women, one-third hadn't graduated from high school. Two-thirds of the mothers said their three-year-old watched more than two hours of TV a day, and the average viewing time for children was around three hours. On average, the TV was on for about five additional hours on a common day. After accounting for factors such as living in a violent neighborhood, scientists also found watching TV was strongly connected to behavior such as hitting others, having angry moods, being disobedient , and screaming a lot. The researchers thought that children may see violence on TV, and spend less time on positive development tasks such as reading or playing. The American Academy of Paediatrics suggests no TV at all for children at two and younger, and two hours a day or less for older kids. what can be learned about the study between 2005~2008 from the passage? Some people don't like the number 13. They don't think 13 is a _ or good number. For example , they don't like to live on the 13th floor . My friend Mary is one of them. She asks some friends to her home. All of her friends get to her home. They sit at the table. Then Mary counts, "One, two, three ...oh, my God! There are thirteen people here!" Everybody's face turns white, but Mr. Brown doesn't. He says, "Don't worry , dear friends! We have fourteen people here. My wife will have a baby next week. _ is in the family way now. " All of them become happy again. "Congratulations !" they say to Mr. and Mrs. Brown. They enjoy the nice food and have a good time this evening. When does the story happen ? Lomography was first officially introduced to China when the Lomography World Congress was held in Beijing in July, 2004. The Lomography World Congress is the greatest annual event of the Lomographic Society. It has been held in Madrid, New York, Tokyo, Cologne and Vienna, etc. The 2004's _ took place in Beijing and ran a full week. The first non-official affair of Chinese Lomographers was held in August, 2005 and it attracted much attention. A lot of energetic young people got together under the banner of "I Loma you" which was the slogan of this big party. In China Lomo is more of a symbol of fashion and youth, and most of the Lomographers are stylish young people who work with or study art. The organizer told the editor that the oldest Lomographer who came here is in his forties while the youngest one is about nine years old, but most of the people who are into Lomo are about 20 years old. In China the concept of Lomography is not only about Lomographyer taking photos with Lomo camera, but also a kind of spirit. "I think, generally, the Lomo spirit is everyone trying to love one's own life and discover the beauty of everyday life," the organizer said, "what I think more important is the idea of freedom and creativity. The 10 th Golden Rule is 'don't worry about any rules', I think it introduces to us a concept: It's you who make the rules and it's you who break the rules. So free your mind and let your creativity work, and your life will be fantastic." We may find this passage in _ . Q: On Facebook, my friends are a mix of real-life pals, former classmates, professional colleagues, extended-family members, and ... my mom. Mom is the first to like and comment on everything I post, which is annoying. I tried talking to her about it, but her feelings quickly got hurt, so I backed off. I know I can't block her, but now I don't want to post anything. How do I handle this? A: This is about Facebook, not your mom. The often-shrugged-off truth about social media is that nothing is private. It's easy to forget this, so in a way, you're lucky that your mom is reminding you. Everything you post--comments, likes, photos--is freely available to future friends, employers, lovers etc unless blocked. That said, you can ask Mom again nicely to tone it down. You can also customize your controls so she can't see everything you post. Q: In which situations am I required to make a phone call versus send a text message? A: A text is for information--time, date, news. It's for the stuff you can keep short and sweet. A phone call is for analysis, discussion, opinion, and, if you must, gossip. Q: I'm always on Facebook, so I just send messages to friends through the site. But when should I log off and send an e-mail? A: When you're serious about anything. Think of it as chatting with someone on a bus versus asking her to meet you for coffee. The former is good for casual conversation; the latter is personal and requires attention. Q: For which occasions should I mail paper invitations versus send e-mail ones? (E-cards are free and easy--what's not to love?!) A: Anything important needs a paper invitation. That's your baseline. So ask yourself: "Do I want people to dress up for this event?" If the answer is yes, dress up your invitation by making it printed instead of virtual. For more casual events and gatherings, e-card away. Q: Is using emoticons ever inappropriate to express a feeling or make a point in texts or e-mails? A: Emoticons are for fun. Is the message you're writing fun? Use an emoticon. Are you asking for a big favor? Skip it. Is the message to your boss or a colleague? Skip it. Avoid them if you want to be taken seriously about anything. Q: I have a big, happy announcement to share with a lot of people. Is it appropriate to share it on my blog? A: Yes, so you don't have to go cc-ing everyone in an e-mail. Post away. But send a private message to those who should know first. Q: I have a big, sad announcement. What should I do? A: Respect your privacy--and yourself. Pick up the phone and call a trusted friend or family member to let her know, and then ask her to help spread the news offline. Which of the following is appropriate about using social media? About five years ago, an American electrical engineer named Scott Brusaw and his wife Julie came up with the idea of putting solar panels on the ground rather than the roof. Then they began to develop the Solar Roadway. The Solar Roadway is an intelligent road that provides clean renewable energy using power from the sun while providing safer driving conditions, along with power and data delivery. They predict that the Solar Roadway will pay for itself through the generation of electricity along with other forms of income and that the same money that is being used to build and resurface current roads can be used to build the Solar Roadways. Each Solar Road Panel measures roughly 4 meters by 4 meters and contains a microprocessor that monitors and controls the panel, while communicating with neighboring panels and the vehicles traveling overhead. The inventors suggest that this provides a communications device every 4 meters on every road which could be used for example to warn drivers of cars which are moving across a centre line and various other speed control problems. The top of the Solar Road panels is made of super-strong glass that would offer vehicles the tractions _ need. According to the inventors, the Solar Roadway creates and carries clean renewable electricity and therefore electric vehicles can be recharged at any conveniently located rest stop, or at any business that has paved Solar Road Panels in their parking lots. The inventors say their Solar Roadway has many functions and advantages from main roads to driveways, parking lots, bike paths, sidewalks and runways. The Federal Highway Administration has given Brusaw $100,000 to develop the invention and Brusaw hopes to build a smart-road parking lot in the coming spring . The Solar Roadway includes all the following advantages except _ .
Nobel, who was born in Stockholm, is a great scientist famous for his dangerous experiments. Nobel studied in the USA and then Russia between 1850 and 1859. After his return, he started researching into bombs. As is known, bomb is dangerous to life, but Nobel was working under that condition. Once a big explosion in his lab completely destroyed the lab and caused some deaths. After that he had to experiment on a boat in a lake. He received criticism and satire , but he proceeded with the work rather than losing heart. From 1860s to 1880s, Nobel made many achievements and his inventions were first used in building roads and digging tunnels. Most of the bombs were safer and more possible to be controlled. Even at the end of the 20th century, we still used his methods. Nobel had many patents in Britain and other European countries. He was quick to see industrial openings for his scientific inventions and built up over 80 companies in 20 different countries. Indeed his greatness lay in his outstanding ability to combine the qualities of an original scientist with those of a forwardlooking industrialist. But Nobel's main concern was never with making money or even with making scientific discoveries. Seldom happy, he was always searching for a meaning to life, and from his youth, he had taken a serious interest in literature and philosophy. His greatest wish, however, was to see an end to wars, and thus peace between nations, and he spent much time and money working for this cause. To follow his will, a fund was set up to encourage people to make great progress in physics, chemistry, physiology , medicine, literature and peace. That's the Nobel Prize which means great honor to a scientist. Based on the passage, Nobel, as a scientist, _ . A took a single interest in science B took a serious interest in money C took no interest in literature D took a serious interest in literature as well as in science Answer: D My 11-year-old son and I rides bikes to and from his school every day. I accompany him on the 20-minute ride through Manhattan, drop him off and return at the end of day to pick him up. We always ride together; sometimes he leads; sometimes I do. And as we ride, we communicate the ways to minimize the dangers: Don't go too fast, and watch out for doors suddenly swinging out from parked cars and jaywalking pedestrians, etc. Some friends worry about the risk of riding in traffic, but is there a better way to let my son know how to deal with traffic dangers? But recently he requested me to start hanging back a half block or so. This way he could enjoy the feeling of riding on his own, with the security of knowing that I was nearby in case he needed me. This is healthy, of course, as my son needs space to develop independence in preparation for his inevitable (,) departure from home. However, that means soon he will want to ride to school on his own, and I will no longer have this wonderful routine. "Let your children go if you want to keep them." I understand this and am trying to let my son go in age-appropriate phases, but I still suffer. It's one of the most troubling experiences of parenthood -- recognizing that your presence is becoming less welcome. My dilemma as a husband mirrors the concern I feel as a parent. My wife has just left on a six-month mission to cover the situation in Libya. In the days leading up to her departure, we spoke openly about the possibility, however unlikely, that she might be killed. But while I influence her decisions, I do not control them. Finally, it was her decision. I know that letting go is the wisest path in this case too. As we travel through life's phases, we must let go of so much. And I don't think it gets easier with practice. But maybe just accepting that eventually we will have to let go is the secret to living a full life. Why does the writer accompany his son on his daily ride to school? A To build up his strength. B To teach his son to ride in traffic. C To tell his son the way to school. D To communicate more with his son. Answer: B Scientists invented a liquid that removes grease and keeps the skin soft. How could this discovery most likely be used? A to improve dish soap B to cure a disease C to make clothes D to grow plants Answer: A Researchers found that walking around with a forced smile and fake happiness simply leads to people feeling unhappier. So, putting a brave face on your sadness could be harmful. The research also found that women suffered more than men when pretending to be happy. Dr. Brent Scott, who led the study, said employers should take note because forcing workers to smile when dealing with the public can result in bad outcomes. He said, "Smiling for the sake of smiling can lead to emotional tiredness, and that's bad for the organization." He also said the research showed customer-service workers who had "fake smiles" throughout the day fell into a bad mood and didn't want to work, so their productivity dropped. The study is one of the first of its kind to examine emotional expressions over a period of time and compare the different effects on men and women. Dr. Scott's team examined the effects of "surface acting", or fake smiling, compared to "deep acting", or making people smile by thinking of peasant memories. Dr. Scott said, "Women were harmed more by surface acting, meaning their moods worsened even more than men's. However, they were helped more by deep acting, which means their moods improved more by thinking of pleasant memories. " According to Dr. Scott, women tend to suffer more when pretending to be happy because they are expected to be more emotionally expressive than men. Therefore, forcing a smile while feeling down is more likely to go against their normal behavior and cause more harmful feelings. Although deep acting can improve moods a little in the short term, Dr. Scott says, it's not a long-term solution to feeling unhappy. "There have been some suggestions that if you do this over a long period you start to feel unreal. You're trying to develop positive emotions, but at the end of the day you may not feel like yourself any more." What is the best title for the passage? A Fake smiling makes people unhappy. B Women shouldn't be forced to smile. C An important suggestion for workers. D Why people don't want to work. Answer: C As a boy, Sanders was much influenced by books about the sea, but by the age of fifteen he had decided to become a doctor rather than a sailor. His father was a doctor. So he was often with the doctors and got along very well with them. When he was fourteen, he was already hanging around the hospital where he was supposed to be helping to clean the medicine bottles, but was actually trying to listen to the doctors' conversations with patients in the next room. During the war Sanders served in the army as a surgeon . "That was the happiest time of my life. I was dealing with real sufferers and on the whole making a success of my job." In Rhodes he taught the country people simple facts about medicine. He saw himself as a life-saver. He had proved his skill to himself and had a firm belief that he could serve those who lived simply, and were dependent upon him. Thus, while in a position to tell them what to do he could feel he was serving them. After the war, he married and set up a practice deep in the English countryside, working under an old doctor who hated the sight of blood. This gave the younger man plenty of opportunity to go on working as a life-saver. When the war was over, he _ . A learned from an old doctor because he was popular B started to hate the sight of blood while working C served the countrymen under an old doctor who needed someone to help him D had few chances to be a "life-saver" because he was younger Answer: C
This afternoon, I spoke with Governor Daniel Malloy and FBI Director Mueller. I offered Governor Malloy my condolences on behalf of the nation, and made it clear he will have every single resource that he needs to investigate this horrible crime, care for the victims and their families. The majority of those who died today were children--beautiful little kids between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. They had their entire lives ahead of them--birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own. Among the fallen were also teachers--men and women who devoted their lives to helping our children fulfill their dreams. So our hearts are broken today--for the parents and grandparents, sisters and brothers of these little children, and for the families of the adults who were lost. Our hearts are broken for the parents of the survivors as well, for as blessed as they are to have their children home tonight, they know that their children's innocence has been torn away from them too early, and there are no words that will ease their pain. As a country, we have been through this too many times. Whether it's an elementary school in Newtown, or a shopping mall in Oregon, or a temple in Wisconsin, or a movie theater in Aurora, or a street corner in Chicago--these neighborhoods are our neighborhoods, and these children are our children. And we're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics. This evening, Michelle and I will do what I know every parent in America will do, which is hug our children a little tighter and we'll tell them that we love them, and we'll remind each other how deeply we love one another. But there are families in Connecticut who cannot do that tonight. And they need all of us right now. In the hard days to come, that community needs us to be at our best as Americans. And I will do everything in my power to help. Because while nothing can fill the space of a lost child or loved one, all of us can extend a hand to those in need--to remind them that we are there for them, that we are praying for them, that the love they felt for those they lost endures not just in their memories but also in ours. The speaker wants the audience _ . A to help those in need B to protect themselves C to investigate the crime D to trust the US government Answer: A. to help those in need Ocean animals have been getting bigger over the last half-billion years. Not a little bigger. Not even a lot bigger. They have _ gigantically, scientists now conclude. Their new finding lends support for something known as "Cope's rule." It holds that animals tend to evolve into species that are much larger than their distant ancestors. This hypothesis takes its name from the 19thcentury paleontologist Edward Drinker Cope. While studying fossils , he was the first to notice this trend. Noel Heim is a paleontologist at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif. He also is a co-author of the new study. His team compared the body size of animals between the Cambrian Period and modern times. This was a span of 542 million years. The animals studied included species from more than 17,000 genera. They ranged from ancient trilobites, plesiosaurs (extinct reptiles with a long neck and flippers) and many less familiar creatures to today's whales and clams. Ocean animals today are an average of 150 times larger than they were during the Cambrian, Heim's group reports. The smallest animals alive today -- tiny crustaceans called ostracods -- are only about one-tenth the size of the Cambrian's tiniest animals. But today's largest ocean animals -- whales -- are more than 100,000 times bigger than the biggest in the Cambrian. "Classes of animals that were already big ... tended to live longer," Heim says. They also tended to change more than classes of animals that were small did. The size gains in ocean animals are much larger than would be expected by chance, saysJonathan Payne. He's a co-author who also works at Stanford. The scientists don't know what drives the trend. One possibility is an arms race between predators and prey. The idea here is that larger animals are less likely to become some other animals' meal. Another possibility has to do with oxygen. Land animals evolved from species that started in the ocean. Some of these land animals eventually returned to the ocean. And they kept the ability to breathe oxygen-rich air. That may have made it easier for them to outgrow animals that had to filter their oxygen out of the water. The ocean animals' change in size _ . A is determined by environment B cannot be predicted by any factor C is fully explained by the new study D relates to the size of their ancestors Answer: D. relates to the size of their ancestors Immigrants are always being told by politicians to learn the language. But some people want to know how long it takes to speak good English. There are plenty of people in the UK for whom even basic English is a problem. According to a census , 726,000 people in England and Wales said they could not speak English well, and another 138,000 said they did not speak it at all. Ling, 40, who arrived five years ago from China, found it difficult to learn English."When I came here, I was pregnant and so I was at home for the next three years. It took me longer to learn as I was very busy with the children."Eventually she was able to begin taking classes and now speaks good conversational English. But even with classes, it can be a long process to pick up the language. Age is the most important factor in language acquisition, says Mila Vulchanova, professor of linguistics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology."There is a sensitive period in language learning, which is biologically determined. So the younger the immigrant, the better. Since this decline is only gradual, teenagers are at an advantage over adults,"she says. There are a number of systems for grading English. The government expects immigrants to reach"ESOL Entry 3"or"B1 level", also called"Intermediate 1"in Scotland, before they can be granted citizenship. It's equivalent to being able to hold a confident conversation and, although the government does not have a target figure, it might take 360 hours of study to achieve. George Osborne said in June following the spending review that welfare claimants who don't speak English will have their benefits cut if they fail to attend language courses. Huan Japes, deputy chief executive of English UK, a trade body for language colleges, says a rule of thumb is 360 hours, 120 hours for each of three stages, to get to the standard the government expects benefit claimants to reach. But many of the people who attend courses are visiting students rather than people settling in the UK. Immigrants tend to have very varied levels of education. "Using 120 hours (for each stage of English fluency) is a rather traditional approach to course book learning,"says Dr Elaine Boyd, head of English language at Trinity College London."If someone is really highly motivated, they can learn really quickly. It's common for children under the age of 11 to be very immersed and be fluent in about six months." What does Mila Vulchanova mainly stress? A The function of the sensitive period. B The necessity of working hard at English. C The advantages children have in learning English. D The importance of starting learning English early. Answer: D. The importance of starting learning English early. You may think that inventions are far away from your everyday life. But in fact, almost everyone can invent. It's just that they do not recognize that their idea could be the start of an invention. Once inventors see their ideas have some practical value, they don't let them slip away. For example, the inventor of the dishwasher, American Josephine Cochrane, loved to give dinner parties. But she found it took too long to wash her dishes by hand and too many of them broke. She decided that a machine could do the job faster and with fewer mistakes. So, in 1886, she set out to make one for herself. Like Cochrane's, most inventions are created to solve a problem. So, the first and most important step is to find the problem. You can start by looking at what is wrong with things you use now. You can ask grandparents or neighbours if they remember ever saying: "I wish someone would invent something for..." Or you can look at people in different areas such as on the street, or at school. Then you might notice situations or things in need of improvement. Remember to record your ideas and work. This will help you develop your invention and protect it when it is completed. The next step is to think about possible solutions. An invention is a new way of solving a problem. So think of many, varied, and unusual ways. You can often come up with a solution for a problem by looking at it from a different angle or thinking about it in a new way. Example 1 -- instead of thinking of shoes as protecting your feet from the ground, think of using something to protect the ground from your feet. Example 2 -- instead of thinking about how you can carry oranges home from a store, think of how they can come to you by delivery or growing your own. Example 3 -- instead of experimenting with only one solution, can you put two or three solutions together, or arrange them in different orders? And if one solution doesn't work, can it be put to other uses? That was how yellow post-it notes (N) came about -- a "failed" adhesive experiment proved a weak adhesive had good uses too! After all, most inventions are not brand new. They do not come out of nowhere, but come out of things or ideas that already exist. And the hardest part of inventing, even for a lot of inventors, is coming up with a problem and finding a solution. Once you have an idea, you can always get help building your invention. This problem-solving technique can also work in your everyday lives. So, why not try it in your studies, in your relationship with others, or even in the way you look at the world? What makes inventors different from other people is probably that _ . A they consider every thing as an invention B they are full of energy C they enjoy solving their own problems D they look for problems and try to solve them in a new and better way Answer: D. they look for problems and try to solve them in a new and better way Which of the following reflects the most light? A snow B root beer C coal D the night sky Answer: A. snow
Antonia left Athens and came to America to make her fortune. She wanted to be a famous actress, so she went to live in Hollywood, California. At first, Antonia had very little money, so she was forced to watch every penny while _ of movie agents' offices. For over a year, she worked only in small parts. She found life extremely hard. She had to take buses or walk everywhere, and she ate only one meal a day. Even though she worked nights as a waitress, Antonia could not really make ends meet. Suddenly, one day, the star of a film became ill, and the director asked Antonia to take the part. Her acting was superb. After the first show of the film, she became an overnight success. Everyone gave her mad notice, and she received many offers for future starring roles. Since then, Antonia has changed her whole way of life. Now she wears expensive furs and drives a Rolls-Royce. She lives in a twenty-seven room house in Beverly Hills, with seven servants. All her needs are cared for. For Antonia, America is truly the land of streets paved with gold. Through her hard work, she has earned the fame she desired so much. What changed Antonia's way of life? There is a unique place where deserted factories have been transformed into a lively artistic zone - where the city's tradition and heritage meet with cutting-edge art and fashion. This is Redtory. Located at Yuancun Si Heng Lu, not far from the Pearl River of Guangzhou city, Redtory is a creative cultural and industrial zone made up of more than 30 old buildings - mostly red-brick ones. Back in 1956, it used to be the biggest canning factory in China. The factory produced the Can Dace with Black Bean Sauce, an iconic food product in the last century, well-known throughout south-east Asia. After the local government's industrial structure reformations, the canning factory moved away and the workshops were left deserted. There was nothing left but memories in well-preserved Soviet-style buildings. Not long after the noise of the running machines was gone, posters of advertisement and art were found hanging on the wall in the area. To enrich the cultural and artistic life of the people in Guangzhou, the abandoned factories reopened in 2009 - displaying art, fashion and culture of different forms. Redtory is home to more than 40 establishments including art galleries, themed restaurants and design studios. Large international cultural exchange activities, art exhibitions and seminars are often held here, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Meanwhile, waste materials have been used wisely instead of being thrown away. For instance, some installations standing around the area are made up of the rusty machines or components from the old canning factory. The shabby and nostalgic appearance combined with fashionable and artistic features makes Redtory uniquely attractive. That may be the reason that Redtory is considered the holy land for young art-lovers in Guangzhou. Add.: No.128 Yuancun Si Heng Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou Bus: Yuancun Er Heng Rd Stop - 40,44,140,284,293,299,401,504,540,542,583,882;Yuancun Stop Terminal (Meilin Garden) - B11,243;Pazhou Bridge (North) Stop - 137,304,564,B7,B25 Metro: Exit B, Yuancun Station, Line 5 Now Redtory has developed into a place for _ . Small talks A small talk is a good way to kill time and make friends. When you are in other countries, do you know how to have small talks with people? In England, people like to talk about the weather, because the weather there _ very often. In the morning, it is sunny, but in can be cloudy or rainy in the afternoon. It often rains, but sometimes it's sunny. And the winter isn't very cold and the summer isn't very hot. English people are kind of quiet. They don't often talk to others first, but when you ask them about the weather, they are usually happy and want to talk with you, so you can start a small talk by saying, " It's a fine day, isn't it?" They also like to talk about their pets, so it's nice to say "A lovely dog! What's its name?" to them. But American people like to talk about sports like football and basketball. They also talk about clothes. The weather is a great talk in America, too. A good small talk can make you feel great, so when you are in England or America, please follow these rules. What don't Americans like to talk? I have always been interested in making things. When I was a child, I enjoyed drawing, but I also liked making things out of clay . I won a prize for one of my paintings when I was fourteen. That may be why I went to art school four years later. But I studied painting at first, not pottery . I like being a potter because I like to work with my hands and feel the clay. I'm happy working by myself and being near my home. I don't like mass-produced things, because they are made by machines. I think crafts are very important and crafts-people make things cleverly with hands. They make our lives color1ful. When I left school, I got some money. I hope to become a full-time crafts-woman. This work-place is small, but I wish to move to a larger one next year. The writer got into art school because of _ . When building houses, people used to think about not only the climate of the areas but also the building materials and the fashions for their houses. However, since electricity became more and more expensive , people began to pay much more attention to the energy they could get for their houses and the new ways they could find to protect their houses from both cold and heat. Now, houses of an old yet new type have been widely built. In some parts of the world, people share their houses with their _ . During cold weather, they gather their cows, goats, or other animals and keep them on the first floor of their houses. The reasons are that the animals can be protected from the cold and that they can help to heat the houses as well. The body heat given off by the animals rises to the second floor of the houses, where people live. By sharing their houses with their livestock, people gain a source of heat. People who live in or near cities do not usually keep livestock. However, home builders use the fact that heat rises. This _ can be used in building houses in these areas, instead of keeping livestock on the first floor builders fill it with large rocks. As they are open to the sun's rays during cold weather, these rocks take in heat. They also give off the heat, and, of course, the warm air rises into the living areas of the houses. So these houses are energy saving. House building becomes a great challenge to building designers and energy engineer. They try to meet this challenge by learning from old traditions and by using modern technology. And someday in the future, people will be able to live in more energy saving houses. From the passage, we can conclude that _ .
Xu Shu was much valued by Liu Bei for his strategic talents. After several victories on the battleground against Cao Cao, Xu was made the chief military advisor. Cao Cao was greatly surprised at the news. "If you want this person," one of his advisors said, "you can bring his mother to Xuchang and send a forged letter in his mother's handwriting, asking Xu Shu to desert Liu Bei and come here. As Xu is well-known for a strong filial affection, surely he will come." This plot worked. For Xu, on receiving the letter, cried tearfully, asking Liu Bei for an immediate departure. Feeling sad, though, Liu persisted in his stay for another night, during which the two aired their sad feelings. The next day Liu laid a banquet outside the city for Xu. Holding the latter's hand, Liu said, "After we separate today, only heaven knows when and where we will meet again." He wept bitter tears. After setting off on his way, Xu suddenly turned his horse and returned. "I almost forgot an important matter." He said to Liu. "Ten kilometers from Xiangyang City, in a place called Long zhong, there is a talent called Zhuge Liang. Do you want to meet him?" Liu expressed his willingness at once, but also aired doubt about whether Zhuge Liang was as talented as Xu. "He tells positions of stars in the heavens," Xu assured him, "and recognizes everything on earth. He knows a person's real nature at the first meeting----the number one talent under the heaven. If you have him as your military advisor, you'll have the country under your name." Liu suggested a visit to Zhuge by Xu on his behalf. At this, the latter shook his head in disapproval. "You must go and offer your invitation personally, and his acceptance depends entirely on your sincerity." With these words said, Xu turned his horse and left. Later, Liu paid three trips to Zhuge's straw house, another favorite story among Chinese people. Which of the following statements is TRUE? Answer: Mary Cassatt is one of the first great women American painters. At first her father did not want her to become an artist. But she followed her dreams and became an artist.She was born on May 22, 1844, and lived in Europe for several years as a child. Her family returned to the United States and, at age 16, Mary attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Four years later she decided she couldn't learn anything fresh and practical in Philadelphia, so she returned to Europe. There she studied the skills of the masters in Rome, Seville, Antwerp, and Paris. Mary received the chance of a lifetime at the age of 33 when the famous French painter, Edgar Degas, asked her to join a group of painters that included now-famous artists like Manet and Renoir. Their style of painting is called Impressionism. They used primary colors and short brush strokes in their work. They recognized Mary 's spirit and powerful talent and invited her to exhibit in the Impressionist art shows. Mary painted what she saw: gardens, and paintings of persons , especially of mothers and children involved in everyday living. One of her paintings, "Young Mother and Two Children," was given to the White House in 1954 where it hangs today. Mary never married and, in 1877, her parents and sister moved to Europe to join her. Mary devoted much of her time to them for the next 18 years to their care. Mary painted until 1914 when her failing eyesight made it impossible to continue. She spent the later years of her life in Paris. She died in 1926 at the age of 82. Unfortunately,all her life, she refused to accept students. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . Answer: Which of the following would be a reason you are sick? Answer: Work-life balance: Ways to restore harmony and reduce stress Finding work-life balance in today's frenetically paced world is no simple task. Spend more time at work than at home, and you miss out on a rewarding personal life. Then again, when you face challenges in your personal life, such as caring for an aging parent or coping with marital problems, concentrating on your job can be difficult. Whether the problem is too much focus on work or too little, when your work life and your personal life feel out of balance, stress -- along with its harmful effects -- is the result. The good news is that you can take control of your work-life balance -- and give yourself the time to do the things that are most important to you. The first step is to recognize how the world of work has changed. Then you can evaluate your relationship to work and apply some specific strategies for striking a healthier balance. How work invades your personal life There was a time when employees showed up for work Monday through Friday and worked eight- to nine-hour days. The boundaries between work and home were fairly clear then. But the world has changed and, unfortunately, the boundaries have blurred for many workers. Here's why: Global economy. As more skilled workers enter the global labor market and companies outsource or move more jobs to reduce labor costs, people feel pressured to work longer and produce more just to protect their jobs. International business. Work continues around the world 24 hours a day for some people. If you work in an international organization, you might be on call around the clock for troubleshooting or consulting. Advanced communication technology. Many people now have the ability to work anywhere -- from their home, from their car and even on vacation. And some managers expect this. Longer hours. Employers commonly ask employees to work longer hours than they're scheduled. Often, overtime is mandatory. If you hope to move up the career ladder, you may find yourself regularly working more than 40 hours a week to achieve and exceed expectations. Changes in family roles. Today's married worker is typically part of a dual-career couple, which makes it difficult to find time to meet commitments to family, friends and community. Married to your work It can be tempting to rack up the hours at work -- especially if you're trying to earn a promotion or some extra money for a child's education or a dream vacation. For others, working more hours feels necessary in order to manage the workload. But if you're spending most of your time at work, your home life will likely pay the price. Consider the pros and cons of working extra hours on your work-life balance: Fatigue. Your ability to think and your eye-hand coordination decrease when you're tired. This means you're less productive and may make more mistakes. These mistakes can lead to injury or rework and negatively impact your professional reputation. Family. You may miss out on important events, such as your child's first bike ride, your father's 60th birthday or your high-school reunion. Missing out on important milestones may harm relationships with your loved ones. Friends. Trusted friends are a key part of your support system. But if you're spending time at the office instead of with them, you'll find it difficult to nurture those friendships. Expectations. If you regularly work extra hours, you may be given more responsibility. This could create a never-ending and increasing cycle, causing more concerns and challenges. Sometimes working overtime is important. If you work for a company that requires mandatory overtime, you won't be able to avoid it, but you can learn to manage it. Most importantly, say no when you're too tired, when it's affecting your health or when you have crucial family obligations. Striking the best work-life balance _ With so many demands on your time -- from overtime to family obligations -- it can feel difficult to strike this balance. The goal is to make time for the activities that are the most important to you. Here are some ideas to help you find the balance that's best for you: Learn to say no. Whether it's a co-worker asking you to spearhead an extra project or your child's teacher asking you to manage the class play, remember that it's OK to respectfully say no. When you quit doing the things you only do out of guilt or a false sense of obligation, you'll make more room in your life for the activities that are meaningful to you and bring you joy. Leave work at work. Make a conscious decision to separate work time from personal time. When with your family, for instance, turn off your cell phone and put away your laptop computer. Manage your time. Organize household tasks efficiently. Do one or two loads of laundry every day, rather than saving it all for your day off. A weekly family calendar of important dates and a daily list of to-dos will help you avoid deadline panic. If your employer offers a course in time management, sign up for it. Get enough sleep. There's nothing as stressful and potentially dangerous as working when you're sleep-deprived. Not only is your productivity affected, but also you can make costly mistakes. You may then have to work even more hours to make up for these mistakes. Communicate clearly. Limit time-consuming misunderstandings by communicating clearly and listening carefully. Take notes if necessary. Nurture yourself. Set aside time each day for an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, working out or listening to music. Set aside one night each week for recreation. Take the phone off the hook, power down the computer and turn off the TV. Discover activities you can do with your partner, family or friends, such as playing golf, fishing or canoeing. Making time for activities you enjoy will rejuvenate you. Remember, striking a work-life balance isn't a one-shot deal. Creating balance in your life is a continuous process. Balance doesn't mean doing everything. Examine your priorities and set boundaries. Be firm in what you can and cannot do. Only you can restore harmony to your lifestyle. What does the real balance mean according to the author? Answer: If you need something to mix kool-aid, what would you avoid? Answer:
Coffee has been a part of people's lives for thousands of years, and today it is still one of the favorite drinks in the world. Many people in the world begin their busy day by drinking a cup of or several cups of coffee. They have always said that a cup of coffee in the morning helps them begin their day in the right way. So they say a cup of coffee is necessary for them in the morning. Do you know what in the coffee makes our bodies and brains active? It is caffeine . Caffeine may increase a person's mental and physical abilities . For example, two cups of coffee will make you breathe faster and _ body heat. All this makes you heart beat faster, and doctors warn that this may be a little dangerous. Caffeine is found in tea, coffee, chocolate and some other foods. A little caffeine is probably not harmful. But much caffeine can make people nervous and sleepless. A good title for this passage is _ . While learning the science lessons, I used to get a doubt--why ear, nose, tongue and eyes should be called as special senses? The basic reason is that these are the channels through which we maintain contact with the surroundings. Though apparently it may feel like these are individual sensory organs, they do show some connectivity. Interestingly, our hearing is less sharp after we eat a heavy food. Isn't it good for a sound nap after a stomach-full meal? That does not mean we go deaf after a meal, but the hearing pitch does change after a heavy meal. We usually give credit of the taste to our tongue, but do you know that unless saliva dissolves something, our tongue cannot recognize the taste of the food eaten. Taste is nothing but the food chemicals dissolved in the saliva being sensed by the taste buds present on the tongue. Try to dry off your tongue and mouth with a tissue paper and then taste something. Women are much better smellers than men. They are born with this characteristic ability and can correctly recognize the exact fragrance of the sample. We all can store almost 50,000 different smells, which are strongly tied to the memories. Pupils do not respond to light alone, but to the slightest bit of noise around too. Thus surgeons, watchmakers and those professionals who have to perform a much delicate job do prefer to have a sound-free environment. Even a small noise can enlarge their pupils, change the focus and make their vision less clear. Each and every one of us has a particular or individualistic or characteristic smell, which is unique to us, except the twins. This smell is very subtle yet can be sensed even by a newborn. It may be due to this smell that the newborn recognizes the presence of his parents around. What makes each person different from anyone else except twins according to the passage? TS said that everyone has a changing circle of friends. However, no matter how frequently we renew our phone books, some names always remain. These names remind us of the good times we spent together with our friends. Though we may not see them every day, they will always stay in our hearts. Tom was often called "Big Head" at school because of his extraordinarily large head. He was one of my close friends at primary school. But since graduation, we have been studying in different cities and haven't seen each other for a long time. Several days ago, I received an e-mail saying that my former classmates from primary school were holding a party to get together and chat about past memories. I was so excited because [ would get to see Tom again. What would he look like now? Would we still feel as close to each other as we had done back then? I was a little frightened about what I would find. When I arrived at the party, I did manage to recognize Tom. However, he was much taller than he had been before. What's more, his head was no longer big. "Hi, Buddy. Do you recognize me?" Tom walked towards me. "Of course. How could I ever forget our ' Big Head' ," I said jokingly, "But where has your big head gone?" "Haha, maybe it didn't keep up with the steps of time and stayed in the past," Tom patted his own head and answered with a laugh. All my _ suddenly disappeared. I realized that time had changed us outwardly, but our friendship hadn't changed at all. I chatted happily with Tom about our shared experiences in primary school. Then I looked around the small room and saw different faces, both familiar and unfamiliar, but none of them the faces of strangers. The whole party was filled with a warm atmosphere. Everyone was lost in the sweet memories of childhood. They forgot all their present-day stresses and pressures. "Hey, what are you thinking about? Come and get some pizza!" A call from a friend woke me up from my thoughts. I hurried towards the table. "Wait! That biggest piece is mine!" Why are some names always in our phone books? It's our hope that the calculator will promote action, awareness and empowerment by showing you that one person can make a difference and help stop global warming. There are many simple things you can do in your daily life--what you eat, what you drive, how you build your home--that can have an effect on your immediate surroundings, and on places as far away as Antarctica. Here is a list of things that you can do to make a difference. Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Replace 3 frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Save 300lbs (pounds) of carbon dioxide and $60 per year. Use Recycled Paper Make sure your printer paper is 100% post consumer recycled paper. Save 5lbs of carbon dioxide per ream of paper. Take Shorter Showers Showers account for 2/3 of all water heating costs. Save 350 lbs of carbon dioxide and $99 per year. Buy Products Locally Buy locally and reduce the amount of energy required to drive your products to your home. Carpool When You Can Own a big vehicle? _ with friends and co-workers saves fuel. Save 790 lbs of carbon dioxide and hundreds of dollars per year. Don't Idle in Your Car Idling wastes money and gas, and generates pollution and global warming causing emissions. Except when in traffic, turn your engine off in you must wait for more than 30 seconds. Buy Organic food The chemicals used in modern agriculture pollute the water supply, and require energy to produce. Turn Off Your Computer Shut off your computer when not in use, and save 200 lbs of carbon dioxide. Conserve energy by using your computer's "sleep mode" instead of a screensaver. With a Stop Global Warming calculator which costs you only $50 in hand, you will find what you do does count. The Stop Global Warming calculator can serve the following purposes EXCEPT _ . Until the 1980s, the American homeless population comprised mainly older males. Today, homelessness strikes much younger part of society. In fact, a 25-city survey by the U. S. Conference of Mayors in 1987 found that families with children make up the fastest growing part of the homeless population. Many homeless children gather in inner cities; this transient and frequently frightened student population creates additional problems -- both legal and educational -- for already overburdened urban school administrators and teachers. Estimates of the number of homeless Americans range from 350,000 to three million. Likewise, estimates of the number of homeless school children vary radically. A U.S. Department of Education report, based on state estimates, states that there are 220,000 homeless school-age children, about a third of whom do not attend school on a regular basis, But the National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that there are at least two times as many homeless children, and that less than half of them attend school regularly. One part of the homeless population that is particularly difficult to count consists of the "throwaway" youths who have been cast of their homes. The Elementary School Center in New York City estimates that there are 1.5 million of them, many of whom are not counted as children because they do not stay in family shelters and tend to live by themselves on the streets. Federal law, the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, includes a section that addresses the educational needs of homeless children. The educational provisions of the McKinney Act are based on the belief that all homeless children have the right to a free, appropriate education. One part of the homeless population is difficult to estimate. The reason might well be _ .
For over 40 years, Gallup &Stribling has been _ and growing excellent quality orchids at a 48-acre farm on the central California Coast. Now, through our Visitor Center, we're making our award winning orchids available to the public at incredibly low, farm-direct prices. When you come to our Visitor Center you'll see hundreds of beautiful flowering orchids that you can purchase and take home. An expert nurseryman is always on hand to answer questions, help with cultures, and offer growing advice. At our Visitor Center you'll find ^Hundreds of varieties of designer quality, flowering or hybrid orchids at low farm-direct prices. ^Beautiful orchids grown at our farm, along with those from top planters around the world. ^A variety of orchid cultures, pots fertilizers, and growing aids. ^Expert advice and detailed growing information to help you grow beautiful orchids. Gallup and Stribling's Visitor Center is open daily throughout the year. Phone 805-684-9842 for more information. From Santa Barbara: Take Highway 101 South to the Padaro Lane exit in Carpinteria. Turn left, then make a right on Via Real, and go approximately one-half mile to the Visitor Center entrance. From Los Angeles: Take Highway 101 North to the Padaro Lane exit in Carpinteria. Turn right, then make a right on Via Real, and go approximately one-half mile to the Visitor Center entrance. Most people come to Gallup &Stribling mainly to _ . Answer: If you want to make friends and form strong, lasting friendships, consider these suggestions. To make friends, you first need to put yourself out there somehow. Friends seldom come knocking on your door while you sit at home watching TV. Join a club with people who have common interests. You don't necessarily have to have a lot of common interests with people in order to make friends with them. In fact, some of the most rewarding friendships are between two people who don't have much in common at all, but if you have something in common with people, it can make it a lot easier to start a conversation and plan activities together. Use the web and get out! Websites like Meetup.com are aiming to bring people together with common interest. You can join any group or just start your own. If you don't know of a specific topic, try searching for just a location. It's a great way to meet new local people! Join a sports team. A common misconception about this is that you have to be really good at playing a particular sport in order to make friends with others on the team, but not all teams are so competitive. As long as you enjoy the sport and support your teammates, joining a local team with a laid-back attitude could be a great way to make new friends. Volunteer. Volunteering is a great way for people of all ages to meet others. By working together you build bonds with people, and you might meet others who have a passion for doing things the way you do. To make friends, besides spending more time around people, you also need to talk to people. Who is the passage written mainly for? Answer: People all need friends because nobody wants to be lonely and a friend can help you in good and bad times. You've made friends since childhood, but you still don't know who your true friends are. Here are some signs to tell you if your friend is a true friend: Always honest Honesty is important to keep a relationship alive. A true friend always tells you the truth. It may be hard sometimes but lying can destroy a friendship. It is important that your friend speaks honestly and never makes up stories. There are always periods in your life when you have problems or difficulties. A true friend will always have time to listen to your problems and give advice. It may not be able to offer a solution to your problems but the fact that your friend made time to listen is a sign he/ she cares for you. Your friend is not a true friend if he/ she can never make time for you when you are in trouble. You also need to be reasonable and accept that your friend also has other things to do so he/she can't always listen immediately to your problems. Always respectful A true friend will always respect your opinion no matter whether he/she agrees or not. Your true friend may disagree but never insists that he/she is correct. Always understanding It is possible that some problems will arise between you and your friend. A true friend will always be forgiving and understanding even if it isn't his /her fault. We are all different people and we all make mistakes. A true friend is always forgiving and understanding because he/she doesn't want to take the risk of losing his/her best friend. What's the author's purpose in writing this passage? Answer: Some trees can survive a long time without water. Think of trees that grow in the desert. But other trees may need more moisture than they can get from rainfall or from the air . Trees and other plants can look thirsty. Leaves can become weak and hang downward. They can also turn yellow. Yellowing can be a sign of too much water. But it can also be a warning sign of too little water. With a newly planted tree, the roots have not yet spread out from the root ball. The root ball can become dry faster than the dirt around it. So put water on the area of the root ball and the surrounding soil until the roots become established. Once a tree is well established, water deeply instead of watering often. The amount of water needed depends on the tree and the soil. Clay soils hold water for longer periods while sandy soil holds less water. During the hottest season, a deep watering may satisfy a tree for anywhere from ten days to four weeks. Ted Swiecki is a plant scientist . He says people should not water established trees at the base of the trunk . This can harm the tree. Too much water in the soil at the base of a tree can lead to the growth of fungi . If the area is too wet, harmful organisms have a better chance to invade the tree and cause disease. Mr. Swiecki says this is true especially in Mediterranean and semi-dry climates. Many trees in these climates have adapted to having a dry area near their base during the hottest season. He said, "Water displaces (,)air in the soil. And roots are aerobic ; they require oxygen for the soil to function properly. So if you keep the soil completely wet and there's no air there, then the roots are starving for oxygen." What is the passage mainly about? Answer: Last week I talked with some of my students about what they wanted to do after they graduated, and what kind of job prospects they thought they had. Given that I teach students who are training to be doctors, I was surprised do find that most thought that they would not be able to get the jobs they wanted without "outside help". "What kind of help is that?" I asked, expecting them to tell me that they would need a or family friend to help them out. "Surgery ," one replied. I was pretty alarmed by that response. It seems that the graduates of today are increasingly willing to go under the knife to get ahead of others when it comes to getting a job . One girl told me that she was considering surgery to increase her height. "They break your legs, put in special extending screws, and slowly expand the gap between the two ends of the bone as it re-grows, you can get at least 5 cm taller!" At that point, I was shocked. I am short, I can't deny that, but I don't think I would put myself through months of agony just to be a few centimetres taller. I don't even bother to wear shoes with thick soles, as I'm not trying to hide the fact that I am just not tall! It seems to me that there is a trend towards wanting "perfection" , and that is an ideal that just does not exist in reality. No one is born perfect, yet magazines, TV shows and movies present images of thin, tall, beautiful people as being the norm. Advertisements for slimming aids, beauty treatments and cosmetic surgery clinics fill the pages of newspapers, further creating an idea that "perfection" is a requirement, and that it must be purchased, no matter what the cost. In my opinion, skills, rather than appearance, should determine how successful a person is in his/her chosen career. Which' s the best title for the passage?. Answer:
Lisa never had the chance to know her father. He and her mother divorced when she was just a young child. Even though he didn't move far, he never came to visit his children. Lisa often wondered about her father. What did he looked like and what he was doing. All she knew was his name: Jeff White. After Lisa grew up, she became a nurse at a hospital, where she would help provide medicine and comfort for patients in their final days. A few weeks ago, she received a new patient whose name was Jeff White. When Jeff came into his room, Lisa asked him if he had any children. Jeff told her that he had two daughters, Lisa and Elly. Lisa couldn't hold her tears back. She told him, "I am Lisa, your daughter." Jeff embraced her, saying that he was not a good father. And the daughter held his hand and kissed him. Then Jeff began to sing This Magic Moment. Jeff could have just weeks left to live, so Lisa wanted to make the most of the time she had with him. Lisa also brought her kids to the hospital to meet their grandfather. The kid made cards for him with the words, "I love you." Forgiveness is also a kind of love. From the passage we know that _ Answer: The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Copenhagen is offering a free meal to any guest who is able to produce electricity for the hotel on an exercise bike linked to a generator ,The idea is to get people fit and reduce their carbon footprint. Guests will have to produce at least 10 watt hours of electricity -- roughly 15 minutes of cycling for someone of average fitness. Guests staying at Plaza Hotel will be given meat tickets worth $36 once they have produced 10 watt hours of electricity. The bicycles will have smart phones attached to the handlebars measuring how much power is being generated for the hotel. The plan, a world-first, will start on 19 April and run for a year. Only guests staying at the hotel will be able to take part. Frederikke Toemmergaard, hotel spokeswoman, said, "Many of our visitors are business people who enjoy going to the gym. There might be people who will cycle just to get a free meal, but generally I don't think people will take advantage of our programme," Copenhagen has a long-standing cycling tradition and 36% of locals cycle to work each day, one of the highest percentages in the world, according to the website visitcopenhagen.dk. US environmental website treehugger.com recently voted Copenhagen the world's best city for cyclists. "Because Copenhagen is strongly connected with cycling, we felt the bicycle would work well as a symbol of the hotel's green profile ." If successful, the electric bicycle meal programme will be spread to all Crowne Plaza hotels in the UK, the hotel said in a statement. Who are most likely to enter for the programme? Answer: When I was growing up in the suburbs of New York, our first local Earth Day was organized around a drive to a town field where families were urged to empty items from their basements for recycling rather than dropping them in the dustbin. It was an eye opening idea for a kid in 1970. But as an environmental reporter, I'm bored of the large amount of deals and promotions that arrive by email or in my office or home mailbox on Earth Day. Like Valentine's Day, Earth Day has become a huge marketing opportunity--a way to promote consumption. In fact, Earth Day is such a good sales opportunity that some shops, like Target, have expanded Earth Day into Earth Month. There isn't time to give you a variety of the Earth Day shopping opportunities I was informed of this past week. They included deals on buying bottled water and earth-friendly wipes. My award for the silliest promotion: a plan to gift 25 of the most environmentally conscious stars with unique, useful and "green" products and services, including skin care products, cheese-cake and artwork. My guess is most of the stuff will end up in celebrities' garbage. Is buying and selling a good way to celebrate and protect the environment? I would argue that Earth Day might be an occasion to consider giving up purchases or habits that are environmentally questionable or that we could happily do without. How about not buying bottled water, but refilling a water bottle? How about not buying foods--even "organic" foods--that are packed in non-recyclable plastic? Don't get me wrong. The company of Bridgestone is celebrating Earth Day by promising to repurpose a spent tire for every tire that it sells. Verizon will plant a tree for each cell phone you trade in. Some coffee stores will even refill reusable cups at no charge. Target is giving out free reusable carrier bags without requiring a purchase. But few shopkeepers are taking the next step-charging a fee at the cash register for disposable plastic bags, a common practice in Europe-to encourage customers to use those new reusable carriers. Earth Day is transient . If you only showed love on Valentine's Day, would that really mean anything at all? Why do some people expand Earth Day into Earth Month? Answer: Steven Jobs was born on February 24,1955,in San Francisco,California,and was adopted by Paul and Clara Jobs.In 1961 the family moved to Mountain View, California.At that time people started to refer to the area as "Silicon Valley". As a child, Jobs preferred doing things by himself, not interested in team sports or other group activities.He enrolled in the HewlettPackard Explorer Club. There he saw his first computer at the age of twelve. He was very impressed, and knew right away that he wanted to work with computers. At that time almost all computers were so large that one could fill a room, and so costly that individuals could not afford to buy them.Advances in electronics, however, meant that the parts of a computer were getting smaller and the power of the computer was increasing. By 1980 the personal computer era was well underway.Apple was continually forced to improve its products to remain ahead, as more competitors entered the marketplace. Apple introduced the Apple III, but the new model suffered technical and marketing problems.It was removed from the market. Early in 1983 Jobs unveiled the Lisa.It did not sell well,however, because it was more expensive than personal computers sold by competitors.Apple's biggest competitor was International Business Machines (IBM). By 1983 it was estimated that Apple had lost half of its market share ( part of an industry's sales that a specific company has) to IBM. In 1984 Apple introduced a revolutionary new model, the Macintosh.The Macintosh did not sell well to businesses,however.It lacked features other personal computers had, such as a corresponding high quality printer. The failure of the Macintosh signaled the beginning of Jobs's downfall at Apple. Late in 1988 the NeXT computer was introduced, aimed at the educational market.The product was very userfriendly,and had a fast processing speed, excellent graphics displays,and an outstanding sound system.Despite the warm reception,however, the NeXT machine never caught on. It was too costly, had a blackandwhite screen, and could not be linked to other computers or run common software. Which of the following leads to Jobs's downfall at Apple? Answer: This is a picture of Kate Green's family. In the picture we can see her grandparents, herparents, her brother Mike and her. Her grandparents are on the chair. Mr Green and Mrs Greenare behind them. Mike is under the window. Kate is on the floor. What's behind Kate? It's a cat. It's black and white. Where is Mrs Green? Answer:
For many people the subject of hiccups is a joke, but for Harry Mendes, a fifteen-year-old schoolboy from Birmingham, it was something quite different. His hiccups began one Sunday lunch time and continued day and night for two weeks. After the first week, Harry's parents took him to hospital, but it took another week for the doctors to cure his attack. Harry, who is now back at school, described what happened to him. "When I began to hiccup, I drank a glass of water but that didn't do any good. That evening I had hiccups every four seconds. We tried everything to stop them. I held my breath and drank cold drinks. My father even tried to give me a shock but that didn't work either." After a week of sleepless nights, he went to hospital. The doctors took an X-ray of his chest but they couldn't find anything wrong. "They gave me some medicine and my hiccups slowed down, but it was another week before the medicine worked completely and my hiccups stopped." Harry was very lucky. The world record holder is the American farmer Charles Osborne, who hiccupped for sixty-eight years. He stopped in 1990 at last, but nobody knows why. His hiccups started after he _ . A drank a glass of water B went to hospital C ate an Indian meal D finished his homework Answer: C Teachers say the digital age has had a good influence - and a not-so-good influence - on this generation of American teenagers.More than 2,000 teachers took an online survey.Three-quarters of the teachers said the Internet and digital search tools have had a "mostly positive" effect on their students' research habits and skills.But 64 percent said the technologies "do more to distract( - - - ---) students than to help them academically." And 87 percent agreed that these technologies are creating an "easily distracted generation with short attention spans." The Pew Internet Project did the survey with the National Writing Project.Judy Buchanan is the vice director of the National Writing Project and a co-author of the report.Ms.Buchanan says digital research tools are helping students learn more and faster."Teachers really favor these tools because they are ways to make some of the learning exciting and engaging.Young people favor these tools.The goal is to really help them become creators of meaningful content, and not just sort of consumers." But one problem the survey found is that many students lack digital literacy.They trust too muck of the information they find on the Internet.Judy says these students haven't developed the skills to determine the quality of online information."It's something that really has to be taught and paid attention to.Because in a world in which things happen quickly, you do need to step back, reflect and analyze the information you have." Another problem is blamed on something that might not seem like a problem at all: being able to quickly find information online.Teachers say the result is a reduction in the desire and ability of their students to work hard to find answers.They say students are overly dependent on search engines and do not make enough use of printed books or research libraries. Many teachers are also concerned that the Internet makes it easy for students to copy work done by others instead of using their own abilities. Some students don't tend to work hard because A they can get answers on the Internet quickly B printed books and libraries around aren't enough C the Internet can't make students concentrate D they can copy each others' work without being punished Answer: A Dr. Julie Coulton, a British psychologist, focuses her research on the extraordinary function of the play in the physical and spiritual development of children and Martti Bergson from the University of Helsinki shows that playing outside, in the open air, contributes to a better development of the brain. Thus parents must encourage their children to spend as much time as possible in the open air, and at the same time, to ask schools and kindergartens to assure the small a playground outside. Recent statistics and studies show an alarming increase of the number of hours spent by children in front of the TV and the computer and a decrease of the time spent outside. As a consequence more and more children suffer from eye problems and have to wear glasses. Also the problem of fatness among children concerns many parents who don't know what to do anymore to make their children eat healthy and balanced. Children need a space where to develop their creativity mid parents should encourage them all the time. Too many rules hold back the child's personality and creativity and prevent them to develop the desire to know, to find out, to learn. If you tell your child so many times: "Don't do that, don't mess the room, don't go there ...", he will lose the desire to do something, anything. Parents must watch their children without suffocating them. Should you consider they mustn't do that or this, you have to logically explain them your reasons and they will understand. Through playing a child learns how to communicate, how to take decisions. Playing is connected to the intellectual, emotional and social progress of the child. Playing lets your children learn how to express his feelings. The author advises us _ . A to allow children to do whatever we want them to do B never to forbid children to do anything they want to do C to explain why when you don't let children do something D to watch children playing anytime to ensure their safety Answer: C Let's do some sleep math.You lost two hours of sleep every night last week because of a big project due on Friday.On Saturday and Sunday,you slept in,getting four extra hours.On Monday morning, you were feeling so bright-eyed that you only had one cup of coffee, instead of your usual two.But don't be cheated by your energy.You're still carrying around a heavy load of sleepiness, or what experts call"sleep debt"----in this case something like six hours,almost a full nights' sleep. Sleep debt is the difference between the amount of sleep you should be getting and the amount you actually get.It's a deficit that grows every time we skim some extra minutes off our nightly sleep."People accumulate sleep debt gradually without being noticed,"says William C.Dement,founder of the Stanford University Sleep Clinic.Studies show that such short--term sleep deprivation leads to a foggy brain,worsened vision,and trouble remembering. Long-term effects include obesity,insulin resistance, and heart disease. A survey by the National Sleep Foundation reports that we're losing one hour of sleep each night----more than two full weeks of sleep every year. The good news is that,like all debt, with some work,sleep debt can be repaid. Adding an extra hour or two of sleep a night is the way to catch up.For the long--term lack of sleep,take it easy for a few months to get back into a natural sleep pattern. Go to bed when you are tired,and allow your body to wake you in the morning(no alarm clock allowed).You may find yourself catatonic in the beginning of the recovery cycle:expect to have ten hours shut-eye per night. As the days pass, however,the amount of sleeping time will gradually decrease. So earn back that lost sleep----and follow the dictates of your innate sleep needs. You'll feel better."When you put away sleep debt, you become a superman,"says Stanford's Dement, talking about the improved mental and physical capabilities that come with being well rested. What might be the most suitable title for the passage? A Can you catch up on lost sleep? B How can you keep energetic? C Can you have a good sleep? D What is sleep debt? Answer: A Scientists have claimed a milestone in the drive for new energy--development of the first practical artificial leaf, an advanced solar cell that imitates the process,called photosynthesis ,that green plants use to make sunlight and water into energy. "A practical artificial leaf has been a dream of scientists for decades,"said Daniel Nocera,who led the research team."We believe we have made it.The artificial leaf shows particular promise as an inexpensive source of electricity for homes of the poor in developing countries. One can imagine villages in India and Africa soon purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology." The leaf is like the shape of a poker card but thinner.Placed in water in a bright sunlight,it could produce enough electricity to supply a house in a developing country with electricity for a day by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, which are stored in a fuel cell to produce electricity. The"artificial leaf"is not a new concept.The first artificial leaf was developed more than a decade ago by John Ttlrner.However, it was impractical for wider use,as it was composed of rare,expensive metals and was highly unstable with a lifespan of barely one day. Nocera's new leaf overcomes these problems.It is made of inexpensive materials that are widely available,works under simple conditions and is highly stable.Laboratory studies showed that it could operate continuously for at least 45 hours without a drop in activity. The key to this breakthrough is Nocera's recent discovery of several new powerful, inexpensive catalysts,which are able to accelerate the chemical reaction under simple conditions.Right now, Nocera's leaf is about 10 times more efficient at carrying out photosynthesis than a natural leaf.Yet he is optimistic that he can boost the efficiency of the device much higher in the future. According to the passage, catalysts in the artificial leaf _ . A speed up the process of chemical reactions B reduce the loss of energy during its operation C work as a media to store collected energy D slow down the course of chemical reactions Answer: A
Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment. ks5u Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas. ks5u There are many environment-friendly sport. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don't need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes;and you don't have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control. ks5u Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be "green gyms". They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it's free. ks5u What do we know about golf from the passage? ks5u Answer: It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green. ks5u There once was a giant orange farm in space. No human had ever been there before. It could not be reached by plane, spaceship, car, or any other means of travel. The farm was run by large squirrels, and was started in 1032. They owned the planet the farm was on, called Etopit. In the year 2037, one brave man named Hugo wanted to travel to Etopit to see the farm. On Earth, it was known the squirrels grew better oranges than any other animal, including rabbits, dogs, and horses. Hugo wanted to learn the squirrels' secrets and bring them back to Earth. Hugo was no normal man. He could sneeze so hard that it would send him flying into the air. Hugo put on a squirrel costume, and had his friend Ralph tickle his nose for 7 hours. Hugo sneezed so hard he flew into space and landed in Etopit. The squirrels did not know he was a human because of his costume. Hugo met Rufus and Xenon, 2 of the most power squirrels in space. He told them his name was Tiddlywink, and that he was sent by the squirrel king from Etopit's moon Rebeti to help them grow even more oranges. Rufus and Xenon told him all their secrets. Hugo wrote all of them down, then sneezed so hard he went back to Earth! With his help, Earth has now become the best place to grow oranges. Where was the giant orange farm? Answer: Etopit Have you ever heard of e-waste(electric waste,), which can be produced every day? How do you deal with your computers, MP4 players and mobile phones when they're broken or you want a new one? Most people just throw them away. With the development of electric industry, e-waste pollution has become a serious problem. According to the United Nations, in 2014, people around the world produced 41.8 million tons of e-waste and only recycled 6.5 million tons. The US was the biggest waster, producing 7.1 million tons. China came second, with 6 million tons. It's important to pay attention to e-waste. It can either be valuable or harmful , depending on how we deal with it. E-waste is a valuable urban mine . The value of the metals, like gold and silver in the waste around the world, is amazing. And the metals can be reused. But if people throw them away, the toxic chemicals can get into the earth or air, effecting the environment and people's health. Apple, for example, now recycle people's used products in China when they are buying new ones. The company will test and repair the used ones and sell them at lower prices. To help reduce e-waste, we can also take computers and phones to see if companies offer recycling programs. Which country produced most e-waste last year according to the United Nations? Answer: America On the first evening, the three of us were tired after walking for about eight hours. We soon fell asleep. In the morning, I was surprised to find the bag of food had been open. "Bears," said Joe, "we should hang the food in a tree tonight." Later that day we stopped in a beautiful field by a river. We put up the tent and fell asleep. During the night the bears came again. This time they took the food from the tree. "Bears can climb trees. They can smell food from a long way away," said Ben. "We must keep the camp clean. Bears must think our rubbish is food," I said. "And we should make lots of noise, too. If they know where we are, they may not come any closer," said Joe. "But if you see a bear," said Ben, "you mustn't make any sudden moves or make a sound, and you mustn't run either. No one can run faster in the forest than a bear. And remember we don't have a gun to keep us safe." That night, we went to sleep ... or we tried to. The next day, while the others were resting, I went for a walk in the forest. Suddenly, I saw a baby bear playing with some sticks and stones. He looked so soft and friendly, and I thought, "If I reach out, I can just touch him." There was a loud noise behind me. I didn't dare to move, not even turn my head. There was another loud noise. The baby bear looked up, and ran towards me. I turned pale and he ran past me into the woods. I couldn't turn round until a few minutes later. Then I saw the baby bear and his huge mother walking away. I ran back to my friends. I have never run so fast. For the next 10 days, every time there was sudden noise, my blood went cold. Why did the writer run back fast to his friends? Answer: He was really scared. Room 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. Dr. Severino Antinori, who is head of a hospital in Rome, has been referred to in an Arab newspaper claiming that one of his parents 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 with two years. So far seven different kinds of animals have already successfully been cloned, including sheep, cats and most recently rabbits. Doctors showed their doubt and were strongly opposed although they admitted that human cloning would finally come true unless there was a worldwide ban on the practice. Professor Rudolf Jaenisch of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said, "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 USA, 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 birth. 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 beings, just harm," said Dr. Michael Wilks of the U.K. Which of the following is true according to the passage? Answer: Ronald Green doubts about the future successful birth of the so-called cloned embryo.
