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Pairs has the Eiffel Tower; New York has the Statue of Liberty; and Brussels, the Manneken Pis. Think of the Belgian capital and , if anything, you think of the small peeing boy -- a 60-meter-high bronze figure standing on a block, supplying a constant stream of water of the basin under him. Some might laugh. But for Jacque Stroobants, the statue is up there with the best of them. "I'm proud of him. People come from all around the world to see him," says 60-year-old Stroobants with a fatherly glance at the little boy. As the most famous landmark of Brussels, Manneken Pis has a very special place in the heart of Belgians. The original Manneken Pis dates back to 1388, but the statue tourists see today dates from 1619 when the city built a second one after the original was destroyed. Many stories go round Manneken Pis. Nobody knows why he was made. One story is that he saved Brussels by putting out the flames of a deadly fire with his well-aimed pis. But the most believable story is that the boy, the son of a wealthy man, was kidnapped . The father had a statue built in honor of the way his son was found - peeing against a tree. Perhaps best-known for his naked beauty, the "peeing boy" has also been clothed in some of the finest clothes money can buy. Stroobants has been changing his clothes for the last 29 years. On average, he has clothes on 300 days a year. And on special days, he pees beer. A few of the ways he's been dressed are: a football player, Mozart and an army general. Now, he has more than 600 pieces of clothes. There is no strict charge for those wishing to provide clothes for the little boy. But certain condition must be met. "The clothes cannot include either advertising or political message." said Stroobants, because they would cheapen the national treasure. But Manneken Pis is still something local people can make money from--by selling all kinds of souvenirs. The Manneken Pis has a special place in the heart of Belgians because _ . it's a symbol of the city Once upon a time there was a blue spider named Twinkle Toes. All spiders have to get rid of their old skin in order to grow a new, larger skin. Twinkle Toes was a very special kind of spider because his tenth new skin would be pink instead of blue. When it was time for Twinkle Toes to turn pink, he was very excited, but he was also worried. He was afraid that his best friend, an orange cat named Morty Roo, wouldn't know that the pink spider was Twinkle Toes in his new skin. He was scared that Morty Roo would mistake him for a normal spider who does not change colors. If Morty Roo saw a spider who wasn't Twinkle Toes, he would likely kill the spider and eat it. Twinkle Toes was hoping to tell Morty Roo that he would soon turn pink, but Morty Roo didn't come around to visit that day. Twinkle Toes called over Woofington, the neighbor's dog. Twinkle Toes asked Woofington to please tell Morty Roo that he would be pink after he grew his new skin but would still be the same Twinkle Toes he had always been. Woofington normally liked to chase Morty Roo around the neighborhood. He knew he would have to be nice to Morty Roo to deliver the message and that it would be really hard. Because it was so important to Twinkle Toes, Woofington said he would deliver the message. Woofington had a special respect for spiders because they eat other bugs. Woofington is afraid of other bugs because they could bite him and make him sick. That evening, Twinkle Toes began growing his new, pink skin, and Woofington explained to Morty Roo that he shouldn't eat the pink spider because it was still his old friend. What kind of animal is Morty Roo? An orange cat Hi, everyone! I am Paul Hawking, the trip leader for this weekend' s activity. It's that time of the year again when the days are long and it is nice to sit outside and enjoy some oysters . We plan to head out to the Mission Bay this Sunday for a beach picnic. You can buy fresh oysters at the Mission Bay Oyster Company and you just need to pay $6 to $l0 for each dozen, depending on the size. It' s on Sunday, June 30. We will meet at the Student Center at 9:00 a.m. and all go together. The driving time is one and a half to two hours, and the time of return is still uncertain. Come and join us in what must now be the 4th or 5th such trip for the Outing Club. The oyster farm has a small picnic area with chairs and barbecue grills . Bring some briquettes if you would like to grill. Except for oysters, oysters and oysters, little is available there, so please bring your own food and drinks. And of course, if you have any special oyster recipes , bring them make them and share them! The weather forecast says it's going to be sunny and around 26degC this weekend. My telephone number is 408-896-3228. Please feel free to call me if you have any questions. Remember to finish your homework before we leave for the picnic. On June 30, Paul Hawking will _ . take the students for a picnic The choice between having a career or making time for love is an extremely personal and individual decision. There are many factors which can affect your choice. Careers and love fulfill us in different but important ways. Having a solid career gives us a sense of accomplishment and self worth. Then there are those who measure their success in terms of having a pleasant and rewarding home life. So what happens if you cannot or do not wish to make room in your life for both? Consider these factors when pondering which is more important for you. 1. Your Career May be More Important When You are Young Many people these days focus on careers first and family later. The reasoning is that, while you are young and unencumbered , you have the time and energy to fully devote yourself to a career. If you have lofty career ambitions while you are young, it may indeed be the time to start making progress towards those goals. Once you get married and begin to build a family, much of your time and energy-by necessity-becomes devoted to your family. This is as it should be. You should not start a family unless you are willing to devote time and attention to your loved ones. 2. Falling in Love can be Better When You are Older More and more people these days are choosing to wait when it comes to making decisions about family. It is not unusual for people to delay marriage until their late 30's or even their early 40's. Delaying family decisions allows you to be better prepared for those obligations, and creates a better likelihood that you are in touch with your most important goals and values. You have had the opportunity to completely grow up, greatly reducing the chances of feeling like you are "missing out." You have had the chance to purge the foolishness of youth from your system and are now confident with the wisdom of maturity. 3. Choosing Both If you can find a work life balance that allows you to experience the joys of love and maintain a successful career, you will have a truly happy and rewarding life. A loving family at home can help you celebrate all of your successes, and bolster your confidence through your failures. There are many people out there reaping the tremendous rewards that come with including love and work in their lives, and finding the balance that allows for both. The truly healthy and well balanced person will recognize the benefits of having both. He or she will take steps to achieve the work life balance necessary to assure the continuation of career growth while nurturing and maintaining the health of personal relationships. It is only when we can maintain this delicate balance that we are living life to its greatest potential. What's the main idea of the passage _ ? How to achieve a balance between career and family It is not unusual for people to speak two or three languages; they're known as bilinguals or trilinguals. Speakers of more than three languages are known as polyglots. And when we refer to people who speak many languages, perhaps a dozen or more, we use the term hyper-polyglot. The most famous hyper-polyglot was Giuseppe Mezzofanti, a 19thcentury Italian cardinal, who was said to speak 72 languages. This claim sounds absurd. _ But Mezzofanti was tested by critics, and they were all impressed. Did Mezzofanti have an extraordinary brain? Or are hyper-polyglots just ordinary people with ordinary brains who manage to do something extraordinary through hard work? U.S. linguist Stephen Drashen believes that outstanding language learners just work harder at it and then they acquire unusually strong language ability. As an example, he mentions a Hungarian woman who worked as an interpreter during the 20thcentury. When she was 86, she could speak 16 languages and was still working on learning new languages. She said she learned them mostly on her own, reading fiction or working through dictionaries or textbooks. Some researchers argue to the contrary. They believe that there is such a thing as a talent for learning languages. In the 1930s, a German scientist examined parts of the preserved brain of a hyper-polyglot named Emil Krebs, who could speak 60 languages fluently. The scientist found that the area of Krebs's brain called Broca's area, which is associated with language, looked different from the Broca's area in the brains of men who speak only one language. However, we still don't know if Krebs was born with a brain ready to learn dozens of languages or if his brain adapted to the demands he put on it. Although it is still not clear whether the ability to learn many languages is in born, there's no doubt that just about all of us can acquire skills in a second, third, or even fourth language by putting our mind to it. The Hungarian woman became a hyper-polyglot mainly because of her _ . hard work
An omnivore, such as a bear, will have many animals that are Answer: fearful of it Researchers recently found that hackers took control of 300,000 home routers . Once your home router has been controlled, hackers could redirect your network to malicious websites controlled by hi-tech thieves who could then steal your online back details and other sensitive data. However, there are some simple steps you can take to protect your router. Say no to 12345 passwords First, never leave your router open without a password and make sure you change both your Wi-Fi and router login password from the default one it comes with. If you use the default password , this could give someone access to the router setup, which could allow them to change your router settings, including viewing any security keys. Don't broadcast it Make sure you don't show up in other people's wireless network scans. Know your network name so you can easily enter it into any devices you want to access that network. Other people do not need to know your network name. To prevent outsiders from seeing your network's name and attempting to join your wireless network, turn off broadcasting in your router's settings. Invite only please One way you can ensure no one else joins your network without your permission is to enable your router to only allow certain devices to connect, and ban all others. To do that you can filter by media access control (MAC) addresses. Turn it off This is a simple piece of advice that can go a very long way in keeping you safe. Simply turn off your router when you're not using your network. If you're at work all day and no one's home, why keep it running? Build a firewall The firewall built into your router prevents hackers on the internet from getting access to your PC so it's always worth enabling it to help add an extra layer of security. However, it does nothing to stop people in range of your Wi-Fi signal from getting onto your network - and as said, a router in the wrong place means your Wi-Fi signal could reach pretty far. For further protection, you should run software firewalls on the individual PCs on your networks. The purpose of the passage is to tell _ . Answer: how to keep your Wi-Fi network secure Is the 'Go to College' Message Overdone? Even in a weak job market, the old college try isn't the answer for everyone. A briefing paper from the Brookings Institution warns that "we may have overdone the message" on college, senior fellow Isabel Sawhill said. "We've been telling students and their families for years that college is the only way to succeed in the economy and of course there's a lot of truth to that," Ms. Sawhill said. "On average it does pay off... But if you load up on a whole lot of student debt and then you don't graduate, that is a very bad situation." One comment that people often repeat among the years of slow job growth has been the value of education for landing a job and advancing in a career. April's national unemployment rate stood at 7.5%, according to the Labor Department. The unemployment rate for high-school graduates over 25 years old who hadn't attended college was 7.4%, compared with 3.9% for those with a bachelor's degree or more education. The difference is even bigger among those aged 16-24. The jobless rate for those with only a high school diploma in that age group is about 20%. At the same time, recent research by Canadian economists cautions that a college degree is no guarantee of promising employment. Ms. Sawhill pointed out that among the aspects that affect the value of a college education is the field of one's major: Students in engineering or other sciences end up earning more than ones who major in the arts or education. The cost of tuition and the availability of financial aid are other considerations, with public institutions generally a better financial bargain than private ones. She suggested two avenues for improving the situation: increasing vocational -technical training programs and _ Europe's focus on early education rather than post-secondary learning. "The European countries put a little more attention to getting people prepared in the primary grades," she said. "Then they have a higher bar for whoever goes to college--but once you get into college, you're more likely to be highly subsidized ." She also is a supporter of technical training--to teach students how to be plumbers, welders and computer programmers--because "employers are desperate" for workers with these skills. People usually think that _ . Answer: one will not succeed without a college degree When he was driving home one evening on a country road, he saw an old lady, strained on the side of the road. He stopped in front of her car and got out. Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. He looked poor and hungry. He knew how she felt. He said, "I am here to help you, madam. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Joe." She had a flat tire . Joe crawled under the car, changed the tire. But he got dirty and his hands hurt. She could not thank him enough and asked him how much she owed him. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Joe added," And think of me." She drove off. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small restaurant. She went in. The waitress had a sweet smile, and was nearly eight months pregnant. The old lady wondered how someone like her who seemed poor could be so kind to a stranger. Then she remembered Joe. After the lady finished her meal, the waitress went to get her change from a hundred-dollar bill. But she stepped right out the door. When the waitress came back, she noticed something written on a napkin, "I am helping you because someone once helped me. If you really want to pay me back, here's what you do ---Do not let the chain of love end with you." That night when she got home, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. She and her husband needed money with the baby due next month. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she whispered, "Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Joe" When Joe stopped to help the lady, she_. Answer: was afraid to be hurt A person using a compass knows that the needle points north, so the person wanting to go south will Answer: walk opposite where the needle points
Forbes set out to determine which master's degrees would provide the best long-term opportunities, based on salary and employment outlook. To find the mid-career average pay for 35 popular degrees, we turned to Payscale.com, which lets users compare their salaries with those of other people in similar jobs by gathering real-time salary data from its 35 million profiles. We then looked at the Bureau of Labor Statistics' employment estimate data to see how fast employment was expected to increase between 2010 and 2020 in popular jobs held by people with each degree. Finally we averaged each degree's pay rank and estimated growth rank to find the best and worst master's degrees for jobs. Physician assistant degree is at the top of the Forbes' third-annual look at the best master's degrees for jobs. Physician assistants are medical professionals who provide diagnostic and preventative health care services under the guidance of doctors. "Both an aging population and health care reform are contributing to a higher demand for health care services," says Katie Bardaro, Payscale's lead economist. They don't earn as much as doctors, but their mid-career average pay is $97,000. Another advantage of a physician assistant degree: Employment opportunities are expected to grow 30% by 2020 (from the 2010 employment numbers), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. By our count, computer science follows close behind as the No. 2 best advanced degree for jobs. Mid-career average pay for these grads is $109,000, sixth best out of the 35 degrees in our survey. Employment opportunities for computer science degree-holders are expected to expand about 22% between 2010 and 2020. Electrical engineering, physics and economics degrees also make the top 10, all with an average mid-career salary of more than $110,000 a year. Not all master's degree holders enjoy anywhere near such optimistic job prospects or extraordinary pay. Biology, chemistry and history degrees are toward the bottom of the list--but that doesn't mean they're useless. If you're enthusiastic about these fields, the lower pay and slimmer job prospects shouldn't prevent you from pursuing a master's. Before you make a decision, you should bear one thing in mind: master's degree-holders don't necessarily earn more than other people in similar jobs--so don't base your decision to pursue one on the idea that you'll bring in bigger paychecks. It's also important to think about work-life balance and employee satisfaction for the common jobs associated with these degrees. "You need to consider overall happiness," Bardaro says. "If obtaining a master's degree causes an imbalance due to time devoted to education and potentially more stress at work, then one will need to decide if these costs are worth it." Physician assistant degree ranks first on the list because _ . Answer: The demand of physician assistants is expected to expand largely and they are well-paid. Christmas in the United States is traditionally a time of gift-giving and family gatherings.But small towns across the country have their own traditions. Middleburg,a small town in the state of Virginia,is known for its horses.For more than 50 years,Middleburg has organized a yearly Christmas parade .Men and women ride horses through the woods and fields.They follow hunting dogs as they search for a wild fox.But first,these hunters ride in the yearly parade,wearing their bright red hunting clothes and hats. John Hale,a citizen of Middleburg says many city people visit his town."We have a lot of people from an urban area that come to visit,but it incorporates a lot of the o1d traditions." The nighttime hay ride is one such tradition.Small groups gather under the moonlight on an open wagon filled with hay.The passengers sing as farm horses pull the wagon slowly across the fields. There are some newer traditions,too.Trey Matheu works at the nearby Salamander Resort.He says a visit to Middleburg is a chance to slow down for a day.He says Middleburg can be a calming,peaceful place without tension. "Middleburg is an opportunity to take a step back,to take a deep breath,and understand that even though life is moving on at a very fast pace,there's really an opportunity where you're allowed to step off for a little bit." Parade organizers say more than 13,000 people attend even in below-freezing weather. But if you ask,you will hear many different reasons why people come to watch the parade: "I come here because I'm from a small town. I like how everybody comes together.""I live right down that street;right there.And that's my dog." Middleburg looks its best at Christmastime.That may be why so many people return each year. At Christmas,people in Middleburg usually _ . Answer: ride in the yearly parade You are likely to find the fewest amount of animals in Answer: the Arctic As a first -year teacher at a Christian school ,I was expecting my fifth grade students to be prefect , perfect in behavior , in attitude , and I even expected the home-life of each student to be nearly perfect . I found , of course , that these students were not different from the children I taught in public school .These kids had behavior problems , bad attitudes ,and some even had strikingly difficult family lives . One of my students in particular stands out in my mind .I'll call him Timothy for safety's sake. During the first day of class , I noticed that Timothy was different .Not only in physical appearance , but he also spoke strangely , as though a 35-year-old man were trapped inside his tiny , weak body .On many occasions , I heard Timothy speak of hate, how he hated his family . I observed Timohy for several months and read up on his background and searched for any clue that would lead me closer to understanding this child's strange behavior .Finally I was directed to Timothy's older brother's cheating in an exam and had taken his anger out on Timothy at home .Timothy's parents , in turn , had contacted the school, blaming them for Timothy's problems. I had written a letter to the administration asking that Timothy see a counselor . The school was in the process of contacting a counselor when Timothy was transferred to another school. His father hurried around my room collecting Timothy's things and left. That is the last we have seen or heard from Timothy. I was left with an empty desk and a broken heart. I cried for days afterwards. I felt as though I had done Timothy a _ ...I did not help him when he needed me. I still think about Timothy every day, and pray for him every morning. What was Timothy like during the first day of class? Answer: He spoke strangely and looked weak in body. Britain's seed bank, the only one in the world aiming to collect all of the planet's wild plant species, has reached its goal of banking 10 percent by 2010. The Millennium Seed Bank Project, run by Kew Gardens--one of the oldest botanical gardens--will officially place the 24,200th species on Thursday, a pink, wild banana from China. More than 50 countries are now on board with Kew's giant task but vast places of the globe, including India and Brazil, still need to join in and donate seeds, director Paul Smith said. The seed bank is one of the largest and most diverse in the world with more than 1.5 billion seeds. Its goal is to help protect the planet's bio-diversity during a time of climate change. The wild banana seed is under threat of extinction in southwest China from agricultural development. It is a vital food source for Asian elephants and important for growing bananas for human eating. Stored at minus-20 degrees centigrade, so they can last for thousands of years, the seeds await the day that scientists hope never comes--when the species no longer exist in the wild. It is a race against time, Smith said, because in the last ten years alone, 20 plants held in the bank have already been wiped out in the wild. He estimates that between a third and a quarter will become extinct this century. "It is pressing and it is happening now. An area, the size of England, is cleared of primary vegetation every year." Smith said. Because most of the world's food and medicines come from nature, protecting wild plant species is quite important, scientists say. There are already many other seed banks safeguarding food crops, which only account for 0.6 percent of plant diversity. For Kew's next goal--to collect a quarter of wild varieties by 2020--the botanists need 10 million pounds a year, or a further 100 million pounds on top of the 40 million they have already been granted. We can learn from the passage that _ . Answer: India and Brazil haven't joined in the Seed Bank Project at present
Question: Big Ben is not the name of a man. It is the name of a huge clock in London, London is the capital of the UK. This clock has four faces, so no matter where you stand, you can read the time on the face of Big Ben. Each face is the size of a double-decker bus. The hands are about four meters long. It is about the size of two people standing on top of each other. If you go to London, you may want to visit the House of Parliament . You will find Big Ben sitting at the top of the clock tower in the House of Parliament. You will hear it as well as you see it. The big clock makes such a loud sound, "Ding dong, ding dong," it goes every quarter of an hour. A big man gave the clock the name. He was Sir Benjamin Hail. He did much building work in London many years ago, The clock strikes every _ of an hour. A. ten minutes B. fifteen minutes C. thirty minutes D. forty -five minutes Answer: B Question: The nose is used in many popular expressions. Some people are able to lead other people by the nose. For example, if a wife leads her husband by the nose, she makes him do whatever she wants him to do. Some people are said to be hard-nosed. They will not change their opinions or positions on anything. It is always helpful when people keep their nose out of other people's business. They do not interfere . The opposite of this is someone who noses around all the time. Such people are interested in other people's private matters. They're considered nosy. Someone who keeps his nose to the grindstone works very hard. This can help a worker keep his nose clean or stay out of trouble. One unusual expression is that is no skin off my nose. This means that a situation doesn't affect or concern me. We also say that sometimes a person cuts off his nose to spite his face. That is, he makes a situation bad for himself by doing something foolish because he is angry. More problems can develop if a person looks down his nose at someone or something. The person acts as if something is unimportant or worthless. This person might also turn up his nose at something that he considers not good enough. This person thinks he is better than everyone else. He has his nose in the air. In school, some students thumb their nose at their teacher. They refuse to obey orders or do any work. Maybe the students do not know the correct answers. My mother always told me when I was a student, "If you study hard, the answers should be right under your nose or easily seen." We can use the expression "has his/her nose in the air" to describe someone _ . A. who is too proud of himself/herself B. who is very angry about something C. who often makes a situation bad D. who doesn't care about anything Answer: A Question: Below are reviews for three books and two book series. Each has been read and loved by students across the country. The Outsiders This book, first published in 1967. has become a classic for teens across the nation. It focuses on Ponyboy , who has been labeled all his life as a greaser. The greaser's opposing group is the " socs ". kids who have lots of money and can break any rules without getting in trouble. As the novel develops, S. E. Hinton allows the reader to see exactly how these labels affect teens in both the greaser and the soc group. If you've ever watched the movie The Outsiders, this story may sound familiar, as the movie was based on the book . The Outsiders gives teens a look into life in the 50's and 60's, offering timeless lessons that still apply to today's youth. Out of the Dust Any student interested in the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl should read Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. Hesse is able to capture the mood and spirit of this era through the use of poetry. The main character of the book, Billie Jo, is growing up in Oklahoma, the heart of the Dust Bowl. Through free verse poetry, Billie Jo narrates her tale of poverty and survival during this difficult time. Out of the Dust is an excellent lesson in history . Due to the short length and writing style, the book is a quick but worthwhile read. By the end of the book, the reader is eager to start the story over again . Hesse is able to pack a lot of emotions and details into her short book , making the story very real and believable. The Giver The Giver depicts a perfect society in which citizens experience no pain, have never felt fear, and life is completely under control. However, as the reader progresses through the story, it's easy to see that this community is far from utopia . Instead, through the experiences felt by the main character Jonas, the reader learns there is a missing from life in this world.. During the Ceremony of the Twelves, each 12--year --old is assigned their life --long career in the community . Jonas is chosen to be the Receiver of Memories, a very special job assigned to one person at a time . When Jonas receives his training . he learns many truths about his community that change how he feels about his life, making him determined to do something to change it . The Giver is a good book for teens who enjoy science fiction and fantasy. The book makes you examine your own life, values, and beliefs, striving to find how you would define the perfect society. Anne of Green Gables This eight-book series depicts the life of Anne Shirley, an orphan that is adopted in Prince Edward Island, Canada . The books are set in the 1800s to the 1900s, the last one taking place during World War I. Anne is a loveable spirit who has many misfortunes and laughable experiences when growing up and going to college. The Anne of Green Gables series is fun to read. creating a strong attachment to the reader and making the last book a bitter -sweet experience. Teenage girls who are looking for a female role model will love Anne Shirley. Harry Potter J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series has sold more copies than any other series in history. The series , which includes seven books in all , fallows a boy wizard named Harry Potter. Harry attends Hogwarts School of Witcheraft and Wizardy. The seven books follow Harry through seven years of wizarding school . During this time , readers experience the wizarding world through Harry's eyes and watch him make friends. Learn magic and fight a wizard. The Harry Potter books are an enchanting read for all ages. No matter who you are. you will find yourself absorbed in the magical world created by J. K. Rowling. You would like to Read the Harry Potter series probably because _ . A. you admire Harry for his patience B. you like watching musical movies C. you are interested in the magical world D. you enjoy reading the eight-book series Answer: C Question: The Earth may lose a million parts of energy each day but A. it loses more B. it has less C. it gains more D. it is soft Answer: C Question: Huaihua Foreign Language School Lin Nan, Teacher of English Yingfeng Street, Huaihua, China Tel:0745-2709348 Fax:0745-2709756 E-mail: Linan@21cn.com Bp:1240822018Zip code:418000 Daqing Children's Hospital Liu Hong, Doctor 12 Xingling Road, Changchun, Jilin 130027 Tel:0431-5645972 13704358529(mobile) Fax:0431-5768904 E-mail:cclh@163.com Red Star Farm Zhang Hui, Farmer Shangping Village, Zhejiang, 419100 Tel: 0745-6826194 13973098479(mobile) Bp:1270803706 Tiantai Taxi Company Yang Jun, Driver 235St. Tongzhi, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 31007 Tel:0571-7038385 Fax:0571-7065834 E-mail:hzyi@163.com Bp:1992301636 We can learn English from _ . A. Yang Jun B. Zhang Hui C. Liu Hong D. Li Nan Answer: D
Beijing is the place to go ..................................................... Best Beijing of 5 days From Y=799 2 nights Beijing Hotel & 2 nights Changcheng Hotel Book online or call 0541-7666888 www.yangzhoutour.com ..................................................... Beijing Hotel: Close to Tian'anmen Square Prize-winning garden Bars & French restaurants Swimming pool Changcheng Hotel: Gardens with mountain views Restaurants & Cafes Night club Buses to the downtown ..................................................... Departure Date Price Jun.8 Y=899 Jul.29 Y=999 Aug.30 Y=799 Sept.30 Y=1299 To book, choose your Preferred departure date Business Hours Weekdays: 24 hours Weekends: 8:00 am ----6:00 pm If you want to watch the national flag raising ceremony on National Day, which departure date should we choose? A June 8 B July 29 C August 30 D September 30 Answer: D. September 30 You do something about twenty times a minute without even thinking about it--you breathe! In fact, every day you take about twenty-thousand breaths. The organs of your body that allow you to breathe are called your lungs. You have two of them that work together, located in your chest inside the rib cage. The main purpose of your lungs is to breathe in good air and breathe out bad air. The good air contains oxygen, which your body needs. The bad air is a gas called carbon dioxide, which your body cannot use. When you breathe in through your nose or mouth, air travels down the back of your throat. It passes through your voice box and into your trachea, or windpipe. Your trachea is divided into two air passage tubes. One leads to your left lung. The other leads to your right lung. Inside your lungs, oxygen is removed from the air you breathe and pumped into blood cells. Your lungs also get rid of harmful carbon dioxide from these cells. This process takes place inside hundreds of millions of tiny air sacs. Each adult lung is about the size of a football. When they are healthy, your lungs feel a little like a sponge and are pinkish-gray. When lungs are damaged by smoking, they can appear gray or have black spots on them.One disease that is very common in children involves the lungs. It's asthma. Asthma narrows the breathing tubes, making it harder to breathe. You probably already know that your lungs are important when you swim. But you may not know this--your lungs are the only part of your body that can float on water! Where are your lungs? A In the organs of your body. B inside the rib cage of your chest. C between your nose and mouth . D at the back of your throat. Answer: B. inside the rib cage of your chest. Here is a story told about an American general who was a very important figure in the American army during the First World War. Everybody in the United States knew him and many people wished to have a picture or something of his in their homes. Soon after the war the general returned to Washington. One day he went to a dentist and had six teeth pulled out. A week later the general heard that his teeth were being sold in curiosity shops as $ 5 each. On each of the teeth there was a label with the name of the general and words: "Buy these teeth and show them to your friends at home." The general got angry. He rushed to his office and ordered six officers to go around the city and buy all his teeth. The officers went out and visited every curiosity shop in the capital. They were away from the office all day. In the evening they returned and put on the table in front of the general the teeth they had bought. They had collected 175 teeth. The general returned to Washington _ . A during the war B after civil war C after 1945 D after 1918 Answer: D. after 1918 Do you see many signs around you? Do you know the signs are an important part of our daily life? They can be in pictures or in words to give people information. What do people think are good signs? If you are thinking about making signs for others, what should you know? The most important thing is that signs should be simple and easy to understand. It is important to use clear language. On the other hand, the words should be easy to write and you just need to write down what you want to do. "Keep off the grass" is a very good example. It means "Don't touch or walk on the grass". Nowadays, there is a saying that "A picture paints a thousand words". Perhaps that's why we are seeing more and more signs in pictures, or a combination of pictures and words. However, that's the difficult part, because picture signs may have different meanings in different countries. The writer uses "A picture paints a thousand words" to show that _ . A a word sign is as easy as a picture sign to make B a picture sign often has more information than a word sign C a word sign has more information than a picture sign D a word sign and a picture sign have the same information Answer: B. a picture sign often has more information than a word sign Do you know how much tropical rainforest is being destroyed each day around the world, and for what purpose(s)? Putting down exact numbers is nearly impossible, but most experts agree that we are losing upwards of 80,000 acres of rainforests daily. Along with this loss and degradation , we are losing some 135 plant, animal and insect species every day-- or some 50,000 species a year-- with the forests'fall. According to researcher and writer Rhett Butler, tropical rainforests play a key role in the basic functioning of the planet. They help keep the climate normal by regulating atmospheric gases and rainfall. Rainforests are also home to some 50 percent of the world's species, making them an outdoor biology library. Environmentalists also point out that a quarter of our modern _ are got from the rainforest, but only less than one percent of the trees and plants in the tropics have been tested for curing diseases. Sadly, then, we don't really know the true value of what we're losing as we cut down and burn them. Overall tropical degradation rates during the past 10 years are 8.5 percent higher than those during the 1990s. This figure is for all forests in the world's tropics, but researchers believe the loss of ancient rainforests has increased by as much as 25 percent. Although the public is paying more attention to the importance of tropical rainforests, deforestation rates are actually on the rise, mostly due to activities such as cutting, developing agriculture, animal raising, construction and mining. Indeed, as long as money-seekers are allowed to enter these areas, and as long as the population of poor people continues to increase, tropical rainforests will continue to be destroyed. We can not make the poor rich quickly, but we can at least stop businessmen setting foot on these areas through laws. According to Butler, tropical rainforests are good for the climate _ . A because they increase rainfall throughout the whole world B because they regulate atmospheric gases and rainfall C because they receive extra heat from the earth D because they prevent soil losses Answer: B. because they regulate atmospheric gases and rainfall
An emperor was almost eighty years old and knew it was time to choose his successor . Instead of choosing one of his children, he decided on something different. He called all of the young people in the kingdom together one day. He said, "It is time for me to choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you." The kids were shocked! But the emperor continued, "I am going to give each one of you a seed today. One special seed. I want you to plant it and come back one year later with what you have grown from this seed. I will then judge the plants, and the one I choose will be the next emperor!" One boy named Ling received a seed like the others. He went home and planted the seed in a pot, watering it carefully. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their plants that were beginning to grow. Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. A year finally went by and all the youths brought their plants to the emperor. Ling thought he should be honest about what had happened. So he took his empty pot to the palace. When Ling arrived, he was amazed at the plants grown by other youths. They were beautiful, in all shapes and sizes. When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to hide in the back. Suddenly, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified. When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. "My name is Ling," he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him. The emperor asked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Ling, and then announced to the crowd, "Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!" Then the emperor said, "One year ago today, I gave you all boiled seeds which would not grow." What can we infer from the passage? Ling was afraid of being punished for his failure in planting. Every September in China, people love to talk about the overprotective parents following their children around everywhere during university enrollment. Now, with more than 420,000 youngsters in the UK starting their new college school year, what is their first day like? BBC's Sean Coughlan described it in a recent report. According to Coughlan, at the very beginning it is not hard to spot something familiar to Chinese-a stream of parents arriving with their sons and daughters at the student village. Mothers, fathers and a teenager-now most likely taller than they are - stand together like the three might have done on the first day of primary school. "The approach road to the student village is a long traffic jam of family cars, stuffed full with boxes, pillows and nervous families," he writes. "The door closes on a student's room and parents and children go their separate ways. For many families, if childhood has a final moment, this is it." But saying goodbye to parents is not the only similarity between college freshmen in the UK and China. In both cases, new arrivals most want to know about their Internet connections. "It's their most urgent concern," notes Coughlan. Even on their first day, university in the UK won't be an entirely lonely experience for some new students. "Before they arrive they have been using social networking to get to know their future roommates," writes Coughlan. Still, the first night is something no UK university student ever forgets. There are people they meet and then spend three years avoiding and people who become their friends for the rest of their lives. First week stories are all about over-partying, bad cooking and misguided clothing, Coughlan says. As he concludes: "These new students are entering their own soap opera of romance, friendship and ambition. It's a huge adventure that they've worked for years to achieve." Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the article? For many freshmen, when they say goodbye to their parents, they are also saying goodbye to their childhood. Ask a group of elderly people what it was about their lives that made them happiest overall, and they'll probably mention some warm relationships with family and friends. If you're satisfied with your social life, according to psychologists, you tend to be satisfied with life in general. From the point of my 50s, I'd say that sounds about right. Some of my happiest moments are the ones I spend with my husband, a few close relatives, and a handful of very good friends who know me well and like me anyway. But the more I read about how social media are interfering with good old-fashioned friendship, creating virtual bonds that can't quite take the place of real ones, the more I wonder just how today's 20-somethings will look back on their own lives when they're my age. After all, much crucial relationship building work is done in the 20s. According to research by the late Bernice Neugarten of the University of Chicago, who helped launch the academic study of human development, people choose most of their adult relationships, both friends and lovers, between the ages of 22 and 28. The friends we make in our 20s are not only best friends forever; they're also our first truly chosen friends. And choosing how to commit to these friendships is an essential psychological task of the 20s. But with so much of friendship in this age group now being developed online, an essential question is what the effect of that interaction is. A study, conducted in 2010 by Craig Watkins and Erin Lee of the University of Texas at Austin, investigated the Facebook habits of 776 young people between the ages of 18 and 35. "Whether it is a wall post, a comment, or a photo," they wrote, "young people's engagement with Facebook is driven, primarily, by a desire to stay connected to and involved in the lives of friends who live close by, far away, or have just entered into their lives." This kind of constant contact can be efficient, but it can also be upsetting. For one thing, it adds a new layer of concern to a young person's already-heightened awareness of social ranking, giving appearance-conscious young people yet another thing to worry about. "I see other 20-somethings feeling pressured to constantly keep up a public image, especially a public image online," wrote Ariana Allensworth on the group blog. "Folks are always keeping the world informed one way or another about what they're up to, where they're at, what projects they're working on. It can be a bit much at times." Not the most fertile ground for real-world friendship. What was the aim of the study conducted by Craig Watkins and Erin Lee? To find out how social media affect real-world social life. What's delicious to eat and comes in a variety of colors? Eggplant! And no, it has nothing to do with chickens! This strangely named vegetable is, however, as versatile as an egg.It can be steamed, fried, and baked.It can be eaten by itself or combined with meats and other vegetables. Eggplant was first grown in India in the 5th century BC.Its popularity soon spread to China and then throughout Asia.Finally, during the Middle Ages the vegetable made its way to Europe.At that time, eggplant was not the shiny purple vegetable most people know today.Instead, it's like a white egg.Due to this egg - like appearance, eggplant got its name.In its early days, the vegetable was so bitter that people often called it a "mad apple." This nickname started because people believed its bitterness was bad for one' s health.People actually thought eggplant could cause madness and cancer. Fortunately today people know that eggplant doesn't cause insanity or cancer.In fact eggplant is so healthy that it may prevent cancer.In addition, the brain and the heart benefit from this super vegetable.Since it's high in fibre, eggplant can improve digestion. Italy, Turkey, Egypt, China and Japan are the leading growers of eggplant in the world today.Depending on its location, eggplant may be purple, green, orange or yellow - white.And it can be as small as a tomato or as large as a cucumber.Dish varieties range from simple to complex, with all of them being delicious. Today, thousands of people gather in Loomis, Calif, for the annual Loomis Eggplant Festival.The main activity at the festival is eating delicious eggplant dishes.There is plenty more to do and see, though.Recipe contests, arts and crafts, performers, races and children's activities all "egg - cite" festival - goers.Most people at the festival would agree--eggplant is an "egg--cellent" vegetable. Which of the following does NOT belong to the qualities of eggplant? It is valuable and priceless. Students must apply for a place before attending any class. Applications whether by post or in person, are dealt with strictly in the order they are received at the Adult Education Office. You can apply: By post----use the card supplied with the exact fee. You will be accepted on the course unless it is full, in which case we will inform you. An acknowledgement will not be made nor a receipt sent unless you supply a stamped addressed envelope. Receipts will normally be given out at the first class. In person----call at the Adult Education Office (ground floor, C block) between _ 9:00a.m.and 3:30p.m. (2:30p.m. on Fridays) , or at the College Reception Desk (at the main entrance) at the other time (in the evenings until about 7:30p.m.----not Fridays) Students should note that popular classes may be full well before the course is to start, so that early application is strongly advised to avoid disappointment. For the Autumn Tem, applications will be accepted by post (better) or in person from August 1. For the Spring Term, applications will be accepted from December 1. For the Summer Term, applications will be accepted from April 1. When and where can students apply in person? At the College Reception Desk after-about 3:30p.m.
Did you know that the position you choose to sleep in says something about what kind of person you are? A study of 1,000British people has been done by Chris,a British professor and director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service in the UK.It looked at the six most common sleeping positions and which personalities tend to match them.Have a look. 1. Fetus position - This is the most common sleeping position. About 41 percent of the _ said they sleep in this position. These sleepers may appear to be strong but they are usually sensitive and shy. The more they curl up, the more worried they are. 2. Log position - This is the second most common position. People who sleep like a log are usually stubborn. 3. Yearner position - This position says that you are open-minded and eager to face challenges. 4. Soldier position - These sleepers lie on their backs with their arms down and close to the body. They are usually reserved and quiet. 5. Freefall position - People who sleep in this position are outgoing but feel a lack of control in their lives. This is the least comfortable position. 6. Starfish position - People who sleep like this are good listeners, helpful, and uncomfortable being the center of attention. According to the passage, which of the following statements is correct? Answer: In animal skin tissue, cell division is responsible for Answer: Since I was a child, I called my father my Kong, after King Kong. I believed that he was just as strong as the giant ape . As he faced death, _ . Two months after he passed away, my sister called to ask if I would like to go see Lisa Williams, a well-known witch . I was familiar with Lisa from her show on Lifetime, and since I was eager to get a sign from my father, I agreed to go. I took my father's gold watch and listened as Lisa helped audience members communicate with their loved ones. "I have a grandfather-like figure with me and he is speaking about his granddaughter Jilly," she announced. The audience was quiet; no one raised a hand. I nudged my sister and whispered to her that this was Dad ,for my third child and my father had a deep bond(,) and he called her Jilly. Although I sensed his presence, I wasn't confident enough to raise my hand. I needed something a bit more concrete, something undoubted. "This man is letting me know he had cancer," she continued. I nudged my sister harder and assured her this was our father. Lisa went on to say that this person died in June (my father had died June 8th). There was swelling of the legs. "Important information," she called out. My heart beat fast . I jumped up when she asked, "Who is holding his watch?" I waved the watch in the air. "He wishes you congratulations." My fourth child was born three weeks after my father died. I was in shock and could not believe I was getting a chance to hear from him, yet I knew our bond was strong enough that he could come to the world. She banged on her chest like an ape and apologized, saying, "I don't know why but he wants me to do this like Tarzan." It didn't resonate with me until my sister called out "King Kong!" I was convinced. No way could this woman have ever known a detail unless Dad was communicating through her. Each bit of information she gave us was just as meaningful. She ended our session by informing us that he would send us coins. The very next day I found six coins in various places; they seemed to have come out of nowhere. Even in death he is my Kong, and he remains important in my life. What kind of writing style did the author use in the passage? Answer: Born with easy-broken bone disease, Zhang Yonghong is only half a meter tall and must use a wheelchair. His thin arms and legs can hardly support any weight, and he is unable to take care of himself. However, his hands are able to produce fine paper-cuts, which will free his daughter from the same disease. To support himself, he learned how to make paper-cut art from his mother. He sold his artwork and taught his techniques in Xi'an for eight years before discovering his young daughter _ the disease from him, leading Zhang to move his family to Beijing for his daughter's better treatment five years ago. The daughter's treatment costs about 30,000 yuan a year. The family's savings was used up in two years, and Zhang was forced to start to sell his work in underground passages with his healthy wife, who soon left him because of the hard life. With a little help from government, he was lucky to meet some kindhearted people in Beijing. A Hong Kong businessman gave 60,000 yuan to him last year to treat the girl and start a small shop on Qiangulouyuan, which is known as a famous hutong that attracts lots of tourists over holidays. Zhang Rui, a university graduate, spends most of her time helping Zhang sell the paper-cuts, translating the stories of the paper-cuts into English and selling the works on the roadside of Nanluoguxiang. However, the artist still lives beyond his income and struggles to continue his small business. "Selling paper-cuts is his only source of income. Without this, he can't support the family and treat his daughter," says Zhang Rui, who hopes more people will help Zhang. With the help of a Hong Kong businessman, Zhang Yonghong _ . Answer: Steven is six years old. He gets some money from his mother every week. He buys a lot of things from the shops, but he doesn't really need them, and he puts them everywhere. One day his mother gives him a notebook and says, "Now, Steven, when you buy things, write their names down in the notebook, and also write down how much they are. Then you can look at it again when your money is all gone , and you don't waste so much money next time." After a week, Steven says to his mother, "Do you know, Mum, before I spend any money now, I really stop and think!" His mother is very happy and thinks, "Well, my son knows the value of money now." But then she hears him say, "Mum, before I buy something, I always ask myself, 'Can I spell that word and put it down in my notebook?' " Why does Steven's mother give him a notebook? Answer:
Tommy buys a ticket and goes in. But after two or three minutes he comes out. He buys a second ticket and goes in again. After a few minutes he comes out again and buys a third ticket. Two or three minutes after that, he comes out a third time and asks for another ticket. Then the girl selling tickets says to him, "Why are you buying all these? Are you meeting friends in the cinema all the time?" "No, I'm not doing that." the small boy says, "But a big woman always stops me at the door and tears my tickets up." Tommy wants to buy the _ ticket when the girl asks him. A. first B. second C. third D. fourth Answer: D Dear Joan, How are you? I'm in Beijing now. I study at Yu Lin High School. I like Beijing very much, and I have two good friends here. They are Tom and Wei Hua. Tom is from Canada and Wei Hua is from China. We are in the same class. They often help me with my Chinese. I can speak a little Chinese now. The teachers are kind to me. I like Chinese food here, like Guangdong food, Sichuan food, and Hu'nan food. They are nice. Some times we go out to eat. Jiaozi is my favorite food. I often have jiaozi for lunch and have noodles for supper. I have milk and bread for breakfast. What about you? Yours, Lily What's Lily's favorite food? A. Bread. B. Jiaozi. C. Noodles. D. Chicken. Answer: B Every time you go to the supermarket, you come away with your purchases in plastic bags. But wouldn't it be kinder to the environment if you asked for paper bags instead? The answer is not the easy as it might seem. Environmentalists say there are _ to using both plastic bags and paper bags. According to the American Plastics Council 80 percent of groceries in the US are packed in plastic bags. "The numbers are becoming huge," said Vincent Cobb, a businessman from Chicago who set up "reusable bags. com" on the Internet. He notes that consumers use between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags per year worldwide. Some experts believe that all these bags harm the environment. Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down and, as it does so, poisonous materials are released into the water and soil. Further damage is caused if plastic bags enter the sea. For example, endangered sea turtles cannot tell the bags from jellyfish , their main source of food, and often choke on them. Floating plastic bags have been spotted as far north as the Arctic Ocean and as far south as the southern end of South America. One expert predicts that, within ten years, plastic bags will wash up in Antarctica! However, this kind of bag does have its advantages. "Plastic grocery bags are some of the most reused things around the house," explained Laurie Kusek of the American Plastics Council. According to the Film and Bag Federation, a trade group in the US plastics industry, paper bags use more energy and create more waste than plastic bags. Plastic bags require 40 per cent less energy to produce and cause 70 per cent less air pollution, the group explained. They also release as much as 94 percent less waste into the water than paper ones. But paper bags do break down more quickly than plastic bags. They don't endanger wildlife, either. So what should we do? One possible solution would be to use biodegradable plastic bags. But until biodegradable technology improves, it might be easier to pack things you buy in reusable cloth bags. Which of the following shows that paper bags are better than plastic ones? A. Paper bags take less time to rot. B. Paper bags cause less air pollution. C. Paper bags are more reusable. D. Paper bags cause less water pollution. Answer: A When I was growing up, I had an old neighbor, Dr. Gibbs. He didn't look like any doctor I'd ever known. He never invited us to play in his yard, but he was a very kind person. When Dr. Gibbs wasn't saving lives, he was planting trees. He owned a large field and wanted to make it a forest. The good doctor had some interesting ideas about planting trees. He never watered his new trees. Once I asked why. He said that watering plants spoiled them, and that if you watered them, each baby tree would grow weaker and weaker, so you had to make things difficult for them and pick out the weaker trees early on. He talked about how watering trees made for shallow roots, and how trees that weren't watered had to grow deep roots in search of water under the earth by themselves. Deep roots were very important. So he never watered his trees. He'd planted an oak and, instead of watering it every morning, he'd beat it with a rolled-up newspaper. I asked him why he did that, and he said it was to get the tree's attention. Dr. Gibbs died several years after I left home. Every now and then, I walked by his house and looked at the trees that I watched him plant about twenty-five years ago. They're very big and strong now. I planted some trees a few years back and carried water to them for whole summer. After two years of caring too much, whenever a cold wind blows in, they shake a lot. Every night before I go to bed, I check on my two sons. Mostly I pray that their lives will be easy. But lately I've been thinking that it's time to change my prayer. I know my children are going to face difficulties. There's always cold wind blowing somewhere, so what we need to do is to pray for roots that reach deep into the brave heart, so when the rains fall and the winds blow, we could face it strongly and won't be beaten down. We know from the passage the doctor _ . A. didn't know how to plant trees at all B. wasn't good at his own medical job C. had his own ways of planting trees D. had nothing to do but plant trees Answer: C 12-year-old Robert Looks Twice appears to be the typical all-American boy. He is the quarterback of his school's football team, student council president and one of the top students in his class. But he hasn't forgotten his Lakota Sioux root. Unlike most children on the reservation , he keeps his hair long, a symbol of strength, and he performs at powwows , traditionally known as wacipis, where he is a champion of the traditional Lakota dance. Robert was inspired to start dancing by his grandfather, John Tail, who had a small role in the famous film about Indian Amercans, Dances with Wolves. Six years ago, John passed away, and Robert wears little wolves on his clothes in his memory. We are told that his last name, " Looks Twice", came about because his ancestors were cautious and always took a second look. Robert lives in a trailer with his grandmother, uncle and eight other cousins. When he gives us a tour, the trailer is falling apart. " It is getting ready to cave in ," says Robert about the kitchen floor. The family also put trash bags on the ceiling, because it's leaking. " When it rains it gets all my shirts wet," he says of another leak in his bedroom. Often the electricity goes off and the family have to use the burners on the stove to heat the house. This kind of poverty is typical of the reservation. The reservation is the third poorest county in America, and Robert's community, Manderson, is known for its high crime rate. But despite all the temptations of drugs and alcohol around him, Robert remain focused on being the first person in his family to go to college and then a very big dream. " I want to be the first Native American President," Robert said. " I want to build better houses and clean up the reservation, because it's bad. Get people off the drugs and alcohol and spend that money on their children. Build a better school and playground. Try to get a mall down here to help people get work." What can we learn from Robert's experience? A. Everyone should persist in chasing their dreams. B. The poor can get more help from others. C. It is never too late to study. D. It is necessary for everyone to go to college. Answer: A
Why are people interested in eating raw foods or whole foods ? One reason is that eating these types of food reduces the risk of acid accumulation in your body. Raw and whole foods are usually digested more efficiently than cooked foods. When we cook foods, we destroy the natural enzymes that are part of the food in its raw form. These enzymes were intended by nature to help us digest the food. When we consume food without these natural enzymes, our bodies either digest the food improperly or allow too many nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream. In both instances, the result is overweight. When too many nutrients are absorbed at once, the body grows fat. Improperly digested food moves slowly through the digestive system, where it becomes increasingly acidic. To protect its vital organs from this acidic waste, the body changes the acid into fat and stores it safely away from the organs. Processed foods contain chemical elements, which might confuse the appetite mechanism that tells us when we've had enough to eat; as a result, people often overeat. Processed foods also upset the digestive cycle. The body will either identify these foods as allergens and then store them safely away from the organs as fat, or the remains of undigested food will become acidic and enter the bloodstream as acid waste, which will stick to the blood vessel walls and block the passage of vital oxygen and nutrients heading for the body's cells. The body's metabolism becomes inactive, and the result is weight gain and obesity. The accumulation of acid in the digestive system makes digestion increasingly inefficient. When that happens, even healthy foods can become acidic and the food allergies will become more common. To stop this vicious circle in its tracks, people need to consume food and supplements that will neutralize the acid already accumulated in body. Eating the right types of raw and whole foods can help. It's also important to restore your enzyme balance. You need to identify and avoid the foods that cause acid accumulation and consume the foods that increase enzyme production. If you truly want to change and help your body heal itself, you need to take an active approach. One effective way is to choose raw and whole foods appropriately according to your health conditions and personal preferences. What is the main purpose of this passage? Answer: You might think I'd have little in common with a camel, but we do share one useful skill: both of us can go for a very long time without water. Usually I start my day with a cup of tea, and then I might have a glass of water with my lunch and one with dinner, that's about a liter of liquid in 24 hours. It feels like plenty, but apparently it's not nearly enough. After years of suffering headaches and poor digestion I spoke to a neurologist about my regular headaches and a nutritionist about my poor digestion, and both told me I should be drinking up to three liters of liquid a day for my body to function at its best. I decided to conduct an experiment. What would happen if I drank the recommended amount every day for a month? The photograph of me taken the day I started this trial demonstrates perfectly and rather frighteningly what a lack of hydration does to a face. I am 42, but have to admit I look more like 52 in this picture, which is shocking. There are dark shadows under and around my eyes, which make me look exhausted, a profusion of wrinkles and strange reddish blotches, and my skin lacks any luster . It looks dead. Even my lips look shriveled . This is all classic evidence of poor hydration, apparently. Every system and function in our body depends on water. It flushes toxins from the vital organs, carries nutrients to cells, provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues, and eliminates waste. Not drinking enough means all these functions becomes damaged. So I decided to see how I would look and feel if I drank three liters of water every day for 28 days. The results were astonishing. The author's lack of hydration caused the following physical responses Except _ . Answer: What is the nature of the scientific attitude, the attitude of the man or woman who studies and applies physics, biology, chemistry, geology, engineering, medicine or any other science? We all know that science plays an important role in our societies. However, many people believe that our progress depends on two different aspects of science. The first aspect is the application of the machines, products and systems of knowledge that scientists and technologists develop. The second is the application of the special methods of thought and action that scientists use in their work. What are these special methods of thinking and acting? First of all, it seems that a successful scientist is curious - he wants to find out how and why the universe works. He usually pays attention to problems which he notices have no satisfying explanation, and looks for relationships even if the data available seem to be unconnected. Moreover, he thinks he can improve the existing conditions and enjoys trying to solve the problems which this involves. He is a good observer, accurate, patient and objective and uses the facts he observes to the fullest. For example, trained observers obtain a very large amount of information about a star mainly from the accurate analysis of the simple lines that appear in a spectrum . He does not accept statements which are not based on the most complete evidence available. He rejects authority as the only basis for truth. Scientists always check statements and make experiments carefully and objectively. Furthermore, he does not readily accept his own idea, since he knows that man is the least reliable of scientific instruments and that a number of factors tend to disturb objective investigation. Lastly, he is full of imagination since he often has to look for relationships in data which are not only complex but also frequently incomplete. Furthermore, he needs imagination if he wants to guess how processes work and how events take place. These seem to be some of the ways in which a successful scientist or technologist thinks and acts. According to the passage, a successful scientist would NOT _ . Answer: If you are planning on traveling, there are few simple rules about how to make life easier both before and after your journey. First of all, always check and double-check departure time. It is surprising how few people really do this carefully. Once I arrived at he airport a few minutes after ten. My secretary had got the ticket for me and I thought she had said that the plane left at 10:50. When I arrived at the airport, the person at the departure desk told me that my flight was closed. Therefore, I had to wait three hours for the next one and missed an important meeting. The second rule is to remember that even in this age of credit cards , it is still important to have some local money in cash . Once I arrived at a place at midnight and the bank at the airport was closed. The only way to get to my hotel was by taxi but because I had no dollars, I offered to pay in pounds instead. "Listen! I only take real money!" the driver said angrily. You can imagine how terrible I felt at that moment. The third and the last rule is to find out as much as you can about the weather at your destination before you leave. I feel sorry for some of my workmates who travel in heavy suits and raincoats in May, when it is still fairly cool in London or Manchester, to places like Athens, Rome of Madrid, where it is already beginning to get quite warm during the day. Where is the writer most probably from? Answer: We can't remember clearly since when we started to take our mobiles to a dinner table.This happens a lot,especially when we eat out.Once a dish comes,instead of lifting our chopsticks,we take out our mobiles and click.Later,we post the photos onto Weibo or Wechat,waiting to be"liked".Then we check our mobiles from time to time during the meal,to see whether we get"liked"or not.We just cannot leave our mobiles for only a meal. Does that sound familiar to you?Do you do that often?If not,how do you feel when others do that when having dinner with you? A recent study suggests that what we are used to doing is not so good.Spending time taking photos of food makes the food less pleasant.To test this,some researchers did an experiment.Some people were asked to take photos before they could enjoy food.As a result,it showed that the more photos they took, _ .So,why not stop taking photos and just enjoy the food in front of you? Besides the scientific result,there are also some other bad influences of taking photos of food before meals.After posting the photos onto the Internet,one will not be able to control himself and check his mobile many times."Does everyone like my photos?I hope a lot of people like them!"It seems that your mobile secretly calls your name all the time,even when you are with real people. So,next time you go out to have dinner with your family or friends,how about not taking photos of food?Let the food be delicious as it is and share your life with people around you.Trust me,it will be a wonderful time. Which of the following is the writer's opinion? Answer:
Almost one - fourth of all personal spending in theprefix = st1 /United Statestakes place during the holiday season. There are gifts to give this month for Christmas, Hanukkah and the African American celebration of Kwanzaa. The traditional shopping season began last Friday, after Thanksgiving Day. Personal spending represents two-thirds of the economy, so holiday sales are especially important. Reports on November results have just come out. Wal-Mart is the biggest seller in the world. The company had expected growth of two to four percent in November, fueled by sales on "Black Friday." The day after Thanksgiving is called that. Storekeepers used to record profits in black ink and losses in red ink. A day in the black means a return to profit. The National Retail Federation estimated in September that holiday sales would increase four and one-half percent this year. Holiday sales increased five percent last year, after poor sales the year before. The business group estimated that Americans will spend 220,000 million dollars this season. It says they spent just over 10 percent of that last weekend. Also, it says more Americans for the first time this season plan to use a debit card than a credit card for purchases. A debit card, also called a check card, is linked to the money that a person has in a bank. In other words, users must have the money before they can spend it. About thirty - five percent of shoppers said they would mainly use debit cards, compared to 30 percent for credit cards. Financial experts say this change might mean that more people want to keep to a budget this holiday season. When does the holiday season usually begin in the US? On "Black Friday". Do you want to be a basketball player like Kobe Bryant , Shaquille O'Neal or Yao Ming ? Come to join us ! We have many sports clubs : basketball , ping-pong , soccer , volleyball , and more . The price is 5 dollars for each lesson . Do you want to join our sports clubs ? Please call Mr. Green . He plays basketball very well . His telephone number is 371-1236 . His e-mail address is spcb@163.com . Or you can call Miss Jones at 371-1237 . She is our tennis coach . She is good with the students . Her e-mail address is jiayi@126.com . _ is good with the students . Miss Jones For years I wanted a flower garden.But then we had Matthew.And Marvin.And the twins, Alisa and Alan.And then Helen.Five children.I was too busy raising them to grow a garden. Money was tight, as well as time.Often when my children were little, one of them would want something that cost too much, and I' d have to say, "Do you see a money tree outside? Money doesn't grow on trees, you now." Finally, all five got through high school and college and were off on their own. One spring morning, on Mother's Day, I was working in my kitchen.Suddenly, I realized that cars were tooting their horns as they drove by.I looked out the window and there was a new tree, planted right in my yard.I thought it must be a weeping willow, because I saw things blowing around on all its branches.Then I put my glasses on-and I couldn't believe what I saw. There was a money tree in my yard! I went outside to look.It was true! There were dollar bills, one hundred of them, taped all over that tree.Think of' all the garden flowers I could buy with one hundred dollars! There was also a note attached: ''IOU eight hours of digging time.Love, Marvin." Marvin kept his promise, too.He dug up a nice ten-by-fifteen foot bed for me And my other children bought me tools, ornaments , a trellis , a sunflower stepping stone and gardening books. That was three years ago.My garden's now very pretty, just like I wanted.When I go out and tend my flowers, I don't seem to miss my children as much as I once did.I feel like they're right there with me. I'm still not sure that money grows on trees.But I know love does! What do we know about the mother according to the text? _ . She is hard-working in housekeeping The Museum: The Charles Dickens Museum in London is the world's most important collection of material relating to the great Victorian novelist and social commentator.The only surviving London home of Dickens (from 1837 until 1839) was opened as a museum in 1925 and is still welcoming visitors from all over the world.On four floors, visitors can see paintings, rare editions, manuscripts, original furniture and many items relating to the life of one of the most popular and beloved personalities of the Victorian age. Opening Hours * The Museum is open from Mondays to Saturdays 10:00-17:00; Sundays 11:00-17:00. * Last admission is 30 minutes before closing time. *Special opening times can be arranged for groups, who may wish to book a private view. Admission Charges: Adults: PS5.00; Students: PS4:00; Seniors: PS4.00; Children: PS3.00; Families:PS14.00( 2 adults & up to five children) Group Rates: For a group of 10 or more, a special group rate of PS4.00 each applies. Children will still be admitted for PS3.00 each, Access: We are constantly working to improve access to the Museum and its collection.Our current projects involve the fitting of a wheelchair ramp for better access, a customer care kit and an audio tour for visitors with impaired vision.Our Handling Sessions are also suitable for the visually impaired.The Museum has developed an online virtual tour through the Museum.Click here to visit all the rooms in the Museum online. Hire the Museum: The Museum can be hired for private functions, performances soirees and many other social occasions. Find Us: The Museum may be reached by using the following buses: 7, 17, 19, 38, 45,46, 55, 243.And by these underground services: Piccadilly Line; Central Line.For a map, please click here.The British Museum and the Foundling Museum are within walking distance. In the Charles Dickens Museum, people can not find _ . cars If you were given a chance to choose your favorite life metaphor , what would it be? Do you agree with Forrest Gump's mother that life is "a box of chocolates" because "you never know what you're going to get"? Or do you prefer the phrase from the 1930's song that "life is just a bowl of cherries "? Though simply stated, each conveys a very different view. A "box" implies mystery, because we don't know what is in a closed box. Meanwhile, a "bowl" of cherries is completely in view. For many centuries, the metaphor of life that probably burst into most people's mind was the one suggested by Shakespeare: "All of life is a stage..." On that stage, we take seven roles. More recently, psychologist Erik Erikson took up the idea of life as a stage. Erikson regarded development as a "powerful unfolding" in which we are driven from one stage to the next as our bodies, minds, and social roles develop. Stage metaphors fit with many of our common-sense ideas about change, but the problem with the stage metaphor is that it isn't particularly accurate. None of the studies that try to clarify the universality of adult life stages actually studied people as they developed over time. All of them were based on performances of their samples at one point in time. People's actual lives don't fit into these stage metaphors. They don't automatically transform when people reach a certain age. Instead, people's real lives are messy, unpredictable, and full of surprises. Today, I'd like to focus on an even longer study, an 80-year study which is the subject of a recent book by Howard Friedman and Leslie Martin. Their final chapter summarizes the "many changes of healthy and unhealthy pathways" that their participants took over the course of their lives. As I too discovered in my research, the pathway provides a perfect metaphor of human development. We don't all go down the same road marked with the same signposts based on age. People travel through diverse routes as they track the years of adulthood. Friedman and Martin use health and long life as their measure; I've used sense of achievement. In both cases, we are in perfect agreement in evaluating development not according to age but "the key features of life". The paths that Friedman and Martin describe seize the changes that characterize people as they age. Some examples are "The High Road" (reliable, full of plans); "Not Easy Street" (exposed to high stress throughout life), "Catastrophe Lane" (a downwardly twisty life); "Happy Trails to You" (cheerful, sociable), "The Road to Resilience" (able to handle stress with a strong will). Though I haven't yet been able to follow my participants for 80 years, I too saw some of these pathways among my samples: "The Minding Way" , "The Downward Slope" , "The Straight and Narrow Path" , and "The Successful Trail". The pathway metaphor gives you hope for changing the direction of your life if you are unhappy with it so far. You can't stop the clock from ticking the minutes between one birthday and the next, but you can adjust the road that you're on by changing yourself, your situation, or both. According to the passage, the "stage metaphor" _ . doesn't exactly reflect one's real life
China will soon put its first domestically developed electric aircraft into mass production, and designers expect a huge market at home and abroad. "The RX1E is scheduled to receive its airworthiness(,,)certificate from the Civil Aviation Administration of China before the end of this year, with production expected to start next year," Yang Fengtian, an academic at the Chinese Academy of Engineering told China Daily on Thursday. "This will be the first electric aircraft to be certified by our civil aviation authority. The success of the plane means China has become a technology leader in this filed," he added. An electric aircraft runs on electric motors, with electricity coming from fuel cells, solar cells, ultracapacitors, power beaming or batteries. Most of today's electric aircraft are experimental demonstration models. The first manned, electrically powered flight was made in 1973. "We plan to reach an annual production of 100 such aircraft within three years, and the construction of a manufacturing plant that can make 100 RX1Es each year has begun in Shenyang," Yang said, adding that the plane, together with a set of batteries, will sell for nearly 1 million yuan ($163,000). The convenience of use, easy maintenance, low operating costs, high safety levels and eco-friendliness will bring the RX1E many buyers to serve a wide range of purposes, such as police patrols, flight training, entertainment and mapping surveys, he added. Yang said he expects that the Chinese market will need at least 1,000 RX1Es to meet the demand from general aviation businesses. With a maximum takeoff weight of 480 kg and a cruise speed of up to 160 kilometers per hour, the RX1E can fly 90 minutes based on a full charging of its batteries. It is able to carry loads for 230 km and fly at an altitude of nearly 3,000 meters. Yang said, "In addition to the domestic market, _ ." In which section is this article most likely to be found in a newspaper? A. Environment B. Technology C. Military D. Travelling Answer: B. Technology Get the Emergency World Radio FREE The U.S. Department of Homeland Security advises that every American home have an emergency radio. Every home needs an emergency radio in the event of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, electric power outages and even terrorist attacks. Be Prepared in Any Situation This Dynamo Emergency World Band Radio picks up the full AM/FM spectrum and worldwide shortwave bands. Most importantly, the Dynamo Emergency World Band Radio includes: Hand crank generator (in case batteries fail) Emergency flashlight Newsmax Magazine's Special Offer --- $20 Bonus Newsmax magazine wants every American family to have this emergency radio and will send it to you for FREE. Just pay our standard shipping and handling charge of $5.95. When you order you FREE Dynamo Emergency World Band Radio, you'll also receive four free issues of Newsmax magazine---a $20 value --- yours FREE. Newsmax magazine brings you stories the major media won't report. But even they can't ignore Newsmax magazine --- which has been introduced on Meet the Press, CNN, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, MSNBC, and many other television networks.[:##Z#X#X#K] Each month in Newsmax magazine you'll read hard-hitting investigative reports and special comments from Ben Stein, Dick Morris, Bill O'Reilly, Michael Reagan, Christopher Ruddy, and many others. Dick Morris from Fox News calls Newsmax "a must read" for every American. Call or go online today to get the Dynamo Emergency World Band Radio and 4 months of Newsmax magazine----a combined value of $50 --- FREE. Get Your FREE Emergency Radio Please hurry! This is a limited time offer! Order online: www.Newsmax.com/ Parade 234 Order by phone:1-800-933-8613 What can we learn about Newsmax magazine? A. It comes out monthly B. It mainly contains ads C. It belongs to Fox News D. It can only be ordered online Answer: A. It comes out monthly Hanukkah is an eight-day winter holiday, which celebrates the successful struggle of the Jews against King Antiochus IV Epiphanes of Syria. There are many traditions to celebrate the day, such as lighting the menorah ,frying potato pancakes and spinning the dreidel . One night in the 1990s, we tidied up wrapping paper and toys while the lighted menorah stood on the kitchen table. When we were not there, as the many-colored candles broke, our long-haired black-and-white cat, Ladybug, jumped onto the kitchen table and brushed past them. "Do you smell something?" asked my husband, Donny. "Is something burning?" asked Molly, our oldest, age ten. It was Ladybug! The fur on her left side had been burnt. She wasn't hurt, but she wore an upset expression all evening, and for the rest of the week she hid whenever we began chanting the Hebrew blessings over the candles. " _ . The following year, for fifth-grade homework about family traditions, Molly wrote about Ladybug's story with the Hanukkah candles. The teacher, Lynn Fink, a sporty and funny woman, enjoyed Molly's story and gave it an A. Three years later, Seth got Ms. Fink for fifth grade. He also worked the burnt cat fur into a writing assignment, and he, too, got an A. Our son Lee, three years later: the same teacher, the same story, the same A. We had no idea these retellings were piling up. The year Lily got Ms. Fink for fifth grade, she also felt inspired to write down what happened that night. By now, we were very fond of Ms. Fink. We invited her to join us for a night of Hanukkah. It was her first time to experience the Jewish holiday. Happily, she ate her potato pancakes. Gamely, she spun the dreidel. Delightedly, she opened the small gift of home-made cookies the children had prepared for her. As the evening seemed to be winding down, she clapped her hands, rubbed them together as if before a big dinner, and said excitedly," So! When do we torch the cat?" What happened to Ladybug when the family celebrated Hanukkah that year? A. She was seriously hurt that night. B. She broke the candles on the menorah. C. She had some of her fur burnt. D. She got a surprising present from the family. Answer: C. She had some of her fur burnt. The change from day to night on Earth can be explained by A. the movement of the Sun. B. the rotation of Earth. C. the movement of the Moon. D. the tilt of Earth. Answer: B. the rotation of Earth. Jack was so excited about getting a new backpack because his old one had a broken zipper and a hole in the bottom. Jack's elder brother took him to buy a new backpack. There were so many cool ones. How would he ever decide? He saw blue ones--his favorite color. He saw ones with his favorite action hero on the front. And then Jack saw a backpack with a black square design. When he opened it, he saw it had a hidden, secret small bag. He liked it, which made it different from others. "This is the one," he said, then carried it to the check-out counter. That evening, Jack carefully filled his new backpack with his school things. He put his special pen in the secret small bag. The next day in English class, Mr. Mack said, "Let's write an essay about earthquakes!" Jack looked for his pen in his backpack, but he couldn't find it! He through his desk and his pockets, but no pen. Jack asked if anyone had seen his pen, but no one had. Mr. Mack lent him a pencil, but Jack was feeling anxious because he lost his pen. When he got home, Jack told his brother he couldn't find his favorite pen. His brother said, "You must have put it in that secret small bag." Jack laughed and said, "That small bag was so secret that I forgot all about it." The backpack that Jack bought is _ . A. a blue one. B. one with a black square design. C. one with an action hero. D. a small one. Answer: B. one with a black square design.