The Mona Lisa Leonardo da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa in 1503. He was working on a special painting for a church at the time, but the church painting was not going well. An Italian businessman asked da Vinci to paint a picture of his second wife. This is the woman who can be seen in the Mona Lisa. All in all, the Mona Lisa is a very good example of da Vinci`s works. Da Vinci used darkness and light in a clever way in the painting. Da Vinci loved science and math. Right away a person can see that there is a lot of geometry in the Mona Lisa. The face of the Mona Lisa is made of many circles and round shapes like balls. Even her smile can be seen as a small part of a large circle. The woman in the painting is sitting on a balcony ,and mountains can be seen behind her. Da Vinci loved to study rocks and mountains, so these can be seen over and over in his other paintings. The woman is sitting with her knees to the side. Her head is turned to look out of the painting. Her hands are held together in front of her. This way of sitting is now used by many artists when they are painting a picture of a man or a woman today. The woman in the painting is _ Jane Austen, a famous English writer, was born in Steventon, Hampshire, on December 16, 1775, and died on July 18,1817. She began writing early in life, although the prejudices of her times forced her to have her books published anonymously. . But Jane Austen is perhaps the best known and best loved of Bath's many famous local people and visitors. She paid two long visits during the last five years of the eighteenth century and from 1801 to 1806, Bath was her home. Her deep knowledge of the city is fully seen in two of her novels, Northanger Addey and Persuasion, which are largely set in Bath. The city is still very much as Jane Austen knew it, keeping its streets and public buildings the well--ordered world that she described so well in her novels. Now the pleasure of learning Jane Austen's Bath can be enhanced by visiting the Jane Austen Center in Gay Street. Here, in a Georgian town house in the heart of the city, you can find out more about Bath in Jane Austen's time and the importance of Bath in her life and work. The Center has been set up with the help and guidance of members of the Jane Austen Society. After your visit to the Center, you can look round the attractive shop, which offers a huge collection of Jane Austen related books, cards and many specially designed gifts. Jane Austen quizzes are offered to keep the children busy. You can also have walking tours of Jane Austen's Bath, which is a great way to find out more about Jane Austen and discover the wonderful Georgian city of Bath. The tour lasts about one and a half hours. The experienced guides will take you to the places where Jane lived, walked and shopped. The author writes this passage in order to _ . Several years ago, a student working on a research project in my laboratory approached me with concern."I'm doing something wrong,"she exclaimed. I had seen her research results and knew she was making good progress, so I was surprised to hear that she was having a problem. Over the next several days we went through her experiment; yet I could not find a problem. Finally, I asked her,"Why do you think you're doing something wrong?" "Because I'm not getting what you said I should get,"she replied with some confusion. Her response shocked me. I had not told her what she"should get", but we had discussed some published hypotheses several weeks earlier. On seeing the research data that did not fit these predictions, I recognized that she had a new finding and came to change my hypotheses. But she was interpreting her results as a mistake. With almost four years of a college science major behind her, this student still had the common misunderstanding that science is a boring exercise in proving something we already know to be true. But how can this happen? Throughout school, science is often described in textbooks as a series of"known"facts and figures; for example, DNA is a double helix; earthquakes occur at plate boundaries, etc. Unfortunately, the process by which these discoveries were made and how they fit into scientific progress are often ignored in the classroom. These details help show the nature of scientific discoveries and the tails help show the nature of scientific discoveries and the skepticism that goes with new discoveries before they are accepted. Understanding science is more than memorizing that DNA is a double helix. It is to have the ability to take in new information on diet, exercise, or disease and apply it to our own lives. Understanding the process of science and scientific problem-solving can help us make better decisions every day. How did the writer feel when he found out the reason for the student's confusion? A few years ago, I took a sightseeing trip to Washington, D.C.Standing outside the Ronald Reagan Center, I heard a voice say, "Can you help me?" When I turned around, I saw an elderly blind woman with her hand extended.In a natural reflex , I reached into my pocket, pulled out all of my loose change and placed it on her hand without even looking at her.I was annoyed at being bothered by a beggar.But the blind woman smiled and said, "I don't want your money.I just need help finding the post office. In an instant, I realized what I had done.I judged another person simply for what I assumed she had to be.I hated what I saw in myself.This incident re-awakened my belief in humility , even though I'd lost it for a moment. The thing I had forgotten about myself is that I am an immigrant.I left Honduras and arrived in the U.S.at the age of 15.I started my new life with two suitcases, my brother and sister, and a strong, serious-minded mother.Through the years, I have been a dishwasher, mechanic and pizza delivery driver among many other humble jobs, and eventually I became a network engineer. In my own life, I have experienced many open acts of prejudice .I remember a time, at age 17 -- I worked as a waiter, and I heard a father tell his little boy that if he did not do well in school, he would end up like me.I have also witnessed the same treatment of my family and friends, so I know what it's like, and I should have known better. But now, living in my American middle-class lifestyle, it is too easy to forget my past, to forget who I am and where I have been, and to lose sight of where I want to be going.That blind woman on the streets of Washington, D.C., cured me of my blindness.She reminded me of my belief in humility and to always keep my eyes and heart open.By the way, I helped that lady to the post office.And in writing this essay, I hope to thank her for the priceless lesson. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage? Collecting Barbie Dolls is a favorite hobby of many women and girls throughout the world. Since Barbie first appeared at the American International Toy Fair in 1959, she has become the most popular doll in the world. Many collectors of Barbie Dolls collect the dolls just for fun. They often collect some dolls they like or think are special. However, there are some serious collectors. They have hundreds of dolls, and spend almost thousands of dollars each year. Many Barbie collectors not only collect the dolls, but also collect items of the dolls. Many collections include different items of Barbie's fashion clothes. If you become a serious collector of Barbie Dolls, you will be likely to want to join a Barbie collectors' club. The more you know about Barbie and her history, the more you want to grow your collections. No matter which kind of collector you are, casual or serious, Barbie dolls can be a fun and interesting hobby for girls and women of all ages. Which of the following is NOT right about the serious collectors of Barbie Dolls?[:##]
When the man's wife died, their youngest baby was 2 years old. They had six other children -- three boys and three girls, aged from 4 to 16. The man's parents and his wife's parents came to visit. "We've been talking about how to make this work," they said. "There's no way you can take care of all these children and work to make a living. So, we've decided to place each child with a different uncle and aunt." The man refused. Over the next few weeks, he moved the family to a tiny town and opened a small business. His business developed quickly. He was happy to see people and serve them. He became popular with people for his pleasant personality and excellent customer service. People came from far away to do business with him. And the children helped both at home and at work. The children grew up and got married. Five of the seven went off to college. The children's success was a source of pride to the father. Then came grandchildren. No one enjoyed grandchildren more than this man. As they became toddlers , he invited them to his workplace and his small home. They brought each other great joy. Finally, the youngest daughter, who was 2 years old when the mother died, got married. With his life's work done, the father died. This man's work had been the lonely but joyful task of raising his family. This man was my father. I was the 16-year-old, the oldest of seven. ,. (5,2,10) The father died _ . Answer: Severely disabled people may soon be able to use their noses to write, drive a wheelchair or surf the Internet, thanks to a device developed by doctors in Israel. The device will be used by breathing in and out through the nose, according to a study. Healthy people who tested the device quickly learned to play computer games and write sentences by sniffing. Encouraged by the results, the researchers decided to test their device on people who are paralyzed but whose intelligence remains normal. Ten paralyzed who tested the device quickly learned to use their noses to write words, open a webpage, copy words and put them into a search engine. With their success in helping severely disabled people to communicate * the researchers decided to make use of the new technology to design an electric wheelchair to be driven by sniffs. Ten healthy people easily mastered sniff--driving a wheelchair through a maze , and a 30-year-old man who had been paralyzed from the neck down for six years was as good a sniff-driver as the healthy participants at his second attempt. In other words, a paralyzed person could use the sniff controller to drive an electric wheelchair. At the moment, sniff-controlled technology is still in the stage of development, and the Weizmann Institute has already applied for a patent on the device. "Ill be very happy if it can help us to make money, but the real problem is that I hope someone will develop it, because this would help a lot of people," said Sobel, one of the lead researchers of the study. In the test, the paralyzed people with normal intelligence can use their nose to _ . Answer: The size and shape of your ears show your character more than any other part of the face. Other parts of the face change shapes as we get older, but ears do not change their shapes. They only change in size. Reading people's character from their ears is a very old science. In the past people thought that a person's ears with color was dangerous. They also thought that the shape of the ears showed if a person was musical or not. Today,too many people believe that the size and shape of the ears help you know if a person is musical. Ears are all different,and each different thing has a meaning. Next time you look at a person,see if his or her ears are large,medium-size,or small. Look at the lobes .Do they stick to the face? Ears that are always red mean that a person may get angry easily. Ears that are always cold and nearly white color mean that a person has a nervous character. If you look at someone's ears, the right way is _ . Answer: March is a month of fun-filled activities for the entire family! When you want some family fun activities for March, consider these ideas centered on some of the events and holidays happening in this month. Dr. Seuss's Birthday March 2ndis Dr. Seuss's birthday and kids and adults of all ages can celebrate with books, games and more to honor this famous author of kids' books. Take some time in March to read your favorite books with your children or to read some you have never read before. Spring Break Spring Break can be the perfect time for families while the children are out of school. There are many places for families during this time period. For example, you might consider a trip to a local theme park or a national park. They often run junior camps and other activities during Spring Break that you can enjoy as a family. St. Patrick's Day St. Patrick's Day is on March 17thand you don't have to be Irish to enjoy this holiday. This is a great time to get all the family together to enjoy quality time together. You can also take this time to explore the holiday, its history and what it means. You can also start or continue with your own St. Patrick's Day traditions that your family can continue year after year. Seasonal Arts and Crafts Arts and crafts can be a fun family activity all year round. So if you're looking to spend this fun time together in March, you can look for some seasonal arts and crafts ideas. You can do early preparation for Easter, spring plants and pictures, sun catchers for hanging in the windows or other seasonal related ideas. This is also a great time to consider planting a flower garden or working on outdoor craft projects. What does the text mainly focus on? Answer: Rain storms and blizzards can be very dangerous to drive in due to the amount of precipitation they produce, which will do what to the roads visibility? Answer:
Which are you more likely to have with you at any given moment-your cell phone or your wallet? Soon you may be able to throw your wallet away and pay for things with a quick wave of your smart phone over an electronic scanner. In January, Starbucks announced that customers could start using their phones to buy coffee in 6,800 of its stores. This is the first pay-by-phone practice in the U.S., but we're likely to see more wireless payment alternatives as something called near field communication (NFC) gets into America's consumer electronics. Last December, some new smart phones which contain an NFC chip were introduced to the public. Already in use in parts of Asia and Europe, NFC allows shoppers to wave their phones a few inches above a payment terminal - a contact- free system built for speed and convenience. But before NFC becomes widely adopted in the U.S., a few problems need to be worked out, like who will get to collect the profitable transaction fees. Although some credit card providers have been experimenting with wave-and- pay systems that use NFC-enabled credit cards, cell phone service providers may try to muscle their way into the point-of-sale(POS)market. Three big cell phone service providers have formed a joint venture that will go into operation over the next 15 months. Its goal is "to lead the U.S. payments industry from cards to mobile phone." The other big NFC issue, apart from how payments will be processed, is security. For instance, what's to stop a thief from digitally pick-pocketing you? "We're still not at the point where an attacker can just brush against you in a crowd and steal all the money out of your phone," says Jimmy Shah. A mobile- security researcher, "Users may also be able to set transaction limits, perhaps requiring a password to be entered for larger purchases." Still uneasy about this digital-wallet business? Keep in mind that if you lose your smart phone, it can be located on a map and remotely disabled. Plus, your phone can be password protected. Your wallet isn't. What is predicted to happen in the U.S.? A. The expansion of cell phone companies. B. The boom of pay-by-phone business. C. The disappearance of credit cards. D. The increase of Starbucks sales. Answer: B. The boom of pay-by-phone business. Dear Michelle, My Dad hates my Mom. He tells me that she is a liar and that I should not trust her. Of course, they are divorced but they have "joint custody" . What a joke! I am 15, my brother is nine, and we have a life of hell, frankly. We live one week on and one week off. This was the brilliant idea of both of my parents, which was fair to them but ruining my life. I cannot get away from his voice and his putting my mom down. Sometimes I think about running away. A Hopeless Ant Dear Hopeless Ant, First, thank you for trusting me with your problem. If all you said is correct, then there are several things that you can and should do to help yourself, your brother, and oddly enough, your parents. You need a family counselor. Such a person could listen to each family member alone and then meet together to talk about the situation. If refused, you need to talk to a counselor in your school. You need to be heard, and you need an adult who will listen. A school counselor can organize a meeting with your parents. Perhaps you need to write to your mother. Writing things down allows people to go over it more than one time. I cannot imagine that she will stand passively by and do nothing at all to help once she reads how you feel. Your father needs a letter as well. He may not realize the destructive effect that it has on his children. Lastly, have a plan in mind when all else fails that is not self-destructive. Life passes very quickly, sweetheart, and you will grow up and have your own life. Until then, you need to keep yourself safe. Never doubt that it will get better. Write back and let me know how everything is going. Michelle In which part of a magazine will the text probably appear? A. Entertainment B. Advertisement C. Life D. Education Answer: C. Life Taking place every spring in the world's leading publishing and cultural capital, it's a unique opportunity to explore and understand the innovations shaping the publishing world of the future. When: 08-10 April 2014 Where: Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Warwick Road, London, SW5 9TA Who Attends? The London Book Fair attracts a global audience of visitors and exhibitors from all areas of the publishing community. * 25,000 Attendees , 113 countries Key visitor audiences include: <> Literary Agents/Scouts <> Publishers <> Booksellers <> Library and Information Professionals <> Production, Distribution, Technical and Creative Professionals * 1,500 Exhibiting Companies The LBF floorplan allows exhibitors to showcase their products and titles by sector: Academic \| Art, Architecture & Design \| Children's & Young Adult \| Digital & Mobile \| General Publishing \| Publishing Solutions \| STM & ELT Earls Court Information The Earls Court Business Centre offers a comprehensive range of business services, including: <> Incoming and outgoing fax and telephone calls <> Photocopying and printing <> Internet access <>Telephone points for laptops <> PC workstations with standard office software <> Courier service Visa Information If you are not a British citizen or a citizen of one of the European Economic Area (EEA) countries, you may need to acquire a visa-entry clearance certificate-before you travel to Britain. Visitors can access the visa letter service only once they have registered for the London Book Fair on line. On completion of your registration you will receive a confirmation email which includes your badge number and a link to the visa letter service completion page. Here you need to complete all your contact and company details, your badge number, your passport number and your date of birth. Once you have successfully submitted this information, it will produce a printable letter that you can take to your nearest British consular. Exhibitors can access the visa letter service via the Exhibitor Portal online. Join us in April 2014 at Earls Court, London, registering as a visitor allows you access to exhibitors, show features and over 250 Love Learning seminars and events. The London Book Fair team is on hand to help you with any questions you may have about visiting or exhibiting at the show. According to the passage, we can learn that the London Book Fair _ . A. is held in different cities in the UK every year B. requires visitors from EEA countries to get a visa C. gives attendees three-day access to seminars and events D. attracts a global audience with no limit to exhibitors Answer: C. gives attendees three-day access to seminars and events A herd of wild horses has been decreasing in size rapidly. Which of these might be the cause? A. There has been a lot of rain B. The month of July has arrived C. Predators have moved out of the area D. All of the vegetation has been dying Answer: D. All of the vegetation has been dying You have probably been told by your high school instructor that writing is an important and practical skill. However, you may not be convinced that the ability to write will be important in your own future. If so, you will be surprised at the results of a recent survey by the National Institute of Education. More than four thousand working men and women who had graduated fifteen years earlier were asked to name the courses they would have taken in college if they had known better. The designer of the survey expected people to name courses in computer science, mathematics, or business. But the course most often mentioned was writing. If you already have a job, you are probably not surprised at their answers. Many jobs require the ability to write. Despite the increasing use of the telephone and the computer, much information must be communicated in writing.Some ten million people--managers, engineers, sales representatives, and many others-- write regularly as part of their jobs. Summaries, reports, reports, letters and speeches are required in today's work world. The ability to write, therefore, is an important skill. The successful individual is almost always the one who can communicate successfully in writing. Writing communicates your thoughts and feelings to others; it also tells you something about yourself. Maybe this is what Eldridge Cleaver had in mind in his autobiography, "I started to write... to save myself...I had to seek out the truth... I had to find out who I am and what I want to be ,what type of man I should be ,and what I could do to become the best of which I was capable." The author suggests that _ need to communicate a lot in writing. A. mangers B. engineers C. sales representatives D. all of the above Answer: D. all of the above
You've probably seen it before-two elderly people walking hand in hand down the street and looking very much like each other. They look so much alike that they could be brother and sister. Do you believe that people who live together for many years would look alike? It's strange. but scientists say it's true. How scientists proved it? In a study, scientists found young couples only showed similarity by chance. However, elder couples were very likely to look like each other. The similarity could be very subtle and could be found in wrinkles or furrows, etc. Besides, some couples look far more alike than other couples. The scientists thought of several possible reasons: 1. Diet. "We are what we eat." As couples usually share the same diet, will they probably look alike? For example, if both partners eat a high fat diet, their faces will tend to look fat. However, the scientists ruled this out using another small study. 2. Environment. Will elderly couples show similarity because they live together in the same area for a long time? The environmental factors such as sunshine and wind affect the skin in similar ways. The scientists ruled this possibility out as well. 3. Empathy . This is the theory the scientists believe in. Couples grow to look similar because they are empathizing with each other. They copy each other's facial expressions. For example, if one partner often smiles in a certain way, the other is likely to copy it. In this way, their faces share similar wrinkles and furrows. The old couples look _ than the young couples. Answer: What material can be used to transmit power to a light bulb? Answer: Note-taking is a skill that can help you do well in all your schoolwork. It can make you confident when you are studying. But unluckily, most students don't know how to take notes. Write down key facts. If your teacher writes notes on the blackboard, that's great. You can copy them or write down the most important facts of all in class. Different teachers do things differently. For example, some teachers may focus on lots of dates and facts in class, but they only write the important ones on the blackboard. Other teachers may not write anything down, but they may say something important again and again. Ask. Don't be afraid to ask your teacher to repeat what you miss. If your teacher speaks too fast and you can't follow what he is saying, you can ask him after class. Compare. Comparing your notes with your classmates' can be good for your learning. It can also help you and your classmates correct some mistakes. Organize . Note-taking also needs organization. Keep notes for each subject in one notebook, so that you can find everything easily when a test comes. Good note-taking takes time. If you decide to recopy your notes every evening, you'll surely have less time to watch TV. But you'll save time in the coming test. There are _ main points about note-taking in this passage. Answer: We humans can play the piano . of course we play the piano with our ten fingers . But Teotronica can play with its 19 fingers . Teotronica is not a human . It is a robot . It is a special robot which can play the piano like humans . Nattei Suzzi is the inventor of Teotronica . Matteo Suzzi comes from Italy and he is more than thirty years old . He was interested in science when he was young . He always likes to use his head to create amazing things . He spent four years making the musical robot . He made the piano-playing robot at a cost of about 4,700 dollars . Teotronica is a special and great robot . It has more fingers than humans . It plays the piano faster than a human . Teotronica can sing as well when it plays the piano . It is the first robot to do so and many people feel excited to see it ,. Teotronica can even use its eyes to interact with humans because there are cameras in its eyes .Teotronica is amazing , isn't it ? Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage ? Answer: 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 watches tennis on TV _ . Answer:
Until recently, the "science of the future" was supposed to be electronics and artificial intelligence. Today it seems more and more likely that the next great breakthroughs in technology will be brought through a combination of those two sciences with organic chemistry and genetic engineering. This combination is the science of biotechnology. Organic chemistry enables us to produce marvelous synthetic materials. However, it is still difficult to manufacture anything that has the capacity of wool to conserve heat and also to absorb moisture. Nothing that we have been able to produce so far comes anywhere near the combination of strength, lightness and flexibility that we find in the bodies of ordinary insects. Nevertheless, scientists in the laboratory have already succeeded in "growing" a material that has many of the characteristics of human skin. The next step may well be "biotech hearts and eyes" which can replace diseased organs in human beings. These will not be rejected by the body, as is the case with organs from humans. The application of biotechnology to energy production seems even more promising. In 1996 the famous science fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke, many of whose previous predictions have come true, said that we may soon be able to develop remarkably cheap and renewable sources of energy. Some of these power sources will be biological. Clarke and others have warned us repeatedly that sooner or later we will have to give up our dependence on non-renewable power sources. Coal, oil and gas are indeed convenient. However, using them also means creating dangerously high levels of pollution. It will be impossible to meet the growing demand for energy without increasing that pollution to catastrophic levels unless we develop power sources that are both cheaper and cleaner. It is attempting to think that biotechnology or some other "science of the future" can solve our problems. Before we surrender to that temptation we should remember nuclear power. Only a few generations ago it seemed to promise limitless, cheap and safe energy. Today those promises lie buried in a concrete grave in a place called Chernobyl, in the Ukraine. Biotechnology is unlikely, however, to break its promises in quite the same or such a dangerous way. According to the passage, the science of the future is likely to be _ . Answer: biotechnology Until last summer I had a very comfortable life: winter vacations skiing and summer cruises. My parents spent a lot of money on a private school, so they could get me into a competitive middle school. Everything was about tomorrow, next year, my graduation. We never had to worry about today. Before last summer I never thought much about the people in the world who live day to day, every day, whose lives are controlled by poverty and hunger. Then I enrolled in a two-week intensive program. We lived in a "Tribal Village," in a hot, dry open grassland in Arkansas, a state of the south-central United States. I am a tribal member in Mozambique, a country of southeast Africa. Every meal, I make the fire for my family, and feel the flames lick up my nostrils as I blow to keep the fuel alive. I cook mush with vegetables. This is all my family is ever given. I feed the hen and three rabbits their dinner. I grow attached to the rabbits, even though I know I shouldn't. I name them. I'm not getting enough to eat; it's time to decide whether or not to kill the rabbits. I feel pain but it's a privileged child's pain because I know I will soon be eating again. That's not true for a lot of other children around the world. Growing up comfortably in the U.S., I've never had to worry about my dinner, and even though this whole process was only a _ , it changed my life. Now I believe in doing whatever I can to help find practical ways to defeat hunger. So I've become president of Roots and Shoots, a group working to improve local environments for people and animals. I'm also working to create a program at my high school called the "Safe Passage" trip to help young people in the Guatemala City dump. And I've got plans to do more. I'm often thinking of laboring in the hot sun and the millions who still do. Now, I try to live for today and stop worrying so much about the future. When I eat or feel full, I am grateful for this fortunate life and want to extend the same feeling to others. I believe in offering help to those who need it. What influence did the author's experience in the "Tribal Village" have on her? Answer: It gave birth to a belief in helping others. Last summer vacation, I volunteered to work at a vet's . There I saw a lot of dogs. Minnie was the funniest-looking dog I'd ever seen. _ She was brought to the vet because her owners didn't want her any more. I thought Minnie had a sweet personality, though."No one should judge her by her looks,"I thought. Finally, I advertised Minnie in the local paper."Funny-looking dog, well-behaved, needs a loving family." When a boy called, I warned him that Minnie was strange-looking. The boy on the phone told me that his grandfather's sixteen-year-old dog had just died. They wanted Minnie no matter what. I gave Minnie a good bath. Then we waited for them to arrive. At last, an old car pulled up in front of the vet's. Two kids raced to the door. They picked Minnie up and rushed her out to their grandfather, who was waiting in the car. I hurried behind them to see his reaction to Minnie. Inside the car, the grandfather held Minnie in his arms and _ her soft hair. She licked his face. Her tail wagged around so quickly that it looked like it might fly off her body. "She's perfect!"the old man said happily. I was thankful that Minnie had found a good home. Suddenly, I saw that the grandfather's eyes were a milky white colour--he was blind. Which of the following is TRUE? Answer: The old man couldn't see how funny Minnie looked. Sandra puts some pill bugs into an open box. She covers half the box with a piece of cardboard. She then places the box outside on a summer day, and all the pill bugs move under the cardboard. The pill bugs are most likely responding to which of the following? Answer: bright light Do you want to be in good health? Try to do the following things! You can become strong. Drink eight cups of water every day. Water helps your body in many ways. If you feel......,have a cup of water. Don't forget to eat your breakfast. Breakfast gives you everything your body needs for the morning. So do not forget your breakfast. Calcium . Your bones need it. Milk has more calcium. You may also drink orange juice with calcium in it. Go for a walk every day after meals. Walking is a good exercise, and people need exercise for good health, It's better to walk after meals. Stretch for five minutes after sitting for one or two hours. Stretching your arms and legs is good for your body. Use your brain every day. For example, you can do crossword puzzles or read a new book. Have a rest about twenty minutes when you are tired. You may do something different to have a break. For example,get up and walk. Or sit down to listen to music. What is the best title of this passage? Answer: Ways to Keep Healthy
Question: Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province, has issued smog warnings for three days since Monday because of serious air pollution. The lingering smog forced construction sites to stop work and primary and middle schools to suspend outdoor activities. From Monday through Wednesday, the city's air quality index reading remained high, with the highest reading at 323, with PM2.5, or particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns, as the main pollutant, according to the city's meteorological bureau. Any reading over 300 is considered "seriously polluted". The city experienced at least eight heavily polluted days in the first two weeks of December, with the air quality index reading reaching a high of 440, China News Service reported. Among those affected was a square dancing team in Jiang'an district, which had to stop daily practices after several members fell ill. Square dancing is a common open-air fitness practice across China, with most of the participants middle-aged or elderly women. Media reported the leader of one dancing team had to go to a hospital after she had an asthma attack on Dec 11. Identified only as Fang, 65, the dance team leader said she decided to suspend the practices after she learned her illness was caused by smog, and after several other members also fell ill, the report said. The city plans to invest 28 billion yuan ($4.61 billion) in air pollution control by 2017. The plan says the city will boost the development of clean energy vehicles for public transportation and remove all of the current 140,000 heavy-polluting vehicles from Wuhan's roads by the end of 2016. Where can we most probably read this text? A. China Daily B. Travel Journal C. Entertainment Weekly D. National Geographic Answer: A. China Daily Question: While there are many fascinating countries in the world to visit, I think there is something more adventurous, exotic and romantic about visiting an island country. Take a look at some breathtakingly beautiful island countries in the world, which everyone should certainly visit at least once in his lifetime. Malta Malta is a beautiful southern European country in the Mediterranean Sea, which has a rich history and culture. There are amazing sky-high cliffs to climb, splendid temples to explore and lots of wonderful places to go scuba-diving. In fact, there are plenty of interesting things to see and to do in Malta and this island country has something for everyone. The historic part of Malta is shown in its incredible architecture, great walled cities, and many underground tunnels. Fiji Fiji is a fabulous island that has plenty of surprises for any adventurous travelers. It is famous for the world's best surf scenes, and many surfing enthusiasts travel to Fuji yearly to ride the great waves. Well, if surfing is not for you and you love sitting on the beach and relaxing, hiking or seeing breathtaking waterfalls, Fiji is certainly the best island country to visit. Maldives Not only is Maldives one of the most beautiful island countries, but it is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations. Situated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Maldives is made up of a series of ancient coral reefs that grow up along the sides of ancient volcanoes, with fascinating beaches and luxurious resorts. If a newly-married couple are looking for the best honeymoon destination, they will choose _ . A. Malta B. Fiji C. the Mediterranean Sea D. Maldives Answer: D. Maldives Question: Audrey Hepburn is one of Hollywood's all-time greatest actress. She is famous not only in the USA, but also in other parts of the world. Hepburn was born in Belgium on May 4, 1929. She began taking ballet lessons at a very young age. She loved dancing and her dream was to become a successful ballet dancer. She had put most of her effort into ballet training before she entered the film industry. In 1951, Hepburn was chosen to play the lead role of a young princess in the Hollywood film Roman Holiday. It was a big success and Hepburn became famous immediately. She won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in this film. During her life time, Hepburn earned four more Oscar nominations . Some well-known films that she acted in include Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany and My Fair Lady. Hepburn also devoted much of her time to charity . She spent the last few years of her life working closely with UNICEF to help poor children in different parts of the world. She was honoured with a number of awards because of her efforts in helping them. Hepburn was born in _ . A. USA B. Belguim C. Italy D. England Answer: B. Belguim Question: A city without cars would be very strange , right ? But Venice is such a city . Venice is in the northeast of Italy. It wasn't built on land, like Beijing or Shanghai, but on more than 110 islands. Seawater is everywhere around the city. Even so, travel isn't that difficult. The waterways have always been the best way to get around. There are 117 waterways and more than 400 bridges that can guide you where you want to go. People in Venice move from place to place by boat. Water makes the city special, but it is also a big problem. Sometimes tourists will have such strange experiences . One moment they walk across the Rialto Bridge , and there's nothing special . But when they come back to the bridge an hour later , it's underwater and everyone is wearing rain shoes . Once, people used too much underground water. This made the city get lower little by little. Now the city has gone down by 23 centimeters. Another problem is the rising seawater. The temperature has risen over the years. This has made ice of the Arctic Ocean melt . Every year, high waters hit the city in autumn and winter. When a lot of water comes, more than half of the city is underwater. Scientists are trying different ways to stop the city from getting even lower. The Italian government has asked some of Italy's biggest companies to build the MOST project , which was planned to be built under the seawater to stop the rising water . Anyway , this project is helping solve the problem . The passage is mainly about _ of Venice . A. the waterways and bridges B. the Most project and problems C. the specials and problems D. the history and beautiful places Answer: C. the specials and problems Question: The Barbie doll first appeared at the toy fair in New York in 1959. Its creator was Ruth Handler, an American businesswoman. She and her husband Elliott along with Harold Matt Matson started the toy company Mattel. She based the design of the new doll on a German doll named Bild Lilli and named her after their daughter Barbara. The first Barbie wore a black and white swimsuit and had her hair in a ponytail . She looked very grown-up. But any concerns that parents would not want to buy it for little girls were soon proved wrong. Mattel sold 300,000 Barbie dolls in the first year at a price of three dollars. Today, a fifty-year-old Barbie in good condition might cost more than 27,000 dollars. Barbie dolls have represented 50 different nationalities and are sold in 150 countries. Mattel says 90% of girls in the United States between the ages of three and ten own at least one Barbie doll. It says girls between the ages of three and six own an average of about 12. Barbie also faced her share of critics. A well-known example was when women's education groups objected to a talking Barbie doll that declared, among other things, "Math class is tough!" Mattel agreed to change it. Saudi Arabia has banned Barbie dolls. And a lawmaker in the American state of West Virginia would like to do the same. Last month, he proposed banning sales of Barbie and other dolls that influence girls to put too much importance on physical beauty. Some people say Barbie is an unhealthy role model for young girls. Robin Gerber disagrees. She wrote a book about Barbie. She points out dolls like scientist Barbie and race car driver Barbie. She says people who criticize Barbie should tell girls the story of the businesswoman who created her. She says Ruth Handler wanted the dolls to help girls think about what they wanted to do with their lives. Barbie dolls are criticized partly because they make girls _ . A. pay too much attention to their physical beauty B. neglect their schoolwork and inner beauty C. prefer physical beauty to inner beauty D. waste too much time and money on clothes Answer: A. pay too much attention to their physical beauty
I think that the most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention and especially if its given from the heart. When people are talking, there's no need to do anything but receive them. Just take them in. Listen to what they're saying. Care about it. Most times caring about it is even more important than understanding it. When we interrupt what someone is saying to let them know that we understand, we move the focus of attention to ourselves. When we listen, they know we care. I have even learned to respond to someone crying by just listening. In the old days I used to reach for the tissues , until I realized that passing a person a tissue may be just another way to shut them down, to take them out of their experience of sadness and pain. Now I just listen. When they have cried all they need to cry, they find me there with them. This simple thing has not been that easy to learn. It certainly went against everything I had been taught since I was very young at school. I thought people listened only because they were too timid to speak or did not know the answer. A loving silence often has far more power to connect and to heal than the most well-intentioned words. It is very difficult for us to learn to listen because _ Answer: it goes against what we have been taught They already guide blind and disabled people; now dogs are to be trained to help people with dementia or Alzheimer's.Alzheimer's can make people confuse night and day or forget basic things such as washing or drinking enough water. The dogs will be trained to respond to sound triggers in the home that cause them to perform tasks.The duties will include reminding their owners to take medicine, as well as encouraging them to eat, drink and sleep regularly. The idea was developed by design students at the Glasgow School of Art and will now be put into practice by Alzheimer's Scotland and Dogs for the Disabled.The first dogs will be distributed to four Scottish couples, where one of the partners is in the early stages of dementia.Some 670,000 people in Britain have dementia and one in three over 65s will develop the condition.By 2021 this is expected to rise to one million. Joyce Gray of Alzheimer's Scotland said, "People in the early stages of dementia are still able to live a relatively normal life, and dogs help to maintain routine." Another advantage of using the pets as companions is that dogs can give them a sense of silent support and companionship.Ms Gray said, "The evidence is that people may forget familiar faces but not pets.It's such a strong bond that people often remember _ longest.People don't need to communicate verbally but they can still interact.You can have a speechless bond." Helen McCain, director of Dogs for the Disabled, said, "People with dementia often forget to take the medicine.If a dog presents them with a bag with pills in it there's a greater chance of them taking it.The dog would also encourage the owner to take them out for walks, ensuring they keep exercising and interacting with other people." The dogs are taught to perform tasks by -. Answer: reacting to some sound triggers Lin Feng is a student of Class One, Grade Seven. He likes basketball very much. He often plays it after school. And he often goes home late. His home is not far from school. And his mother knows _ . So she doesn't worry about him. One Saturday morning Lin Feng goes to a shop with his mother. The shop is very big. There are many things in it. It sells clothes, food and books. Then his mother says to him, "What do you want?" "I want a red blouse." says Lin Feng. "a red blouse?" asks his mother. "You can't wear a red blouse." Lin Feng smiled, "OK, please get me basketball clothes." What does Lin Feng really want? Answer: Basketball clothes. Often you are not aware that you have to remove,but one day your job demands your move to another place in no time.You are at a loss about how to manage the whole complex process of remove with all your valuable possessions.You need not worry about this as moving boxes and supplies axe there to care for all your possessions.They have become very popular in New York in recent years! Redline Movers is unique in our city and is specially talked about for their durable form and varieties.Redline Movers offers a wide range of moving boxes and supplies specially designed for remove.They are available in various shapes and sizes.These moving boxes ale so designed that they guarantee the maximum load with safety and without any damage.There are different forms of moving boxes.For example,you get moving boxes for TVs,glassware,wall hangings and even a piano.The sizes vary according to the size of the item and you can select from the wide range.No matter what kinds of possessions you intend to move,we always have some moving boxes to satisfy your demand. Redline Movers has obvious advantages over other moving companies.Moving boxes and supplies of Redline Movers are low priced with quality guaranteed.We also provide storage facilities where customers can use our storage space for keeping their possessions for a month or two.If you take our storage facility,these moving boxes will help you the most.You can keep your articles in those moving boxes in our storage room, till you have time or enough room to arrange them.Of course,they are in safe and sound form! If you have to remove but scared of the complex process,don't worry.Redline Movers is there to help you in your safe and trouble--free moving.If you are interested in us, please visit www.redlinemovers.com for more details. What troubles people most when moving from one place to another? Answer: The complex process of remove A kangaroo can have multiple babies at various stages of life at the same time. These joeys can show remarkable instincts, in that they Answer: nurse
The London Underground is one of the best transport networks in the world with around 24 million journeys made each day, so it is important that everything runs smoothly. Remember the following to travel like a Londoner. Keep right on escalator London Underground asks that you stand on the right when using the escalators and leave the left free for others to walk down. If you are traveling in a big group, or with lots of shopping bags, stand and stay right and let others pass you---it will speed up the process and be a more pleasant journey for everyone! Remember the "rush hour" The tube network is very busy during the rush hour. You can expect the trains and stations to be overcrowded between 7:30 and 9:30 in the morning and between 17:00 and 19:00 in the evening. Move down the platform to find more space As you enter the station platform, you will often find more room if you walk down to the end of the platform. Here, the train carriages are usually the emptiest as well. Carry a bottle of water in warmer moths The London Underground is over 150 years old and although the trains have been modernized, many still lack air conditioning and cooling units. Make sure you take a bottle of water with you, especially in the summer, as the long tube journeys can get very hot. Keep your personal belongings safe Like any large city be cautions of pickpockets operating in the busy stations and tubes. Carry a bag with zips and keep your personal belongings and valuable items in it to avoid becoming the victims of theft. Plan your journey on the London Underground in advance with a free tube map. Click here to download. What should we do when taking the London Underground? Answer: A mum saved her daughter's life with her newly learned first aid skills. Sonya Hall, 33, of Denny Avenue, Lancaster, had only just attended one first aid class the day before when she found herself needing to use the skills on her three years old daughter Tilly. Sonya, who also has son Emmen, six, attended the first aid course at Lune Park Children's Centre in Lancaster. Then she was faced with every parent's worst nightmare when Tilly went blue in the face and stopped breathing. But thanks to her newly acquired skills, Sonya saved Tilly's life. Sonya said: "Tilly was playing with her brother and they were fighting over a toy. Emmen won the fight. Tilly fell backwards and her head was hit. She was face down and shaking and at first I thought she was upset. But then I saw she was blue in the face and had stopped breathing. I reacted without thinking and immediately started using the first aid skills I had learned the day before which were so fresh in my mind. I began doing mouth-to-mouth and chest compressions . It probably took about a minute before Tilly started breathing again, but to me it felt like a lifetime." After getting Tilly breathing again, Sonya called an ambulance and the doctors came. Since then, Tilly has been diagnosed with Reflex Anoxic Seizure . Sonya said: "The seizure can happen when there's any unexpected pain, fear or fright. It is just so lucky that the day before it happened, I had been practising first aid." The Empowering Parents First Aid course is run by Lancashire Adult Learning. Sonya said: "I am just so glad I did the course and learnt the first aid skills. I always feared I would not know what to do in a crisis situation, but luckily I had the knowledge and skills to deal with it." What happened to Tilly? Answer: Passport Control If you are arriving at London Heathrow Airport and are not transferring to another flight outside Britain or Northern Ireland,you must pass through Passport Control and Customs immediately after leaving your plane. If you are not British or a citizen of the European Community,you must fill out a special form before your passport is examined.This form is called a landing card and should be given to you during the flight to London. After landing,follow the AKRIVALS signs.Make sure you are in the right channel when you reach Passport Control.There is one channel for holders of European Community passports,and a second channel marked "Other Passports". Baggage Reclaim Area After passing through Passport Control,follow the signs to the Baggage Reclaim Area.If you have luggage which was carried in the aircraft:along with other goods,it will be delivered to you in the Baggage Reclaim Area.Look for the sign with your flight number.If you have only hand luggage,go directly through the Baggage Reclaim Area to Customs. Customs All passengers must pass through Customs after Passport Control.There is a choice of two channels.Green and Red.If you have nothing to declare,go through the Green Channel.If you are not sure about your Duty Free allowances ,or if you have something to declare, go through the Red Channel.Information about Duty Free allowances can be found on special notice-boards in the Baggage Reclaim Area.You should study this information carefully whether you are going through the Red Channel or not.Please note that if you go through the Green Channel,you may be stopped and asked to open your luggage for inspection . Which of the following travellers DO NOT have to go through Passport Control and Customs? Answer: My name is Jane. I'm now living in a small house with my parents. Life for us is difficult but happy. I must study hard to buy a big new house someday. I call it a dream house. My dream house is near the sea. It has three floors with five bedrooms, three bathrooms, two big dining rooms and two living rooms. When my friends come to visit me, I will have enough bedrooms for them. We have a swimming pool behind the house and a garden in front of the house. In the morning, my parents can _ in the garden to keep them healthy. The air will be very good and nice. When it's hot, we can have a swim in the swimming pool. Life will be easy for us. Jane is living a(n) _ life with her family now. Answer: Supermarkets are trying out new computers that make shopping carts more intelligent. _ will help shoppers find paper cups or toilet soap, and keep a record of the bill. The touch-screen devices are on show at the Food Marketing Institute's exhibition here this week, "These devices are able to create value and get you around the store quicker," said Michael Alexander, manager of Springboard Retail Networks Inc., which makes a smart cart computer called the Concierge. Canadian stores will test the Concierge in July. A similar device, IBM's "Shopping Buddy", has recently been test-marketed at Stop & Shop stores in Massachusetts. Neither device tells you how many fat grams or calories are in your cart, but they will flash you with items on sale. The idea is to make it easier for people to buy, not to have second thoughts that maybe you should put something back on the shelf. "The whole model is driven by advertisers' need to get in front of shoppers," said Alexander. "They're not watching 30-second TV ads anymore." People can use a home computer to make their shopping lists. Once at the store, a shopper can use a preferred customer card to start a system that will organize the trip around the store. If you're looking for toothpicks, you type in the word or pick it from a list, and a map will appear on the screen showing where you are and where you can find them. The device also keeps a record of what you buy. When you're finished, the device figures out your bill. Then you go to the checker or place your card into a self-checkout stand and pay. The new computerized shopping assistants don't come cheap. The Buddy devices will cost the average store about $ 160, 000, and the Concierge will cost stores about $ 500 for each device. What might be the most suitable title for the text? Answer:
A typical day at work for Cesar Millan might include putting on his running shoes and taking a fourhour jog with 40 dogs--large and small, young and old. Amazingly, most of those dogs belong to him. The rest are at the heart of his work; they are troubled dogs sent to Millan to learn good behavior. Obviously Millan, star of the TV show "Dog Whisperer" and author of the bestselling book Cesar's Way,has a special gift for working with these animals. Growing up on a farm in Mexico, Millan knew he wanted to work with dogs. His first job, at age 15,was helping a veterinarian .He was so good at calming scared dogs and handling all kinds of situations that people started calling him "el perrero", Spanish for "the dog boy".Since then, he has built a rewarding career around his favorite animal. "My grandfather taught me at an early age not to work against nature,"he explains. In nature, _ . They form a group and follow one leader. Millan's specialty is teaching people to be pack leaders for their dogs. Studying dogs on the farm where he grew up,Millan realized they need lots of exercise to be calm. He explains his approach,"Exercise and discipline first,and then affection!"He says a lot of people get it backwards because they don't realize what dogs really need. Therefore, while he trains dogs, he teaches owners to understand that their pets need rules. He's helped famous people like Oprah Winfrey and movie star Will Smith and everyday people too. To find the right career, Millan encourages kids to do what they enjoy. "A lot of people don't realize I've been working with dogs for more than 20 years--long before my TV show or book. Success followed me because I was following my dream of being the best dog trainer in the world." Which of the following would Millan agree with? Answer: Xiao Qing is a schoolboy. His brother works in a hospital of Beijing. This summer his brother lets him come to Beijing. Xiao Qing is very happy. He comes to the hospital for the first time. One evening, Xiao Qing's brother gives him a ticket for a football match. It begins in the Capital Stadium at eight clock in the evening. Xiao Qing likes to watch football matches very much, but he doesn't know the way to the Capital Stadium. He asks a young man at the bus stop, "How much is the ticket to the Capital Stadium?" "Three yuan." Answers the young man. Xiao Qing finds only two yuan in his pocket. He has to run to the next stop. When the bus comes to the stop, he sees the young man again. He asks the young man, "Now how much is the ticket?" "Four yuan," the young man says with a smile. " You run in a contrary direction." Does Xiao Qing know the way to the Capital Stadium? Answer: A man came home from work late, tired, to find his 5-year-old son waiting for him at the door. "Daddy, how much money do you make each hour?" "If you must know, I make $20 each hour." "Oh," the little boy answered, with his head down. He thought for a moment, looked up and said, "Daddy, could you lend me $10?" The father was _ , "If you asked f or the money to buy a toy or some other rubbish, the go straight to your room and think about why are you so selfish !" The little boy went to his room no words and shut the door. After a short while, the father calmed down, and started to think, "Maybe he really needs to buy something and he didn't really ask for money very often." So he went to the little boy's room. "Sorry!Maybe I was too hard on your just now." said the man, "Here's $10." "Oh, thank you Daddy!" he said happily. Then the boy took out some coins. When the father found that the boy already had money, he got angry again. "Why do you want more money since you already have some?" the father shouted angrily. "Because I didn't have enough, but now I do." The little boy replied, "Daddy, I have $20 now. Can I buy one hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you. " At first, the father refused to lend the money because _ . Answer: Peyton,an 11-year-old boy from Florida,has the enthusiasm of scientific invention and the-gift of Thomas Edison. The sixth-grader put his math and science skills as well as some real-life experience to use and created something that could benefit our world a lot ---- the sandless sandbag.Today he was named the winner of the Young Scientist Challenge for his sandbag. "I had a really terrifying experience with a hurricane," said Peyton."When I was 4,I experienced Hurricane Wilma.When it hit Florida in October 2005,my family and I crowded in a closet and watched the storm bring damage and death to our area,feeling terrible and hopeless." Saltwater flooding caused great damage,which made him think about how people can prepare for floods.Peyton,who has been solving math problems since he was 3,eventually came up with the sandless sandbag. "Instead of filling it with sand,I filled it with just the right amount of chemicals and salt,"he said."What's amazing is that when you pick these bags up and they're not wet,they only weigh a pound or two." Unlike regular sandbags,Peyton's is light and easy to carry.They only expand when doused with water.The bags are portable when dry and will not float away when wet. Experts praised his invention and said that the sandless sandbag could someday save a lot of lives and possessions."He understands the big picture.He thinks in terms of the influence on society and safety for the people around this area,"said Dr.Antonio,the engineering chairman at the University of Miami."We'd love to have him at our university." Peyton has to get through middle school and high school first,but until then,the young scientist will continue thinking and inventing. We can infer from the passage that _ . Answer: For most seventh graders,life doesn't get much harder than a history test.But for Grant Reed of Bellville,Ohio,it's his own current events that are so painful."Honestly,I don't want to die,"Grant says.Last year,doctors at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus found a tumor in Grant's brain.They cut it out,but the surgery left him with stroke--like symptoms.Plus,he had to go through months of radiation and chemotherapy to try to stop the spread of the disease. Yet,through it all,Grant has shown remarkable determination,which he owes, partly,to Ohio State football.His parents,Troy and Denise,were both in the OSU marching band and fell in love during halftime of the Michigan game.His cat is named after the team Buckeye.His wardrobe is painted scarlet(the color1 of the team's sportswear).The point is,almost nothing mattered more to Grant than Ohio State football-until he got sick,of course. ''I didn't like the word cancer,"Grant says.So he decided not to use the word.Instead,the kid named his cancer Michigan and insisted everyone in his life refer to it as such,because Ohio State always beats Michigan.That was something he could understand and make it into a competition.He was going to beat this disease. It's now been more than a year since Grant issued that announcement."And if you look at his scans,"Dr.Randal Olshefski at Nationwide Children's says,"There's nothing there.There's a big space,but there's no tumor.'' "Grant is beating Michigan.And although much of it has to go to science,don't discount the semantics .You have to do something to make it a disease you can fight.And for Grant,that was naming it Michigan."his parents say. This weekend,Ohio State and Michigan will be battling like their lives depend on it.But in this house,the Reed family will be watching with a calm insight:it's just a game. Why did Grant name his cancer Michigan? Answer:
Many Christmas customs are based on the birth of Christ, such as giving presents because of the Wise Men, who brought presents to the baby Jesus Singing Christmas carols is based on the scene of the birth with figures of shepherds, the Wise Men and animals surrounding the baby Jesus. The origin of Santa Claus begins in the 4th century with St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, an area in the present-day Turkey. By all accounts St. Nicholas was a generous man, particularly devoted to children. After his death around 340 A. D. he was buried in Myra, but in 1087 Italian sailors were believed to steal his remains and removed them to Italy, greatly increasing St. Nicholas' popularity throughout Europe. His kindness and reputation for generosity gave rise to claims that he could perform miracles and devotion to him increased. St. Nicholas became the patron saint of Russia, where he was known by his red cap, flowing white beard, and bishop's mitre. In Greece, he was the patron saint of sailors; in France, he was the patron of lawyers, and in Belgium, the patron of children and travelers. Thousands of churches across Europe were dedicated to him and sometime around the 12th century an official holiday was created in his honor. The Feast of St. Nicholas was celebrated on December 6 and the day was marked by gift-giving and charity. After the Reformation, European followers of St. Nicholas declined, but the legend was kept alive in Holland where the Dutch spelling of his name Sint Nikolass was eventually transformed to _ . Dutch children would leave their wooden shoes by the fireplace, and Sinterklaas would reward good children by placing treats in their shoes. Dutch colonists brought this tradition with them to America in the 17th century and here the English name of Santa Claus appeared. Which of the following can best describe Santa Claus? Generous, devoted and honored. Jyoti Amge, an Indian girl, is the world's smallest woman. She is only 0.628 metres tall. She is small, but her dream is great. On her 18th birthday in 2012, she shared the good news with others. She would act in two movies. Jyoti is the youngest of the five children in her family. She stopped growing after her first birthday. Because of her size, Jyoti has special clothes and jewellery . She even has her own desk and chair in a regular school. Jyoti also loves movies and fashionable dresses like others. Before 18, she acted in a music video along with a famous Indian singer. Jyoti said, "I'm just the same as other people. I eat like you, and dream like you. I don't feel I am different." How old is Jyoti Amge in 2013? 19 years old He leant down to the pickpocket. The heaving and gasping had stopped, but he was still making a show of his breathlessness. "That's better," Mallon said. "Can you stand up? Try to stand up. Here," he said, and gripped the pickpocket's arm and forced him upright until he saw his face for the first time. As the pickpocket labored for breath, he gazed up at Mallon with his dark eyes. "How could you?" they asked. Mallon might have said, "Because you tried to steal from me." But he was still conscious of the flush of joy he'd felt when his blow struck home -- when he knew he'd hurt the man. Where that joy came from he couldn't say, but he knew that its roots were deeper than some clumsy failed theft. Fat drops of rain began to patter on the awning . "How are you?" Mallon said. "Can you walk?" The pickpocket turned away and leant against the store window with both hands, and his head sank lower as his shoulders rose and fell. A gray-haired woman inside the store rapped on the glass and made a shooing motion. When the pickpocket ignored her, she rapped harder and kept rapping. "I have to go," Mallon said. "I'm sorry." He looked up at the sky. "I'm sorry," he said again, and stepped into the rain and walked quickly up the street. One of the Bangladeshi umbrella sellers was working the corner, and Mallon had just paid seven euros when he heard a woman shouting. He didn't want to look back but did. It was the woman from the shop, pushing and batting the pickpocket away from the window while he bent down and covered his head like a boxer trying to get through the last seconds of a round. Mallon slipped his wallet back into his jacket pocket and took the umbrella that the Bangladeshi had opened for him. The pickpocket was out on the sidewalk now, in the rain. The woman stood just under the awning with her arms crossed over her chest. "Excuse me, madam," Mallon said, coming up to them. "This man isn't well. He needs to rest a moment." "I know these people," she said. "Our Romans don't want them here." The rain fell in sheets, ran down the pickpocket's shiny scalp and face, down his leather jacket. "Here," Mallon said, and offered him the umbrella, but he only looked at Mallon with his hurt dark eyes and then lowered his head again. Mallon bumped him in the shoulder with the handle of the umbrella. "Go on -- take it!" he said. And finally, with a beaten, unwilling look, the pickpocket did. And that was when he saw a taxi round the corner with a light glowing on its roof. Mallon ran out waving his arm and the cab turned sharply to the pavement, sending a lot of water over his shoes. He opened the door but couldn't help looking back. The pickpocket had lowered the umbrella to the ground upside down and was leaning on the shaft, head low, neck bared to the sky. "Wait," Mallon said to the driver. He went back and grabbed the pickpocket's sleeve and pulled him to the cab. "Get in," Mallon said, and took the umbrella and pushed him into the back seat. He leaned inside. "O.K., where do you live?" "No Gypsies!" the driver said. He was twisted around, glaring at the pickpocket. "Gypsy? Look, he's not well. I'll pay," Mallon added. The driver shook his head. "No Gypsies. Get him out," Mallon looked at the driver's nameplate: Michele Kadare. "It's the law," he said, "If you don't take us, Signor Kadare, I'll report you and you'll lose your license. Believe me -- I am quite serious." The driver fastened those pale eyes on Mallon and turned and put his hands on the steering wheel. He raised his eyes to the rearview mirror and he and Mallon exchanged stares. "O.K., Mr. American," he said. "You pay." From the attitudes of the woman and the driver towards the pickpocket, we can conclude that _ . the Gypsies had a bad reputation in Rome Inprefix = st1 /Kansas City,Missouri, a computer helps fire fighters. The computer, which works very fast, has information about all the 350,000 street addresses in the city. Within two or three seconds after a call is received, the computer provides necessary information for the fire fighters. The information is then sent to them by radio from the computer centre in the City Hall. The exact place of the burning building and its size, type and any other details are clear to them. TheKansas Citycomputer system also has a medical record of each of the city's 900 fire fighters. This kind of information is especially useful when a fire fighter is injured. With the information, doctors at hospital can treat the injured fire fighters more quickly and easily. The fire fighters themselves greatly appreciate the computer's help. They know about possible danger ahead of them and can prepare for it. Many times the computer information helps to save lives and property . Sometimes the lives are those of fire fighters themselves. Mike Horan, a fire fighter captain, says, "I feel as if the computer is watching over me to help me if I get hurt." From Mike Horan's words, we can learn that the fire fighters themselves are being taken care of by the computers In the last couple of years, there has been a craze about timetraveling TV series in China.This year, it seems like the South Korean drama writers have fallen in a deep, neverending love with the timetravel trend. Rooftop Prince A prince from the Joseon era (18th century), Lee Gak is _ 300 years forward into the future in Seoul 2012 with his entourage when he tries to investigate the suspicious circumstances which surround the death of the woman he loves.In the present, he finds a young woman who looks exactly like his beloved crown princess. Queen Inhyun's Man The drama, set during the Joseon era, features the hero Kim Boongdo as he tries to restore the exiled Queen Inhyun.It is in this time period he is given the timetraveling power that transports him to the future world where he makes friends with an actress playing the role of Queen Inhyun for a drama in her time. Dr Jin Jin Hyuk is a genius neurosurgeon.Through a mysterious power, Jin finds himself transported back in time 150 years.He begins treating people there, but the lack of equipment and medical knowledge of the period forces him to seek new ways to aid the sick.Through this challenging process, Jin eventually becomes a genuine doctor. Operation Proposal Kang Baekho realizes that he falls in love with his best friend, Ham Yiseul, on the day of her wedding to another man.He travels back in time to various events of their lives hoping to change the outcome of their relationship.Will Kang be able to change the course of their future? If you are interested in prince and princess story, which will you turn into? Rooftop Prince.