Illness has a negative impact on the health of what? A rocks B bricks C llamas D plastics Answer: C. llamas A woman repeated a bit of gossip about a neighbor. Within a few days, the whole village knew the story. The person she talked about was deeply hurt and angry. Later, the woman spreading the rumor learned that it was completely untrue. She was very sorry and went to a wise man to find out what she could do to repair the harm. "Go to the marketplace," he said, "buy a chicken, and have it killed. Then on your way home, pick its feathers and drop them one by one along the road." Although surprised by this advice, the woman did what she was told. The next day the wise man said, "Now, go and collect all those feathers you dropped yesterday and bring them back to me." The woman followed the same road, but she was so _ when she found the wind had blown the feathers all away. After searching for hours, she returned with only three in her hand. "You see," said the wise man, "it's easy to drop them, but it is impossible to get them all back. So it is the same with gossip. It doesn't take much to spread a rumor, but once you do, you can never completely undo( ) the wrong." Which of the following statements is true? A The gossip didn't hurt anyone at all. B The wise man was not kind enough. C All the feathers had been blown away. D The woman was given a lesson. Answer: D. The woman was given a lesson. Traveling to every part of the world gets easier, but how well do we know and understand each other. Here's a simple test. Imagine you are planning to hold a meeting at four o'clock. What time should you expect your foreign business friends to arrive? If they are Germans, they'll arrive on time. If they are Americans, they'll probably be 15 minutes early. If they are Englishmen, they'll be 15 minutes late, and you should allow up to an hour for the Italians. The British seemed to think since the English language was widely used in the world, people would always understand what they do. However, they found they were completely wrong. For example, the British are happy to have a business lunch and discuss business matters and have a drink during the meal. The Japanese prefer not to work while eating. Lunch is a time for them to relax and get to know each other and they don't drink at lunchtime. The Germans like to talk business before dinner. The French like to eat first and talk afterwards. They have to be well fed and watered before they discuss anything. What do the Japanese like to do at lunchtime? A To drink. B To get to know each other. C To talk business. D To eat only. Answer: B. To get to know each other. Who are the elders in your family? The most common answer is that they are your parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and elder cousins ------in a word, any who is older than you. But that doesn't really answer the question, does it? In a normal family, there is a big difference between being elderly and being an elder. Elders are the storytellers, the cooks, the historians, the authorities, the knitters, and the workhorses. They are the people we respect and turn to for answers or help when we are in trouble, because of their many years of life experience. Most of all, they are the people who raised you and your loved ones and helped you growing into the people you are. For many years, they carried the burden of caring for your family and leading it to better times. Now it's your turn to dote on them. Ensuring the welfare of your elders should come as naturally to us as raising our children. Unfortunately, too many people take their parents' and grandparents' ability to care for them for granted. And in a country where so many of us live hundreds of miles from our families, looking after loved ones can be difficult. Even so, you should make sure your loved ones are taken care of no matter where they live, and try to look after the seniors living alone in your neighbor, too. Taking responsibility for the elders in our society in an important thing that all citizens should do. The passage was written to_. A explain what elders are like B criticize those people who don't respect elders C Explain why we should love elders D Call on people to respect and love elders Answer: D. Call on people to respect and love elders In Kenya, educational and career opportunities are almost non-existent for people born with physical challenges. They face many forms of discrimination -- including beliefs that their condition was caused by a curse. But one father whose son Brain was born deaf, mute and blind aims to change all that. Joseph Shiroko started a school four years ago that teaches students who can not hear, speak and who have very low or no vision a wide range of skills to support themselves. The baby clothes the students knit are well known in the local community. And the school has developed a reputation for its dried smoked meat products. Brain Resource Center, a boarding school, teaches deaf and blind young Kenyans from across the country a variety of skills they can use to earn a living. "We have a number of philosophies that inform what we are doing: accepting these people; loving them; giving them opportunities." said founder Joseph Shiroko. Teachers, most of whom are graduates from the school or are themselves physically challenged, work with students. Mary Kerubo, 22, has a passion for knitting sweaters, which she plans to continue in her village. "I feel comfortable here because Sween -- my teacher understands me," said Kerubo. "Even if I do not see well, she always repeats her lessons again and again so that I may understand how to make sweaters. I know I will make it." Kerubo's teacher, Sween Lyaka, was among the first graduates of Brain Resource Center four years ago. She says her students have a lot of unrecognized potential. Sween says in the future, she plans to purchase four sewing machines that she will use to teach students and produce and sell sweaters in her home village. The center also works with students' families to set up projects that will continue after the students graduate. Founder Joseph Shiroko's son, Brain, was the inspiration behind Brain Resource Center. The senior Shiroko says he began the school initially as a project to teach Brain bakery skills. The family later expanded Brain's training and brought in other young people with similar physical conditions. According to the passage, we know _ . A the teachers in Brian Resource Center are healthy and normal B the teachers merely help students who can't hear or speak in Resource centre C Kerubo was among the first graduates of Brian Resource Centre D Joseph's son gave Joseph the inspiration to found Brian Resource Centre Answer: D. Joseph's son gave Joseph the inspiration to found Brian Resource Centre
In some parts of the United States, farming is easy. But farming has always been difficult in the northeastern corner of the country, which is called New England. New England has many trees and thin, rocky soil. Anyone who has wanted to start a new farm there has had to work very hard. The first job has been cutting down trees. The next job has been digging the stumps of the trees out of the soil. Then the farmer has had the difficult job of removing stones from his land. This work of removing stones never really ends, because every winter more stones appear. They come up through the thin soil from the rocks below. Farmers have to keep removing stones from the fields. Even today, farms which have been worked on for 200 years keep producing more stones. That is why stone walls are used instead of fences around New England fields. The stone walls are not high; a man can easily climb over them. But they keep the farmer's cows from joining his neighbor's cows. This selection says that the work of removing stones _ . Answer: Long long ago there was a great man who married the woman he loved so much. Soon they had a little girl. She was a bright and happy little girl and the great man loved her very much. When the little girl was growing up, the great man sang and danced with her. The man told her daughter, "I love you, my little girl." When the little girl got older, the man still loved her and called her little girl. Then she shouted and said, "I'm not a little girl anymore." Every time the man laughed, "But to me, you'll always be my little girl." Later the little girl left her home and went into the outside world. As she learned more about the world, she learned more about the man. She understood that he truly was great and strong, for now she knew his _ . One of his strengths was to show his love to his family. No matter where she was, the man would call her and say, "I love you, my little girl." The clay came when the little girl got a phone call. The great man was badly ill. He had a stroke . So she went back home, When she walked into the room and saw him. he looked small and not strong at all. He looked at her and tried to speak, but he could not. He could no longer smile, dance or tell the girl he loved her. The little girl did the only thing she could do. She climbed up on the bed next to the great man. Tears ran from both of their eyes and she hugged her father, At that time she thought of many things. She remembered the wonderful times together with her father. With the beat of his father's heart, she seemed to hear, "I love you, my little girl." Which statement is TRUE according to the story? Answer: When I learned that my 71-year-old mother was playing Scrabble--a word game--against herself, I knew I had to do something. My husband suggested we give her a computer to play against. I wasn't sure my mother was ready for it. After all, it had taken 15 years to persuade her to buy an electric cooker. Even so, we packed up our old computer and delivered it to my parents' home. And so began my mother's adventure in the world of computers. It also marked the beginning of an unusual teaching task for me. I've taught people of all ages, but I never thought I would be teaching my mother how to do anything. She has been the one teaching me all my life; to cook and sew; to enjoy the good times and put up with the bad. Now it was my turn to give something back. It wasn't easy at the beginning. There was so much to explain and to introduce. Slowly but surely, my mother caught on, making notes in a little notebook. After a few months of Scrabble and other games, I decided it was time to introduce her to word processing . This proved to be a bigger challenge to her, so I gave her some homework. I asked her to write me a letter, using different letter types, colors and spaces. "Are you demanding this with your kindergarten pupils?" she said. "No, of course not," I said. "They already know how to use a computer." My mother isn't the only one experiencing a fast personal growth period. Thanks to the computer, my father has finally got over his phone allergy . For as long as I remember, and time I called, my mother would answer, Dad and I have had more phone conversations in the last two months than we've had in the past 20 years. What does the author do? Answer: Herta Muller, the Romanianborn German writer, has won the 2009 Nobel Prize for Literature.The award was announced in Stockholm. Ms Muller, 56, immigrated to Germany from Romania in 1987.She is the first German writer to win the Nobel Prize for literature since Gunter Grass in 1999 and the 13th winner writing in German since the prize was first given in 1901.She is the 12th woman to get the literature prize. But unlike Doris Leasing and V.S.Naipaul, Ms Muller is relatively unknown outside literary circles in Germany."I am very surprised and still cannot believe it," Ms Muller said in a statement in Germany."I can't say anything more at the moment." She has written about 20 books, but just five have been translated into English, including the novels "The Land of Green Plums" and "The Appointment". At a news conference at the German Publishers and Booksellers Association in Berlin, where she lives, Ms Muller, wearing all black and sitting on a big chair, appeared overwhelmed by all the cameras in her face.She spoke of the 30 years she spent under a dictatorship, describing "living with fear in the morning that in the evening one would no longer exist". When asked what it meant that her name would now be mentioned at the same moment as German greats like Thomas Mann and Heinrich Bll, Ms Muller remained calm."I am now nothing better and I'm nothing worse," she said."My inner thing is writing.That's what I can _ and if nothing special happens, I will never give up." Earlier in the day, at a news conference in Stockholm, Peter Englund,secretary of the Swedish Academy, said Ms Muller was honored for her "very, very special language" and because "she has really a story to tell about...and growing up as a stranger in your own family." Before getting the Nobel Prize, Ms Muller _ . Answer: We humans love to scare ourselves. Newspapers and TV news are full of shock-horror stories about the killer flu virus but are there things we can do to cut our risk of catching it? Every year, people in Britain catch the flu virus and some of those who are already ill, or are very young, may die. It is very sad, but modern treatment means that many deaths can be avoided. Experts tell us that the world is another flu epidemic and that the latest bird-flu virus would be the most likely cause. Humans can catch the disease only after closely contacting with a sick bird. However, if someone who had normal flu was to come into contact with bird flu, this could be very dangerous. The bird flu virus could attach itself to the human flu virus, _ and then start to spread from person to person. Coughs and sneezes always have spread diseases, especially colds and flu, and they still do. If bird flu does begin to infect humans, it will spread through coughs and sneezes. If you want to stay free of flu and someone coughs or sneezes at you, what should you do? First, keep your hands away from your face and wash them and your face as soon as you can. If a cough or a sneeze spray misses your face and you accidentally touch a droplet with your hands and then touch your face, the flu or cold bug could creep into your system. If a man with common flu is infected with bird flu, _ . Answer:
My grandfather spent most of his life in a turbulent India. After settling in New York, he took up his true passion: gardening. Grandfather's garden was where I took refuge from a world of adults and schoolwork. My grandfather cultivated squash and tomatoes -- it was not rare to find me somewhere in the garden, either secretly eating a tomato, or just sitting and admiring my grandfather's hard work. However, as time went by, I did not have the chance to visit his house as often as I used to. On my eleventh birthday, I received a gift bag wrapped in pretty paper from my grandfather. Excited to see what he had given to me for my birthday, I tore apart the paper only to find a yellow squash. I was very angry. What a stupid present! But gradually, I realized that in my developing a relationship with his garden, I had unknowingly grown very close to my grandfather himself, something he wished to remind me of through his gift. His commitment towards doing things definitely influenced me. It could bring him a sense of accomplishment. Because of him, I try to model the idea of approaching everything with both drive and passion. My grandfather passed away five years ago, but his influence on me could not be bigger than it is today. As I prepare to enter college and move on from my relatively sheltered high school life toward achieving complete independence, allowing my passions to find their way into whatever I may be doing will be very necessary. I still look up to my grandfather very much to this day, and I hope that one day I will be able to sow in my own garden, and give someone else a squash on his or her birthday -- it was the most meaningful gift I have ever received.[:ZXXK] Why did the grandfather send the author a squash? A. Squash was the author's favorite vegetable. B. Squash was the greatest achievement of him. C. He wanted to remind the author that they had been close. D. He wanted the author to follow his career. Answer: C. He wanted to remind the author that they had been close. People usually talk about two groups of colours: warm colours and cool colours. Scientists think that there are also two groups of people: people who prefer warm colours and people who prefer cool colours. The warm colours are red, orange and yellow. Where there are warm colours and a lot of light, people usually want to be active . People think that red example is exciting sociable people, those who like to be with others like red. The cool colours are green, blue and purple. These colours, unlike warm colours, are relaxing. Where there are cool colours, people are usually quiet. People who like to spend time alone often prefer blue. Red may be exciting but one scientist says that time seems to pass more slow in a room with warm colours than in a room with cool colours. He suggested that a warm colour such as red or orange is a good colour for a living room or a restaurant. People who are relaxing or eating don't want time to pass quickly. Cool colours are better for offices of factories as the people who work there want time to pass quickly. Scientists don't know why people think some colours are warm and other colours are cool. However, almost everyone agrees that warm colours remind people of warm days and cool colours remind them of cool days. Because in the north the sun is low during winter, the sunlight appears quite blue. Because the sun is higher during summer, the hot summer sunlight appears yellow. Jacksunshine998@sina com When people talk about two groups of people, they mean those that _ . A. like warm colours and like cool colours B. are yellow, red and yellow C. are warm colours and cool colours D. are green, blue and purple Answer: A. like warm colours and like cool colours American government suggests that children and teens should get 60 minutes of physical activity every day. But less than half of children and just 10% of teens meet these suggestions. What's the deal? It's reported that about 44million US kids participate in organized sports(such as baseball, softball, soccer).But a new study says just one-quarter of kids get the government-recommended amount of exercise when they show up for team practices. The study, published online last month in a medical journal, says younger kids and boys do better than teens and girls. The study looked at 200 kids aged 7 to 14 who played on soccer, baseball and softball teams. The kids wore sensors to measure their activity during practices. During each practice, kids averaged 30 minutes of downtime . "It is not clear how much physical activity is provided by youth sports practices," say the California-based authors of the study. "Much of the time may be inactive, such as receiving verbal instructions and waiting for turns." What's a parent or coach--or kid--to do? The authors of the study suggest increasing the number of practices, _ the time of practices and changing it up during practices. For example, the coach could give each player a ball at the same time. Rather than focusing on one player's skills, it's best to get the whole team moving. But, the study says, the bottom line is that team sports aren't enough exercise. For a child to meet the US physical activity suggestions, the kid will have to do more than just join a team. Exercise is also necessary during breaks, during physical education class, after school and even on the way to school. What's the best title of the passage? A. Necessary for Kids to Exercise B. Kids for Fun? C. How to Keep Fit D. Not Enough Exercise? Answer: D. Not Enough Exercise? I've lived my whole life in Spanish Harlem with my mom, and I never have a father. I have friends who ended up in jail or pregnancy. But Mr.Clark wouldn't let that happen. Mr. Clark worked long hours, making sure I did my work. My grades rose. In fact ,our whole fifth-grade class's scores rose in math and reading. In sixth grade, I entered the gifted program, and Mr. Clark was the teacher. I felt so lucky to have him for a second year ! None of us were surprised when Mr.Clark was selected as Disney's 2004 Teacher of the Year. When he learned he'd won, he said he would draw three names out of a hat; those students would go with him toprefix = st1 /Los Angelesto get the award. But when it came time to draw names, Mr. Clark said, " You're all going." He got donations to fly all 37of us out to Disneyland inCaliforniaand put us at the Hilton. We were there for three days. People were amazed, but Mr. Clark really cared about us. There's no way I can imagine most teachers doing that. No way. But he saw something in us that nobody else saw. On graduation day ,there were a lot of tears. We didn't want his class to end. In 2005,he moved toAtlanta, but we always kept in touch. He started giving speeches about education and wrote a best-selling book based on his classroom rules. In 2007,Mr.Clark took some of us on a trip toSouth Africato deliver school supplies and visit orphanages. It was the most amazing experience of my life. It's now my dream to start a group of women's clubs one day, helping people from all backgrounds. I'm about to become a senior atHarlemRenaissanceHigh School. My grades are beautiful now, and I'm hoping to go to law school eventually. This fall, Mr.Clark will be opening the Ron Clark Academy inAtlanta, a school for kids who have potential but aren't reaching it, kids who are like I was -- until Mr.Clark came along. What was the author's attitude toward Mr. Clark? A. Amazed. B. Satisfied C. Grateful. D. Admiring. Answer: C. Grateful. a lack of illumination would result in which of these? A. the restroom overflowing with water B. a principal's door being locked C. a student unable to view what he is writing D. a teacher being unable to transport to school Answer: C. a student unable to view what he is writing
Question: What would best regulate the temperature of an overheated body? A. a decrease in sweating B. a decrease in the breathing rate C. a dilation of blood vessels in the skin D. an increase in heart rate Answer: C. a dilation of blood vessels in the skin Question: This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule . The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule praying for whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together , told them what had happened, and asked them to help pour dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out his misery. At the beginning, the old mule was crazy! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shovelling and the dirt hit his back, _ . It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, he would shake it off and step up! This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up... shake it off and step up... shake it off and step up!" He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him actually helped him... all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity . That's life! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity. The adversities that come along to bury us usually have within them the very real potential to benefit us! Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that amateurs built the boat. Professionals built the Titanic. Why did the farmer decide to bury the mule in the well? A. Because he thought the mule was of little use. B. Because he didn't like the praying made by the mule. C. Because he thought the well couldn't be used any longer after the accident. D. Because he didn't want to see the mule suffer more in the well. Answer: D. Because he didn't want to see the mule suffer more in the well. Question: Special trees that grow faster, fight pollution, produce better wood, and even sense chemical attacks are being planted by scientists in the US. When 40 per cent of Hawaii's US$14 million-a-year papaya industry was destroyed by a virus five years ago, work began on creating genetically engineered trees. Researchers successfully introduced seeds that were designed to resist the virus.Since then, more and more people have been testing genetically engineered trees.Some researchers put special bacteria into trees to help them grow faster and produce better wood.Others are trying to create trees that can clean polluted soil.Meanwhile fruit farmers are looking for trees that are strong enough to resist worms, and paper companies want trees that produce more wood and therefore more paper. The Pentagon even gave the researchers US$500,000 this year after they developed a pine tree that changes its colours if it senses a chemical attack.So far, the poplar, eucalyptus , apple and coffee trees are among those being engineered.All this can be done today because we have a better understanding of tree genomes . However, some people fear that the genetically engineered trees will cause dangerous results.They are worried that the new trees will breed with natural species and change the balance of the forest environment. "It could be destructive," said Jim Diamond, an environmentalist. "Trees are what is left of our natural environment and home to many endangered species." But researchers insist that science could give nature a fighting chance against both natural and man-made dangers.They hope to answer the critics by stopping the new trees from breeding, so their effect on the environment can be controlled. Why did critics think engineered trees dangerous? Because _ . A. these trees can destroy the balance of nature B. everything except trees has been genetically engineered C. trees are home to many endangered species D. these trees may affect normal trees Answer: D. these trees may affect normal trees Question: Many years ago,there lived a very rich man who wanted to do something for the people of his town. But first he wanted to find out whether they were good enough to get his help. So he placed a very large stone in the center of the main road into town. Then he hid behind a tree and waited. Soon an old man came along with his cow. "Who put this stone in the center of the road?" said the old man,but he did not try to move the stone away. Instead,he passed around the stone and continued on his way. Another man came along and did the same thing; then another came,and another. All of them complained about the stone in the center of the road,but none of them tried to move it away. Late in the afternoon, a young man came along. He saw the stone and said, "It will be very dark at night. Some people will come along later in the dark and will fall against the stone." The young man then began to move the stone. He pulled with all his strength to move it to one side. But imagine his surprise when he found a bag full of money and this message under the stone: "This money is for the thoughtful person who takes this stone away from the road. Thank you." The first old man found the stone and walked around it because _ . A. he was too old to take the stone away all by himself B. he thought it was good to have a stone on the road C. he didn't want to move the stone away for others D. he didn't want the money from the rich man Answer: C. he didn't want to move the stone away for others Question: My name is Daniel. I am in Grade 8. This is my second year of middle school. When we finish Grade 9, we have to take an exam to continue our studies. We go to school five days a week and have seven classes every day. We study maths, Chinese and English. We also have other subjects. They are science, geography, history and P.E. P.E. is my favourite subject. We have different clubs to join after school. Some clubs are for fun, such as the guitar club and the chess club. Some clubs are for study, such as the English club and the science club. I'm a member of the English club. It is fun to learn English there. There are 1800 students in our school. Many new students may have problems with their new school life. When they have problems, they often do not want to tell the teachers. In our school, _ students can join the Helping Hands Club. These brothers and sisters talk to the new students and try to help them with their problems. When Daniel finishes _ , he has to take an exam to continue his studies. A. Grade 7 B. Grade 8 C. Grade 9 D. Grade 10 Answer: C. Grade 9
YOU might go to a museum to look at old cars or something about an ancient civilization . Would you like to see ice cream? Believe it or not, there is a museum of ice cream in Iowa in the United States. Visitors can see a video that tells all about the history of the delicious snack. It seems that ice cream goes back to about 2000 years ago , when the Chinese mixed together ice, milk and sugar. Spending an afternoon looking at how to make ice cream can make you a little hungry. No problem, the museum has its own ice cream store, where you can taste some of them. In Edinburgh, Scotland, there is a museum of childhood. The museum shows objects about the lives of children in Scotland, past and present. You can expect toys, dolls, teddy bears and train sets. But there are also videos which tell you what it was like to be a kid in Scotland in old times. You can hear children reading their multiplication tables : "Seven sevens are 49, eight sevens are 56." You can also watch documentary movies of the games kids played in Edinburgh in the 1950s, look at the clothes they wore and get to know what their schools were like. It will be wonderful to visit the Children's Discovery Museum in Bangkok , Thailand. The museum has parts of nature, environment, technology and kids' activities. In this museum, you get to take part in the kids' activities. You can dress up to be a fireman in a fire truck. It is interesting. The museum of ice cream is in _ . America We continue our Foreign Student Series on higher education in the United States. Now we move on to college life once you are admitted to a school. The first thing you need to value is a place to live. Housing policies differ from school to school. Students might have to live in a dormitory, at least for the first year there. Dorms come in all sizes. Some have suites. Six or more students may line in one suite. Other dorms have many rooms along a common hallway, usually with two students in each room . Many students say dormitories provide the best chance to get to know other students. Also, dorms generally cost less than apartments or other housing not owned by the school. Most colleges and universities offer singe-sex dorms, but usually males and females live in the same building. They might live on the same floors and share the same common bathrooms. They may live in the same room only if they are married. Edward Spencer is the associate vice president for student affairs at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. He says it is important to understand the rules of the building in which you will live. He advises students to ask questions before they decide about their housing. For example, if a student requires a special diet, will the school provide it ?How much privacy can a student expect ? Will the school provide a single room if a student requests one ? And what about any other special needs that a student might have? Virginia Tech, for example, had a ban against candles in dorms . But it changed that policy to let students light up candles for religious purposes. The university also has several dorms open all year so foreign students have a place to stay during vacation time. We can infer from what Edward Spencer says that _ . the U.S. college always satisfies students' requests One potential problem with allowances is that children's responsible behavior can become about earning the allowance rather than the intrinsic value of their family responsibilities. For example, if you pay your children for taking out the rubbish, they see this chore as a job that they should be rewarded for instead of a responsibility they must fulfill as part of the family. But giving children an allowance for weekly chores is not necessarily bad. You are rewarding them for fulfilling their family responsibilities, but it is not for a specific act. It is an appreciation of their commitment to your family values. You are also conveying another important message that their actions have consequences: if they do good things, good things happen. They also learn a lesson about the market economy, namely that work is rewarded. Allowances can also be used as punishment and to teach children lessons about family values. For example, if your children join a group of kids smashing pumpkins on Halloween, a part of a reasonable punishment might be to require them to pay the families out of their allowance to replace the pumpkins. Thus, your children learn that bad behavior has financial consequences. Meanwhile, by relating the punishment to the misdeed, you ensure that your children see the connection and learn the value lesson. How much allowance should you pay your children? The precise amount depends on your family's financial situation, the cost of living and your children's needs. Children can start to earn a weekly allowance as early as 5 years of age. An increase of $ 1 per week for each year of your children's lives is realistic until they reach their mid-teens. When they begin to drive and date, you can calculate their expenses and establish a reasonable allowance that covers their needs. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . allowances given to children of different ages may vary Jack is a schoolboy. He is from England. He lives in a small town, not far from London. He lives with his grandmother. His parents work in London. They come only on Saturday and Sunday. Jack has a small bike. He rides to school every day. He likes to study. He listens to the teachers carefully in class. He works very hard at his lessons. After school he often does the shopping for his grandma. He does his homework in the evening. He watches TV only on Sunday evening. Jack is a good boy and his parents like him very much. Jack _ in the evening. does his homework My friend had mentioned the other day that her father had a lot of children's toys he was looking to give away. She knew I have a three-year-old daughter so she thought of me first. I told her I would love it if I could get some nice things for my daughter, which I wouldn't otherwise have been able to afford. When I met her father, he began to explain he was too poor once and that he would hate to throw away things that can be very useful. Before he showed me what he was giving away, I thought the toys would be mostly lego's or things like that. When he was showing me around I saw a bed, a slide, a kitchen set and many other things that just blew my mind. He told me to write a list of everything my daughter could use and as my eyes were wide, he told me not to feel guilty. He said I was helping him by getting rid of the stuff. As I was looking around I did feel guilty, but I tried to remain more grateful than guilty. Every time I tried to thank him for giving me and my daughter all this wonderful stuff he would thank me right back. I wanted to believe that he was just thanking me so that I wouldn't feel so guilty but in reality I believe that he was as grateful as I was that these toys would be put to good use. In the eyes of charity, it makes sense to feel grateful, but guilt is just as normal. I know that we could have lived without a slide, which is why I do feel guilty, but I am grateful all the same because my daughter really does enjoy all these nice things! What can we know from the passage? The old man was a kind and thoughtful person
There was a time in my life when beauty meant something special to me. I guess that would have been when I was about six or seven years old, just several weeks or maybe a month before the orphanage turned me into an old man. I would get up every morning at the orphanage, make my bed just like the little soldier that I had become and then I would get into one of the two straight lines and march to breakfast with the other twenty or thirty boys who also lived in my dormitory. After breakfast one Saturday morning I returned to the dormitory and saw the house parent chasing the beautiful monarch butterflies who lived by the hundreds in the bushes scattered around the orphanage. I carefully watched as he caught these beautiful creatures, one after another, and then took them from the net and then stuck straight pins through their head and wings, pinning them onto a heavy cardboard sheet. How cruel it was to kill something of such beauty. I had walked many times out into the bushes, all by myself, just so the butterflies could land on my head, face and hands so I could look at them up close. When the telephone rang the house parent laid the large cardboard paper down on the back cement step and went inside to answer the phone. I walked up to the cardboard and looked at the one butterfly who he had just pinned to the large paper. It was still moving about so I reached down and touched it on the wing causing one of the pins to fall out. It started flying around and around trying to get away but it was still pinned by the one wing with the other straight pin. Finally its wing broke off and the butterfly fell to the ground and just trembled. I picked up the torn wing and the butterfly and I spat on its wing and tried to get it to stick back on so it could fly away and be free before the house parent came back. But it would not stay on him. The author set the living butterfly free because _ . Answer: he had sympathy for the beautiful butterfly Marcel lived on a farm. Every morning when he woke up, he got dressed, washed his face, and then helped his Pa with the chores before having breakfast. After breakfast, he walked with his sisters to the school in the town. One day on his way to school, Marcel remembered he left his books on the table. "Oh no!" he said. "I forgot my books!" His older sister Lucianne frowned. "Oh, Marcel, how could you be so forgetful? You'll have to go home and get them." Marcel's younger sister Paula was excited. "I can go get your books for you," she said. "No," Marcel said. "You're too young to go home by yourself. It'll have to be me." "Be careful," Lucianne warned him. "And hurry, or you'll be late for school." Marcel chose to leave the road so he could get home faster. So he left the road and ran into the grassy pasture, passing by a group of lambs. The shepherd waved at him as he ran past. Who went home to get the item Marcel forgot? Answer: Marcel The state of Red sent three of its employees to a city located in the state of Blue to consult with a chemical laboratory there about matters of state business. While in the course of their employment, the three employees of Red negligently released into local Blue waterways some of the chemical samples they had received from the laboratory in Blue. Persons in Blue injured by the release of the chemicals sued the three Red state employees and the state of Red in Blue state courts for the damages they suffered. After a trial in which all of the defendants admitted jurisdiction of the Blue state court and fully participated, plaintiffs received a judgment against all of the defendants for $5 million, which became final. Subsequently, plaintiffs sought to enforce their Blue state court judgment by commencing a proper proceeding in an appropriate court of Red. In that enforcement proceeding, the state of Red argued, as it had done unsuccessfully in the earlier action in Blue state court, that its liability is limited by a law of Red to $100,000 in any tort case. Because the three individual employees of Red are able to pay only $50,000 of the judgment, the only way the injured persons can fully satisfy their Blue state court judgment is from the funds of the state of Red. Can the injured persons recover the full balance of their Blue state court judgment from the state of Red in the enforcement proceeding they filed in a court of Red? Answer: Yes, because the final judgment of the Blue court is entitled to full faith and credit in the courts of Red. Mike likes the man. Mike is a gray, winter glove the man found in the snow. The man likes to bring lost gloves home. He puts them in a box. The gloves are warm and safe in the box. They also get to meet new friends when the man finds them and puts them in the box. Mike has made many new friends since the man found him. He has become good friends with Roger, Katie, and Jane. Two of them, Roger and Katie, were found in the snow, like Mike. Jane was not. She was found in a pile of leaves. Roger is a bright orange glove, Jane is a pink mitten, and Katie is a pink glove with purple fingers. Jane also has a friend named Rich. He is a large, black glove who the man found in a building. Mike has met him, but they are not good friends yet. They all like to play tag and talk about how much they like their new lives. Mike is really happy the man found him and he made so many new friends. Who is not a good friend of Mike? Answer: The black glove. Mrs. Green's telephone number was three-four-six-three, and the number of the cinema near her house was three-four-six-four. So people often made a mistake and telephoned her when they wanted the cinema. One evening the telephone rang and Mrs. Green answered it. A tired man said, "At what time your last film begin?" "I'm sorry," said Mrs. Green, "but you have the wrong number. This is not the cinema." "Oh. It began twenty minutes ago," said the man, "I am sorry about that. Goodbye." Mrs. Green was very surprised, so she told her husband. He laughed and said, "The man's wife wanted to go to the cinema, but he was feeling tired, so telephoned the cinema. The man's wife heard him, but she didn't hear you. Now they will stay at home this evening and the husband will be happy." Mrs. Green's telephone number was _ . Answer: 3463
Even a small reduction in salt in the diet can be a big help to the heart. A new study used a computer model to predict how just three grams less a day would affect heart disease in the United States. The result: thirteen percent fewer heart attacks. Eight percent fewer strokes. Four percent fewer deaths. Eleven percent fewer new cases of heart disease. And two hundred forty billion dollars in health care savings. Researchers found it could prevent one hundred thousand heart attacks and ninety-two thousand deaths every year. The study is in the New England Journal of Medicine. Kirsten, at the University of California, was the lead author. She says people would not even notice a difference in taste with three grams, or one-half teaspoon, less salt per day. The team also included researchers at Stanford and Columbia University. Each gram of salt contains four hundred milligrams of sodium, which is how foods may list their salt content. The government says the average American man eats ten grams of salt a day. The American Heart Association advises no more than three grams for healthy people. It says salt in the American diet has increased fifty percent since the nineteen seventies, while blood pressures have also risen. Less salt can mean a lower blood pressure. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is leading an effort called the National Salt Reduction Initiative. The idea is to put pressure on food companies and restaurants. Mayor Bloomberg has already succeeded in other areas, like requiring fast food places in the city to list calorie information. Now a study by the Seattle Children's Research Institute shows how that idea can influence what parents order for their children. Ninety-nine parents of three to six year olds took part. Half had McDonald's menus clearly showing how many calories were in each food. The other half got menus without the calorie information. How many heart attacks will occur in the US every year? Answer: nearly 800,000. San Russell is not your average baseball fan. He is a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan. He has a season ticket and he arranges his work schedule so he does not miss a game. San also attends game dressed in their uniform, and his car is red. He has even lost some friends by choosing to watch the Red Sox instead of going to their weddings. Is this healthy behavior? Although Russell's case is extreme, being a sports fan can be healthy for you. According to a study at the University of Kansan in the USA, sports fans suffer from depression less than people who are not interested in sports, fans also experience other effects from watching their team play. When their team wins a game, their own confidence and happiness increase, just like the athletes. Losing, on the other hand, always leads to some sense of disappointment. What about die-hard fans whose team always loses? The team spirit keeps those fans from losing hope. Knowing that other fans are probably feeling the same way also helps them. In addition, there is always the hope that their team will win the next game. Russell has lost some friends because of his love for baseball and although you may think that would make him unhappy, he has made many more new friends because of his team spirit. For Sam Russell, supporting the Red Sox is not just a hobby; it is a way of life and the secret of his happiness. In order not to miss a game, Russell _ . Answer: arranges his work time carefully Study-abroad programs are a great way to learn about different cultures. Sometimes students don't have the money to join in these programs. That is why scholarships for study-abroad programs are starting to become popular. Study-abroad programs can often be quite expensive. Finding scholarships is not that difficult. Usually, you can just visit the study-abroad office at your educational institution or even the financial services office. They will have a large directory of available scholarships. If your school does not have these offices, you can just quickly have a look on the Internet and find a wide variety of scholarships you might qualify for. The credentials you need to be considered for a scholarship vary greatly. But, to be a candidate for any scholarship, you generally need to have good grades, be an outstanding person, and be able to take full advantage of the opportunities presented to you. You will be able to show why you are a good candidate through the application process. The application process for each scholarship varies, which usually includes submitting an academic record, an essay, and sometimes an interview. Usually, you will have to submit your academic records. The administrators of the scholarship will know that you take your academic studies seriously. Next you usually need to write an essay. This could be on a wide variety of subjects, but they usually focus on something related to 'why you should get this scholarship' to determine how much you want the scholarship and how good of a candidate you would be. After this, the final few applicants may be asked in for an interview to learn about you and why you would be a good recipient of the scholarship. If you satisfy all these requirements, there is a good chance you will get a scholarship. If you don't have enough money, don't give up but use plenty of scholarship opportunities for you! What do we learn about study-abroad programs from the passage? Answer: They are good tools for learning other cultures. 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. What is Sara? Answer: a nurse Kindness and kids just seem to go hand in hand. But 62% of more than 2,600 participants in the NBC News State of Kindness Poll believe that today's kids are less kind than those in the past. Women(66%) feel about this kindness fall more strongly than men(58%). Most of the participants who feel that way(77%) thank parents caused the seeming lack of kindness among today's children, with a few thinking that society, schools, or friends caused it. At the same time, Americans say they don't put kindness first when it comes to teaching kids values. Among all participants, honesty is taught more than kindness as well as other things like courage, leadership and storing work ethic . But the younger generation--those aged 18-24--think highly of kindness rules. They choose kindness by 10% over honesty as the most important quality to teach kids. The question of whether kindness is learned or taught--or somewhere in between --causes different opinions. According to the study, Americans have different opinions on whether kindness in something one is born with or needs to be learned and _ over time. Slightly more than half(52%) of the participants believe that all of us are born with the ability to show kindness, while 48% believe kindness must be developed. Parenthood makes a difference to your thoughts on the causes of kindness. Those without kids(56%) are more likely to think that people are born to be kind, while 50% of the participants with kids think kindness is developed. Also, 51% of dads and 54% of men with no kids believe kindness is something time is born with. Slightly more than half of the moms say kindness must be learned, while 48% believe it is what one is born with. 62% of the participants believe that today's kids are _ . Answer: not so kind as kids in the past
For a while, my neighborhood was taken ever by an army of joggers. They were there all the time: early morning, noon, and evening. There were little old ladies in gray sweats, young couples in Adidas shoes, middle-aged men with red faces. "Come on!" My friend Alex encouraged me to join him as he jogged by my house every evening. "You'll feel great." Well, I had nothing against feeling great and if Alex could jog every day, anyone could. So I took up jogging seriously and gave it a good two months of my life, and not a day more. Based on my experience, jogging is the most overvalued form of exercise around, and judging from the number of the people who left our neighborhood jogging army, I'm not alone in my opinion. First of all, jogging is very hard on the body. Your legs and feet need a real pounding running down a road for two or three miles. I developed foot, leg, and back problems. Then I read about a nationally famous jogger who died of a heart attack while jogging, and I had something else to worry about. Jogging doesn't kill hundreds of people, but if you have any physical weaknesses, jogging will surely bring _ out, as they did with me. Secondly, I got no enjoyment out of jogging. Putting one foot in front of the other for forty-five minutes isn't my idea of fun. Jogging is also a lonely pastime. Some joggers say, "I love being out there with just my thoughts" Well, my thoughts began to bore me, and most of them were on how much my legs hurt. And how could I enjoy something that brought me pain? And that wasn't just the first week: it was practically every day for two months. I never got past the pain level, and pain isn't fun. What a cruel way to do it! So many other exercises, including walking, lead to almost the same results painlessly, so why jog? I don't jog any more, and I don't think I ever will. I'm walking two miles three times a week at a fast pace, and that feels good. I bicycle to work when the weather is good. I'm getting exercise, and I'm enjoying it at the same time. I could never say the same for jogging, and I've found a lot of better ways to stay in shape. From the writer's experience, we can conclude that _ . A. not everyone enjoys jogging B. he is the only person who hates jogging C. nothing other than jogging can help people keep fit D. jogging makes people feel greater than any other sport. Answer: A When international aid is given, steps must be taken to ensure that the aid reaches the people for whom it is intended. The way to achieve this may not be simple. It is very difficult for a nation to give help directly to people in another nation. The United Nations Organization (UNO) could undertake to direct the distribution of aid. Here however rises the problem of costs. Also tied with this is time. Perhaps the UNO could set up a body of devoted men and women in every country who can speedily distribute aid to victims of floods and earthquakes. More than the help that one nation can give to another during a disaster; it would be more effective to give other forms of help during normal times. A common proverb says, " _ " If we follow this wise saying, it would be right to teach people from less developed nations to take care of themselves. For example, a country could share its technology with another. This could be in simple areas like agriculture or in more complex areas like medical and health care or even in building satellites. Even small country is able to help less developed nations. Sometimes what is take for granted, like the setting up of a water purification plant or the administration of a school, could be useful for countries which are looking about to solve common problems. It does not cost much to share such simple things. Exchange students could be attached for a number of months or years and learn the required craft while on the site. They can then take their knowledge back to their homelands and if necessary come back form time to time to clear doubts or to update themselves. Such aid will be truly helpful and there is no chance of it being temporary or of it falling into the wrong hands. Many countries run extensive courses in all sorts of skills. It will not cost much to include deserving foreigners in these courses. Besides giving effective help to the countries concerned, there is also the build-up of friendships to consider. Giving direct help by giving materials may be effective in the short run and must continue to be given in the event of emergencies. However, in the long run what is really effective would be the sharing of knowledge. According to the author, how could international aid reach the victims in time? A. By solving the cost problems B. By solving the transportation problems C. By setting up a body of devoted people in every country. D. By relying on the direct distribution of the UNO. Answer: C Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at 2:30 a.m. When I arrived to collect, I found the building was dark exvept for a single light in a ground floor window. I walked to the door and knocked, "Just a minute," answered a weak, elderly voice. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her eighties stood before me. By her side was a small suitcase. I took the suitcase to the car, and then returned to help the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the car. She kept thanking me for my kindness. "It's nothing," I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated. " "Oh, you're such a good man." She said. When we got into the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, " Could you drive through downtown?" "It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly. " Oh, I'm in no hurry." She said, "I'm on my way to a hospice . I don't have any family left. The doctor says I don't have very long." I quietly reached over and shut off the meter For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked, the neighborhood where she had lived, and the furniture shop that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow down in front of a particular building and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. At down, she suddenly said, "I'm tired. Let's go now." We drove in silence to the address she had given me. "How much do I owe you?" She asked. "Nothing." I said. "You have to make a living," she answered. "Oh, there are other passengers," I answered. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. Our hug ended with her remark, "You gave an old woman a little moment joy." The old woman chose to ride through the city in order to _ . A. Show she was familiar with the city B. reach the destination on time C. let the driver earn more money D. see some places for the last time. Answer: D Sunday is more like Monday than it used to be. Places of business that used to keep daytime "business hours" are now open late into the night. And on the Internet, the hour of the day and the day of the week have become irrelevant . A half century ago in the United States, most people experienced strong and precise dividing lines between days of rest and days of work, school time and summer time. Today the boundaries still exist, but they seem not clear. The law in almost all states used to require stores to close on Sunday; in most, it no longer does. It used to keep the schools open in all seasons except summer; in most, it still does. And whether the work week should strengthen its legal limits, or whether it should become more "flexible," is often debated. How should we, as a society, organize our time? Should we go even further in relaxing the boundaries of time until we live in a world in which every minute is much like every other? These are not easy questions even to ask. Part of the difficulty is that we rarely recognize the "law of time" even when we meet it face to face. We know as children that we have to attend school a certain number of hours, a certain number of days, a certain number of years--but unless we meet the truant officer , we may well think that we should go to school due to social custom and parents' demand rather than to the law. As adults we are familiar with "extra pay for overtime working," but less familiar with the fact that what constitutes "overtime" is a matter of legal definition. When we turn the clock forward to start daylight-saving time, have we ever thought to ourselves: "Here is the law in action"? As we shall see, there is a lot of law that has great influence on how we organize and use time: compulsory education law, overtime law, and daylight-saving law -- as well as law about Sunday closing, holidays, being late to work, time zones, and so on. Once we begin to look for it, we will have no trouble finding a law of time to examine and assess. According to the passage, most children tend to believe that they go to school because they _ . A. need to acquire knowledge B. have to obey their parents C. need to find companions D. have to observe the law Answer: B In Europe, people hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right throughout the meal, a system that is generally agreed to be more efficient than the American zigzag method. Americans hold both the fork and the knife in their right hands throughout the meal, so they continually change their forks to the left hand when they have to cut their meat. It seems to be funny for the Europeans to see Americans busy changing their dinner sets, making a lot of noises. A few explanations for this American style are as follows: (1) Americans are practical and efficient. Since most of us are right-handed, it is reasonable to keep our working tools at all times in the right hand that can use them most efficiently. (2) Americans, the master of the New World are rebels .They use the zigzag method to break the rules in the Old World and in this way they are thumbing their nose at Mother England. Americans are a restless kind. They do not like to sit in one spot for very long when dining. (3) Forced to do so, they respond by "playing" with the silver. Whatever the reason for the practice, it is now certainly as American as apple pie. Europeans recognize this and are quick to attack it as evidence of American innocence of form. Arguments against the zigzag method rest not only on grounds of efficiency but also on those of tradition. In Old World dining, the knife is held in the right hand continually because it can serve as an instant defense against the uninvited intruders .However, such alertness is out of place in the New World, as every American believes that this is the home of the brave. Americans _ their silverware, perhaps, to show that they are not afraid and that one of them holding a fork is worth any number of them holding blades . In the last sentence, the word "juggle" probably means _ . A. hold B. play with C. pick up D. lay down Answer: B