Question: You may never connect the words "good" and "eco-friendly"with plastic.It's time to do a rethink on that as we say hello to hemp plastic.Traditionally,plastics have been made from petrochemicals,which are mainly poisonous.Plants,on the other hand,are also a source of cellulose ,which can be used to make biodegradable plastic.As hemp happens to be one of the richest sources of cellulose,it is only natural that scientists will support its use,considering its ecological benefits. Hemp plastic is biodegradable and recyclable.If you thought being eco-friendly reduced its solidity,you couldn't be more wrong.The hard level of hemp plastic can match that of regular plastic.Hemp plastic is resistant to heat;however,the most outstanding feature of a few varieties of hemp plastic is that they are flame resistant too.Finally,if Henry Ford could imagine creating a car with this material,we can perhaps believe that it indeed is"ten times stronger than steel". It is a pity that with so many useful qualities,we don't see hemp plastic being used in our everyday life,the way it ought to be.Hemp plastic can easily take the place of the exiting plastic in products like cell phone chargers ,laptop covers,etc.Currently,hemp plastic is being used to produce audio ,video,toys,automobile parts and packaging materials. Hemp fiber is one of the strongest natural fibers known to us.As scientists keep looking for ways to solve the ecological damage that traditional plastics have caused,here is a material that can be produced to be 100% biodegradable.Hemp plastic is known to be several times _ as compared to polypropylene plastic,and it comes without all the health and safety threats,It really has long useful life. Plastics keep reminding us of the damage that we have done to our planet,all under the excuse of convenience.As hemp products have become a new choice into our daily life,Please take a green plan now and make your effort to protect the environment. According to Para.2,hemp plastic _ . A. is all resistant to flame B. doesn't have enough solidity C. will take the place of steel D. can be used again after being processed Answer: D Question: nutrients from food and water are necessary to an organism's A. friendships B. habitat C. survival D. caloric needs Answer: C Question: Best friends may be priceless but the cost of keeping the relationship alive is PS23,870. According to a study, a BFF (best friends forever) does not come cheap with devoted friends spending PS4,679 on birthday presents alone over a lifetime. And while it costs nothing to be a shoulder to cry on, _ Britons go the extra mile and spend PS168 on pick-me-ups to get their mate through a rocky patch like the breakup of a relationship. There's a further PS242 spent on presents to show how much they mean from gifts bought on holiday to treats for no reason. And distance does not break up a close friendship as BFFs spend a whopping PS18,000 on travel to see each other despite being miles apart because of university, jobs and marriage. The study by cashback site TopCashBack found on average BEFs who marry can expect PS431 spent on them and a further PS283 on gifts when they have children. And they can rely on their pals to help out when they move houses as they will obtain PS127 worth of housewarming presents and takeaways(a kind of food). The survey based on a friendship lasting 40 years found more than eight in ten adults with a BFF felt their friendships were worth every penny. TopCashback spokesperson Natasha Smith said: "Those friendships which stand the test of time are often the most important in our lives. However, they come at a cost. From train tickets once a month to flights and a new dress for a wedding on the Italian coast, the price paid for having a best mate can soon add up. But when we asked people to compare their friendship with the financial investment , only 14% thought their friendship was equal to their investment with the vast majority thinking it was worth more." What is Natasha's understanding of BEF friendship? A. It's costly and unaffordable. B. It's expensive but worthwhile. C. It's rewarding but hard to keep. D. It's changeable but worth possessing. Answer: B Question: Two hunters rented a small plane to fly them to a forest. They told the pilot to come back and pick them up in about two weeks. By the end of the two weeks, they had hunted a lot of animals and they wanted to put all of them onto the plane. But the pilot said, "This plane can only take one lamb. You'll have to leave the others behind." Then one hunter said, "But last year, another pilot with the same plane let us take two lambs and some other animals onto the plane." So the new pilot thought about it. Finally he said, "OK, since you did it last year, I think this year we can do it again." Then they put all the animals they had hunted onto the plane, and the plane took off. Five minutes later, it crashed. The three men looked around, and one hunter asked the other one, "Where do you think we are now?" The other hunter looked around and said, "I think we're about one mile away from the place where the plane crashed last year." What did the two hunters do in the forest? A. They took a holiday in the forest. B. They learned how to fly a plane. C. They hunted a lot of animals. D. They found some lambs. Answer: C Question: My name is Tom. My father, Mr. Read works on a farm, and my mother works in a factory. My father and my mother work six days a week and I am at school from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays we all stay at home. We often go out in a car on Sundays. We often go to the rivers or lakes. Dad likes fishing and I like swimming. Mum sits there and watches us. Dad is very good at fishing. He often catches a lot of fish. Then we take them home for supper. We often have a good time. Sometimes we go to see my uncle. He has a son, Jim. We often play football together. My uncle and Jim like meat very much. My mother cooks meat for them. I often help her. I like cooking meat and eating, too. Who is Jim? He is _ . A. Tom's friend B. the Reads' son C. Tom's uncle's son D. also a student Answer: C
James Cleveland Owens was the son of a farmer and the grandson of black slaves:His family moved to Cleveland when he was 9.There,a school teacher asked the youth his name. "J.C."he replied. She thought he had said"Jesse",and he had a new name. Owens ran his first race at age 13.After high school,he went to Ohio State University.He had to work part time so as to pay for his education.As a second-year student, in the Big Ten games in 1935,he set even more records than he would in the Olympic Games a year later. A week before the Big Ten meet, Owens accidentally fell down a flight of stairs.His back hurt so much that he could not exercise all week,and he had to be helped in and out of the car that drove him to the meet.He refused to listen to the suggestions that he give up and said he would try, event by event.He did try, and the results are in the record book . The stage was set for Owens' victory at the Olympic Games in Berlin the next year, and his success would come to be regarded as not only athletic but also political.Hitler did not congratulate any of the African American winners. "It was all right with me,"he said years later."I didn't go to Berlin to shake hands with him,anyway." Having returned from Berlin,he received no telephone call from the president of his own country, either.In fact, he was not honored by the United States until 1976,four years before his death. Owens'Olympic victories made little difference to him.He earned his living by looking after a school playground,and accepted money to race against cars,trucks,motorcycles,and dogs. "Sure,it bothered me," he said later."But at least it was an honest living.I had to eat." In time,however, his gold medals changed his life."They have kept me alive over the years," he once said,"Time has stood still for me.That golden moment dies hard." In the Big Ten meet, Owens_. Amy: Excuse me, Jill. Jill: Yes, what can I do for you? Amy: Did you see two persons pass from here? I want to take photos with them. Jill: Can you describe what they look like? Amy: Yes, they are one boy and one girl. The girl is very beautiful. quite thin and has long hair. And that boy is also very tall. He is about 1.98 meters tall. He has big eyes and short black hair. Jill: You mean Sun Yang, the famous swimming player? And he wears a pair of sunglasses? Amy: Quite right. He stays in Shaoxing these days for swimming. Did you see them? Jill: Yes, they passed here 10 minutes ago. If you go quickly, You can _ them. Amy: I will do that. Goodbye. Thanks a lot. Jill: Goodbye. The boy and the girl _ Spring is coming, and it is time for those about to graduate to look for jobs. Competition is tough, so job seekers must carefully consider their personal choices. Whatever we are wearing,our family and friends may accept us, but the workplace may not. A high school newspaper editor said it is unfair for companies to discourage visible tattoos nose rings, or certain dress styles. It is true you can't judge a book by its cover, yet people do "cover" themselves in order to convey certain messages. What we wear, including tattoos and nose rings, is an expression of who we are. Just as people convey messages about themselves with their appearances, so do companies. Dress standards exist in the business world for a number of reasons, but the main concern is often about what customers accept. Others may say how to dress is a matter of personal freedom, but for businesses it is more about whether to make or lose money. Most employers do care about the personal appearances of their employees ,because those people represent the companies to their customers. As a hiring manager I am paid to choose the people who would make the best impression on our customers. There are plenty of well-qualified candidates, so it is not wrong to reject someone who might disappoint my customers. Even though I am open-minded, I can't expect all our customers are. There is nobody to blame but yourself if your set of choices does not match that of your preferred employer. No company should have to change to satisfy a candidate simply because he or she is unwilling to respect its standards, as long as its standards are legal. Which of the following would be the best title for the text? In order for boulders to become sediments, the boulders must first be Peter is thirteen years old. He is in Grade Two this year. He likes to play soccer and watch soccer games. And he often reads newspapers. He does his best to know when and where there is going to be a soccer game. Now Peter is having lunch. He is listening to the radio, too. He is very happy because there is going to be a nice soccer game on TV at four this afternoon. He wants to watch it very much. But he is going to have English and Chinese classes. He thinks hard and wants to find a way. "Hello, Mrs. Black," Peter says to his teacher on the telephone, "Peter is ill in bed. He wants to ask for half a day's leave ( )." "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." says Mrs. Black, "But who's that?" "It's my father, Mrs. Black." Peter will be in _ next year.
TOKYO -- The number of domestic infections cases of influenza A/H1N1 in Japan hits 42 on Sunday after a total of 34 people in Osaka and Hyogo counties were confirmed to have been infected, local media reported. The total number of the infection in the country now stands at 46, including the first four cases contracted abroad. The country is now facing the risk of grass-root outbreak which could lead the WHO to raise its new flu pandemic alert to the highest level of 6 from the current 5, experts has warned. The 34 newly confirmed domestic cases, 11 in Osaka and 23 in Hyogo, included high school students, college students and teachers, the health ministry and local governments said Sunday. Japan on Saturday confirmed the first eight cases of domestic infection on students of a Kobe high school. The later confirmed cases in Osaka are said to have contacted the Kobe students in a volleyball match. Osaka and Hyogo are neighboring in the Kansai region. All of the 42 people had no record of overseas travel. Meanwhile, a total of 143 students at the Kansai Okura Senior High School where many infections in Osaka were found, have shown symptoms of influenza since around Monday, according to local media reports. The privately run school said it will be closed from Monday through Saturday. More than 1,000 educational facilities -- kindergartens, and elementary, junior and senior high schools -- in Osaka and Hyogo counties have decided to suspend classes for certain periods following the confirmation of new flu infections in the counties, Kyodo News reported. The two counties have requested private schools to follow suit. Osaka Governor Toru Hashimoto held a meeting of a new flu task force on Sunday and decided to ask facilities such as movie theaters to suspend operations to prevent the spread of the flu. TV clips showed people in Kansai region started to wear masks in public spaces and rushed to drug stores for buying medicines. The Japanese government on Saturday shifted the stage of its new-flu action program from "a period of overseas outbreak" to "a period of domestic outbreak" and called for companies and schools in the areas concerned to allow individuals to avoid commuting during rush hours. The Kyodo News quoted Masato Tashiro, a member of the World Health Organization's emergency committee, as saying that several hundred people in Japan already may have been infected with the new flu. The reasons for the happening of the later confirmed cases in Osaka are the following Except _ . 143 students at the Kansai Okura Senior High School have shown symptoms of influenza. Yang Liwei circled the earth 14 times in 21 hours on October 15 and 16, 2003, landing on the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. Looking a little tired, Yang stepped out of Shenzhou V, smiling and waving at the waiting people. "I feel very good." Yang said to Premier Wen Jiabao on the phone. Yang said to a newspaper, "For our motherland and me, this is a great moment." China's _ of Shenzhou V shows a higher starting point. It has two special systems to protect the spaceman, but neither Russian rockets nor American ones have. Yang didn't know that he was chosen as China's first spaceman until just before the launch. Although Yang was excited at the news, he still slept at 8p.m. as usual and was woken up at 8p.m. the next morning. Before the launch, Yang ate Chinese traditional food-dumplings. We all know that travelers usually eat them before going on a journey for good luck. A stamp Success of China First Manned Space Flight was issued on October 16, 2003, making China the third country to send a spaceman into outer space. It took Yang Liwei _ to travel around the earth every circle. 90 minutes Mr. and Mrs. Smith come from Sydney . They teach English in a middle school in China. They like their work. They have a son and a daughter, Jim and Sue. They are all in China now. Mr. Smith can speak Chinese. He likes swimming and reading. Mrs. Smith likes swimming in the afternoon and cooking . Jim and Sue like playing chess. They often play games with Chinese boys and girls. Jim's uncle, Green, works on a farm near Sydney. He likes swimming, too. He wants to work in China. But he can't speak Chinese. So he is still there and goes to Chinese classes every week. Where does Sue's uncle work? On a farm I grew up in Lakeland, Los Angeles.We all lived on my parents' farm.When I was 12,1 got a part-time job on a dairy farm, helping to milk cows.We milked 65 cows at 5 o'clock in the morning and again at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, seven days a week. One day before daylight, I complained to my father about having to go to milk those cows.My father said, "You know, boy, to work is a blessing." Going to college was a rare privilege for a kid from Lakeland.My father told me if I picked something to study that I liked, I would always look forward to my work.But he also added, "Even having a job you hate is better than not having a job at all." I wanted to be a farmer, but I joined the army to help pay for college. In the late 1980s, during a visit to Bangladesh, I saw a woman with a baby on her back, breaking bricks with a hammer.I asked a Bangladesh officer why they weren't using a machine, which would have been a lot easier.He told me a machine would put that lady out of work.Breaking those bricks meant she would earn enough money to feed herself and her baby that day.Although that woman's job was bad, it was enough to keep a small family alive.It reminded me of my father's words: to work is a blessing. I don't think I'll ever quit working.I'm retired from the army, but I'm still working to help people.I'm not going to stop.I believe in my father's words.I believe in the blessing of work. How did the author probably find the milking work? Boring. Wang Weiguo, an award-winning actor of the National Theatre Company of China, was wandering through Bejing's Panjiayuan Flea Market when he found a treasure, 20 exquisite picture frames . He bought them all. Inside the frames was a woman's life story. There were pictures of her as a baby and a growing child and pictures with her parents. Wang Weiguo was sure someone had lost them. He contacted the police and media. He showed them to friends and to people living outside China. No one recognized the people in the photographs. That was 1999. Wang never gave up the search. In 2010 he told the story to a TV host, Zhang Zequn, who suggested he contact China Radio International. Within three months of the story's being posted on CRI, someone recognized Julie Ege in one of the photographs. The wonderful Norwegian actress and model was the mother of the child whose growing years the photos traced. The child was Joanna Syson. She moved to Beijing in the 1990s to study Chinese. In 1999 she returned to Norway for six months, entrusting all her belongings, including the photographs, to a friend. When she returned, the friend was gone. So were her belongings. She was heartbroken. More than a decade passed. Then, thanks to the story posted on CRI and to a visitor to the website, the trail finally led to Joanna Syson. She traveled to Bejing to meet Wang Weiguo, who had searched for her for 12 years, and to recover her treasured photographs. Which of the following can best describe Wang Weiguo? Kind and determined.
Question: Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love. The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner. His tail has long ago been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch. Ugly would have been a dark grey tabby, striped-type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs. Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!" All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their home or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around feet in forgiveness. Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and bump his head against their hand begging for their love. If you ever picked him up, he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earring whatever he could find. One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbor's huskies. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly attacked. From my apartment I could hear his scream and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was obvious Ugly's sad life was almost at an end. Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. It must be hurting him terribly, I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled-scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion. At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain. Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterward thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly. Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand book lecture or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful. He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my total to those I cared for. Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be Ugly. Which caused the tomcat to die? A. The adults threw rocks at him B. The neighbors wanted to drive him with a pipe C. The owners would get his paws trapped in the doors D. The tomcat was killed by some dog Answer: D Question: Throughout history, rainbows have been a source of mystery and legend. Rainbows are also important symbols in a number of cultures around the world. In the Old Testament of the Bible(<<>> ), for example, God shows Noah a rainbow to let him know that the Flood is over and that he will never destroy the earth again with flooding. When it rains, the color1s that make up white light separate because they bend at different angles when they pass through water. The result is some of the color1s can be seen by the human eyes, as well as some that cannot. Everyone knows that we can sometimes see rainbows on a rainy day. However, you actually have a chance of seeing a rainbow anytime there is light behind you and water in the air in front of you. So, if you want to know what it feels like to have the power of God, get a spray , stand with your back to the sun, and create a rainbow! In the seventeenth century, Isaac Newton and Rene Descartes _ . A. they created a new story about rainbows B. learned the ways of the world C. found out how rainbows came about D. analyzed many stories of rainbows Answer: C Question: Teenagers are often a difficult group. With all those hormones flooding their bodies, they can be moody, unpredictable, and tend to make uncertain choices. But however confusing their teenage years are, kids can still be generally happy, depending on their lifestyle choices. According to a new research by British scientists, teens who don't smoke, drink only moderately or not at all, and who don't eat much junk food are likely to be happier than other teens. The study looked at 40,000 British families and came up with some interesting findings. For example, kids who never drank alcohol were up to six times more likely to report higher levels of happiness than kids who drank. And teens who smoked were five times less likely to rate high on happiness charts compared to kids who don't smoke. Same goes for diet and physical activity. The more fruits and vegetables kids eat, and the more hours they spend playing sports, the happier they are. Now, of course this doesn't mean that not smoking or drinking, and playing sports guarantees happiness. It could be that kids who have happy character tend to be more active and less addicted to drinking or smoking. And it could equally be the case that kids who are unhappy are more related to drinking and smoking and eating junk food. Other studies have shown that exercise is a proven way to treat anxiety and depression. Future studies may support the idea that other healthful behaviors, including refraining from smoking, drinking, and eating too much junk, can avoid sadness and increase happiness, too. Which of the following might help teens quit anxiety? A. Smoking and drinking. B. Taking exercise. C. Eating junk food. D. Going on a diet. Answer: B Question: On Saturday 17 September 2016, you may catch sight of hundreds of apes running around the streets of London. They'll have been filming a new Planet of the Apes movie, you'll probably think. But in fact, when the starter's pistol sounds for the Great Gorilla Run next year, this highly popular event will have been raising money for thirteen years. People from all over the world will run, jog or walk 8km in gorilla costumes through the capital's streets, passing such iconic landmarks as The Tower of London and St Paul's Cathedral. By the time the last ape crosses the finishing line, the runners will have raised millions for endangered species and education projects in Central Africa. Unusual charity events such as these are a huge trend for raising money for worthwhile causes. If, however, you're looking to really like the idea of running through mud and freezing cold ice, then The Tough Mudder is perhaps what you've been searching for. In this difficult and tiring team event, participants finish a 10 to 12-mile barrier course that tests physical strength and mental courage. It's more about friendship than winning. Over 150 such events worldwide have raised PS5 million. But fundraising doesn't have to involve physical effort. Students at a school in Illinois played Justin Bieber's song 'Baby' over loudspeakers and urged fellow students to pay to stop the song. They needed to raise $1,000 in one week to achieve this. Beyond expectations, they exceeded the goal within three days. Even teachers _ If you want to join the ranks of gorillas next September, you only have to pay PS60 to register. This includes the gorilla suit, which you can keep. If you take part, not only will you have been helping the gorillas and people who depend on their habitat, you'll never have to buy another set of fancy clothes again! What can we learn about the Tough Mudder? A. It is disgusting B. It is unique C. It is competitive D. It is challenging Answer: D Question: When your pet meets your infant, it might not be love at first sniff. Baby's Best Friend When Jennifer Merritt brought her baby, Arielle, home from the hospital, her cherished dogs had very different reactions. Her boxer, Sonya, was immediately gentle and protective. But Tiger, the Pomeranian, was less welcoming: "If any diapers or toys were on the floor, he peed on them!"says the Greenbrier, prefix = st1 /Arkansas, mom. Tiger isn't the first dog to feel jealous of a baby. In the eyes of a pet's, there's a new star in town who's stealing his spotlight. Even the most gentle animal will probably act up if he doesn't get his usual attention. These simple steps will help your pet adjust -- and keep your baby safe. u Introduce Them with Care Your newborn and pet's first encounter can set the tone for their relationship. To make it as smooth as possible, try this trick from Caryn Ruiz, of Raleigh, North Carolina: "Before we left the hospital, my husband took blankets home to our dog, Daisy, so she'd know our newborn Devon's smell." When you get home, have your husband carry the baby so you can greet your pet without worrying about her jumping on you. A cat will likely walk away at first, while a dog will probably want to investigate right away. To introduce your baby, get down on your pet's level and let her have a hello sniff. Don't panic and pull your newborn away unless your pet is barking or hissing, because it'll send the message that the baby is a threat. u Learn the Safety Basics No matter how smoothly the introduction goes, there are certain safety rules you should follow, says Bonnie Beaver, DVM, past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Number one: Never leave your baby alone with the pet. Even the gentlest animal can react unpredictably. Your baby's crying could frighten your cat, or your dog could suddenly become territorial. Consider setting up baby gates to limit your pet's access. To keep your cat from jumping into the bassinet , try putting mosquito netting over the top. Cats hate sticky paws, so keep the crib and changing table off-limits by lining the edges with sticky strips made for furniture (available in most pet stores). You can also train your dog to sleep in a crate. What is the function of the story told at the beginning of the passage? A. To introduce the terrible pets when a mother gets a baby home. B. To illustrate the possible situation when pet meets the new baby. C. To explain the pets reaction towards the new- born baby. D. To prove how friendly a pet is when it meets the new- born baby. Answer: B
"Did you go skating a lot last year?" I asked. Jen shook her head and looked at me. Finally she said, "On Thanksgiving, Mom and I always went to visit some friends who lived on a farm. I especially loved seeing their big turkeys." Until then, I didn't think about how Jen felt. She had a new stepfather and stepbrother, and had a new town and home, too. Jen and her mom used to live near a lake where Dad and I went every summer, and she had to move up north with us. She had more changes than me. Jen seemed sad, so I was busy thinking of some ways to cheer her up on Thanksgiving. I told her my plan and she was excited. First we made a huge snowball, and then a small snowball. Then we built a wall behind the big snowball as a tail. Jen mixed some food coloring with water, saying, "We can spray colors on the tail." Our snow turkey had a red, blue, green, and yellow tail. We were so busy that we didn't notice our parents come outside. Dad found a hat for the snow turkey, and Mom wrapped her scarf around its neck. " _ ," Mom said. "You're a good brother, and you always come up with great ideas.'' A happy feeling spread through me. I began to understand how much she cared about everyone in our new family. What did Jen do on Thanksgiving in the past? Answer: She went to the farm with her mother. If you see someone drowning, speed is very important. Once you get him out of the water, if he isn't breathing, you have four minutes before his brain is completely destroyed. Support his neck, move his head back and press his chin upwards. This stops the tongue blocking the airway in the throat and is sometimes enough to get him breathing again. If that doesn't work, start mouth-to-mouth breathing. Press his nostrils (the two holes at the end of your nose, through which you breathe and smell things) together with your fingers. Open your mouth and take a deep breath. Blow into his lungs until his chest rises, then remove your mouth and watch his chest fall. Repeat twelve times a minute. Keep doing until professional help arrives. To bring a child back to life, keep your lips around his mouth and gently blow into his mouth. Give the first four breaths as quickly as possible to fill the blood with oxygen. If, in spite of your efforts, he starts turning a blue-grey colour, and you can feel no pulse , then pressing is the last chance of saving his life. With arms straight, rock forwards, pressing down on the lower half of the breastbone. Don't be too hard or you may break a rib. Check how effective you are by seeing if his colour improves or his pulse becomes independent to your chest pressing. If this happens, stop the pressing. Otherwise continue until rescue arrives. If the drowning boy has no pulse, _ . Answer: press is the last chance of saving his life . It was in October.I was aimlessly wandering down the street, heading into a most gloriously beautiful sunset.I had an urge to speak to someone on the street to share that beauty, but it seemed everyone was in a hurry. I took the next-best action.Quickly I ducked into a department store and asked the lady behind the counter if she could come outside for just a minute.She looked at me as though I were from some other planet.She hesitated, and then seemingly against her better judgment, she moved toward the door. When she got outside I said to her, "Just look at that sunset! Nobody out here was looking at it and I just had to share it with someone." For a few seconds we just looked.Then I said, "God is in his heaven and all is right with the world." I thanked her for coming out to see it; she went back inside and I left.It felt good to share the beauty. Four years later my situation changed greatly.I came to the end of a twenty-year marriage.I was alone and on my own for the first time in my life.I lived in a trailer park which, at the time, I considered a real come-down, and I had to do my wash in the community laundry room. One day, while my clothes were going around, I picked up a magazine and read an article about a woman who had been in similar circumstances.She had come to the end of a marriage, moved to a strange community, and the only job she could find was one she disliked: clothing sales in a department store. Then something that happened to her changed everything.She said a woman came into her department store and asked her to step outside to look at a sunset.The stranger had said, "God is in his heaven and all is right with the world," and she had realized the truth in that statement.From that moment on, she turned her life around. Four years later, the author _ . Answer: put an end to her marriage Last summer, after finishing our work in China, I took a trip of a lifetime on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Leaving Beijing early on a Wednesday morning in July, my wife and I traveled through some gorgeous countryside before we arrived in Moscow the following Monday evening. The first part of the journey took us past the Great Wall and through the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. At the Mongolian Republic border, we had a delay while the wheels were changed because the railway is different. On our way to the capital, Ulan Bator, we saw herdsmen on horseback looking after their cattle. There was a terrible thunderstorm as we crossed a vast open plain. Later we had a quick tour of Ulan Bator. Next, the train took us into Siberia. After a stop at Irkutsk, a popular holiday resort , where a tour group left the train, we passed the great Lake Baikal. Later, we saw some lovely wooden houses in pretty, sunny countryside. This surprised us, as we had imagined Siberia as being covered in thick snow. Over the next few days, we passed through Novosibirsk, Omsk and other cities in the heartlands of the Russian Federation. By now, our body clocks were losing their sense of time. We wanted to sleep and eat at the wrong time! At last we reached Moscow. We were too tired and slept for 16 hours that night. The next day we went sightseeing. We saw the Kremlin and some other great buildings in the Russian capital. Then, all too soon, it was time for us to return to our home in London. How many days did it take the author to reach Moscow? Answer: six A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door. It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him. Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. "Jack, did you hear me?" "Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said. "Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him. "I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said. "You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said "He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said. As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his s had passed away. The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly. "What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked. "The box is gone." he said. "What box?" Mom asked. "There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most'." Jack said. It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it. "Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him." Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom." It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day, Jack discovered a note in his mailbox "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days." the note read. Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside. "Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser." "The thing he valued most was...my time" Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked. "I need some time to spend with my son," he said, "Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!" Jack's mother told him on the phone about Mr. Belser EXCEPT that _ . Answer: Mr. Belser had asked for Jack's mailing address
Question: Japanese people,who never miss a chance to be photographed,were lining up to get their pictures on a postage stamp.Vanity stamps with personal photographs went on sale for the first time in Japan as part of an international postage stamp exhibition.The customer's photo was taken with a digital camera and then printed on stamp sheets,a process that takes about five minutes.Sold in a sheet of 10 stamps for $8.80,little more than the cost of lunch in Tokyo,each stamp printed a different scene from a traditional painting along with the photo. The stamps can be used normally to mail a letter,and postal officials hope they will help encourage interest in letter writing in the Internet age."Certainly e-mail is a useful method of communication,but letters are fun in a different way,"said Hatsumi Shimizu an official in the Post Ministry."We want to show young people that letters can be fun too."[ While similar stamp sheets appeared in Australia in 1999 and are now sold in some nations and territories,Japan's fondness for commemorative photos is likely to make them especially popular here.Indeed,officials had prepared 1 000 sheets but they were sold out in less than 30 minutes.Although the stamps are currently only available as a special service during the exhibition,postal officials said they may start selling them on a regular basis in the future. By saying"little more than the cost of lunch in Tokyo",the author really means _ . A. this service is not very expensive B. the cost of this service is very high C. food in Tokyo is very dear D. $8.80 is a very small amount of money Answer: A Question: Most of us probably live without vegetables, but a world without chocolate? Now that would be hard! According to chocolate makers it could happen if we don't act soon. There are two main causes of the chocolate shortage --- chocolate's growing popularity and less production of cocoa, the plant from which chocolate is made. With more and more people in India and China loving chocolate, not much can be done about the first cause. Therefore, the only thing we can do is to increase cocoa production. However, new plant diseases and little rain in Ivory Coast and Ghana, the world's largest producers, have reduced cocoa production by 40 percent in the past 10 years. What's worse, many cocoa farmers in Africa and other cocoa-producing countries like Indonesia and Venezuela are changing to easier-to-grow crops such as corn or rubber. This way, the farmers can make more money. To prevent more farmers from changing, researchers at the newly opened International Cocoa Control Centre, in the UK, are trying to create new cocoa plants that are stronger and faster growing. But first they must make sure the new plants are safe to grow. This takes a long time. First, each new plant is stored at the Control Centre for six months to make sure it is healthy. It is then planted in the Centre's fields, studied and tested for another two years. Only after scientists are certain that they're disease-free, will the plants be sent to farmers in West Africa or wherever else they are needed. To create new stronger types of cocoa, scientists at the Centre are combining the best parts from different cocoa plants. Though the world is facing a serious chocolate shortage, there is now hope! Cocoa farmers are choosing to grow rubber and corn because these crops _ . A. can make them more money B. need less rain to grow C. can be planted more times each year D. are not damaged by plant diseases Answer: A Question: My 11-year-old son and I rides bikes to and from his school every day. I accompany him on the 20-minute ride through Manhattan, drop him off and return at the end of day to pick him up. We always ride together; sometimes he leads; sometimes I do. And as we ride, we communicate the ways to minimize the dangers: Don't go too fast, and watch out for doors suddenly swinging out from parked cars and jaywalking pedestrians, etc. Some friends worry about the risk of riding in traffic, but is there a better way to let my son know how to deal with traffic dangers? But recently he requested me to start hanging back a half block or so. This way he could enjoy the feeling of riding on his own, with the security of knowing that I was nearby in case he needed me. This is healthy, of course, as my son needs space to develop independence in preparation for his inevitable (,) departure from home. However, that means soon he will want to ride to school on his own, and I will no longer have this wonderful routine. "Let your children go if you want to keep them." I understand this and am trying to let my son go in age-appropriate phases, but I still suffer. It's one of the most troubling experiences of parenthood -- recognizing that your presence is becoming less welcome. My dilemma as a husband mirrors the concern I feel as a parent. My wife has just left on a six-month mission to cover the situation in Libya. In the days leading up to her departure, we spoke openly about the possibility, however unlikely, that she might be killed. But while I influence her decisions, I do not control them. Finally, it was her decision. I know that letting go is the wisest path in this case too. As we travel through life's phases, we must let go of so much. And I don't think it gets easier with practice. But maybe just accepting that eventually we will have to let go is the secret to living a full life. What would be the best title for the passage? A. Letting go. B. Father's love. C. Living a full life. D. Lessons from riding. Answer: A Question: On Thanksgiving Day, about 88 percent Americans eat turkey. But one lucky turkey not only will not be eaten but also will become famous. Every year, turkey farmers present turkeys to the US president. But instead of eating this turkey, the president gives it a "pardon". The turkey is flown to Florida for a thanksgiving parade . Then it lives on the farm for the rest of its life. Turkeys come from America and have been part of American culture for centuries. Benjamin Franklin even wanted the turkey to be America's national bird. Turkeys that are kept on farms are large, awkward birds that can not fly. But wild turkeys are quite fast. They can fly at speed up to 88 kilometers per hour. They can also run at 40 kilometers per hour. Turkeys don't have ears. They hear by using the growth of beaks . But their hearing is about five times better than human's hearing. Turkeys are such interesting birds. No wonder Benjamin Franklin wanted them to be American national birds. _ people in America eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day. A. A few B. Some C. Most D. All Answer: C Question: Tom and Joseph are best friends. They spent their summer vacation in Africa. When they were walking through the desert , they started to argue about something. Tom became very angry and slapped Joseph in the face. Joseph felt hurt, but he didn't say anything to Tom. Then Joseph wrote in the sand : "Today my best friend slapped me in the face." They kept on walking until they found a small lake. They decided to have a bath . But when Joseph got in the water, he started to sink . Tom jumped in after him and pulled him out. His friend saved his life. After he became well again, Joseph wrote on a stone : "Today my best friend saved my life." Tom couldn't understand it. "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand. Now you write on a stone. Why?" he asked. _ " Joseph answered. "But when someone does something good for us, we must write it on stones so that no wind can ever take it away." When they found a nice place, they decided to _ . A. buy some sand and stones for their friends B. find something delicious to eat C. have a swimming competition D. have a rest and wash themselves Answer: D
More and more scientific experiments prove that physical exercise can reduce the dangers of some illnesses in middle-aged persons.Exercise strengthens the heart muscle,reduces blood pressure and help to prevent muscles from changing into fat.Physical exercise is just as important for children. Exercise and food affect growing speed in young lab animals.Baby mice start running as soon as they are big enough to use an exercise wheel in their cage.If they get extra food and run a lot,they will grow as much as 1.5 times bigger than normal. The same differences in growing speed might be found between active and inactive children.Physical exercise helps active children grow faster than inactive children.One experiment shows that the brains of the mice that had enough exercise weighed about 3%more than those of the mice that did not exercise The mice that exercised are much quicker to learn doing new exercise than the mice that did not exercise. The results of the experiments suppose the theory that exercise can help babies learn to talk and walk sooner than expected. The good effects of physical exercise are not limited to children and middle-aged people.Exercise continues to be an important part of our lives after we grow old.For example,people over 50 years old begin to lose calcium from their bones,which get weaker and can break easily.Physical exercise,however,helps to strengthen the bones and to prevent them from losing calcium.Of course,old people can take medicines to prevent themselves from suffering from losing calcium.But the medicines they take increase the chance of developing some kind of cancer .So physical exercise is a much safer treatment . Active children_than inactive children. A enjoy walking more B are cleverer and healthier C are stronger but more foolish D are cleverer but weaker Answer: B A decomposer is an organism that A hunts and eats animals B migrates for the winter C breaks down dead plants and animals D uses water and sunlight to make food Answer: C An earthquake may happen at any time. It's best for us to know what to do, where to safe and who to _ during the earthquake. The following information will help you. Remember: Prepare your personal earthquake bag. Collect these items and keep them somewhere near you. Water, food, medicine, mobile, phone, torch ,personal washing things, blanket, money. Remember: Drop, Hide, Hold and contact. Drop to the floor and protect your head and neck with your arms. Hide yourself beside something like a table, a bed and so on. Hold the furniture so that you won't move away during the earthquake. Contact family friends to tell them where you are. Remember: Never do these things. Stand to the close to the buildings stand under the trees or signs because it's better for you to stand in an open space. Go too close to the power lines because you may be badly hurt by electricity. ,. It is safer for you to stand _ during the earthquake. A close to a building. B beside power lines. C under a tree D in an open space. Answer: D Which would an alligator eat A spider B crab C squid D tilapia Answer: D As you look deeper into a Marbel you can see A the future B minut defects C colors D the other side Answer: B
Ashleigh Fraser and Leah Guskjolen, both 18, wondered why they would not be allowed to wear nail polish or artificial nails during their training to become certified nursing assistants. But when they asked, the only response which they got was that "rules are rules." Not satisfied, the teens decided to explore the issue themselves. For their new study, Ashleigh and Leah, seniors at Willcox High School in Willcox, Arizona., borrowed materials from the hospital where they had been trained as nursing assistants. Ten nurses there agreed to give them little scrapings off the top side of their nails. Half of the participants had natural nails. The other half wore nail polish or fake nails on top of their natural nails. The teens grew bacteria from the scrapings on plates; these are plastic dishes with a gel that feeds bacterial growth. Natural nails produced an average of 4.3 bacterial colonies. In contrast, scrapings from nail polish or artificial nails produced an average of 17.5 colonies! Leah and Ashleigh had their answer to the question. Only natural nails are allowed because polished or artificial nails tend to harbor far more bacteria. The germs could be dangerous to sick patients. Leah notes that they are not the first to look at nails in a medical setting. Still, she says, "It is something that should be taken much more seriously than it is." To emphasize that, she points to the large list of similar studies she and Ashleigh uncovered during their research. When nurses touch patients, they often wear gloves, but many small tasks are performed bare-handed. The teens hope to raise awareness of how dangerous artificial nails can be in the medical setting. "What shocked me," Leah says, "is how unconcerned some of the nurses were. They did not think their nails were dangerous." Ashleigh agrees and observes that to preserve their manicures , nurses with polish or fake nails tended to scrub less vigorously when washing their hands. Their nails might look nice, but this might contribute to the large numbers of germs that hang onto their nails. Ashleigh has never really liked nail polish, so she will not have to change much to pursue her dream of being a surgeon. But the results have reminded Leah, who wants to be a nurse, to give up her artificial nails for good. "They are very pretty," she says, "I love them." But now that she knows the risks they can cause, she admits that for a health professional they just are "not worth it." What did the two teenagers do for their study? Dick is not old, but he does not have much hair. His wife Emma has thick, beautiful and black hair. They have a son. His name is Peter, and he is five years old. Today Dick is reading a book in his study. Peter looks at his father for a long time and then asks his mother, "Why does Papa have so little hair, Mama?" Emma laughs and says, "He has little hair becauseThe food looks good but _ bad. he thinks a lot. He's a very clever man." Peter looks at his mother's thick hair for a few seconds and then laughs, "Then I know why you have so much hair." Emma has _ hair. Some people would go through anything just to achieve their dream. Kasia Siwosz is proof. For the final year student on the university women's tennis team, the road to Berkeley, University of California was met with poor advice and misinformation from her home country and _ along the way that fell short of expectations. Born in Poland, Siwosz began playing tennis at seven years old and developed the skills that helped her earn a top-50 ranking among the ITF Junior division . Siwosz wanted to do more with her life than just play tennis, which led her to seek chances that would also allow her to obtain a top education. While most who grow up in the U.S. are naturally accustomed to the American tradition of collegiate sports, such a custom is not as familiar in a country like Poland. "There's no collegiate sports in Poland and no culture of sports and academic study there. You can only do one, not both," Siwosz said. Her desire to have a quality education led her to America to follow her dream. While Siwosz was talented enough to begin her collegiate tennis career, she could only attend community college because she missed the deadline to apply to four-year schools, mainly due to misinformation provided in her home country of Poland. When she had earned all her credits and was able to transfer , Siwosz made the decision to attend Baylor in Texas. Her friends from Poland put in a good word for the university, saying that it was a good fit because there were many international players at Baylor. "I thought it would be a good idea, but it really wasn't what I thought it would be," Siwosz said. "I wasn't happy at Baylor. The level of tennis was high, but the academic standards were no match and I just wanted more." After one year at Baylor, Siwosz's luck finally began to change when she made the decision to transfer to Berkeley, which was due in large part to Lee, a former Berkeley student. Lee, who is a keen tennis player himself, met Siwosz four years ago in Texas. "I knew she was unhappy there," he said. "I saw the opportunity for her to come here." Siwosz visited Lee in Berkeley. "I ended up loving this place and this school," Siwosz said. "I came here a lot over the summer, I _ and I ended up with a Berkeley education and a spot on one of the best college tennis teams in the country." What is the main idea of the passage? The kiwi bird The kiwi bird is a flightless bird,about the size of a chicken. It sleeps during the day and is active at nighttime. It has a long beak that is onethird the length of its body, and its beak actually has nostrils at the end. The kiwi is the only bird with this feature. Another unique feature of the kiwi is that it has no tail. It has thick brown hairlike feathers. This bird has many physical features unlike any other bird on earth. Kiwi birds have been called a genetic leftover. Their characteristics seem very odd to us probably due to the fact that they haven't evolved much at all. They are suspected to be about 8 million years old. That's 7 million years older than humans. Due to New Zealand's isolated environment, it has been safe from predators and hasn't needed to do much adapting. They just hang around. With its long beak, the kiwi digs up and chows down on worms. A kiwi is almost blind; it can see about six feet at night and around two feet during the day,so when it comes to hunting the kiwi is not well equipped.It uses the nostrils on its beak to find its food and then picks up the worms with its beak. The kiwi bird is native of New Zealand.It is the island country's national bird, and is rare anywhere but here and a few Pacific island neighbors. Of course,it is available for viewing at certain zoos.It has stayed in its native land due to the facts that it is an isolated island and that kiwis can't fly. Kiwi birds are extremely unique in the bird world. Though they are the size of chickens, they lay eggs the size of ostrich eggs, weighing around a pound each.Their enormous eggs are the largest in the bird world, compared to their bodies. These birds were named after their distinctive shrill cry "keewee keewee". Which of the following is NOT the distinctive feature of the kiwi bird? It seems that politicians around the world are thinking about the health of their countries. While in China, Chen Zhu has announced his plans for a universal health service and reform across health services. Gordon Brown, the UK Prime Minister, has also announced he is planning to make some changes in our health service. The crux of Mr. Brown's proposals are related to giving the NHS (National Health Service) a greater focus on prevention, rather than just curing patients. He is planning to introduce increased screening for common diseases such as heart disease, strokes, and cancer, for example, breast cancer. In Britain there are 200,000 deaths a year from heart attacks and strokes, many of which might have been avoided if the condition had been known about. Initially, the diagnostic tests will be available for those who are vulnerable, or most likely to have the disease. One example is a plan to offer all men over 65 an ultrasound test to check for problems with the main artery , a condition which kills 3,000 men a year. The opposition have criticized Mr. Brown's proposals, saying that they are just a trick, and claiming that there is no proper timetable for the changes. They also say that Mr. Brown is reducing the money available for the treatment of certain conditions while putting more money towards testing for them. The NHS was founded in 1948, and is paid for by taxation. The idea is that the rich pay more towards the health service than the poor. However in recent years there has been a great increase in the use of private healthcare, because it's much quicker. NHS waiting lists for operations can be very long, so many people who can afford it choose to pay for medical care themselves. Which of the following is the reason for the increasing private healthcare?
"It hurts me more than you,''and "This is for your own good.''These are the statements my mother used to make years ago when I had to learn Latin,clean my room,stay home and do homework. That was before we entered the permissive period in educafion in which we decided it was all right not to push our children to achieve their best in school.The schools and the educators made it easy on us.They thought that it was all right to be parents who take a let-alone policy. We stopped making our children do homework. We gave them calculators,turned on the television,left the teaching to the teachers and went on vacation. Now teachers,faced with children who have been developing at their own pace for the past 15 years,are realizing we've made a terrible mistake.One such teacher is Sharon Klompus who says of her students-"so passive"-and-wonders what happened.Nothing was demanded of them,she believes. Television,says Klompus,contributes to children's passivity."We're not training kids to work any more," says Klompus."we're talking about a generation of kids who've never been hurt or hungry.They have learned somebody will always do it for them. Instead of saying 'go look it up',you tell them the answer.It takes greater energy to say no to a kid." Yes,it does.It takes energy and it takes work. It's time for parents to end their vacation and come back to work.It's time to take the car away, to turn the TV off, to tell them it hurts you more than them but it's for their own good.It's time to start telling them no again. To such children as described in the passage _ There is a park near our school. We can see many trees and flowers there. We can see a hill behind the park, too. At the foot of the hill we can see a river. There are some boats on it. It is Sunday today. There are many Young Pioneers in the park. Some are walking and singing. Some are dancing or playing games. Ann and her sister Kate are flying a kite. Tom and his brother Sam are throwing a frisbee . Their parents are sitting under a tree. All the family are having a good time. Where are their father and mother sitting? Growing thicker fur in the winter helps some animals to A team of British surgeons has carried out Gaza's first organ transplants for a long-term plan to train local medical staff to perform the operations. Two patients underwent kidney transplants at the Shifa, Gaza's biggest public hospital. The operations were conducted a fortnight ago by a volunteer medical team from the Royal Liverpool hospital. Ziad Matouk, 42, was born with one kidney and was diagnosed with renal failure several years ago. Matouk, whose wife donated one of her kidneys, hopes to return to his job within six months. The couple had sought a transplant in Cairo, but were rejected as unsuitable at a state hospital and could not afford the fee at a private hospital. "We were desperate," said Matouk. The UK-Gaza link-up began about a year ago after Abdelkader Hammad, a doctor at the Royal Liverpool hospital, was contacted by an anaesthetist at the Shifa, who outlined the difficulties the Gaza hospital was facing with dialysis . The Shifa is forced to rely on generators because of power cuts; spare parts for its ageing dialysis machines have been difficult to import; and supplies of consumables are often scarce. After an exploratory trip last April, Hammad---whose family is Palestinian---and three colleagues from Liverpool arrived in Gaza via Egypt last month, bringing specialist equipment. Two patients were selected for surgery. The first, Mohammed Duhair, 42, received a kidney donated by his younger brother in a six-hour operation. Two days later, Matouk received a transplant after his wife, Nadia, 36, was found to be a good match. The surgeon was carried out by the British team, assisted by doctors and nurses from the Shifa. "We are very satisfied with the results," said Sobbi Skaik, head of surgery at the Gaza hospital. Skaik hopes that Gaza medical teams will eventually carry out kidney transplants independently, and that other organ transplants may follow. The Shifa is working with the Gaza ministry of health on a plan to train its doctors, surgeons, nursing staff and laboratory technicians in transplant surgery at the Royal Liverpool. "Funding is a problem," said Hammad. "In the meantime we'll go back as volunteers to Gaza for the next couple of years to do more transplants." The Liverpool team's next visit is scheduled for May. Why did the state hospital refuse to practice surgeon for Ziad Matouk? TheUnitedStateshasaround475,000schoolbuses.Eachdaytheycarrymorethan25million children,halfofalltheschoolchildreninthecountry. Thesebuses,onaverage,use4litersofdiesel fueltotravellessthan16kilometers. When theschoolyearbeganlastfall,dieselaveraged55centsaliternationally.Thepricenearlydoubledby theendofschool inJune. BobRileyisthespokesmanfortheAmericanSchoolBusCouncil.Hesaysfuelpricesnegotiated for schools arenot lower thanothers have to pay. Asaresult,schoolsarelookingfor waystoreducetransportationcosts.Busroutesarebeing redrawnor,insomecases,canceled.Someareas arebuyingbusesthatuse naturalgas orother alternativefuels. Otherstepsincludefewerfieldtrips andlesstravel bysports teams.Someschool districtsmayend any busservicenotrequiredby law. Studiesshowthatschoolbusesarethesafestform oftransportationtoandfrom school. The AmericanSchoolBus Councilsayscutsinbus serviceare badfor childrenandpossiblythe environment.Itsaysremovingbusesfromtheroadwillmeananincreaseinothervehiclestransporting students. Spokesman Bob Riley saysanotherconcern is thatreducing busservicemightreduce attendance. It couldalso getmorechildren to walkor bicycle to school.That wouldsurely makepeople happy attheNationalCenterforSafeRoutestoSchool.Morekidswalkingorbikingsafelytoschoolisthe aimofa3-year-oldfederal program,partofaninternationalmovement.Thegoalis toincreasephysical activity and reduce air pollution. Whatistheadvantage ofreducingschoolbusserviceaccordingto thepassage?
Enjoying a better life at school, with shorter class hours, greater privacy and more rights is all you dream of, right? For students in Shanghai, they are no longer just dreams. This week experts and law-makers in Shanghai had a meeting to talk about a new law . It is called the "Shanghai Underage Protection Law ". The law says students' diaries and letters are their secrets and "Nobody can read them if they don't agree." Do your teachers sometimes say something bad to you? Maybe they send you out of the classroom because you fail to finish doing your homework. If this happens in Shanghai, you can stand up and say "No". Shanghai students may have less homework because of the law. Class hours may become shorter for juniors next year, down from 45 minutes to 40 minutes in some schools. The law also talks about students' health. According to the rules,"Smoking in these places full of kids is not allowed."That means you can ask your teacher to stop if he smokes in a classroom. The law makes schools safer for students. "No dancing halls, Internet bars or computer game bars are allowed within(......)200 meters of a school gate." the law says. The law is great, right? Many students like it. "My mom reads my diaries sometimes. I think she will be afraid if I tell her she is doing something against the law." said Luo Jia, 13, at Shanghai Fuxing Junior School. If you want to know more about the law, go to "www.spcsc.sh.cn". ,. Internet bars or computer game bars _ within 200 meters of a school gate. Answer: Old people are easy to feel lonely because their children are busy with their work and have little time to spend with them.Most of them have to be companied by pet dogs.However,it is sometimes impossible for some old people to keep pet dogs because they are too old or ill to take care of pet dogs. Experts are studying the influence of robotic dogs on old people's depression ,physical activity,and life satisfaction.Researchers are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to see whether they can improve the quality of life for old people.Alan Beck,an expert in human-animal relationship,said,"Old people should be more active,challenged,excited.The problem is how we promote that,especially for those without friends or help.A robotic dog could be a solution." In the study,the robot,called AIBO,is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone.These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activities before and after AIBO.Researchers will collect basic data for six weeks.Then,the researchers will review the data to decide if there are any changes in the life of its owner. "I talk to him all the time,and he responds to my voice,"says a 70-year-old lady."When I'm watching TV,he'll stay in my arms until he wants down.He has a mind of his own." The AIBOs respond to certain orders.The researchers say they have some advantages over real dogs,especially for old people.Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it.A robotic dog needn't any exercise and feeding concerns. "At the beginning,it was believed that no one would prefer the robotic dog because it was metal and not furry ,"Beck says."But it's amazing how quickly we have given up that belief." Hopefully,these robotic pets could become a more valuable health helper.They will record their masters'blood pressure,oxygen levels,or heart rhythms.AIBOs may even one day have games that can help exciting older people's minds. From the passage we can learn that old people can easily feel lonely because . Answer: I made a promise to myself on the way down to the vacation beach cottage. For two weeks I would try to be a loving husband and father. Totally loving. No ifs, ands or buts. The idea had come to me as I listened to a talk on my car radio. The speaker was quoting a Biblical passage about husbands and their wives. Then he went on to say, "Love is an act of will. A person can choose to love." To myself, I had to admit that I had been a selfish husband. Well, for two weeks that would change. And it did. On arriving at the beach cottage, I kissed Evelyn meeting me at the door and said, "That new yellow sweater looks great on you." "Oh, Tom, you noticed", she said, surprised and pleased. Maybe a little puzzled. After the long drive, I wanted to sit and read. Evelyn suggested a walk on the beach. I started to refuse, but then I thought, "Evelyn's been alone here with the kids all week and now she wants to be alone with me." We walked on the beach while the children flew their kites. So it went. Two weeks of not calling the Wall Street firm where I am a director; a visit to the shell museum though I usually hate museums. Relaxed and happy, that's how the whole vacation passed. I made a new promise to keep on remembering to choose love. There was one thing that went wrong with my experiment, however. Evelyn and I still laugh about it today. On the last night at our cottage, preparing for bed, Evelyn stared at me with the saddest expression. "What's the matter?" I asked her. "Tom," she said in a voice filled with distress, "I don't?" "What do you mean?" "Well...that checkup I had several weeks ago...our doctor...did he tell you something about me? Tom, you've been so good to me...am I dying?" It took a moment for it all to be understood. Then I burst out laughing. "No, honey," I said, wrapping her in my arms. "You're not dying; I'm just starting to live." From the story we may infer that Tom drove to the beach cottage _ . Answer: This week in our Foreign Student Series,we discuss rules about getting a job while studying in the United States. International students are permitted to work for the college or university they attend or for a business at the school.But the business must directly provide a service to students.You could work at the bookstore,for example,but not for a construction company that is building something on campus .Also,a foreign student cannot displace an American citizen in a job.International students can work twenty hours a week while attending classes;more during school breaks.You can work until you complete your studies. Foreign students normally cannot take a job that has no connection to their school.But the government may give permission if students are suddenly faced with a situation that is out of their control.Examples include large medical bills. The loss of financial aid or an unexpected change in the financial condition of their source of support.Students must also meet other conditions.They must have attended their American school for at least one year.Government approval is given on a case-by-case basis.Students must re-apply after a year if they want to continue all off-campus job. Foreign students who will be attending graduate school can apply for some jobs before they come to the United States.A good example is a university job like a teaching or research assistantship.Some schools pay their assistants.Others provide free education in return. Many do both.Graduate assistants might teach, give tests,grade work, assist professors with research and hold office hours.Many universities now provide language training to foreign teaching assistants to help them improve their English.Some schools require foreign students to pass an English speaking test before they arc permitted to teach. International student offices at schools have to provide information on students each term to the Department of Homeland Security.Students who violate the terms of their visa--for example, By working off-campus without permission--could be sent home. In general, the international students are permitted to_. Answer: Internet dating has become one of the biggest and most successful business ventures on the Internet.Basically,Internet dating is a way to meet people for either friendship or dating without actually having to meet them in person first. The first thing to do if you decide to try Internet dating is to build your profile which can include your hobbies,hopes for the future,and so on.A photograph is optional,but many sites claim that a photograph increases the number of people who look at your profile. Many Internet dating sites will charge a one-time registration fee to use their services. Internet dating makes it possible to meet people from all over the world. You call even narrow the search down to your area by zip code.Another advantage is that you can communicate by email before you meet in person.Thousands of people have met,fallen in love,and married through Internet dating.It is an excellent way for shy people to meet.It is also a way for people with busy lives to connect with others,and an easy way to meet people who share your interests. Just as in conventional dating and love,there are some pitfalls to be aware of in Internet dating.The person you have been talking to on the net may not be who they say they are. Be very aware that there are some people who misrepresent their appearance or private details,such as marital status,income,and so on,for their own reasons.It would not be the first time that someone has been taken in, and talk shows are full of cheating partners who have been caught dating over the Internet in their spare time.Nevertheless,taking a few simple precautions should help ensure that your Internet dating experience is fun. One advantage of Internet dating is that _ . . Answer:
We can see how the product life cycle works by looking at the introduction of instant coffee. When it was introduced, most people did not like it as well as "regular" coffee, and it took several years to gain general acceptance(introduction stage).At one point, though, instant coffee grew rapidly in popularity, and many brands were introduced(stage of rapid growth). After a while, people became attached to one brand and sales leveled off(stage of maturity). Sales went into a slight decrease when freeze-dried coffees were introduced(stage of decline). The importance of the product life cycle to marketers is this: Different stages in the product life cycle call for different strategies. The goal is to extend product life so that sales and profits do not drop. One strategy is called market modification. It means that marketing managers look for new users and market sections. Did you know, for example, that the backpacks that so many students carry today were originally designed for the soldiers? Market modification also means searching for increased usage among present customers or going for a different market, such as senior citizens. A marketer may re-position the product to appeal to new market sections. Another product extension strategy is called product modification. It involves changing product quality, features, or style to attract new users or more usage from present users. American auto manufacturers are using quality improvement as one way to regain world markets. Note, also, how auto manufacturers once changed styles eagerly from year to year to keep demand from falling. The author mentions the example of "backpacks" (Para.2) to show the importance of _ . A pleasing the young as well as the old B increasing usage among students C exploring new market sections D finding creative product designers Answer: C Singapore: A City Singapore welcomes tourists. When you come to visit Singapore, please keep the laws of this country. Here are some points that you must remember. SMOKING: Cigarette smoking is a danger to health. It is not allowed in lifts, cinemas, theaters, all government offices and on buses. If you break it, you have to pay fines of up to $ 1,000. LITTER: Singapore is the Garden City of Asia---clean and green. Dropping litter in public places is not allowed. You can be fined up to $ 500 for dropping litter ---even if it only a piece of waste paper or a cigarette end. EATING OR DRINKING: In Singapore, when you take a subway or a bus, you are not supposed to eat or drink anything, or you'll be fined up to $ 500. RIDING: When you ride a bike across an underpass , please push your bike across the underpass, or you have to pay $ 1,000 for riding your bike. JAYWALKING: You must always use the pedestrian(, )crossing. You can be fined $ 50 for crossing the street less than 50 meters from a crossing. These laws are also for children who are old enough to be in the street on their own. What will happen if you drop a piece of waste paper in Singapore? A You have to pick it up. B You have to sweep the street. C You will be fined up to$500 D You will be told not to do it again. Answer: C Mid-IB at a glance The summer vacation is the time to consolidate your learning and prepare for the year ahead. In July and August Oxford Study Courses will once again hold its Mid-IB Summer School for students half way through their IB Diploma . We'll be back giving another generation of IB students a unique opportunity to sample a way of life enjoyed by students at famous universities. Students who have completed the first year of their IB Diploma can join us and we can help them prepare for their important second year. Students can choose how many subjects they study. Each subject is studied for one week. You can attend up to 5 weeks. The Mid-IB Summer School is held at Cambridge University in the UK (between June 20th and August 1 st) and at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)in Boston, USA (between July 6th and July 25th). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Student comments "The classes have shown me new approaches to learning. I have also learned how to approach exam questions and now feel confident in doing so." * "It was cool creating tight and close relationships with other students from around the world, realizing we all had a connection to each other." * "I really enjoyed the level of independence, although I felt like people were watching out for us. I also felt like an Oxford student!" * "I have enjoyed the learning style and the course work has been extremely beneficial academically." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Enjoy the summer Our Summer School gives you an action-packed social scene with visits to the fun places in the area, organized sports and social events, and advice on how to enjoy your free time in these amazing cities with your new friends. Welcome to contact us at ose@ose-ib.com or on +44(0)1865 521802! What can be inferred from the text? A Students will visit many fun places around the world. B A student can at most choose 5 subjects. C Only students from England and America have access to the school. D Students can obtain their IB Diploma when they finish their studies. Answer: B There are many people who say Thomas Edison invented the twentieth century. Although there are those who may disagree, yet Edison was one of the greatest inventors in America. Born in 1847 in Ohio, Thomas Edison attended school for only three months. After his teacher said that he could not learn, Edison's mother decided to teach him at home. There he was allowed to study the subjects that most interested him. By age ten, Edison had built a science laboratory of his own. Edison got his first job at age twelve on the railway selling candy and newspapers. There he once saved a boy whose father was the boss of the railway station. In return the boss helped him a lot. In his late twenties, Edison built an "invention factory" where he and his business partners could devote all their time to inventing. After improving upon the telephone, Edison created the phonograph . Although Edison did not actually invent the light bulb, he did create an electric lighting system which led to its widespread use. Edison set up the first central electric power station in 1882, so New York became the first city in the world to have electric lights. This was the beginning of the modern world in which electricity became a way of life. The following year, one of Edison's engineers discovered electrons , which at last led to electronics. Without electronics, we might not have radio, TV, computers, or space travel. The rest of Edison's life was spent making and improving inventions. Thomas Edison died at the age of eighty-four in 1931. Three days later, much of America dimmed its lights in honor of the inventor--a man who had more impact on the development of present-day civilization than anyone else in history. From the passage, we can infer that _ . A Edison's teacher thought Edison was not worth teaching B Edison's mother stopped Edison studying at school C Edison didn't invent many things in all his life D Edison didn't spend his life working on these inventions when he was old 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. With the example of roses from Ecuador, the author shows _ . A modern techniques help the cultivation of roses B air transport helps the rose trade worldwide C roses grown in Ecuador are world-famous D roses are sold more than any other flower Answer: B
Dragons are not real animals, but look like a combination of many animals such as snakes, fish and deer. They have two horns and a long moustache . With fantastic powers, they fly in the sky or swim in the sea. They can make rain, too. The Chinese dragon is a symbol of strength and good luck. The emperors of ancient China loved dragons. Their clothes were covered with pictures of dragons. We are proud to call ourselves the "descendants of the dragon". In Chinese, "excellent" people are often called "dragon". A number of Chinese sayings and idioms talk about dragons, for example, " _ ," which means he or she will be successful. It is said that people born in the Year of the Dragon have certain characteristics. They are creative, confident, brave and quick-tempered. There are some famous "dragons" who have done excellent things, for example, Deng Xiaoping, the famous businessman, Li Jiacheng and the movie star Zhao Wei. They are all successful. There are also some traditional festivals about dragons in China, such as Dragon Head Raising Day and the Dragon Boat Festival. We have different kinds of activities to celebrate them. These two festivals come every year, but the Year of the Dragon comes every twelve years. The dragon is very important in Chinese culture. As the "descendants of the dragon", it is necessary for us to know the views on dragons in our culture. It can help us understand why our parents always want us to be "dragons". The year 2024 is the Year of the Dragon. Good luck to you! According to the passage, which of the following statements is TRUE? A. Dragons are real animals. B. There are many Chinese sayings and idioms about dragons. C. People born in the Year of the Dragon must be successful. D. The "descendants of the dragon" are often called "dragons". Answer: B The surgeries went well, and not long afterwards, my sister and I were allowed to go in to visit. Dad was in a great deal of pain but, again, all he could talk about was Mom, who donated her kidney to him. Was she okay? How was she feeling? As they were wheeling Mom out of the recovery room, they rolled her into a separate place in Dad's to visit him. It was like a dream to see both our parents hooked up to IVs and machines and trying to talk to each other through tears. The nurses allowed us to present the diamond ring, which was purchased by Dad before the surgery, to Mom so that Dad could watch her open it. Everybody was crying, even the nurses. As I stood with digital camera in hand, I tried to keep the presence of mind to document the moment. My dad was having a hard time fighting back emotion, and suddenly my parents reached out to hold each other's hands. In my nearly 35 years of existence, I'd never seen my parents do that, and I was absorbed in. I snapped a picture and later rushed home to make sure I'd captured that enormous, life-defining moment. _ . After so many years of quarrels, it was apparent to me that they finally understood how much each loved the other actually . It's as if the transplant healed our whole family. Dad is far gentler, and he has more patience now. He's not condescending to my mother anymore. Mom, too, has loosened up, since she's not dealing with all that anger. There's a closeness that they didn't have before, and the experience has deepened their faith. For Christmas, my sister and I gave them two framed photos linked together by hooks. The top photo is of their clasped hands on their wedding day, August 7, 1965. It says, "For better or worse, for richer or poorer." The second photo is of that day in the recovery room. Their hands are intertwined and it says, "In sickness and in health, till death do us part." What's the true feeling of the author when he saw both his parents in the recovery room? A. terrible B. worried C. incredible D. moved Answer: C Do you like football? If so, you can read the following passage and find that it is interesting. In almost every big university in the United States, football is a favorite sport. American football is different. Players sometimes kick the ball, but they also throw the ball and run with it. They try to take it to the other end of the field. They have four chances to move the ball ten yards . They can carry it or they can throw it. If they move the ball ten yards, they can try to move it another ten yards. If they move it to the end of the field, they receive six points. It is difficult to move the ball. Eleven men on the other team try to stop the man with the ball. If he does not move the ball ten yards, his team kicks the ball the other team. Each university wants its own team to win. Many thousands of people come to watch. They all shout for their favorite team. Young men and women come on the field to help the people shout more. They dance and jump while they shout. Each team plays ten or eleven games each season. The season begins in September and ends in November. If a team is very good, it may play another game after the season ends. The best teams play again on January 1, the first day of the New Year. Many people go to see these games and many others watch them on TV. Many people come to watch football and they want their team to win. Which of the following is not their act? A. Jumping. B. Dancing. C. Crying. D. Shouting. Answer: C Paris is an ancient city, the center of prefix = st1 /Franceand probably the most cultured city in Europe. For the modern traveler it's very easy to reach the famous city on the river Seine. You can fly there in less time than it takes to travel by train from Beijing toShanghai. Once you reachParisyou are surprised by a city that is the perfect combination of modern life and history. The best time to arrive is the spring. Winter is cold and wet, the summer humid and autumn windy. In the spring the flowers are blossoming, the sun shines and the birds sing. The people ofParisare most pleased with spring in their city. They play in the parks, visit the beautiful monuments and enjoy "joie de vivre" . If you arrive in Parisin the springtime, you will enjoy the life of lazy walks down the boulevards too, sitting in the cafes and visiting the most famous museums in the world. There are many places for you to visit, Notre Dame de Paris, the nearby palace of Versaille, the arch of Triumph and of course the Eiffel Tower. You'll notice that in Paris the people in the cafes all look out at the people on the street. They like to see and be seen. Some monuments are not French, but fromEgypt, orGreece, or maybe Chinese! There are many, many dogs, especially the famous French poodie with his well-tailored looks. This is the city where the French impressionists painted their works, where arts, culture and literature are the main passions of life. Apart of course, from the food! All Frenchmen like to eat and drink wine - they are never happier than when they are having a picnic on the banks of the river Seine in the springtime. Poodie is the name of a kind of famous _ in France. A. clothes B. house C. dog D. food Answer: C Rocky Lyons was five years old when his mother, Kelly, was driving along the country road with him. He was asleep on the front seat of their truck, with his feet resting on her lap. As his mom drove carefully down the winding country road, she turned onto a narrow bridge. The truck hit a rock and slid off the road. She attempted to bring it back up onto the road by pressing hard on the gas pedal and turning the steering wheel to the left. But Rocky's foot got caught between her leg and the steering wheel and she lost control of the truck.[ X.JTYJY.COM/] The truck fell into a 20-foot ravine . When it hit bottom, Rocky woke up. "What happened, Mama?" he asked. "Our wheels are pointing toward the sky." Kelly was seriously wounded and blinded by blood. "I'll get you out, Mama," announced Rocky, who had surprisingly escaped injury. He climbed out from under Kelly, slid through the open window and tried to yank his mother out. But she didn't move. "Just let me sleep," begged Kelly, who was out of consciousness. Rocky insisted, "Mom, you can't go to sleep." Rocky managed to push Kelly out of the truck and told her he'd climb up to the road and stop a car to get help. Fearing that no one would be able to see her little boy in the dark, Kelly refused to let him go alone. Instead they slowly moved up to the road. The pain was so great that Kelly wanted to give up, but Rocky wouldn't let her. Rocky kept repeating the inspirational phrase, "I know you can, I know you can." When they finally reached the road, Rocky broke into tears seeing his mother's torn face clearly for the first time. Waving his arms and shouting, "Please stop!" the boy stopped a truck. His mother was sent to hospital. It took 8 hours to rebuild Kelly's face. She looks quite different today---"I used to have a straight long nose, thin lips and high cheekbones; now I've got a flat cheeks and much bigger lips"--- but she has few scars and has recovered from her injuries. Rocky's heroics were big news. Everyone was surprised at this little boy's power. "It's not like I wanted it to happen," The boy explained. " I just did what anyone would have done." "If it weren't for Rocky, I'd have died," said his mother. According to the text, Rocky and Kelly _ . A. were lost on a country road B. had limited time to find their way C. were involved in a truck accident D. knew little of what happened to them Answer: C
Research by the Institute of Education (IOE) in London found that men who went to single-sex schools were not only more likely to be separated from a partner or divorced, but also more likely to be depressed by middle age. The chances of women having successful marriages were not affected by whether they were educated in mixed or single-sex schools.Separate research by the IOE found that going without boys was beneficial for women in other ways since there was a " statistically significant positive association between single-sex schooling and wages for women". The study into marital success interviewed 17,000 adults who were taught in a range of schools including private boarding schools to state comprehensives.It found that single-sex education does not compromise the chances either of men or women of getting married. However, researchers found that boys educated on their own were more likely to divorce in later life.While for women, there was no significant link.The research also found men taught in boys' schools were more likely to suffer from depression by age 42--perhaps because of their increased chances of marital breakdown.But Professor Leonard's team was unable to identify why those men educated in a single-sex environment were more likely to divorce. The study asked married and _ g couples where men had attended both single-sex and mixed schools to rate how happy they were and found no marked difference in their happiness levels or willingness to share domestic chores. Mary Boust, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said the IOE research confirmed what was always suspected."All the research shows single-sex schools are good for girls but bad for boys--both in terms of academic performance and socialization," she said."Boys learn better when they are with girls and they actually learn to get on better." The findings were presented at a conference on gender in education hosted by Perse School for Girls in Cambridge. According to the passage, Mary Boust suggests that _ . A the IOE 's researches were suspected B mixed school is a better choice for boys C boys are better in academic performance than girls D mixed schools are good to boys in terms of socialization only Answer: B. mixed school is a better choice for boys Earlier this month, the Obama Administration called for increased protection of the world's most southern continent, Antarctica.Scientists say climate change and human activity have increasingly led to the melting of massive pieces of Antarctic ice.The disappearance of ice will not only affect wildlife in the area such as seals and penguins.The melting will also cause oceans and seas around the world to rise. This represents a major threat, especially to coastal areas.For example, the ancient city of Venice, Italy has long been threatened by rising sea levels.The situation is made worse by the fact that its ancient buildings, built on a body of water called a lagoon , are slowly sinking.When the city was founded about 1,600 years ago, the level of the Adriatic Sea was almost two meters lower than it is today. Rising sea levels are not the only threat.The salty water is also destroying Venice's famous buildings and artworks.The Italian government is trying to fix the problem with the construction of a seven-billion-dollar system of moving flood barriers. Climate change is also leading to the melting of ice in other areas, such as Mount Kilimanjaro in northeastern Tanzania.It is the highest point in Africa, measuring almost 6,000 meters.The mountain supports five vegetation zones and many kinds of animals. The ice glaciers on the mountain are disappearing very quickly.This will have a bad effect on the mountain's ecosystems and on Tanzania's travel industry.Also, a valuable record of thousands of years of weather history will also be lost if the ice melts.Scientists study pieces of glacier to understand weather patterns from thousands of years ago. In the United States, the icy masses in Glacier National Park in Montana may soon completely disappear because of climate change.In 1850, there were an estimated 150 glaciers in the more than 400,000 hectare park. There are 26 glaciers remaining today.Scientists estimate that the glaciers will be gone by 2030.Warming temperatures are also threatening the many kinds of plants and animals that live in this mountain ecosystem. According to the passage, what has been affected in Italy by rising sea levels? A Many kinds of plants and animals died out in Italy. B Venice's famous buildings and artworks are being destroyed completely. C The ice glaciers on the mountain are disappearing very quickly. D Its ancient buildings could be drowned. Answer: D. Its ancient buildings could be drowned. Lighting a candle causes that candle to what? A cool B freeze C regenerate D scorch Answer: D. scorch Scientists launch a rocket into space for a mission. Once the rocket escapes the gravitational pull of Earth, how will the mass and weight of the rocket be affected? A The mass and weight will change. B The mass and weight will stay the same. C The mass will stay the same, but the weight will change. D The mass will change, but the weight will stay the same. Answer: C. The mass will stay the same, but the weight will change. A group of Canada geese left a Florida lake in the spring. The geese arrived at a Maine lake 2,000 km away in 40 days. If the geese traveled at a constant rate, how far did the geese travel on the first day? A 5 km B 20 km C 40 km D 50 km Answer: D. 50 km
What is your zodiac animal? According to the Chinese lunar calendar , 12 animals mark 12 different years. It is the basis of the Chinese zodiac. Nowadays, Chinese zodiac animals have worldwide fame and are increasingly popular among western people. The zodiac is an important part of Chinese culture. People believe that the characteristics of a zodiac animal influence the personality of every person born in that year. For example, people born in the Year of the Tiger are considered powerful and brave. Zodiac animals also have some social functions. When people think it is not proper to ask: "How old are you", they may change their question to "What is your zodiac animal?" With this question, you can figure out roughly which year someone was born and the person's age. Zodiac animals are not special to China. Many countries share a similar zodiac culture with China. For example, in the Japanese Zodiac, a wild boar takes the place of a pig and the Vietnamese zodiac has a cat instead of a rabbit. But have you ever wondered how these 12 animals were chosen to represent each year? According to legend, the Jade Emperor invited all the animals to join him for Chinese New Year. Only 12 animals went to see him. As a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. The ox would have been the first to arrive, but the rat sat on his back and jumped off just before they arrived to come in first place. In the Japanese zodiac, we don't see the zodiac animal: _ A wild boar B rabbit C dragon D pig Answer: D No matter where the dads and their children go, that location immediately becomes a tourist destination. This has become a pattern for Hunan TV's reality show Where Are We Going, Dad? And last week the show was heading overseas for a special international episode. The entry has taken place in New Zealand, which was expected to become a popular travel destination for Chinese fans of the show. If you don't know much about New Zealand but would like to explore it, check out our travel guide to see what kinds of activities might interest you. Nature and wildlife encounter New Zealand was the last country on Earth to be settled by humans. As such, it's a paradise for exotic birds. You're also able to watch dolphins and whales on boat tours. Possible itinerary 1.Auckland: fly in and visit Tiritiri Matangi conservation project (bellbirds spotting); 2.Waipoua Forest: huge kauri trees; 3.Kaikoura: whale watching by boat or air seal watching, hike the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway, join a dolphin encounter tour; 4.Wellington (Matiu/Somes Island): red-crowned parakeet, blue penguins, weta, skinks and tuatara; 5.Stewart Island: kiwi bird spotting; 6.Te Anau: takahe and kea; 7. Queenstown: fly to Auckland and finally _ 43 _ . Landscape lover Landscape lovers may have heard that New Zealand is brimming with natural wonders like active volcanoes , snowy mountaintops, glaciers perched near beaches and caves infested with glowworms. Indeed, you can't see many of these wonders anywhere else in the world. Possible itinerary 1.Auckland: fly in; 2.Whangamata: beach resorts and The Coromandel Forest Park (short walks, mountain bike trails); 3.Waitomo: underground caves and glowworm caverns; 4.Rotorua: geothermal areas; 5.Abel Tasman: golden sand beaches (taking water taxi, sea kayaking, hiking, and snorkeling); 6.Fox Glacier and Franz Josef: biggest glaciers in the country (hiking and guided glacier walks); 7.Queenstown: crystal clear Lake Wakatipu (bungee jumping, sky diving, horse trekking and cycling); 8. Milford Sound: fjord (boat cruises, sea kayaking, diving and flightseeing); 9.Christchurch: fly back. Which is the best expression to fill in the blank in the passage? A have dinner B fly back C go sightseeing D ride horses Answer: B Hello, everyone. My name is Tom . I'm a middle school student. I am a soccer fan . I play soccer after school every day. This is my father, His name is Mike Smith. He is a soccer fan, too. He plays soccer very well. I like playing soccer with my father very much. We have a great collection of 15 soccer balls. This is my mother . Her name is Linda Smith. And this my sister Mary .But my mother and my sister don't like soccer. They only watch TV at home. They say many TV programs are very interesting. ,. What sport do Tom and his father like playing? A Soccer B Basketball C Tennis D Ping-pong Answer: A NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A line of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes marched across the South on Friday, peeling away roofs, overturning cars and killing at least 11 people in Tennessee, officials said. It was the second wave of violent weather to hit the state in less than a week. Last weekend, tornadoes killed 24 people in the western part of the state and destroyed more than 1,000 homes and buildings. The storms crossed an area from northern Mississippi to northern Virginia as they moved to the northeast late Friday after developing from a low-pressure system in the central Plains. The Nashville suburbs were the hardest hit, with at least eight deaths happening northeast of the city. Three more people were killed in a rural area about 65 miles southeast of Nashville. Tornadoes were also reported in some other places. The storms pulled up trees, knocked down power lines and damaged buildings. What's worse, phone lines and most businesses were out of service. Hospitals admitted at least 60 people with storm-related injuries and transferred at least nine badly injured patients to Nashville hospitals. In southern Indiana, the storms damaged some areas with golf ball-sized hail. High winds blew the roof off a country club and overthrew a semitrailer . As the storms moved farther east, parts of West Virginia were lashed with heavy rain and winds, great damages caused. The number of tornadoes in the US has jumped through the first part of 2006 compared with the past few years. Through the end of March, an estimated 286 tornadoes had hit the US, compared with an average of 70 for the same three-month period in each of the past three years. The number of tornado-related deaths was 38 before Friday's storms. The average number of deaths from 2003 to 2005 was 45 a year, the prediction center said. How many deaths have the thunderstorms and tornadoes on Friday caused? A Three. B Eight. C Eleven. D Twenty-two. Answer: C The Garden Hotel When you are next in Nanoko, be sure to stay at the Garden Hotel.Whether you come on business or on holiday, you will find everything as comfortable and convenient as you would expect in a first-class international hotel. Every bedroom has its own private bathroom, telephone, wall-to-wall carpeting and color1ful, modern materials and furniture in the local style. In the Mitsu Restaurant, you can choose your meals from as wide a variety of dishes, both Eastern and European, as you will find anywhere in the country.In the Beach Bar, you can drink with your family and friends in air-conditioned comfort, to the music of internationally known artists.Or you can take your drink outside into the beautiful garden that gives the hotel its name, or to the tables that surround the swimming pool.Throughout the hotel, you will find the service is both friendly and efficient. By day, the pool is alive with the holiday spirit and the happy shouting of children; and by right, soft lights and music make it the perfect place for a party, or simply for an after-dinner drink and conversation. The Garden Hotel has its own private mini-bus service.Give us a ring and we will arrange to collect you at the airport or in the city center.Every day a bus leaves the hotel for day trips up into the hills to see the ruined city of Morote, or the villages and temples of the hill people;or along the coast to the seaside towns and wonderful beaches of Cape St Germain. If you prefer, we can arrange for you to visit the Wainiri Islands that lie just off the coast.Here you can swim and sun-bathe in private and in peace;or you can fish for one of the many varieties of sea-life for which the Wainiris are justly famous. The Garden Hotel is right on the beach, only five minutes for Nanoko's modern shopping centre.Here you will find all that money can buy, at prices you can afford. GARDEN HOTEL, BEACH AVENUE, NANOKO, P.R.T.TEL:46-0488 The Mitsu Restaurant serves food _ . A of both Eastern and Western varieties B from all over the country, in air-conditioned comfort C that is air-conditioned, friendly and efficient D from which you can choose meals in the local style Answer: A
They wear the latest fashions with the most up-to-date accessories . Yet these are not girls in their teens or twenties but women in their sixties and seventies. A generation which would once only wear old-fashioned clothes is now favoring the same high street looks worn by those half their age. Professor Julia Twigg, a social policy expert, said, "Women over 75 are now shopping for clothes more frequently than they did when they were young in the 1960s. In the 1960s buying a coat for a woman was a serious matter. It was an expensive item that they would purchase only every three or four years -- now you can pick one up at the supermarket whenever you wish to. Fashion is a lot cheaper and people get tired of things more quickly." Professor Twigg analyzed family expending data and found that while the percentage of spending on clothes and shoes by women had stayed around the same -- about 5 or 6 percent of spending -- the amount of clothes bought had risen sharply. The professor said, "Clothes are now 70 percent cheaper than they were in the 1960s because of the huge expansion of production in the Far East. In the 1960s Leeds was the heart of the British fashion industry and that was where most of the clothes came from, but now almost all of our clothes are sourced elsewhere. Everyone is buying more clothes but in general we are not spending more money on them." Fashion designer Angela Barnard, who runs her own fashion business in London, said older women were much more affected by celebrity style than in previous years. She said, "When people see stars such as Judi Dench and Helen Mirren looking attractive and fashionable in their sixties, they want to follow them. Older women are much more aware of celebrities. There's also the boom in TV programmes showing people how they can change their look, and many of my older customers do yoga to stay in shape well in their fifties. When I started my business a few years ago, my older customers tended to be very rich, but now they are what I would call ordinary women. My own mother is 61 and she wears the latest fashions in a way she would never have done ten years ago. " Which is the best possible title of the passage? Answer: Age Is No Barrier for Fashion Fans. It is a very common thing for a person to have a good friend. My good friend is Diana. She is a rich and proud girl. She often thinks that she is too good for anyone, so nobody wants to be her friend. One day after school, I was waiting for Diana when Vivien came up to me. She gave me a biscuit. I accepted it. We talked and joked, and from then on, I began to spend more time with Vivien than with Diana. I felt a little uneasy. After a few days, I went to see Diana with some snacks when Vinien came and sat with me. She offered me a sandwich. She also offered one to Diana, but Diana refused it. She walked away. I was angry with Diana for being so rude . "Never mind." Vivien said, "I'm used to it." After school, I tried to catch up with Diana. While walking home, I tried to correct her attitude , but she didn't listen to me. She said, "Go and join your dear Vivien. I know you make a new friend and forget the old one." For the next few weeks, we didn't talk to each other. Then one day, Diana came to Vivien and me, saying, "I'm really sorry about what I did. Would you please forgive me?" Vivien and I looked at each other and smiled. From then on, Diana, Vivien and I have been best friends. Diana asked Vivien and the writer to forgive her because _ . Answer: she realized she was wrong Due to camouflage, you are less likely to be able to see a polar bear in Answer: alaska Once again, rumors are spreading. Judgment Day, this time, is set to happen on December 21st, 2012. The date originated from the Mayan calendar, but actually gained popularity through the hit movie, "2012". How will the world end? And how do we know the exact date? There are many theories: A meteoroid from outer space; a solar storm; a shift in the earth's poles; bla bla bla. They all supposedly pointed to the date of December 21st, 2012. Unfortunately, none of it is true. Zhu Jin, director of Beijing Planetarium, said, "For earth itself, the end will be billions of years away from now.And for us humans, there is a very small chance that we may be affected by some astronomical factors.However, we don't have the ability to foresee such events so far.So when someone tells you the world is going to end on an exact date, it must be fake." But the truth hasn't stopped people from believing. In the sci-fi movie "2012", the director imagined the end of the world based on the Mayan calendar. The film earned nearly 770 million US dollars worldwide. Ning Hong, Hebei Province, said. "The movie 2012 did get one thing right. There are arks being made in China, But they're not being built secretly inside the mountains.They are constructed here in the courtyard of a factory." In April, Liu Qiyuan quit his furniture business and devoted himself to developing these huge round balls. He doesn't believe the end is near, but he wants to be prepared just in case. Liu Qiyuan, the "Ark" builder, said, "The concept originated twenty years ago. The Tangshan earthquake had flattened our house, so I wanted to build a shelter that wouldn't fall. Then in 2004, I saw the tsunami in Indonesia that killed so many people.Then I realized it should be something that could withstand the earthquake and float on water." Liu is hoping to use his invention as a life boat on the sea.He's planning to test his product on the water next year. It turns out that rumor, though false, is good for business. Doomsday discounts and products are hot on many online stores. While it's surely attracted attention, many complain that it misleads consumers. Their purpose is to promote products. If they believe the world is going to end, who would buy things? Money would be useless, too. The purpose of the movie "2012" was_. Answer: to make a profit from the viewers An old couple was having problems remembering things, so they decided to go to their doctor to makesurenothing was wrong with them. When they arrived at the doctor's, they explained to the doctor about the problems they were having with their memory. After checking the couple out, the doctor told them that they were physically fine but advised them to start making notes to help them remember things. Later that night, while watching TV, the old man got upfromhischair and his wife asked, "Where are you going?" He replied, "To the kitchen." She asked, "Will you get me a cup of icecream?"He replied, "Sure." She then askedhim, " Shouldn't you write it down so you can remember it?" He said, "No, I can remember that." When the man was walking towards the kitchen, the woman shouted , "Dear, I would also like some strawberries on top. You had better write that down because I know you'll forget that." He answered, "I can remember that. You want acupof ice cream with strawberries." She added, "Well, I also would like somecreamon top. I know you will forget that so please write it down." With anger inhisvoice, he said, "I don't need to write that down! I can remember that." He then went into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes, he returnedfromthe kitchen and handed her a plate of bacon and eggs. She stared at the plate for a moment and said angrily, "You forgot my bread!" While watching TV, the wife askedherhusband to take her _ . Answer: ice cream with strawberries and cream
It's hardest to perceive in a flashlight's beam a dark spider Daniel Olin was 11 years old when his parents moved to Canada. He liked his new school and made friends there, but then things at home started to change. His mum and dad began to argue and the arguments got worse and worse until one day, Daniel's mum left. With his father working long hours, Daniel felt very lonely and very unhappy. He wanted to escape, to run away. And that's what he did. Very early one terribly cold morning when the snow was deep on the ground, he packed a bag with some clothes, some chocolate and a map of Canada and set off to a forest. He ran and ran until he could hardly breathe. His feet were heavy with the snow but he still walked on through deep snow, not even watching where he was going. Then, disaster struck. A rock hidden by the deep snow caught his feet and Daniel fell to the ground. He had broken the bone. He was very cold and was starting to feel tired, but he knew that if he fell asleep in the snow, he would certainly die from the cold. A tree shook ahead. From within the branches , a pair of yellow eyes watched Daniel. The puma had been following him. A puma is a large wild cat with claws that could tear Daniel into pieces. But instead of moving in for the kill, the puma walked up to Daniel and lay across his chest, arms and legs. Daniel was too frightened to move, but soon the warmth of the animal reached Daniel and he began to feel better. From time to time, the puma pressed his muzzle against Daniel and rocked his head gently. Clearly, the puma knew that Daniel must not fall asleep. This animal should have been a real danger to Daniel and yet the boy began to feel safe. They remained like that for several hours until Daniel and the puma heard voices. The rescue team had found them. What was the 'disaster'? Daniel fell down and got hurt. John "Mad Jack" Mytton (1796--1834) was a carefree English aristocrat who was born into immense wealth. However, he died a poor man after a life that was once described as " _ ". So, what went wrong? As a young boy, Jack went to Westminster School, but after only one year he was expelled for fighting with a teacher. He was then sent to Harrow School but only lasted three days before he was also thrown out. He was eventually educated by private tutors. After school, Jack went to Cambridge University. He arrived with 2,000 bottles of port, but left without graduating - he found university life boring. Later, he joined the army, enlisting with the 7th Hussars. As a young officer, he spent a year with the regiment in France as part of the occupation force after Napoleon's defeat in 1815. Jack passed the time gambling and drinking before resigning his commission. At the age of 21, he returned to his country house just in time to receive his inheritance. With an annual income of over PS800,000 in today's money, Jack was extremely rich... but it didn't take him long to spend it all. In 1819, he became an MP. In order to secure his seat, he offered voters PS10 notes to vote for him, spending more than PS10,000 in total. However, he found politics dull and went to parliament only once. Back at home, he would often drop bank notes in the gardens of his estate, and gave his servants vast amounts of spending money. Once he lost his racetrack winnings (several thousand pounds) when the wind blew all the money away. One of Jack's favorite pastimes was hunting. He would go in any kind of weather, occasionally with no clothes on. Sometimes, he would get up in the middle of the night, take off with a gun to look for something to shoot. Jack also kept a large number of pets. These included about 2,000 dogs. Some were fed on steak and Champagne and even wore livery. A favorite horse had free range inside Halston Hall and would often lie with Jack in front of the fire. Jack was a bit of a practical joker, too. He once left a horse in the bedroom of a guest. Another visitor fell asleep and woke up to find a live bear and two bulldogs in his bed. In 1826, as a result of a bet, Jack rode his horse into the Bedford Hotel, up the grand staircase and onto the balcony. Then, still sitting on the horse, he jumped off the balcony, landing among the diners in the restaurant below. Another time, he invited a local doctor to dine at Halston Hall. As soon as the doctor had left, Jack put on a highwayman's costume and raced ahead to rob the unsuspecting man. On another occasion, a passenger in Jack's carriage admitted that he'd never been in an accident, so Jack drove the carriage up a hill and turned it over. He would also slip red-hot coals into people's pockets as a joke. Eventually, Jack ran out of money and fell into debt. In 1830, he fled to France to avoid his creditors , but returned a couple of years later, ending up in prison in Southwark, London. Jack died there in 1834, a poor, lonely man. [(<<>> 20119 "Hell Raiser")] The word _ would be more proper to describe Jack's life. [ ] ridiculous A California man who was feeling sick almost died recently from a shocking cause. 26-year-old Luis Ortiz went to a hospital because of a headache and nausea(,). When doctors examined him, they were shocked to find a tapeworm larva in his brain. The story gets stranger. The larva was still alive. The creature had caused a cyst to form inside his head. The cyst was restricting the flow of liquids to different areas of his brain. The situation was so serious that doctors said they had to perform an emergency operation to remove the larva. A doctor who operated on Ortiz told him he had only 30 minutes to live. When the doctor pulled the worm out of his head, it was still moving. Luis Ortiz was a student at California State University in Sacramento. He began experiencing headaches in late August. But Ortiz said he did not think the headaches were serious. In September, he visited a friend and his parents in another city. That is when the pain got worse. His mother saw Ortiz throwing up and took him to a hospital emergency room. The doctors saved Ortiz's life. However, the surgery also affected him. Ortiz had to drop out of school and move back home. For now, he is not permitted to work or drive a vehicle. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the U.S. has about 1,000 reported cases of tapeworms each year. The CDC adds that tapeworms are more common in developing countries with poor public health systems. The best way to avoid a tapeworm infection is to wash fruits and vegetables. Also, make sure meat is cooked thoroughly. The CDC suggests cooking all meats to an internal temperature of at least 63 degrees Celsius. If the doctors didn't have an emergency operation on him , Luis Ortiz was likely to _ . live for only half an hour Social Program: 22nd--26th August 2011 Monday Evening--Study Centre or Sports Park Study Center: The school will be open from 7.45 pm to 9.35pm. Sports Park: Aerobics, Swimming or Fitness Training (with a Fitness Card). Tuesday Evening--Cinema Cinema: To get your free ticket, you must write down which film you would like to watch. See the leaflet on the board for this evening's UCI Cinema program. For more information about the films, visit the UCI website www.uci.co.uk or see the film section in this week's Time Out magazine. Wednesday Evening--Study Centre of Tennis Coaching Study Center: The school will be open from 7.35 pm to 9.35 pm. Tennis Coaching: With former Junior Wimbledon tennis player Stuart Silvester. Thursday Evening--Chinese Party Chinese Party: Come along and enjoy the hospitality of the Chinese students! You can try delicious Chinese food and learn about Chinese traditions. Please note that you should eat your evening meal at your home-stay, as the food is a taster and not a full meal. Non alcoholic and alcoholic drinks will be served. Friday afternoon--Historical Walking Tour or Sports Parks Historical Walking Tour: This afternoon you will have the opportunity to visit parts of Norwich you may have otherwise missed, with a professional guide. In medieval times Norwich was the second most important city in England and this afternoon you can learn some of the interesting history of our fine city. Sports Park: Badminton, Basketball, Fitness Training (with a Fitness Card), Football, Squash, Swimming or Volleyball. Please sign early if you wish to play any of the sports listed above. You can do all the following things during the weekday except _ . taking a mountain climbing tour
Sunshine Sports Centre One of the most modem sports centers in town, the Sunshine Sports Centre is not just a sports club but much more! Facilities With a swimming pool for adults and teens, and a smaller one for children, our centre has something for all the members of the family.Parents can relax while children play in the water.For anybody who is interested in competitive sports, our volleyball, tennis and basketball courts are the ideal place to work off stress. Whether you just want to keep in shape, lose some weight or build your strength, there's the gym with its super modem equipment and three personal trainers to look after you and answer all your questions.They can also give you general advice about healthy eating and dieting. Lessons It doesn't matter if you' re five or eighty five, there's something for you at the Sunshine Sports Centre! We offer personal training in all sports if you want it, but there are also group lessons for all sports if you prefer teamwork. Kids and teenagers Take advantage of our special offer for younger members.For members between five and sixteen years old, there are special lessons in water polo, competitive swimming and diving.There are many classes for all levels of swimmers, with a lifeguard on duty from 9:00 am when the pool opens until it closes at 7:00 pm. Social events Sunshine Sports Centre is not only for sport! You can enjoy a delicious meal at our restaurant or have a milkshake with your friends on the balcony overlooking the swimming pool and the courts.In addition, there are lovely gardens where families or friends can have a picnic! To celebrate a birthday, there is no better place than the Sunshine Sports Centre. So, come on Sign up for Sunshine Sports Centre today! The main purpose of the passage is to _ A. explain the rules of the sports centre B. attract people to the sports centre C. persuade people to play sports D. show the benefits of sports Answer: B. attract people to the sports centre One moment it was quiet and calm in the forest, the next, the air was charged with tension. The elephant had heard the distant alarm calls of animals and her mood suddenly changed. I urged the elephant deeper into the forest. We sounded like a forest fire --- cracking, snapping, trailblazing. But through all the noise came a sharp warning cry. The elephant stopped and we heard it again --- the tell-tale call of a spotted deer. I looked quickly around the shadows of the forest. Rays of sunlight shone through tree branches, beneath which the patchwork of green plants and shadows-within-shadows would make tiger stripes look more attractive. Apart from an occasional noise from the elephant's stomach, the forest was silent. Gradually, the tension slipped from our bodies. The elephant seized a nearby branch and put it into its mouth. I reached forward and gently moved my hand over the elephant's neck; there was a soft part, free of wrinkles and hairs, behind her ear. This was my fourth time _ of the forest in Corbett, although I saw no tigers in the end. Located at the foot of the Himalayan mountains, Corbett is home to about 135 Bengal tigers, but the forest seemed to be guarding their whereabouts , a silent reminder of their secrecy and rarity. Still, I was happy enough touching the elephant behind the ear. If I had so desperately wanted to see a tiger, I could have gone to a zoo. After all, spotting tigers merely confirms their beauty; tracking them can make you aware of something more. The author begins his account of the tour in the forest mainly by _ . A. describing various sounds B. comparing different animals C. listing different activities D. introducing various plants Answer: A. describing various sounds At EF--English First, we provide the best English language training program available, and teachers are at the heart of our learning center. EF has over 120 schools in 50 cities, and is a very popular name in China. EF is looking for native English speakers with teaching experience to help Chinese people learn English well. While teaching English with EF, you will continue to develop as a teaching profession while experiencing life in this great nation. As soon as you walk into an EF school, you will understand why creating a welcoming learning environment is important for us to teach English. Our schools have modern well-equipped classrooms, computer labs, and teaching preparation areas. Our teachers receive a complete modern teaching program to prepare themselves to teach our high standards. And they've got high salary. EF was set up a year before 1965 with the duty to "break down barriers in language, culture and geography". It has helped over 15 million students to learn a new language and travel abroad. Which is NOT TRUE according to the passage? A. EF is very popular in China. B. The learning environment is important to learn English well. C. Our schools own modern equipment. D. Our teachers have taught English with EF in the foreign country. Answer: D. Our teachers have taught English with EF in the foreign country. A ship met a storm at sea and only two of the men were able to swim to a small, deserted island. Not knowing what else to do, they agreed to pray to God on opposite sides of the island. Of course, the first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit tree on his side. But there was nothing on the other man's side. Later the first man prayed for a house, clothes and more food. The next day, all of these things were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing. Finally, the first man prayed for a ship so that he could leave the island, and the next morning he found a ship. The first man decided to leave alone. As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice, "Why are you leaving your friend on island?" "My gs are mine alone, since I was the one that prayed for them," the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered." "You are wrong!" the voice said. "He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of our blessings." "Tell me", the first man asked, "what he prayed for?" "He prayed that all your prayers would be answered." For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of others' prayers for us The first man could get all the things because _ . A. God was kind to him B. the second man prayed for him C. God thought he was unlucky D. the second man prayed for nothing Answer: B. the second man prayed for him Years ago a John Hopkin's professor gave a group of graduate students this _ : Go to the slums . Take 200 boys, between the ages of 12 and 16, and investigate their backgrounds and environment. Then predict their chances for the future. The students, after consulting social statistics, talking to the boys and working out data, concluded that 90 percent of the boys would spend some time in prison. Twenty-five years later another group of graduate students was given the job of testing the prediction. They went back to the same area. Some of the boys--by then men--were still there. A few of them had died and some had moved away, but they got in touch with 180 of the original 200. They found that only four of the group had ever been sent to prison. Why was it that these men, who had lived in a breeding place of crime, had such a surprisingly good record? The researchers were continually told: "Well, there was a teacher." They pressed further, and found that in 75 percent of the cases it was the same woman. The researchers went to this teacher, now living in a home for retired teachers. How had she made this remarkable influence over that group of children? Could she give them any reason why these boys should have remembered her? "No," she said, "I really couldn't." And then, thinking back over the years, she said thoughtfully, more to herself than to her questioners: "I loved those boys." This is just the reason. The first group of graduates sent to the slums drew a conclusion of the 200 boys that _ . A. most boys were sure to commit a crime in the future. B. all of the boys were certain to be in prison in the future. C. most boys were to work in prison in the future. D. few of the boys were to be sent to prison Answer: A. most boys were sure to commit a crime in the future.
The 32ndHong 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, began 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, said in a press conference in the capital. In the 29 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 Quarter, pianists Angela Hewitt and Marc-Andre Hamelin, and saxophonist Jan Garbarek. In an effort to increase attendance, hotels and airlines are offering _ along with art festival ticket sales, most of which are at 20% and 30% discounts. For more information, please check: _ The main purpose in writing this text is _ . A to make the 32ndArt Festival known B to announce the plan of the art festival C to introduce the cost of the art festival D to sell a service during the art festival Answer: B In the ancient Arabic story called Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, the young hero Ali Baba said "Open Sesame" and a door to hidden treasures was opened to him.The old story had a special meaning for Ma Yun.He drew inspiration from _ for Alibaba.com - Chinese largest e-commerce website. In 1995, Ma Yun was working for a US trading company when he was introduced to the Internet."I know nothing about computers and has never touched a keyboard," he said.He searched the word "beer" and nothing came up about Chinese products. Ma Yun had an idea.Why not build a large Internet market to connect customers with companies from all over the world? They could do business online in that way.That was how Alibaba began.His company grew quickly.But that didn't mean everything went smoothly.In 2000, many Internet companies failed including Alibaba.But later, he was successful because he managed to attract investment into his company."You should stick to your dream," he said."Everyone thought I was daydreaming when I started.But the most important thing is that we believe in our dream from past to today and tomorrow.Of course we made many mistakes, but we never give up." Ma Yun is also smart.For him, success in business is like trying to catch a rabbit.If there are nine rabbits, focus on catching one - don't try to catch them all," he said."Change your ways if you need to, but don't change the rabbit.Get one first, put it in your pocket and then catch the others." What is the main idea of the passage? A Ma Yun's treasures. B The importance of working hard. C The secrets of Ma Yun's success. D Ma Yun's hobby - catching rabbits Answer: C On the first day of school, our professor introduced himself and let us get to know someone we didn't know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. "Hi, girl! My name is Rose, I'm 87 years old." "Why are you in college at such a young age?" I asked jokingly. "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she replied. Rose became a college symbol this year and she easily made friends with other students. At the end of the term we invited her to speak at our football party. I'll never forget what she taught us. "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only two secrets of staying young, being happy and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! "There is a big difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do anything, you will turn 20 years older. If I am 87 years old, and stay in bed for a year, and never do anything, will turn 88. Anybody can grow older. But every minute counts for young men," she added. She ended her speech by singing The Song Rose. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the end of the year, Rose finished the college education. One week after graduation, Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be. Remember GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY , GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL . Which of the following is included in Rose's speech? A People won't grow old if they stop playing. B The more you laugh , the younger you will be. C People easily become old if they do more things. D Time is especially important to young people. Answer: D Which of these is a function of a leaf? A Carrying nutrients throughout the plant B Converting solar energy into sugar C Creating shade for the plant D Absorbing water from the ground Answer: B China's Jade Rabbit moon rover has " woken up" since it entered the lunar night two weeks ago. The moon rover, known as Yutu in Mandarin Chinese, and the Chang'e-3 lander were restarted by the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC), China's Xinhua news agency said. It had been set to sleep for two weeks to ride out extreme climatic conditions and will finally undertake its scientific mission. The Jade Rabbit was " put to sleep" on 26 December at the onset of the first lunar night of the mission. One night on the moon lasts for around two weeks on Earth and during this time, temperatures fall to -180degC ---conditions too cold for the equipment to function in. There is also no sunlight to power the Jade Rabbit's solar panels. Zhou Jianliang, chief engineer with the BACC, explained: " During the lunar night, the lander and the rover were in a power-off condition and the communication with Earth was cut off. " When the night ends, they will be started up with the power provided by sunlight and resume operation and communication according to preset programmes. He added that the Jade Rabbit surviving the lunar night showed Chinese technology had proved successful. The Jade Rabbit and the lander compose Chang'e-3 landed on the moon on 14 December. With the landing, China became one of only three nations to soft-land on the moon, and the first to do so in more than three decades. Scientists said the mission was designed to test new technologies and build the country's expertise of space exploration. The Jade Rabbit will gather scientific data and capture images from the Moon. China was planning further missions planned to collect lunar soil samples and it is thought officials are looking to conduct manned lunar landings if they prove successful. According to Zhou Jianliang we can know that _ . A on the moon the rover can't communicate with the lander B sunlight is the necessary power for the rover and the lander C Chinese technology has been regarded the most successful D the lunar night can destroy the equipment on the moon Answer: B
When you have a post-office box, the postman doesn't bring letters to you, but you go to the post-office and get your letters and parcels from your box. The box is locked, only you have the key, so the letters and parcels are safe. One day the headmaster of a school wrote to the post-office and asked for a post-office box for his school. He soon got an answer. It said, "We will give you a post-office box in one month." Three months later, the headmaster wrote to the post-office and said, "Why haven't we got a post-office box yet?" This was the answer from the post-office: "Dear sir, We gave you a post-office box two months and wrote to you then to tell you. Here is the key to your box. You will find our letter to you in it." When you have a post-office box, _ . A it is easier for you to write letters B you will have more letters than parcels C you get your letters in front of your house D you got to the post-office to get your letters Answer: D. you got to the post-office to get your letters Why I Don't Spare "Spare Change" "Poor but honest." "The deserving poor. " These words always come to my mind when I think of "the poor. " But I also think of people who, perhaps through alcohol or drugs, have ruined not only their own lives but also the lives of others in order to give way to their own pleasure. Perhaps alcoholism and drug addiction really are "diseases. " as many people say, but my own feeling-based, of course, not on any serious study-is that most alcoholies and drug addicts belong to the "undeserving poor. " And that is largely why I don't give spare change to beggars. But surely among the street people there are also some who can rightly be called "deserving." Deserving what? My spare change? Or simply the government's assistance? It happens that I have been brought up to believe that it is proper to make contributions to charity , but if I give some change to a beggar, am I making a contribution to charity and thereby helping someone, or, am I perhaps simply encouraging someone not to get help? Or, maybe even worse, am I supporting a cheat? If one believes in the value of private charity, one can either give to needy people or to charitable organizations. In giving to a beggar one may indeed be helping a person who badly needs help, but one cannot be certain that one is giving to a needy person. In giving to an organization, on the other hand, one can feel that one's money is likely to beused wisely. True, facing a beggar one may feel thatthis particular unfortunateperson needs help atthis moment-a cup of coffee or a sandwich-and the need will not be met unless I put my hand in my pocket right now. But I have come to think that the beggars whom I meet can get along without my spare change, and indeed perhaps they are actually better off for not having money to buy alcohol or drugs. I know nothing about these beggars, but it's my impression that they simply prefer begging to working. I am not generalizing about street people. I am talking about the people whom I actually meet. That's why I do not give "spare change, " and I don't think I will in the future. What does the author think of beggars who take drugs? A They should be given a cheek-up. B They really need money to live. C They have no pleasure in life. D They are not worth helping. Answer: D. They are not worth helping. Robert lives in a small town. Five years ago, when he was nineteen, he finished middle school. He didn't like any subjects except playing when he was at school. Of course he learned nothing and the bosses wouldn't use a man like him. He has to stay at home, but doesn't do any housework, only watches TV or lies on bed. It makes his parents angry. They want him to study something, he always think it difficult and doesn't listen to them. One day Robert was walking near a bookshop while some young men were talking about the writers. He heard the publishing house pays the writers a lot. He became interested in it. As soon as he got home, he began to write. But he couldn't write anything. At last he bought a book and copied a story. Then he posted it to the publishing house. He waited for nearly half a year, but didn't get any answers. He had to ask an editor on the telephone, "Have you read my story yet, sir?" "Yes," said the editor, "I had read it before you were born! " Robert posted the story to the publishing house to _ . A be a famous man B surprise his friends C win a prize D get much money Answer: D. get much money A well-dressed man goes into a restaurant one day. He sits down at a table near the window. A waiter comes up to him and says, 'Can I help you, sir?' The man says, 'Can I see the menu? ' 'Of course.' The man wants a good meal and he orders a lot of nice food. The waiter gets them for him. The man is having his meal. At this time, a boy comes in and sits beside the man. He asks the man to give him an ice cream. The man does so. Now the boy is eating his ice cream. The man says, 'I go out for a newspaper.' The man goes out. After the boy eats his ice cream up, he stands up and goes to the door. 'Excuse me, but your father doesn't give the money for the meal and your ice cream.' the waiter stops him and says. 'Father? You are wrong. He isn't my father. I don't know him. I meet him in the street. He says he will give me an ice cream if I come here at 12 o'clock.' The boy comes into the restaurant _ . A at 12 o'clock B with the man C to buy an ice cream D to look for his father Answer: A. at 12 o'clock Emma and Hannah are 13-year-old school girls from Minnesota, USA. They are good at making new things and both of them are also good at sales. They are selling charms made out of bottle caps. The girls came up with the idea last summer when they saw charms were popular with kids. They talked with their parents about the idea. Since then they have sold enough charms to buy a bike for Hannah. The girls collect bottle caps and then clean them. They find some interesting pictures on the Internet or on paper, and then glue them onto the inside of the caps. There are different kinds of pictures. "Peace signs are popular with girls, and single-letter charms are popular with boys whose names start with those letters," Emma and Hannah said. Now, charms can be found everywhere at Dakota Hills Middle School in Eagan. "Students put charms on purses, backpacks, and their lunchboxes," said Emma. Emma and Hannah also have a shop on the Internet. They hope they can sell their charms to more kids. They're thinking about selling their charms at the Eagan Market Festival next summer. Their business is not only for getting money. At their Valentine's sale, 20% of the income went to charity. What are Emma and Hannah? A They're waiters. B They're sellers. C They're students. D They're charm makers. Answer: C. They're students.