A pretty, well-dressed young lady stopped a taxi in a big square, and said to the driver, "Can you see that young man at the other side of the square?" "Yes," said the taxi-driver. The young man was standing outside a restaurant and looking impatiently at his watch every few seconds. "Take me over there." said the young lady. There were a lot of cars and buses and trucks in the square, so the taxi- driver asked, "Are you afraid to cross the street." 'Oh, no !" said the young lady. "But I said that I would meet that young man for dinner at one o'c1ock, and it is now a quarter to two. If I arrive in a taxi, it will at least seem as if I have tried not to be too late." How did the young woman get to the square? Answer: Force causes the speed of an object to do what? Answer: Which is sillier: denying we ever went to the moon or trying to convince the true nonbelievers? Once upon a time - July 20, 1969, to be specific - two men got out of their little spaceship and wandered around on the moon for a while.Ten more men walked on the moon over the next three and a half years. Unfortunately, not quite.A fair number of Americans think that this whole business of moon landings really isa fairy tale.They believe that the landings were a big hoax staged in the Mojave Desert, to convince everyone that U.S.technology was the "best" in the whole wide world. Which is the harder thing to do: Send men to the moon or make believe we did? The fact is the physics behind sending people to the moon is simple.You can do it with computers whose entire memory capacities can now fit on chips the size of postage stamps and that cost about as much as, well, a postage stamp.I know you can because we did. However, last fall NASA considered spending $15,000 on a public-relations campaign to convince the unimpressed that Americans had in fact gone to the moon.That idea was mostly a reaction to a Fox television program, first aired in February 2001, that claimed to expose the hoax.The show's creator is a publicity hound who has lived up to the name in more ways than one by hounding Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon.Mr.X (as I will call him, thereby denying him the joyous sight of his name in print) recently followed Buzz Aldrin around and called him "a thief, liar and coward" until the 72-year-old astronaut finally lost it and hit the 37-year-old Mr.X in the face. Anyway, NASA's publicity campaign began to slow down.The nonbelievers took the campaign as NASA's effort to hide something while the believers said that $15,000 to convince people that the world was round -- I mean, that we had gone to the moon -- was simply a waste of money.(Actually, the $15,000 was supposed to pay for an article by James E.Oberg, an astronomy writer who, with Aldrin, has contributed to Scientific American.) If NASA not paying Oberg, perhaps it could put the money to good use by hiring two big guys to drag Neil Armstrong out of the house.Armstrong is an extremely private man, but he is also the first man on the moon, so maybe he has a duty to be a bit more outspoken about the experience.Or NASA could just buy Aldrin a commemorate plaque for his recent touch on the face of Mr.X. According to the writer, which of the following is to blame for the story about the hoax? Answer: Michael's birthday was coming soon, so he asked his dad for a bicycle so that he would not need to walk to school anymore. However, Michael's dad had lost his job and did not have much money. Michael got a book instead. One bright and sunny day while Michael was walking past a store on his way to school, he saw a big boy on a bike. The bike was too small for the boy. As the boy was turning around a corner, the bike skidded on a small pool of water and he fell off the bike. The boy was also in Michael's school. The boy's name was William. William seemed to have broken his leg. Michael picked up William's bike and rode to the nearby hospital to get help. A few minutes later, an ambulance came and brought William to the hospital. Michael rode William's bike to school so he would not be late for class. After school, Michael quickly rode the bicycle to William's house with a book and a magazine. William was not too seriously hurt. He went home after his leg was put in a cast . To Michael's surprise, William was getting a new bike on his birthday in two months' time and Michael could have William's old bike. Michael was very happy. From then on, Michael and William became good friends. Michael visited William every day till William's leg got well again. What did Michael get on his birthday? Answer: Exercise. Get fit. Watch your weight. We see these messages all around us in magazines and newspapers, but how do you choose the right activity? There are three main goals for fitness. First, strengthening the heart and lungs. Second, strengthening the muscles. Third, controlling body weight. Not all activities will meet each goal. You may center on one goal or, for total fitness, all three. Running No other exercise will help you lose weight faster than running. It also strengthens your heart, lungs, and leg muscles. But it can hurt your joints. If you feel pain in your knees, you need to stop and choose a different activity. Walking This activity puts less stress on the body than running. But to see results you need to get your heart beating faster. This means you'll need to walk fast. Swimming Swimming is a great way to strengthen different pasts of your body. But if weight loss is your goal, you may want to pass on the pool. The water in a swimming pool is cooler than our body temperature. The body naturally protects itself from the cold by keeping fat. Cycling Riding a bicycle will help you lose weight and work your leg muscles. But be careful! If you live in the city, stay on bike path, away from traffic. Or you can ride indoors on a stationary bike. Weight lifting We often hear of elderly people falling and hurting themselves. They just don't have the strength to catch themselves. Lifting weights can prevent that. It also helps prevent injury form other activities. The drawback to weight lifting is that you'll need to pay for a membership at a gym. Running can help you a lot, but it can't _ . Answer:
A Nobel Prize is considered by most people one of the highest international honors a person can receive. As you know, the prizes were started by a Swedish called Alfred Nobel. He was born in Stockholm ,the capital of Sweden. Alfred Nobel was a great scientist. He made two important inventions, and so he became very rich. Although he was rich, Nobel was not a happy man. He never married or had children. Also, he was a sick man during his large part of life. When he died at the age of 63,he left a fund of $9,000,000.The money was used in giving prizes to those who made great achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine and literature , and for world peace. The first Nobel Prize were given on December 10,1901,five years after Nobel's death. Since then many famous people from all over the world have been given Nobel Prize for their achievements. Each prize has three parts. The first part is a gold medal. Second, a winner of a Nobel Prize is given a _ , saying that he has been given the prize. The third part of the prize is a large amount of money------about $40,000. Often a prize is given to just one person ,but not always. Sometimes a prize is shared. It may be given to two or more people who have worked together .It is also sometimes true that a prize is not given at all if there is no great achievement. In 1972,for example, no Nobel Peace Prize was given. How many persons is a Nobel Prize given to? Answer: Not always one person So long as teachers fail to distinguish between teaching and learning, they will continue to undertake to do for children what only children can do for themselves. Teaching children to read is not passing reading on to them. It is certainly not endless hours spent in activities about reading. Douglas insists that "reading cannot be taught directly and schools should stop trying to do the impossible." Teaching and learning are two entirely different processes. They differ in kind and function. The function of teaching is to create the conditions and the climate that will make it possible for children to devise the most efficient system for teaching themselves to read. Teaching is also a public activity. It can be seen and observed. Learning to read involves all that each individual does to make sense of the world of printed language. Almost all of it is private, for learning is an occupation of the mind, and that process is not open to public scrutiny. If teacher and learner roles are not interchangeable, what then can be done through teaching that will aid the child in the quest for knowledge? Smith has one principal rule for all teaching instructions. "Make learning to read easy, which means making reading a meaningful, enjoyable and frequent experience for children." When the roles of teacher and learner are seen for what they are, and when both teachers and learners fulfill them appropriately, then much of the pressure and feeling of failure for both is eliminated. Learning to read is made easier when teachers create an environment where children are given the opportunity to solve the problem of leaning to read by reading The main idea of the passage is that _ . Answer: reading ability is something acquired rather than taught China has Mid-Autumn Festival. Canada and the US have Thanksgiving Day. Many countries around the world have harvest festivals. This is the best time for the harvest. Every year in the United States, Thanksgiving Day is on the fourth Thursday of November. But in Canada, people have Thanksgiving Day on the second Monday in October, because Canada is north of the United States, and it is colder, the harvest comes earlier in the year. The harvest brings a lot of food to the people. On Thanksgiving Day, people in Canada and America like to have a big meal with their friends and family--just like Chinese people do at Mid-Autumn Festival. Many Canadians and Americans put flowers, vegetables, and fruits around their homes to say "Thank you" for the harvest. Canada has Thanksgiving earlier in the year because _ . Answer: the harvest comes earlier As the old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But Venezuela, whose beauty queens have won Miss Universe and Miss World over six times, doesn't leave it to chance. In Venezuela, girls as young as four can be found attending beauty schools, where they can learn a range of skills from how to walk to the correct way to hold a wine glass. "Hair must always be completely clean, make-up should look natural, and you should always, always wear high-heels," advises Andrea Reyes, a teacher in a school of Caracas with 160 students. Beauty contests are treated in Venezuela much as sporting competitions are elsewhere. Many Venezuelan parents believe that if their daughters can succeed and get the beauty crown, their future as famous and public persons is sure to come. As a result, the girls are trained to compete at a young age. Among former beauty queens are Irene Saez, who went on to compete for the country's president, and Eva Ekvall, whose battle with cancer helped to make more people know about the illness in Venezuela. However, voices against the trend can be heard all over the country. At one time, a feminist group tried to stop the Miss Venezuela broadcast. President Hugo Chavez has spoken out against the culture of plastic surgery in Venezuela, calling it a "frightening thing". The BBC reporter Sarah Grainger says that acceptance of the contests is partly a result of the country's "machista" view of the different roles that men and women should play, "Men are supposed to be strong and brave and women to be gentle and beautiful". Miss Universe 1996, Alicia Machado, knows the price to be paid when you're no longer seen as attractive. After winning the beauty contest, she said all she wanted to do was "eat, eat and eat". Her weight gain later and warning by the organizers of the contest to replace her as queen with the _ was among the hottest topics in the country, especially in Latin America. What's the advice given by a teacher in Caracas to her students? Answer: Washing your hair quite often. By the middle of the 19th century, newspapers were becoming the primary means of spreading and receiving information. The period between 1890 and 1920 is known as the "golden age" of print media. Broadcast radio came onto the media scene in the 1920's. Newspapers were forced to re-evaluate their role as society's primary information provider. Like the new media technologies of today, the development of a low-cost, convenient media source produced results that radio would greatly affect the newspaper industry. No sooner had newspapers adapted to radio than they were forced to re-evaluate themselves because of a new and more powerful medium: television. Between 1940 and 1990, newspaper sales in America dropped from one newspaper for every two adults to one for every three adults. Some newspapers, like USA Today, responded to the technological advancements by using color1 and the "short, quick and to the point" stories that are usually featured on television. The technological revolution of today is creating new challenges and opportunities for traditional media. Never before has so much information been so accessible to so many. By the end of the 1990s, about 700 traditional media had websites; today there are thousands. The amount and speed of information on the Internet is _ , but it has not signalled the end of the newspaper's existence . Newspapers in print remain a popular and powerful medium for the reporting and analysis of events that shape our lives. It is reported that one billion people in the world read a newspaper every day! USA Today is mentioned as an example to tell us _ . Answer: newspapers used some advantages of television
A boy woke up super excited for this special day. He could not contain his excitement knowing that the soccer final was today! He had been working all year long to get to this day. He quickly hopped off his bed and went to eat his breakfast. His mom had made pancakes, waffles, and eggs, but the boy felt like eating cereal. His mom had laid out his soccer clothes and after he was done with his breakfast, he couldn't wait to put them on. He quickly changed into the clothes, and ran to the car where his mom was waiting for him to get in. The ride seemed to take a long time as he was super excited to play. The team was there and they started a small practice before the big game! The game started and the boy was very nervous since the other team looked really good. His team was as good too and they were tied at the end! Everyone either got a trophy or a medal for playing in the game, and the boy got a trophy. It was one of the best times the boy had ever had. The day was starting to get dark and he could feel sprinkles on his hands. His parents asked the boy if he wanted to eat ice cream and pizza after the game. The boy said he was tired and went home with his parents and he could not stop talking about how super fun the game was. He talked and talked and talked and his parents were very proud of him. He talked so much that he fell asleep in the car! His dad carried him into the house and put him in his bed. The boy had such a great day that he dreamed of soccer all night long. The trophy he had been given would let him remember about the fun day he had. What did the boy do after the game? A. He told his parents all about it and fell asleep B. It rained so everyone got muddy and the boy fell in a puddle C. The team ate pizza after the game D. He went to eat ice cream where his ice cream fell on the floor Answer: A. He told his parents all about it and fell asleep The ChinaDailynewspaper group is looking for English-language senior business editors, senior copy editors, copy editors and graphic designers to strengthen its international team. We offer a competitive salary package, free accommodation with utilities paid for, 90 percent medical reimbursement , a seven-day paid leave, eleven-day public holidays and a return ticket to the country of residence. Senior Business Editor You must: assist the business editor in setting goals and working on achieving them; be an excellent team person who can generate ideas and think creatively and be able to rewrite totally if needed and mentor junior staff; ideally have been working or have worked in a position of responsibility and understand what leadership entails; have had at least five years' editing experience working on editing the Business Desk and be familiar with industry software. Senior Copy Editor You must: work on shifts in the Business Desk and usually have the last word before the page is sent to print; edit or rewrite copy and give snappy headlines and captions ; have had at least two years' editing experience working on editing desks and be familiar with industry software. Copy Editor You must: be good at editing or rewriting copy and writing snappy headlines and captions; be able to work on shifts for different pages, and usually have the last word before the page is sent to print; have two years of editing experience working on copy desks, and be familiar with industry software. Graphic Designer You must: have excellent skills in information graphics; be good at illustrations and freehand drawings; be experienced in newspaper or magazine layouts; have a good sense of typography ; have good news judgment; be well-versed with Macintosh software, including InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop; be fluent in English. For enquiries or to apply, write to job@chinadaily.com.cn. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. Free medical fee is available to the workers. B. The workers there can enjoy a seven-day leave without pay. C. The senior business editor's only job is to help the business editor to set goals. D. The employees have the right to enjoy eleven-day public holidays. Answer: D. The employees have the right to enjoy eleven-day public holidays. The 4-year-old boy was mentally disabled, unable to speak in complete sentences and unable to play with other children because of his violent fits of hitting and biting. The decision facing one Brooklyn jury was how much a landlord should pay in damages to the boy -- named "G.M.M." in court documents -- after an investigation showed he had been living in an apartment illegally coated with lead paint. Attorneys representing G.M.M. said $3.4 million was the right number, arguing that the boy would have had a bright career ahead of him; both of his parents had graduated from college and his mother received a master's degree. But the landlord's defense put the figure at less than half that -- $1.5 million. Attorney Roger Archibald noted that because the boy was Hispanic, G.M.M. was unlikely to attain the advanced education that would provide to such a large income. The 4-year-old's case is a rare public look at one corner of the American legal system that explicitly uses race and gender to determine how much victims or their families should receive in compensation when they are seriously injured or killed. As a result, white and male victims often receive larger awards than people of color and women in similar cases. These differences largely derive from _ of how much more money individuals would have earned over their lifetimes had they not been injured -- projections that take into account average earnings and employment levels by race and gender. What does the author feel about the boy's case? A. Angry. B. Satisfied. C. Unjust. D. Optimistic. Answer: C. Unjust. New crime prediction software should reduce not only the murder rate, but the rate of other crimes. Developed by Richard Berk, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, the software has already used in Baltimore and Philadelphia to predict which individuals on probation or parole are most likely to murder and to be murdered. "When a person goes on probation or parole he is supervised by an officer. The question is 'what level of supervision is appropriate?'" said Berk. It used to be that parole officers used the person's criminal record, and their judgment to make decisions. "This research replaces those _ ," he said. Technology helps determine level of supervision. On average there is one murder for every 100,000 people. Even among high-risk groups the murder rate is one in 100. Predicting such a rare event is very difficult, but advances in computer technology works. Years ago, the researchers made a dataset of more than 60,000 various crimes. Using the software they developed, they found some much more likely to commit murder when paroled or probated. They could identify eight future murderers out of 100. Berk's software examines roughly two dozen variables , from criminal record to geographic location. The type of crimes, and more importantly, the age at which that crime was committed, were two of the most predictive variables. "People assume that if someone murdered then they will murder in the future," said Berk. " What really matters is what that person did as a young individual. Predicting future crimes sounds well. But we aren't anywhere near being able to do that." "Berk's scientific answer leaves policymakers with difficult questions. By labeling one group of people as high risk, and supervise them closely, there should be fewer murders, which the potential victims should be happy about. It also means that those high-risk individuals will be supervised more aggressively. For human rights advocates, that means punishing people who, most likely, will not commit a crime in the future," said Bushway. "It comes down to a question of whether you would rather make these errors or those errors." For 650 people with crime records, how many potential murderers would the software find? A. 6.5. B. 13. C. 52. D. 65. Answer: C. 52. Maurice Sendak's children's book,Where the Wild Things Are,published in 1963,has become very successful throughout the years and was made into a movie earlier this year. The book's main character is a boy named Max who gets into trouble with his mother and is sent to bed without any supper.Before long,Max's room magically becomes a forest,and he sails away to a land where monsters live.Max isn't scared,though,and becomes king of the wild things,but after a while,he begins feeling homesick.Max sails back home and his supper is still hot when he arrives in his bedroom. Many teachers and professors like this story and use it to help children develop creativity and imagination. Melina Davis,an education professor,said she likes how the book contains a couple of pages that have only pictures on them. "This allows children to shape the story themselves," she said. The book contains a few of larger words that some parents worry may confuse children,but experts say those words help improve children's reading skills and challenge them. Davis said the book is well written which helps kids get involved in the story. "The book talks about what all children go through,like 'I was naughty but my mommy still loves me'" Davis said. The book also encourages children to face their fears."I think it's really good to show that Max is friends with the monsters," Davis said."Kids can find out monsters aren't always the thing under the bed that's going to scare them.I think this is good because it shows that the children can go to scary places but still have a positive experience." Since the book has been successful throughout the years,a movie was recently made and many people are excited to see it.Davis said she thinks the movie will be wonderful but it might be a little scary for younger children."You don't want bad dreams over a book that's extremely wonderful'" Davis said. What is the intention of using the larger words in the book? A. To add to the difficulty while children are reading. B. To help challenge the children's reading skills. C. To cause the children some confusion. D. To help children get involved in the story. Answer: B. To help challenge the children's reading skills.
"Confidence" is probably one of the most noticeable traits in the Americans. They show confidence in the way they talk, the way they smile, the way they dress and the way they walk. Living and competing with all these confident American students, I find it extremely important to be confident as an international student and instructor. As a student, being confident means you should never hesitate to raise your hand whenever a question or a point comes to your mind. Don't mind if it sounds simple or silly. Otherwise you will never get a chance to speak in class at all. What's worse, the professors may think you are not prepared for the discussion or you do not have your own opinion on the issue--this is the last comment any graduate would like to receive. Being confident for me as a foreign instructor means calmly asking the student to repeat what he or she has said if I did not get it. Pretending to understand what you actually did not may just bring yourself embarrassment or even disgrace. But the time I most need to be confident is when my students come to my office and bargain about the grades I have given for their speeches. (The course I'm teaching here is Public speaking). Modesty is a trait highly valued in China, but it won't be of much help here if you want to survive and succeed in a good American graduate program. A professor will have the worst opinion of a student who _ . A. gives a silly or simple answer B. tries to seize any chance to speak in class C. shows no interest in the course D. is considered to have no opinion of his own Answer: D Check out some fun weekend activities from our friends at Arizona Parenting. Walk in the Wild: Walk or run for wildlife at the Phoenix Zoo's Walk in the Wild 2016. Put on your favorite animal dress and take part in the one mile or 5K,enjoying the sights and sounds of the Zoo. Walk in the Wild includes a morning full of unique activities you won't find at any other valley walk, including all-day zoo admission and a lakeside after-party. Register online. 6-10 am. Phoenix Zoo, 455 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 602-286-3800. Free Museum Day: It is hosted by Sesame Street and HBO at the Children's Museum of Phoenix. Kids can participate in activities, enjoy a performance by the Sesame Street Muppets and get to join the Everyday Heroes Club. An act of kindness is all it takes to become a member. Performances and activities will take place at 10:30--11:30 am and 1:30--2:30 pm. 9 am--4 pm. Children's Museum of Phoenix, 215 N. 7th street, Phoenix. 602-253-0501. Sunday A'Fair: Sunday A'Fair features free outdoor concerts in Scottsdale Civic Center Park by top Arizona musicians, along with an arts-and-crafts market, fun activities for children and families, guided tours of the sculptures in the park and free admission to Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA). Guests are invited to bring blankets, lawn chairs or picnic baskets, and enjoy a relaxing afternoon of great entertainment. Delicious foods, snacks, beer, wine and soft drinks are also available for purchase. 12-4 pm. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. 2ndSt., Scottsdale. 480-994-ARTS (2787). Where can one go to buy some works of art? A. The Phoenix Zoo B. Scottsdale Civic Center Park. C. The Children's Museum of Phoenix. D. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. Answer: B Last week I was in the boarding area of the airport, very excited about my trip home to see my parents .I had many plans for the weekend. But my daydream was interrupted by an elderly woman talking loudly into her cell phone. She kept asking the person to meet her where she was and was repeating the gate number into the phone. With each repeat she got a little louder. All the people around were trying to avoid laughing. Then I heard her say, "I' m sorry, I can't hear you .There seems to be something wrong with my hearing aid." As I waited for my turn to board ,I noticed her tone was becoming increasingly frantic as she tried to understand the person on the other end of the phone. It was almost my turn to board. I couldn't stop looking back at the woman .It made me think how lucky I was to have my hearing .Then I realized I could do something to help. I walked over to the woman and shouted ,"Let me help you hear .I'll tell you what the person is saying." The doubt that flickered across her face was quickly replaced with understanding ,then relief . I took the phone from her, listen for a moment, and then told the woman that her husband was waiting for her in the baggage area as he could not enter the gate area. Then I pointed her in the right direction. It took me less than two minutes to help the woman, but my pride in having been able to help her remains strong. What is the best title for the text? A. The Noise Airport B. I Can't Hear You C. My First Flight On a Plane D. The Woman in the Baggage Area Answer: B Are you interested both in camp and music? Maybe the MSU Community Music School is a better place for you to go! It offers different music camps this summer! Rock Camp June 23 - 27, 2014 $220 It is held for middle and high school students who have some experience playing their instruments (guitar, bass, drums, or keyboard). Bands will be coached by members of The Outer Vibe. At camp, students will form and work in their own bands based on musical interest and skill level. They will learn songs in preparation for an end-of-camp rock concert at The Loft on June 27! Band Camp July 14 - 18, 2014 $215 It's a camp for middle school students who have completed at least one year of instrumental study. This camp provides students with an opportunity to perform with other talented students, and receive class about musical skills. Then a concert for parents and friends will be held on July 18 at Fairchild Theatre. Musical Theatre Camp July 14 - 25, 2014 $300 for Grades 9-12 $220 for Grades 2-8 This camp is held for elementary, middle and high school students. Campers in grades 9-12 will spend the full two weeks developing skills including voice development, dancing, and prop design. Campers in grades 2-8 will join them in the second week, and the camp will give a final performance featuring scenes and songs from many popular musicals. Beginning Strings Camp August 4 - 8, 2014 $185 This camp will introduce violins, violas and cellos to children ages 6-12. It will give the students lessons by professional string teachers, along with singing and music theory games. Instruments are provided by CMS through a donation by Marshall Music Co. for students who do not have one. At the end of the camp, there will be a final performance to show what the students have learned. What do the four camps have in common? A. They all invite some famous stars to teach. B. They are all open to students in all grades. C. They are all organized by Marshall Music Co. D. They all include an end-of-camp performance. Answer: D If you don't keep yourself warm enough, winter can be a time of illness. During the winter months, people easily get colds and flu . Many think they are the same, but these two illnesses are different. Colds can stay with you for up to a week. You will have a running nose, sore throat, headache, cough and a fever. Flu is more serious. You will feel sick very quickly. You will have a fever and a headache. Your body will hurt and become weak. This could last for up to four weeks. Is there any way to keep yourself away from colds and flu? Staying clear of people with colds or flu may work. Try not to touch your nose or eyes if you have been close to someone who has a cold. Wash your hands, especially after cleaning your nose. Going out with wet hair can also give you a cold! If you catch a cold or flu, go to bed and rest. Doing this will help you get better. Drink lots of water. Stay in a warm, well-aired room. If you have a headache, or your muscles hurt, take some medicine. The passage is possibly from _ . A. a news report B. fashion news C. a health magazine D. a medicine ad Answer: C
When we talk about red packets, the most important question is "What are you going to do with it?" One thing you could do is to put your money in the bank. Maybe you don't know, some students in Hubei began to use the Xiaogui Dangjia bank card this year. This is a card for children. It is from China Minsheng Bank in Wuhan. Wang Ming is a 14-year-old junior student in Wuhan. He said "All my pocket money has a place to go now. I can pay my own school fees ." Zhu Yu, a manager of Minsheng Bank, said that they knew lots of students who didn't know how to use their money. So they wanted them to know how to use it carefully. Parents worry that children don't know how to take care of the money by themselves. Shen qiangqiang's mother like the card very much. Shen was asking his mother for a computer for a long time, but his mother didn't buy it for him. She said, "We want him to use his card to save money for the computer. If we buy everything he asks for, he will think money comes too easily, and he won't work hard for it." Today, there are many different kinds of bank cards. They are from different banks. People put their money in them. Then they can use their money at any time. People can do many things with bank cards. They can wash cars, go shopping, eat delicious food and travel to other places with the money in their bank cards. The most important thing is not "How much did you get?" It is necessary for everyone to learn how to save your money and use your money correctly. What is the best title of this passage? A. Money from different banks B. How do people use bank cards C. Learning how to save money D. Learning how to spend money Answer: C. Learning how to save money Teeth are important. Strong , healthy teeth help you chew foods that help you grow. They help you speak clearly. And yes ,they help you look best. Here are some tips for you to take care of you teeth: 1. Brush your teeth the right way. Brush your teeth at least twice a day - after breakfast and before bedtime. If you can, brush after lunch or after sweet snacks, too. Brush all of your teeth, not just the front ones. Spend time brushing teeth along the sides and back of your mouth. Spend at least three minutes each time you brush. Play a song you like to help pass the time. Get a new toothbrush every three months. When you buy toothbrush, be sure it has soft bristles . 2. Learn how to floss your teeth.. Flossing is a very important way to keep your teeth healthy. Food may hide between two teeth. Flossing can help get rid of it. You'll need to floss your teeth at least once a day. 3. Have good eating habits. You need to be careful about what you eat and drink. Eating sugar is a major cause of tooth decay . Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drink water instead of soda . How often should we change our toothbrushes? A. never B. three times a month C. every three months D. every month Answer: C. every three months When computer salesman Li Guang and his girlfriend Huang Minxia saw on TV the destruction caused by the unexpected earthquake,they quickly filled their car with bottled water and instant noodles and drove more than 160 miles to lend a hand. "It's a small car,but we just wanted to help," said Li,from Chongqing,a city next to the hardest-hit Sichuan province. Donations are flooding in,more money than charities in China collected all of last year,and so are volunteers. In the week since the quake,donations have totaled $1.3 billion--85 percent raised within China. Many,like Li,are taking advantage of growing private car ownership and a new,expanding highway system to join the line of government and army assistance toward the epicenter. Across the disaster region,thousands of cars decorated with large handwritten signs--"Hardship comes from one direction,help comes from everywhere" and "For the people,for the Beijing Olympics"--were coming from as far as the capital,Beijing,more than 900 miles away. Private cars crowded so thickly on roads that the police set up donation drop-off points outside cities and towns to clear the way for army and government assistance.People living in tents along the roads posted handwritten signs asking for urgently needed items--water,rice,vegetables.Cars paused to hand out a box or two and then drove on. Instead of waiting for government-organized charity drives,people quickly acted on their own.Bank account numbers for making earthquake donations flashed on Web logs and mobile phones.Blood donation centers were overwhelmed by offers and began asking citizens to register in advance. "People are really united this time,and they're acting on their own without waiting to be asked.It sounds _ ,but we're taught in schools and from our parents about helping others," said Ge Jian,the company's general manager. According to the passage,all the following statements are true EXCEPT _ . A. The good road system made it possible for more private car owners to rush to help. B. The local people in the quake zone were short of food and drinks. C. More money was collected from overseas than within China for the earthquake. D. People across China were taking active part in the rescue work. Answer: C. More money was collected from overseas than within China for the earthquake. Jane was not a good student. Her head was in the clouds most of the time. She wanted to listen in class, but other things seemed more important: her clothes, her hairstyle, films and television. Many times she tried to work hard at her lessons, but soon she became absent-minded. One day, her math teacher gave the class an important lesson and told her students that there would be a test the next week. She helped them review all the week. Jane seemed to listen in class, but her mind went away again. The day of the test arrived. Jane couldn't answer many of the questions on the exam. Mike, a very hard-working student, sat next to Jane. So Jane decided to copy his. Mike was very angry when he found Jane was copying his answers. He changed all his answers so that they were not right. Before the bell rang, Mike quickly changed his answers back into right ones. After the test, Mike turned to Jane and said, " All those answers you copied from my paper are wrong." Mike was angry when he _ . A. was changing all his answers B. failed the math test C. found Jane was copying D. found Jane copying the wrong answers Answer: C. found Jane was copying Having finished her homework, Ma Li wants some music for relaxation. As usual, she starts her computer and goes to Baidu.com to download music files. But this time she is surprised when an announcement about protecting songs' copyright appears on the screen. The age of free music and movie downloads may have come to an end as Web companies like Baidu are accused of pirating copyright. Lawsuits have been filed against four websites offering free downloads. In September 2005, a Beijing court ordered Baidu to pay the recording company Shanghai Push compensation for their losses. Baidu was also told to block the links to the pirated music on the websites. This caused a heated discussion on Interact file sharing. "Baidu's defeat in the lawsuit shows it is hot fight to get copyrighted songs without paying." Downloads may face lawsuits or fines," said an official. Like many teens, Huang Ruoru, an 18-year-old girl from Puning in prefix = st1 /GuangdongProvince, doesn't think that getting music from websites is wrong. She always shares her favorite songs downloaded from Baidu with her friends. When told about the lawsuit, she began to feel a little guilty about getting others' work without paying. However, other teenagers have different ideas. Wang Yafei, a senior 2 girl from Jinan, ShangdongProvincepointed out that file sharing is a good way to promote pop singers. " If I download a song and really like it, I will buy the CD," she said. "So what the recording companies really concentrate on is improving their music, rather than pursuing file-shares." What can you learn from this passage? A. Baidu didn't pay Shanghai Push for their losses. B. People will probably have to pay to download music. C. More and more websites will stop downloading music. D. Recording companies' music is not as good as that on the Internet. Answer: B. People will probably have to pay to download music.
Question: How far would you be willing to go to satisfy your need to know? Far enough to find out your possibility of dying from a terrible disease? These days that's more than an academic question, as Tracy Smith reports in our Cover Story. There are now more than a thousand genetic tests, for everything from baldness to breast cancer, and the list is growing. Question is, do you really want to know what might eventually kill you? For instance, Nobel Prize-winning scientist James Watson, one of the first people to map their entire genetic makeup, is said to have asked not to be told if he were at a higher risk for Alzheimer' . "If I tell you that you have an increased risk of getting a terrible disease, that could weigh on your mind and make you anxious, through which you see the rest of your life as you wait for that disease to hit you. It could really mess you up." Said Dr. Robert Green, a Harvard geneticist. "Every ache and pain," Smith suggested, "could be understood as the beginning of the end." "That 's right. If you ever worried you were at risk for Alzheimer's disease, then every time you can't find your car in the parking lot, you think the disease has started." Dr. Green has been thinking about this issue for years. He led a study of people who wanted to know if they were at a higher genetic risk for Alzheimer's. It was thought that people who got bad news would, for lack of a better medical term, _ . But Green and his team found that there was "no significant difference" between how people handled good news and possibly the worst news of their lives. In fact, most people think they can handle it. People who ask for the information usually can handle the information, good or bad, said Green. Which of the following is true about James Watson? A. He doesn't want to know his chance of getting a disease. B. He is strongly in favor of the present genetic tests. C. He believes genetic mapping can help cure any disease. D. He is more likely to suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Answer: A. He doesn't want to know his chance of getting a disease. Question: Is it a tree? Is it a bear? If you're looking at a tree in the shape of a bear, it's a topiary . A topiary is a tree or bush that is trained into a shape. Growing a topiary garden takes both time and skills. A topiary gardener should make a drawing first. The drawing shows the final shape that the gardener likes. The gardener then chooses a bush for the topiary. It may be one that just planted or one that is already in place. In June of the plant's first year, the gardener looks for new leaves. When the leaves grow, it's time to shape the bottom of the bush. It needs about five years. The top is not _ during this time. In the fifth year, the bush grows tall enough for shaping. Then the gardener begins to shape the whole bush. Once a topiary has been started, it needs care all year. In the summer it must be cut many times to keep its shape. This cutting also helps the bush grow. In the winter the bushes don't grow. The gardeners have to brush snow off the plants, or snow may hurt some parts of them. Topiary gardening is a very old art. The Romans did it in the first century. In the sixteenth century, people in Europe liked topiaries too. By the late 1600s, topiaries were also grown in America. Today it's popular in many parts of the world. The writer wants to tell us _ . A. what a topiary is like B. a topiary is a tree in the shape of a bear C. it's easy and interesting to grow a topiary D. growing a topiary garden takes both time and skills Answer: D. growing a topiary garden takes both time and skills Question: On Saturday August 12, 2000, during Northern Fleet training exercises in the Barents Sea, the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk sank in about 100 meters of water with some 118 sailors aboard. It's known later that several officers were also aboard, observing the training exercises. The Kursk is lying on the ocean floor in the Barents Sea. The Russian Navy said that it was listing 30 degrees to port. Other sources reported it was listing as much 60 as degrees. According to a Russian newspaper, when the submarine Kursk failed to make contact with the naval command at the right time later that day, Northern Fleet Commander Admiral Vyachesav Popov ordered rescue ships into the area. It took hours to find the submarine, as it didn't launch a marking buoy before sinking. Russian Navy Chief insisted that the submarine Kursk had been involved in a major collision , but a great deal of information shows that this is not true. Up till now, it's believed that an explosion in the torpedo compartment in the nose of the Kursk was the likely cause. Now Russian government officially asked Norway for help in recovering of sailors' bodies first of all, and Norway has agreed to offer all help. But Russian insisted that only Russians work inside the submarine Kursk and that the work last for about 10~18 working days. It is expected to recover only 25~35 bodies from the Kursk. It was not until October 25, when a team of Russian divers entered the submarine Kursk, some 350 feet below the surface, that truth became clear. On November 7, in the morning, owing to the icy and the cold weather, a special rescue meeting held on Murmansk decided to stop the whole bodies recovering operation. After Kursk accident occurred, Northern Fleet Commander Popov _ . A. decided to recover all the sailors' bodies immediately B. went to apply to Norway for help at once C. decided to find out the real cause of sinking at once D. sent several rescue ships into the Barents Sea Answer: D. sent several rescue ships into the Barents Sea Question: With the beautiful music, the first lesson of the new term in 2014 began at 8:05 on the evening of September 1st, 2014. The program includes four parts: be nice to your parents, be polite to others, love others and be self-improved. It really makes a great difference to the students and the parents' ideas. Family education plays an important role to the children. The "king" of fairy tales Zheng Yuanjie told us the story between his father, his son and him. His father helped him fill the pen in order to let Zheng focus on writing. His father set us a good example on how to be a nice father. Zheng is nice to his father, too. He bought a TV for his father and his son learnt from him. The moving story really touched my heart. It made me know how important it is to teach by precept and example role. Joey Yung told us that how her mother taught her to be a polite girl. We should think about others when we do something we like. We need try to be popular people. She reminded us of good manners in our daily life. Qin Yong, a famous rock star, gave up his career and put all his heart in educating his sick son. Though he felt too tired, he never quitted. It's his duty to bring his son up. When he found that his son made great progress, he felt very happy. The orphans' life made us deeply moved. From their father, we know that if we encourage a person, he will have self-improvement. From this program, we know that we should love the people around us. Then, our world will be better and better. Which of the following is TRUE? A. Joey Yung told us that how her father taught her to be a polite girl. B. We needn't try to make others like us. C. Qin Yong never felt tired to help his son. D. With Qin's help, his son made big progress. Answer: D. With Qin's help, his son made big progress. Question: Body language has always been a hot topic of interesting dinner conversations. It is perhaps one of the most powerful forms of human expression or human communication! Body language is a very important part of communication which can constitute 50% or more of what we are communicating to other persons. If you wish to communicate effectively, besides the words, you can use your body to say what you mean. Body language can be used to discover all sorts of things such as, knowing when someone is attracted to you, finding truth or lies, showing confidence, winning respect in any situation, and you can use body language to make people less nervous, make friends quickly, persuade and influence. So what is body language? Body language is a term used to describe the method of communication using body movements or gestures instead of, or besides, spoken language or other communication. Body language also includes many movements that most people are not aware of, such as winking and slight movements of the eyebrows and other facial expressions. Body language is one of the easiest ways for you to tell what's really going on in a conversation with another person. The body language that you observe from other people will tell you whether or not those people are telling you the truth, or whether there is something more that's not being said. Watch, look and observe. Sometimes you can tell more by a person's body language than the words he speaks. Which of the following is NOT true about body language? A. It is a part of communication. B. It helps us communicate more effectively. C. It sometimes tells more than spoken language. D. It's only needed when we have nothing to say. Answer: D. It's only needed when we have nothing to say.
Marvin Minsky is often called the Father of Artificial Intelligence. His work helped inspire the creation of the personal computer and the Internet. Artificial Intelligence Before Minsky, computers were more like calculators, performing math operations at speeds much faster than humans. Minsky was the first to say that computers can one day be as intelligent as human beings. He was so convinced about this, that in 1959, he and his friend John McCarthy invented the term "Artificial Intelligence" at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Minsky wrote a book called Perceptrons, describing a particular type of "artificial neural network". Neural networks have made a comeback in a new field of Computer Science called Deep Learning. Deep Learning is used to recognize things and people in pictures (as seen in Facebook and Google Photos), language translation( try Google Translate sometimes), and so on. Robotics, Microscopes and Virtual Reality How many of you have done Robotics at school and loved it? You have Minsky to thank again, for his work on Robotics. One of his biggest inventions was the confocal scanning microscope, an instrument that is still widely used today in medical and scientific research. Minsky was really futuristic. He created one of the first head-mounted graphics displays , which gave rise to the exciting area of Virtual Reality. This year, Facebook is releasing Oculus, a virtual reality headset, which you can use to play games with your friends in a 3-D environment. Minsky's major prediction that computers will one day become as intelligent as humans is now called the Theory of Singularity. Which is NOT one of Minsky's characteristics according to the passage? Considerate. Bet Winner MILLBURN, New Jersey-- An 11-year-old boy, he gave up television for a year in a bet with his mother, says he will use some of the money to buy himself an astronaut's suit. The bet ended at 9:01 on Monday morning, but Benjamin waited until his mother, Roslyn, handed him five 100-dollar bills in front of a gathering of newspapermen in the afternoon before switching on the TV. During the past year, he has filled his time reading and his grades have improved from ''satisfactory" to ''very good." CHINA DAILY, Wednesday, March 9, 2011 ( 94 words ) Why do you think the newspapermen came? They came for the news Goats are amazing animals. They can survive just about anywhere. Altogether there are nine species of goats in the world. Goats have more uses than you could ever imagine. Goat's meat can be eaten and goat's milk is becoming popular as a healthy choice to drink milk. Goat's milk is easier to take in than cow's milk and it is called universal milk as it can be used to bottle-feed most animals. In nutrition, it is also good. Goat's skins are still used today to make gloves and other items of clothing. The initial reasons for domesticating goats were to get goat's hair, meat and milk. Goat's skins were used up until the Middle Ages for making bottles to hold water and wine for people who were traveling or camping. Just like sheep, goats are considered to be the first domesticated animal. The domestication process began over 10,000 years ago in a North Iranian town. A lot of people keep goats as pets nowadays. Goats are easily trained and you can teach them to pull carts and walk on ropes. Goats are also known for escaping their pens . If you have unsecured fencing, your goats will be interested in it and test it out and soon you will know where the openings are. Goats are also widely known for their ability to climb trees, although the tree generally has to be at a slight angle . If goats are raised correctly and trained from an early age, they never develop any bad habits. Goats will attack each other. However, if they're corrected from an early age they never attack humans or other animals. If you want to keep a goat as a pet, it is important _ . to train it when young Nicknames for Los Angeles A nickname is a shortened form of a person's name. A nickname can also be a descriptive name for a person, place or thing. Many American cities have nicknames. These can help establish an identity, spread pride among citizens and build unity. Nicknames can also be funny. Los Angeles, California is the second largest city in population, after New York City. Los Angeles has several nicknames. One is simply the city's initials, L.A. It is also called the City of Angels because Los Angeles means "the angels" in Spanish. Los Angeles often has warm, sunny weather. So another nickname is City of Flowers and Sunshine. New York is called The Big Apple. So Los Angeles is sometimes called The Big Orange because of the fruit that grows in that city's warm climate. The American motion picture and television industries are based in Los Angeles. So it is not surprising that it is called The Entertainment Capital of the World. Many films are made in the area of Los Angeles called Hollywood. Millions of people visit the area. Many movie stars live in Los Angeles. The city is sometimes called Tinseltown. This nickname comes from the shiny, bright and often unreal nature of Hollywood and the movie industry. Another nickname for Los Angeles is La-La Land, using the first letters of Los and Angeles. This means a place that is fun and not serious, and maybe even out of touch with reality. The city of Los Angeles is part of Los Angeles County. There are many smaller cities in the county. Beverly Hills, with its rich people, is one of them. So is Pasadena, with its Rose Parade each New Year's Day. So are the coastal cities of Santa Monica and Malibu, where people like to ride surfboards on the Pacific Ocean waves. A good place for watching unusual-looking people is Venice, an area on the west side of Los Angeles. A system of waterways designed after the Italian city of Venice has been built there. Many people love Los Angeles for its warm sunny weather, beautiful mountains and beaches, and movie stars. That includes Randy Newman, who sings about his hometown. A nickname of a place can have the following functions except _ . uniting surrounding cities Will you trust your friends if you can't see anything? If you are falling, do you believe they will catch you and help you stand up? Our teacher helped us to get the answer. One day, Mr. Morrie came into the classroom and said he had a game for us to try. He divided us into two groups. One student from the first group, stood in front of us with his eyes closed, and then fell backwards . The second group stood behind him. Before he fell on the floor, they should catch him and not let him get hurt. Most of us were uncomfortable with this. We were afraid that they wouldn't catch us and we would hit the floor. So we didn't move. We just stood there and laughed in embarrassment. Finally, one student, a thin, quiet, dark-haired girl called Sarah, decided to move. She crossed her arms in front of her body, closed her eyes, and slowly fell backwards. She looked quiet but brave. For a moment, I was sure that she was going to fall on the floor. But before she hit the floor, the other students caught her, held her and finally helped her stand up. "Whoa!!" We were all surprised, and also encouraged . The girl was happy, too. Seeing this, Morrie smiled and said to the girl, "When you close your eyes, you can't see anything. You won't feel safe. When you are falling, the feeling gets stronger. You are not sure whether you will hit the cold, hard floor or the warm, soft hands of your friends. But if you are brave enough to trust them, they will not let you down ." Why did the students feel encouraged? They felt they could trust each other.