About 10 years ago my daughter was about 2500 kilometers from Newcastle, and rang me one day crying because of an emotional problem she was facing. She was about 20, and in a town known as Ayrlie Beach in Northern Queensland. I asked her what it was that she needed most in that moment, and she replied that she needed support, and my arms around her would be the best thing that she could hope for! Because I couldn't do that in that exact moment, I asked her to describe her surroundings to me (I have ly no idea 'why', at the time), and said that if she hadn't heard from me in about 30 minutes, she could ring me back. I asked her to stay exactly where she was. After hanging up the phone, I just sat for a few seconds. After only a very short time a phone number jumped into my head. I rang the number and it was a woman who had bought a house from me about 18 months previously, when I was working in Real Estate. My exact words to her were these, "Oh, it's you Liz, I have no idea why I'm calling you in particular, but my daughter is in trouble in Ayrlie Beach, and I just got the thought to ring you and tell you that. Have you any idea why?" "It could be because my son lives there," says Liz. "Oh really, that's got to be it," I said. "Do you mind giving me his phone number, Liz?" "Of course not, and I can only hope that he can be of some help!" I rang straight away (only about 5 minutes have passed since telling my daughter that somehow I'd get her help). Fortunately, he answered immediately, and I told him the story of who I was, and why I'd rung. I gave him the description of my daughter; where she was standing; and that she needed emotional support if he could find it in his heart to help out so unexpectedly like this. "Oh yes, I can see her," he said..."she's right across the street from where I'm standing!" He walked across the street and told my daughter that her Dad had sent him! Imagine that...she almost fainted: only about 10 minutes had passed since she had rung me! I believe that she said something like this, "Wow, Dad's getting pretty good at this stuff!". That's intuition at it's best! How did the author react to his daughter's telephone call? Drew knows that Earth is tilted on its axis. He also knows this tilt is responsible for the season that a region on Earth will experience. When the South Pole is tilted toward the Sun, what season will it be in Florida? Have you ever seen a horse with toes? Millions of years ago, horses had many toes. They had four toes on each front foot. They had three toes on each back foot. The horses were smaller than cats. These small horses lived in the forest. Their many toes helped the horses run over the soft wet ground. It was very hot in the forest. But the weather changed. It became cold. Many trees couldn't live in cold weather. The trees died and fell. Forests became open field. The sun made the ground dry and hard. Horses began to change too. They began to get bigger. This took a long time. On the dry hard land, horses needed only their middle toes for running. At last their middle toes became hard. When the weather changed, _ . All schoolchildren should have "happiness" lessons up to the age of 18 to combat growing levels of depression, according to a senior government adviser. "Pupils should study subjects such as how to manage feelings, attitudes to work and money, channeling negative emotions and even how to take a critical view of the media," said Lord Richard Layard, a Labor peer and professor of economics at the London School of Economics. The proposal comes only days after the Government said that lessons in manners--including respect for the elderly and how to say "please" and "thank you"--should be taught in secondary schools to combat bad behavior. Lord Layard, the director of the wellbeing program at the LSE's Center for Economic Performance, said: "Learning hard things takes an enormous amount of practice. To play the violin well takes 10,000 hours of practice. How can we expect people to learn to be happy without large amounts of practice and repetition?" It is believed that at least two percent of British children under 12 now struggle with significant depression. Among teenagers, the figure rises to five percent. A UNICEF study involving 21 developed countries showed that British children were the least satisfied with their lives, while the World Health Organization predicts that childhood psychiatric disorders will rise by 50 percent by 2020. In a speech at Cambridge University, Lord Layard said the Government's lessons in manners did not go far enough. "We need a commitment to producing a major specialism in this area, with a serious teacher training program," he said. However, happiness lessons have been criticized by academics. Frank Furedi, a sociology professor at Kent University and author of Therapy Culture, said: "In pushing emotional literacy, what some teachers are really doing is abandoning teaching. They are giving up and talking about emotions instead, so that children value all this non-discipline-led activity more than maths, English or science. What is amazing about this is that time and time again, research says that it does not work." What do we know about British children from the passage? Space Junk Everything seemed normal in space. Astronauts were working on a space station. Suddenly, Mission Control1 ordered them to leave the station. They rushed to the escape pod.2 Inside the pod, they waited for further orders. A small piece of space junk was speeding toward the space station at 28,000 kilometers (17,500 miles) per hour. The crew could be in danger! Ten minutes later, Mission Control sent an all-clear order. The station and crew were safe. Leftover Litter More than 1,600 pieces, large and small, became space junk. There are other kinds of space trash, too. Astronauts drop tools. They lose screws and drop gloves. Even chipped paint can become space junk. So can regular trash that's tossed from space stations. Small Scraps, Big Damage All this trash can cause problems. Litter that's orbiting Earth can travel at 7.7 kilometers (about 5 miles) per second. That's fast! No wonder space junk can crack windows, chip heat shields,3 and rip solar panels. Sometimes space junk falls to Earth. Friction with particles in Earth's atmosphere causes most junk to burn up. Really big pieces slam into the ground. Some splash into oceans. That's why scientists track space junk. They use radar and telescopes. These tools can track objects larger than a grapefruit. Millions of pieces are much smaller than this. These small pieces can do big damage. Yet there is no way to track them. Scientists are thinking of ways to clean up space. One way is to shoot lasers at space trash. The lasers would push the litter farther away. The only problem is Earth's gravity would eventually pull it back. It would become a problem again later. Here's another way. Make spacecrafts with giant nets. The nets would catch the litter. Then the litter could be dumped into Earth's atmosphere. The litter would burn up. Scientists still need to find other solutions. No doubt they will. As a piece of space junk falls to Earth, it travels
Researchers in the US say they might have discovered how to fight against and even _ some processes of ageing, at least in mice. Injecting the blood of young mice into the older ones improved their brainpower, a study found. Scientists at Stanford University plan to carry out trials in people in the hope that new treatments for dementia can be developed. "There are factors present in blood from young mice that can recharge an old mouse's brain so that it functions more like a younger one,"says Dr. Tony from Stanford University School of medicine. In the study published in Nature Medicine, mice aged 18 months were given injections of the blood taken from mice aged 3 months. The injected mice performed better on memory tests than mice of the same age that had not been given the blood. Dr. Tony said it was not known whether the same was true of humans, but a trial was planned. A research center in UK said the treatment restored certain aspects of learning and memory in mice, but was of unknown importance to humans. The research, while very interesting, did not test the type of brain damage that was seen in dementia, which is not a necessary consequence of ageing. Meanwhile, two similar studies by a separate team have thrown more light on how young blood may benefit the old, in mice at least. A substance in the blood of mice previously shown to have an anti-ageing effect on heart muscle also improved brain cells, according to a Harvard team. The research, published in Science, found the blood factors encouraged the growth of brain cells in old mice, and restored their sense of smell. The same chemical also improved muscle power of aged mice, the researchers found. Scientists in the US will test the discovery in humans with the aim of _ . Answer: treating an age-related disease successfully. Reading is an important activity for many Americans. Today, thousands of men, women and children are members of groups to discuss the books they read. No one knows how many Americans belong to reading groups called book clubs. Yet publishers and bookshops report that more and more throughout the United States are joining the clubs. Most of the clubs work the same way. Members read the same book at the same time. Then they meet to talk about the book. Members may be friends or people who live near each other. Or, they may be people who work together. Book clubs may be for only women or only men. Or, they can be for husbands and wives together. Some are family groups where parents attend with their children. Children may belong to book clubs of their own. Some book clubs in the United States are for husbands and wives. One woman says this is a great idea for a book club. She says husbands and wives often talk to each other only about their children, work, or money problems. "Talking about books," she says, "opens a whole new level of communication." American children belong to book clubs, too. They may be as young as four years old or as old as eighteen. Some children's clubs get help from the Great Book Foundation . This educational organization provides lists of books to read. It also trains people to lead discussions about the books. The best title of the passage might be _ . Answer: Book Clubs in the USA For most people, graduation is an exciting day - the culmination of years of hard work. My graduation day... was not. I remember that weekend two years ago, Family and friends had traveled far to watch our class walk across the stage. But like everyone else in my graduating class, I had watched the economy go from bad to worse during my senior year. We graduates had degrees, but very limited prospects . I hadn't secured a job, and I knew that the next day, when my lease ended, I would no longer have a place to call home. The weeks ahead weren't easy. I gathered up everything I couldn't carry and put it into storage. Then, because I had no opportunities in my small university town, I packed up my car and drove to California to find work. But what I thought would take a week dragged into two, then four, and 100 job applications later, I found myself still jobless. The due date to begin paying back my student loans was creeping even closer. Have you ever felt utter dread? That feeling became a constant in my life. The most frustrating part was no matter how much I tried, I just couldn't seem to make any progress. So what did I do to maintain my sanity? I wrote. Something about putting my words on a page made everything clearer. Something about writing gave me hope. I channeled my frustration into a children's book. Beyond the river was the story of an unlikely hero, a little fish who refused to give up. And then one day, with no writing degree or contacts in the writing world - just hard work and perseverance - I was offered a publishing contract for my first book. After that, things were in place, I was offered a second book deal. Then, a few months later, I got an interview with the Walt Disney Company and was hired shortly after. The moral of this story is... don't give up, even if things look bleak now. Two years ago I was drinking cold soup right out the can. Things change. All we need is the courage to push beyond the river. What is the main message the story intends to convey? Answer: Perseverance is essential to success. American TV and movies once gave a tough and cruel picture of the American police, though now there are TV series which have _ as heroes and defenders of society. The police are grateful for the good publicity and their new image, especially in cities where there are black Jews, who live under poverty line. White policemen are now careful of how they speak and act towards their fellow black citizens. The cop is a city or a State employee. He cannot arrest anyone outside his city or his State. He cannot even cross the border into a neighbor State in search of a criminal. If he does, he can be charged with breaking the law of that State. The police who have to be really tough are those who operate in big cities, like New York,Chicago and Detroit, which have large ghettos and organized crimes. Since the majority of criminals are armed, American cops have to use their guns more often than most policemen in other places and the car chases through the crowded streets of Manhattan, which are a favorite feature of gangster movie, are not so exaggerated . American cops get shot down, run over, stabbed, beaten up, and their wives are in constant fear that one day their men will not come home. Many policemen do a lot to help children whose parents are criminals. They understand better than most citizens the terrible misery of the Jews. They feel sorry for the drug addicts, but often treat roughly the "pushers" who sell the drugs--when they can catch them. They have been accused of making no serious attempt to break up the various drug rings. They say that such task would be never-ending. Many American cops do a lot to help children whose parents are law-breakers because _ . Answer: they are well aware of the misery of the Jews The skin of a chameleon can change colors to help it blend with its surroundings. How would this adaptation most likely help a chameleon survive? Answer: by helping the chameleon hide from its predators
Let us begin by saying what does not cause our dreams. Our dreams do not come from "another world ". They are not messages from outside source. They are not a look into the future , either . All our dreams have something to do with our feelings, fears, longings, wishes, needs and memories. If a person is hungry , or tired or cold , his dreams may include a feeling of this kind .If the covers on your body , such as a quilt or a blanket have slipped off your bed , you may dream that you are sleeping on the ice and snow. The material for the dream you will have tonight is likely to come from the experience you have today. So the subject of your dream usually comes from something that has effect on you while you are sleeping (feeling of cold, a noise, a discomfort, etc.) and it may also use your past experiences and the wishes and the interests you have now.This is why children are likely to dream of fairies, older children of school examinations, hungry people of food, home-sick soldiers of their families and prisoners of freedom. To show you how this is happening while you are asleep and how your needs and wishes can all be joined together in a dream , here is the story of the experiment.A man was asleep and the back of his hand was rubbed with a piece of absorbed cotton.He would dream he was in hospital and his charming girlfriend was visiting him , sitting on the bed and feeling gently his hands! There are some scientists who have made a special study of why we dream, what we dream and what those dreams mean.Their explanations of dreams , though a bit reasonable, is not accepted by everyone but it offers an interesting approach to the problem.They believe that dreams are mostly expressions of wishes that do not come true.In other words, dreams are a way of having your wishes carried out. From the passage we know that our dreams _ . A are imagination of our daily life B are man's curious look into the future C have nothing to do with our feelings D are to some degree connected with our feelings Answer: D Dear Maya Shao-ming, To me, June 6, 1990 is a special day. My long-awaited dream came true the minute your father cried, "A girl!" You are more than just a second child, more than just a girl to match our boy. You, little daughter, are the link to our female line, the legacy of another woman's pain and sacrifice 31 years ago. Let me tell you about your Chinese grandmother. Somewhere in Hong Kong, in the late fifties, a young waitress found herself pregnant by a cook, probably a co-worker at her restaurant. She carried the baby to term, suffered to give it birth, and kept the little girl for the first three months of her life. I like to think that my mother--your grandmother--loved me and fought to raise me on her own, but that the daily struggle was too hard. Worn down by the demands of the new baby and perhaps the constant threat of starvation, she made the painful decision to give away her girl so that both of us might have a chance for a better life. More likely, I was dropped at the orphanage (M JLR) steps or somewhere else. I will probably never know the truth. Having a baby in her unmarried state would have brought shame on the family in China, so she probably kept my existence a secret. Once I was out of her life, it was as if I had never been born. And so you and your brother and I are the missing leaves on a family tree. Do they ever wonder if we exist? Before I was two, I was adopted by an Anglo couple. Fed three square meals a day, I grew like a wild weed and grasped all the opportunities they had to offer--books, music, education, church life and community activities. In a family of blue-eyed blonds, though, _ . Whether from jealousy or fear of someone who looked so different, my older brothers sometimes teased me about my unpleasing skin, or made fun of my clumsy walk. Moody and impatient, burdened by fears that none of us realized resulted from my early years of need, I was not an easy child to love. My mother and I conflicted countless times over the years, but gradually came to see one another as real human beings with faults and talents, and as women of strength in our own right. Lacking a mirror image in the mother who raised me, I had to seek my identity as a woman on my own. The Asian American community has helped me regain my double identity. But part of me will always be missing: my beginnings, my personal history, all the delicate details that give a person her origin. Nevertheless, someone gave me a lucky name "Siu Wai." "Siu" means "little," and "Wai means "clever." Therefore, my baby name was "Clever little one." Who chose those words? Who cared enough to note my arrival in the world? I lost my Chinese name for 18 years. It was Americanized for convenience to "Sue." But like an ill-fitting coat, it made me uncomfortable. I hated the name. But even more, I hated being Chinese. It took many years to become proud of my Asian origin and work up the courage to take back my birth-name. That, plus a little knowledge of classroom Cantonese, is all the Chinese culture I have to offer you. Not white, certainly, but not really Asian, I try to pave the way between the two worlds and bridge the gap for you. Your name, "Shao-ming," is very much like mine--"Shao" means "little." And "ming" is "bright," as in a shining sun or moon. Whose lives will you brighten, little Maya? Your past is more complete than mine, and each day I cradle you in your babyhood, generously giving you the loving care I lacked for my first two years. When I pat you, I comfort the lost baby inside me who still cries for her mother. Sweet Maya, it doesn't matter what you "become" later on. You have already fulfilled my wildest dreams. I love you, Mommy What can be inferred from Mommy's Anglo family life? A She used to experience an identity crisis. B She fought against her American identity. C She forgot the pains of her early years. D She kept her love for Asia from childhood. Answer: A Being bored can encourage people's creativity-partly to escape the horrible, frustrated. And meaningless feeling of boredom-recent studies find. It could even be true at work. Psychologists at the University of Central Lancashire had participants copy numbers out of the telephone book for 15 minutes,while others went straight into a standard creativity task. Both groups were asked to come up with as many different uses as they could for a plastic cup. The group that felt more bored came up with more uses. Dr. Sandi Mann, one of the study's authors said. " Boredom at work has always been seen as something to he removed. hut perhaps we should be welcoming it in order to encourage our creativity. What we want LO do next is to see what the practical implications of this finding are. Do people who are bored at work become more creative in other areas of their work-or do they go homeand write novels?" In a later study, Dr. Sandi Mann found that creativity was reduced when people were still bored but didn't have the chance to daydream. While we tend to think of boredom as something; that certainly leads to trouble-drinking, gambling. and antisocial behavior, this research suggests differer possibilities. More than anything, the feeling of boredom is a 8trong signal that we are stuck in some kind of rut and we need to seek out new goals. In the study above, this research led participants to new ideas. Usually people will do anything to avoid being bored. as it's such an _ experience. But creative people, like writers, sometimes talk ahout seeking out boredom. Here is the comedy writer Graham Linehan talking about boredom Lo The Cuardian. "I have to use all these programs that cut off the Internet,force me to be bored, because being bored is an essential part of writing, and the Internet has made it very hard to be bored. The creative process requires a period of boredom ,of being stuck. That's actually a very uncomfortable period that a lot of people mistake for writer's block, but it's actually just part of a long process. " So, when you start to feel bored , instead of g7ancing at your smartphone.,try being bored for a bit. Who knows what creative thought might come of it? From the study of Dr. Sandi Mann, we can learn that _ . A boring tasks make people creative B daydreaming may increase creativity C plastic cups can be used very creatively D copying numbers might be very interesting Answer: B New Education is the UK's first training company devoted to the development of leadership potential in cross-cultural environment, We provide high quality training services such as effective communication, public speaking, positive attitude, life planning, career skills, Chinese and Western cultural differences and traditional Chinese business wisdom. New Education was set up in April 2010, with headquarters in London, Our professional services are divided into personal training and corporate training.Personal training is mainly for students, professional and business managers.Corporate training is mainly for Chinese companies with branches in the UK and foreign companies interested in China. With our deep understanding of Chinese and Western environment and high-quality training techniques, we can provide excellent professional services.Our goal is to become the best learning partner for individuals and companies seeking for overseas success. Our training team is composed by the elites from various industries.In addition to our professional training skills and techniques, and our rich experience, we are willing to devote ourselves to helping others improve themselves and seek for success. Easterners and Westerners are very different in their ways and means to explain concepts and information, which is important in our personal trainings.Our main value lies in the combination of the western theories and practice in individual development and the Chinese people's habits, ways of thinking and the practical problems in cross-cultural background, to effectively help you in improving your overseas competitiveness and achieving your goals. We can learn from the passage that _ . A personal training is mainly for students, professionals, and Chinese companies B the training team is made up of people who are the best learning partners C New Education makes their efforts to establish an environment of diversity D New Education tries to get rid of their trainees' Chinese ways of thinking Answer: C Victoria Avenue School supports the Walking School Bus initiative a safe, healthy and fun way for children to walk to and from school, guided by a registered group of parents. If you and your child would be interested in joining one of our buses we would love to hear from you. Bell Road route This is a morning bus with over 30 walkers! The route is as follows: Starts at 14 Bell Road, down Scherf Road, crosses Portland Road into Ingram Street, left into Spencer Street then to school. Please call Vanessa McNaught at 5234529. Lingarth / Mahoe route This bus runs morning and afternoon. It departs from the corner of Combes Road and Lingarth Street at 8:10 am. There are two routes-one goes along Lingarth Street and the other along Mahoe Avenue and Manawa Road at 8:25 am. The bus continues up Manawa Road, turns right into Victoria Avenue, and goes down Dragon Drive. At the end of the school day all walkers meet at the bottom of Dragon Drive, leaving school at approximately 3:10 pm. Please contact Toko Kofoed tokofoed@gmail. com. Shore Road route We gather together at Hapua Reserve at 8:15 am and depart at 8:20 am. We walk along Shore Road to Stirling Street and then up Stirling Street to school. Please contact Nicky Hall nicky. hall@simpsongrierson. com. Spencer Street starwalkers The route begins at the crossing of Aldred Road and Spencer Street leaving at 8:20 am.The bus then crosses Glenbrook Street and continues along Spencer Street reaching the school. Please contact Victoria Nicholls victorian@ pascoes. co. nz. Shera Road route Currently this bus is not running. Those living in Shera Road, Leys Crescent and Portland Road are welcome to register your interest in taking this bus. We hope to have the bus running in the autumn, when it will travel along Portland Road, up Ingram Street and left into Spencer Street. Pease call Vanessa McNaught at 5234529. Part of Bell Road route is similar to _ . A Lingarth/Mahoe route B Shera Road route C Shore Road route D Spencer Street starwalkers Answer: B
Mr. King lived with six hundred wild animals on the Greek Island of Kyklos. Ever since he left school, he had traveled all over the word collecting animals for his own zoo. He hoped to collect two examples of every kind of animal on his island. But he was afraid that people would find him someday. He wrote books about his travels and about his animals that he collected. The money from the books helped to pay for all the food that these animals ate. One day, when Mr. King was out looking for drinking water, he found oil. He needed money for his travels and for his zoo, and a little oil would buy enough water for what he needed all his life, but he knew that if he told anyone else about it, it would be the end of his zoo and his life's work. So he decided not to tell anyone else about what he had found, because oil and water couldn't mix. In the passage, "oil and water couldn't mix" means that " _ ". Answer: One sunny day last September, Tim heard some shouting. Looking out to the sea carefully, he saw a couple of kids in a rowboat were being pulled out to sea. Two 12-year-old boys, Christian and Jack, rowed out a boat to search for a football. Once they'd rowed beyond the calm waters, a beach umbrella tied to the boat caught the wind and pulled the boat into open water. The pair panicked and tried to row back to shore. But they were no match for _ and the boat was out of control. Tim knew it would soon be swallowed by the waves. "Everything went quiet in my head," Tim recalls . "I was trying to figure out how to swim to the boys in a straight line." Tim took off his clothes and jumped into the water. Every 500 yards or so, he raised his head to judge his progress. "At one point, I considered turning back," he says. "I wondered if I was putting my life at risk." After 30 minutes of struggling, he was close enough to yell to the boys, "Take down the umbrella!" Christian made much effort to take down the umbrella. Then Tim was able to catch up and climb aboard the boat. He took over rowing, but the waves were almost too strong for him. "Let's aim for the pier ," Jack said. Tim turned the boat toward it. Soon afterward, waves crashed over the boat, and it began to sink. "Can you guys swim?" he cried. "A little bit," the boys said. Once the were in the water, Tim decided it would he safer and faster for him to pull the boys toward the pier. Christian and Jack were wearing life jackets and floated on their backs. Tim swan toward land as water washed over the boys' faces. "Are we almost there?" they asked again and again. "Yes," Tim told them each time. After 30minutes, they reached the pier. How did the two boys finally reach the pier? Answer: The 18-meter-tall Rubber Duck arrived in Beijing on Friday. It was placed on waters in the International Garden Expo Park, where the Yongding River passes through. The Rubber Duck exhibition was designed by Dutch artist, Florentijn Hofman. It was part of the activities of Beijing Design Week, which ran from September 26 to October 3 in 2013. The Rubber Duck stayed in the park until September 23, then moved to the Summer Palace, a famous Beijing tourist spot, where it was on display until October 26. The duck is made of over 200 pieces of rubber. It was guarded not only by staff, but also by 10 volunteers wearing yellow T-shirts and hats with a rubber duck logo. Sun Yidong, a volunteer who guided visitors to the duck, said the art brought energy to the traditional Chinese park. "Seeing the giant Rubber Duck makes me feel like I'm a kid again." Sun said. Because of the rain on Friday, there were not too many people coming to see it. The Expo workers said they expected more people to come and visit the duck on weekends. Zhao Yan said she had been following news about the duck since 2007, when the duck began its journey. "I even considered going to Hong Kong to see it. It's great that the duck is in Beijing," Zhao said. Before arriving in Beijing, the Rubber Duck traveled to 13 cities in nine countries. "The aim of the Rubber Duck is simply to bring everyone back to their childhood again," said Zeng Hui, a leader of the Beijing Design Week Organizing Committee Office. "It can be a toy for adults." ,. The Rubber Duck went to _ after it left the International Garden Expo Park. Answer: My day started just like all the other days for the past 15 years where I get up, make some coffee, shower, get dressed and leave for the train station at exactly 7:35 A.M. to arrive at work by 8:30. While on the train I would always choose a seat away from the crowd so I can read the newspaper in peace and quiet. At work I am always being flooded with questions from coworkers, suppliers, telephone and then those dread meetings, so the last thing I need is some stranger to sit beside me and make small talk. I don't know why but for some reason when I got on the train today it was unusually full, something I don't recall ever happening in the past. With hesitation I sat down in the only seat available beside a middle-aged man that had his head down and seemed to be lost in his thoughts. I was glad that he didn't notice when I sat next to him as he just continued to look down towards the floor. Shortly after the train left for my 30-minute ride downtown I found myself wondering what this man was thinking about. What could be so important that he didn't even see me sit next to him? I tried to forget about it and started to read my paper. However, for some strange reason this "inner voice" kept urging me to talk to this man. I tried to ignore the "voice" as there was no way I was starting a conversation with a complete stranger. www.ks5u.com As you probably guessed I eventually broke down and came up with an excuse to ask him a question. When he raised his head and turned his eyes towards me I could see that he must have been really upset as he had red eyes and still had some tears rolling down the side of his face despite his weak attempt to wipe them away. I can't describe the sadness I felt seeing someone in so much pain. We talked for about 20 minutes and in the end he seemed to be doing better. As we were leaving the train he thanked me again and again for being an angel by taking the time to talk. I never did find out what was making his heart so heavy with pain but was glad I listened to the "voice" that day. Several weeks had passed when I noticed an envelope on my desk after returning from lunch. It was not addressed to anyone and only had the word "Angel" written on it. My receptionist attached a note saying a gentleman dropped it off saying he did not know my name but had described me well enough that the receptionist knew it was for me. When I read the note inside the envelope I was so filled with emotions that I couldn't contain myself. It was a letter from the man I met on the train thanking me again for talking to him and saving his life that day. Apparently he had some very hurtful personal problems that were so challenging that he was planning to take his life that day. In his letter he went on to explain that he was a religious person and in desperation screamed out to God that if God really cared about him he would send someone to prevent him from taking his life. In his eyes I was that someone, that Angel sent by God. Not being a religious person myself I don't know what that "voice" was that made me take a chance and talk to a stranger but I do know that it made a difference in someone's life that day. So the next time you feel desired for no apparent reason to talk to a friend, , neighbor or even a complete stranger please remember my story, you just may make a difference in someone's life when you listen to your inner voice. Why does the writer say "I was glad that he didn't notice when I sat next to him as he just continued to look down towards the floor."? Answer: As a girl, I've spent a great deal of my time on earth concerned about my weight. So I do know something about exercise. Let me tell you about the calorie-burning activities I've tried or will try. Salsa I try to maintain my weight through dancing. Dancing improves my coordination and sense of rhythm in addition to burning calories. I'm personally interested in salsa, which I find sexy and expressive . But I have not yet to start classes, because classes are very expensive, and I cannot find a dance partner. Ping-Pong Ping-pong is the national sport of China, so how could I know nothing about it? My father is a ping-pong fan, and a really good player. He's won several informal matches. My relationship with ping-pong has always been on-and-off. I'll get into it for a while, and then lose interest. The reason is because I can't find a good partner. Some stronger can depress you, while someone weaker (or just as weak) can make the game boring. Tae Kwon Do I've recently decided to try tae kwon do as my regular exercise activity. There's a story behind this choice: A few weeks ago, I was sitting on a bus, concentrating on a book. Suddenly, the bus became very quiet except for the sound of a woman's crying. I looked up to see what had happened and overheard whispers that she had just quarreled with a man, and the man slapped her face. No one on the bus dared say anything because the man looked really strong. Even now I feel ashamed I was among the silent. That's why I've made up my mind to learn something that will help me protect others and myself. She is interested in ping-pong because _ . Answer:
Question: In a Station of the Metro The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet, black bough. This is the only Ezra Pound poem that many people will read in their lives. Why? One obvious reason is that it's just two lines long. The poem, which can be understood as "A man sees a bunch of faces in the subway and thinks they look like flowers on a tree branch," is an exercise in shortness. Pound wrote it after having a spiritual experience in a Paris metro (subway) station. In 1916, the US poet originally thought he could best describe his vision in a painting. Unfortunately, he wasn't a painter. So he wrote a thirty-line poem, which he didn't like. He dropped the long version in the waste bin. Six months later, he wrote a shorter poem, but didn't like that one either. Finally, a full year after the experience, he had been reading short Japanese poems called haikus, and he figured he would try this style. The result, which was published in 1913, is one of the most famous and influential works in modern poetry. This poem is one of the monuments of the 20th-century artistic movement known as "Imagism". Basically, Pound and his friends thought that images weren't just decoration: they were the highest form of speech. By finding the right image, the poet can express the true, spiritual reality of a thing, which is more important than using a bunch of adjectives to describe its physical appearance. Thus, "In a Station of the Metro" is a poem that consists of one image expressed with absolute exactness and nothing else. To the imagists, the best way to describe an experience is not to use more and more words; the best way is to find exactly the right words. Have you ever told a beloved one that "words can't express" how much you love them? Well, Pound would say that you're just being lazy. In his view, words can express anything, even if it takes an entire year to find the right ones. In the short poem, Ezra Pound _ . A. tells us one of his painful experiences B. compares the passengers' faces to flowers C. describes a man walking among the crowd D. shows a wet, black tree branch in a metro station Answer: B. compares the passengers' faces to flowers Question: For as long as humans have lived on the earth, they have made use of various forms of communication. Generally, this expression of thoughts and feelings has been in the form of oral speech. When there is a spoken language problem, communication can be carried out through sign language, in which gestures stand for letters, words, and ideas. Tourists and people unable to hear or speak have often had to turn to this form of expression. When gestures describe words or ideas, they can often be used internationally. When used for spelling words however, where each gesture stands for a single letter, people must share the same written language. Body language sends ideas or thoughts by certain actions, either meaningfully or not. A wink can be a way of showing that the person is only joking. A nod means agreement, while shaking the head indicates disagreement. Other forms of language can be found in Braille (a reading system of raised dots read with the fingertips used by the blind), signal flags, Morse code, and smoke signals. Road maps and picture signs also guide and warn people. While language is the most common form of communication, other systems and techniques also express human thoughts and feelings. How many different forms of communication are mentioned in the text? A. Three B. Five C. Six D. Nine Answer: D. Nine Question: Do you plan to study at American University ?It takes a long time to get accepted at most American schools,perhaps as much as a year.That's why you should start choosing a school as soon as possible.It's also a good idea to apply to several different schools,so that you'll have a better chance of being accepted at one. You should start looking for information now ,because the more information you have about each college,the better choice you can make. There are two good ways to get information you need.One is a general reference book,called Guide to American Colleges and Universities.The other good source of information is the catalogue published by each school. You can study the general guide in almost any American library.This book has a lot of useful information,such as the number of students,the average test score for people accepted to the school,and the number of books in the library.You can also find the address of each school in this book. Although the general guidebook has helpful information,some of the facts may be out-of-date.For example,many school raise their tuition every year.Since you'll need to know what your education will cost,out-of-date information will not be good enough.To be sure that you are getting the latest information,write to the university and ask for its catalogue.The catalogue not only has more detailed information.For example,the catalogue can tell you what kinds of courses are offered,and what kind housing there is in the school.Some universities have places for you to live in,but at others you have to find your own place to live. With all this information,you should be able to pick out several good schools. What can you find in a general guide to universities? A. The life of university students. B. Addresses of the schools. C. Detailed information about tests. D. The latest information. Answer: B. Addresses of the schools. Question: People who put a smiley face at the end of a message, in an attempt to show feeling, show no feeling. I wish there was a symbol for two fingers in the air. I had some bad news this week. My manager informed me of this news via email. It was like hearing about the death of a loved one via pigeon. Bad news should only ever be delivered face to face or voice to voice. We seem to celebrate our numerous methods of communication, but really there is no communication at all. I talk to my plants more than I talk to my neighbors, I get text messages that take me three hours to read because they're written like this: "Hi, I ope you av a gr8 day. Call me La8tr." I had an email from someone this week that read, "Da ut ov 2day are really annoying me!" Ut? I had to say this 20 times before I understood it. Youth has now become ut. Haven't we taken enough from them--now we have to take their letters? I had an email recently from a girl who used to live over the road from me as a child. She wrote, "Hi Shazia, howz u? Im sure u used 2 live across the road from me. We sumtimes played tennis 2 gever at the park and you was in your eliment. I am married now wif 3 daughters." Then, to my horror, she ended the email with: "Im now teachin in Leeds. Luv Clare." Teaching? With English like this. It's like saying you're a train driver when you've never seen a train. It was like reading modern Morse code. Getting bad news via email makes it seem so much worse than it actually is. Just a few lines, no emotion, no comfort, not really an explanation. Just a few cold hard words. It's an excuse. Just write a few words and the problem of delivering it is no longer yours. A close friend recently told me she was very happy to announce she was getting married--and made the announcement by email. I don't know how she didn't fall off her chair with excitement while writing it. If you are really happy or really sad to announce something important, wouldn't you like a human reaction? Some euphoria, elation, tears, a punch in the face? I receive long text messages every day with information and explanations that I don't bother reading. They're boring, and annoy me. In the time it took someone to write me three laborious texts, they could have called, spoken to me, made some tea. People who put a smiley face at the end of a sentence, in an attempt to show feeling, show no feeling. I wish there was a symbol for two fingers in the air, because that's the one I'd send back. The telegram has been responsible for reporting world-shattering events when there were very few other options . Now we have options, and people opt for the least humane one. My mum, in an attempt to get down with the ut of today, asked me to teach her to text. Now she constantly texts me in block capitals, so it looks as if she is still angry and annoyed with me after all these years. People don't even write by hand any more. My doctor prints out prescriptions from his computer; even my mechanic prints out a receipt. I get typed Christmas cards and my friends send me emails. I get very excited when hand-written letters come through my door, only because they rarely do. When I was at school, the girls used to write letters to each other, even though we sat side by side and spoke to one another all day. I think it was a way of expressing private things we were afraid to say when we were 14 and too shy. We used to write things like, "You are my best friend, can't wait to sit next to you in math." I miss the personal method of communication. Once the pen was mightier than the sword, now it seems the keyboard is mightier than the pen. Why does the writer mention the telegram? A. Because she thinks the annoyance of reading text messages is originated from it. B. Because we have more options to keep in touch with each other than ever before. C. Because advanced technology partly takes the blame for lacking the human touch. D. Because she thinks humans today become colder with the development of society. Answer: C. Because advanced technology partly takes the blame for lacking the human touch. Question: My dad runs the Blue Street Zoo. Everyone calls him the Zoo King. That means Mom is the Zoo Queen. And that means that I'm the Zoo Prince! Being a prince is very special. I spend every morning walking around to see the zoo. It's better than any animal book. I say hello to the lions. I say woof at all of the wolves. I make faces to the penguins. Once I even gave a morning kiss to a bear! My favorite animal is the piggy. I named him Samson. He likes to eat mustard, so I toss some mustard jars into his cage every morning. I don't know why that piggy likes mustard so much. Sometimes I walk around with the Zoo King and Zoo Queen. Then we say hello to the animals together! I really like those days. Everybody who works at the Zoo says hello to us when we walk by. At lunchtime, we all go to the Zoo restaurant and eat pork chops. I hope Samson doesn't get mad about that! What does the narrator feed Samson? A. Mustard Jars B. pig food C. pork chops D. restaurant food Answer: A. Mustard Jars
Americans gave nearly $300 billion away last year. Do you know the reason? Beyond the noble goals of helping others, it is that giving will make them happier. It is a fact that givers are happier people than non-givers. According to the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey, a survey of 30,000 American households, people who give money to charity are 43% more likely than non-givers to say they are "very happy" about their lives. Similarly, volunteers are 42% more likely to be very happy then non-volunteers. The happiness difference between givers and non-givers is not due to differences in their personal characteristics, such as income or religion. Imagine two people who are identical in terms of income and faith, as well as age, education, politics, sex, and family circumstances, but one donates money and volunteers, while the other does not. The giver will be, on average, over 40 percentage points more likely to be very happy than the non-givers. A number of studies have researched exactly why charity leads to happiness. The surprising conclusion is that giving affects our brain chemistry. For example, people who give often report feelings of euphoria, which psychologists have referred to as the "Helper's High". They believe that charitable activity produces a very mild version of the sensations people get from drugs like morphine and heroin. Of course, not only does giving increase our happiness, but also our happiness increases the possibility that we will give. Everyone prefers to give more when they are happy. Researchers have investigated this by conducting experiments in which people are asked about their happiness before and after they participate in a charitable activity, such as volunteering to help children or serving meals to the poor. The result is clear that giving has a strong, positive causal impact on our happiness, so does happiness on giving If a person feels happy, he may _ . Answer: be likely to give more In the case of mobile phones, change is everything. Recent research indicates that the mobile phone is changing not only our culture, but our very bodies as well. First, let's talk about culture. The difference between the mobile phone and its parent, the fixed-line phone, is that a mobile number corresponds to a person, while a landline goes to a place. If you call my mobile, you get me. If you call my fixed-line phone, you get whoever answers it. This has several implications . The most common one, however, and perhaps the thing that has changed our culture forever, is the "meeting" influence. People no longer need to make firm plans about when and where to meet. Twenty years ago, a Friday night would need to be arranged in advance. You needed enough time to allow everyone to get from their place of work to the first meeting place. Now,however, a night out can be arranged on the run. It is no longer "see you there at 8",but "text me around 8 and we'll see where we all are." Texting changes people as well. In their paper, "Insights into the Social and Psychological Effects of SMS Text Messaging", two British researchers distinguished between two types of mobile phone users: the "talkers" and the "texters"-those who prefer voice to text messages and those who prefer text to voice. They found that the mobile phone's individuality and privacy gave texters the ability to express a whole new outer personality. Texters were likely to report that their family would be surprised if they were to read their texts. This suggests that texting allowed texters to present a self-image that differed from the one familiar to those who knew them well. Another scientist wrote of the changes that mobiles have brought to body language. There are two kinds that people use while speaking on the phone. There is the "speakeasy": the head is held high, in a self-confident way, chatting away. And there is the "spacemaker": these people focus on themselves and keep out other people. Who can blame them? Phone meetings get cancelled or reformed and camera- phones intrude on people's privacy. So, it is understandable if your mobile makes you nervous. But perhaps you needn't worry so much. After all, it is good to talk. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage? Answer: Cultural implications of Mobile Phone Use When times get tough, we all look for ways to cut back. When we're hungry, we eat at home instead of going out. We take buses instead of taxis. And we wear our old designer jeans just a few months longer. With college expenses at all-time highs, high school students are eager to do anything to cut the cost of a university education. One cost-cutting proposal is to allow college students to get a bachelor's degree in three years instead of four. Educational institutions have been actively exploring ways to make the learning process more efficient. But there's a question: Would the quality of undergraduate education suffer? Few US universities have formally approved a "three-year degree" model. I doubt that mainstream North American colleges will carry out a three-year curriculum any time soon. For one thing, most universities already allow highly qualified students to graduate early by testing out of certain classes and obtaining a number of college credits. In addition, at famous universities, the committee who determine which courses are required and which courses are electives are unlikely to suddenly "throw out" one quarter of the required credits. Professors will resist "diluting " the quality of the education they offer. In my opinion, a quality four-year education is always superior to a quality three-year education. A college education requires sufficient time for a student to become skilled in their major and do coursework in fields outside their major. It is not a good idea to water down education, any more than it's not a good idea to water down medicine. If we want to help students find their way through university, we should help them understand early on what knowledge and skills they need to have upon graduation. We should allow students to test out of as many courses as possible. We should give them a chance to earn money as interns in meaningful part-time jobs that relate to their university studies, such as the five-year co-op program at Northeastern University. ks5uks5u In most US universities, _ . Answer: some excellent students can graduate ahead of time Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth.Finances were a constant concern for his family.The expenses of having a large family were too much for his father's salary.In fact, when Charles was just four months old, the family moved to a smaller home to cut expenses. At a very young age, despite his family's financial situation, Charles dreamed of becoming a gentleman.However, when he was 12, it seemed his dream would never come true.He suffered a lot.Charles' education was unplanned, but he supplemented it with constant reading, particularly of the eighteenthcentury novels in his father's small library.He was poorly clothed, ill fed, forced to live in the cheapest place. Also,12yearold Charles was removed from school and sent to work at a factory to help support the family.Charles was deeply marked by these experiences.This childhood poverty, although unknown to his readers until after his death, would be a heavy influence on Dickens' later views on social reform and the world he would create through his fiction.He knew those kinds of feelings.He was lost at that time when he worked hopelessly in the factory.That period was so bitter to the sensitive boy.When he was a successful, happy man, he could not look back upon it without tears in his eyes. Luckily the situation improved within a year.Charles was released from his duties at the factory. As a boy, Charles Dickens' dream was _ . Answer: to be a gentleman Knowing the best way to study will help you to be a better student. By using your time properly, you can do your homework more quickly. Learning to study is not difficult. The first thing to remember is that you must be willing to learn. It doesn't mean that you must always like the subject. It does mean, however, that you must be willing to do whatever is necessary to learn. Try to understand why it is important and how it will help you now and later to do and learn other things. Knowing mathematics facts will be useful in your whole life. Knowing how to spell makes any kind of writing easier. Sometimes the subject that you think is going to be uninteresting will be exciting when you begin to work at it and understand it more clearly. Learning things can be fun if you are willing to work with them. Here's some advice for you: have a certain time each day and a quiet place with good lighting for study, so that you can concentrate on your study without interruptions; have everything ready before you sit down to study, a dictionary, paper, a pen and books; be sure you understand what you should learn before you start; read carefully and pay special attention to the most important things; when memorizing, first find out the main parts and then recite the whole thing; check your homework after you finish it; never forget the importance of review and preview. Don't try to spend a lot of time researching learning methods. There are many students who know many good learning methods but don't study well. They forget that the most useful learning method is to study hard. The first thing to remember in studying is that _ . Answer: you must enjoy learning
She almost did not run. Christine Williams admits that now. She could barely put one foot after another following the wake for her sister, who had died in an automobile accident. But she did run. With the cheers of friends and strangers reaching her heart, Williams set a C.W. Post record in Boston. Now she will run again, in the national Division II cross-country championships in Evansville, Ind. She wanted to be sure she was doing the right thing by running. She was the middle of three sisters, between Kerry, who is 25, and Jennifer, who was 18. Just going through any motions was hard enough, but Christine Williams wanted to know if she should put on her uniform and her shoes and run through the woods on an autumn afternoon, in the awful gaping time between her sister's wake and her funeral. "I kind of got upset beforehand." Williams admitted. Not a chatterbox under normal conditions, she now holds herself the best way she can, the fewer words the better. She almost walked away from the start line. But her friend Angela Toscano, who had flown up to Boston with her, directly from the wake, was standing near the line and talked her through it. "She said my sister would have wanted me to run." Christine said. And that was enough to get her started. The accident happened just after midnight on Nov, 4. Four young women were driving in an unfamiliar area of Long Island in Eastport, N.Y., when one of them apparently ran a yield sign, and the car was hit by another vehicle. Heather Brownrigg and Jennifer Williams died, and their friends April Brown and Kaci Moran were treated at a hospital and released. The crash made the papers. April Brown was charged with drunken driving and driving without a license. The wake began on Nov. 6. The next day Christine was to run with the Post cross-country team at the regional meet. Rich Degnan, the Post coach,"and Post officials offered a car service and tickets on the last flight-to Boston for Christine and Toscano. When they arrived at the hotel, the entire team was waiting up for her. Everybody knew about it at the regional meet. Degnan had to arrange for the flexibility of an alternate, just in case Christine could not go. Several times during the race, Christine felt she could not continue. But then she heard her friends and all those other people, those strangers from other colleges, calling her name. She thought about Jennifer. And she ran. She finished fourth in 22 minutes 58 seconds, breaking the Post record for the 6-kilometer distance by 15 seconds. And although the Post team didn't qualify for the nationals, Christine did. We can learn from the passage that _ . Answer: Many species have small amounts of magnetite to guide during their Answer: If you get into the forest with your friends, stay with them always. If you don't, you may get lost. If you really get lost, this is what you should do. Sit down and stay where you are. Don't try to find your friends--let them find you by staying in one place. There is another way to help your friends or other nearby people to find you. Give them a signal by shouting or whistling three times. Any signal given three times is a call for help. Keep up shouting or whistling always three times together. When people hear you, they will know that you are not just making noise for fun. They will let you know that they have heard your signal. They give you two shouts, two whistles, or two gunshots . When someone gives you a signal, it is an answer to a call for help. If you don't think that you will get help before night comes, try to make a little house--cover up the holes with branches with lots of leaves. Make yourself a soft bed with leaves and grass. What should you do if you get hungry or need drinking water? You would have to leave your little house to look for a river. Don't just walk away. Pick off small branches and drop them as you walk so that you can find your way back. The most important thing to do when you are lost is to stay in one place. If you are lost in the forest, you should _ . Answer: This is a picture .There is a lake in the middle of the picture .On the lake we can see a boat .In the boat, there is a boy and his father .The boy is fishing .His father is looking at him .We can see some fish swimming in the lake .On the right of the picture , we can see a big tree .A young woman is reading a book .Her name is Mary .We can see very nice flowers near her seat .A little yellow dog is beside her feet .There are some birds in the sky .On the other side of the lake ,we can see three children .They are laughing and flying kites .They are having fun. Are they having a great time ? Answer: Asia tops the OECD solving skills test QUESTION: Can you quickly learn to set a thermostat ? Don't look down upon such a task. It shows your ability to solve problems in creative ways, said the OECD . The OECD recently gave a problem-solving test to 85,000 students. They were all 15 years old, and from 44 countries. The test give each student four to eight everyday problems to solve. For example, they had to set a thermostat, and find the quickest way to a place. Students from Singapore and South Korea did the best job, said the OECD. They were quick learners, curious and able to solve problems that they were not familiar with. Students from Japan and China were also among the _ groups. They did a better job than those from countries like the US, Canada, Australia, the UK and France. Problem-solving skills are important, said the OECD. "Today's 15-year-olds with poor problem-solving will become tomorrow's adults struggling to find or keep a good job," said Andreas, acting director of Education and Skills at the OECD. "The world economy no longer pays you for what you know. Google knows everything .The world economy pays you for what you can do with what you know," he said. Why does the OECD test the students? Answer:
Recently, the TV show Where Are We Going, Dad? has become one of China's most popular TV shows, attracting more than 600 million viewers each week. In this program, five celebrity fathers traveled to six countryside locations across China, including some villages in Beijing, Yunnan, Shandong, Hunan, Heilongjiang and a desert in Ningxia. They took care of their kids without the help of the kid's mothers. At the same time, they also took part in different kinds of activities with their kids together, such as cooking, fishing and selling goods. Why is the show so popular? "It reflects social reality. In big cities, fathers are always busy earning money and making achievements in their career. They don't spare more time with their kids." said Xie Dikui, general director of the show. As the father of a 3-year-old daughter, Xie said that he found his own heart being touched as he made it. "Although these fathers are busy, they are able to spare time for their kids. We can do better than them." _ also happens in some rural areas in China. More and more men from rural areas are now working in big cities, leaving their kids at home under the Grandparents' care. "I have a son and a daughter in my hometown." said Xu Canyong, a 33-year-old man working in Shantou, Guangdong Province. "They come to live with me only during summer and winter vacations. I miss them very much. I want to have them live with us in Shantou, but the cost of living here is too high." said Xu. From this passage, we may infer _ . A. fathers will raise the kids instead of mothers B. the five celebrity fathers will give up their own jobs C. in some rural areas, more and more kids live with their grandparents D. Mr. Xu often goes back to his hometown during summer and winter vacations Answer: C. in some rural areas, more and more kids live with their grandparents 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 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 . According to this passage, which of the following isn't true? A. Sports help to train a person's character. B. People swim only because there are a lot of rivers in their country. C. People from different countries may not be able to understand each other before a game. D. Sports and games can develop the friendship between peoples all over the world. Answer: B. People swim only because there are a lot of rivers in their country. Traditionally regarded as one of the safest planes in the skies, the Boeing 777's reputation will have been damaged by the second fatal crash in less than a year. There are around 1,000 Boeing 777s in service, and the plane is a long haul workhorse , shouldering some of the longest routes. It entered service in 1995 and the National Transportation Safety Board, which is responsible for monitoring US-made aircraft, has recorded fewer than 60 incidents. But the recent record has been more patchy with two major incidents---a crash at San Francisco airport last July, which claimed three lives, and the crash-landing of a British Airways 777 at Heathrow in January 2008. However, the Malaysian disaster is very different from both the BA incident and the crash involving a Asiana Airlines flight at San Francisco InternationalAirport in July. Both the BA and Asiana accidents occurred shortly before landing, while the Malaysia airlines plane disappeared off the radar during the early stages of the trip. The accident at San Francisco in July was attributed to pilot error which led to the engines being set to idle because he believed the computer would maintain sufficient speed to keep the plane up in the air. But initial reports suggest that Zaharie Ahmad Shah, the 53-year-old Malaysian airlines pilot, was hugely experienced - having joined thecarrierin 1981 and with 18,365 hours in the cockpit under his belt. The BA crash landing, which did not result in any fatalities, was finally found to have been caused by a blockage in the fuel line feeding theengine. Simply put the aircraft had the aviation equivalent of a cardiac arrest because some of the fuel failed to melt and blocked the supplylineat the end of a long flight from Beijing to London, during which the plane travelled through unusually cold airspace over Siberia. _ makes people think of the disaster in which 288 people on board an Air France Airbus 330. That plane, another long-haul workhorse, crashed into the Atlantic en-route from Rio de Janeiro in June 2009 killing 228 people. A variety of explanations have been given for the Air France crash, with investigators finding that the plane's speed sensors were giving an incorrect reading. But with this crash involving a different aircraft, it will take several months before investigators can find out the cause. What's the author's purpose of writing the passage? A. To arouse our attention of some famous crashes of plane. B. To find out the causes of plane crash. C. To inform us of the Malaysian disaster. D. To warn us not to travel by plane any more. Answer: C. To inform us of the Malaysian disaster. Christmas Eve means a warm get-together with friends, a candlelight dinner, or perhaps a celebration at a pub for students. But, for Cai Yingjie, the night has a different meaning: helping beggars and the homeless(people without homes). Cai, who is a student in journalism at Tsinghua, could be found at Beijing's Wudaokou Light Railway Station that special evening. When she saw an old beggar, she took the cold, rough hands of the woman with her warm, clean hands, and gave the woman some warm bread and helped her put on a pair of new gloves. The woman was surprised for a few seconds, then burst into tears, saying "for the first time I feel respected". Cai said, "A beggar's life is very hard. That's why I want to help them." Cai was one of 14 Tsinghua students spending Christmas Eve among the poor. They walked in the cold wind along the streets from 4 to 7 pm on Friday, visiting 15 beggars in Beijing's Haidian District. They brought bread and gloves with them, and stopped to greet beggars and offer them some of the warm food. Each beggar greeted them with a look of surprise. "I know the activity can't help much, but it's meant to show our respect and care for beggars and the homeless who have been _ for so long," said Sun, head of the group. "And Christmas is a good time for that." What does Christmas Eve mean to the 14 Tsinghua students? A. Taking 15 beggars to Tsinghua. B. Getting together with friends. C. Showing care to the beggars and the homeless. D. Selling bread and gloves to the beggars. Answer: C. Showing care to the beggars and the homeless. Tips for Cycle Trips Cycling has many advantages as a form of travel, as it is the fastest way to travel by human Power, and slow enough to allow the type of local involvement that is impossible with powered travel.Cycle travel is a cheap form of transportation. Distance On level terrain ,without a headwind, a cyclist of average fitness on a touring bike can comfortably cover 60-120km a day.Distances of up to 250km a day are possible, but anything much beyond 120km will require considerable physical tension and not allow many stops to enjoy the places you visit.For many,80-100km a day will be the most suitable distance to aim for, as it will give a sense of achievement and also leave plenty of time for meals and activities. Geography The gradient of the trip will reduce your range.A basic rule is that for every 100 metres of altitude you climb, you should add an extra 15 minutes to your journey time.In hilly or mountainous areas, the easiest routes for cycling are downstream along major rivers, as overall they will be downhill.A long, roundabout route along a river will usually be easier than a short, direct route over a hill or mountain pass.However, it is worth bearing in mind that the most scenic routes often come from hilly terrain. Eat Food choice depends largely on where you are, so see the respective sections for more information about foods. As you will be working hard, it's important to get enough energy in your food. On long trips away from major towns-there may be little quality food available, so be prepared to live on candy bars, prepared meat products and the like if the need arises. Sleep While you can take a tent with you, many hotels and especially campsites can accommodate cyclists. However, there are also some hotels that may be less used to accommodating cyclists.If you are exploring an unfamiliar word, asking about the accommodation spares you the search for a new place to stay after a long exhausting day of travel. Form the passage, we can learn that _ . A. high quality food is easy to get on long trips B. hotels seldom provide accommodation for cyclists C. cycling over a mountain is challenging but worthy D. it takes cyclists 15 minutes to climb 100m of altitude Answer: C. cycling over a mountain is challenging but worthy
There are many commonly held beliefs about eye glasses and eyesight that are not proven facts. For instance, some people believe that wearing glasses too soon weakens the eyes. But there is no evidence to show that the structure of eyes is changed by wearing glasses at a young age. Wearing the wrong glasses, however, can prove harmful. Studies show that for adults there is no danger, but children can develop loss of vision if they have glasses inappropriate for their eyes. We have all heard some of the common myths about how eyesight gets bad. Most people believe that reading in dim light causes poor eyesight, but that is untrue. Too little light makes the eyes work harder, so they do get tired and strained. Eyestrain also results from reading a lot, reading in bed, and watching too much television. However, although eyestrain may cause some pain or headaches, it does not permanently damage eyesight. Another myth about eyes is that they can be replaced, or transferred from one person to another. They are close to one million nerve fibers that connect the eyeball to the brain, so it is impossible to attach them all in a new person. Only certain parts of the eye can be replaced. But if we keep clearing up the myths and learning more about the eyes, some day a full transplant may be possible. The author of the passage tends to _ . A explain wearing glasses is no harm to children B correct people's wrong beliefs about eyes C explain the importance of protecting our eyes D imagine what doctors can do with the eye in the future Answer: B What characteristic helps a rabbit survive in a winter environment? A size B strength C long ears D camouflage Answer: D I'm Marie. I work in a nursing home and my job is to look after the old people. Alice is one of them. She's a very nice old woman. This year, Alice had a difficult time. She went to hospital twice. In November, I finally could get her back to her "home". Alice hoped that her daughter could come to visit her on Christmas Eve because she wanted to be with her family, like the old days. But her daughter was coming after Christmas, so she was very sad. I also felt sad because she would be alone on the holiday! On Christmas Eve, I took her to a candlelight service at church that night. I didn't take her to my church. I took her to the church in her old neighborhood. We got there early and I let her sit near the door, so people could see her when they came in. Soon some of her friends came to the church and they all talked to her and sat with her. Alice got a lot of love from her old and new friends there. She said she loved the gift like this. That night, I thought I got the best gift: the smile on Alice's face. . Alice wanted to _ on Christmas Eve. A leave hospital B have a party C stay with her daughter D see her old friends Answer: C BUY A JOINT TICKET AND VISIT THE HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES THE TOWER OF LONDON Royal Palace and fortress for over 900 years, scene of mystery, murder and home to the Crown Jewels. KENSINGTON PALACE Birthplace of Queen Victoria, this royal retreat is home to magnificent State Apartments and the stunning Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, which includes dresses worn by HM Queen Elizabeth II and Diana, Princess of Wales. HISTORIC ROYAL PALACES Hampton Court Palace is part of Historic Royal Palaces, a registered charity ( No: 1068852 ) that receives no public funding. We rely on the income from admission tickets to the palaces to pay for vital protection work, necessary for the preservation of these national monuments and collections for future generations. Please ask at the ticket office for more information or visit www.hrp.org.uk. VISITOR INFORMATION CARRIAGE RIDES Take a trip around Home Park in a horse-drawn carriage. Rides begin and end in Home Park at the entrance by the East Front Gardens. Available all day. 20 minutes duration. PS10.00 per carriage. Subject to weather and ground conditions. ENQUIRIES For details of admission charges, group rates, the Friends of Hampton Court Palace and facilities for disabled visitors, call 0870-752-7777 or visit www. Hampton-court-palace.org.uk. RESTAURANTS & SHOPS Choose from the Tiltyard Tearooms or the Privy Kitchen Coffee Shop. There are also a number of ice-cream kiosks open in the summer. The palace shops offer a wide range of gifts and souvenirs. AUDIO GUIDES Audio guides are included in the palace ticket and are available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Japanese. If you want to take a look at the dresses worn by some royal members, you go to _ . A Kensington Palace B the Tower of London C Hampton Court Palace D Historic Royal Palaces Answer: A Dear Jenny, I'm sorry you're sick and can't come to school this week. Let me tell you what you have on Monday next week. We have math at 8:00. How boring! Then we have English. That's interesting. I know you love English. Next is P.E.. The fourth lesson is art. That's my favorite subject! In the afternoon, we have history with Mr. Chen. He is fun but history isn't. Then at 2:00 we have science with Miss Jones. You know how strict she is. I don't like her. Our last class of the day is math. Yours, Ben How many lessons do they have on Monday? A Four B Five C Six D seven Answer: D
Question: Much of Canada's forestry production goes towards making pulp and paper. According to the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association, Canada supplies 34% of the world's wood pulp and 49% of its newsprint paper. If these paper products could be produced in some other way, Canadian forests could be preserved. Recently, a possible alternative way of producing paper has been suggested by agriculturalists and environmentalists: a plant called hemp. Hemp has been grown by many countries. It produces fiber which can be made into paper, fuel, oils, textiles, food, and rope. For centuries, it was essential to the economies of many countries because it was used to make the ropes and cables used on sailing ships; colonial expansion and the establishment of a world-wide trading network would not have been possible without hemp. Nowadays, ships' cables are usually made from wire, but scientists are now suggesting that the growing of hemp should be revived for the production. According to its supporters, four times as much paper can be produced from land using hemp rather than trees, and many environmentalists believe that the large-scale growing of hemp could reduce the pressure on Canada's forests. However, there is a problem: hemp is illegal in many countries of the world. This plant, so useful for fiber, rope, oil, fuel and textiles, is a species related to the plant from which marijuana is produced. In fact, marijuana cannot be produced from the hemp plant, since it contains almost no THC(the active ingredient in the drug). In recent years, a movement for legalization has been gathering strength. It is concerned only with the hemp plant used to produce fiber; this group wants to make it legal to grow the plant and sell the fiber for production. Why do agriculturalists think that hemp would be better for paper production than trees? A. Hemp produces higher quality paper. B. It causes less pollution of the environment. C. It is cheaper to grow hemp than to cut down trees. D. More paper can be produced from the same area of land. Answer: D Question: More than one million children in the United States do not go to school. Instead, they learn at home. Most often, their parents are their teachers. Educational companies, libraries and the Internet provide many families with teaching materials. Parents choose home schooling for several reasons. Some choose it because of their religious beliefs. Others say it provides more time for the family to be together. They say the home offers a better place for learning. Some parents believe home schooling avoids learning. Some parents believe home schooling avoids problems of _ schools. Critics, however, say children need to attend school with other children. All fifty American states and the District of Columbia permit home schooling. Some states do not require much preparation by parents or testing of children. Other states have more requirements for home schooling. Home schooling in the United States began when the country was established. In farm areas, people often lived far from a school. Widespread home schooling took place until about the middle of the nineteenth century. Then, in 1852, the state of Massachusetts passed the first law requiring children to attend school. Over the years, the American public education system strengthened and grew. By the 1960s and 1970s, however, some Americans believed that traditional education was not helping their children. So a number of parents began home schooling. Home schooling expert Linda Dobson says many people have helped the movement grow. She says many kinds of people have joined the movement. These include rich people and poor people. They represent many races, religions and political beliefs. Ms. Dobson says the number of home-schooled children has increased an estimated fifteen to twenty percent each year during the last fifteen years. Teaching materials for home schooling do NOT come from _ . A. parents B. libraries C. the Internet D. educational companies Answer: A Question: On what surface does a braking car have the most trouble? A. gravel B. oil slick C. sand D. asphalt Answer: B Question: Scotland is a unique place, loaded with history, where you can find aristocratic palaces and castles, as well as the traditional parades in national costumes. In order to see and discover the true soul of Scotland today and what formed the character of this splendid region, we have to go towards the northern regions, to the Grampian Mountains , beautiful and plain. The Scots conquered the environment with simple spades and strong arms, for it was difficult to farm. The history of this ancient struggle, and its people's ancient love with the hard land, can be felt within the walls of the Angus Folk Museum. You are able to get a feel of the typical rural atmosphere of times past from the everyday artifacts displayed here. From coastal Aberdeen in towards the Grampian Mountains there runs the Castle Trail, a road that touches on many fortresses , which are witnesses of continual fights against the control of neighboring England in Scottish history. Perhaps the most exciting moment for Scottish autonomy is _ experienced inside this ancient church of Arbroath, where, in 1320, the Declaration of Independence was celebrated, at the instigation of King Robert the Bruce. He carried out the plan for autonomy drawn up by the great popular hero William Wallace, for whom cinema has designed the wonderful film Brave Heart, the winner of the five Oscars. This is Glamis Castle, where King Macbeth and Queen Elizabeth used to live. Among the most frequent guests here are the predictable ghosts, if not actually created, by ancient popular beliefs. These have been handed down over the centuries by people tending to live with mystery, with the forces of the supernatural. Another attraction here is a legendary monster: the Loch Ness Monster. Whether it's real or imaginary, this monster, which has been nicknamed Nessie, has collected a good 3,000 sightings over the last 50 years. The true flag of Scotland, tartan, is recognizable from the brightly colored plaid patterns which are used to distinguish the various social groups. Bagpipes and dancing open the competitions of local sporting events, which are called Highland Gatherings. What were the fortresses built for? A. Fighting against the invaders of England. B. Developing business with neighbor areas. C. Preventing the people from moving around. D. Providing a shelter from tough weather for travelers. Answer: A Question: I was never very neat, while my roommate Kate was extremely organized. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled ( ) everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Kate got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other. War broke out one evening. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming, "Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!" Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder. The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled ( ) under her covers, sobbing. Obviously, that was something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart. Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn't notice Kate had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me. "Thanks." Kate and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn't always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in cleaning up and holding on. What made Kate so angry one evening? A. She couldn't find her books. B. She heard the author shouting loud. C. She got the news that her grandma was ill. D. She saw the author's shoes beneath her bed. Answer: D
Many drivers say the large digital billboards flashing ads every few seconds along Bay Area freeways are just too bright and too distracting. And they may be right. A Swedish study published in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention concludes that digital billboards hold the gazes of drivers longer than two seconds. Previous studies have shown that anything that takes a driver's eyes off the road for that length of time increases the risks of a crash. "This study proves what is common sense when it comes to digital billboards," says Mary Tracy, president of Scenic America, a national nonprofit group that seeks to limit billboards. "Bright, constantly changing signs on the sides of roads are meant to attract and keep the attention of drivers, and this study confirms that this is exactly what they do." The Federal Highway Administration allowed digital signs for the first time in 2007 after concluding they did not pose a significant danger. But a follow-up report is pending and could be released this year. California has no law banning the billboards, and is one of 39 states that allows them. "We would need to review more research, so it's too early to call for a ban," says Jonathan Adkins, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. "There is a role for digital messaging, such as conveying urgent information and other safety messages." There are more than 1,800 digital billboards nationwide, more than double the number five years ago. While no data indicate an increase in accidents due to the Bay Area signs, many drivers are opposed to them. "Monstrosities" is what Merlin Dorfman of San Jose calls them, while insurance agent David Whitlock says he has found them a major distraction. "They're much too bright at night," he says. "When the advertisement switches from a bright color to a darker one, your eyes cannot adjust fast enough, and you end up losing sight of the roadway." Officials with sign companies could not be reached for comment, but Bryan Parker, an executive vice president for Clear Channel Outdoor, told USA Today last year that "there's no doubt in my mind that they are not a driving distraction." What is the main idea of the text? A. Studies have shown digital billboards pose a danger to drivers. B. People's eyes cannot adjust fast enough to the brightness of digital billboards. C. A study says flashing digital billboards are too distracting. D. Experts doubt it is necessary to limit digital billboards. Answer: C Teaching a child to read at a young age gives him a valuable start in life. Reading is the basic part of education and a child's reading ability will influence his school success greatly. Learning difficulties, many of which begin from poor reading skills, can damage a school child's confidence and affect his future achievement. Young children are programmed to learn and they can learn better with encouragement. Ten to twenty minutes of reading a day still leaves plenty of time for play. Many parents are concerned that learning to read is too challenging a task for a pre-school child, but they should also remember that most children learn to speak by the time they are 3. Learning a language is probably the single most challenging task any individual can undertake, yet children do it without formal instruction, achieving the fluency much better than adult language students. There is a window of opportunity in terms of IQ development, which is most open during a child's early years. A scientific study, carried out by Dr. Peter Huttenlocher at the University of Chicago, showed that the number of connectors, called synapses , between the nerve endings in a newborn baby's brain is similar to the number in the average adult brain. These synapses increase rapidly during early childhood. By 12-24 months a child's brain has about 50% more synapses than the average adult brain. After that the synapses which are not in use begin to atrophy . For most people, from age 16, the number remains steady. It begins to drop again as we move into our golden years. Doing intellectual activities at a young age, such as learning to read, can stimulate and preserve these connectors in the brain resulting in a long-term beneficial effect on IQ development. Another notable study is probably the Milwaukee project. This study took a group of babies, all of whose mothers had low IQs, and gave them special training for seven hours a day, five days a week, until they started first grade. By the age of 6 these children had an average IQ 30 points higher than their contemporaries. The overwhelming conclusion is that the early intellectual stimulation can have a positive, long-term effect on a child's brain development. From birth you should talk to and explain things to your baby. Reading to him can be a wonderful way of spending quality time with your child. The enjoyment of books and being familiar with the idea of print will pave the way for(......)learning to read later. If your child is a fast learner you can help him realize his potential by introducing him to the joy of the printed word at an early age. This will lay the foundations for both a high achieving school career and a lifelong love of reading. If your child shows early signs of reading difficulties, your efforts may help him get rid of such problems before he goes to school. It can be difficult to teach your own child because emotional issues arise easily. Online programs for learning to read English are excellent options. They allow children to repeat new materials as many times as they need to, without wearing out the parents' patience. How can children benefit from learning to read at a young age? A. It can build up great confidence in their mind. B. It can help preserve the connectors in their brains. C. It can help produce more connectors in their brains. D. It can help them find both their weaknesses and strengths. Answer: B Fun Day To celebrate the Year of the snake Organised by Lam Tin Youth Centre and Kwun Tong High School Date: 2 February 2013 Time: 10 am--5 pm Place: Kwun Tong Playground Fee: $20 (buy three get one free) Programmes: drama, lion dance, magic show and ballet performance Highlights: 1) enter the lucky draw to win a digital camera 2) learn to make festival food Join us on the Fun Day! All are welcome! Free Soft Drinks Note: * Tickets are available at the General Office of Lam Tin Youth Center * For those who would like to be a volunteer, please contact Miss Olivia Wong one week before the activity. What is going to take place on 2 February, 2013? A. A big event to welcome a Chinese new year. B. A social gathering to raise money for wildlife. C. A party for close friends to meet and have fun. D. A meeting of Kwun Tong High School students. Answer: A University is generally regarded as one of the most important times in a person's life, yet the function of this institution continues to arouse debate. Many believe that arts subjects are too easy, that practical skills are more useful and that a chosen subject for study should be clearly linked to a career. However, this view is far too simplistic. Arts subjects are very difficult. They can prepare students for any number of careers as well as allowing the student to take time to make a decision. The function of the modern university is to cater to different types of student. Arts subjects are not easy. For example, a degree in Literature is not an easy option. No question in a Literature class has a single, simple answer. Debate is conducted in a spirit of openness, texts are very closely analyzed and skills in close reading are developed. Literature is about language, our primary means of communication. Arts subjects require the same concentrated study as any other subject. Arts subjects can prepare students for any number of careers. A degree in an arts subject teaches skills in well organized debates and defence of a position through the provision of evidence. These are applicable to many types of career. Law, for example. The point is that an undergraduate degree in any Arts subject trains the student in analysis and structure. Therefore, Arts graduates can pursue any number of careers. Arts subjects allow the student to take time to choose a career. Love of the subject for its own sake may well be the initial motivation for the Arts undergraduate but because the subject they have chosen is not so clearly linked to a career they have time to reflect, making a decision only when they are absolutely certain. Students who pursue Arts subjects therefore have the leisure to make a carefully considered choice. In conclusion, it is clear that Arts subjects are not a waste of time. They are flexible when it comes to relating them to a career and they allow the student to discover an appropriate career path. Many industries now acknowledge that a degree in Literature can be just as valuable as any other subject, especially when it is evident that Arts graduates tend to think more creatively. Not all undergraduates have clearly defined goals and not all subjects can be simply matched to a career. Acknowledging this difference should be the main function of a modern university According to the author, the students choose arts courses initially because _ . A. they are unsure about a career B. they are interested in the subject C. they hate technical subjects D. they are creative people Answer: B Jo was the first to wake in the gray dawn of Christmas morning. No stockings hung at the fireplace, and for a moment she felt as much disappointed as she did long ago, when her little sock fell down because it was crammed so full of goodies. Then she remembered her mother's promise and, slipping her hand under her pillow, drew out a little red-covered book. She knew it very well, for it was that beautiful old story of the best life ever lived, and Jo felt that it was a true guidebook for any pilgrim going on a long journey. She woke Meg with a "Merry Christmas," and asked her to see what was under her pillow. A green-covered book appeared, with the same picture inside, and a few words written by their mother, which made their one present very precious in their eyes. Presently Beth and Amy woke to find their little books also, one grey-color1ed, the other blue, and all sat looking at and talking about them, while the east grew rosy with the coming day. "Girls," said Meg seriously, "Mother wants us to read and love and mind these books, and we must begin at once. I shall keep my book on the table here and read a little every morning as soon as I wake, for I know it will do me good and help me through the day." Then she opened her new book and began to read. Jo put her arm round her and, leaning cheek to cheek, read also, with the quiet expression so seldom seen on her restless face. Much impressed by the pretty books and her sisters' example, the other two started reading too. And then the rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned, and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting. "Where is Mother?" asked Meg, as she and Jo ran down to thank her for their gifts, half an hour later. "Your ma went straight off to see what was needed in a poor woman's home." Replied Hannah, who had lived with the family since Meg was born, and was considered by them all more as a friend than a servant. "She will be back soon, I think, so fry your cakes, and have everything ready," said Meg, looking over the presents which were collected in a basket and kept under the sofa, ready to be produced at the proper time." "There's Mother. Hide the basket, quick!" cried Jo, as a door slammed and steps sounded in the hall. The girls rushed to the table, eager for breakfast. "Merry Christmas, Mummy! Thank you for our books. We read some, and mean to every day," they all cried happily together. "Merry Christmas, little daughters! I'm glad you began at once, and hope you will keep on. But I want to say one word before we sit down. Not far away from here lies a poor woman with a little newborn baby. Six children are huddled into one bed to keep from freezing, for they have no fire. There is nothing to eat over there, and the oldest boy came to tell me they were suffering hunger and cold. My girls, will you give them your breakfast as a Christmas present?" They were all unusually hungry, having waited nearly an hour, and for a minute no one spoke, only a minute, for Jo exclaimed excitedly, "I'm so glad you came before we began!" Then the four girls put the cream, the muffins and the buckwheat bread into a big basket. "I thought you'd do it," said Mrs. March, smiling as if satisfied." You shall all go and help me, and when we come back we will have bread and milk for breakfast, and make it up at dinner time." They were soon ready, and the procession set out. A poor, bare, miserable room it was, with broken windows, no fire, ragged bedclothes, a sick mother, crying baby, and a group of pale, hungry children cuddled under one old quilt, trying to keep warm. How the big eyes stared and the blue lips smiled as the girls went in. "Ach, mein Gott! It is good angels come to us!" said the poor woman, crying for joy. "Funny angels in hoods and mittens ," said Jo, and set them to laughing. In a few minutes it really did seem as if kind spirits had been at work there. Hannah, who had carried wood, made a fire and stopped up the broken panes with old hats and her own cloak . Mrs. March gave the mother tea and gruel , and comforted her with promises of help, while she dressed the little baby as tenderly as if it had been her own. The girls meantime spread the table, set the children round the fire, and fed them like so many hungry birds, laughing, talking, and trying to understand the funny broken English. That was a very happy breakfast, though they didn't get any of it. When they went away, leaving comfort behind, there were not in all the city four merrier people than the hungry little girls. They gave away their breakfasts and contented themselves with bread and milk on Christmas morning. Who got the green-covered book with a few words written by Mother as a Christmas gift? A. Mrs. March B. Meg C. Beth D. Amy Answer: B
Question: Our little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was preparing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his mom dried her hands on her apron , she read it, and this is what was said: For going to the store for you $2. For cutting the grass in the garden $3. For cleaning up the yard this week $2.5. For cleaning up my room this week $2. For setting the table for meals this week $1. For baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping $1.5. For getting a good school report $5. Total owed: $17. His mother looked at him, who was standing there with expectation. Memories flashed through her mind. Then she picked up a pen, turned over the paper he had written on, and wrote: For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me, No Charge . For all the nights that I've sat up with you and taken care of you, No Charge. For all the problems and troubles that you've caused through the years, there is No Charge. When you add it all up, the cost of my love is No Charge. For all the nights that were filled with fear and for the worries I knew were ahead, No Charge. For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping up your nose? There is No Charge. And when you add it all up, the full cost of real love is, No Charge, Son. Well, friends, when our son finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight up at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you.." And then he took the pen and in great letters he wrote, " PAID IN FULL." This story tries to tell us that _ . A. real love is priceless B. housework is endless C. the mother is wise D. the boy is selfish Answer: A. real love is priceless Question: The rise of the so-called "boomerang generation" is revealed in official figures showing that almost one in five graduates in their late 20s now live with their parents. By contrast, only one in eight university graduates had failed to fly the nest by the same age 20 years ago. It also found that grown-up sons are twice as likely as their sisters to still be living with their parents in their late 20s. With nearly a quarter of men approaching 30 still living at home, the findings are bound to lead to claims of a "generation of mummy's boys". Young professionals in their late 20s or early 30s have been nicknamed the "boomerang generation" because of the trend toward returning to the family home having initially left to study. Recent research has suggested that young people in Britain are twice as likely to choose to live with their parents in their late 20s than their counterparts elsewhere in Europe. Growing housing prices, rising student debts and the effects of recession on the job market have forced a wave of young people to move back into the family home at an age when they would normally be moving out. But commentators warned that the phenomenon may have more to do with young people facing " _ " prospects than simply a desire to save money. While the proportion of those of university or college age moving out from the family home has continued to rise in the last 20 years, among those in their mid and late 20s the trend has been reversed. Overall 1.7 million people aged from 22 to 29 now share a roof with their parents, including more than 760,000 in their late 20s. In 1988, 22.7 per cent of men aged 25 to 29 were still living with their parents but last year the proportion was 24.5 per cent. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A. Male children seem to be more independent than females. B. Eighty percent of university graduates were able to live independently two decades ago. C. The grown-up children choose to live with their parents only to save money. D. More and more children are moving out at university age. Answer: D. More and more children are moving out at university age. Question: "Plants were expected to get larger with increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere, but changes in temperature, humidity and nutrient availability seem to trumped the benefits of increased carbon dioxide," said researchers from the National University of Singapore. 45 percent of the species studied now reach smaller adult sizes than they did in the past. The researchers pointed out that warmer temperatures and changing habitats, caused by climate change, are possible reasons for shrinking creatures. "We do not yet know the mechanisms involved, or why some organism are getting smaller while others are unaffected," the researchers said. "Until we understand more, we could be risking negative consequences that we can't yet quantify." The change was big in coldblooded animals. Only two decades of warmer temperatures were enough to make reptiles smaller. An increase of 1 degree centigrade caused nearly a 10 percent increase in metabolism . Greater use of energy resulted in tiny tortoises and little lizards. Fish are smaller now too. Though overfishing has played a part in reducing numbers, experiments show that warmer temperatures also stop fish growth. There is a recent report on warmer temperatures' negative effects on plankton , the base of the marine ecosystem. Warmblooded animals weren't immune from the size change caused by climate change. Many birds are now smaller. Mammals have been miniaturized too. Soay sheep are thinner. Red deer are weaker. And polar bears are smaller, compared with historical records. This is not the first time this has happened in Earth's history. 55 million years ago, a warming event similar to the current climate change caused bees, spiders and ants to shrink by 50 to 75 percent over several thousand years. That event happened over a long time than the current climate change. The speed of modern climate change could mean organisms may not respond or adapt quickly enough, especially those with long generation times. So, it is likely that more negative influences of climate change will be shown in future. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage? _ A. Why do some species become smaller? B. Species become smaller as climate warms C. Climate change has many negative effects D. How does temperature change in Earth's history? Answer: B. Species become smaller as climate warms Question: Cars are the most important part of life in the United States. Without a car most people feel that they are poor. And even if a person is poor he doesn't feel really poor when he has a car. Henry Ford was the man who first started making cars in large numbers. He probably doesn't know how much the car was going to affect American culture. The car made the United States a nation on wheels. And it helped to make the United States what it is today. There are many reasons that the car became so popular in the United States. First of all, the country was a large one and Americans like to move around in it. The car provides the most comfortable and cheapest from of transportation. With a car people can go to any place without spending a lot of money. The second reason that cars are popular is the fact that the United States never really developed an efficient and inexpensive form of public transportation. Long distance trains have never been as common in the United States as they are in the other parts of the world. Nowadays there is good system of air service provided by planes. But it is too expensive to be used frequently. The third reason is the most important one. The American spirit of independence is what really made cars popular. Americans don't like to wait for a bus, or a train or even a plane. They don't like to have to follow an exact schedule. A car gives them the freedom to plan their own time. And this is the freedom that Americans want most to have. The gas shortage has caused a big problem for Americans. But the answer will not be a bigger system of public transportation. The real solution will have to be a new kind of car, one that does not use so much gas. a nation on wheels means _ A. the nation is producing the best cars in the world B. everyone in this country owns a car C. cars play a very important role in people's life D. there are more cars than trains in the country Answer: C. cars play a very important role in people's life Question: People are busy working every day, so they do not have enough time to do exercise. As a result, many people become too fat or too thin. To keep our bodies healthy, we have to do exercise every day. There are many kinds of exercises. Bending and stretching helps us move easily. Before we play ball games or swim, it is better for us to do bending and stretching exercises first. This kind of exercise is something called warm-up exercise. Running is also a good exercise. If we cannot run fast, we can jog. Jogging means running slowly Again, before we run or jog, we must do warm-up exercise. Also, we should not run or jog in busy streets. The air there is often dirty. Some people like weight lifting because it can make their bodies strong. Also, we need to do warm-up exercise before weight lifting. Why do we need to do warm-up exercise? A. To help us move easily B. To make our bodies strong C. To help us exercise better D. To help us avoid hurting ourselves Answer: D. To help us avoid hurting ourselves
Question: Questionnaire(,) Read the questions and answer YES or NO, then you will find out how good you are. 1. When you don 't understand something, you ask questions. # 2. You like listening to older people talk about the past. # 3. You think that you can learn something interesting from everyone around you. # 4. You are brave enough when you have to talk to people you don't know. # 5. You enjoy reading books about famous people. # 6. You always see and talk to different people. # 7. You are interested in learning new ways of doing things. # 8. You enjoy sharing experiences with friends and learning from people of all ages. # 9.You talk a lot about yourself. # 10. Even if you are often wrong, you make your own decisions. # 11.You hate teaching what you are good at: sports, technology, whatever. # 12.Your parents don't understand you, so you don't talk to them much. # SCORE NOW! Score 2 points if you answer YES to each of the first 8 questions, and 0 if you choose NO. Score 2 points if you answer NO to each of the last 4 questions, and 0 if you choose YES. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18--24 You are friendly and open-minded. You make people feel important by listening to what they have to say. You'll probably succeed in learning al1 kinds of interesting things. Good for you! 10--16 Remember that every single person you know can teach you something. You will greatly make your life rich and colorful. 0- 8 About 400 years ago, a famous writer wrote, "No man is an island. "This is still useful today. Try to be more open and interested in people around you. If you say "YES" to all these questions , you'll get _ points. A. 12 B. 16 C. 20 D. 24 Answer: B. 16 Question: Fallingwater is a house built over a waterfall in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Frank Lloyd Wright, America's most famous architect, designed the house in 1935. It instantly became famous, and today it is a National Historic Landmark. Guided House Tour This tour features all the major rooms of the house and lasts about one hour. Photography is not permitted during this tour. The Guided House Tour allows children six-year-old and older to enjoy the house with their parents. Adults --$$ 20. 00 with advance purchase. --$$ 23. 00 when purchased on site Youth (ages 6~ 12) -- $$ 14. 00 with advance purchase -- $$ 17. 00 when purchased on site Daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm,except Wednesday. In-Depth Tour The tour is best if you desire a greater understanding of what Wright was seeking to create with his masterwork. The number of visitors on each tour is limited and photography is permitted for personal use only. Children nine years and older may accompany adults on this tour. $ 65. 00 per person(Available by advance ticket purchase only) Daily from 10: 00 am to 4: 00 pm Sunset Tour As afternoon turns to evening, the changing light allows you to see Fallingwater from an entirely new perspective. The number of visitors is limited and photography is permitted for personal use only. Children under nine-years-old are not permitted on this tour. $ 110. 00 per person(Available by advance ticket purchase only) May, June, & September-Saturdays at 4:30 p. m. July & August-Fridays and Saturdays at 4:45 p. m. Brunch Tour The guests join their guide for brunch before they leave. Children nine years and older may accompany adults on this tour. Please allow three hours total for this experience. $ 115. 00 per person(Available by advance ticket purchase only) May through September --Saturdays & Sundays at 9:00 a. m How much will a father and his two children (one is 9, the other is 15) spend if they buy the Guided House Tour tickets ahead of time? A. $ 48 B. $54 C. $ 63 D. $ 51 Answer: B. $54 Question: Every spring scores of people flock to the Buzzard Festival at Hinckley, Ohio. They come to watch for buzzards. Most would be glad just to take a look at a buzzard. If they do see one of these" flying garbage cans", it will probably be circling high in the sky. From there it can watch the ground for signs of the waste and the dead animals on which it feeds. The buzzard is the ugliest bird in the United States. In fact, it may well be the ugliest bird in the world. It has a small, bare, pink head. Its thick body is covered with dark, rough feathers. In spite of its looks, the buzzard is important to the people of Hinckley. It is their first sign of spring. After a winter in the south, buzzards return to their homes in the north. In the Hinckley area, they always return on March 15. No one knows why. But they have come back to Hinckley Ridge on that day, sure as clocks work, for at least forty years. The excitement starts in February. By the middle of March it has reached a high peak. Bets are placed. Prizes go to the person who sees the first buzzard. Radio stations and newspapers tell of the coming festival. And on the weekend after March 15 the people of Hinckley hold their Buzzard Festival. The people come and look around. They chat. They eat their fill of pancakes and sausages. Then they drive past Buzzard's Roost on Hinckley Ridge. A lot of them stop near the road at the stand set up to give information to visitors. There they can hear, from a recording, the main facts about the buzzard. They can see a stuffed buzzard. They can look at some pictures taken of buzzards in other years. With good luck and a strong pair of field glasses, they may sight one or two live buzzards high in the sky. Buzzards may be ugly. They may be "flying garbage cans". But in Hinckley they are just as welcome as the swallows in Capistrano, California. It would be a sad spring indeed if the buzzards ever failed to come back to Hinckley Ridge. A good title for this story would be _ . A. The Hinckley Buzzard Festival B. Buzzard, the Ugliest Bird C. Why the Buzzard Has a Pink Head D. The Return of"The Garbage Can" Answer: A. The Hinckley Buzzard Festival Question: Every month, Julia and her cousins would go to visit their grandparents. They would be excited because their grandfather would give them a few coins. Then they would buy toys and sweets. The grandparents commented that, behaving like this, the children would never learn to manage their money. So they planned a special test, in which the children would have to show, over the course of a year, just what they could manage to get with those few coins. Some thought that they would save their money, but Rubin and Nico continued spending it all on sweets. So they give up saving. Monty decided to manage his money by exchanging it: buying and selling things, or bettering it with others. Soon he surprised the whole family. He had accumulated lots of money. However, Monty was not very careful, and he got involved in more and more risky deals. A few months later he became penniless after a losing bet. Alex, had a will of iron. He saved the money and at the end of the year he had collected more money than anyone. Even better, with so much money, he had managed to buy sweets at a reduced price, so that on the day of the competition he was presented with enough sweets for more than a year. And even then, he still had enough left for a toy. He was the clear winner, and other children learnt the advantages of knowing how to save and how to wait. There was also Julia. Poor Julia didn't enjoy the competition because even though she had a wonderful secret plan, she had spent her money without giving her plan enough time to work. However, she was so sure that her plan was a good one, that she decided to carry on with it, and maybe change the expressions on her s' faces, who had seemed to be saying "What a disaster that girl is. She couldn't manage to save anything." When she was about to complete the second year of her plan, Julia surprised everyone by turning up at the grandparents' house with a violin and a lot of money. She did it very well. From Julia's story, we know that . A. a little knowledge is a dangerous thing B. a little money well spent can achieve a lot C. confidence is the first step on the road to success D. if you want knowledge, you must work hard for it Answer: B. a little money well spent can achieve a lot Question: Film cameras and digital cameras work in a similar way. Film cameras After all, a film camera is basically a light - proof box. It has a lens system to focus light onto the film at the back of the camera. Let's suppose that we are outside on a beautiful summer day trying to take a picture of the family dog. We are using a film camera. We finally get the dog to lie still. You point the camera at him. What happens? Light goes into the camera lens and hits the shutter. In other words, nothing happens yet. Now let's say that the dog looks really cute and you decide to snap a picture. What happens? When you press the button, the shutter opens for a very short period of time. A small amount of light passes through and hits the film at the back of the camera. This creates an upside-down and reversed image on the film. When you finish the roll of the film, you can take it to the photo shop to develop it and you will have a great picture of your dog! Cameras come with different lens lengths. Why does it matter? Many small cameras have shorter focal lengths, which means that there is a small distance between the lens and the place where the light focuses at the back of the camera. This gives you a large view of the area you are taking a picture of. Lenses with a long focal length show a smaller area but allow you to focus on distant objects and make them bigger. They are often called telephoto lenses. A good example of a long focus lens is one that is used by sports photographers to get photos of football players as if they were standing right beside them. Digital cameras In digital cameras, the light falls not on film but onto a sensor called a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). This digitally converts light and color into a digital information or pixels . The CCD is the heart of any digital camera and usually the most expensive part ---- depending on how good it is. Generally speaking, a digital camera's price is _ . A. closely related to the quality of the CCD B. irrelevant to the quality of the CCD C. closely related to the lens D. irrelevant to the lens Answer: A. closely related to the quality of the CCD
In addition to writing articles and books, Mark Twain delighted the audience with his public lectures about the faraway places he visited on his travels. People were eager to learn about his trips to places like the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii), Egypt and the Holy Land. Twain often used the fees he earned from his lectures to pay for more adventures. His well-attended performances also served to bring attention to his published work. At that time, the public lecture was a very popular form of entertainment, and audiences' expectations ran high, but Twain never failed to amuse them. Twan also wrote on amusing subjects. In 1873, he released a book called The Gilded Age. The book was a satire of the very wealthy of the time. A satire is a work that makes fun of bad human behavior, such as wasteful spending. Twain made people laugh at the excesses of the rich. In 1889, Twain took on other members of the Establishment. He wrote A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, about a boy who travels back to the time of King Arthur. Twain made fun of those who were given advantages not because they had earned them but because of their family connections. If you have never read any of Mark Twain's works, try reading A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, or The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. They will make you laugh. What do we learn about Mark Twain from the passage? Answer: His lectures were very popular. There was a boy in India who was sent by his parents to a boarding school. Before being sent away this boy was the brightest student in his class. He was at the top in every competition. He was a champion. But the boy changed after leaving home and attending the boarding school. His grades started dropping. He hated being in a group. He was lonely all the time. And there were especially dark times when he felt like killing himself. All of this was because he felt worthless and that no one loved him. His parents started worrying about the boy. But even they did not know what was wrong with him. So his dad decided to travel to the boarding school and talk with him. They sat on the bank of the lake near the school. The father started asking him casual questions about his classes, teachers and sports. After some time his dad said, "Do you know son, why I am here today?" The boy answered back, "to check my grades?" "No, no" his dad replied, "I am here to tell you that you are the most important person for me. I want to see you happy. I don't care about grades. I care about you. I care about your happiness. YOU ARE MY LIFE." These words caused the boy's eyes to fill with tears. He hugged his dad. They didn't say anything to each other for a long time. Now the boy had everything he wanted. He knew there was someone on this earth who cared for him deeply. He meant the world to someone. And today this young man is in college at the top of his class and no one has ever seen him sad! Thanks a lot dad. YOU ARE MY LIFE. The passage mainly tells us never to _ . Answer: pay no attention to the power of caring One day, Jack came to Mike's house and said , "Mike, you have so many good books. Can you lend me a book to read?" Mike didn't want to lend a book to his friend, and he said, "Why do you want to take my book home? You can read it here in my house." Jack found that his friend was very selfish, but he said nothing. The next day, Mike came to Jack's house and said, " Jack , you have a good garden-knife, I want to work in my garden tomorrow. Can I use it for two days?" Jack answered, "Why do you want to take my garden knife home? You can work with it in my garden." How did Jack feel when Mike refused to lend a book to him? Answer: Angry We regularly hear how important consumer spending is for the economy. The story goes like this:the more consumers spend,the more money circulates in the economy, which contributes to healthy job growth and profits. Keynes, a British economist,went as far as to say that individuals saving their money may actually be hurting the economy. Sounds troubling, doesn't it? Fear not. You aren't actually hurting anyone else by saving money. Strong economic growth only comes from one place:savings. Not consumption. In fact,economic activity should not be mistaken for economic growth. For example,somebody takes their money, walks into a store, and purchases goods. The store increases its _ . But what happens to all of those goods and services that people have chosen not to consume by saving their money? Simple:Other people are allowed to consume them. Think of it this way:When you lend out your savings, you are actually saying,"Here, I am not going to consume right now, so why don't you?" Banks simply play the middleman:they collect lots of people's savings and then lend out lots of funds. It takes an unbelievable amount of goods and services to construct a building. It takes food, shelter, and entertainment for all of the workers, as well. Without savings,it is quite impossible to finance such a construction. The coordination between savings and consumption is a necessary basis for sound economic growth. This coordination is also why consumer lending (say , to borrow a big sum of money to buy a car) is not productive,in a strict sense. It doesn't increase the net amount of wealth of an economy. Those savings could have been used to construct, say, factory equipment. None of this means consumption and spending are "bad" things. They simply do not make us wealthier. After all, the final goal of production and savings is to consume. But to say that consumption is the engine of economic growth is to put the cart before the horse. Or, to rephrase: the consumption of wealth can never make you wealthier. Happier, perhaps. Wealthier, no. What is the author's attitude towards Keynes' theory? Answer: Critical. Machu Picchu is considered to be a truly extraordinary archaeological discovery and is one of South America's largest tourist sites. As many as one thousand visitors visit the ancient Incan ruins daily. What draws vacationers and adventurers to this remote location high in the Andes Mountains of Peru ? A large part of the attraction is the mysteries that surround Machu Picchu. For example, Machu Picchu is considered "the lost city" of the Incas because it was never found by Spanish invaders and was known to only a few local peasants for almost four hundred years. The "city in the clouds", Machu Picchu's lasting beauty comes from the careful blending of its striking architecture with its mountaintop environment. Its greatest skill shows are in the stone structures, which equals that of the ancient Egyptians. The stone blocks were so appropriately cut that they fit together without the need for mud. The largest stones at Machu Picchu weigh as much as fifteen tons! It has been difficult to explain how the huge blocks were transported. The buildings, including many that have survived lots of earthquakes, contain stones which _ so perfectly that a knife cannot be forced between them. When compared to other ancient civilizations, it is difficult to understand how Machu Picchu could have been missed by the Spanish and lost from history for four hundred years. For many of the mysteries of Machu Picchu being unsolved, it is clear why Machu Picchu remains "the most famous ruins in all of South America". The purpose of writing the passage is to _ . Answer: introduce Machu Picchu's mysteries
Question: DaveDean is a great musician. He is an early bird. He usually gets up at six o'clock in the morning. After he gets up, he drinks some water first. Next, he brushes his teeth. Then, he plays football with his friends. At half past seven, he eats his breakfast. After that, he often plays the violin. At about eight o'clock he takes the number 66 bus to work. Where does he work? Well, he has a music club. He teaches violin and drums in the club. There he helps kids with the violin and the drums from Monday to Friday. On weekends, he has a show. Oh, Dave is very good with kids. Do you love violin and drums? Do you want to join his club? You can call him at 010-6698. What's Dave's job? A. A musician B. A football player C. An actor D. A clerk Answer: A Question: Rock House Museum Take a journey through history with a visit to the exciting museum and historic sites of Wytheville . The Rock House Museum offers glimpses into daily life in the 19th century . The museum is part of the 50 structures featured in Wytheville's Historic Walking Tour . 540/233-3330 . Grand Caverns Grand Caverns is America's oldest cave . Beautiful and massive formations . Union troops visited the caverns . Thomas Jefferson visited--you should , too ! Open weekends in March , daily April--October , 9 a.m.--5 p.m. Hour tours leave every 30 minutes . 703/249-5705 . The News Museum The News Museum in Arlington is the world's only interactive museum of news . Visitors can be reporters or television newscasters , see today's news as it happens on a block-long video news wall , and be taken behind the scenes to see how news is made . The News museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a. m.--5 p. m. You can visitwww. News museum .Org . Kenmore Plantation & Gardens Kenmore Plantation & Gardens has over two hundred years of history from the Revolutionary War , Civil War and into the 21st century . Home of Betty Washington , George Washington's only sister , and Patriot Col. Fielding Lewis . Explore this historic building and city block of restored gardens . Tea and ginger cookies served . 540/373-3381 . Virginia Beach Virginia Beach offers 11 000 hotel / motel rooms , plus cottages and campgrounds . Enjoy miles of clean beaches and a variety of family attractions . Fine restaurants , various shopping areas , exciting nightlife , and special events are offered throughout the year . 800/822-3224 . In what way is The News Museum different from Rock House Museum ? A. It is larger . B. It is more exciting . C. Visitors can act in it . D. Visitors can see more in it . Answer: C Question: Something woke me at four in the morning and it's a good thing it did. A polar bear was about to attack the tent right above my head. As claws started to rip the fabric, I kicked and screamed. That woke my brother, Eric, who charged after the bear with a camp shovel. In the chaos I managed to find our shotgun, fire in the air a couple of times, and scare off the bear for good. Eric and I were attempting the first kite-skiing crossing of the frozen Northwest Passage. We had set off in March 2012 from Tukoyaktuk, in Canada's Northwest Territories and hoped to end on Baffin Island, Nunavut, where we had grown up. Our parents are adventure guides, so we spent weekends on dog-sleds learning to have fun in the cold. As teenagers we took up kite-skiing--catching the strong polar winds with a kite to pull us over the ice and snow. Now we're showing how it can open new routes by moving expeditions quickly over long distances. On this trip the native Inuit tracked our progress through the radio interviews we did along the way. When we got to a town, they were always waiting for us. After 85 days and 2,050 miles, we pulled into Pond Inlet, on Baffin Island, where people welcomed us with a square dance. There was only one thing for us to do. We took off our skis and joined in. We believe what we are doing is of meanings: to inspire the youths to get outdoors and get active, promoting a healthy lifestyle and love of nature. What happened one morning during their adventure? A. A polar bear was killed by them. B. A polar bear was to attack the tent. C. A polar bear was about to enter their life. D. A polar bear began to escape from the tent. Answer: B Question: Which of the following best describes an advantage of using a mass production manufacturing system instead of a custom manufacturing system? A. Customers can provide specific feedback to workers. B. Workers become skilled in all aspects of assembly. C. Goods can be easily modified for customers. D. Products can be made at a lower cost. Answer: D Question: Do you like keep a diary? When I entered the university, I began to keep a diary. I can find the first day in the university was filled with excitement and also sadness. As I was afraid that parents were worried about me,I pretended to be OK in front of them.But after saying Goodbye,I turned my back,tears falling down.Then I entered the new dormitory,feeling a little sad.I still remember, the first night was terrible! The following days were better, and I started to taste the freedom and happiness with a lot of friends all day.And the everyday diary was full of joy! I recorded almost everything happened during the days.I even recorded what I had eaten.For me, all was interesting. So far, I have recorded about 220 diaries.The diary is just like a treasure.Many years later, when I open the diary, I am opening the door of memory, going back to those good old days.However, _ One of my friends ever said to me,"I don't keep a diary. I prefer to put things aside in my mind. Only those time--tested are worth remembering forever,And as for the rest to be forgotten,just let them go..."Maybe,he is right.I think everyone has his own way to remember some special things.No matter what you sort to,the important key is to preserve the time of your life forever.Some day,when you date back to it,you'll remember the past. Why did the writer record almost everything happened when be was in the university? A. Because the writer felt lonely. B. Because the writer had nothing to do. C. Because for the writer all was interesting. D. Because the writer missed his parents very much. Answer: C
People have been interested in color and its effects for hundreds of years. More recently, research has turned to the question of how different colors can help students learn better. Believe it or not, some colors can affect a child's IQ . For example, a simple black and white color scheme may cause IQ to become low, while the good use of reds and oranges may raise it as much as 15 points. Be careful not to use too much, however; a little red is exciting, but too much makes people uncomfortable. Bright yellow is exciting to the brain, while the color green is thought to encourage creativity. Use blue and green to calm yourself. Blue, especially, can cause you to calm down. Something blue in a reading area, for example, may help you focus on what you are reading. But too much dark blue can make you sad, so use light blue on walls or large floor areas. If you are struggling to read, try a different color of paper. According to a study, 80 percent of children who had difficulty in reading improved their understanding when they put something grey or blue over their pages. Do not use bright colors here, as they become difficult to look at after a while. However, use bright colors like red, orange and yellow for important points. These colors attract the eye and may help you notice details. The same color of the walls of a room do not help you focus on your studies, but make you slow in understanding. Colors, on the other hand, make the senses active and encourage learning. Use primary colors red, yellow and blue in a proper way. Then how do you make your choices of color? It mainly depends on your space, the lighting and the function of the room. Which is the most important when you choose the color for your room? Answer: Lombard Street (San Francisco, USA) Known as "the world's most-crooked street," Lombard Street was first built in 1922 to reduce the hill's natural 27 % grade ,which was too steep for most vehicles. Lombard Street owns the record as the street with the most switchbacks in a single block. With eight steep and sharp turns, Lombard Street looks like a giant dizzy snake lying on the road. This famous street in San Francisco is known as the most-challenging street of all. Parliament Street (Exeter, England) This street in England is over a hundred years old today, but what makes it as an urban wonder is not its age but its unbelievable narrow size. Usually, a street is where a vehicle can conveniently pass, but that will never happen in the Parliament Street, as the street measures just 25 inches wide which is just enough for a ly medium-built person to pass. King Fahd's Fountain (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) The fountain was donated to the city by King Fahd. Being the world's tallest fountain, it deserves to be an urban wonder. It was constructed between 1980 and 1983. This fountain shoots water in an incredible 1023-foot (312m) height which is greater than the height of the Eifel Tower. Because of its seemingly unreachable height, the waters of the King Fahd's Fountain can be sighted even if the visitors are miles apart. Damanhur Temple (Northern Alps of Italy) The underground of the modest homes of Italy's northern Alps is where a massive, richly -decorated temple is found. The Damanhur Temple was secretly constructed in the 1970s. Decorated with impressive murals and vividly-color1ed stain glass, the temple was once seized by the Italian government due to illegalities. After some time, it was returned to Oberto Airaudi, the builder and founder of Damanhur. Which of the following has the longest history? Answer: A peer is a person who is about the same age as you. Peers affect your life, whether you know it or not, just by spending time with you. Peers can have a good effect on one another. Maybe another student in your science class taught you an easy way to remember the planets in solar system. Maybe you got others excited about your new favorite book and now everyone's reading it. However, sometimes peers affect one another in another way. For example, one kid in school might try to get another to cut class with him, your soccer friend might try to persuade you to be mean to another player and never pass her the ball, or a kid in the neighborhood might want you to with him. Some kids give in to peer pressure because they want to be liked, to fit in, or because they worry that other kids may make fun of them if they don't go along with the group. Others may go along because they are curious to try something new that others are doing. The idea that " everyone's doing it" may influence some kids to leave their better judgments or their common senses behind. Peer pressure can be extremely strong and hard to get rid of. Experiments have shown how peer pressure can influence someone to change her/ his mind from what she/ he knows for sure is a correct answer to the incorrect answer----just because everyone else gives the incorrect answer! That holds true for people of any age in peer pressure situations. It can be hard to walk away from peer pressure, but it can be done. Paying attention to your own feelings and beliefs about what is right and wrong can help you know the right thing to do. Inner strength and self- confidence can help you stand firm, walk away and resist doing something when you know better. What is the passage mainly about ? Answer: I didn't realize how short I was until I started school. There, a few kids picked on me, calling me names. Then I knew. After that, I began to hate the first day of school each year. I didn't know who was new and would stare at me as I struggled to climb the school bus stairs. Some of the kids would point and say, "Look at that kid. Look at her." As time went on, I just tried to smile and accept the fact that I was going to be noticed my whole life. I was determined to make my uniqueness an advantage rather than a disadvantage. My friends became increasingly protective. They'd help me up the bus steps. If people were cruel, they would take them aside and correct them. What I lacked in height, I made up for in personality----my ability to laugh, even at myself. For example, one time I was reaching into the washing machine at my parents' house to grab the wet clothes. I fell all the way in and yell for Mother, who was sitting nearby reading the paper. Watching feet flying everywhere, she laughed quietly and said, "I should leave you in there." I laughed with her. I'm 47 now, and _ as I've grown older. People ask my friends if I live in a dollhouse. They look in disbelief when they see me get out of my car on the driver's side. During those times, I try to keep a good attitude. When people are rude, I remind myself, "Look what else I have----a great family, nice friends..." We can infer that the author believes that _ . Answer: Cell phone use and texting are increasingly common, especially among teens. And that could be a problem. Texting affects learning and performing on test, a new study finds. So a Montana teen, Colin decided to test that. They asked 47 classmates to take part in a two-part experiment. The goal was to test how well these students understood written material. Each one had to read a paragraph or two about a certain topic, then answer questions about it. In the first part, the participants had 15 minutes to understand and then answer questions about six readings. Throughout this test, they met no distractions. During a new set of readings, the brothers sent messages to the participants' cell phones every 90 seconds. In each message, there were questions that required a reply. Participants should have scored better on the second test because it was easier. In fact, they scored worse when distracted by messages. Only a few students scored as well when replying to messages as they did when undistracted. But importantly, nobody performed better during the texting part. The brothers presented details of their findings at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Boys and girls scored equally poorly while texting, the brothers noticed. Older participants didn't do any better than younger ones. And it didn't matter if a student thought he was good at multitasking. On average, the brothers found that even students who were confident of their abilities did just as poorly while texting. Surprisingly, even though the students remembered less of what they read while texting, most of them answered questions in messages perfectly. "Our teachers are very happy to see these results," says Coler. The teens' new data strongly support their teachers' opinion that texting while studying is a serious distraction. What can we learn from the two-part experiment? Answer:
A boy pulls a sweater off over his head. His hair is attracted to the sweater due to A. a magnetic force B. a heat transfer C. a chemical change D. an electrical charge Answer: D "Privacy" is translated as "yin si" in Chinese. Traditionally,in the Chinese mind,"yin si" is associated with(...)what is closed or unfair. If someone is said to have "yin si",meddlers will be attracted to pry into his or her things. So people always say that they don't have "yin si". On the contrary, Americans often declare intention to protect their privacy. Their understanding of privacy is that others have no right to pry into things which belong to themselves alone and have nothing to do with others. One who is too curious and who spreads rumors is said to violate the right to privacy. In the evening, Sonia and I went to a bar for dinner. In China, when people mention bars, something bad usually comes to mind. But here,the bar was a quiet and tastefully laidout place. People spoke quite softly, afraid of interrupting their neighbors, and sat face to face as they drank, sometimes three or five persons sitting together. This sort of atmosphere was totally different from my preconception , so I wanted to take a picture. Sonia stopped me, "Don't you see these people are pouring out their hearts? Maybe they are colleagues, friends, secret lovers. They came here looking for a peaceful place free from interruption by others. They wouldn't want to leave any trace of their having come here. So taking their pictures would be a serious violation of their right to privacy." Is there privacy between husband and wife? One of Sonia's friends married a talented Chinese man,but recently she became so angry that she wanted a divorce .The reason was that her husband had opened one of her letters and looked through her purse. The husband didn't realize that this is not tolerated in the U.S.. He thought that being a couple was like being one person; why couldn't he see the letter or the contents of the purse? Truly, everyone, even those living as a couple, needs room--not only in threedimensional space, but in the heart. What is the main idea of the text? A. The understanding of "privacy" is different in China and America. B. There is privacy between husband and wife in America. C. Everyone has the right to privacy. D. Everyone in every country needs room for himself. Answer: A Women's fashions change more rapidly than men's. In the early 1990's, all women wore their skirts to the ankle. Today, some skirts are even longer than before, but some are very short. Women's shoes have also gone through all sorts of boots for women were very common at the beginning of this century. Then for years, they were not considered fashionable. Today, they're back again in all colours, lengths and materials. In fact, today's women can wear all types of clothes on almost any occasion. While all of these changes were taking place in women's fashions, men's clothing remained almost the same until a few years ago. And, in fact, most men are still dressed in the kinds of clothes they used to wear. What kind of skirts do women like to wear today? A. Long skirts. B. Short skirts. C. Both long skirts and short skirts. D. Neither long skirts nor short skirts. Answer: C Hello, my name is Gina. John, Anna and I are good friends. We are in the same grade. But they are in Class Five and I am in Class Three. We get up at 7:00 and go to school at 7:30. In the morning we have four lessons. We have English every morning. John and Anna have English at 10:00 in the morning and I have _ at 11:00. English is my favorite subject. Math is their favorite. And we all like P.E. In the afternoon, we have three lessons. At 2:30 we have the art lesson in the same classroom. After school we often play soccer. We all like soccer. Sometimes we watch TV at my house. We don't play any computer games. _ ? A. a trip B. an English lesson C. a talk D. a math lesson Answer: B The world's first hamburger doesn't come from where you think it comes from. It wasn't invented in the United States, and it didn't originate in Germany. No, the world's first hamburger comes from China. If you're scratching your head right now, you're not alone. But Chinese hamburgers are very real and they definitely predate the hamburgers we call our own in the U.S. Known as rou jia mo, which translates to "meat burger" or "meat sandwich", they consist of chopped meat inside a pita-like _ , and they've been around since the Qin Dynasty, from about 221 BC to 207 BC. Despite the differences between this Chinese street food and our American-style burgers, the rou jia mo has been called the world's first hamburger. The rou jia mo originated in the Shanxi Province of China, and is now eaten all over the country. It's typically prepared and eaten on the street. The dough for the bun, or mo, consists of a simple mixture of wheat flour, water and maybe yeast. Of course recipes may vary, but this basic equation makes for a chewy and subtle pillow for the delicious filling. While the mo is traditionally baked in a clay oven, today it's often fried in a pan. They may look a little like Chinese steamed buns or baozi, but the dough for those are, of course, steamed, not baked or fried. The meat filling might consist of chopped pork, beef, lamb or chicken that has been stewed with a variety of spices, like ginger, cloves, coriander and star anise. You might also find herbs like cilantro or greens like lettuce garnishing the sandwich. Which of the following is TRUE? A. The mo people eat today is baked in a clay oven. B. The world's first hamburger which was originated in the Shanxi Province of China is popular around the world. C. The rou jia mo has a history of more than 2200 years. D. The rou jia mo and American-style burgers share a similar cooking process. Answer: C
Tom's tenth birthday is on this Sunday. His parents give him a birthday party on Saturday. They help him invite Mike, Simon and two other friends. The party is at Tom's home. Tom's father buys nice food on the morning of Saturday. Mike brings Tom some interesting books. Simon buys a volleyball for Tom. Others give Tom some CDs. They have lunch at twelve thirty in the afternoon. After lunch, the boys and girls sing and dance happily. The party is over at four o'clock in the afternoon. When do they have lunch? A At 12:30 p.m. B At 12:20 p.m. C At 11:30 p.m. D At 1:30 p.m. Answer: A. At 12:30 p.m. When someone who is in good health dies suddenly ,there is usually an inquest .A coroner will do it.His job is to find out exactly how a person died. If there is nothing suspicious about the death,he will decide that the person died from natural causes or an accident.if, however ,he is suspicious,he may decide that the person's death was caused by a person or persons unknown. One day the coroner was trying to find out exactly what had caused the death of a local businessman,Henry Watson. The man's wife was explaining something.She was very sad and had to stop from time to time.The coroner did not want to make her sadder than necessary ,but he had to find out the truth.There were questions he had to ask. "Mrs.Watson,I know this is painful for you,"he said,"but i want you to think very carefully and then answer my questions.You and your husband were having dinner at home.Is that correct? " "Yes." ''Suddenly he fell to the floor? " "Yes." "You stood up and hurried to him ?You knelt beside him ?His stomach was in great pain? " "Yes." "Did he say anything? " The wife kept her head down. "Please,Mrs.Watson,you must answer the question.What were his last words? " The wife took a deep breath and then spoke."He said,"She replied in a very low voice,"I'm not surprised that seafood we had for dinner cost you only 50 cents," Where did Henry Watson die? A In his company B In a restaurant. C In a fish shop D At home. Answer: D. At home. Food or friends? Lip salve or iPod? What is the most important thing in the US teenagers' lives today? Let's take a look. Some find that they can't do without people. "My biggest need is my friends. Without them, I wouldn't do much," said Adrian Fernandez, a 14-year-old boy. With others, food always comes first. "I do not think that I could live without chili con carne . I eat it every day. And if I didn't have it, it's all I would think about," said Max Wu, an 8th-grade boy. Sometimes, the things teenagers can't do without are strange. Take 14-year-old girl Hannah Sacchini for example. "I cannot live without lip salve, especially in winter," said Hannah Sacchini. "I go mad if my lips get dry." Of course, today everybody uses mobile phones and computers. Some teens can't live without these high-tech things. Justin Beck, a 15-year-old boy, feels like this: "I would not be able to live without my iPod. I use it for so many different things. I always have it with me," he said. So, now we know the things US kids really must have. What about you and your classmates? What can't you live without? ,. (10) How often does Max Wu eat chili con carne? A Once a week. B Every day. C Twice a day. D Three times a week. Answer: B. Every day. How can something that represents nothing in particular be so eye-catching to look at? If you have once said, "That is easy to paint... Who would pay that significant amount of money for something that doesn't even relate to anything?", then chances are that you do not appreciate what Abstract Art really is. When looking at Abstract Art, you are seeing the most freely formed type of artwork an artist can create. _ 1 _ . You would think that when looking at art that is non-representational, it would be less interesting to view as you do not know what the artist is truly trying to depict in his or her artwork. _ 2 _ . This type of art is meant to grab your attention and pull an emotional response right from within you. Once you see that part of the painting...the part that keeps you drawn in and your mind thinking, it is then when you know you are analyzing something special...something called Abstract Art. _ 3 _ . So what grabs your attention when seeing this particular piece of art? Well let's think...what gets your attention in any circumstance? Why is a stop sign bright red? That's right...Abstract Art, in most circumstances, is filled with color1s of all sorts that are meant to turn heads. These characteristics, along with others such as the paintings texture and other elements, are what make this form of art one of the most popular styles collected today. The creativity involved with these pieces of art brings upon a new imagination that some viewers didn't know existed within them. This art is from the heart and soul, instead of what you see is what you get. With that being said, you can now see that Abstract Art is more than just a thoughtless mess put on a canvas. _ 4 _ . While viewing the work of a very talented artist, Osnat Tzadok, I came across a quote of hers that states "Every time I pass near a blank canvas I feel something explode inside of me. It is not something I can explain or pass on to someone else...but it is, always, a beginning of a new creation". This quote of Osnat's perfectly portrays what we, the viewers, should feel when viewing an artist's abstract creation. Just as an artist gets this "explosion" that Osnat speaks of, we receive the same feeling when looking at their piece if we truly appreciate Abstract Art. The beauty of non-representational art is that we can create the story within the painting. We can ask ourselves, "Why do these color1s interact with each other?" or "What does this symbolize?".... and with those questions our imagination brings about answers. Where can we most properly put the sentence "This is where the beauty of Abstract Art comes about"? A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4 Answer: B. 2 How do you feel after you've stayed up late to finish schoolwork? Or the day after a slumber party? Scientists now say that your answers to these questions may depend on your genes. Genes are stretches of DNA that work like an instruction manual for our cells. Genes tell our bodies and brains what to do. People have about 40,000 genes, and each gene can have different forms. So, for example, certain forms of some genes make your eyes blue. Other versions of those genes make your eyes brown. In a similar way, new research suggests that a gene calledperiod3affects how well you function without sleep. The discovery adds to older evidence thatperiod3helps determine whether you like to stay up late or get up early. Theperiod3gene comes in two forms: short and long. Everyone has two copies of the gene. So, you may have two longs, two shorts, or one of each. Your particular combination depends on what your parents passed on to you. Scientists from the University of Surrey in England studied 24 people who had either two short or two long copies ofperiod3. Study participants had to stay awake for 40 hours straight. Then, they took tests that measured how quickly they pushed a button when numbers flashed on a screen and how well they could remember lists of numbers. Results showed that the people with the short form ofperiod3performed much better on these tests than the people with the long form did. In both groups, people performed worst in the early morning. That's the time when truck drivers and other night-shift workers say they have the most trouble concentrating. After the first round of experiments, participants were finally allowed to sleep. People in the group that performed well on the tests took about 18 minutes to nod off. People with the longperiod3gene, by contrast, fell asleep in just 8 minutes. They also spent more time in deep sleep. That suggests that people with the long form of the gene need more and deeper sleep to keep their brains working at top form. We can know from the passage that genes can not _ . A tell our bodies and brains what to do B make our eyes blue or brown C decide how well you work without sleep D ensure whether you're good at driving Answer: D. ensure whether you're good at driving
Question: How to Be a Better Student Maybe you are a common student. You probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessary so, however. Anyone can become a better student if he or she wants to. Here's how: Plan your time carefully. When you plan your week, you should make a list of things that you have to do. After making this list, you should make a schedule of your time. First set your time for eating, sleeping, dressing, etc. Then decide a good, regular time for studying. Don't forget to set aside enough time for entertainment. A weekly schedule may not solve all your problems, but it will force you to realize what is happening to your time. Find a good place to study. Look around the house for a good study area. Keep this space, which may be a desk or simply a corner of your room, free of everything but study materials. No games, radios, or television! When you sit down to study, concentrate on the subject. Make good use of your time in class. Take advantage of class time to listen to everything the teachers say. Really listening in class means less work later. Taking notes will help you remember what the teacher says. Study regularly. When you get home from school, go over your notes, review the important points that your teacher is going to discuss the next day, read that material. This will help you understand the next class. If you do these things regularly, the material will become more meaningful, and you will remember it longer. Develop a good attitude about tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. They help you remember your new knowledge. The world won't end if you don't pass a test, so don't be over worried. There are other methods that might help you with your studying. You will probably discover them after you have tried these. What should you do if you want to plan your time? A. Make a schedule of your time. B. Find a good study area. C. Take advantage of class time. D. Review the important points. Answer: A. Make a schedule of your time. Question: A seismometer can note how earthquakes are A. small B. fast C. strong D. long Answer: C. strong Question: Good news for game lovers-- a tank game has come out recently. In this game you are in a tank and the screen shows your view of the landscape outside. You gain points by shooting enemy tanks, supertanks, missiles and flying saucers . Expert players can gain scores of around 150,000 points at this game. To get a high score you have to destroy twenty tanks as quickly as possible. After this, the supertanks, missiles and flying saucers appear. These are worth far more points than the ordinary tanks. However, the number of tanks you have to destroy before the supertanks appear varies on different machines. Try to get close to an enemy tank from the side or the back, so it cannot shoot at you. Then, when you get close, turn to face it, line it up in your sights and fire before it turns to shoot at you. If you miss or are too slow, quickly escape by moving out of the enemy's line of fire. You can then move around the enemy and come in from another side. When a supertank appears, try to destroy it as quickly as possible. Then wait safely behind an obstacle for a missile or flying saucer. The cubes are useful objects to hide behind as you can fire over them without exposing yourself to danger. The missiles will fly straight at you, but they are difficult to hit, so do not shoot at them until they are quite close. The saucers are much easier to hit, but do not follow them as you will be open to attack from enemy tanks. ADAB If you can destroy a supertank, missile or flying saucer, you will get_. A. a machine to play with B. many more points C. an ordinary tank D. nothing Answer: B. many more points Question: As a child,Alain Robert was afraid of height.One day,when he was 12,he returned home from school.At the front door of his building,he looked for his keys.He didn't find them.It was 3.30p.m.and his parents worked until 6.00p.m.Alain looked at his apartment on the eighth floor.He saw an open window.He closed his eyes and imagined himself climbing the building.When he opened his eyes,he told himself,'I can do it.'Fifteen minutes later,he was in his house and his fear of height was gone. Then,Alain tried to climb buildings.In 2003,he climbed a building in London,dressing up as aspiderman to advertise the movie.In 2004,he climbedTaipei 101(one of the tallest buildings in the world).To reach the top of a building,Alain used only his hands and special shoes. Alain takes climbing as a hobby.He also does it to raise money for charity(for have and the homeless).When he climbs,he wants to send a massage to people.If you have a dream----something you really want to do,it can become true.But you must be brave and keep trying.If something bad happens,don't give up.Close your eyes and tell yourself,'I can do it.' What can you learn from this passage? A. We must learn to climb tall building B. If we have a dream,we must be brave and hold on to it C. If we say'I can do it ,'we can climb tall building D. We must climb tall buildingsto raise money for charity. Answer: B. If we have a dream,we must be brave and hold on to it Question: Packaging is an important form of advertising.A package can sometimes _ someone to buy a product.For example, a small child might ask for a breakfast food that comes in a box with a picture of a TV character.The child is more interested in the picture than in breakfast food.Pictures for children to color or cut out, games printed on a package, or a small gift inside a box also motivate many children to buy products or to ask their parents to buy for them. Some packages suggest that a buyer will get something for nothing.Food products sold in reusable containers are examples of this.Although a similar product in a plain container might cost less, people often prefer to buy the product in a reusable glass or dish, because they believe the container is free.However, the cost of the container is added to the cost of the product.The size of a package also motivates a buyer.Maybe the package had "Economy Size" or "Family Size" printed on it.This suggests that the larger size has the most product for the least money.But that is not always true.To find it out, a buyer has to know how the product is sold and the price of the basic unit. The information on the package should provide some answers.But the important thing for any buyer to remember is that a package is often an advertisement.The words and pictures do not tell the whole story.Only the product inside can do that. What is the best title for the passage? A. How to Package a Product. B. How to Make an Advertisement. C. How to Sell Product. D. How to Treat the Package Wisely. Answer: C. How to Sell Product.