A women went shopping for a dress to wear to her party. She asked her parents to come along but her dad was busy. Her mom joined her and brought a pear to eat later on as a snack. They went to the first store and the woman tried on a dress. It cut off right at the knee. She liked the dress so much she bought it. When they went back to their car they saw a bug had splashed on her window. They thought nothing of it and wanted to go eat breakfast since it was nine in the morning. Instead the restaurant was cooking peas. The mom asked the cashier why they were cooking peas. The cashier said because it was opposite day. The woman and her mom wanted to eat the peas and bought steaks as well. They were liking the peas and steak so much. After eating, they got a vanilla milkshake and went to more stores to shop for fun. Who went with the woman dress shopping? Answer: When Han Duan started her professional career at 16, China's national women's football team was defeated in the final of the World Cup by the US. While she was asked to play in her first World Cup in 2003, she largely remained on the bench after the first match. But things have changed. Now, Han is one of the most important players in China's team. " ," Han always says like that. Han wants every possible honor that a football player can get -- an Asian Cup, a World Cup and an Olympic medal. She has always been good at sports, especially swimming and horizontal bars. At school, she was the fastest in the 60m and 100m. But the reason she picked football was that she wanted to get more compliments . "Football is for boys. But I feel more fulfilled when I can do better than them and win more compliments," she said. Later, when she entered a football school, the coach always asked Han to show others what to do. However, nobody can be good at everything. Han described her singing as "howling" and the only school subject she was good at was Chinese. "I was very happy every time my essay was posted on the wall for my schoolmates to read." But Han still has some regrets about her school years. Her handwriting was terrible at school. She ever wanted to improve her handwriting but didn't achieve much. "My fans ask for my signature , so I'd better practice and practice. It's not too late," she says. According to the passage, we know that Han Duan _ . Answer: Imagine yourself on a boat looking out at the horizon and all you can see is the water meeting the sky with no land in sight and you are sailing straight ahead to meet the world. Jesse Martin does not have to imagine: he is living in it. On Dec. 7, 1998, at 17 years old, Jesse set sail from Melbourne, Australia on his boat, attempting to become the youngest person to sail alone and nonstop around the world. He sailed south of New Zealand, through the South Pacific, around South America, north on the Atlantic, back south past Africa, through the Indian Ocean and back to Melbourne. Even as a young child, Jesse had been an adventurer who traveled all over Europe and Asia with his parents. Born in Munich, Germany in 1981, he moved to Australia with his family when he was only two years old. They moved close to a rainforest in Cow Bay, about 3500kms north of Melbourne, where they built a small house with no electricity or running water. Jesse grew up at the beach enjoying the outdoors to its fullest. At 14, he sailed for the first time with his father and brother, Beau. It was after this trip that he began to dream about sailing around the world. Jesse's family played an important role. "I was made to believe I could do anything." he says. Although, he says, there were others that were not so encouraging or supportive, "People that I looked up to, respected and trusted told me I couldn't. Thankfully, I trusted myself. There were people that said that the boat couldn't be ready by the time I had to leave." However, through perseverance and belief in himself he was able to do what many told him was impossible. On Oct.31, 1999, more than 10 months after he set sail, Jesse Martin went down in history as the youngest person to sail around the world alone, nonstop and unassisted. Jesse Martin was at the end of his voyage when he _ . Answer: Women are on their way to holding more than half of all American jobs. The latest government report shows that their share of non-farm jobs nearly reached fifty percent in September, 2009. The job market continues to suffer the effects of last year's financial crash. On the one hand more women have entered the labor market over the years, and on the other hand the economic recession has hit men harder than women. In October the unemployment rate for men was almost 11% compared to 8% for women. Industries that traditionally use lots of men have suffered deep cuts. For example, manufacturing and building lost more jobs last month. But health care and temporary employment services have had job growth. Both of those industries employ high percentages of women. Thirty years ago, women earned sixty-two cents for every dollar that men earned. Now, for those who usually work full time, women earn about eighty percent of what men earn. And a recent study from the University of California, Davis, reveals that women hold fifty-one percent of well-paid management and professional jobs. Yet the study also shows that men still hold about nine out of every ten top positions at most companies. The results have remained largely unchanged for five years. Also, a new research paper in the journalSex Roleslooks at the experiences of women who are the main earners in their families. Rebecca Meisenbach at the University of Missouri in Columbia interviewed fifteen women. She found that they all value their independence and many enjoy having the power of control, though not all want it. But they even feel more pressure and worry. That is partly because of cultural expectations that working women should still take care of the children. Also, men who are not the main earners may feel threatened. In the late 1970s, if a man earned 500 dollars a month, a woman probably earned _ . Answer: To be a good teacher, you need some of the _ of a good actor; you must be able to hold the attention and interest of your audience; you must be a clear speaker, with a good, strong, pleasant voice which is fully under your control; and you must be able to act what you are teaching, in order to make its meaning clear. Watch a good teacher, and you will see that he doesn't sit still before his class; he stands the whole time he is teaching; he walks about, using his arms, hands and fingers to help him in his explanations, and his face to express feelings. There are very important differences between the teacher's work and the actor's. The actor has to speak words which he has learnt by heart; he has to repeat exactly the same words each time he plays a certain part, even his movements and the ways in which he uses his voice are usually fixed beforehand .What he has to do is to make all these carefully learnt words and actions seem natural on the stage. A good teacher works in quite a different way. His audience take an active part in his play: they ask and answer questions, they obey orders, and if they don't understand anything, they say so. The teacher can't learn his part by heart, but must invent it as he goes along. I have known many teachers who are fine actors in class but are unable to take part in a stage-play because they can't keep strictly to what another has written. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? Answer:
People who are slightly overweight or mildly obese have a lower risk of early death than normal weight individuals(;), according to a new analysis of nearly 100 international studies. The studies, most conducted within the past decade, included about three million adults from around the world. The result of these studies by researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics in Maryland, part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shows that slightly overweight or obese people were six percent less likely to die from all causes compared to people of normal weight. But the researchers found that seriously obese individuals were still at a 30 percent greater risk of death compared to healthy-weight individuals. Study lead author Katherine Flegal says she was not surprised that overweight people would not have a higher death risk. "Because we'd actually already read a lot of this literature and realized that death rates for overweight would be at least not higher than normal[weight," she said. "I guess l was a little bit surprised that it was definitely lower. And l was also surprised that the lower rates of obesity didn't seem to differ from normal weight." But Flegal stresses the difference in death rates appear to be small between normal-weight people and overweight and mildly obese individuals. The finding by Flegal and colleagues have raised new questions about the reliability of the so-called "body mass index" or BMI, a measurement of body fat as a ratio(,)of height to weight, that has become popular in recent years among public healthexperts to measure potential health risks. But Heymsfield warns that individuals should not conclude that it's okay to put on extra kilograms, since being at a healthy weight lowers the risk for heart disease and diabetes. What topic does the passage mainly deal with? Health. When we walk through the city, we all experience a kind of information overload but we pay attention only to those that are important to us. We don't stop, we keep our faces expressionless and eyes straight ahead, and in doing so, we are not just protecting ourselves but are avoiding overloading other people as well. We make use of stereotypes as convenient ways to make quick judgments about situations and people around us. They may not always be accurate, and they can often be dangerously wrong, but they are used regularly. The problem with the stereotypes is that they restrict experience. By using limited clues to provide us with a rapid opinion of other people or places we may choose to limit our communication. We may decide not to go to certain places because we believe they will not offer something we enjoy. In the city, styles of dress are particularly important with regard to self-presentation. Different groups often use clearly identifiable styles of clothes so that they can be easily recognized. It is becoming increasingly common for brand names to be placed on the outside of clothes, and this labeling makes it easy to send out information about fashion and price instantly, and lets other tell at a distance whether an individual has similar tastes and is a suitable person to associate with. In England, where social grouping or class continues to make social distinctions, clothes, hairstyles, people's pronunciation and the manner of speaking are all clues to our social group. Class distinctions tend to be relatively fixed, although in the city where greater variety is permitted, they are more likely to be secondary determining factors of friendship and association. According to the passage, the main disadvantage of using stereotypes is that they _ . may make us miss some pleasant experience A 13-year-old Chinese girl, Fan Yi (Nancy), who had her primary education in US, recently published her first fairy tale, Swordbird. The English fairy tale was listed as the bestseller of children's fiction in theprefix = st1 /US, theShanghai Evening Postreported. Fan Yi was greatly interested in observing birds ever since she was a little girl. In Hanmilton,New York, where she lives, she often watches kingfishers and woodpeckers flying over her house from the small woods nearby. And the inspiration for writing the bookSwordbirdactually came from one of her dreams. At that time, she was studying American history in school and happened to read many articles in magazines about the 9*11 terrorist attacks. One day, she had a dream in which some _ and _ were controlled by some black birds and began to fight with each other. When she woke up, she decided to turn her dream into a story and to convey her message for peace to the public. In order to get her book published in China, Fan translated the entire English version into Chinese. "It is a learning process. Since I didn't know many Chinese idioms, I had to get help from my mom and dad from time to time. For another thing, a lot of poems in the original story are written in rhyme. So when I translated them into Chinese, I wanted to make sure that they were in rhyme, too," she said. Fan Yi was born in Beijingin 1993. She stayed inBeijinguntil she finished her first grade of primary school. Then she moved with her parents to theUnited Stateswhen she was seven. Two years later, she started to write her English story. In March, this year, the book was published by Harper Collins Publishers. It was selected as the week's bestseller of children's fiction by the New York Timessoon after it was published. In future, Fan Yi might write more series for her book. It is expected that her Swordbird Prelude might come off the press next year. What else can we learn about Fan Yi from the article? She's believed to be writing more Swordbird stories. Mary has a room. It's a big and nice room. It's bright and clean . There are some pictures on the front wall. On the back wall there is a map of China. There is a desk and a chair in her room. Her backpack is behind the chair. Some books and her pencil-case are on the desk. There are some color pencils, a pen, a ruler, and a knife in the pencil-case. Mary's bed is near the desk. Her shoes and a volleyball are under the bed. Mary and her friends are often in her room. They usually listen to music there. Mary likes English and Chinese very much. But she doesn't like math. It's to difficult for her. Mary's Chinese teacher is Mr. Wang. The students all love him, he is very strict, but sometimes very funny. The volleyball is _ . under the bed Jeff likes fish very much. He buys some fish and takes it home. When(......) his wife sees the fish, she says to herself,"Good! Now I ask my friends to have lunch, and we can have the fish."They like eating fish very much. When Jeff comes home in the evening, he can't find the fish and his wife says,"Oh, your cat eats it."And she gives Jeff some bread for supper. Jeff is not very happy. He takes the cat and his wife to the shop nearby . Then he says to his wife,"My cat is one kilo and the fish is one kilo, too. The fish is here. But where is my cat?" Who eats the fish? Jeff's wife and her friends.
Xinhua Sept.25,2008 JIUQUAN, Gansu---China launched successfully its third manned spacecraft on Thursday with three astronauts on board to attempt the country's first-ever space walk. The spaceship Shenzhou VII blasted off on a Long March II-F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the northwestern Gansu Province at 9:10pm.after a breathtaking countdown to another milestone on China's space journey. On board pilots Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng are expected to orbit the earth for three days, when one of them will float out of the cabin about 343 kilometers above the earth. When they make it, China will become the third country in the world who is able to conduct extravehicular activity (EVA) in space following the former Soviet Union and the United States. President Hu Jintao watched the historic moment at the launch center, joined by Chinese experts and other work staff. Hu briefly met the trio astronauts before they entered the spacecraft Thursday afternoon, wishing them "a complete success in this glorious and sacred mission". "During the mission, you will carry out China's EVA with homemade EVA space suit, which is a great leap for China's space technology." said Hu. Other tasks of the Shenzhou VII crew include the release of a small monitoring satellite and a trial of the data relay of the satellite Tianlian-I. If successful, the mission would be of great significance to the country's future plans to build a space lab and a space station, said ZhangJianqi, deputy chief commander of the manned space project. In which section would the passage be seen in a newspaper? A. Science and Technology. B. Entertainment. C. Sports report. D. Advertisement Answer: A. Science and Technology. The Smiths are going to visit Hong Kong next summer. They will fly there. They will spend about two weeks there. First, they are going to visit all the places of interest in the city and also do some shopping. They can enjoy shopping until ten o'clock at night. Second, they are going to eat delicious food there. There are many Chinese and western restaurants there. They can enjoy many kinds of food, for example, fish, meat and vegetables. Last, they are going to visit Disneyland. There are lots of interesting things to do. They will take lots of photos there. They are looking forward to their summer holidays. The Smiths are going to Hong Kong by _ . A. bus B. air C. train D. taxi Answer: B. air When young people get their first real jobs, they face a lot of new, confusing situations. They may find that everything is different from the way things were at school. It is also possible that they will feel uncomfortable and insecure in both professional and social situations. Eventually , they realize that university classes can't be the only preparation for all of the different situations that arise in the working world. Perhaps the best way to learn how to behave in the working world is to identify a worker you admire and observe his behavior. In doing so, you will be able to see what it is that you admire in this person. For example, you'll observe how he acts in a crisis. Perhaps even more important, you'll be able see what is his approach to day-to-day situations. While you are observing your colleague, you should be asking yourself whether his behavior is like yours and how you can learn from his responses to a variety of situations. By watching and learning from a model, you'll probably begin to identify and adopt good working habits. The passage could be best entitled _ . A. Learn, Learn and Learn Again B. Learn from a Model C. Learn Forever D. One is Never too Old to Learn Answer: B. Learn from a Model I had arrived at the airport to catch an early flight home.It had been a very busy three days for me on an interstate trip with lots of meetings,business to do and new customers to meet.Then came the announcement that the flight had been delayed due to a technical problem.I could see a group of technicians and ground staff rushing about,obviously trying hard to fix the problem.I watched and listened as many of the passengers sitting near me shared their frustration about the inconvenience. As I sat waiting,I reflected on my last meeting for the day.It was not a business meeting but rather a very enjoyable and brief lunch with an old business associate and friend I had not seen for over 12 years,and who I had worked with for nearly 15 years before we lost in touch.I had been given his phone number by a customer I had visited on the first day of my trip,so I called him out of the blue and made a time for us to meet. Our lunch was spent recollecting times gone by and as well filling each other in on what had happened in our lives over the last 12 years.Our conversation was frequently interrupted with statements such as 'remember when we did...','whatever happened to...' and of course the one we all liked to hear...'you know you haven't changed one bit,except for a few more grey hairs.' We both laughed and smiled as we recalled the good times and the great experiences we had shared over the 15 years we had worked together. Each event we discussed caused another recollection and everything we talked about centered on the good times.Almost at the same time,right at the end of our time together,we both said how much we both enjoyed it and that we must do it again.We agreed to catch up when I was next in town,then said our goodbyes and I was off to the airport. So with this extra time on my hands as I waited for my flight,it was great to revisit and replay in my mind all that we had talked about over lunch.I realized at that moment just how important it is to have regular reminders of the good times in your life and to be able to take the time to recall the past,for so much of what we have done in our past,shapes us and makes us who and what we are today and beyond. At the end of my busy trip with the focus on getting all the business done,I was indeed fortunate enough to have had the chance to take a short break and reflect on the good things that had happened in my life over 12 years ago.It was somewhat like looking at an old photo album that you have found stored away in a cupboard in your house.There before your eyes are lots of wonderful memories in print that take you back to that time and place,and most importantly to those people who are in the photos.It also made me realize that when you get caught up doing what has to be done in the moment,it is easy to forget the people you have met in your life who have made a positive effect on and enriched you,often in only the smallest of ways. My flight home was finally called nearly three hours later and yes as you would have expected many of the passengers cheered when the announcement was made.I smiled as I boarded the plane and realized that I was not at all upset about the delay,as I had been able to spend much of my time reflecting on the good times from days gone by and now eagerly look forward to many more opportunities to recall the past. When the writer boarded the plane,he smiled because _ . A. he could finally fly home B. the other passengers were cheering C. he had made very good use of the delay D. his busy trip would soon come to an end Answer: C. he had made very good use of the delay When I was seven, my father gave me a Timex, my first watch. I loved it, wore it for years, and haven't had another one since it stopped ticking a decade ago. Why? Because I don't need one. I have a mobile phone and I'm always near someone with an iPod or something like that. All these tell the time -- which is why, if you look around, you'll see lots of empty wrists ; sales of watches to young adults have been going down since 2007. But while these wise people have realized that they don't need them, others -- including some distinguished ones of our time -- are spending total fortunes on them. Brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Breitling command shocking prices, up to PS 250.000 for a piece. This is ridiculous. Expensive cars go faster than cheap cars. Expensive clothes hang better than cheap clothes. But these days, all watches tell the time as well as all other watches. Yes, you may say expensive watches will come with some extra functions -- but who needs them? How often do you dive to 300 metres into the sea to test its function of waterproof, or need to find your direction in the area around the South Pole by using its compass? So why pay that much of five years' school fees for watches that allow you to do these things? If justice were done, the Swiss watch industry should have closed down when the Japanese discovered how to make accurate watches for a five-pound note. Instead, the Swiss re-invented the watch, with the aid of millions of pounds' worth of advertising, as a message about the man ---- usually a famous star, wearing it. Rolexes are for those who spend their weekends climbing icy mountains; a Patek Philippe is for one from a rich or noble family; a Breitling suggests you like to pilot planes across the world. Watches are classified as "investment items" now. A 1994 Philippe recently sold for nearly PS 350, 000, while 1960s Rolexes have gone from 15, 000 to 30, 000 plus in a year. But, to some wealthy people, a watch is more than an investment. It's a valuable toy for self-satisfaction, a matter of fashion. Prices may keep going up -- they've been rising for fifteen years. But when fashion moves on, the owner of that PS 350, 000 treasured object will suddenly find his pride and joy is no more a good investment than my childhood Times. The sales of watches to young people have fallen because _ . A. they have other devices to tell the time B. they think watches are too expensive C. they have little sense of time now D. they prefer to wear an iPod on their wrists Answer: A. they have other devices to tell the time
Many years ago,my dad was facing a serious heart condition.He was unable to do a steady job.He fell suddenly ill and had to be admitted to the hospital He wanted to do something to keep himself busy, so he decided to volunteer at the local children's hospital.My dad loved kids.It was the perfect job for him.He ended up working with the seriously ill children.He would talk,play, and do arts with them. One of his kids was a girl with a rare disease that paralyzed her from the neck down.She couldn't do anything,and she was very depressed.My dad decided to try to help her.He started visiting her in her room,bringing paints,brushes and paper.He stood the paper up,put the paintbrush in his mouth and began to paint.He didn't use his hands at a11.All the while he would tell her, "See,you can do anything you set your mind to.'' At the end of the day, she began to paint using her mouth,and she and my dad became friends.Soon after, the little girl was sent home because the doctors felt there was nothing else they could do for her.My dad also left the children's hospital for a little while because he became i11.Some time later after my dad had recovered and returned to work,in came the little girl who had been paralyzed and only this time she was walking.She ran straight over to my dad and hugged him really tight.She gave him a picture she had done using her hands.At the bottom it read:"Thank you for helping me walk.'' My dad would cry every time he told US this story and SO would we.He would say sometimes love is more powerful than doctor, and my dad--who died just a few months after the little girl gave the picture--loved every single child in that hospital. What message does the passage mainly convey? Love can sometimes bring great results. Robert is eleven years old. He loves to watch TV. But for one full year, he did not watch TV at all. What was the reason? Robert's parents said they would give him $500 if he didn't watch TV for a year. Robert's parents thought he watched too much TV. One day his mother saw a newspaper story about a boy who didn't watch TV for a year. She showed the story to Robert. "It was a joke," his mother said, "I didn't think he would do it." But Robert liked the idea. He turned off the TV right away. He said, "It doesn't matter to me whether to watch TV or not. I just want the money." At first, Robert's parents were very happy. Robert read the newspaper, played outside, played computer games, and played cards with his mother. But after a while, he got bored. Every evening, he asked his parents, "What are we doing tonight?" Sometimes his mother and father wished he would watch TV, just for one evening. Robert always said, "No, it would cost me money!" Finally the year was over. Then Robert started watching his favourite TV shows all day long again. Robert got the money from his parents. What does he plan to do with the $500? "I want to buy myself a TV set!" he said. Robert felt _ after he stopped watching TV. bored The London Pass is a sightseeing city card which gives you entry to a choice of over 60 popular tourist attractions in the city.It makes sightseeing easy and affordable by giving you access to top sights in the city with one card. With the London Pass you don't have to queue to buy tickets,or stand in line to get into the attraction.The London Pass acts as your ticket into every one of the 60 attractions included.It saves the trouble of carrying around cash for tickets and allows you to budget your spending as you've already made the one-off payment.As well as this,you can feel like a VIP with the London Pass as you are granted Fast Track Entry into a handful of London's most popular attractions. The London Pass is available for 1,2,3 or 6 days--so choose the duration of Pass that best matches your trip.Your London Pass is valid for use on continuous days for the duration you have selected and is activated upon entry at your first attraction,through a bar code recognition system. London is packed with top restaurants featuring world--class chefs serving a variety of cooking delights.However, dining out can be expensive.With the London Pass you can make great savings at over 145 restaurants,with discounts of up to 50%off or special offers such as a free bottle of wine or ice cream sundae. So if you are planning a trip to London,do yourself a favour and check out the London Pass.You may have a more enjoyable trip. The main purpose of the text is to _ . advise visitors to buy the London Pass Huckleberry Finn,the great character from the Mark Twain book,did not like school.He preferred floating down the Mississippi River on a raft and looking for adventure.That's why generations of schoolboys have loved reading Huckleberry Finn:they feel the same way about[ school as he did. For many boys,being forced to sit all day in a school room is like being punished for a crime they did not commit.There are endless hours of boredom spent learning things they have no interest in.That's why many boys do poorly in school and many give up on education altogether. Ironically ,the whole idea for schools was invented for boys.If a boy wanted to grow up to be a useful man,he had to be educated.By and by,people realized that educating girls was a good idea,too.And,ironically again,it was discovered that the school system suits girls just fine;so fine that girls now do much better than boys in school. No one really knows why that is.Some say that girls mature quicker than boys and adapt better to school life.Some also say that the school system and the curriculum have changed to encourage girls but _ . Educators are now trying to find ways to get boys to be more successful in school.There are suggestions to separate the sexes and teach boys separately.There are also suggestions to change[ the curriculum to make it more interesting for boys. Whatever the changes are,boys still will be boys,and dreams of floating down the Mississippi River will always be an attractive choice to just sitting in a classroom. Many boys do poorly in school because _ . they have no interest in the things they're learning Two children stood outside the door with old coats. "Any old papers, Lady?" asked one of them. I was busy. I wanted to say no, but I saw that their shoes were broken and wet. "Come in and I'll make you a cup of hot tea." They came in, saying nothing. Their shoes left snow on the floor. I gave them tea and bread to protect them against the cold outside. Then I went back to the kitchen and started my housework again. The silence in the front room surprised me. I looked in. The girl held the empty cup in her hands, looking at it. The boy asked me in a low voice, "Lady, are you rich?" Am I rich? Oh, no! I looked at my old things in my room. The girl put her cup back in its saucer carefully. "Your cups match your saucers." They left then, holding their papers against the wind. They hadn't said thank you. They didn't need to. They had done more than that. The blue cups and saucers were simple. But they said that they matched. The potatoes and meat before me, a roof over our hands, my husband with a job--these things matched, too. I moved the chairs back from the fire and cleaned the living room. The prints of their small shoes were still wet on my floor. I let them be. I wanted them there to remind me how rich I was. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . it was snowing outside when the story happened
Metro Pocket Guide Metrorail Each passenger needs a farecard to enter and go out. Up to two children under ago five may travel free with a paying customer. Farecard machine are in every station, Bring small bills because there are no change machines in the station and farecard machine only provide up to $ 5 in change. Get one of unlimited Metrorail rides with a One Day Pass. Buy it from a farecard machine in Metro stations. Use it after 9:30 a. m. until closing on weekdays, and all day on weekends and holidays. Hours of Service Open: 5 a. m Mon-Fri 7a. m. Sat--Sun . Close: midnight Sun--Thurs 3 a.m. Fri.---Sat. nights. Last train times vary. To avoid missing the last train, please check the last train times posted in the station. Metrobus When paying with exact change, the fare is $ 1. 35 . when paying with a smarTrip card, the fare is $1. 25 Fares for the Senior /disabled customers Senior citizens 65 and older and disabled customers may ride for half the regular fare. On Metrorail and Metrobus, use a senior/disabled farecard or SmarTrip card. For more information about buying senior/disabled farecards, farecard or SmarTrip cards and passes, please visit MetroOpenDoors. com or call 202-637-7000 and 202-637-8000. Senior citizens and disabled customers can get free guide on how to use proper Metrobus and Metrorail services by calling 202-962-1100 Travel tips . Avoid riding during weekday rush periods -before 9:30 a. m. and between 4 and 6 p. m. . If you lose something on a bus or train or in a station, please call Lost & Found at 202-962-1195. At what time does Metrorail stop service on Saturday? Answer: at 3 a. m. Mo Yan,the winner of 2012 Nobble Prize for Literature ,is very popular around the world. He is famous as one of the greatest writers in china. Mo Yan is fifty-nine years old in 2015,and his real name is Guan Moyue.The name of Mo Yan means"Don't speak".The writer said close the name to remember to close his mouth from getting himself in trouble. Mo Yan began to write in 1970s, and his first novel was"Falling rain on a Spring Night ",published in 1981.Then his second and more books were published.including "Red Sorghum"and "Big Breast and Wide Hips." CCTV reporter Dong Qian once said to him,"I always feel that a writer is like a hen,and his works are like eggs. We may not always wonder what the hen looks like while we eat eggs. But this time, it's a golden egg. So naturally, everybody wants to know this hen who laid a golden egg. That's why so many people pay much attention to you ." China was celebrating the success of this native son soon after he got the Prize, millions of Chinese expressed pleasure and pride for Mo Yan in their own ways. What does Dong Qian do? Answer: A writer. Don't wash your hair every day. Here's why: It will be easier to style. If you've ever washed your hair just before going to the salon to get another better look, you will be told by the stylist, freshly washed and dried hair isn't as easy to work with as hair that was washed a day or two ago. Your color will last longer. If you color your hair, washing daily can _ your color and lead to more trips to the salon. Keep your hair looking bright by only washing every other day. When you wash your hair, do so with a shampoo so that you can make sure the color doesn't lose. It will be healthier. The more you wash your hair, the more you're removing your hair's natural oil. That's right - too much time with the shampoo can really mean your hair become less soft and shining. Over-washing can dry hair out, which isn't a good idea. Keep your hair healthy by avoiding washing your hair every day. Washing and drying take a lot of time for those of us with long hair. By cutting back on styling time, you will have more time to get ready, sleep or even fit in a quick jog or trip to the gym. Over-washing can _ , Answer: make your hair dried out A Japanese company has ordered its employees to get the same hairstyles--- to help save energy. Tokyo-based Maeda Corporation has announced the move as part of a national campaingn to cut energy use. Since Fukushima nuclear plant was destroyed in the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March, 2011, the county's government has asked its people to _ their energy consumption. Men are expected to sport a short back-and-sides, slightly longer on the top, while women have been asked to wear short hair with a fringer that can be swept to one side. Chizuru Inoue, a spokesman for Maeda Crop, said: "Our company is very devoted to protecting the environment and we encourage our staff to adopt many environment-friendly actions." "We are not sure of the data yet, but we believe if people have short hair they do not need to use their hairdryers for so long and they will use less water. If all our staff do this, then it may save a lot of power." There is another advantage for employees of the construction firm, Ms. Inoue added, as it is easier to make short hair neat again after staff had been wearing hard hats. She said a lot of staff had been calling for information on where they can get their hair cut in the correct style. Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March, Japan has been struggling to produce enough electricity for the tsunami ended production at the Fukushima plant. The disaster resulted in a review of the country's energy policy that now means less than a quarter of its remaining nuclear plants are in use. The government has talked about a move away from nuclear energy towards more sustainable technologies. Many government institutions have taken measures to save power, including a reduced use of air-conditioning in offices and schools. What's the main idea of the text? Answer: A Japanese company takes measures to save energy. "I say, I'm pleased to see you," said the little man standing by the letter-box. "Oh, hello," I said, remembering he was a new neighbor. "Simpson, isn't it?" "Yes, that's right." He seemed quite pleased by my ready recognition. "I wonder if you could lend me some money," he continued. "My wife gave me a letter to post, and I've just noticed it isn't stamped." "yes, they never are," I said, sympathetically . "It must go tonight--it really must! I'd get stamps out of the machine," explained Simpson," Only I find I have no small change about me." "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I haven't either," I said. "Oh, dear, dear," he said. "Yes, well," I said, intending to move off. But he looked so unhappy standing there with the blue unstamped envelope that I really hadn't the heart to desert him. So I took him to my house and found some pennies and gave them to him, who, in the most business like way, made a note of the loan in his pocket-book, and left. But soon he turned up again. "I'm sorry I am a stranger round here and --well, I'm rather lost..." It took me several minutes to explain to him where the post office was. In the end I felt as lost as Simpson and had to accompany him to the post office, but, only to find the automatic stamp-machine was empty! "Oh!" Simpson was so desperate that he dropped the letter on the ground and when he picked it up there was a large black spot on its face. "Dear me," he said, "My wife told me to post it tonight. I'd better post it, if you know what I mean." I did know. Or, at least, I knew Mrs Simpson. Then I got a good idea, "Post the letter unstamped--let the other man pay double postage on it in the morning. " And he had to agree. Finishing off our job, I took him home. "I'm so grateful to you, really," he said when we reached his home. "That letter--it's only an invitation to dinner to Mr... Dear me!" "Why, what's the matter?" "Nothing. Just something I've remembered." "What?" But he didn't tell me. He just opened his eyes and his mouth at me like a wounded gold- fish, murmured a "Good-night", and went inside. All the way home I was wondering what it was that he had remembered. But I stopped wondering the next morning, when I had to pay the postman double postage for a blue envelope with a large black spot on its face. How would the writer describe Simpson? Answer: Stupid and careless.