Question: Do you know what the White House is? Perhaps some of you do,while others don't. The White House is a house in Washington. The president of the U.S.A. lives in it. It's really white. But do you know why the White House is white? The story happened in 1812. That year England was at war with America. The British army got to Washington and set the president's house on fire. In 1814 in order to hide the marks of the fire,the stone walls of the president`s house were painted white and it has been the "White House "ever since. England fought with America in _ . A. 1810 B. 1812 C. 1814 D. 1916 Answer: B Question: Bump! Bump! Scratch! Adam opened his eyes and pulled the covers up to his chin. He stared around his room, searching the darkness for the thing that was making those scary sounds. The closet door moved as something banged on it from the inside. "Who's there?" Adam asked in a shaky voice. The closet slowly began to open. Adam jumped out of bed and ran to the closet door, slamming it shut with his palms. He grabbed his desk chair and propped it against the door handle. Then he ran out of his room and down the hall. His brother's door was wide open, and Adam jumped onto David's bed. "Adam?" David asked in an annoyed voice. "What are you doing in here?" Adam caught David's arm. "There's something in my closet!""You probably had a bad dream. Go back to bed." Adam yanked the blankets off the bed. "It wasn't a dream. I was awake, and the closet door started opening by itself!"David sighed. "Fine. But when we don't find anything, you have to promise to leave me alone for the rest of the night."Adam nodded. David reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a flashlight. Then they headed to Adam's room. Adam stopped in the doorway. He could hear something scratching his closet door."Do you hear that?" Adam asked. David nodded. He walked over to Adam's bed and pulled the case off one of the pillows. He opened the pillowcase. "You open the door very slowly, and I'll grab whatever it is." Adam slid the chair to the side and pulled the closet door open a crack. Something banged against the door, trying to force it open. Adam took a deep breath and opened the door a few more inches. A small furry creature ran right into the pillowcase. "I got it!" David said, closing the pillowcase and holding it in the air."What is it?" Adam moved closer as David peeked inside. David put the pillowcase on the bed and an orange cat climbed out. Adam scooped the cat up. "Apricot? How did you get trapped in my closet?"David laughed. "The poor cat. If I was locked in your closet with your stinky shoes, I'd be banging on the door to get out, too!" What happened right after David went into Adam's room? A. Adam awoke to strange sounds coming from his bedroom closet. B. David heard the noise coming from Adam's closet. C. Adam jumped into David's bed. D. David grabbed a flashlight from his desk drawer. Answer: B Question: Folklore is the branch of the study of man which deals with local customs, tales and traditions. Everybody is a storehouse of folklore, though not everybody realizes it. Often, in deed, those who have never heard the word folklore have the greatest store of it, for the people with least book education commonly cherish most firmly old ideas and superstitions which have been passed on by word of mouth for generations. Everyone has heard stories of ghosts, witches, fairies, and giants. We all know some proverbs and have come across such ideas as, for example, that it is lucky to see black cat and unlucky to see a single magpie . We keep certain seasons of the year as festivals, such as Christmas, and we are familiar with the special customs connected with weddings and funerals. All such things are of interest to those who study folklore. People who study folklore won't criticize the old beliefs and practices they come across as silly, childish, or old-fashioned. Instead, they will try to collect accurate records of them and then see how these are connected with other ideas and customs of other places or times. By comparing with what is known of olden times or the folklore of other countries, they try to discover how certain beliefs and practices came into being, and what purpose _ serve now or used to serve in the past. Often we find that the beliefs which seem most peculiar and unreasonable, and the customs which appear least practical, are of the greatest interest and importance because they are commonly the oldest. Sometimes they were part of an ancient ritual or served a useful purpose when people's way of life was different from what it is now. So we not only learn about what people thought and did in the past but are better able to understand present customs. People often keep up customs when they have forgotten the original reason for them, and in the course of time a fresh reason gets attached to the custom. Thus, when some joker ties an old shoe to the back of the taxi taking the bride and bridegroom to the station for their honeymoon, he would say it was "for luck", but actually a shoe is an old fertility symbol and has a place in the wedding customs of China and Palestine. It is most unlikely for people who study folklore to _ . A. collect as many records of old beliefs and practices as possible B. compare the present customs with those of the olden times C. criticize the old beliefs and superstitions as silly or childish D. find out the purpose the certain beliefs and practices serve or used to serve Answer: C Question: Hello! My name is Emma. My favorite day is Friday. Do you know why? We have four classes in the morning. We have a music lesson on Friday morning. It is my favorite subject. I also like other three lessons in the morning. They are English, Chinese and math. In the afternoon we usually have three classes, but on Friday afternoon we only have two classes P.E. and oral English. P.E. teacher is my favorite teacher because her lessons are very interesting. Emma usually has _ lessons a day. A. two B. three C. six D. seven Answer: D Question: The Internet is full of false information. It is important for us all to avoid being fooled by such information. Here are three examples of Internet hoaxes. On his website, a man by the name of Tony has asked for gifts of money to save the life of a pretty little rabbit named Toby that he rescued from under his house. A cat must have attacked the rabbit, the man claimed, so he took it in. he gave Toby loving care and nursed him back to health. There is a very cruel point, however. If the greedy man doesn't receive enough money, he will eat poor little Toby. (Don't worry, though. Remember, it's just a hoax!. While the streets of New Orleans, the USA, were still flooded after a terrible hurricane (., a frightening e-mail was sent around the Internet. It included a photograph of a large crocodile over five meters long. According to the message, it had been swimming around the flooded city eating people. It was later discovered that the photographs of the crocodile were of one that was caught in the Congo (. years before. The following e-mail hoax takes in many people. It claims that a large British company will pay you to send their e-mail to as many people as possible. For every person that you send the e-mail to, it promises you will receive $5.00; for every person that you send it to that sends it to someone else, you'll get $3.00; and for every third person that receives it, you will be paid $1.00. To make it even more believable, the sender says that at first he thought it was a hoax, but the company soon sent him $800.00. The crocodile in the photograph actually lived in _ . A. NewOrleans B. theUSA C. Britain D. the Congo Answer: D
A mouse is being hunted by a Great Horned Owl. The owl watches the mouse carefully, and the mouse is unaware that it is being hunted. The mouse is unable to tell where the owl is, because the owl matches its background My sister Alli and I have been trying to get people to stop dropping cigarette butts for seven years. One day, we were walking in our hometown and saw hundreds of cigarette butts on the ground. They made the town look so ugly that we decided to start a group to make people stop dropping butts. We called it "No Butts About It". At first, we drew pictures with "The Earth is Not Your Ashtray " written on them. We put the pictures around our hometown---in parks, by beaches, and along roads. We wanted to make people understand that dropping butts hurts the environment. Most smokers don't think that dropping butts hurts the earth. But it does! All rubbish does. Later, we wrote to companies and asked them for money to help us. We used the money to buy ashtrays to give smokers. We wanted smokers to carry the ashtrays with them so they didn't have to drop butts. At the moment, we are trying to get cigarette companies to put an ashtray in each pack of cigarettes. Some companies want to do it. Many people have started to join our group since it began. Today there are 45 other "No Butts About It" groups in America. And there are even groups in England, Australia and India! Many newspapers have written about my sister and I over the last seven years. And we have won many prizes for our good work. But we are not interested in prizes. We just want to make the earth a better and cleaner place for animals, plants and people. One day it will be. How many "No Butts About It" groups are there in America? 46 My 11-year-old son and I rides bikes to and from his school every day. I accompany him on the 20-minute ride through Manhattan, drop him off and return at the end of day to pick him up. We always ride together; sometimes he leads; sometimes I do. And as we ride, we communicate the ways to minimize the dangers: Don't go too fast, and watch out for doors suddenly swinging out from parked cars and jaywalking pedestrians, etc. Some friends worry about the risk of riding in traffic, but is there a better way to let my son know how to deal with traffic dangers? But recently he requested me to start hanging back a half block or so. This way he could enjoy the feeling of riding on his own, with the security of knowing that I was nearby in case he needed me. This is healthy, of course, as my son needs space to develop independence in preparation for his inevitable (,) departure from home. However, that means soon he will want to ride to school on his own, and I will no longer have this wonderful routine. "Let your children go if you want to keep them." I understand this and am trying to let my son go in age-appropriate phases, but I still suffer. It's one of the most troubling experiences of parenthood -- recognizing that your presence is becoming less welcome. My dilemma as a husband mirrors the concern I feel as a parent. My wife has just left on a six-month mission to cover the situation in Libya. In the days leading up to her departure, we spoke openly about the possibility, however unlikely, that she might be killed. But while I influence her decisions, I do not control them. Finally, it was her decision. I know that letting go is the wisest path in this case too. As we travel through life's phases, we must let go of so much. And I don't think it gets easier with practice. But maybe just accepting that eventually we will have to let go is the secret to living a full life. What does the writer's wife do? She is a media person. More and more Americans are showing an interest in healthy and locally-produced food. As the interest increases, raising chickens has been gaining popularity in some American cities. "Look, we get three eggs this time." Collecting eggs is a daily pleasure for the Hurst family. Naomi Hurst says her family started to raise chickens in back of their home in Maryland a month ago. "We have wanted to try having backyard chickens for a couple years now. And really just didn't have the time to build my own coop(;) and look out where to buy chickens. And then we met Rent a Coop," said Naomi Hurst. Rent a Coop is a chicken rental business. Tyler Phillips launched the company with a partner 18 months ago. It comes with a mobile coop on wheels, two egg-laying hens, feed, bedding, water bowl, feed bowl, and our 24-hour chicken hotline. You can call with any questions. The price is 185 dollars for four weeks. After the four weeks passed, individuals can extend the rental agreement, return everything or purchase the animals and supplies. Tyler Phillips designs and makes the coops. He says he wants to do as little damage as possible to the environment. "We always try to have as many recycled materials as possible. And I want the coops to be safe for kids. I want the chickens to be comfortable and they have access to the grass while being inside the coop. I want it to be easily movable, light weight," he said. Some cities require people have large pieces of land, if they want to raise farm animals. Others require an agreement with neighbors, limit the number of chickens, or, even ban the birds. Tyler Phillips expects that would change as interest in small poultry coops grows. "I see cities around the D. C. area changing laws almost monthly and different cities will change the law to being prochicken . That is happening all around the United States," he said, He believes that there will be chicken rental businesses in most American cities within five years. According to the passage people raise chickens probably to _ . get safe and healthy food A group of travelers were having dinner in a restaurant .While they were eating fish, they began to tell stories about finding valuable stones inside fish . An old man ,who had listened to their conversation quietly ,said at last ,"Now I'm going to tell you a true story of my own .When I was young ,I worked in a large company in London .As is usual with other young people ,I fell in love with a pretty girl .Soon we were engaged .Two months before our marriage ,I was suddenly sent to Edinburgh on business .My stay was a bit longer than I had expected .At last my work was done and I left for home .Before I left Edinburgh , I bought a nice diamond ring for my sweet-heart .On my way to London ,I was looking through a newspaper .It was then that I learned of my sweet-heart's getting married to another man. I was so sad that I threw the diamond ring into the water. A few days later, when I was eating fish ,I bit on something very hard .What do you think it was? "The diamond ring ," shouted his friends . "No," said the old man sadly ,It was a fish bone. The young man bought a diamond ring _ when he was going to return.
Can dogs help with OCD? You might watch and laugh when your dog chases its tail because it looks cute. But did you know that, even though it might appear like a fun game, it could mean your pet is sick? Researchers have found that if a dog runs after its tail, chases cars and barks at flies that are not there, it may have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD, ). In fact, OCD is even more common among humans. The symptoms are varied: some people check and recheck the locks before they go out; others are extremely afraid of germs and have to wash their hands many times a day. English soccer star David Beckham, for example, cannot stand odd numbers of items in his fridge. So if he has three cans of drink he will throw one out, according to his wife Victoria. Hoping to better understand OCD in humans, a team of scientists from the University of Helsinki, Finland, studied 368 dogs, including those that chase their tail for several hours daily or a few times a month, according to Sciencedaily.com. They also examined dogs that had never chased their tails. Scientists took the dogs' blood sample and asked their owners some questions about their pets' daily life. Findings showed that among all kinds of dogs, bull terriers and German shepherds were likely to chase their tails, which led scientists to believe that genes can cause OCD. Diet also plays a part. It was found that dogs that eat food with certain vitamins and minerals chased their tails less. "Interestingly, there are indications that vitamins and minerals are helpful in human OCD treatment," said researcher Katriina Tiira. Moreover, tail-chasing is often found among dogs that were separated from their mothers too early or ones that didn't receive enough care. They are also more likely to turn out to be shyer and more afraid of loud noises at a young age. The study can help us understand the causes of OCD in humans. "Dogs share the same environment with humans, and large animals are physiologically close to humans," said Hannes Lohi, leader of the study. According to the study, OCD _ . Answer: can be eased with the help of certain vitamins and minerals Trees are useful to man in three important ways: They provide him with wood and other products; they provide him shade;. and they help to prevent droughts and floods. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, man has not realized that the third of these services is the most important.In his eagerness to make money from trees, he has cut them down in large numbers, only to find that without them he has lost the best friends he had. And besides, he is usually too careless to plant and look after new trees. So the forests slowly disappear. This does not only mean that man will have fewer trees. The results are even more serious: for where there are trees, their roots break up soil allowing the rain to sink in and also bind the soil, thus preventing it from being washed away easily;but where there are no trees, the rain falls on hard ground and flows away, causing floods and carrying away the rich top-soil. When the top-soil is gone, nothing remains but worthless desert. Two thousand years ago,a rich and powerful country cut down its trees to build warships, with which to gain itself an empire .It set up the empire, but, without its trees, its soil became poor and grew weak. When the empire fell to pieces, the home country found itself faced by floods and starvation . Which title best fits the passage? Answer: Trees and Man An early form of a game in which a ball was kicked around a field is recorded in 1004 B.C. Japan. Some sports historians believe that the game of soccer began in England in the third century, however. They say that early English warriors kicked around the head of a killed enemy. This may or may not be true, but it is certain that soccer is an ancient sport. Without doubt, the English played soccer during the times of King Edward I in the 1300s. In fact, the king passed a law against playing it. The law said, "There is great noise ... caused by kicking large balls from which many ghosts may appear." Anyone caught playing soccer at that time was put into prison. Two hundred years later, Queen Elizabeth I still had people put into prison for playing this " _ " sport. Although there were such laws, soccer grew more popular. In 1681 it became an official sport in England. By the 1800s, people throughout the country played soccer. By the 18th century, upper-class boys played it at schools. Its popularity grew among all English people. At a meeting held in an English school in 1843, the first rules were suggested. In 1863 the heads of English soccer teams met in London to agree on some official rules. They organized an English football association . By 1871 all of the English clubs were following these rules. Today all soccer teams play by them. Soccer is called "football" everywhere but in the United States. The game is played mostly with feet. No players except the goalie ( ) may touch the ball with their hands. They may control the ball with any part of the body except their hands. Soccer is by far the world's most popular sport. Every four years, nearly every country in the world tlghts for the World Cup. Tens of billions of soccer fans from around the world watch the World Cup on television. According to the passage, a "vulgar" sport probably Answer: appears to be rude After spending years searching for a planet with life, scientists may have found one. In September 2010, a team of US scientists discovered a planet called Gliese 581g. It has a surface temperature neither too hot nor too cold for liquid water. Scientists think there is a chance that the planet could have life. The planet Gliese 581g goes around a star called Gliese 581, which is about 20 light-years from Earth. That is about 194 trillion kilometres -500 million times farther away from us than the moon. A spacecraft traveling at a one-tenth of the speed of light would reach Gliese 581g within about 220 years. A human can't live that long, but robotic explorers could make the job easier. However, our fastest spacec raft don't come anywhere near that one-tenth light-speed mark. At present, scientists don't know what the surface might be like on Gliese 581g. What they know is that the planet is at the right distance from its star to have liquid water. It's also at the right distance to have an atmosphere that could protect the water if it is on the surface. Although spacecraft won't be getting there anytime soon, one way to look for life on Gliese 581g is to turn our radio telescopes towards the planet and search for radiation . By studying the radiation, scientists would find out about the chemicals around the planet and discover if Gliese 581g has an atmosphere. If it has one, studying the atmosphere would give us a good idea whether the planet has life or not. But it'll probably be many years before we can do this properly. People have been arguing about whether there is alien life on Gliese 581g. Any discussion about alien life is just guessing at this point, according to its discoverers. According to the article, Gliese 581g _ . Answer: is at the right distance from its star For thousands of years, people have been debating the meaning of happiness and how to find it. From the ancient Greeks and Romans to current day writers and professors, the debate about happiness continues. What makes someone happy? In what parts of the world are people the happiest? Why even study happiness? The Greek philosopher Aristotle said that a person's highest happiness comes from the use of his or her intelligence. Religious books such as the Koran and Bible discuss faith as a form of happiness. The British scientist Charles Darwin believed that all species were formed in a way so as to enjoy happiness. People throughout history may have had different ideas about happiness. But today, many people are still searching for its meaning. How do you study something like happiness? You could start with the World Database of Happiness at Erasmus University in prefix = st1 /Rotterdam, The Netherlands. This set of information includes how to define and measure happiness. Some findings are not surprising. For example, the database suggests that married people are happier than single people. People who like to be with other people are happier than unsocial people. But other findings are less expected: People with children are equally happy as couples without children. And wealthier people are only a little happier than poorer people. Positive psychology is the new term for a method of scientific study that tries to examine the things that make life worth living instead of life's problems. Traditional psychology generally studies negative situations like mental suffering and sickness. But positive psychology aims to study the strengths that allow people and communities to do well. There is also an increasing amount of medical research on the physical qualities of happiness. Doctors can now look at happiness at work in a person's brain using a method called magnetic resonance imaging , or MRI. For example, an MRI can show how one area of a person's brain activates when he or she is shown happy pictures. A different area of the brain becomes active when the person sees pictures of terrible subjects. The findings of the database imply that couples without children are _ . Answer: as happy as people with children
Plummer, a well-known politician, was scheduled to address a large crowd at a political dinner. Just as he was about to sit down at the head table, Devon pushed Plummer's chair to one side. As a result, Plummer fell to the floor. Plummer was embarrassed at being made to look foolish before a large audience but suffered no physical harm. If Plummer asserts a claim against Devon for damages because of his embarrassment, will Plummer prevail? A Yes, if Devon knew that Plummer was about to sit on the chair. B Yes, if Devon negligently failed to notice that Plummer was about to sit on the chair. C No, because Plummer suffered no physical harm along with his embarrassment. D No, if in moving the chair Devon intended only a good-natured practical joke on Plummer Answer: A An 80-year-old couple was having problems remembering things, so they decided to go to their doctor to get checked out to make sure nothing was wrong with them. When they arrived at the doctor's, they explained to the doctor about the problems they were having with their memory. After checking the couple out, the doctor told them that they were physically okay but might want to start writing things down and make notes to help them remember things. The couple thanked the doctor and left. Later that night, while watching TV, the man got up from his chair and his wife asked, "Where are you going?" He replied, "To the kitchen." She asked, "Will you get me a cup of ice cream?" He replied, "Sure." She then asked him, "Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?" He said, "No, I can remember that." She then said, "Well, I would also like some strawberries on top. You had better write that down because I know you'll forget that." He said, "I can remember that. You want a cup of ice cream with strawberries." She replied, "Well, I also would like some whipped cream on top. I know you will forget that so you'd better write it down." With anger in his voice, he said, "I don't need to write that down! I can remember that." He then went into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes he returned from the kitchen and handed her a plate of bacon and eggs. She stared at the plate for a moment and said angrily, "I told you to write it down! You forgot my bread!" From the passage we can know that the old couple _ . A still had something wrong with their memory after seeing the doctor B had poor health, so they went to see their doctor C obeyed their doctor's advice and carried it out successfully D got their memory improved after seeing the doctor Answer: A Which food items can be broken down mostly into amino acids? A spaghetti noodles B hamburger patties C apple slices D cucumber slices Answer: B Lots of bacteria can grow in the seemingly unfriendly environment under glaciers , a region formerly considered free of much biology. This finding by glaciologists working in Switzerland could help solve some puzzles of the last ice age and point the way for finding life on other planets. Bacteria with odd lifestyles have been under increasing study lately, with most research focused on the species which prefer hot homes. The new study shifts attention to the other end of the thermometer . The exciting thing is the idea of pushing the window of acceptable bacterial environments a little bit farther open. Researchers have previously collected small numbers of bacteria from ice in Antarctica and Greenland, but they could not determine whether these were active bacteria or just frozen cells blown in by wind. In contrast, the earth beneath two Swiss glaciers harbors large colonies of bacteria--hundreds of millions of cells per gram--that appear to be growing at 0degC. Scientists followed upon these findings by taking samples of ice, water, and earth at two mountain glaciers. They found that earth beneath the glaciers contained much larger populations of bacteria than did surface and inner part of ice. Those findings indicate that the bacteria were growing at the bottom of the glacier and are not something washed in while the scientists drilled through the ice. Looking at the bacteria under a microscope , the researchers found that many were in the process of dividing, and healthy under the ice. The bacteria might break down minerals and plant remains originally buried beneath the glacier or later washed in by water going slowly through the ice, scientists say. "Some of the assumptions we have made in the past now must be seriously questioned," say researchers. "If bacteria can live under glaciers on Earth, why not on other planets? The new study points out in many ways that the bottoms of glaciers are probably quite good environments from the point of view of bacteria. So, maybe the bottom of the ice sheets on other planets would be a sensible place to try if you're going to look for life on them." What is special about the new study on bacteria? A It focuses on the bacteria in hot environments. B It opens the windows of the bacterial labs wider. C It pays more attention to the bacteria in the thermometer. D It changes scientists' view about the environment bacteria exist in. Answer: D Tony Hawken, 57, is divorcing his wife Xiu Li, 51, Britain's wealthiest woman entrepreneur , because he says he doesn't like being rich and is 'not in the habit' of spending lots of money. The pair traded up their semi-detached home in South Norwood, London, and bought a PS1.5million house in Surrey. Li, who is now worth $1.2billion (PS700million) according to Forbes, quickly settled into a life which included sipping a PS900 bottle of wine on a luxurious yacht. However, Mr Hawken says he felt more comfortable getting lunch in his local Wetherspoon's. Despite his sudden wealth he continued to buy books from charity shops, and _ dear clothes. In an interview with The Times, he said: 'I think it made me uncomfortable because I'm not in the habit, I don't like spending lots of money -- I've been brought up that way. 'Until recently I was never a wealthy person. I've been moderately comfortable because I have been careful with my money.' Now the couple have decided to part, Mr Hawken will walk away with just PS1million, but says it will be enough for him. He added: 'I have got a settlement which is not great, but it's enough for me because I don't have an extravagant lifestyle. I won't have to work if I'm careful.' On a recent trip to China, Mr Hawken said his wife took him on a yacht and treated him to a PS900 bottle of wine, but he prefers his local Wetherspoon pub. 'I'm getting a little pay when you consider her potential wealth, but I don't really want to fight it.' Mr Hawken met Li on a blind date while he was still a teacher and she was studying English. The couple married, but as Li's business took off the couple spent more and more time apart. Mr Hawken says the couple have spent most of the relationship apart. Far from driving them apart, Mr Hawken believes the distance kept them together, and says they would have divorced a long time ago if they were under the same roof. Mr Hawken says his only regret is not getting a divorce sooner, but he didn't push for it over fears it would affect the couple's teenage son William, now 17. Mr Hawken no longer teaches full-time, but instead gives free tuition to under-privileged children. which of the following statements is true according to the passage? A Mr Hawken wants to get a lot of money by divorcing B When Mr Hawken dated Xiu Li,she was an English teacher. C Mr Hawken believes it was the distance that kept them apart. D As many passed, Mr Hawken still kept his own lifestyle. Answer: D
The parents of a troubled teen may feel unsure as to whom to turn to in order to find help for their child. They may feel as if they have exhausted all of their options, and sometimes they are on the verge of giving up. But there is hope. Schools for troubled teens offer discipline and in some cases, drug treatment programs that can provide important life skills, and more importantly, a fresh start. The following is a list of the most effective types of schools for troubled teens. Not every facility is a match for every child, but by knowing the differences between them, parents can make a better educated decision about where to send their teenager. Boarding Schools When a child is unable to deal with the relative freedom of a standard school day, boarding schools might be a good choice. At boarding schools, the child lives in a dorm setting, where almost every minute of the day is scheduled by school administrators. Treatment Centers When a teenager has an addiction to drugs or alcohol, a residential center that specializes in young people is an outstanding way to help them break the cycle of addiction. Treatment centers feature individual and group counseling to help identify the root causes of the drug problem and help develop the life skills needed to stay clean when the program is over. Wilderness Programs Designed to help improve the discipline and self-reliance of the child, wilderness programs send kids back to nature. By placing them in a foreign and sometimes uncomfortable setting, wilderness programs hope to improve children's behavior. Programs generally include hikes, exercise programs and team building exercises. Boot Camps Boot camps are the most extreme style of school for troubled teens. These facilities are modeled after actual military boot camps, where the individual must get into shape, work as part of a team, and follow a long, hard set of rules and regulations. However, boot camps might not be the best choice for a teen with a drug addiction. Who would be the intended readers of the passage? A Teachers. B Parents. C Students. D Experts. Answer: B Across the rich world, well-educated people increasingly work longer than the less-skilled. Some 65% of American men aged 62-74 with a professional degree are in the workforce, compared with 32% of men with only a high-school certificate. This gap is part of a deepening divide between the well-education well off and the unskilled poor. Rapid technological advance has raised the incomes of the highly skilled while squeezing those of the unskilled. The consequences, for individual and society, are profound. The world is facing as astonishing rise in the number of old people, and they will live longer than ever before. Over the next 20 years the global population of those aged 65 or more will almost double, from 600 million to 1.1 billion. The experience of the 20th century, when greater longevity translated into more years in retirement rather than more years at work, has persuaded many observers that this shift will lead to slower economic growth, while the swelling ranks of pensioners will create government budget problems. But the notion of a sharp division between the working young and the idle old misses a new trend, the growing gap between the skilled and the unskilled. Employment rates are falling among younger unskilled people, whereas older skilled folk are working longer. The divide is most extreme in America, where well-educated baby-boomers are putting off retirement while many less-skilled younger people have dropped out of the workforce. That even the better-off must work longer to have a comfortable retirement. But the changing nature of work also plays a big role. Pay has risen sharply for the highly educated, and those people continue to reap rich rewards into old age because these days the educated elderly are more productive than the preceding generation. Technological change may well reinforce that shift: the skills that complement computers, from management knowhow to creativity. Do not necessarily decline with age. what is happening in the workforce in rich countries? A younger people are replacing the elderly B well-educated people tend to work longer C unemployment rates are rising year after year D people with no college degree do not easily find work Answer: B I am an American student. My name is Vicky King. I have a big family. I have two brothers. They and I are in the same school. My grandma and grandpa live with us. They are my father's parents. My father is from England, but my mother's hometown is at the foot of the Great Wall of China. My brothers and I were all born in New York. Because my father works in a school in New York. He teaches English. People often ask us, "What do you like eating?" It is not easy to answer this question! Well, let me tell you. My grandpa has been to India, so he likes Indian food. My father likes hot dogs, potato chips and hamburgers. My mother likes rice, noodles and dumplings. She often does very nice Chinese food for us. So my brothers and I like Chinese food a lot but English food a little. We don't like Indian food at all. Her father is a _ A worker B doctor C teacher D player Answer: C Tom was nine years old and he went to a school near his house. He went there on foot and came back home usually at 4 o'clock. But last Monday he was very late. His mother asked, "Why are you so late today, Tom?" "Because my teacher asked me to stay behind " Tom answered. "Why did the teacher make you stay behind?" the mother asked again. "Because no one could answer the teacher's question except me," Tom said. "What was the question?" his mother asked. "The question was 'Who broke the window of the classroom?'" Tom said. Tom went to school _ . A on foot B by bus C by bike D by car Answer: A Hello, everyone. My name is Tom . I'm a middle school student. I am a soccer fan . I play soccer after school every day. This is my father, His name is Mike Smith. He is a soccer fan, too. He plays soccer very well. I like playing soccer with my father very much. We have a great collection of 15 soccer balls. This is my mother . Her name is Linda Smith. And this my sister Mary .But my mother and my sister don't like soccer. They only watch TV at home. They say many TV programs are very interesting. ,. How many people are there in Tom's family ? A 3 B 4 C 5 D We don't know. Answer: B
Reform the gaokao The college entrance examination is one of the most important tests in our lives. Now, the big exam has got a big change. the government announced a reform plan on Sept 4, 2014. According to the plan, there are only three required tests that everyone to take - Chinese, maths and foreign language. Each subject is marked out of 150. Students can take foreign language tests twice. Students also have to learn six other subject - physics, chemistry, biology, geography, politics and history. They will have a final test after finishing their studies in each subject. They can choose three to hand in when applying for universities. Nowadays, liberal arts and science have different tests. For example, in some places, liberal arts students get easier math questions. Under the new system, everyone will have same tests. The reform will begin trials from this year in some cities. Current Senior 1 students in Shanghai and Zhejiang don't have to choose between studying liberal arts and science. Liu Yunsong, and English teacher at Beijing 101 Middle School, believes the reform is good news for junior students, especially for the English tests. "Two opportunities help the students show their real level better. As a result, we will pa y more attention to helping students be interested in the language instead of just teaching them the skills of dealing with tests. We will give them more chances to use the language, such as reading English." What will be reformed according to the passage? Answer: Relax and unwind in our new state of the Loch Ness Easery. Whether you are looking for a snack or a full meal we have almost anything to be suitable for everyone. We will be ready for helping you at all times. * Fresh Tea, Coffee, Hot Chocolate etc. * Good choice of Home Baking and Cakes. * Home Made Soup and Sandwiches. * Packed lunches for those who prefer a picnic. * Seating for over 150 visitors. Tel:+44(0)1456 450321 Web: www.lochness.com The reading also tells us _ . Answer: Mr. White is an American. He is 38. He teaches science in a school now. He is always busy. Every day he gets up early and gets home late. He is strict in his work. His favorite sport is soccer. He often plays soccer with his students on Fridays. He wants to be a newspaper reporter because he likes writing stories. He hopes he can come to China next year. ,(10) Where is Mr. White from? Answer: Kelly Reeves was getting ready for a trip when her phone slipped into a sink full of water. Panic moment! She quickly picked up the wet phone and tried to turn it on, but nothing worked. Her first reaction? She got dressed, drove to the nearest store, and bought a new mobile at full price. A new study finds that fear of losing your phone is a common illness. About 66 percent of those surveyed suffer from _ or "no mobile phone phobia". Interestingly, more women worry about losing their phone than men. Fortunately, there's a solution. The first step is to figure out if you have nomophobia. Checking your phone too often is one thing, but the true sign of a problem is that you can't conduct business or go about your routine when the fear becomes so severe. Do you go to unusual lengths to make sure you have your phone? That's another sign of a problem. If you find you check your phone plenty of times per hour, or a total of an hour per day, there may be a problem. Some of the treatments are similar to those for treating anxiety attacks: leaving the phone behind and not checking e-mail or text messages, and then learning to tolerate the after anxiety. Even if this leads to a high level of worry and stress, the solution is to push through the fear and learn to deal with not having your phone. Of course, there are also technological alternatives. Luis Levy, a co-founder at Novy PR, says he uses an application called Cerberus that can automatically track the location of his phone. To find it, he can just go to a website and see the phone's location. He also insures his phone through a service called Asurion. The company's description of its product reads like a prescription for anxiety:"60 million phones are lost, stolen or damaged each year. You'll have complete peace of mind knowing that your phone is protected and you can quickly reconnect with family, friends and work, as soon as the very next day!" What is the passage mainly about? Answer: In today's China, exchanges between Chinese and English-speakers are increasingly frequent. English skills are important to Chinese if China wishes to play a stronger role on the world stage. However, the general English level of the Chinese people is on the decline. China's ranking in the 2015 EF English Proficiency Index dropped 10 drops. The Middle Kingdom was ranked 47th out of 70 countries rated, and is now _ several Latin American countries. The report triggered widespread discussion in China: in an increasingly international nation, why is the peoples' level of English getting worse? A decline in the English level of the Chinese people is no accident. With China's exam-based education system, worsening English is inevitable. English education in China is too focused on grammar and ignored oral practice. This results in students that are often too scared to speak, for fear of making a mistake. Exam-based courses make it so students merely learn for the test, not learn the language. In Latin America, nations do not have a rigorous exam system for English, but focus on promoting the language itself. Such programs that promote English include Chile's "English Opens Doors" program, Panama's "Panama Bilingual Education Program," and Mexico's "10 Million People Plan." Brazil, which also has a government program, is ranked first in the region for English. The Chinese government should first think about how to reduce the amount of pressure on students taking exams in order to promote change in the current system of rote English education. This is the most important step. Everyone has been recently focused on overseas returnees. The number of Chinese studying abroad has rapidly multiplied in past years. At the same time, the number of overseas returnees is increasing as well. The job market is also increasingly competitive for them and it is often more difficult for returnees to find a suitable job than it is for domestic graduates. Difficulties and pressure in the job market for overseas returnees deters a number of Chinese from studying abroad. As a result, the number of Chinese with high-level English, carefully perfected abroad, has been reduced. This could be a major reason for why English is getting worse overall in China. While China's overall level of English has declined, it has not affected China's huge emphasis on English education and training. China remains one of the nations that is most committed to the study of English. What measure can help improve English level of Chinese people? Answer:
Question: The first English dictionary was published in 1604. The dictionary was actually nothing more than a list of about 3, 000 difficult words, each followed by a one-word definition. The author, Robert Cawdrey, made no attempt to include everyday words in his dictionary. No one, he reasoned, would ever have to look up a word in a dictionary if he already knew the meaning of the word. During the 1600's more dictionaries were published. Each followed Cawdrey's lead and presented a few thousand hard words. Around 1700 one dictionary maker, John Kersey, did define easy words as well as hard words. But until the 1750's all the dictionaries were rather crude and not very valuable. A man named Dr Samuel Johnson changed all this. In 1755 Dr Johnson produced the first modern dictionary. He included in his dictionary all important words, both easy and hard, and he gave good meanings. He also gave good sentences to show how each word was actually used in speech and in writing. By the end of the 1700's most dictionary makers had followed Johnson's example. Dictionaries were getting better and better. The 1800's saw the greatest improvement in the quality of dictionaries. In England scholars planned and prepared the Oxford English Dictionary, a twenty-volume (;;) work. One of the most interesting features of the Oxford Dictionary is its word histories. It traces (;) the history of each word from its earliest recorded use up to the time of the printing of the dictionary. According to the passage, before 1755 all English dictionaries _ . A. were of no value B. only defined hard words C. defined both easy words as well as hard words D. were far from being perfect Answer: D. were far from being perfect Question: A soap opera called "Tiger Mother and Cat Father" is popular in China now. The tiger mother is pretty strict with her daughter and the little girl is not allowed to watch TV or play computer games. On the other hand, she makes all efforts to buy the expensive house near the key school, in order to let her daughter have a better education. However, the cat father has an opposite _ of how to raise their child. He gives her daughter more independence and doesn't make many rules for her. Which one is better, " Tiger Mother"or "Cat Father"? In China, it seems that in each family, there is tiger mother and a cat father, even worse, some families have two tigers. Children can't decide anything for themselves. What's worse, Chinese mothers believe key school will bring a better future to their children. This soap opera fully shows us a common problem in China. And maybe it is the real reason why such kind of TV shows can get popular. Whether the tiger mother or the cat father, respecting children and growing together are the keys to family education. Confidence, kindness, honesty and independence are the most important qualities to develop a child, not the grades. Just like a poem said, "Educating children is like walking with a snail , and the steps are gentle and slow." In the soap opera, the little girl isn't allowed to _ . A. eat vegetables B. get good grades C. go to the key school D. watch TV or play computer games Answer: D. watch TV or play computer games Question: Domestic horses now pull ploughs, race in the Kentucky Derby, and carry police. But early horses weren't tame enough to perform these kinds of tasks. Scientists think the first interactions humans had with horses were far different from those today. Thousands of years ago, people killed the wild horses that lived around them for food. Over time, people began to catch the animals and raise them. This was the first step in domestication. As people began to tame and ride horses, they chose to keep those animals that had more desirable characteristics. For example, people may have chosen to keep horses that had a gentle personality so they could be ridden more easily. People who used horses to pull heavy loads would have chosen to keep stronger animals. Characteristics like strength are partly controlled by the animals' genes. So as the domesticated horses reproduced, they passed the characteristics on to their young. Each new generation of houses would show more of these chosen characteristics. Modern day horse breeds come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. This variety didn't exist in the horse population before domestication. The Shetland horse is one of the smallest breeds--typically reaching only one meter tall. With short, strong legs, the animals were bred to pull coal out of mine shafts with low ceilings. Huge horses like the Clydesdale came on the scene around 1700. People bred these heavy, tall horses to pull large vehicles used for carrying heavy loads. The domestication of horses has had great effects on societies. For example, horse were important tools in the advancement of modern agriculture. Using them to pull ploughs and carry heavy loads allowed people to farm more efficiently. Before they were able to ride horses, humans had to cross land on foot. Riding horses allowed people to travel far greater distance in much less time. That encouraged populations living in different areas to interact with one another. The new from of rapid transportation helped cultures spread around the world. The passage is mainly about _ . A. why humans domesticated horses B. how humans and horses needed each other C. why horses came in different shapes and sizes D. how human societies and horses influenced each other Answer: D. how human societies and horses influenced each other Question: It is easier to go down a hill than to climb up a hill, so it is to fall into bad habit than into good ones. Bad habits do not come suddenly. They come little by little while people do not notice their danger. Some schoolboys first pick up bad habits in school and on the streets. When they cannot finish their lessons, they copy from their classmates. If they see bigger boys smoking, they also want to learn to smoke. When they are older, the habits become so strong that they can never get rid of them. From copying, they fall behind, then learn to steal, and smoking is bad for their health. At last they become worse and worse. How necessary it is that we get rid of the bad habits at the very beginning. get rid of here means _ . A. put on B. ring up C. pick up D. give up Answer: D. give up Question: Four Simple Keys to Transform Your Life The Power of Choice.Every one of us makes countless choices every day.Every choice we make has an impact on our lives.Even insignificant choices can affect what we experience and how we feel.When hunger strikes, we can reach for a healthy, nutritious snack, or we can choose the sugar high of junk food.The more important the decision, the greater its effect.For instance, how do I act towards that person who treated me badly? Do I generally choose to be passive, or do I actively set clear intentions and create what I want in my life? Every choice we make, however big or small, affects us in some way. How Do You Make Choices? If you are interested in living a richer, fuller life, there is a foundation upon which you can base all of your decisions which can make life better not only for you, but also for those around you.This foundation is to choose based on what's best for all.Imagine a world where every parent, spouse , friend, teacher, business person, and politician truly did their best to choose what's best for all involved in every decision they made. We would certainly live in a more caring, supportive world. It's the Intention."But how do I know what is really best?" you might ask.The answer is simple.It doesn't matter.What matters is not the choice you make, but rather the intention beind your choice.What matters is that whatever decision you make, you are clear in your intention of choosing based on what's best for all.If it later turns out that you made what appears to have been a bad choice, there's no need for guilt.Knowing that you did your best to choose with a sincere desire for what's best for all, your conscience stays clear and open.This then allows you to more easily learn from your mistakes, and to live with a clear heart and mind. What's Best for Me, Too! Choosing what's best does not mean you have to always sacrifice yourself for others.An overly exhausted mother can lose her temper easily.Some time off for this mother might seem selfish, yet in the long run, it can help her to be a better mother to her children.So as we move through each day of our lives, let us remember to include ourselves as we do our best to choose what's best for all. Which of the following is FALSE? A. Whenever hunger strikes, we will reach for a junk snack B. Every choice, however big or small, has an influence on us. C. Even small choices affect how we feel.. D. We make choices every day. Answer: A. Whenever hunger strikes, we will reach for a junk snack
Speaking two languages can actually help offset some effects of aging on the brain, a new study has found. Researchers tested how long it took participants to switch from one cognitive task to another, something that's known to take longer for older adults, said lead researcher, Brian Gold, a neuroscientist at the University of Kentucky. Gold's team compared task-switching speeds for younger and older adults, knowing they would find slower speeds in the older population because of previous studies. However, they found that older adults who spoke two languages were able to switch mental activities faster than those didn't . The study only looked at life-long bilinguals, defined in study as people who had spoken a second language daily since they were at least 10 years old. Gold and his team asked 30 people, either bilingual or monolingual , to have a series of tests. They found that bilingual people were not only able to switch tasks faster, they had different brain activity than their monolingual peers. Kristina called bilingualism "a beautiful natural experiment", because people grow up speaking two languages,and studies have shown that they get certain cognitive benefits from switching between languages and determining which to respond with based on what's going on around them. Gold said he grew up in Montreal, where he spoke French at school and English at home, prompting relatives to question whether his French language immersion would somehow hinder his ability to learn English. "Until very recently, learning a second language in childhood was thought of as dangerous," he said. "Actually, it's beneficial. " In Gold's opinion, learning a second language in childhood is _ . Answer: not dangerous but beneficial to children If you could take a large snapshot of everyone in the United States today, it would contain six minion more females than males. In this country, women outlive men by about seven years. Throughout the modern world, cultures are different, diets are different, ways of life and causes of death are different, but one thing is the same--- women outlive men. It starts before birth. At conception, male fetuses outnumber female by about 110 to 100; at birth, the rate has already fallen to about 105 boys to every 100 girls. By the age of 30, there are only enough men left to match the number of women. Then women start taking a lead. Beyond the age of 80, there are nearly twice as many women as men. "If you look at the top ten or twelve causes of death," said Deborah Wingard, a disease expert at the University of California at San Diego, "every single one kills more men." She listed out one sad fate after another - heart disease, lung cancer and so on. Each kills men at roughly twice the rate of that it does women. More than a century ago American men surpassed and outlived the women. But in the 20th century, women began living longer, primarily because pregnancy and giving birth to children had become less dangerous. The gap grew steadily. In 1946, for the first time ever in the United States, females outnumbered males. Parts of the reasons are self-made. Men smoke more, drink more and take more life-threatening chances than women. Men are murdered (usually by other men) three times as often as women are. They commit suicide at a higher rate and have more than twice as many fatal car accidents as women do. Men are likely to be involved in alcohol-related deaths. But behavior doesn't explain away the longevity gap. Today, some scientists studying the gender gap believe that the data point to one conclusion Mother Nature may be partial to women. Every living thing is assembled according to instructions on its chromosomes , and humans have 23 pairs of them. But in males, one of these is a weak non-matching pair, expressed by "xy". The agreement pair in females is "xx", and its genetic "backup" power is sometimes listed as a clue to woman's superior restoring force. If the male's single "x" chromosome isn't perfect, it is possible for a serious genetic disorder to appear. Some blood diseases, for instance, are diseases caused by a shortcoming in a single gene on the "x" chromosome. They are far more common in males than females. How many exact diseases are mentioned as examples killing twice men than women? Answer: Two. More than 2.25 billion cups of coffee are drunk throughout the world each day, and it's likely that many taste bitter. Now, a new study suggests that coffee fans can make their drink sweeter by changing the color of their cups. Researchers from Oxford set out to prove whether the claim that coffee drunk from a white cup tastes biter was true. They used 36 volunteers and three different colored cups---blue, white and transparent glass--- to examine the claim. In one experiment, the white cup increased the intensity of the coffee taste relative to the transparent cup. Then, in a second experiment, coffee drunk from the white cup was found to taste less sweet when compared to the other colored cups, while the blue cup made the coffee taste the sweetest. The scientists believe that the color brown may be associated with bitterness, and coffee in a white cup appears the brownest. "Our study clearly shows that the color of a cup does influence our sense of the coffee taste," leading author Dr George Doorn, wrote in an article for The Conversation. "The effect of the color of the cup on the taste of the coffee reported here suggests that cafe owners should carefully consider the color of their cups," he said. "The potential effects may spell the difference between a one-time purchase and a return customer." Actually, the idea that color can change the food and drink taste came out many years ago. A study published last year reported that red, strawberry-flavored cake served on a white plate was rated as 10 percent sweeter than the same food presented on a black plate. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: the effect of cup color on coffee's taste A back injury led Briton Rose Oliver to t'ai chi, which led her to her husband and then took both of them to China. But three years after moving to Shanghai to pursue their dream, Oliver's husband died, leaving her alone to follow their shared passion for t'ai chi. Twenty years ago, Oliver's back injury ruined her childhood dream of becoming a ballet dancer. But the injury did lead her to t'ai chi, a martial art typically practiced in slow motion. Her initial hope was to improve her health. She later married her instructor, Rey Nelson, and founded a school with him, teaching the martial art to more than 10, 000 students over eight years. The 49-year-old recalls the injury that left her bedridden for six months when she was 21 years old and with constant pain for decades. "I was active and could not bear resting in bed," she recalls."But the soft tissue injuries were hard to heal. I thought I had to find some way to recover my health." Oliver saw a poster for a t'ai chi class and decided to try the"mysterious exotic sport". She was struck by the beautiful movements and the"nice, patient instructor -- Nelson". The couple later opened a t'ai chi school in the United Kingdom that attracted thousands of people. But they found themselves in a bottleneck. "It was not enough for us to improve ourselves when we just learned from t'ai chi masters for two or four weeks a year,"she says. So the couple moved to Shanghai. They taught English in universities and happily learned t'ai chi under various masters. After years of practice, Oliver found her occasional backaches had disappeared. In 2003, her husband's death brought her much pain. She thought of giving up, but considering the career in which her husband took pride, she stuck to it. She says her t'ai chi"family"-- the masters and students -- also provided a great support network. Her then tutor was Dong Bing and Dong died in 2009 at the age of 88. She speaks of their first meeting:"I had been told that his skill was of a very high level and for some reason I had a mental image of a powerful, big man. But my fellow pointed to a small, thin old gentleman, sitting on the ground. "I felt amazed as I realized that this was the master himself, and then a sudden feeling of pleasure hit me. Of course this was exactly the kind of person who would be a t'ai chi master -- the last person you could imagine. "I learned attentively from him. He did not only teach me physically t'ai chi but also the philosophy of how to be a better person, how to keep going when you felt you were tired. "His idea is that one should not pursue wealth and fame but endeavor to be happy and share one's knowledge and wisdom with others." Following the master, Oliver learned to live a simple life -- one perhaps more traditional than many Chinese. She does t'ai chi in the morning and makes kung fu tea for guests. Ink-wash bamboo paintings hang on her apartment walls. Oliver spends her time outside t'ai chi teaching English and attending cultural exchange events. She founded the Double Dragon Alliance in 2005. The organization enables Chinese kung fu masters to teach martial arts to Westerners and organizes seminars and events for them to experience Chinese massage , acupuncture , traditional medicine, calligraphy and tea ceremonies. Because of her contribution to cultural exchange, Oliver was given the Shanghai Magnolia Award on Sept 30, 2013. The award, named after Shanghai's city flower, is given to foreigners who have made significant contributions to the city. Oliver founded the Double Dragon Alliance . Answer: to spread Chinese culture to Westerners 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. What kind of person is suited to become a nurse? Answer: A very dedicated person.