Question: Harry is eight years old. He goes to school near his home. He always goes there and comes home on foot. One day he came home from school late. His mother saw him and asked him, "Why were you late, Harry?" "My teacher was very angry and asked you to go to her office tomorrow." "To her office? Why?" his mother asked. "Because she asked a question in the class." said Harry. "Nobody could answer it, but I could. " "You are so clever, my son. " his mother said with a smile." What is her question?". Her question is "Who put the tomato on my chair and made my trousers dirty?" said Harry. Harry was late because _ . A. he did his homework at school B. he played football at school C. his teacher asked him to stay at school D. his teacher asked him to give a talk at school Answer: C Question: When most of us hear the word chocolate, the verb that comes to mind is probably "eat", not "drink", and the most proper adjective would seem to be "sweet". But for about 90 percent of chocolate's long history, it was strictly a beverage , and sugar didn't have anything to do with it. The Origin of Chocolate Many modern historians have estimated that chocolate has been around for about 2000 years, but recent research suggests that it may be even older. In the book The True History of Chocolate, authors Sophie and Michael Coe prove that the earliest linguistic evidence of chocolate consumption dates back three or even four thousand years. Valuable and Fashionable Chocolate Beverage It's hard to discover exactly when chocolate was born, but it's clear that it was cherished from the start. For several centuries in pre-modern Latin America, cacao beans were considered valuable enough to use as currency. 100 beans could purchase a good turkey hen, according to a 16th-century Aztec document. Sweetened chocolate didn't appear until Europeans discovered the Americas and sampled the native cuisine. Chocolate didn't suit the foreigners' taste at first -- one described it in his writings as "a bitter drink for pigs" -- but once mixed with honey or cane sugar, it quickly became popular throughout Spain. By the 17th century, chocolate was a fashionable drink throughout Europe, believed to have nutritious, medicinal functions. But it remained largely a privilege of the rich until the invention of the steam engine made mass production possible in the late 1700s. The Birth of Solid Chocolate In 1828, a Dutch chemist found a way to make powdered chocolate. His product became known as "Dutch cocoa", and it soon led to the creation of solid chocolate. In 1847, Joseph Fry created the first modern chocolate bar. By 1868, a little company called Cadbury was marketing boxes of chocolate candies in England. Milk chocolate hit the market a few years later. Prosperous Chocolate Industry In America, chocolate was so valued during the Revolutionary War that it was used instead of wages. Even now, statistics show that the humble cacao bean is still a powerful economic force. Chocolate manufacturing is a more than 4-billion-dollar industry in the United States, and the average American eats at least half a pound of the stuff per month. Why did chocolate suit the Spanish's taste so quickly? _ A. Because chocolate was so tasty and bitter. B. Because chocolate was believed to be a source of nutrition. C. Because chocolate was sweetened with honey or cane sugar. D. Because chocolate became a fashionable beverage. Answer: C Question: A British dog-lover has invented a high-tech way of feeding his pet by Twitter( ,). Computer expert Nat Morris ,30, has designed a system to give his pet a "tweet treat" by sending him a Twitter message. His dog Toby gets some delicious dog biscuits from a computer-controlled food machine whenever Nat sends a message to "@ feedtoby". Nat often works away from home and isn't always able to feed Toby by hand. But his new invention allows Nat to feed his dog from anywhere in the world. Nat said, "Toby ly loves it. At first he didn't know what was going on. Now he sits underneath the machine, wagging his tail and waiting for the food to drop." Nat fills the food machine with small pieces of dog biscuits, but not too many in case four-year-old Toby gets too many messages. And Nat has even equipped his house with an online camera so he can see Toby enjoying the food at his home. But one problem is that friends and family have been so amazed with the "tweet treat" machine that they have started sending tweets to Toby too. So Nat has had to restrict feeding time to make sure Toby doesn't turn into Tubby. "People have been sending him tweets at all hours of the day, so I had to limit it to between 9a.m. and 9 p.m. . I'm thinking of doing an updated one which can measure his weight before he is fed, just to make sure he's not putting on too much puppy fat," explained Nat. How Nat's Twitter Feeder works: When a message is sent to @ feedtoby, it is received by a mini -computer that is linked to the feed machine. When the mini-computer receives the message, a bell rings and Toby comes running over and sits in front of the feeding machine. Next, the machine's motor pulls open a trap door which releases a serving of food. The doggy biscuits then drop into Toby's food bowl. Finally a digital camera takes a photo of him and sends it back to Nat on Twitter -- so he knows Toby has been fed. Nat has invented a high-tech way to feed his dog because he _ . A. wants his friends to feed Toby B. has very strong computing skills C. is often too busy to feed his dog D. doesn't like to feed Toby by hand. Answer: C Question: Like all big cities, Paris has a traffic problem: lots of cars, lots of traffic jams and lots of pollution from exhaust fumes . So the city began a scheme to improve the situation. Under the Velib scheme('Velib' comes from velo liberte, or 'bicycle freedom') , people can take a bicycle, use it for as long as they want, and then leave it at the same or another bicycle station. The first half-hour on the bike is free, but if you don't return it after 30 minutes, you have to pay. But it's only [?]1 a day or [?]29 a year! The bicycles are heavy (25 kg), and they are all grey and have baskets. There are about 20,000 of them in the city, and around 1,450 bicycle stations. So there are a lot more Velib stations than the 298 subway stations! Paris is not the first city to have a scheme like this. But not everybody thinks it's a great idea. One Parisian said, "These bicycles are only for short journeys. If people want to travel across the city, they won't use a bicycle -- they'll still use their cars." A city spokesman said, "The bicycle scheme won't solve all our traffic problems, of course. But it might help reduce air pollution. Traffic, together with factory fumes, is a big problem. There aren't any simple answers to traffic problems and pollution in cities. But unless we do something now, there will be more traffic jams and temperatures will continue to rise, so the problems in our environment will get worse. The bikes might help people to lead a healthier life, too." What can we learn about the Velib scheme? A. Its bikes have no baskets. B. Its bikes are light and colorful. C. People must return the bike to the same place after using it. D. It owns more stations than the subway. Answer: D Question: Many birds fly south for the winter. This adaptation is called A. hibernation B. germination C. migration D. communication Answer: C
Tom brought a box of biscuits to a summer camp. He ate a few and placed the rest under his bed. After lunch, he found the box was gone. He went to tell his camp coach about it. The next day, the coach saw a boy eating Tom's biscuits behind a tree. He came up with an idea to solve the problem. He found Tom and said to him, "I know who took away your biscuits. Will you help me to teach him a lesson?" "Well, yes... are you going to punish him, sir?" Tom asked. "No, I'm not," the coach explained patiently. "That would only make him hate you. I want you to write to your mother and ask for more gifts." Tom received another box of biscuits by mailing from his mother a few days later. "Now," said the coach, "go and share them with the boy who stole your biscuits." Tom didn't understand the coach's intention , but he still followed his suggestion. Half an hour later the coach saw the two boys come up the hill, arm in arm. The boy was trying to ask Tom to accept his toy robot in payment for the stolen biscuits. And Tom was refusing the gift from his new friend. He said that a few biscuits were not so important. In some situations, forgiveness is better than punishment. From the story, we learn _ . Answer: About seven years ago, whenever I notice someone looked nice, I started telling them they looked nice. Shortly afterwards, I came up with an observation: If you tell five people during the day that they look nice, at the end of the day, six people feel great. Here are some fruitful experiences I have with this. One day, I was riding with a friend when we rolled to a stop at the traffic light. As we waited for the light to turn green, a man walked across the crosswalk. He looked very together, so I called out, "Hey, you look _ today!" Pointing towards a building, he said, "Thanks, but I was sharper there." His comment puzzled me. But before I could ask about it, the light turned green, and we drove on. I asked my friend what he meant. My friend informed me that we were at the corner of a radio station and the man was the voice on the radio. Then I understood. But no matter who he was the biggest thing for me was that he was smiling when he accepted my compliment . Later that day, there was a woman standing on the corner where we were turning, and I yelled the compliment again, "You look nice!" She was just taking a sip of a bottle of water and started to laugh. I felt good to get a laugh. Another day, while seated in a restaurant, there was a lady sitting near me. I really did not care for her skirt, but she did look nice in it, so I told her, "You look nice today." She looked at me and rolled her eyes a little. Well, her friend sitting next to her told her, "He just gave you a compliment. Say thank you." I don't remember whether she said "thank you" or not, but what I did notice was that her friend was smiling at my "You look nice today" compliment. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? Answer: Washington----A screaming intruder made it onto the front lawn of the White House Sunday while President Obama was at home before being caught by Secret Service officers. Secret Service spokesman Eric Zahren recognized the man as 40-year-old Brian Lee Patterson, whose last known address was in Albuquerque, N.M. Patterson has been caught trying to get onto the White House grounds at least three times before Zahren said. The bearded man, wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt that read "God Bless America" jumped the fence outside the White House and ran across the north lawn while repeatedly crying, "I am a victim of terrorism!" Members of the Secret Service emergency response team, including one holding a barking dog, ran after Patterson with their guns and surrounded him near the row of cameras set up for television stand-ups. "I have intelligence information for the president," he said, waving his arms in the air. "I'm not afraid of you." Patterson screamed at the officers who were ordering him to lie ground with guns drawn. Patterson finally kneeled on the ground and was taken into custody shortly before 4 p.m. He cut his hand jumping the fence and was taken to George Washington University Hospital for treatment and was to appear in court Monday, Zahren said. Zahren said Patterson was charged with unlawful entry for the last time he jumped the fence, in February. He faces the same charge for Sunday's incident and also a contempt of court charge for disobeying the judge's orders to stay away from the White House. Patterson didn't say _ . Answer: Australia is largely a nation of immigration , with one in four of Australia's 21 million population born overseas. But immigrations hoping to become Australian citizens will soon have to take a test examining their knowledge of the country's history and institutions. While Australia prides itself on its multicultural background, the government wants newcomers to integrate more fully . Form later this year, new immigrants will have to show an understanding of the English language. They will also be required to answer 20 questions from a list of 200. Anyone who gives fewer than 12 correct responses will not be accepted. Immigrants will also have to accept what the government considers to be 10 important Australia values, including "mateship" and "giving people a fair go". Other important Australia values are said to include tolerance, compassion, gender equality and freedom of speech. The new citizenship application procedures are detailed in a 40-pages booklet . It describes Australia as "a nation at ease with the world and itself" but says that newcomers are expected to respect its values. The booklet sums up mateship as voluntary helping and receiving help from others, especially in difficult times. The immigration Minister said they aimed to achieve a balance between ethnic diversity and social stability , "particularly as we now draw people from so many different countries and so many different cultures". Critics have attacked the English language requirement, pointing out many immigrants could not speak English when they arrived. But the minister said, "We are trying to encourage people to learn English, because we think that is the way they will achieve their dreams in Australia." The word "mateship" is closest in meaning to _ . Answer: Imagine landing in a foreign country where you cannot speak the language, understand the culture and don't know anybody. Wouldn't it be nice to have a friend who could help you out? John Smith, an English explorer who landed in America in 1607, found the best friend ever. She was a Native American named Pocahontas (1595-1617). And she did more than teach Smith the language: she saved his life, twice. Smith was captured by members of Pocahontas's tribe and was going to be killed. But for some reason, the Chief's daughter, Pocahontas, felt sorry for Smith (who was probably the first white man she had ever seen) and threw her body over his to protect him. Smith returned safely to the small village he was living in. During the winter the English settlers did not know how to get food from nature. Pocahontas often brought food for Smith and his friends. A year later Pocahontas's father tried to kill Smith again because the Native Americans were very scared the English would try to take over their land. Pocahontas warned him and he was able to escape. Later she became a Christian and eventually married an Englishman named John Rolfe. She spent the last year of her life in London. Pocahontas has become an American legend. Her life story has been re-created in many books and films, including Disney's 1995 film, Pocahontas. One of the reasons she is so popular is that many Europeans look at Pocahontas as an excellent example of how a minority can adjust into the majority. Pocahontas is also respected because of her selfless love. She proved that people can be kind and loving even to people of a different race or culture. John Smith was very different from Pocahontas but she could see he was a good man and that was all that mattered. No race or country owns goodness, love and loyalty. What can we infer from the passage? Answer:
YOU'VE lost your keys and your parents are both busy. If you had to ask one of them for help, whom would you pick? Before you give your answer, you should probably know that a new study found that women are better than men at multitasking , especially if one of those tasks is searching for a lost item. That should help you choose. In the study, a team of UK researchers compared the performances of 120women and 120men in a computer game involving tasks of counting and shape-recognition Men and women were equally capable when tasks were handled one at a time. But when the tasks started switching quickly , men responded c) much slower than women. To make the experiment more relevant to everyday life, researchers tried a second test. A group of women and men were asked to complete a series of "everyday challenges" such as finding restaurants on a map and searching for a lost key in a field. Once again, women outperformed men on the test, particularly in the key-searching task. "It suggests that- in a stressed and complex situation - women are more able to stop and think about what's going on in front of them,'' researcher Keith Law of the University of Hertfordshire, UK, told the BBC,[ln contrast,] men had a slight impulsiveness ;they jumped in too quickly" But where did women get the ability to keep organized under pressure? Researchers believe that it has its roots in evolution ,In early human communities, women had to keep an eye on children while cooking meals. Meanwhile, men only needed to focus on hunting. Men might not be happy about this study. After all, many great pilots are men and they have to deal with lots of information at the same time too. This is true, and researchers have their response. "[We don't mean]that all men can't multitask, or that only women can," said Laws.[We are saying that] the average woman is better able to organize her time and switch between tasks than the average man. There's no point denying these differences exist." What is the author's purpose in writing this article ? . Answer: To talk about a new study that shows the differences between men and women in terms of multitasking. The tradition of birthday parties started in Europe a long time ago. It was feared that evil spirits were particularly attracted to people on their birthdays. To protect them from harm, friends and family members would come to stay with the birthday person and bring good thoughts and wishes. Giving gifts brought even more good cheer to keep away from the evil spirits. This is how birthday parties began. The following are some countries' birthday traditions: Canada---Putting butter on the nose. In Atlantic Canada, the birthday child's nose is put butter on for good luck. China---Noodles for lunch. The birthday child pays respect to his / her parents and receives a gift of money. Friends and relatives are invited to lunch and noodles are served to wish the birthday child a long life. England---Money cakes. Certain symbolic objects are mixed into the birthday cake as it is being prepared. If your piece of cake has a coin in it, you will be rich. Ireland---Birthday bump . The birthday child is lifted upside down and " bumped" on the floor for good luck. Italy---Pulling ears. The child's ears are pulled as many times as how old he / she is turning. Japan---New clothes. The birthday child wears new clothes to mark the occasion. New Zealand---Birthday claps. After the candles are hit, the happy birthday song is sung loudly and often out of tune and then the birthday person receives a clap for each year he / she has been alive and then one for good luck. The United States---Cake, candles and the birthday song. A cake is made, and candles are put on top based on how old the person is. The birthday traditions of New Zealand and the United States share all the following in common EXCEPT _ . Answer: birthday claps Mr. Jones and Mr. Brown work in the same office. One day Mr. Jones says to Mr. Brown, "I will have a small party at our house on Monday evening. Would you and your wife like to come?" Mr. Brown says, "Thank you very much. I'd love to, but let me ask my wife first." So Mr. Brown goes to the other room and telephones his wife. Then he comes back and looks very _ . "What's the matter?" asks Mr. Jones. " Is your wife there at home?" "No," answers Mr. Brown. "She isn't there. My son answers the telephone. I say to him, 'Is your mother here, David?' and he answers, 'No, she isn't in the house.' 'Where is she?' I ask. 'She is somewhere outside.' 'What's she doing?' 'She is looking for me.'" Where is David? Answer: He is at home. Weekend one-day out A walk along the Wall -- Beijing Hikers is organizing a hike in a village along the Great Wall in Changping District, north of downtown Beijing. The walk will take around three hours covering a distance of 10 kilometres. Time: 8:30 a.m-4:30p.m, Dec.4 Cost: 200 yuan (US $25) per adult, 150 yuan (US $18.50) for under-12s. Meeting place: 8:30a.m. in front of Starbucks at Lido Holiday Inn, Jiangtai Lu To sign-up (one day before the hike) and more information, contact Huijie at info@beijinghikers.com or 139-1002-5516. Skiing and hot springs -- Cycle China plans a day's skiing fun at a resort around Beijing followed by an outdoor hot spring bath for your sore body. Cost: 350 yuan (US $43.40) & Time: 8:30 a.m-6:30p.m, Dec.4 Location: Meet at the office of Cycle China, opposite to the east gate of Jingshan Park, Xicheng District. For more information and reservation, email reserve@cyclechina.com or call 139-1188-6524. Horse riding -- This is a trip to a professional horse-riding club with well-trained bilingual instructors, offering lessons to people who love riding and those willing to learn more. The club is located in Hebei Province next to the Kangxi Grassland. Time: 1:30 a.m-4:30p.m, Dec.4 Cost: 330yuan (US $40.74) including one hour's riding, transportation, guide, lunch To sign-up and more information, contact Lucy at 8580-5080, 130-1117-1326 or Lucy@highclub.net. This passage is written mainly for _ . Answer: holiday-makers 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. Very many more afterwards, 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 them. When she was over fifty, the late 19th century mother _ . Answer: was unlikely to find a job.
The standard Outward Bound course lasts for three or four weeks. During that time the students live in the wilderness and go through many physical activities of ever increasing difficulty. The first few days are given to physical conditioning and to the teaching of basic skills such as first aid, map and compass reading, rope climbing, and other similar activities. During the second part of the course students learn how to climb rocks and cliffs, how to use canoes and rafts in swift water, and in some schools how to sail, ski, climb mountains, and make long-distance hikes. The first two parts of the course are done in groups. Members work together and help each other to overcome the increasing number of challenges. In the third part of the course, students are sent out alone for three days to survive in the wilderness with only a few necessities. Who are the students of Outward Bound? They are both young people and adults, men and women. The minimum age is 16.5 years. There is no maximum age. About one-third of the 6,000 persons completing the course each year are women. Businessmen, housewives, university students, professors, doctors, and lawyers are among those taking part in the course. In recent years special courses for the busy business managers have gained in popularity. These courses last from five to ten days rather than the usual three to four weeks of the normal course. Not all students complete the Outward Bound course. In some cases the individual cannot meet the physical challenges. In its own words Outward Bound literature says: "Make no mistake, Outward Bound is not for everybody. The courses aren't easy and are not meant to be." Most students who finish the course share a common experience. They are surprised at themselves that they finish the course and they feel great pride in doing the impossible! The Outward Bound experience makes them feel that they are better than they know! All of the following are true EXCEPT _ . A. Special courses for business executives last five to ten days longer B. All of the students have to live outdoors C. The students of Outward Bound are composed of both sexes over 16.5 years D. More and more businessmen like the Outward Bound course Answer: B While small may be beautiful, tall is just plain uncomfortable it seems, particularly when it comes to staying in hotels and eating in restaurants. The Tall Persons Club Great Britain (TPCGB), which was formed six months ago to campaign for the needs of the tall, has turned its attention to hotels and restaurants. Beds that are too small, shower heads that are too low, and restaurant tables with hardly any leg-room all make life difficult for those of above average height, it says. But it is not just the extra-tall whose needs are not being met. The average height of the population has been increasing yet the standard size of beds, doorways, and chairs has remained unchanged. "The bedding industry says a bed should be six inches larger than the person using it, so even a king-size bed at 6'6'' (6 feet and 6 inches) is falling short for 25% of men, while the standard 6'3'' bed caters for less than half of the male population." Said TPCGB president Phil Heinricy, "seven-foot beds would work fine." Similarly, restaurant tables can cause no end of problems. Small tables, which mean the long-legged have to sit a foot or so away from them, are enough to make tall customers go elsewhere. Some have already taken note, however. At Queens Moat Houses' Caledoman Hotel in Edinburgh, 6'6''beds are now put in as standard after requests for longer beds from taller visitors, particularly Americans. What may happen to restaurants with small tables? A. They may lose some customers. B. They may start businesses elsewhere. C. They have to find easy chairs to match the tables. D. They have to provide enough space for the long-legged. Answer: A The burning of fossil fuels has increased the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere. What is a possible effect that the increased amount of carbon dioxide is likely to have on our planet? A. A warmer climate B. A cooler climate C. Lower relative humidity D. More ozone in the atmosphere Answer: A I grew up with a fat dad--450 pounds at his heaviest.Every week he would try a new diet,and my family ended up eating whatever strange food he was trying at that moment. After my thirdgrade year,my dad landed a lifechanging job in Manhattan.My mom,my little sister and I had to move away from our hometown,Chicago,and leave my grandmother and her beautiful food behind. Leaving my grandmother was far more frightening than the move to New York City.There would be no more special weekends at my grandmother's house,the only place I can remember feeling happy,safe and nourished .It was what I desired.In this new city,I felt extremely alone and lost,and I missed my grandmother terribly. My grandmother knew just how I felt--And she knew the _ .Every week,she would send me a card with a $20 bill,a recipe and a list of what to buy at the market.It kept us bonded,and her recipes filled my body and soul. Over the years,I have grown to better understand my father's struggles with weight and the toll it took on him and those who love him.I have come to realize he was driven not by vanity or selfishness as much as by a deep pain.And in spite of growing up in such an unhealthy eating environment (or perhaps because of it),as an adult I found a passion and a career as a nutrition consultant. Today,my father weighs 220 pounds and is a vegan .How he got there is a story I hope to share in the coming weeks.More importantly,food is no longer a barrier that keeps us apart,but a bridge that keep us connected.There is nothing my dad enjoys more than talking with me about dietary theories and his weightloss victories.And now I am the one regularly sending recipe cards to my father's house,just as my grandmother did for me. The author desired to go to his grandmother's _ . A. to see his father B. for tasty food C. for pocket money D. to avoid his family Answer: A People have been painting pictures for at least 30,000 years. The earliest pictures were painted by people who hunted animals. They used to paint pictures of the animals they wanted to catch and kill. Pictures of this kind have been found on the walls of caves in France and Spain. No one knows why they were painted there. Perhaps the painters thought that their pictures would help them to catch these animals. Or perhaps human beings have always wanted to tell stories according to pictures. About 5,000 years ago, the Egyptians and other people in the Near East began to use pictures as kind of writing. They drew simple pictures or signs to represent things and ideas, and also to represent the sounds of their language. The signs these people used became a kind of alphabet. The Egyptians used to record information and to tell stories by putting picture writing and pictures together. When an important person died, scenes and stories from his life were painted and carved on the walls of the place where he was buried. Some of these pictures are like modern comic strip stories. It has been said that Egypt is the home of the comic strip. But, for the Egyptians, pictures still had magic power. So they did not try to make their way of writing simple. The ordinary people could not understand it. By the year 1,000 BC, people who lived in the area around the Mediterranean Sea had developed a simpler system of writing. The signs they used were very easy to write, and there were fewer of them than in the Egyptian system. This was because each sign, or letter, represented only one sound in their language. The Greeks developed this system and formed the letters of the Greek alphabet. The Romans copied the idea, and the Roman alphabet is now used all over the world. These days, we can write down a story, or record information, without using pictures. But we still need pictures of all kinds: drawing, photographs, signs and diagrams. We find them everywhere: in books and newspapers, in the street, and on the walls of the places where we live and work. Pictures help us to understand and remember things more easily, and they can make a story much more interesting. The Greek alphabet was simpler than the Egyptian system for all the following reasons EXCEPT that _ . A. the former was easy to write B. there were fewer signs in the former C. the former was easy to pronounce D. each sign stood for only one sound Answer: C
This is Tom's bedroom. It is very nice. A pair of shoes is behind the door. They are black and blue. He likes them very much. His desk is near the bookcase. It is not too big. A red sofa is behind the desk. You can see a clock and some books on the desk. His English books are in his schoolbag. The bag is on the red sofa. The desk is _ . A behind the door B near the bookcase C on the bed D behind the sofa Answer: B. near the bookcase Watching a child struggle to breathe during as asthma attack is frightening for any parent. So it is only natural that most moms and dads will try just about anything, including spending a lot of money -to keep an attack at bay. Trouble is, more than half of parents are trying strategies that simply do not work and wasting hundreds of dollars in the process. According to Dr. Machael Cabana, a pediatrician at the prefix = st1 /UniversityofMichigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, who led the study, one of the most common mistakes was to buy mattress cover to protect against dust mites for a child whose asthma instead was made by plant pollen . Many of those parents then neglected to do what would have helped a lot more; shut the windows to keep pollen out. Another was using a humidifier for a child who was allergic to dust mites; a humidifier tends to be a place where dust mites like to breed. With those allergies, a dehumidifier works better. Worst of all was the number of smokers with asthmatic children who didn't even try to quit or at least limit themselves to smoking outdoors rather than just moving to another room or the garage. Many smoking parents purchased expensive air filters that have what Cabana called " questionable utility. " Part of the problem, Dr. Caban and his colleagues believe, is that parents are bombarded by television ads that encourage them to buy products such as air and carpet fresheners, ionizers and other remedies that are often expensive but medically unnecessary. And doctors may not always take the time, or have the time, to explain to parents what will and won't work in their child's particular case. For example, allergies are usually a problem for older children with asthma, while kids 5 and younger more frequently have trouble with viral repiratory infections. So make sure you understand what the cause of your child's asthma really is. Which sentence best explains why TV ads products bombard parents? A TV ads are obliged to make sure parents understand all terms of their introductory offers. B TV ads want to be sure that parents understand the benefits of very effective medical aids. C TV ads want parents to understand clearly the terms of their introductory offers. D TV ads want parents to be attracted to the benefits of introductory offers for their kid's asthma. Answer: D. TV ads want parents to be attracted to the benefits of introductory offers for their kid's asthma. Once a man named Grand found a box of old papers in a room at the top of his house. He burned most of them, because he didn't like old things very much, But one of these papers was an old letter. At the bottom of the letter was the name of a well-known writer. "When this letter was written," said Grant, "no one knew about the writer. But now everyone knows him. Some people like to buy letters like this. I may be able to get much money for the letter if I sell it to the right man." But there were a lot of dirty marks all over the letter. "It doesn't look nice," he thought. "No one wants to buy a letter if it's dirty. I'll have to clean it." So he took a piece of cloth and some water and cleaned the letter. He worked hard and gave a lot of care. At last the letter looked better. And he was very pleased with his work. "Now it looks nice," he said to himself. "I'll be able to sell it for a lot of money." He took the letter to a shop in London where old papers of this kind were bought and sold. "I want to sell this letter," Grant said to the man in the shop. "It was written by a well-known writer. You know about these things. How much will you give me for it?" The man looked at him for a long time. "I will give you two pounds for it," he said at last. "Only two pounds!" said Grant. "But people pay ten pounds for a letter like this. And just look! I've even cleaned it to make it look nice." "I can see that," said the man. "That's the trouble. People who buy old papers like them to be dirty." Grant didn't burn the letter because _ . A it was written by his father B he thought he could get much money by selling it C he wanted to keep it forever D he wanted to give it to the government Answer: B. he thought he could get much money by selling it One way to recycle paper is by using it to A build oceans B build spaceships C wipe grime D build cars Answer: C. wipe grime John was ten years old and he was very lazy. He had to go to school, of course, but he was bored there and tried to do as little work as possible. His father and mother were both doctors and they hoped that he would become one, too, when he grew up. But one day John said to his mother, "When I finish school, I want to become a garbage collector." "A garbage collector?"his mother asked .She was very surprised."That's not a pleasant job. Why do you want to become a garbage collector?" "Because then I'd only have to work one day a week,"John answered. "Only one day a week?"his mother said,"What do you mean?" "Well,"John answered,"I know that the ones who come to our house only work on Wednesday, because I only saw them on that day." John _ at school. A didn't do any work B did much work C did very little work D tried to finish his work Answer: C. did very little work
Question: "Super Dan", as top-seeded Lin Dan of China is better known in the badminton world, had his Olympic dream come true after claiming the men's singles gold by beating Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia on August 17 in the Beijing Olympics. His father, Lin Jianbin, said "Super Dan"has waited for four years to get this championship and he felt very proud of his son, as well as his prospective daughter-in-law Xie Xingfang, who is also a badminton player and won silver in women's singles at the Beijing Games. An SMS: The beginning of a love story Lin was born in Shanghang County, Longyan in Fujian Province. He first met Xie Xingfang when he was 14-years-old. 16-year-old Xie was attending a national youth team badminton training camp in Jinjiang, Fujian and Lin was also there. Tall and beautiful, Xie became the Snow White in the heart of Lin Dan, and he tried to please her and get chances to chat with her after the training sessions. He did not go beyond that. Before the Spring Festival in 2004, Lin finally mustered(,) the courage and sent Xie Xingfang a text message - I LOVE YOU. In fact, Xie Xingfang had already realized Lin Dan was fond of her. And covertly , she began to pay attention to Lin's movement and performance on the court. "He is very interesting, got a lot of ideas, and is a lovely boy." Two Kisses In May 2004 at the Thomas Cup in Jakarta, their love relationship was first known to the public. Xie sat with her teammates and watched the men's team playing. When Lin Dan won the match, he rushed to the bench and kissed Xie, a move that Xie did not expect Lin to do in public. A photographer captured this moment. At the All England Open in 2007, Lin kissed her again in public, making Xie feel like the happiest woman in the world. After Lin won his third title at the Open, he did not stay to watch Xie play. Xie defeated her opponent and won the championship. When she was called to accept the trophy(,) , Lin suddenly emerged at the central venue, holding red roses and gave her the flowers, and a passionate kiss. Nine Roses Earlier, on February 14, 2006, Lin and Xie were with the national badminton teams at a training camp in Jinjiang. The teams had their rules - not going out of the training camp. Xie thought she would spend the Valentine's Day without flowers. But Lin still managed to give her a surprise - giving her a Dior wallet as a Valentine's gift and nine roses. With the teams' rule in place, Lin asked his local friend to buy the roses and gave her a pleasant Valentines surprise. A 200-square-meter apartment Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang's love has been through four years of tests, and Xie's father also said that they should consider marriage after the Olympics. In fact, Lin Dan has already prepared for this. He has bought a 200-square-meter apartment in downtown Beijing, with 4 rooms and 2 living rooms. Paying about 20,000 yuan per square meter for the apartment, it is reported the apartment is now valued at 8 million yuan. "After the Olympics, we really want to live our own lives, go on vacation, go to school, get married, I am really looking forward to it," Xie said happily. With two kitchens, one Chinese and one Western style, Xie said she wanted to be the person preparing soup at home and enjoy family life. How old was Lin Dan when he first met Xie Xingfang? A. 14 B. 16 C. 18 D. 20 Answer: A. 14 Question: Volunteering means that you work to help people without being paid. There are many different volunteers. They help people who really need help. There are many places where you can be volunteers. Here are just a few places for you. Hospital---ask if you can go and visit people who are really sick. Sometimes what they need is someone to talk to, or someone to give them hope Orphanage ---the children living there really need someone to play with them. Food Shelter ---many food shelters need people to clean up the shelters and help give out food or water to those who need it. Seniors' Home ---help the elderly people clean up their homes. Community Center ---a lot of community centers are very well run. However, some of them really need extra help, especially cleaning and repairs. As a student you can also do a lot of things to help others at school. Maybe you could start a support group. Here is some advice: Help students give up smoking, drinking or other bad habits. Help students who come from poor families. Help new students get used to their school life soon. Provide graduating students with information on future studies. From the passage, you know the following volunteer jobs can be done at school except _ . A. helping students who come from poor families B. helping the students who have bad habits C. helping the student to copy others' homework D. helping the students in trouble with their studies Answer: C. helping the student to copy others' homework Question: Herbie Ricketts,52,lives in Thornton Heath,south London,and works as an electrician.He has been a listening volunteer with the Samaritans for 16 years. Each caller is as individual as their circumstances and I didn't realize so many people take their own lives until I became a Samaritan. _ I'll always remember my first day on duty.The caller, stressed and depressed,told me he was suicidal .He'd been too frightened to talk to the people around him,which is common.People are told they've got nothing to be upset about.Or, if they are already classified as having mental health issues,so they tell no one.How do you make sense of your feelings if you can't tell someone? Just allowing people to say what they honestly feel helps them find a different perspective.I couldn't offer him practical advice but I could support him emotionally.I helped him come to terms with his situation and make sense of some of the terrible emotions he was experiencing.Offering anonymity and being nonjudgmental allows people easily hurt to explore their thoughts without fear or worry.I left him in an emotionally safe place,ensuring he knew 1 wasn't rejecting or abandoning him.I let him know we were still there if he needed us,explaining that it might not be me on the other end of the phone but another Samaritan who could also support. Suicidal people will ring with issues like drug use or loneliness.If you look at it from the perspective of, "How can I solve this? "you can become,like them,at a loss.Every cell in your body wants to offer solutions,but as a Samaritan I'm not there to sort their problems out.I listen and will support them when they can't see any further than tomorrow.When the phone goes silent,we stay with that caller as long as we possibly can,which could be two or three hours. The shifts are up to four hours long.When it doesn't go so well,I offload to my colleague,so I don't carry home a heavy heart.Being a Samaritan has greatly improved my life.I'm calmer and become a supportive listener, which has also improved my relationships.But being a wonderful Samaritan doesn't make you a wonderful parent or wonderful partner--I wish it did. We may infer from the passage that _ . A. being a good Samaritan takes patience B. Samaritans are easily affected by callers C. callers are always successfully comforted D. people kill themselves for lack of listening volunteers Answer: A. being a good Samaritan takes patience Question: Scientists study fossils to learn about A. the composition of the Earth. B. patterns of crystal formation. C. physical properties of rocks. D. organisms from long ago. Answer: D. organisms from long ago. Question: It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, 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. One day, over the phone, his mother told him that Mr. Belser died the night before and the funeral would be on Wednesday. "Oh, 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 recall about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him. "I love that old house he lived in. He's the one who taught me carpentry. 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. Busy as he was, he kept his word. 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, which was exactly as he remembered. Suddenly Jack stopped. "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. "Now, I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said sadly. Returning to his office the next day, he found a package from Mr. Harold Belser on his desk. Jack tore open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. "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, and tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the fine cover, he opened it. Inside he found these words carved: "Jack, thanks for your time! Harold Belser." "Oh, My God! This is the thing he valued most..." Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his assistant and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" his assistant asked. "I need some time to spend with my son," he said. Why did Jack say he needed some time to spend with his son? A. He had missed his son and his family for days. B. He had promised to spare more time to stay with his son. C. He was very tired of his work and wanted to have a good rest. D. He came to realize the importance of the time with his family. Answer: D. He came to realize the importance of the time with his family.
Question: Able, an attorney, sued Clinton, a client, for his fee, based on an agreed hourly rate. Clinton subpoenaed the attorney's time records for the days on which he purported to have worked for Clinton, in order to show that Able had billed an impossible number of hours to Clinton and others on those days. Clinton's subpoena provided that any information concerning the matters handled for other clients be deleted or masked. Able moved to quash the subpoena on the ground of attorney-client privilege. The subpoena should be A. upheld, because the information about hours billed is not within the privilege B. upheld, because an attorney has no right to invoke his clients' privilege without instructions from the clients. C. quashed, because an attorney is entitled to a right of privacy for the work product in his files. D. quashed, because no permission was obtained from the other clients to divulge information from their files. Answer: A Question: How would you describe Quincy Jones? Is he an instrumentalist, a composer, an arranger, or a producer? None of these labels can sum up this remarkable man. He has been known for years to people who follow popular music. But his part in the We Are the World VCD and the Hands Across America project made him a national figure. In addition to these successful efforts, Jones has written the music for many cartoon movies, including The Color Purple, which won 11 Oscar nominations . He also wrote the music for Alex Haley's Roots, a greatly successful television mini--series. These achievements show his many-sided genius. Quincy Jones was born on March 14, 1973, in Chicago's South Side. Ten years later, his family moved to the Seattle area. It was there that he met Ray Charles, who was three years older than ones and who in time would be a world-famous singer. The young musicians performed at small clubs and weddings. Through Charles's influence, Jones began composing. When Jones was only 15, his musical talent impressed Lionel Hampton, who invited him to join the Hampton band. Jones was ready to quit school to join, but Hampton's wife, Gladys, stated her disagreement. Believing that he needed an education, she removed him from the band's bus. "Get that child out of here," she yelled, "Let him finish school." These experiences made Quincy Jones more determined than ever to success. He finished high school, attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston on a scholarship, and finally did Lionel Hampton's band. Soon, however, he struck off on his own. The future beckoned brightly. Insisting that Quincy Jones get off the bus, Gladys Hampton was actually very _ . A. professional B. cruel C. kind D. selfish Answer: C Question: While robins refuse to eat much aside from insects, worms and fruit, most birds can make a nice meal out of A. potato boxes B. small beds C. wildflower kernels D. grass stains Answer: C Question: The story is about a young girl named Yang Liu. She was ill, because she couldn't sleep well. Every night, she felt very tired, but she stayed awake . Soon Yang Liu went to see a doctor, "I just can't get to sleep at night. What should I do?""Count from 1 to 1,000. By the time you reach 1,000, you can be asleep . I hope you feel better soon," said the doctor. The next day Yang Liu came back to the doctor's office. She still looked tired. "Well," said the doctor, "how are you feeling today?" "I tried counting one, two, three... up to one thousand. But when I reached seven hundred and eighty-nine, I began to feel sleepy . I had to get up and drink some coffee so that I could go on counting up to one thousand. After I finished counting all the numbers I still couldn't fall asleep," she said. What was wrong with Yang Liu? A. She went to school late. B. She didn't finish her homework. C. She couldn't sleep well. D. She felt angry. Answer: C Question: Most people feel lonely sometimes, but it usually only lasts a few minutes or a few hours. This kind of loneliness is not serious. In fact, it is quite normal. For some people, though, loneliness can last for years. Now researchers say there are three different types of loneliness. The first kind of loneliness is temporary. This is the most common type. It usually disappears quickly and does not require any special attention. The second kind, situational loneliness, is a natural result of a particular situation-for example, the death of a loved one, or moving to a new place. Although this kind of loneliness can cause physical problems, such as headaches and sleeplessness, it usually does not last for more than a year. Situational loneliness Is easy to understand and to predict. The third kind of loneliness is the most severe. Unlike the second type, loneliness usually lasts more than two years and has no specific cause. People who experience habitual loneliness have problem socializing and becoming close to others unfortunately, many chronically lonely people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition. Many researchers agree that the loneliest people are between the ages 18 and 25, so a group of psychologists decided to study a group of college students. They found that more than 50% of the students were situationally lonely at the beginning of the term as a result of their new circumstances, but had adjusted after a few months, 13% were still lonely after seven months due to shyness and fear. They felt very uncomfortable meeting strangers, even though they understood that their fear was not reasonable. The situationally lonely students overcame their loneliness by making new friends, but the chronically lonely remained unhappy because they were afraid to do so. Psychologists are trying to find ways to help habitually lonely people for two reasons: First of all, they are unhappy and unable to socialize and there is a connection between chronic loneliness and serious illness such as heart disease. While temporary and situational loneliness can be a normal, healthy part of life, chronic loneliness can be a very sad, and sometimes dangerous condition. Psychologists want to help the habitually lonely people because _ . A. they are college students B. they are sad and dangerous C. they are not active in communicating with others D. they may have mental and physical problems Answer: D
One day, the mouse, Rudd, got a splinter in his paw when he was putting a new fence around his house. His turtle friend with a weird name, Dig, came up to Rudd after he heard him yelling, "Ouch, I've got a splinter in my paw! Can someone help?" Dig, being the ever helpful turtle, took the splinter in his mouth and tugged it. The splinter popped right out of Rudd's paw and flew right into the air and then landed in the middle of the river. Rudd looked happy and gave Dig a hug. "Thank you so much, Dig! And for helping me, I'll give you the choice of one of these three desserts I found. What would you like to have? A cake? A cookie? Or maybe this brownie?" "Oh, Rudd, you are so silly and know you don't even have to ask me which one I'd take. You know I love brownies!" Dig smiled happily as Rudd gave him his treat and another hug for helping with the splinter. After the two friends finish their dessert, Dig helped Rudd put up the rest of his fence until the sun went down that day. It was a good day for both friends. What treat did Dig, the turtle, take? Answer: Pemberton and three passengers, Able, Baker, and Charley, were injured when their car was struck by a truck owned by Mammoth Corporation and driven by Edwards. Helper, also a Mammoth employee, was riding in the truck. The issues in Pemberton v Mammoth include the negligence of Edwards in driving too fast and failing to wear glasses, and of Pemberton in failing to yield the right of way"Mammoth's counsel seeks to have Sheriff testify that while he was investigating the accident he 59 was told by Pemberton, "This was probably our fault." The judge should rule the proffered evidence Answer: Father's day Sunset Live Music Dinner Cruise Sunday, June 16th, 2013 6:30pm-8:30pm Join us abroad the 95' Dana Pride for our special Father's Day Dinner Cruise. Enjoy a unique evening of fun on the water, complete with live music by Mike O' Brien and a delicious barbecue dinner. Adult--$ 59 Kids (3-12)--$29 Two and under are Free LOCATION: Dana Point Harbor BOOK ONLINE OR CALL: 949-496-5794 Rancho Days Fiesta July 13, 2013 Celebration the history of Saddleback Valley, there will be children's activities including free crafts projects. Help make and taste homemade ice cream and butter, warm bread from the oven. Dip water and grind corn while learning about the early days of Orange County. Admission is $ 3 for children 3 to 12 years old and $4 for adults. LOCATION: Heritage Hill Historical Park INFORMATION: 949-923-2230 Annual Silverado Counter Fair and Art Festival October 5-6, 2013 The 42thAnnual Silverado Country Fair explores the wonders of the area's Old West rustic culture, great live music tasty food, handmade arts, crafts and family games under the oak-trees below Orange Country's famous Saddleback Mountain. Daytime adult admission: $4/ Kids under 12: only $2 Saturday Night Music Fest : $ 5 for everyone LOCATION: Silverado Community Center INFORMATION: 714-997-3968 Starr Ranch Sanctuary October 20-21, 2013 Audubon California's Starr Ranch Sanctuary invites you to our fall classes for adults. Join our wildlife biologist for two peaceful days at beautiful 4,000 acre Starr Ranch in southeast Orange County and experience nature hands-on as a wildlife researcher. Cost: $ 95 for those not camping (including dinner) $100 for those camping (dinner and breakfast provided) LOCATION: Starr Ranch Sanctuary RESERVATIONS OR INFORMATION: 949-858-0309 Which event is the most suitable for one who wants to enjoy dinner in a boat with live music? Answer: 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. What can we infer from the passage? Answer: Additional consistent force on a vehicle moving forward will cause that vehicle to Answer:
The first true piece of sports equipment that man invented was the ball. In ancient Egypt, as everywhere, pitching stones was a favorite children's game. But a badly thrown rock could hurt a child. Looking for something less dangerous to throw, the Egyptians made what were probably the first balls. At first, balls were made of grass or leaves held together by vines . Later they were made of pieces of animal skin sewed together and stuffed with feathers or hay. Even though the Egyptians were warlike, they found time for peaceful games. Before long they had developed a number of ball games, each with its own set of rules. Perhaps they played ball more for instruction than for fun. Ball playing was thought of mainly as a way to teach young men the speed and skill they would need for war. The ball was probably invented because _ A. throwing stones often caused injuries B. throwing stones was not fun C. games with stones did not have rules D. rocks were too heavy to throw Answer: A. throwing stones often caused injuries Bringing a giraffe into the world is _ . A baby giraffe is born 10 feet high and usually lands on its back. Within seconds it rolls over its legs under its body. Then the mother giraffe rudely introduces its children to the reality of life. In his book,A View from the Zoo, Gary Richmond describes how a new-born giraffe learns its first lesson. The mother giraffe lowers her head long enough to take a quick look. Then she puts herself directly over her child. She waits for about a minute, and then she does the most unreasonable thing. She throws her long leg and kicks her baby, so that it's sent sprawling . When it doesn't get up, the process is repeated again and again. The struggle to rise is important. As the baby giraffe grows tired, the mother kicks it again. Finally, it stands for the first time on its shaky legs. Then the mother giraffe kicks it off its feet again. Why? She wants it to remember how it got up. In the wild, a baby giraffe must be able to get up as quickly as possible to stay with its group, where there's safety. Another writer named Irving Stone understood this. He spent a lifetime studying greatness, writing stories about such men as Michelangelo, Vincent van Gogh, Sigmund Freud, and Charles Darwin. Stone was once asked if he had found something that runs through the lives of all these great people. He said, "I write about people who sometime in their life have a dream of something. They're beaten over the head, knocked down and for years they get nowhere. But every time they stand up again. And at the end of their lives they've realized some small parts of what they set out to do ." What would be the best title for the passage? A. How to Raise a Baby Giraffe. B. Learning to Get Back Up. C. Stories about the great people. D. A Mother Giraffe and Its Baby Giraffe. Answer: B. Learning to Get Back Up. Late last summer, I was introduced to a new special someone. We met at an Apple product announcement. She was helpful, smart, and even funny, talking of jokes and making me laugh. What more could a man ask for? Since then, we have had some major communication issues. She frequently misunderstands what I'm saying. Sometimes she is just unavailable. Often, she responds with the same repetitive statement. Her name is Siri. At first, Siri, the voice-activated digital assistant on Apple Iphones, seemed a little too good to be true. Siri cheated me into a relationship promising to help me set up appointments, to gently wake me in the morning for work, and to give me the ability to text someone while I was driving. It didn't work out that way. "There's something wrong, and I can't answer your questions right now. Please try again in a little while," Siri will say when I ask something, or: "I'm really sorry about this, but I can't take any requests right now. Please try again in a little while." She is always polite. But I'm starting to suspect that "I'm really sorry" is just something Siri says to shut me up. Apple introduced Siri as a beta test, meaning it was still a work in progress. That was unusual for Apple. It wanted a head start. But it doesn't seem ready to change anything yet. Many people I have spoken to have switched Siri off and turned to the iPhone's voice dictation service, which is more reliable because it doesn't use Siri's artificial intelligence software. Over time, things have really gone bad between Siri and me. We hardly speak anymore. Although she doesn't know this, I've started seeing someone else. Her name is Google Voice Search (GVS). GVS, available in the latest operating software, is a much better listener. It's ly smarter. If I ask GVS a question, like, "Who is Tim Cook?", it responds with an answer " He's the chief executive of Apple". If I ask Siri the same question, the response is: "I don't see Tim Cook in your contacts." Why do more people choose not to use Siri any longer? A. Because her appearance looks so ugly. B. Because her price is higher and higher. C. Because her artificial intelligence software isn't reliable. D. Because Apple fails to make more successful advertisements. Answer: C. Because her artificial intelligence software isn't reliable. I am John.. I always get up late at the weekend. At about 9:30 am, I have breakfast. After breakfast, I start doing my homework. We have lunch at about 12:00, and then I watch TV or have a rest . I like reading and I often read some interesting books in the afternoon. I like sports, too. Sometimes I play football or basketball with my friends at school. My school is near my home, so I can walk there. Every weekend, my father takes me to a restaurant for a big dinner. I can enjoy lots of nice food. I like my weekend. What time does John have breakfast at the weekend? A. At about 8:30 am. B. At about 9:30 am. C. At about 10:30 am. D. At about 11:30 am. Answer: B. At about 9:30 am. Which of the following best describes the climate of an area? A. the high temperature and wind speed for six months B. the high temperature and wind speed each day for one year C. the temperature and precipitation every hour for one day D. the average temperature and total precipitation each month for ten years Answer: D. the average temperature and total precipitation each month for ten years
(ALAUDDIN VALLEY) -- Russia's relationship with Tajikistan has _ following an incident involving a Russian pilot who was arrested -- after making an emergency landing in the Central Asian nation. Russia responded by beginning to drive out Tajik guest workers, a move that threatens Tajikistan's entire economy. In total, some 700,000 Tajik citizens work in Russia. In the past quarter, they sent home some $742 million in remittances . Overall, the money guest workers send back makes up half of the republic's government budget. The Alauddin Valley is in the Fann Mountains in eastern Tajikistan. The place long held an attraction for Russian writers and adventurers. Later, during the Soviet era, it was a popular tourist destination. Yet establishing a strong relationship with the people of the mountainous region is not easy. Men are seldom seen in the area. Nearly every family has at least one breadwinner working in Russia, if not more. The farm work falls to the women, who divide it up among themselves. Each summer, the village chooses the most experienced and skilled women to take all of the cows (up to 300 of them) to the summer pastures high up on in the mountains. The women spend four months there with their children since there is no one to leave the children with. They milk the cows and prepare products for the winter: cheese, butter and so on. These fermented goods get them through the winter when snow and avalanches cut off all contact with civilization. Residents here generally have two questions for visiting Russians. The first one is obvious: Is President Dmitri Medvedev going to limit the entry of Tajik guest workers? The second question is less obvious: Are there cows in Moscow? The Alauddin Valley's women truly can't imagine life without either. Women in the Alauddin Valley _ . Answer: perhaps don't know much about the outside world Do you dream of changing the world with your words? Or maybe you just want to be able to express your thoughts and ideas more clearly. Anyway, it's more important for us to write correctly and properly. Then how to improve your English writing skills? www.ks5u.com Get the most out of your dictionary by understanding how to use it correctly. You can use a good English dictionary to find words, for meaning, for pronunciation, to check your spelling and to understand explanations. If you are using a computer, use an English spell checker (but don't rely on it). Copy short passages of English text from newspapers, magazines or books. Try dictation exercises. You can do this online or get friends to read out text for you to write. Then check your writing-pay more attention to spelling. There are many forums on the Internet. Find one about your interests or hobbies. Observe the niceties of forum use, and make an apology if you think you have made any mistakes. Be careful about using abbreviations when writing on forums. They are fun and quick but can also make you pick some bad habits. Use a blog to create a diary about your life. Write it in English and if you have a thick skin, ask for feedback . Remember blogs are not private, so do not write anything there that you do not want the whole world to read. I advise http://www.blogger.com, which is free and very easy to use. Check what you've written. Even better, get someone else to read what you've written ahead of time. Try to find pen friends who are native English speakers. Write to them, use a messenger service like MSN, Yahoo, Google or find a chat-room. If you can't get in touch with native speakers then contact other learners. According to the passage, how many ways are related with computers? Answer: Five. The '80s' "important role" in the family has also meant a greater concentration and focus on the individual. And, it has made the word "me" one of the most frequently used words. Everything seems to be about "me". This generation has a greater awareness of itself. Some people do not seem to agree that all this is self-centred. When Cai Fuchao, prefix = st1 /Beijing's publicity head, was asked to comment on the lack of responsibility of university students during the SARS period, his reply was: "Modern university students are ambitious, knowledgeable and have a very strong sense of responsibility to the society." As news analyst from sina.com, Pan Fengliang, echoed that, saying that blindly blaming them(for running away during the SARS outbreak)was prejudiced and unfair and not backed with evidence. No doubt, the development of information technology has contributed its bit to broadening, or bending, the minds of the 80s generation. Some people even call Gen'80 "the E-generation". They get in touch with each other via email, QQ, ICQ and MSN. While the people of the '60s and '70s swarmed to Shanghai to catch Luo Dayou, Gen'80s were on the BBS saying that it was "really dumb". "The internet is so much more to those of the '80s than you can imagine," said Wu Junyong, an IT engineer who was born in 1978. In Wu's opinion, it's the Internet that separates the 70s from the 80s, "Many of the'70s don't see why those from the '80s can spend everyday in front of a computer." A new weekly Magazine/163.com survey last year found that 40 percent of the 7,000 people surveyed, born in the '80s, thought the computer was the most important article in life; more than 70 percent of their parents preferred the home. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? Answer: Not all people think that the "born in the 1980s" are selfish and irresponsible. There is an endless supply of stories about sleepwalkers . People have been said to climb on roofs, solve mathematical problems, write music, walk through windows, and do murder in their sleep. In Revere, Massachusetts, a hundred policemen searched for a lost boy who left his home in his sleep and woke up five hours later on a strange sofa in a strange living room, with no idea how he had got there. At the University of Lowa, a student was reported to have the habit of getting up in the middle of the night and walking three-quarters of a mile to the Lowa River. He would take a swim and then go back to his room to bed. An American expert on sleep claims that he has never seen a sleepwalker. He is said to know more about sleep than any other living man, and during the last thirty-five years he has lost a lot of sleep watching people sleep. He says, "Of course, I know that there are sleepwalkers because I have read about them in the newspapers. But none of my sleepers ever walked, and if I were to advertise for sleepwalkers for an experiment, I doubt whether I would get many takers ." Sleepwalking, however, is a scientific reality. It is one of those strange things that sometimes look quite fantastic . Doctors say that sleepwalking is much more common than is generally supposed. Many sleepwalkers do not try to find help and their sleepwalking is never recorded. There was a college student who got into the habit of _ . Answer: getting up in the middle of the night and walking down to the river Mark Twain has been called the inventor of the American novel. And he surely deserves additional praise: the man who popularized the clever literary attack on racism. I say clever because anti-slavery fiction had been the important part of the literature in the years before the Civil War. H. B. Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin is only the most famous example. These early stories dealt directly with slavery. With minor exceptions, Twain planted his attacks on slavery and prejudice into tales that were on the surface about something else entirely. He drew his readers into the argument by drawing them into the story. Again and again, in the postwar years, Twain seemed forced to deal with the challenge of race. Consider the most controversial, at least today, of Twain's novels, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Only a few books have been kicked off the shelves as often as Huckleberry Finn, Twain's most widely read tale. Once upon a time, people hated the book because it struck them as rude. Twain himself wrote that those who banned the book considered the novel "trash and suitable only for the slums ." More recently the book has been attacked because of the character Jim, the escaped slave, and many occurences of the word nigger. (The term Nigger Jim, for which the novel is often severely criticized, never appears in it.) But the attacks were and are silly--and miss the point. The novel is strongly anti-slavery. Jim's search through the slave states for the family from whom he has been forcibly parted is heroic. As J. Chadwick has pointed out, the character of Jim was a first in American fiction--a recognition that the slave had two personalities, "the voice of survival within a white slave culture and the voice of the individual: Jim, the father and the man." There is much more. Twain's mystery novel Pudd'nhead Wilson stood as a challenge to the racial beliefs of even many of the liberals of his day. Written at a time when the accepted wisdom held Negroes to be inferior to whites, especially in intelligence, Twain's tale centered in part around two babies switched at birth. A slave gave birth to her master's baby and, for fear that the child should be sold South, switched him for the master's baby by his wife. The slave's lightskinned child was taken to be white and grew up with both the attitudes and the education of the slave-holding class. The master's wife's baby was taken for black and grew up with the attitudes and intonations of the slave. The point was difficult to miss: nurture , not nature, was the key to social status. The features of the black man that provided the stuff of prejudice--manner of speech, for example-- were, to Twain, indicative of nothing other than the conditioning that slavery forced on its victims. Twain's racial tone was not perfect. One is left uneasy, for example, by the lengthy passage in his autobiography about how much he loved what were called "nigger shows" in his youth--mostly with white men performing in black-face--and his delight in getting his mother to laugh at them. Yet there is no reason to think Twain saw the shows as representing reality. His frequent attacks on slavery and prejudice suggest his keen awareness that _ did not. Was Twain a racist? Asking the question in the 21st century is as wise as asking the same of Lincoln. If we read the words and attitudes of the past through the "wisdom" of the considered moral judgments of the present, we will find nothing but error. Lincoln, who believed the black man the inferior of the white, fought and won a war to free him. And Twain, raised in a slave state, briefly a soldier, and inventor of Jim, may have done more to anger the nation over racial injustice and awaken its collective conscience than any other novelist in the past century. How do Twain's novels on slavery differ from Stowe's? Answer: Twain's attack on racism was much less open.
An organism's cells include organelles and a cell wall. In which taxonomic group or groups might the organism be classified? A. plants only B. bacteria or archaea C. plants, fungi, or protists D. bacteria, fungi, or protists Answer: C Our sense of hearing is one of the most important means of knowing what is going on around us. We are warned of danger by sounds. The sounds of music please us. Sound has a waste product, too, in the form of noise. Noise has been called unwanted sound. Noise is growing and it may get much worse before it gets any better. Scientists, for several years, have been studying how noise affects people and animals and are alarmed by what they have learned. Peace and quiet are becoming harder to find. Noise pollution is no joke. It is a threat that should be looked at carefully. Sound is measured in units called decibels . At a level of 140 decibels people feel pain in their ears. Trucks, buses, motorcycles, airplanes, boats, and factories all make noise. This noise bothers not only our ears, but our minds and bodies as well. There is a saying about "it is so noisy that you can't hear yourself think". Doctors who study noise believe that we must be able to hear ourselves think most of the time. If we don't, we may have headaches, other aches and pains, or even mental problems. Noise adds even more tension to a society which already faces too much stress. When sound is turned into noise, _ . A. people become ill B. it makes people forget the past C. people don't know how to deal with it D. it becomes a kind of pollution Answer: D Prince Roman was a Polish nobleman, a captain in the army of Czar Nicholas of Russia. When his young wife died, the prince left the army and returned in sorrow to his native Poland. In time, love for his country and its people took the place of his lost love. He joined a Polish rising against the Russians. The rising was crushed, and Prince Roman was taken prisoner. His relatives and friends begged the military court to have mercy on him. The president of the court received these appeals kindly. He was a good Russian, but he was also a good-natured man. Russian hatred of Poles was not as fierce at that time as it became later; and the Russian felt sympathetic as soon as he saw the prince's thin, tired, sun-burnt face. The court of three officers sat in a bare room, behind a long black table. Some clerks sat at the two ends, but no one else was there when the guards brought in the prince. Those four walls shut out from Prince Roman all sights and sounds of freedom, all hopes of the future, all comforting thoughts. How much love for Poland remained in him then? How much love of life? He stood before his judges alone, having refused their permission to sit. He answered their first formal questions -- his name and so on -- clearly and politely although he felt too weary to talk. Then the president of the court seemed to suggest how the young man could best help himself. He asked questions in a way that almost put the right answers in the prisoner's mouth. "Didn't your wife's death drive you to despair? Wasn't your mind unbalanced by that sad event ?" Prince Roman was silent. "You were not fully responsible for you conduct, were you?" Prince Roman was silent. "You made a sudden blind decision to join the rising. You didn't realize that your actions were dangerous and dishonourable. Isn't that the truth of this unfortunate matter?" The judges looked at the prisoner hopefully. In silence the prince reached for a pen and some paper. He wrote, "I joined the rising because I believe it was just." He pushed the paper towards the president, who took it and read it in silence. Prince Roman was sentenced to hard work for life in the Siberian salt mines. It was a sentence of delayed death. When Czar Nicholas read the report and sentence, he added in his own handwriting, "Make sure that this prisoner walks in chains every step of the way to Siberia." The questions which the president asked show that _ . A. he was trying to find excuse for the prince's conduct B. the court wanted the prince to admit his own guilt C. he wanted to learn the truth about the Polish rising D. Prince Roman was a weak person Answer: A What are you feeling right now as you start to read this? Are you curious? Hoping that you'll learn something about yourself? Bored because this is something you have to do for school and you're not really into it -- or happy because it's a school project you enjoy? Perhaps you're attracted by something else, like feeling excited about your weekend plans or sad because you just went through a breakup. Emotions like these are part of human nature. They give us information about what we're experiencing and help us know how to react. We sense our emotions from the time we're babies. Young children react to their emotions with facial expressions or with actions like laughing or crying. They feel and show emotions, but they don't yet have the ability to name the emotion or say why they feel that way. As we grow up, we become more skilled in understanding emotions. Instead of just reacting like little kids do, we can identify what we feel and put it into words. With time and practice, we get better at knowing what we are feeling and why. This skill is called emotional awareness. Emotional awareness helps us know what we need and want, or don't want! It helps us build better relationships. That's because being aware of our emotions can help us talk about feelings more clearly, avoid or settle conflicts better, and move past difficult feelings more easily. Some people are naturally more in touch with their emotions than others. The good news is that everyone can be more aware of their emotions. It just takes practice. But it's worth the effort. Emotional awareness is the first step toward building emotional intelligence, a skill that can help people succeed in life. From the passage we know that emotional awareness actually _ . A. enables us to live in society more easily B. lets people understand others better C. brings about conflicts between people D. smooths away difficulties in our life Answer: A While going to the office, I found an old man lying by the side of the bus stop.He seemed very sick and poor.Instinctively.I gave him some money.After a few minutes, I realized that he was probably too sick to get up and buy something with that money.I was thinking about how to help him when my bus arrived, halting my brainstorm.I quickly got on and rode off. However, that night I couldn't sleep.I felt very angry at my own heartless and selfish behavior.How could I just walk away from that man without a thought for his suffering? I felt restless and very upset. The next morning, while waiting at the bus stop, I hoped to run into him again.But he wasn't there.I thought he may have gone to the sidewalk to sleep for the night.I looked around for him, but he had disappeared.Disappointed, I decided to check for him again on my way back. While returning from work that day, I came back to the bus stop and resumed my search for him. Thankfully, he was there.I quickly went to a nearby store and got him a blanket, some bread, and biscuits. When I handed them to him, he seemed very grateful."Now I will be safe from the cold," he smiled. I also gave him some more money and told him to keep it safely.After being able to help him, I felt very at peace. What would be the best title for the passage? A. Giving money to strangers is rather happy. B. How can you help a stranger? C. Don't be sony failing in helping others. D. A moving story happening at a bus stop. Answer: D
I love sleeping. It's something I'm good at. There's nothing better than nodding off on the sofa in front of the TV and when my head hits the pillow at night, I have no problem falling into a deep sleep within minutes. There is one place where I never nap and that's at work--but new research suggests I should! The idea of you and your colleagues heading off for a lie down in the afternoon may seem strange, but some companies such as Google and Facebook actually encourage it. Because it's thought that a power-nap makes them more refreshed and more focused, and this in turn makes them more productive. An Australian health writer called Victoria is a founder of a campaign called Nap Now which is trying to make sleeping at work more acceptable. She calls herself a " _ "! She says: "I think that our culture is a bit crazy not to accept it... It's time to end the common work principle which is all about working longer and harder." So should we all be taking a sleeping bag and pillow to work with us? A few years ago, research by the East of England Development Agency found 30% of people have their best ideas in bed compared to just 11% who have them at their desk. That suggests people are more creative when they are relaxed--and the agency has called for companies to put beds in the workplace. A nap in the afternoon is nothing new. In certain hot countries, such as Spain, a short rest or sleep in the afternoon-called a siesta-is perfectly normal. So maybe we should break from the traditional nine-to-five work culture and take up the siesta. The UK's Sleep Council claims the nine-to-five working day does not fit into the natural sleeping pattern of the human race and says that bosses need to introduce a more sleep-friendly working day. According to the passage, what can we learn about siesta? A. It is a newly practiced pattern. B. It has been taken up in Finland. C. It is sort of traditional work culture. D. It fits into the natural sleeping pattern. Answer: D YOUR mom might cook a bowl of noodles for you on your birthday. But in the US, a mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birthday. Cupcakes are small, round cakes topped with frosting . It has been an American tradition that moms bring cupcakes to the classroom to celebrate their child's birthday. But recently some doctors have called for this to be banned. They believe cupcakes contribute to child obesity. Despite their good intentions, however, some people believe that experts are interfering with American culture. The cupcake is seen as American as apple pie -- only prettier. According to Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University, the cupcake is the most democratic of desserts. As they are small enough for one person, you don't have to share your cupcake with anyone -- it's all yours. They are also all the same size, so there can't be any cries of "she got the bigger piece!" Each bite can taste different depending on how much icing you have. It is a lesson in self-determination. Some people eat only a little of the frosting every time, others have it all in just one bite. In recent years, eating a cupcake has become as _ as having a cup of Starbucks coffee. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton jokingly promised on a talk show that if she was elected president, she would give everyone a cupcake on her birthday. Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine, explains that the rise of the cupcake is very much about going back to American national identity in food, which is all about comfort. "People want to think about when they and their country were innocent," she said. According to the passage, it has been an American tradition that _ . A. a party for children on their birthday B. A mom cooks a bowl of noodles for her children on their birthday C. A mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birthday and brings it to the classroom D. parents go travelling with their children on their birthday Answer: C A woman is at the movies ,and she is enjoying the movie very much. A man in the next seat begins to look for something on the floor under him. The woman is angry and says, "What are you doing there? What are you looking for?" "A piece of chocolate." A man answers. " But it's dirty now ! Take this and be quiet, please .I am listening to the film!" She gives the man a big one. "But," the man says, "my false tooth is in it on the floor!" The man is sitting _ . A. very far from the woman B. on the floor C. behind the woman D. next to the woman Answer: D Hip-pop Dancing Hip-pop dancing is popular with many young people today. They like it because they can invent their own moves. They use this dance to show their love for life. It also shows that they feel good about life, that they just want to be themselves and enjoy life, and that they are not afraid of problems. Hip-hop dancing has a history of more than 30 years. It first began in the 1980s in the US. In early times, it was seen in New York and Los Angeles. At that time, many young black people often danced to music in the streets. They used their legs, arms, heads and even shoulders to dance. Many young people still use most of these moves today. Hip-pop dancing became popular all over the world because of the 1983 movie Flash Dance. Some people performed Hip-hop dancing in the movie. People enjoyed their performances. They began to dance like them. Then it became popular. There are two kinds of Hip-pop dancing: the new school and the old school. More and more young people are learning Hip-pop dancing. People believe that it is a good way to exercise their bodies, and that it is good for their health. ,. ( 5 ) Which of the following is TRUE about Hip-pop dancing? A. It's not a good way to exercise. B. It shows that young people feel bad about life. C. Young people use this dance to show their love for life. D. It shows that young people are afraid of problems. Answer: C Moods, say the experts, are feelings that tend to become fixed, influencing one's outlook for hours, days or even weeks. That's great if your mood is a pleasant one, but a problem if you are sad, anxious, angry or simply lonely. Perhaps the best way to deal with such moods is to talk them out; sometimes, though, there is no one to listen. Modern pharmacology offers a lot of tranquilizers What many people don't realize, however, is that scientists have discovered the effectiveness of several non-drug methods to set you loose from an unwanted mood. These can be just as useful as drugs, and have the added benefit of being nonpoisonous. So next time you _ don't head for the drug-store but try the following methods. Of all the mood-altering self-help techniques, aerobic exercise seems to be the most efficient cure for a bad mood. "If you could keep up the exercise, you'd be in high spirits, " says Kathryn Lance, author of Running for Health and Beauty. Researchers have explained biochemical and various other changes that make exercise compare favourably to drugs as a mood raiser. Physical exertion such as housework, however, does little. The key is aerobic exercise--running, cycling, walking, swimming or other repetitive and sustained activities that increase the heart rate, increase blood circulation and improve the body's use of oxygen. Do some of the activities for at least 20 minutes a session three to five times a week. According to the passage, all of the statements are true EXCEPT that _ A. climbing is an efficient cure for a bad mood B. moods can have a bad effect on people's health C. aerobic exercise can help people get rid of bad moods D. pharmacology has provided people with many tranquilizers Answer: B
DIY sailor Owen Warboys has finally launched his homemade boat -- after spending nearly 30 years building it in his mum's garden. Owen, 66, a retired engineer from Hordle, New Milton, Hants, first started work on the 40ft--long boat in 1982 because he could not afford to buy his own. He told mum Edith that it would only take five years but after suffering "a few problems" it lasted nearly three decades. When he finally finished, he was left with the head-scratching task of getting the 18-tonne boat out of the back garden. After some time he found a way. A huge crane was brought in to carefully raise it 40ft in the air over his mother's house and onto a lorry. It was then driven to the seaside and, to Owen's delight, it floated and showed no signs of leaking when lowered into the water. Now, 28 years after he first started, Owen is at last preparing to set sail in his beloved boat, Wight Dolphin, with his long-suffering wife Anne. Owen said, "I am so relieved that it's finished. There were times when I thought it would never end but I'm the sort of person who likes to finish something once I've started." At first he persuaded his mum to let him do it in her garden and started taking in sheets of steel and pieces of wood. "My mother was happy for me to build it at her house but only bacause I told her it would only take five years." What problem did Owen face when he finished his boat? He didn't know how to move it out. Many people think that listening is a passive business. It is just the opposite. Listening well is an active exercise of our attention and hard work. It is because they do not realize this, or because they are not willing to do the work, that most people do not listen well. Listening well also requires total concentration upon someone else. An essential part of listening well is the rule known as 'bracketing'. Bracketing includes the temporary giving up or setting aside of your own prejudices and desires, to experience as far as possible someone else's world from the inside, _ . Moreover, since listening well involves bracketing, it also involves a temporary acceptance of the other person. Sensing this acceptance, the speaker will seem quite willing to open up the inner part of his or her mind to the listener. True communication is under way and the energy required for listening well is so great that it can be accomplished only by the will to extend oneself for mutual growth. Most of the time we lack this energy. Even though we may feel in our business dealings or social relationships that we are listening well, what we are usually doing is listening selectively. Often we have a prepared list in mind and wonder, as we listen, how we can achieve certain desired results to get the conversation over as quickly as possible or redirected in ways more satisfactory to us. Many of us are far more interested in talking than in listening, or we simply refuse to listen to what we don't want to hear. It wasn't until toward the end of my doctor career that I have found the knowledge that one is being truly listened to is frequently therapeutic In about a quarter of the patients I saw, surprising improvement was shown during the first few months of psychotherapy , before any of the roots of problems had been uncovered or explained. There are several reasons for this phenomenon, but chief among them, I believe, was the patient's sense that he or she was being truly listened to, often for the first time in years, and for some, perhaps for the first time ever. According to the author, in communication people tend to _ . listen purposefully In China most people these days know what it means to have an "English teacher", since almost all pupils study English from their third year. In primary school the first English teacher will usually be a young and lovely lady. But my first English teacher is _ . Looking back, I can see that, when I was only a little girl, he created an English environment by providing me with flashcards ,fun English- language toys and even dolls which can sing English songs! My interest in English had certainly been awakened when I began to learn English at school. Just imagine, he went a step further and asked me to learn New Concept English by myself! I was confused and even angry. I could not understand why a father could be so strict with his little girl. All the same, he never gave up and he gently insisted that I follow through with his idea. At first, I read stories with tears and I actually hated them because they were too difficult for me. In the end, I came to love the funny stories and, to be honest, my father was always there with a helping hand. I am sure that my English would never have got so far without his support. And that's why my father is not only my first English teacher but also my lifelong teacher. He is the one who aroused my interest, gave me confidence and offered me much needed help. Most pupils in China begin to learn English _ . in primary school Many people go to church on Sunday, but others don't. Many people sleep late on Sunday morning, but others don't. Some people work on Sunday, but most don't. However, almost everyone reads the Sunday paper. Often the paper is waiting outside the door when the family gets up. The newspaper boy has put it there. The paper has many advertisements and many different parts. The parents in the family like the front page and the world news part. Many men also read the sports pages and the financial pages. Most men don't read the women's pages, but the mother of the family usually does. The women's pages have the news about parties and some good ideas about food, health and clothes. Most Sunday papers have interesting stories. Children enjoy them. Old people read the death notices. They tell about people who have died during the week. There is something for everyone in the Sunday paper. The parents in the family like _ . the world news part Plant World Garden Centre is located between Torquay and Newton Abbot. The Garden is laid out to represent the five continents of the world. Our inspirational gardens contain countless rare and foreign plants seldom seen outside their native lands. Our Famous "Gardens of the World" It was designed , built and planted in 1986 as the first ever " Map of the World Gardens" . It takes visitors half an hour or more to drive along the winding pathways around the "world map" and see which plants grow in which countries. The neighboring rare plant nurseries ( ) enable visitors to take home plants and trees growing there. We give a warm welcome to garden clubs and gardening societies, many of whom make annual visits. Latest News Our new Garden website is released! We hope you like our new website which we have tried to fill with interesting information and history about our lovely gardens. Seeds We produce and sell over 3 ,000 varieties of flower and vegetable seeds. Many are rare ,and unusual. All of them can be purchased on our sister website : www. plant-world-seeds.com. Scenic Cafe Our hilltop cafe offers one of the most incredible panoramas ( ) of Britain. The menu includes toasted sandwiches and jacket potatoes. In addition ,many home-made cakes are offered, including the famous Devon Cream Teas. We always use local produce whenever possible-our ice creams are from Language , our home-made soups come from Rod & Bens ,and our bottled drinks are supplied by Heron Valley. Opening Times We are open 9:30 am - 5 :00 pm, seven days a week, from late March to mid October ( please call first to confirm at the start/end of season) . . Garden Admission Prices Day ticket : ~ 3 Season ticket : PS 10 Kids under 12 go free If a couple and their l0-year-old son want to visit Plant World Garden for two days, they need to pay _ PS12
Learning to speak English well may be the best thing you can do to improve your life. That's right. If you can communicate in English, you can: Contact people from all over the world. Talk about your ideas and opinions on Internet discussion groups. Send email to interesting people.Learn about their life and culture. Travel more easily. Communicate with people wherever you go--English is spoken in more than 100 countries (source). Ask directions, have a conversation, or...ask for help. Who knows, maybe English will save your life someday! Push your career forward. If you want a good job in business, technology, or science, get out of that armchair and start learning English now! (If you already have a good job, start learning before you lose it!) Knowing English will let you: Put "excellent knowledge of English" on your CV. Get your dream job, and earn more money. Gain technical knowledge. English is the language of technology, especially high technology like computer science, genetics, and medicine. If you're going to read about technology, you'll probably have to do it in English. Learn computer science. Read technical articles without difficulty. Or write your own articles! Be a worldclass businessman (or woman). It's simple. International business is done in English. And all business today is international. So if you want to play, you have to know English--to contact other business people, go to conferences, read international business newspapers and magazines, etc. Become a better scientist. Contact scientists from other countries, go to international conferences, visit academic centers abroad. Learn about new scientific discoveries by reading papers, books, and magazines. Use your computer more effectively. Most computer applications are in English, so you will understand them better--and become a better employee. If you don't learn English, you may lose _ . your good job Today our life and work rarely feel light or pleasant. Instead, the whole experience of being alive begins to melt into huge responsibility. It becomes the standard greeting everywhere: I am so busy. We say this to one another with no small degree of pride. The busier we are, the more important we seem to ourselves and, we imagine, to others. To be unavailable to our friends and family, to be unable to find time for the sunset, to speed through our responsibilities without time for a single mindful breath -- this has become the model of a successful life. Because we do not rest, we lose our way. We lose the nourishment that gives us help. We miss the quiet that gives us wisdom. Poisoned by the belief that good things come only through tireless effort, we never truly rest. This is not the world we dreamed of when we were young. How did we get so terribly rushed in a world filled with work and responsibility, yet somehow lack of joy and delight? We have forgotten the Sabbath . Sabbath is the time to enjoy and celebrate what is beautiful and good -- time to light candles, sing songs, tell stories, bless our children and loved ones, give thanks, share meals, nap and walk. It is time to be nourished and refreshed as we let our work, our chores and our important projects lie fallow, trusting that there are larger forces at work taking care of the world when we are at rest. Sabbath is more than the absence of work. Many of us, in our desperate drive to be successful and care for our many responsibilities, feel terribly guilty when we take time to rest. But the Sabbath has proven its wisdom over the ages. Many of us still recall when, not long ago, shops and offices were closed on Sundays. Those quiet Sunday afternoons remained in our cultural memory. According to the author, we should do the following EXCEPT _ . believing that good things come only through tireless effort One day a teacher was giving her young students a lesson on how the government works . She was trying to explain the principle of income tax . "You see ," she began , speaking slowly and carefully , "each person who works must pay part of his or her salary to the government . If you make a high salary , your taxes are high . If you don't make much money , your taxes are low ." "Is that clear ?" she asked . "Does everyone understand the meaning of income tax ?" The students nodded. "Are there any questions ?" she asked . The students shook their heads . "Very good !" she said . "Now ,I would like you to take a piece of paper and write a short paragraph on the subject of income tax ." Little Joey was a slow learner . He had lots of problems with spelling and grammar , but this time he at least seemed to understand the task . He took his pen and after a few minutes , he handed the teacher the following composition : Once I had a dog . His name was Tax . I opened the door and in come Tax . The students were asked _ . to write a composition on "income tax" A long time ago, there was a man. He wanted to buy a pair of new shoes. He measured his feet with a straw ,and then went to a shoe shop in town. The shopkeeper took out a pair of new shoes, and let him try it on. But when he looked into his pocket, he found that the straw was not there. So he said, "I'm sorry, I forgot to bring the size here! Let me go home to get it." After that, he ran out of the shop. It was very far from his home to the shoe shop. When he got back home, he was out of breath. With a straw in his hand, he hurried to the shoe shop again. But the shop was closed. Someone near the man said, "Your feet are with you. Why don't you try which pair of shoes fits ? And why do you believe your straw, but not your feet?" Where was the straw? At home. With the Tesla Roadster and other plugin electric vehicles hitting the road,demand is growing for accessible refueling points to recharge them. Carbon Day Automotive, a Chicagobased company,has now demonstrated a solarpowered recharging point, known as the Solar PlugIn Station,which lets motorists easily charge their cars using electricity that has been produced without any environmental damage. The Solar PlugIn Station has gone on show in Chicago as part of the city's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games. According to Carbon Day Automotive,the Solar PlugIn Station on show in Chicago is part of the vital infrastructure required for electric vehicles in Chicago and was the focus of a recent visit by the International Olympic Committee. These solarpowered electricity points will be used daily to fuel the city's electric vehicles with power from the sun. By producing the electricity from pollutionfree solar cell, the CO2 emissions are reduced to zero. "Solar energy and electric vehicles are a partnership that is one more step to reducing our dependence on foreign oil," says Richard Lowenthal, CEO of Coulomb Technologies.Coulomb Technologies recently developed the components required for individual recharging stations,marketed as ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations.Carbon Day Automotive is the Midwest distributor for the ChargePoint stations. The Solar PlugIn Station consists of giant solar panels that shade the tiny ChargePoint Networked Charging Station.The solar panel is connected to an underground battery pack,ready for everyday refueling. "Without these stations it would be like driving around in a traditional car without the availability of gas stations," says Scott Emalfarb,CEO at Carbon Day."The day of true plugin electric vehicles will be here sooner than most people realize and the world needs to be ready to accommodate(......)them." What would be the best title for the passage? Chicago Shows Its Solarpowered Recharging Stations
The moon looks different in different parts of April Russian dances: The famous "Little White Birth" Dance Troupe will travel from prefix = st1 /Russiato present performances inBeijing. The troupe, founded in 1948, is famous for their combination of Russian folk dances and classical dancing art. It has been invited by the Beijing Foreign Culture Exchange Co to give four performances in Beijing. Tickets are available through ticket hotlines and website such as www. paio. com. cn, www. chinaticket, com and www. ticket, elong. com. Time: 7: 30 pm, January 18 - 21 Place: Beizhan Theatre, 135, Xiwai Dajie, Xicbeng District Tel: 6606-4258 EXHIBITIONS Kite show: All together 81 kites collected by the ChinaNational Art Museum is on show in theYanhuangArt Museum. Kong Xiangze, an expert on Chinese kites, published a book on kites, explaining the origins of the Kite-making process. The exhibited kites arc made in a traditional Chinese style. Time: 9 am-5 pm until February 11 Place: 9 Huizhong Lu Tel: 6491-2902 CONCERTS Folk music: A concert of classics of Chinese folk music will greet audiences on the first day of the Year of Snake at the Beijing Concert Hall. The China Song and Dance Ensemble will perform dozens of traditional instrumental pieces, such as "Full of Joy", "Colourful Cloud Chasing the Moon." and "Spring Festival Suite." Time: 7: 30 pm, January 24 Place: 1, Beixinhuajie, Xicheng District Tel: 6559-8285 EVENTS Flower festival: The Beijing Botanical Garden is bringing people a blooming festival with the beautiful flowers in its tropical plants greenhouse. The garden has introduced nearly 80 kinds of flowers abroad for the exhibition. There is also an exhibition of potted narcissus landscapes. More than 300 mini landscapes involving imported narcissus will be displayed, people can get a preview of the show by visiting www. beijingbd, com, the garden's website. Time: 8:30 am-5 pm until January 28 Place: Wofosi Lu near the Fragant Hills Tel: 8259-5547 The phrase "get a preview of" used in the passage means _ . watch in advance Last summer, Mark became a middle school student. He took an English test in the first month. Mark was a good student and he worked hard. He finished the questions easily until he read the last one: "Everyone sees our school's cleaner every day. What's her first name?" Of course, this question is a little special. Mark saw the woman some times. She was tall and her hair was dark. But Mark didn't talk with her and didn't know her first name. The test was over. Then one student asked the teacher, "Is the last question very important in this test?" "Yes," said the teacher. "In our life, we meet many hard-working people. They are important. You should care about them. You should smile at them or say 'hello' to them." Mark never forgot that question. He also learned that woman's first name. It was Kathy. What did Mark's teacher think of the last question? It was important. We offer a full range of services to make your IKEA experience more complete: Old Kitchen Removing Service Are you going to buy a brand-new kitchen in IKEA? So how to do with your old kitchen at home? Don't worry! IKEA is now providing professional _ and removing service for old kitchen to you. By this service you can have your new kitchen at home easily. (For service detail and charge please go to the staff of kitchen department.) Transport Service Need a way to get your new home-furnishings home? You can rent a transport or hire us to deliver it for you. Just talk to our Customer Service department for details. Return Policy As long as the items are undamaged, unassembled and unused, you could return them in their original package within 60days (IKEA FAMILY member within 180days) together with your original receipt/invoice (bank card POS receipt is needed if you have paid this way), we will refund you the same way as you have paid. Sorry, we cannot accept exchange or return of food, plants, liquid bathing products, AS-IS products, customized products, kitchen electrical appliance and all products that have already been cut, sewed or painted. "The exchange and return policy above applies only to the products purchased from IKEA stores in mainland China." IKEA Restaurant/Cafe The restaurant/cafe serves both classic Swedish dishes and local favorites, and is one of the most popular areas of the whole IKEA store. Shopping at IKEA is fun and offers great value, but can also be hard work, so stop by and treat yourself to a refreshing drink and a bite to eat. What can we learn from Return policy? The return service only goes for IKEA stores in mainland China. Many Americans concerned about pollution are demanding cleaner supplies of energy. The demand has resulted in increased research about ethanol fuel. Ethanol is an alcohol that can be mixed with gas. It burns up most of the pollutants in gas. It replaces some of the chemicals that are known to cause cancer, and it can be produced in the United States. Some experts say that in the future ethanol will replace some of the oil imported into America. Today ethanol is less than one percent of total American fuel supply. The head of the National Corn Growers Association, Kieve Hard, says ethanol will provide twenty-five percent of the fuel supply by 2030. The organization is involved in the production of ethanol because it can be made from corn. One company in the American Midwest says it is starting to produce ethanol because of demands from people and from the government. The Congress approved the Clean Air Act in 1990. The company says this means the market for ethanol will expand. The company is a major producer of corn starch that can be used to make ethanol. At Texas A and M University Professor Mark Holzapple produces ethanol from materials found in solid waste. He has developed a way to turn materials like paper into simple sugar. He then uses yeast to turn the sugar into ethanol. Professor Holzapple says two hundred liters of ethanol fuel can be produced from one ton of solid waste. A professor at the University of Arkansas, John Geddie, is exploring another way to make ethanol. He is using acids on paper material. He says a large factory could produce ethanol from waste paper at a cost about the same as the cost of producing gasoline. Environmentalists support the use of ethanol because it turns solid waste into a useful product. Professor Holzapple says law makers in industrial nations need to support the development of this clean, less expensive fuel of the future. What does Professor Mark Holzapple think of the development of ethanol in countries? It requires the support of the government.