Teaching your child to cook is not hard; the hard part could be getting them out of the kitchen. When you are teaching them, remember to stress safety and cleanliness, after all these are skills they will need for many years into the future. Start by finding simple no-cook recipes. A salad or other no-cook recipe is an ideal way to start. Show your child how to hold, and cut with knives. Make sure they know how to wash everything in hot soapy water as they use it, so that it becomes a habit that is part of the process and not an extra chore to do after they have finished. If possible, find one of the good children's cookbooks that are available. Many of these have simple recipes that demonstrate the basic cooking terms such as chop, mix, and stir. When it is practical, you may as well have your child help you prepare meals. Even a small child can get bowls out, pour, and start learning to measure. A two- year -old child can stir a batter , or taste the results. Allow your older child to find a recipe that they think sounds nice. Go over the recipe with them as you discuss the steps needed, and how to adjust any ingredients to match your budget, and family preferences. When you go shopping, have your child help find the necessary ingredients for their 'special' recipe. When it is time to make the recipe, allow them to do as much as possible, only helping out if asked or when they run into trouble. Be sure to praise their efforts even if they are not perfect. After the results are gone, talk about any problems, and see if there is a solution. Most children like to cook, and if they are part of deciding what to cook, as well as the preparation they will be well on the way to being good cooks. Why should we tell children safety and cleanliness? A Because children are often careless B Because we must keep them free of danger C Because they will develop good habits D Because they think cooing is hard Answer: C Every year, more than four million babies are born in the United States. Some parents named their children based on family, cultural or religious traditions. Girls are often named after a family member but rarely their mothers. Sons, though, are often named after their fathers. Every year the Social Security Administration releases a list of the most popular baby names in America. Last year, Jacob was the most popular boy name and Emma the number one name for girls. These days, the choice of a baby name seems to be guided as much by individual desires as by tradition. This is shown in the fact that the most popular baby names are not as popular as they used to be. Researchers at San Diego State University in California did a study. They found that thirty-two percent of boys received one of the ten most popular names in 1955. The same was true for twenty-two percent of girls. By 2007, however, the numbers were down to less than ten percent of boys and only eight percent of girls. "People are more and more interested in finding unusual names. And now since we have the information on the Internet of what the most popular names are, the percentage of kids who get them actually is going down because people are able to avoid them much more successfully than they did before," said Cleveland Evans, a professor of psychology at Bellevue University. Parents can find plenty of advice on the Web and in bookstores about choosing a baby name. A lot has also been written about the possible effects that a name might have on a child's future. There are studies that suggest children with unusual names are more likely to be teased. Other studies suggest that as adults, they might be less likely to get called for a job interview. Yet other research suggests that giving a child an unusual name might help build character. What all this adds up to is a big responsibility for parents to consider what's really in a name. The best title of the text may be _ A Most Names Are Named After Father B Changes in Choosing Baby names C How to Find Names on the Web D More Babies Are Named Beyond Popularity Answer: B 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!" How did Yuuki save the villagers from the disaster? A He told them about the earthquake. B He explained why the sea was flowing out. C He told the village chief to warn the people. D He set fire to the rice field. Answer: D It's finally the weekend of Halloween and I get to dress up in my lion costume. Halloween is my favorite holiday because I really like candy and love dressing up. Last year I was a ghost, but this year I am a lion. My little brother is dressed like a dinosaur and he keeps chewing on everything. He is only 3 years old so I guess that is okay. His name is Todd and his favorite holiday is his birthday but I don't think he knows much about any of them. My dad loves Christmas and my Mom really likes Thanksgiving. But I love Halloween. We have to wait for my dad to come home from work so we can go out and trick-or-treat. While we are waiting my mommy cooks us dinner. She wants us to eat good food before we spoil our dinner with all the candy we are going to get. I can't wait to go to my friend Kevin's house. His parents give the best candy and give me extra since Kevin is my friend. I think Kevin said he was going to dress up like a pirate but I don't remember. I don't think pirates are very cool, but I didn't tell Kevin that. I think I hear my dad coming up the stairs. Tonight is going to be the best Halloween ever. What is the narrator dressed up as? A Ghost B Dinosaur C Lion D Pirate Answer: C In 1826, a Frenchman named Niepce needed pictures for his business. But he was not a good artist. So he invented a very simple camera. He put it in a window of his house and took a picture of his garden. That was the first photo. The next important date in the history of photography was in 1837.That year, Daguerre, another Frenchman, took a picture of his reading-room. He used a new kind of camera in a different way. In his picture you could see everything very clearly, even the smallest thing. The kind of photo was called a Daguerreotype. Soon, other people began to use Daguerre's way. Travellers brought back wonderful photos from all round the world. People took pictures of famous buildings, cities and mountains. In about 1840, photography was developed . Then photographers could take pictures of people and moving things. That was not simple. The photographers had to carry a lot of film and other machines. But this did not stop them, for example, some in the United States worked so hard.Mathew Brady was a famous American photographer. He took many pictures of great people. The pictures were unusual because they were very lifelike . Photographers also became one kind of art by the end of the 19th century. Some photos were not just taken of the real world, they showed ideas and feelings, like other kinds of art. The Daguerreotype was _ . A a Frenchman B a kind of picture C a kind of camera D a photographer Answer: B
On New Year's Day, many people eat special food for good luck. In Spain and some Latin American countries ,people eat twelve grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve--One grape for good luck in each month of the new year. Chinese people eat dumplings. Some are made with a coin inside. Everyone tries to find the coin for good luck and money in the new year. Of course they don't eat the coin . In the south of China, people make rice cakes for New Year. The Chinese pronunciation for rice cake is "Nian Gao", which means "get better year after year". Japanese people eat noodles on New Year's Eve and on their birthdays. They think it may bring them good luck and long life. The food may be different in each country, but the meaning is the same---people hope the food will bring them luck and happiness(,) in the coming year. Is the food in South China the same as the food in North China for the whole year ? Answer: No When Siva Kalyan was born, his backbone was deformed resulting in a lifelong difficulty in walking. But that hasn't stopped the nine-year-old from becoming a prodigy . Until he was three-and-a-half years old, Siva could not even crawl. Wanting the best treatment for their son, Siva's parents moved with him from India to Australia and later to the USA. In the USA, his parents enrolled him in the second grade based on his age. But his teachers soon realized they had a genius. Siva was then tested for the eighth grade, but it was soon found out that he was actually qualified for college courses. As one advanced course was not enough, the brilliant boy is now taking two courses from Stanford University. Due to the treatment he received, Siva's physical condition has improved as well. But none of _ "just happened". It was his parents' understanding and correct guidance, and the loving care of his grandparents that contributed to the growth of the genius. Siva's highly educated and hardworking family has brought him up on the basis of certain principles. The family believes that once a strong foundation is built for the child in English and mathematics, the child is equipped to master any other subject, law, history, or engineering. It is equally important to recognize the strengths of a child rather than forcing the child to do things that he may not want to do. Siva's parents helped. Siva focus his energies on his strength, which is mathematics. At the same time they took care to see that he had friends to play with and enjoyed a few recreational activities. The only activity that's restricted for Siva is viewing television. Siva watches TV only for 30 minutes a day and video games are a bonus for special occasions. Thanks to his mother who is a singer, Siva has also learned music and even won the first and second prize at two competitions. In sports, he likes to swim. He began to learn swimming to strengthen his muscles, and by the age of eight he was able to swim a kilometer in both the backstroke and the freestyle. The family believes that _ . Answer: it is important to recognize the strengths of a child Some parents say summer is the time when teachers should get more pay.But not everyone is grateful to teachers for keeping kids occupied between June and August--Washington state representative Liz Pike has written a Face book post and responded to teachers' complaints of rising cost of living.After reading her post,I feel that Liz Pike should rethink her criticism of public school teaching and avoid comparing it to the private sector. Many of us teachers would certainly like teaching to be more like the private school.It's nothing wrong with fair pay for fair performance.With standardized testing popular throughout the education, teachers are some of the most analyzed and performance-measured employees in the United Sates. Liz Pike is very angry that teachers want raises even while test scores are dropping.Well,how are they supposed to have discipline in the classroom when our hands are tied and we can hardly do anything with naughty students? Teachers would love to be able to turn education around and improve student performance.,However, unlike private school businesses.public schools cannot turn away "customers".A private school business serves customers who walk through the door of their own free will,while public schools have to educate students who only attend school because laws say they must. She says those teachers who are uninspired by a lack of a cost of living increases should give up teaching.Is this the message that she thinks should be sent to the students whose academic performance she claims to care so much about? I think supporting teachers can make teachers teach children how to stand up for themselves. What problem do teachers face in the author's opinion? Answer: Popular standardized tests and their tied hands. People turn to magic chiefly as a form of insurance--that is, they use it along with actions that actually bring results. For example, hunters may use a hunting charm . But they also use their hunting skills and knowledge of animals. The charm may give hunters the extra confidence they need to hunt even more successfully than they would without it. If they shoot a lot of game , they credit the charm for their success. Many events happen naturally without magic. Crops grow without it, and sick people get well without it.But if people use magic to bring a good harvest or to cure a patient, they may believe the magic was responsible. People also tend to forget magic's failures and to be impressed by its surface successes. They may consider magic successful if it appears to work only 10 percent of the time. Even when magic fails, people often explain the failure without doubting the power of the magic. They may say that the magician made a mistake in reciting the spell or that another magician cast a more powerful spell against the magician. Many anthropologists believe that people have faith in magic because they feel a need to believe in it. People may turn to magic to reduce their fear and uncertainty if they feel they have no control over the outcome of a situation. For example, farmers use knowledge and skill when they plant their fields. But they know that weather, insects, or diseases might ruin the crops. So farmers in some societies may also plant a charm or perform a magic rite to ensure a good harvest. People believe in magic because _ . Answer: they are not sure of themselves There are a lot of public libraries in Britain. These libraries have more than one hundred and fifteen million books, not including those libraries of public schools. Public libraries not only lend books, music records but also help children, patients in hospitals and others to get special play readings, film shows and so on. The first public libraries were founded in about the year 1850. Today's public libraries usually have a reading-room, a lending room and a reference room. The greatest and most famous library in Britain is that of the British Library in London. It was founded in 1973 and has over 10, 000, 000 books. It has nearly every magazine, newspaper and book published in Britain and other parts across the world. How many books are there in the British Museum? Answer: 10,000,000 or less.
MySpace, the social networking website, is different from other websites which only provide stories about other people. MySpace is a place that allows you to broadcast your own stories and personal information to as many people as you like. Started two years ago, it is a big source of information for and about American kids. Teenagers and their parents feel very differently about it. Teens are rushing to join the site, not sharing their parents' worries. It signals yet another generation gap in the digital era. For teenagers, it is reliable network to keep in touch with their friends. They will often list their surnames, birthdays, afterschool jobs, school clubs, hobbies and other personal information. "MySpace is an easy way to reach just about everyone. I don't have all the phone numbers of all my acquaintances . But if I want to get in touch with one of them, I could just leave them a message on MySpace." said Abby Van Wassen. She is a sixteen year old student at Woodland Hills High of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Parents on the other hand are seriously concerned about the security problems of MySpace. "Every time we hold a parents meeting, the first question is always about MySpace," said Kent Gates, who travels the country doing Internet safety seminars .The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has received at least 288 MySpace related complaints, according to Mary Beth Buchanan, a lawyer in Pittsburgh. "Your profile on MySpace shows all your personal information to anyone on the Web. And MySpace even lists this information by birthplace and age. It's like a free checklist for troublemakers and it endangers children," Buchanan said. The writer's attitude towards MySpace is _ . A. negative B. positive C. optimistic D. objective Answer: D 109-year-old Anna Ferris of Washingtonville kicks a soccer ball Saturday with the help of her grandson Joe Begendorf at the Orange County Senior Games. Ferris has been _ at the event. She was born on Feb. 11, 1900, in New York City, before the radio or crossword puzzle was invented. Anna carries the seasons lightly for her age. Family and friends say she walks around the house and sometimes does laps with her walker around the driveway to keep her legs strong. "She's doing this well because we try to keep her out of the wheelchair as much as possible," said Begendorf, who helped steady his grandmother Saturday during each athletic event. Last New Year's Eve, she toasted 2010 by holding a glass of white wine high above her head at 1 am. But the public legend of Anna Ferris began at last year's Senior Games when she finished the 100-meter dash with support only from her walker. "When they said she was going to race last year, we thought it was a joke," said Anne Coon, co-chairman of the games. "She walked away with a whole chest full of medals by the end of the day." On Saturday, Anna threw a softball 16 feet and used a metal bat to hit a softball 15 feet off a tee . She threw a football more than 9 feet. She scored 10 points in "crazy water bocce ". She even tried soccer. Her first two kicks landed short of the goal and Anna shook her head in disappointment. But her third try rolled gently into the back of the net. That's when Anna Ferris smiled with the excitement of a little girl. Before Anna Ferris was born, _ . A. her parents died B. her family lived in New York for a long time C. people didn't know radio or crossword puzzle D. the First World War broke out Answer: C Have you heard of "Kong Nao"? A new word appears on the Internet recently. In fact, it refers to some passengers who behave badly by plane and could endanger flight safety. On December 11, on the airline flight from Bangkok Thailand to Nanjing, two tourists conflicted with an _ The male tourist poured garbage in the aisle and said something bad to the flight attendant. The female tourist threw a whole cup of hot water over the flight attendant. At last the plane was forced to turn back. On January 10, 2015, a passenger on Flight MU2036 opened an emergency exit without permission because of dissatisfaction with the flight delay. At last the plane was forced to turn back. These things not only affect the normal order of flight but also have a bad international influence. The improvement of living standards means more Chinese can take a plane. But many of them don't behave well in public. A report by Living Social website in March 2012 even listed Chinese as the world's second worst tourists after Americans. If you want to change those bad behaviors and become a civilized passenger, remember to avoid the followings: Don't spit in public or throw away trashes here and there. Never cut in line or snatch bus seats. Don't laugh or speak loudly. Don't take off shoes or smoke in public. *Say something polite and do something civilized. Whenever and wherever you are, you need to respect others. In this way, you'll win compliments for yourself. Why do more and more Chinese people take the plane? A. Because Chinese people want to see more of the world. B. Because taking the plane is more and more popular around the world. C. Because of the growth in the industry and the improvement of living standards. D. Because Chinese people do better and better in public manners. Answer: C A man called Greedy Black loved nothing but old things. He was so crazy about everything that was old and out of fashion because he was convinced that the older, the better. Always worried about losing his treasures, he kept all he had collected in an old room. It had no windows, so it was very dark, and of course, it was full of old things. One day Greedy Black went into this room to get a ladder, as he had often practiced, but slipped on something and fell against a big garden fork. The fork hit him on the head and knocked him down. Then it fell on top of him and hit him hard on the left leg. The ends of the fork then went into his long beard. He fought with the fork fiercely, and at last threw it off him, jumped up and ran out of the room. He was very angry. He had an old sword under his bed, and he now ran and got this. Then he ran back to the room, opened the door suddenly and shouted in a terrible voice, "All right, come out and fight, you and all the other forks in the world! I'm not afraid of you!" But there was no response for his challenge. So in great _ , he turned on the electric light, only to find that there was no other fork but the one that had repeatedly troubled him. After reading this story, what reflections have you got for yourself? Do you still think that keeping old things in a private place sounds sound? Or don't you believe that you have to be far away from forks because forks are the most powerful? Or what else.....? Which of the following is true according to the story? A. The man believed that he could win the game. B. The man became mad after he was in the room. C. The man mistook one fork for more than one. D. The man was wondering how to kill thieves. Answer: C Goldie's Secret She turned up at the doorstep of my house in Cornwall. No way could I have sent her away. No way, not me anyway. Maybe someone had kicked her out of their car the night before. "We're moving house."; "No space for her any more with the baby coming." "We never really wanted her, but what could we have done? She was a present." People find all sorts of excuses for abandoning an animal. And she was one of the most beautiful dogs I had ever seen. I called her Goldie. If I had known what was going to happen I would have given her a more creative name. She was so unsettled during those first few days. She hardly ate anything and had such an air of sadness about her. There was nothing I could do to make her happy, it seemed. Heaven knows what had happened to her at her previous owner's. But eventually at the end of the first week she calmed down. Always by my side, whether we were out on one of our long walks or sitting by the fire. That's why it was such a shock when she pulled away from me one day when we were out for a walk. We were a long way from home, when she started barking and getting very restless. Eventually I couldn't hold her any longer and she raced off down the road towards a farmhouse in the distance as fast as she could. By the time I reached the farm I was very tired and upset with Goldie. But when I saw her licking the four puppies I started to feel sympathy towards them. "We didn't know what had happened to her," said the woman at the door. "I took her for a walk one day, soon after the puppies were born, and she just disappeared." "She must have tried to come back to them and got lost," added a boy from behind her. I must admit I do miss Goldie, but I've got Nugget now, and she looks just like her mother. And I've learnt a good lesson: not to judge people. Goldie rushed off to a farmhouse one day because she _ . A. saw her puppies B. heard familiar barking C. wanted to leave the author D. found her way to her old home Answer: D
The terrible college entrance exam is not only a big challenge for Chinese high school students,but also a very important exam in the lives of South Korean students.Although the long,cold winter has already started in South Korea.the annual national exams have made the atmosphere very heated. More than 675,000 South Korean high school graduates took the college entrance exam last Wednesday.They usually take exams in Korean,maths,sociology,history and foreign languages. Officially there is one college place for every 1.33 students.But because all the students want to go to the top universities in the country,the competition can reach one place for 10 students.The students want to attend these colleges for both their famous names and better job opportunities. Because students face fierce competition,they have to study very hard to realize their dreams.park Seung said he and his classmates often go to school before 7:30 in the morning.After school has finished at 6:30 P.m,most of them go to the library to continue their study instead of returning home.Since many libraries in South Korea are open 24 hours a day,they often stay long into the night Many of the Senior 3 students only sleep for three to four hours a day. "I feel a lot of pressure.but I have to study very hard in order to make my dream come true.This is my lifetime goal and it will be a turning point in my life which could decide my future,"Park said. The exam day is a very serious day for the whole of South Korea.Vehicles are not allowed within a 200-metre radius of all the test sites to make sure the students have quiet surroundings.Noises are forbidden,even airplanes are ordered to avoid landing and take-off near the test sites during listening comprehension test hours. Students are told their scores in December before they apply for college.This is followed by face-to-face oral tests.There are public and private universities in South Korea .Many private universities are well-known, but their fees can be 18,000 yuan each term.This has made a lot of students think again. Before students are allowed to colleges,they will_. Answer: be interviewed When I was eight, I saw a movie about an island that had an erupting volcano and jungles filled with wild animals. The island was ruled by a beautiful woman called Tondalaya, the Fire Goddess of the Volcano. It was a low-budget movie, but to me, it represented the perfect life. But through the years, Tondalaya was forgotten. The week I turned 50, my marriage came to a sudden end. My house, furniture and everything I'd owned was sold to pay debts that I didn't even know existed. In a week I had lost my husband, my home and my parents who had refused to accept a divorce in the family. I'd lost everything except my four teenage children. I used every penny I had to buy five plane tickets from Missouri to Hawaii. Everyone said I was crazy to think I could just run off to an island and survive. I was afraid they were right. I worked 18 hours a day and lost 30 pounds because I lived on one meal a day. One night as I walked alone on the beach, I saw the red orange lava pouring out of Kilauea Volcano in the distance. It was time to live my imagination! The next day, I quit my job, bought some art supplies and began doing what I loved. I hadn't painted a picture in 15 years. I wondered if I could still paint. My hands trembled the first time I picked up a brush. But before an hour had passed, I was lost in the colors spreading across the canvas in front of me. And as soon as I started believing in myself, other people started believing in me, too. The first painting sold for $1,500. The past six years have been filled with adventures. My children and I have gone swimming with dolphins, watched whales and hiked around the crater rim of the volcano. We wake up every morning with the ocean in front of us and the volcano behind us. The dream I had more than 40 years is now reality. I'm living freely and happily ever after. Why did the writer go to Hawaii? Answer: To make a living. Which of these human activities in a forest has a positive effect on the ecosystem? Answer: Planting new trees where old ones were cut down Karl Fleming joined the military because he needed a change in his life. He had a successful career with a shipping company but he wanted to do something more. He found that something in the U.S. army. Fleming began his service in 2009 and never looked back. A few years later, Fleming volunteered to go to Afghanistan. There, he worked as a bodyguard for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He enjoyed it, except for the almost-nightly rocket attacks. Karl was never hit directly by a rocket, but he didn't need to be to feel its effects. The rockets caused severe shaking, shaking so bad that Fleming was left with many injuries. He was also diagnosed with concussions and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD). Fleming said he was down but not out. Once he returned from Afghanistan, Fleming underwent one test after another. At first, Fleming said he thought he could recover or be able to return to duty and realize his dream of becoming an officer. But then came the news he had never imagined: Fleming would never be an officer because he was too injured to continue. Fleming said he was depressed after learning his military career was over. Add that to the memory loss, extreme anxiety and the many painful medical procedures he was already experiencing. He rarely ventured outside on the weekend. Instead, he preferred to sleep in. All that changed, however, with Fleming's service dog, Kuchar. Fleming said he had heard dogs could help people suffering from PTSD, so he started doing research. Karl eventually selected K9s for Warriors, which is where he met Kuchar, a yellow lab. Fleming and Kuchar trained together for weeks, before returning to Fort Benning. K9s for Warriors provided Fleming with Kuchar and the training for free. Life with Kuchar has been life-changing. Fleming doesn't sleep in any more because Kuchar won't let him. Instead, they venture out into a world Karl was once afraid of -- a world for Fleming that now seems impossible to imagine without Kuchar by his side. Karl Fleming recovered with the help of _ . Answer: a well-trained dog Multitasking People who multitask all the time may be the worst at doing two things at once, a new research suggests. The findings, based on performances and self-evaluation by about 275 college students, indicate that many people multitask not out of a desire to increase productivity, but because they are easily distracted and can't focus on one activity. And "those people turn out to be the worst at handling different things," said David Sanbonmatsu, a psychologist at the University of Utah. Sanbonmatsu and his colleagues gave the students a set of tests and asked them to report how often they multitasked, how good they thought they were at it, and how sensation-seeking or imperative they were. They then evaluated the participants' multitasking ability with a tricky mental task that required the students to do simple mathematical calculations while remembering a set of letters. Not surprisingly, the scientists said, most people thought they were better than average at multitasking, and those who thought they were better at it were more likely to report using a cellphone while driving or viewing multiple kinds of media at once. But those who frequently deal with many things at the same time were found to perform the worst at the actual multitasking test. They also were more likely to admit to sensation-seeking and impulsive behavior, which connects with how easily people get bored and distracted. "People multitask not because it's going to lead to greater productivity, but because they're distractible, and they get sucked into things that are not as important." Sanbonmatsu said. Adam Gazzaley, a researcher at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not a member of the research group, said one limitation of the study was that it couldn't find out whether people who start out less focused toward multitasking or whether people's recognizing and understanding abilities change as a result of multitasking. The findings do suggest, however, why the sensation-seeker who multitask the most may enjoy risky distracted driving. "People who are multitasking are generally less sensitive to risky situations." said Paul Atchley, another researcher not in the group. "This may partly explain why people go in for these situations even though they're dangerous." The research led by Sanbonmatsu indicates that people who multitask _ . Answer: have the poorest results in doing various things at the same time
Musa teaches English at Chunmiao Primary School in Wuhan. He had never heard of China's idol of selflessness before he arrived in the country, but this unusual young man from Nigeria is carrying on the good work of China's hero soldier. Musa's week begins with a crowded two-hour bus ride for a flag-raising ceremony at Chunmiao Primary School with old classrooms for the children of migrant workers on the outside parts of Wuhan.An hour later, he steps in front of a room full of expectant students, some of whom recently organized a dance exhibition for their foreign teacher. The dance showed the spirit of Lei Feng (1940-1962), a soldier who was idolized across China for his selflessness. It was especially meaningful to Musa because the students call him "foreign Lei Feng". "I know Lei Feng, he is a good man. Everyone should learn from Lei Feng," he says. Born to a family of diplomats in 1985, he is the second of nine children and the eldest son. Musa was expected to become a diplomat like his father, who worked in Canada from 2007.In 2008, Musa was picked by Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to study in China for a master's degree in sociology . With the hope of joining the foreign service, he then went on to study for a doctor's degree in international relations at Central China Normal University. Before he came to China, Musa _ . A few months ago, while driving home from work, I stopped at a gas station to gas up my car before heading home. When I went in to pre-pay for my gas, I saw a man with his son ahead of me in the line. They were a little dirty from working & painting at a local job site and the man asked the clerk to help them patiently. The clerk behind the counter seemed annoyed and not interested in talking to them. From their conversation, I knew that the man had lost his wallet, was almost out of gas and still had 1.5 hours drive to get himself and his son home. He couldn't write the clerk a check. Because he knew the money in his account wasn't available yet. The clerk asked them to move aside and let me up to the register. I gave the clerk two 20 dollar bills and told him to put $20 on my pump and to pre-pay $20 on their pump also. When I went back out to fill my gas tank, the teenage son came towards me to express his appreciation. His father was too excited, so he stayed inside the store until I was gone. They asked if I would accept a check from them for the money, but I refused. I told the teenager to "pay it forward" and help _ It can be inferred that "someone in a bind" refers to a person _ . "At least you'll be close to home!"That phrase dominated the weeks before my move to my college.I took comfort in knowing that home was close by if I needed it The night before the move,I spoke with a sophomore friend of mine who was moving back the next morning.I asked if he was sad to be leaving home and his response sparked in me an internal debate."It was nice to be back but honestly. I've come to think of the college as my home."Up until that moment,the move to college seemed like an extended version of summer camp.School wasn't a home;it was a place for me to explore when I was away from home right? As I packed my things,I really started thinking about the concept of home,and I couldn't help but wonder would I ever consider college my own home? The next day,once my bags were unpacked and my parents were gone,I took a moment to look around my dorm.It was absolutely nothing like my room...no _ ,no blue curtains and no queen--sized bed.Despite the fun I was having and things I was learning in the following Welcome Week,I couldn't bring myself to call it home.I longed for my _ .I even wanted my mom's calls."There's no place like home."I murmured. Last night,I went to visit my friends and we spent the next hour talking about that missing feeling we all shared-our families,our friends,our old lives--and soon the sadness turned to fondness.One by one our friends came in to say goodnight and the room was filled with girls,all laughing and sharing our high school experiences.It wasn't until about l:00 a.m.that I turned to my roommate,unconsciously saying,"It's getting late...we should probably go home soon."I was taken aback by my own words.Somehow in the few hours,my dorm room had turned into a home. How did the author react to her sophomore friend's response at first? Sitting in front of the television may be relaxing, but spending too much time in front of the TV may take years off your life. That's what Australian researchers found when they collected TV viewing information from more than 11,000 people older than 25 years. The study found that people who watches an average six hours of TV a day lived an average 4.8 years less than those who didn't watch any television .Also ,every hour of TV that participants watched after age 25 was associated with a 22-minute reduction in their life expectancy . It's no mystery that sitting in front of the TV isn't exactly healthy. The more TV you watch, the less physically active you are. And the less exercise you get, the more likely you are to develop disease such as diabetes or hear problems. Lennert Veerman is the lead author of the study ,which was published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine .Working at the University of Queesland, Veerman acknowledges that it may not just be the sedentary nature of watching TV that lowers life expectancy,but also the poor diet that onscreen junk-food advertising can promote. But Veerman says that association between watching too much TV and lower life expectancy exists, even after adjusting for diet. Veerman says that it might make sense for doctors to start asking their patients about how much time they spend in front of the TV, and to treat TV time as they would be other risk factors for poor health, such as lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet. Veerman points out that people who are concerned can simply turn off the TV and get off the couch. "Exercise is good," he says, "but even light physical activity also improves health." Which of following is the conclusion of the research? Are you a compulsive spender,or do you hold on to your money as long as possible? Are you a bargain hunter? Would you rather use charge accounts than pay in cash? Your answers to these questions will reflect your personality.According to psychologists,our individual money habits not only show our beliefs and values,but can also stem from past problems. Experts in psychology believe that for many people,money is an important symbol of strength and influence.Husbands who complain about their wives' spending habits may be afraid that they are losing power in their marriage.Wives,on the other hand,may waste huge amounts of money because they are angry at their husbands.In addition,many people consider money a symbol of love.They spend it on their family and friends to express love,or they buy themselves expensive presents because they need love. People can be addicted to different things --for example,alcohol,drugs,certain foods,or even television.They are compulsive in their addictions,i.e.they must satisfy these needs to feel comfortable.In the same way,according to psychologists,compulsive spenders must spend money. For people who buy on credit,furthermore,charge accounts are even more exciting than money:in other words,they feel that with credit,they can do anything.Their pleasures in spending enormous amounts are actually greater than _ they get from the things they buy. There is even a special psychology of bargain hunting.To save money,of course,most people look for sales,low prices,and discounts.Compulsive bargain hunters,however,often buy things that they don't need just because they are cheap.They want to believe that they are helping their budgets,but they are really playing an exciting game:when they can buy something for less than other people,they feel that they are winning.Most people,experts claim,have two reasons for their behavior:a good reason for the things that they do and the real reason. It is not only scientists,of course,who understand the psychology of spending habits,but also business people.Stores,companies,and advertisers use psychology to increase business:they consider people's needs for love,power,or influence,their basic values,their beliefs and opinions, etc.in their advertising and sales methods. Psychologists often use a method called "behavior therapy "to help individuals solve their personality problems.In the same way,they can help people who feel that they have problems with money:they give them "assignments" If a person buys something in every store that he enters, for instance,a therapist might teach him self discipline in this way:on the first day of his therapy, he must go into a store,stay five minutes,and then leave.On the second day,he should stay for ten minutes and try something on.On the third day,he stays for fifteen minutes,asks the salesclerk a question,but does not buy anything.Soon he will learn that nothing bad will happen to him if he doesn't buy anything,and he can solve the problem of his compulsive buying. If you use charge accounts, _ .
Question: Their thumbs sure must be sore. Two central prefix = st1 /Pennsylvaniafriends spent most of March in a text - messaging record attempt, exchanging a thumbs-flying total of 217,000. For one of the two, that meant an inches-thick itemized bill for $ 26,000. Nick Andes, 29, and Doug Klinger, 30, were relying on their unlimited text messaging plans to get them through the escapade , so Andes didn't expect such a big bill. " It came in a box that cost $ 27.55 to send to me." he said. He said he "panicked" and called T-Mobile, which said it would investigate the charges. The two Lancaster-area residents have been practically non-stop texters for about a decade since they attended Berks Technical Institute together. That led Andes to searching for the largest monthly text message total he could find posted online: 182,000 sent in 2005 by Deepak Sharma in India. Andes and Klinger were able to set up their phones to send multiple messages. During a February test run they found they could send 6,000 or 7,000 messages on some days, prompting the March messaging marathon. " Most were either short phrases or one word, 'LOL' or 'Hello', things like that , with tons and tons of repeats," said Andes, reached by phone. Andes sent more than 140,000 messages, and Klinger sent more than 70,000 to end the month with a total of just over 217,000, he said. A spokesman for Guinness World Records didn't immediately return messages asking whether it would be certified as a record. April came as a relief to Andes' wife , Julie, who had found his phone tied up with texting when she tried to call him on lunch breaks. " She was tired of it the first few days into it, "Andes said. How did Andes feel when he received the bill box according to the text? A. Satisfied B. Sad. C. Terrified D. Regretful Answer: C. Terrified Question: According to a new survey, student safety has become a big problem. Nearly 50% of students say they are worried about robbery on the way to and from school. Now in many big cities in China, some schools have taught an unusual lesson: self-protection . Students like this lesson because there are no exams or boring classes. And they can learn how to save lives and know how to stop danger before it really happens. Chen Haoyu, a teacher at Beijing No.25 Middle School and a self-protection expert , gives young students advice on how to deal with danger. If you are robbed Keep calm. If you can not cry for help or run away, give the robber your money. Try to remember what the robber looks like and tell the police later. If you are in a traffic accident If a car hurts you, you should remember the car number; if it is a bicycle, try to call your parents before you let the rider go. This is because you don't know how badly you are hurt. If it is raining hard and there is lightning Don't stay in high places and keep away from trees. When there is a fire Get away as fast as you can. Put wet things on your body and try to find an exit . Do not take the lift! If someone is drowning If you can't swim, don't get into the water. Cry out for help. Remember that danger is never as far away as you think. Take care of yourself at all times! If your house is on fire, you must _ . A. putdrythingsonyourbody B. runquicklyandtakethelift C. runawayandfindanexitasquicklyasyoucan D. takeeverythingyouhaveandthenrunaway Answer: C. runawayandfindanexitasquicklyasyoucan Question: On Tuesday, Timmy went to go visit his grandma for the day. She lived in a town close to where Timmy lived, so Timmy got in the car and his mom drove him to his grandma's house. Timmy wanted to bring his big white dog with him, but his mom said no because his grandma doesn't like dogs. Instead, Timmy brought his favorite toys: a blue car, a puzzle with a picture of green trees on it, and a few fun board games in brown boxes. When Timmy got to his grandma's house, she was standing at the door waiting for him. She had a plate of cookies in her hands and was very excited to see him. "Hi, Timmy!" She said. "Hi, Grandma!" Timmy said. "I'm so happy to see you!" Grandma smiled. "We're going to have so much fun today, Timmy. I have ham sandwiches, chips, and fresh lemonade for lunch, and I also have a whole plate of warm cookies all for you." "Wow, Grandma, that sounds great! I brought some games for us to play. This is going to be a great day!" Grandma and Timmy went inside Grandma's house and Timmy opened his bag of toys to show Grandma. She looked at the car, the puzzle, and the games, and then looked at Timmy. "Well, Timmy, what do you want to do first?" She asked. Timmy chose the puzzle, and they spent a few hours putting it together. Then, they ate lunch. The sandwiches, chips, lemonade and cookies are all delicious. Timmy ate three whole cookies by himself. After lunch, they played outside with the car, and then when they got tired, they sat on the porch and rested. It was starting to get dark out. "I had a great day, Timmy," Grandma said. Timmy smiled. "Me too, Grandma. I love spending time with you!" Timmy thought it had been a perfect day, even if he couldn't bring his dog. What was the last thing Grandma and Timmy did? A. Ate lunch B. Played with the car C. Sat on the porch D. Put together the puzzle Answer: C. Sat on the porch Question: All it took was a slice of Xinjiang cake to spark heated debates online over China's policy on ethnic minorities . Since Monday, qiegao (cut cake) has been a trending topic on Sina Weibo, China's main Twitter-like microblogging service. The cake was a reference to Xinjiang's famed nut cake, sometimes known by its old Turkic name baklava, a popular pastry across Central Asia and the Middle East. In Xinjiang, they are sold by Uygur vendors on tricycles who are known to charge dubious prices depending on the time and season. The ethnic flare-up started after the Yueyang police from Hunan province posted a message on their official Weibo account. It reported a dispute in Pingjiang county over an overpriced piece of nut cake between a Xinjiang Uygur vendor and a villager named "Ling". Villager Ling got into a fight with a Uygur due to a misunderstanding. The verbal dispute eventually escalated into a fight and then a mass fight. As a result, two people were injured and Xinjiang nut cakes worth about 160,000 yuan (US$25,000) were destroyed. The total damage was worth 200,000 yuan which included a broken motorcycle and injuries to people. Local police have detained Ling. The 16 Uygur sellers were dully compensated and sent back to Xinjiang. "Yueyang police incident" quickly became one of the most popular topics on Weibo. Yueyang police removed the post shortly after. As of Tuesday night, the topic was still amassing more than 66,000 hits. The incident is just one of many similar cases of ethnic tensions across China, notably in Xinjiang province, where deeply entrenched social and racial frictions between the dominant ethnic Han Chinese and minority Uygur Muslims occasionally spark violence. Many Uygurs living in major Chinese cities are viewed by locals as thieves, crooks and even terrorists. How much did the broken motorcycle cost? A. 160,000 yuan B. 200,000 yuan C. 40,000yuan D. We don't know Answer: D. We don't know Question: For 11 months of every year, I am without doubt, a dedicated lover of shopping. During my lunch breaks, you'll often find me wandering through a nearby department store, sandwich in hand. On the weekends, I'll likely be searching the stores of my local markets and fairs. Come December however, it's an entirely different story. The time of year generally connected with joy and cheer can be unbelievably stressful. From buying Christmas presents to ransacking grocery stores in preparation for family gatherings, December is a month that traditionally includes spending a lot of time and money in overcrowded shopping centers and supermarkets. What's worse than this pre-Christmas rush are the sales that happen in its wake. Every year in Britain, Canada and Australia, Boxing Day sales bring thousands of shoppers to malls and department stores. Attracted by the promise of impressive price reductions, some people start lining up outside stores the night before sales even begin. This year, during the US' post-Thanksgiving "Black Friday" sales, 20 were injured after a woman, too eager for a discounted Xbox video game, squirted pepper spray inside a Walmart. It's madness like this that has now driven me to the world of online shopping. Not only can I avoid having my personal space invaded by crowds of crazy shoppers, but nowadays, most brands and online stores offer their own sales and special deals. Say goodbye to human rushes and bad department store music. While websites like eBay are great for general items and secondhand goods, the Internet now offers a huge variety of specialty stores . For clothes and accessories, ASOS.com (UK) and Shopbop.com (US) are personal favorites. Both of these offer a range of great designers, discounted prices and free worldwide shipping. In terms of brand-name makeup and beauty products, strawberrynet.com (US) is my go-to site, with its large collection and heavily reduced prices. When shopping online, it's important to stick to safe websites, so be sure to read the privacy and safety policies before making any buying. When paying, I prefer using third party services, like those provided by PayPal, to make sure my financial details remain secret. Also, if you're looking to buy your Christmas presents online, it's best to keep in mind the shipping time needed. The last thing you want is for your brother's jacket to arrive a week into January. Ks5u According to the author what might happen when shopping online? A. The goods you buy might arrive too late. B. The prices online might be actually higher. C. Websites cannot keep your financial details secret. D. You have to use third party services when paying. Answer: A. The goods you buy might arrive too late.
Today's dad spends more hours on childcare than a dad a generation ago.But he still lags behind the modem-day mom,even when her wages are equal,a new study reports.Researchers found that the number of hours a mother spent at work had no effect on the amount of time a father devoted to childcare during the week.Similarly, a mother's income had very little influence on fathers' involvement in childcare.On weekends,however,fathers spent more time with their children.Despite women's increasing role in the labor market, most mothers remain the main caregivers of young children on weekdays. Researchers found that fathers spent all average of 2.5 hours on a weekday and about 6 hours on a weekend day with their children.T _ included time spent playing together or doing schoolwork,personal care such as bathing and feeding.On weekdays, children spent one-third less time with their fathers than with their mothers,but on weekends the time gap closed and kids spent only 13% more time with their mothers than with their fathers.Children of women who made more money spent more time with their fathers on weekends, however."The good news is that as women become equal contributing partners, the involvement of fathers does increase."one researcher said."The bad news is...that men still do less on traditional women's jobs--(taking care of)babies,dishes,etc." In other findings,fathers with some college education spent 17 more minutes per weekday with their children than dads without any college education.Fathers who made more money spent less time with children on weekdays,but the amount of time was fairly small."Our findings suggest that although mothers still shoulder most parenting,fathers' involvement to that of mothers appears to be on the increase,"the researchers conclude."A new father' role is emerging on weekends in families." Which fathers spend more time with children? Scientists have created a"human-like robot"that can dance and do the housework. "Mahru" has been developed to imitate humans and can move its lips, eyes and eyebrows. The machine can also move its upper and lower body freely and automatically stop itself when walking. In addition, it has been programmed to give out two kinds of pleasant smells to match its emotions. The 1.5m tall robot was produced by researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology(KIST)and is the first South Korean-developed machine of its kind. "Mahru will open the way for the commercial use of humanoid robots doing housework," You Bum-Jae, leader of the development researchers team, said, "Mahru can dance while walking on its legs and is able to work in place of a human." Through an advanced action capture system, Mahru can follow a variety of human movements and is able to move its hands freely enough to cope with any obstacles that may get in his way when walking. State-funded KIST showed the robot during a presentation at its headquarters in Seoul. People were treated to an entertaining show which saw the robot show off the full range of its skills, a series of dance moves. The research team added that they had designed another "Mahru", this time with sensors allowing it to distinguish between faces and objects. The showing of "Mahru" came a week after researchers in Japan said they had created the "most human-like" robot in the world. A team at robotics department of Osaka University in Japan said that "robotgirl", Replee R-l, looks, moves and interacts like a human, and has silicone skin that feels almost human to the touch. Which is the best title for this passage? One day, a woman traveled alone in the mountains.When she was walking, she found a precious stone.She was very happy and put the stone into her bag. The next day, the woman met another traveler.The traveler was hungry and the woman opened her bag to s hare her food with him.The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and said, "How beautiful the stone is! Can I have a look?" The woman gave it to the traveler.The traveler looked and looked, and then he asked the woman whether she would like to give it to him.She gave the stone to him without hesitation . The traveler left.He was very happy because he knew he could get lots of money by selling the stone and he could live a rich life.But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the woman. "I know how precious the stone is," the traveler said. "But I gave it back.I hope that you can give me something even more precious." "Even more precious? What is that?" the woman asked. "Your beautiful mind is more precious than the stone," the man said. What's the main idea of the passage? Red blood cells help your Hunter and Nina are husband and wife. They get up at about 4:50 in the morning. When many people are still sleeping in their warm beds, they are working. They work outside and clean something. They don't work when it is raining. They also work on weekends Her name is Sara. She sometimes goes to work in the morning, and sometimes goes to work at night When she is onduty. She works in a big building. There are many sick people in it. She wears a white hat and a white dress. She says, "I help doctors. I meet many people every day. I look after them. They need my help. That's my job. It's hard, but I like it." Her name is Ann. She goes to work by bus every day. She works in a building. It opens at 8. a.m and closes at6.p.m.. There is a lot of good food, nice drinks and other things when she works. Children like to go there. She meets a lot of people every day. She often says, "Can I help you?" when she meets people. She says, "My work is not easy. I must stand all day and be friendly to everyone. He is Jim's father. He usually leaves home very early. He doesn't work in a factory. He goes to work on foot or by bike. It is far from his home. He usually works in the day and has his lunch outside in the sun. His work is very hard. How long does Ann work a day?
When oil is burning, the reaction will Answer: only release energy How often one hears children wishing they were grown up, and the old wishing they were young again! Each age has its pleasure and its pains, and the happiest person is the one who enjoys what each age gives him without wasting any time in useless regrets. Children is a time when there are few duties to make life hard. If a child has good parents, he is fed, looked after, and loved whatever he may do. It's impossible for him to be given so much again in his life without having to do anything in return. Besides, life is always giving new things to the child. A child finds pleasure in playing in the rain, or in the snow. His first visit to the seaside makes him wild. But a child has his pains; he is not so free to do as he wishes. He is continually being told not to do this, not to do that, or being punished for what he has done wrong. His life is therefore not perfectly happy. When the young man starts to make his own living, he becomes free from the rules of school and parents; but at the time he is forced to accept duties. He can no longer expect others to pay for his food, his clothes and his room, but has to work for them if he wants to live comfortably. If he spends most of his time playing about in the way that he used to as a child, he will go hungry and suffer. And if he breaks the law of society as he used to break the laws of his parents, he may go to prison, lf, however, he works hard, keeps out of trouble, and has good health, he can have the great happiness of seeing himself make steady progress in his job and of building up his own position in society and enjoy success and good reputation.. Old age has always been thought of as the worst age to be, but it is not necessary for the old to be unhappy. Old age has its own happiness. They can have the joy of seeing their children making progress in life; they can watch their grandchildren growing up around them and, perhaps, best of all, they can, if their life has been a useful one, feel the happiness of having come through the battle of life safely and of having reached a time when they can lie back and rest, leaving others to continue the fight. Enjoy what each age gives him without wasting time in useless regrets means _ . Answer: Make full use of the time he is given at his age instead of regretting having no achievements Mail carriers will be delivering some good news and some bad news this week. The bad news: Stamp prices are expected to rise 2 cents in May to 41 cents, the Postal Regulatory Commission announced yesterday. The good news: With the introduction of a "forever stamp,"it may be the last time Americans have to use annoying 2-or 3-cent stamps to make up postage differences. Beginning in May, people would be able to purchase the stamps in booklets of 20 at the regular rate of a first-class stamp. As the name implies, "forever stamps" will keep their first-class mailing value forever, even when the postage rate goes up. The new "forever stamp" is the United States Postal Service'(USPS) answer to the complaints about frequent rate increases. The May increase will be the fifth in a decade. Postal rates have risen because of inflation ,competition from online bill paying, and the rising costs of employee benefits, including healthcare, says Mark Saunders, a Spokesman for USPS. The USPS expects some financial gain from sales of the "forever stamp" and the savings from not printing as many 2-or 3-cent stamps. "It's not your grandfather's stamp," says Mr. Saunders. "It could be your great-grandchildren's stamp." Other countries, including prefix = st1 /Canada,England, andFinlanduse similar stamps. Don Schilling, who has collected stamps for 50 years, he's interested in the public's reaction. "This is an entirely new class of stamps," Mr. Schilling says. He adds that he'll buy the stamps because he will be able to use them for a long period of time, not because they could make him rich-the volume printed will be too large for collectors. "We won't be able to send our kids to college on these," he says, laughing. The USPS board of governors has yet o accept the Postal Regulatory Commission's decision, but tends to follow its recommendations. No plans have been announced yet for the design of the stamps. By saying "It could be your great-grand children's stamp", Mr. Saunders means that forever stamps_. Answer: could be used by one's great-grandchildren even decades later A learned behavior is exhibited when Answer: nailing up a picture frame I was doing a weekend seminar at the Deerhurst Lodge, north of Toronto. On Friday night a tornado swept through a town north of us called Barrie, killing dozens of people and doing millions of dollars worth of damage. Sunday night, as I was coming home, I stopped the car when I got to Barrie. I got out on the side of the highway and looked around. It was a mess. Everywhere I looked there were smashed houses and cars turned upside down. That same night Bob Templeton was driving down the same highway. He stopped to look at the disaster just as I had; only his thoughts were different than my own. Bob was the vice-president of Telemedia Communications, which owns a string of radio stations in Ontario and Quebec. He thought there must be something we could do for these people with the radio stations they had. The following night I was doing another seminar in Toronto. Bob Templeton and Bob Johnson, another vice-president from Telemedia, came in and stood in the back of the room. They shared their conviction that there had to be something they could do for the people in Barrie. After the seminar we went back to Bob's office. He was now committed to the idea of helping the people who had been caught in the tornado. The following Friday he called all the executives at Telemedia into his office. At the top of a flip chart he wrote three 3s. He said to his executives, "How would you like to raise 3 million dollars 3 days from now in just 3 hours and give the money to the people in Barrie?" There was nothing but silence in the room. Finally someone said, "Templeton, you're crazy. There is no way we could do that." Bob said, "Wait a minute. I didn't ask you if we could or even if we should. I just asked you if you'd like to." They all said, "Sure we'd like to." He then drew a large 'T' underneath the 333. On one side he wrote, "Why we can't." On the other side he wrote, "How we can." "I'm going to put a big X on the 'Why we can't' side. We're not going to spend any time on the ideas of why we can't. That's of no value. On the other side we're going to write down every idea that we can come up with on how we can. We're not going to leave the room until we figure it out." There was silence again. Finally, someone said, "We could do a radio show across Canada." Bob said, "That's a great idea," and wrote it down. Before he had it written, someone said, "You can't do a radio show across Canada. We don't have radio stations across Canada." That was a pretty valid objection. They only had stations in Ontario and Quebec. Templeton replied, " _ ." But this was a real strong objection because radio stations are not very compatible . They usually don't work together. They are very cutthroat. They fight each other. To get them to work together would be virtually impossible according to the standard way of thinking. All of a sudden someone said, "We could get Harvey Kirk and Lloyd Robertson, the biggest names in Canadian broadcasting, to anchor the show." (That would be like getting Tom Brokaw and Sam Donaldson to anchor the show. They are anchors on national TV. They are not going to go on radio.) At that point, it was absolutely amazing how fast and furious the creative ideas began to flow. That was on a Friday. The following Tuesday they had a radiothon . They had fifty radio stations all across the country that agreed to broadcast it. It didn't matter who got the credit as long as the people in Barrie got the money. Harvey Kirk and Lloyd Robertson anchored the show and they succeeded in raising three million dollars in three hours within three business days! You see, you can do anything if you put your focus on how to do it rather than on why you can't. Which of the following does NOT result in the fact that they could not do a radio show across Canada? Answer: Radio stations are very compatible.

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