"When I grow up, I want to be..." Almost all of us have thought about, or been asked to think about, our future careers. Our answers may differ greatly. Even now your aspirations may have changed from when you were in primary school. However, it seems career options aren't only based on personal taste. In a survey carried out by Teens, doctors, lawyers, and bankers were some of most popular careers that people said they hoped to follow. This is in line with a similar survey carried out in the UK in May 2011 by job website monster. Co.uk, in which medicine was the top choice among UK teenagers aged between 13 and 17. Medicine and law are two of the oldest and best known professions. Their prestige may come from the fact that doctors and lawyers are some of the most esteemed members of society, and they make good money. Joining these high-profile professions is often seen as a sign of upward social mobility. It is equally unsurprising that banking is now one of the most common career choices. Youngsters worldwide think of banking and see the money rolling in. Wealth is increasingly becoming one of the most important indicators of a successful career. British young men list the UK tycoon Alan Sugar, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg as their top role models "for their wealth". Just as Chinese teenagers see being a banker as a good and fun pathway to "wealth". However, not every child has the makings of doctor, lawyer, or banker. They are those who see fulfillment and happiness in other areas, and many teenagers dare to ink more individuality into their career options. As the Teens' survey discovered, a variety of unconventional jobs---coffee shop owner, gourmet ,waiter at a fast food restaurant---are among teenagers' career choices. They can be equally interesting and rewarding jobs. With every choice comes responsibility and challenge, and all career paths require specific education and training, you have to learn to balance optimism and confidence with being realistic about your particular talents and skills. What do youngsters think is increasingly becoming one of the most important indicators of a successful career? A. Prestige B. Fulfillment C. Happiness D. Wealth Answer: D Would you like to go to Beijing, our capital? It's far away from Guangdong. It's 2313 kilometers from Beijing to Guangdong. The city of Kunming is 2216 kilometers away from Guangdong. It's always very warm there. But it's very hot in summer in Wuhan. It's 1084 kilometers from Guangdong to Wuhan. Changsha is near Guangdong. It's 726 kilometers from Changsha to Guangdong. Do you know which city is the biggest in China? It's Shanghai. It's 1811 kilometers from Guangdong to Shanghai. If you travel by air, you'll find it very interesting and fast enough to fly from Guangdong to Beijing. It only takes you about four hours and you'll get there easily, safely and unhurriedly .But traveling by train is quite different. You have to stay on the train for over thirty hours to arrive in Beijing. More and more people like to travel by air. You can see why, can't you? How far is it from Changsha to Guangdong? A. 1084 kilometers B. 2216 kilometers C. 726 kilometers D. 706 kilometers Answer: C When I was learning calligraphy , my teacher told me a story. A calligrapher taught handwriting. One of his students who often practiced handwriting with old sheets of newspaper complained that he made very little progress though he had learned it with the calligrapher for a long time. His teacher said to him, "Try to use the best paper. Maybe you'll write better." The student did as he was told. It really worked. He made headway not long afterwards and felt curious. He asked his teacher about the reason. The calligrapher answered,"When you used old newspaper to practice handwriting, you would think you were writing a draft. It didn't matter if you wrote badly as old newspaper was plenty in supply. In that case you wouldn't pay much attention to it. Now you use the best paper and you'll treasure it. Each time you write you feel strongly about the rarity of chances and you'll devote to it with all your heart and soul; you'll do the handwriting much more attentively than practicing. Of course you've made rapid progress." Indeed, we spend our ordinary days just as they are worthless "old newspaper".We don't care if we scrawl and waste it, thinking that it will come endlessly--the "old newspaper" is inexhaustible. In such a mood we may each day pass by opportunities but fail to catch any of them. Life is not a military exercise but an actual war in which real weapons are used. In everyday life there's no chance for us to draft. That's because what we call "draft" actually is the answer sheet we write that cannot be changed. Every day of our life is something new. Let us take every day as a sheet of the best paper. The calligrapher in the story told the student to write on the best paper because he thought _ . A. the student would practice more carefully on the best paper B. it was comfortable to write on the best paper C. the student had enough money to buy the best paper D. the student could write more on the best paper Answer: A A jurisdiction has the following decisional law on questions of principal and accomplice liability: CASE A: Defendant, a hardware store owner, sold several customers an item known as a "SuperTrucker," which detects police radar and enables speeders to avoid detection. When one of the devices broke down and the speeder was arrested, he confessed that he often sped, secure in the knowledge that his "SuperTrucker" would warn him of police radar in the vicinity. Held: Defendant guilty as an accomplice to speeding. CASE B: Defendant told Arnold that Defendant had stored some stereo equipment in a self-storage locker. He gave Arnold a key and asked Arnold to pick up the equipment and deliver it to Defendant's house. Arnold complied, and removed the equipment from the locker, using the key. In fact, the equipment belonged to Defendant's neighbor, whose locker key Defendant had found in the driveway. Held: Defendant guilty as an accomplice to burglary. CASE C: Tooley, a city council member, accepted a bribe from Defendant in exchange for his vote on Defendant's application for a zoning variance. A statute prohibits the taking of bribes by public officials. Held: Defendant not guilty as an accomplice to Tooley's violation of the bribery statute. CASE D: Defendant, an innkeeper, sometimes let his rooms to prostitutes, whom he knew to be using the rooms to ply their trade. He charged the prostitutes the same price as other guests at his inn. Held: Defendant not guilty as an accomplice to prostitution. Larson, a plastic surgeon, agreed to remove the fingerprints from the hands of "Fingers" Malloy, whom Larson knew to be a safecracker. Larson charged his usual hourly rate for the operation. Afterward, Malloy burglarized a bank safe and was convicted of burglary. Charged with burglary, Larson should be A. convicted on the authority of Case A. B. convicted on the authority of Case B. C. acquitted on the authority of Case C. D. acquitted on the authority of Case D. Answer: A We've all heard about the power of positive thinking, but a recent study found that people who think they're getting fit actually get more positive benefits from activity, according to a Reuters Health article. The study examined hotel housekeepers over a period of four weeks. Some of the housekeepers were told that their work duties gave them enough activity to meet the Surgeon General's health guidelines . Another group of housekeepers were told nothing. After four weeks, the housekeepers who believed their work activity counted as exercise lost weight and body fat, and their blood pressure went down. The results of this study suggest that it's important to understand and believe in the positive benefits of your activity. So here are a few things to think about the next time you exercise: Just thirty minutes of quick walking each day can greatly reduce your risk of a heart attack. Even your housework -- like yard work and house cleaning -- can help you burn calories and increase your fitness levels. Weight bearing activity just a few times a week can build bone density and reduce your chances of developing osteoporosis . Three 10-minute workouts throughout the day are just as good to your health as one long workout. Moderate amounts of exercise have been linked to lower rates of heart disease, stroke and even cancer. Strength training can help make daily activities like carrying bags or laundry feel easier. Regular exercise will reduce stress, keep you in a good mood and improve the quality of your sleep. Which of the following is NOT the suggested things to think about when you exercise? A. Housework helps burn calories. B. Regular exercise leads to better sleep. C. Weight bearing activity does good to people.[:ZXXK] D. Walking a dog reduces the chance of a heart disease. Answer: D
Climate is the average weather usually taken over a 30-year time period for a particular region and time period. Climate is not the same as weather, but rather, it is the average pattern of weather for a particular region. Weather describes the short-term state of the atmosphere . The climate is changing. Many agreed that climate change may be one of the greatest threats facing the planet. Recent years show increasing temperatures in various regions, and/or increasing extremities in weather patterns. Is the Earth getting warmer? Yes! The Earth has warmed by about 1degF over the past 100 years. But why? Well, scientists are not exactly sure. The Earth could be getting warmer on its own, but many of the world's leading climate scientists think that things people do are helping to make the Earth warmer. Global Warming may be a big problem, but can you make a difference? Yes! There are several little things you can do to make a difference. Try carpooling. This will help reduce the amount of fossil fuels going into the atmosphere. Whenever you use electricity, you help put greenhouse gases into the air. Turn off lights, the television, and the computer when you are through with them. Also, planting trees is fun and a great way to reduce greenhouse gases. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, from the air. Finally, don't forget about recycling. What can be the best title of the article? Answer: Climate changing and global warming. It's not about how much money you make, and it's not about who your daddy is. And no, it's definitely not about whether you look like Tom Cruise or his wife Katie Holmes ... What it is about is these simple things, things that maybe even a person like Tom Cruise does not have. We're talking about being attractive in general, whether it's on a job interview or just gaining the respect of your colleagues. Ask lots of questions In other words, be humble. If you come across as a know-it-all (even if you really do know it all!), it really pushes people away. Rather, asking lots and lots of questions (even dumb ones) makes people feel like you care, you can be trusted, and you are... humble. Stay busy Do you really know the power of this? We're told to stay busy to prevent depression and feelings of anxiety. But did you know you should also stay busy to be really attractive? It's true. Always have something to do. Have you ever seen someone just sitting around, doing nothing? How unattractive. Always be busy with something, even if for some reason you have to make something up. Show your pearly whites (or just smile) Smile more, no matter how ugly your teeth are. I'm not kidding about this one. It's not all about the teeth. If you are smiling genuinely, you can draw everyone for 100 meters around to you. Be interested in other men Be interested in the other person. Again, ask them questions. Don't talk about yourself... remove attention from yourself. If you are truly interested in the person, it will come across. And if you want to talk about yourself, you'll find that putting the other person first actually opens him up to return the favor and ask you questions. See how fun this is? So, yes it is possible to be the most attractive person in the world. If you've noticed the ring throughout the article, it has a lot to do with just being confident in who you are. Nobody needs to look like Tom Cruise or Will Smith or their wives, or anyone else for that matter. Every person, of every race, of every nationality, of every background, can be the most attractive person in the world. The main idea of the article is to tell us _ . Answer: How to be attractive Contrary to popular belief, looking at someone's face alone is not enough to tell us whether they are roaring in celebration or screaming in frustration, researchers claimed.While people may believe they have the ability to read each other's faces, body language is the real clue that shows whether strong emotions someone is feeling are positive or negative. In a study, groups of participants were shown a series of facial expressions such as tennis players photographed just after winning or losing a point. In some cases the volunteers were able to see the player's full body, but in others they were only shown either their face or their body with the other removed. Participants could clearly tell whether the players were winning or losing when they were shown the full picture or just the body, but their guesses were no better than chance when based on the face alone. Those who were allowed to see the full image were convinced they had made their judgment based on the players' facial expressions even though results from the two other groups suggested otherwise. The researchers carried out a second study where participants were shown a wider range of faces showing emotions including joy, pleasure, victory, pain and defeat. Using photoediting software, the researchers attached the faces to bodies expressing the opposite emotion, and asked participants to act out the emotions they saw in the photos. The resulting poses were like the body poses in the photographs but not the facial expressions, demonstrating that people base their interpretation of strong emotions not on the face but the body. Dr Aviezer, who led the study, said, "These results show that when emotions become extremely intense, the difference between positive and negative facial expressions becomes unclear.The results may help researchers understand how our body interacts during emotional situations.For example, individuals may fail to recognize facial expressions, but if they are trained to process important body language, their performance may significantly improve." People tend to believe that _ . Answer: someone's feelings can be read by their facial expressions We may be very pleased with the rapid progress we have made in every field of study. But the way to test a student's knowledge and ability still remains as poor as it was. We have almost done nothing to improve our examination system. It is well known that the examination system we are now using may be a good way of testing a student's memory, but it can tell you nothing about a student's ability. It does no good to students and teachers. As soon as a child begins school, he enters a world of examination that will decide his future of job. In fact a good examination system should train a student to think for himself. But it now does nothing about that. So students are encouraged to member what is taught. It does not enable them to gain more and note knowledge. The students who come out first in the examination often may not be the best in their studies. Besides, the examinations often force teachers to train students what to do with the coming examination from time to time. There must be some simpler and better way to test a student' s ability besides knowledge. And that is what we should do at once. What is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: There must be some better way to test a student's ability besides knowledge. Measurements of carbon dioxide concentrations in the air taken over the past decade have shown a Answer: dramatic increase.
Stanley Yelnats was given a choice. The judge said,"You may go to prison,or you may go to Camp Green Lake."Stanley was from a poor family. He had never been to camp before. So, Stanley Yelnats seems set to serve an easy sentence,which is only fair because he is as innocent as you or me. But Stanley is not going where he thinks he is. Camp Green Lake is like no other camp anywhere. It is a place that has no lake and nothing green. Nor is it a camp,at least not the kind of camp kids look forward to in the summertime. It is only a desert wasteland,dotted with countless holes dug by the boys who live at the camp. At Camp Green Lake,the warden makes the boys" build character" by spending all day, every day, digging holes:five feet wide and five feet deep. It doesn't take long for Stanley to realize there's more than character improvement going on at Camp Green Lake. The boys are digging holes because the warden is searching for something,and before long Stanley begins his own search--for the truth. Fate is to find a solution to it all--the family curse,the mystery of the holes. The great wheel of justice has ground slowly for generations,but now it is about to reveal its verdict . In fact,the warden made the boys dig holes to _ . A kill the time B build character C break the family curse D look for something Answer: D. look for something Dear Mr Zhu, I am writing to your magazine's "Teenagers Now" column to ask for some help with my 16-year-old son. At the moment, he refuses to do almost everything his mother and I ask him to do. He is our only child and we treat him very well. His grandparents buy him many things, and yet he is still rude to us. He refuses to spend time with us or do as we tell him. Sometimes he acts as if he doesn't even love us at all. Now he refuses to do his homework, and instead insists on wasting his time watching DVDs and listening to foreign music. I cannot understand this music, but I don't like it. He also spends too much time in Internet cafes, where he either plays games or chats online. He is wasting valuable time during this important period in his life! What am I to do? At present, to prevent making his mother unhappy with an argument, I am allowing him his freedom. However, I am worried that if I keep allowing him to do what he wants, he may fail at school, or worse. How can I help my son without harming our relationship? Yours Liu Zhenhua What's Mr. Zhu's job? A A teacher. B A magazine columnist. C A youth worker. D A doctor. Answer: B. A magazine columnist. Ever wondered how one person could save the planet from the effects of climate change? A British-made computer game on trial release on Monday creates different ways of doing just that. "Fate of the World"puts the Earth's future in players' hands, placing them in charge of an international environmental body which could save the world from the effects of rising greenhouse gas emissions or let it destroyed by more emissions. Through different scenes, players can explore options such as geoengineering and alternative energy sources to save the planet from rising temperatures, decreasing natural resources and a growing population over the next 200 years. An improved version of the game will be followed by a three-month feedback period from players, with final release due in February next year. Created by Oxford-based games developer Red Redemption, the game is different from other mainstream action games mainly by using data from real climate models and advice from scientists and economists. "Science data is often inaccessible and we are trying to put players in a position of power and connected with the issues," Gobion Rowlands, Red Redemption's founder and chairman said. This year, a series of apparent errors in climate science and the failure of UN talks to reach an international deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions appeared to weaken the public's interest in climate change. However, games centered on sustainability and human rights have been growing in popularity and are welcomed by green groups as a way of raising awareness. Using climate change as inspiration for entertainment shows the issue has affected global culture, which can only be a good thing.Friends of the Earth's head of climate Mike Childs said."We need creative industries to work with these big issues as the results can be extremely powerful and can help us to understand what a sustainable future looks and feels like,"he added. Fate of the World in the passage refers to_. A a book on computer games B a company developing computer games C a computer game on climate change D a player in charge of computer games Answer: C. a computer game on climate change Now people in England, the US and many other countries celebrate Mother's Day. Mother's Day is on the second* Sunday of May. On this day, children give flowers, cards, chocolate and other things to their mothers, but they don't give money to them. And they also make presents for their mothers. And some of them get up early to cook breakfast for their mothers. They also help their mothers do housework. They want to show their love to their mothers. They know if they have no mothers; they can't live a happy life. Many people in China celebrate this festival for their mothers because they want to show* their love to their mothers too. In every Chinese family, the mother looks after* the children, does the housework and cooks meals for the family, so she is quite _ and she is always busy in the family. Now more and more people celebrate Mother' Day in China.[:Zxxk.Com] When is Mother's Day? A The first Sunday of May. B The second Sunday of May. C The first Saturday of February. D The second Saturday of February. Answer: B. The second Sunday of May. Are you able to send a letter with pictures and sounds to someone somewhere in the world without a stamp on it? Using a computer you can send e-mails quickly and easily. The post is much slower than e-mail. E-mail can send its message to the other side of the world in seconds. E-mail is easy to use and it saves time and money. The differences in time in different parts of the world do not matter when sending e-mail. It's twenty-four-hour service that you can send e-mail at any time of the day or night. No one has to be there to get e-mail. It does not matter if your friends are in beds when you send e-mail to them, or you are seeing a movie at the movie theater when they send e-mail back. _ send e-mail to your friends when they are sleeping. A You can't B you must C You can D You shouldn't Answer: C. You can
Relation between the United States and Columbia suffered for many years because of an incident involving the Republic of Panama. By the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898, many Americans felt that an easier and faster way was needed to get ships from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Some people in the United States first believed that a canal across Nicaragua was the answer. However, President Theodore Roosevelt decided that a canal through Panama would be a better choice. In order to build the canal , the United States had to negotiate a treaty with Columbia , which at that time controlled Panama . Roosevelt offered Columbia $ 10 million plus $ 250,000 a year for 99 years for a six-mile-wide strip of land across Panama. Columbia rejected the United States' offer. This ranged President Roosevelt, and negotiations with Columbia ended. In 1903, a revolution broke out in Panama. The United States ships were sent by President Roosevelt to protect the Panamanian revolutionaries from Columbian forces. The revolution succeeded, and Panama declared its independence from Columbia. The United States then negotiated with the newly formed government. A treaty was signed, and the United States began building the canal. As a result of the incident, Columbia and the United States remained on bad terms for many years. Not until 1921, when the United States agreed to pay Columbia some compensation for its territory, did relations between the two countries improve. From the information in the passage, it can be concluded that the United States _ . A wanted to build a canal because it was considered starting a war B felt that building a canal through Panama was worth the risk of ruining relations with Columbia C believed that a canal through Nicaragua would be profitable D had lost the Spanish-American War Answer: B I don't like talking openly about my feelings. That's probably why I am writing this, because it seems an easier way of telling you how thankful I am to you. When I first got ill two years ago and had to be taken to hospital, you were the first person I called to tell, maybe because I knew Mum wasn't going to answer her phone, but probably because you are the first person I call in an emergency. As one illness turned into another and I was stuck in hospital for weeks, feeling sorry for myself, you were still at my beside trying to talk to me to cheer me up. The illness hit my kidney and we then realized that I was going to need a transport sooner or later. You put yourself forward to be tested as soon as possible and it turned out you were a perfect match. Then last year, in March, we both went down for the operation. I woke a few hours afterwards and felt better. It wasn't until the following day that we got to see each other again. We hugged silently and asked one another how we were. But I never said the words I should have--- thank you. To this day, I still haven't said those words to you for my kidney. In the month after the operation, when we were both at home recovering, I made you lunch, went for walks with you. It's my way of saying that I care for you a great deal and that I am truly thankful for what you did for me. I want you to know that my silence towards you and the times you tried to talk to me and got nothing weren't because of you. Maybe one day when you will read this, I hope you know that in my own silent way, I am for ever thankful. The writer developed the passage in the form of _ . A a letter B a report C a review D a novel Answer: A Some years ago, a Miami woman walking through an office building noticed two men standing together.Several minutes after her leaving, the men murdered a person working in the building.The police determined that the woman was the only witness and could possibly describe them.However, her memory of the men proved disappointingly unclear.Several days later, psychologist Ronald Fisher was brought in to obtain a more complete account from the woman.His interview produced a breakthrough--the woman reported a clear picture of one of the suspects.The important information enabled the police to arrest the suspect and close the case. The police asked Fisher for help because of his rich knowledge in cognitive interview, a kind of memory - rebuilding process.Memory researchers have found that people trying to remember a past event often only recall part of the relevant information.Human memory is selective and it is often _ by stress.But a person's accurate recall of an event or understanding of a question can be improved using specific interviewing techniques.The "cognitive interview" was developed in the late 1990s.It encourages the witness to take an active role in recalling information rather than giving answers only to someone else's questions.The witness first describes what happened in his or her own words, with no interviewer interruptions.The interviewer then goes further with specific techniques, such as having the witness tell the details of what happened from different perspectives . The cognitive interview focuses on guiding witnesses through four general recalling techniques: thinking about physical surroundings and personal feelings that existed at the time of past events; reporting everything that connects to mind about those events, no matter how broken it is retelling events in a variety of time orders, such as from beginning to end, end to beginning, forward or backward; and adopting different perspectives while recalling events. Experiments with police detectives trained in this demanding interview method find that they obtain nearly 50% more information from witnesses than before training, while error rates remain about the same.It is proved that cognitive interviews are quite important tools in improving the accuracy and completeness of witness testimony . The key point in a cognitive interview is that _ . A the witness is encouraged to take part in recalling information. B the interviewer should interrupt the witness from time to time. C the interview should take place outside the police station. D the witness should recall details at the scene of the event. Answer: A The road to Grandpa's house was long and winding. There were lots of tall trees and animals in the woods. The trip took a long time because Jimmy was walking in his new boots and he wasn't used to them yet. He could have taken a ride to Grandpa's house, but that wouldn't be as fun. Jimmy liked to collect insects on the way to his Grandpa's house, so had picked the longer path. As he went along, Jimmy found more and more insects to add to his jar. His favorite was the lightning bug and he had found five of them total. He liked the moths too, but they were difficult to catch and took up a lot of space. Finally, Jimmy arrived at Grandpa's house and knocked. Grandpa answered the door with a smile and welcomed Jimmy inside. They sat by the fire and talked about the insects. They watched the lightning bugs light up as night came. Why did Grandpa answer the door? A Because he saw the insects B Because Jimmy was walking C Because Jimmy knocked D Because the trip took a long time Answer: C Hacking our senses to boost learning power Some schools are pumping music, noises and pleasant smells into the classroom to see if it improves exam results. Could it work? Why do songs stick in our heads? What does your school smell like? Is it noisy or peaceful? It might not seem important, but a growing body of research suggests that smells and sounds can have an impact on learning, performance and creativity. Indeed, some head teachers have recently taken to broadcasting noises and pumping smells into their schools to see whether it can boost grades. Is there anything in it? And if so, what are the implications for the way we work and study? There is certainly some well-established research to suggest that some noises can have a harmful effect on learning. Numerous studies over the past 15 years have found that children attending schools under the flight paths of large airports fall behind in their exam results. Bridget Shield, a professor of acoustics at London South Bank University, and Julie Dockrell, from the Institute of Education, have been conducting studies on the effects of all sorts of noises, such as traffic and sirens , as well as noise generated by the children themselves. When they recreated those particular sounds in an experimental setting while children completed various learning tasks, they found a significant negative effect on exam scores. "Everything points to a bad impact of the noise on children's performance, in numeracy, in literacy, and in spelling," says Shield. The noise seemed to have an especially harmful effect on children with special needs. Whether background sounds are beneficial or not seems to depend on what kind of noise it is -- and the volume. In a series of studies published last year, Ravi Mehta from the College of Business at Illinois and his colleagues tested people's creativity while exposed to a soundtrack made up of background noises -- such as coffee-shop chatter and construction-site drilling -- at different volumes. They found that people were more creative when the background noises were played at a medium level than when volume was low. Loud background noise, however, damaged their creativity. Many teachers all over the world already play music to students in class. Many are inspired by the belief that hearing music can boost IQ in later tasks, the so-called Mozart effect. While the evidence actually suggests it's hard to say classical music boosts brainpower, researchers do think pleasant sounds before a task can sometimes lift your mood and help you perform well, says Perham, who has done his own studies on the phenomenon. The key appears to be that you enjoy what you're hearing. "If you like the music or you like the sound -- even listening to a Stephen King novel -- then you do better. It doesn't matter about the music," he says. So, it seems that schools that choose to prevent disturbing noises and create positive soundscapes could enhance the learning of their students, so long as they make careful choices. Yet this isn't the only sense being used to affect learning. Special educational needs students at Sydenham high school in London are being encouraged to revise different subjects in the presence of different smells -- grapefruit scents for maths, lavender for French and spearmint for history. What does the conclusion of the studies of noise conducted by Bridget Shield and Julie Dockrell suggest? A Peaceful music plays an active role in students' learning. B Not all noises have a negative impact on children's performance. C We should create for school children a more peaceful environment. D Children with special needs might be exposed to some particular sounds. Answer: C
Perhaps you will visit New York one day. You might be a student there. Here is some advice. Get a good map of the city. It will also have subway and bus maps. Remember the directions--uptown, downtown, east and west. Feel the excitement of New York .Have fun! NEW YORK CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU Address:90 East 42nd Street,N.Y.100017 Telephone:6871300 TIMES SQUARE INFORMATION CENTER Address:43rd Street between Seventh Avenue and Broadway Telephone:5938983 TRAVELERS' AID SOCIETY Address:204 ast 39th Street,N.Y.10016(central office) Telephone:6790200 TRAVEL INFORMATION:NEW YORK SUBWAYS AND BUSES Telephone:3301234 OTHER TELEPHONE NUMBERS The weather:WE 61212.The time:ME 71212 Emergency (Police,Fire,or Ambulance):911 or "0" for operator A doctor:8971000 USEFUL BOOK Seeing New York; The official MTA Travel Guide,published by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. If a visitor wanted to take a train, he could get some help by dialing the number " _ ". A. 8971000 B. 3301234 C. WE 61212 D. 911 or "0" Answer: B Sixteen-year-old Maria was waiting in line at the airport in Santo Domingo. She was leaving her native country to join her sister in the United States. She spoke English very well. Though she was very happy she could go abroad, she was feeling sad at leaving her family and friends. As she was thinking all about this, she suddenly heard the airline employee asking her to pick up her luggage and put it on the scales . Maria pulled and pulled. The bag was too heavy and she just couldn't lift it up. The man behind her got very impatient. He, too, was waiting to check in his luggage. "What's wrong with this girl?" He said, "Why doesn't she hurry up?" He moved forward and placed his bag on the counter, hoping to check in first. He was in a hurry to get a good seat. Maria was very angry, but she was very polite. And in her best English she said, "Why are you so upset? There are enough seats for everyone on the plane. If you are in such a hurry, why can't you give me a hand with my luggage?" The man was surprised to hear Maria speak English. He quickly picked up her luggage and stepped back. Everyone was looking at him with disapproval. The author mentioned Maria's age at the beginning of the story in order to show that _ . A. she was young but behaved properly B. she would not have left home alone C. everyone around her was wrong D. it was not good that nobody offered to help her Answer: A In 1970, my five brothers, my sister and I lived in the housing projects of Toronto with our parents. My father was a factory worker, and my mother stayed at home. Each year my father would dress up as Santa Claus and go through the streets of the projects sharing joy and candies with the children there. He loved it as much as they did! But around the Christmas in 1970, my father was out of his job and money was tight. In fact, there was no money for Christmas and my parents weren't sure what they'd provide for us. That Christmas Eve, however, as usual, my father left the house dressed as Santa Claus. He knew that even though our Christmas would be hard, he could not disappoint the other kids in the neighborhood.[:,,] As my father left the house and went down the walkway, Santa Claus was walking up, with a great sack full of gifts for us! He said nothing, only smiled a sweet smile at my father, and wished him a Merry Christmas. The happy man handed Dad the sack and walked away down the block. We never knew who the man was and who showed us great kindness on a snowy Christmas night. We do know, however, that without him we would have had nothing under the tree. His kindness gave my parents hope and showed us in a very real way the true meaning of Christmas. Our family has never forgotten this kind stranger. Each year we tell the story of the mysterious Santa Claus and try to repay his gifts by giving gifts to others in need. What happened in 1970? A. The author's father was out of work. B. The author's mother lost her job. C. They had a little money left for Christmas. D. They had the worst Christmas in their lives. Answer: A Vancouver is located in the southwest corner of Canada in the province of British Columbia. Vancouver is the largest city in the province and the third largest in Canada. It covers an area of 113 sq km. It is surrounded by water on three sides and overlooked by the Coast Range. Its climate is one of the mildest in Canada. Temperatures average 3degC in January and 18degC in July. Vancouver's most rainfall occurs in winter. Archaeological evidence shows that coastal Indians had settled the Vancouver area by 500 BC. British naval captain George Vancouver explored the area in 1792. Vancouver was founded as a sawmill settlement called Granville in the 1870s. The city was united in 1886 and renamed after Captain Vancouver. As the main western terminus of Canada's transcontinental highway and rail routes, Vancouver is the primary city of western Canada, as well as one of the nation's largest industrial centers. The Port of Vancouver is Canada's largest and most various port, trading more than $43 billion in goods with more than 90 trading economies annually. Port activities generate 69,200 jobs in total with $4 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) and $8.9 billion in economic output. Vancouver is a major tourist place. In addition to the city's scenic location, visitors enjoy beautiful gardens and world-famous Stanley Park, one of more than 180 city parks, and a combination of natural forest and parklands near the city centre. According to the passage, originally Vancouver is the name of _ . A. a British man who explored the city B. a sawmill settlement called Granville C. the leader who controlled the area D. a transcontinental highway Answer: A In the past,when people had problems,they went to their families or friends to get advice.Today it is possible to get advice from radio shows.TV programs or telephone hot lines,too.A hot line is a telephone line that offers a direct way of getting in touch with advicers.Most hot lines are completely anonymous --callers do not have to say their names or telephone numbers.Most hot lines are usually free,too.Callers do not have to pay for their advice or the phone calls--even if the calls are long distance.At some hot lines,the advicers are volunteers.Other hot lines pay their advicers for their work.Usually the advicers are full-job people with years of education and experience,but sometimes the advicers have only taken a short class before starting to work on the hot line.All the advicers listen to the people and help them solve their problems. The advicers working at hot lines _ . A. are not all paid B. have all been trained for a short time C. are all volunteers D. all have years of education and experience Answer: A
Question: Thirty years ago, the Earnshaw family lived at Wuthering Heights, with two teenaged children Hindley and Catherine. Mr. Earnshaw travels to Liverpool, where he adopts a homeless Gypsy boy, naming him "Heathcliff". Hindley finds himself robbed of his father's love and care and becomes bitterly jealous of the newcomer. However, Catherine grows very attached to him. Soon, the two children spend hours on the moors together and hate every moment apart. Because of the conflict , Hindley is eventually sent to college. However, he marries a woman named Frances and returns three years later, after Mr. Earnshaw dies. He becomes master of Wuthering Heights, making Heathcliff their servant instead of a family member. Months after Hindley's return, Heathcliff and Catherine travel to Thrushcross Grange to spy on the Linton family. However, they are found and try to escape. Catherine is caught by a dog, and then brought inside the Grange to have injuries tended to while Heathcliff is sent home. Catherine eventually returns to Wuthering Heights as a changed woman, looking and acting as a lady. She laughs at HeathcIiff's dirty appearance. When the Lintons visit the next day, Heathcliff dresses up to impress her. It fails, however, when Edgar, one of the Lintons' children, argues with him. Heathcliff is locked in the attic, where Catherine later tries to comfort him. He swears revenge on Hindley. In the summer of the next year, Frances gives birth to a son, Hareton, but she dies before the year is out. This leads Hindley to fall into a life of drunkenness and waste. Two years pass and Catherine has become close friends with Edgar, growing more distant from Heathcliff. One day in August, while Hindley is absent, Edgar comes to visit Catherine. Before long, they declare themselves lovers. Catherine explains to Nelly, her servant, that she does not really love Edgar but Heathcliff. Unfortunately, she could never marry Heathcliff because of his lack of status and education. She therefore plans to marry Edgar and use that position to help raise Heathcliff's status. Unfortunately, Heathcliff has overheard _ and runs away, disappearing without a trace. After three years, Edgar and Catherine are married. Six months after their marriage, Heathcliff returns as a gentleman, having grown stronger and richer. Catherine is delighted to see him although Edgar is not so keen. Edgar's sister, Isabella, now eighteen, falls in love with Heathcliff. He looks down upon her but encourages the adolescent love, seeing it as a chance for revenge on Edgar. When he embraces Isabella one day at the Grange, there is an argument with Edgar, which causes Catherine to lock herself in her room and fall ill. Heathcliff has been staying at the Heights, gambling with Hindley and teaching Hareton bad habits. Hindley is gradually losing his wealth, mortgaging the farmhouse to Heathcliff to repay his debts. While Catherine is ill, Heathcliff leaves with Isabella, causing Edgar to disown (......) his sister. The two marry and return two months later to Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff hears that Catherine is ill and arranges to visit her in secret. In the early hours of the day after their meeting, Catherine gives birth to her daughter, Cathy, and then dies. Hindley dies six months after Catherine. Heathcliff finds himself the master of Wuthering Heights and the guardian of Hareton. At the end of the story _ . A. Isabella dies after his brother disowns her B. Catherine becomes the master of Wuthering Heights C. Wuthering Heights falls into the hands of Heathcliff D. Hindley dies and leaves Wuthering Heights to Cathy Answer: C. Wuthering Heights falls into the hands of Heathcliff Question: 2011 is a special year to all the people in Shenzhen. The 26 World Universiade will be held in the city from August 12 to 23 . As we all know, "Start Here" is the slogan of this great event. Does anyone know that a new life of two giant pandas will start here as well? Shenzhen is expecting the pair of pandas for the Summer Univcrsiade. The pandas, a male and a female from Wolong Panda Research Center in Sichuan Province, will be "universiade Pandas", just like "Asian Games Pandas" and "Olympic Pandas". Shenzhen Safari Park will rebuild its panda house to welcome the pandas. The panda house has been empty since another panda, Yongba, 25, was returned to Sichuan in 2009 because it was too old. How old are the Universiade Pandas? What are their names? What are they like? What are their living habits? We will find out the answers in June when they arrive. The26th World Universiade will begin on _ . A. August 12 B. August 23 C. September 12 D. September 23 Answer: A. August 12 Question: Women, Race & Class Angela Y Davis PS7.99 Analysing the differences and similarities between the experiences of black and white women, Davis casts new light on the struggle for human rights. The Words to Say it (an autobiographical novel) Marie Cardinal translated by Pat Goodheart PS7.99 Marie Cardinal's groundbreaking book was the first and remains the complete book about the personal experience of psychoanalysis . It reveals her traumatic childhood and institutionalisation , followed by her escape to the cul-de-sac where her analyst lived. There, for many years, she made the journey towards recovery through Freudian psychoanalysis. A worldwide bestseller, translated into eighteen languages, it remains one of the most highly-praised books of our age. Jade Millie Murray PS4.99 Jade Wilson is smart, young, black and ambitious. And she's just been given the chance of a lifetime - a try-out for the Commonwealth Games swimming team. Jade lives with her mum, Jojo, a successful business woman. Jojo is overprotective of Jade, but she has her reasons. As a young model with a wonderful career ahead of her, she fell pregnant with Jade, and, much as she loves her daughter, she's determined not to let anything get in the way of Jade's success. So when Jade starts dating Dicey, there is hell to pay. Will Jade survive her Mum's constant nagging ? And what if she were to get pregnant - would she, could she, do the same as Jojo and give up her career? As things start hotting up with Dicey, Jade is faced with some very tough choices... . The book is very popular with people all over the world. From the third part we can learn that _ about Jade Wilson's mother, Jojo. A. She didn't care about Jade. B. She gave it up because of lack of interest in her career. C. She wouldn't like Jade to be what she was. D. She was willing to accept Jade's boy friend first. Answer: C. She wouldn't like Jade to be what she was. Question: Chinese students have tended to come to the UK at a younger age in recent years, which means they come to Britain not only for higher education, but also for high school or even primary school. Asian investors have followed this trend, and started to buy independent schools to serve this demand. An article carried by theTimes of London on October 17 reported that last year Chinese-owned company Achieve Education bought Chase Grammar, a boarding and day school in Cannock, Staffordshire. Chase Grammar includes a program that offers extra support for pupils from China. "This trend is very good and I am not at all surprised," Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Independent Schools Council, told theGlobal Times, adding that Chinese people like the English education system. "We welcome Chinese investors in British private education." "Chase Grammar School is small, and the classes are small. It gives the school a family atmosphere," Jackie Medhurst, principal of Chase Grammar School, said in a welcome note on the school's website. Small class sizes, personal care, good exam result, and entry to world famous universities are features that are most attractive to Chinese students. But many parents are also worried that foreign investors might expand the proportion of international students, and that might _ the British tradition. It seems that Chase Grammar does not intend to hide their attempts to attract Chinese families. It has set up a China office in Shanghai to facilitate Chinese parents' communication with the school. Tong Zhou, a director of Chase Grammar, told the media that the school does not intent to change the ratio of local students and international students. Some international branches of British boarding schools are very popular in Asia. In recent years, the Chinese passion for the British boarding school system has led some of the best-known schools such as Harrow and Wellington to set up satellite schools in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. And the trend continues. It seems that the rising wealthy class in Asia is not satisfied with international branches in their own countries. They want to send their kids to the original British boarding schools to be surrounded by English people and immersed in the British culture. To support their children studying in the UK, Chinese parents are buying houses in Britain. According to a survey by UK Property Weekly, houses near universities and outstanding primary and secondary schools are the most preferable location for Chinese buyers. Compared to the independent school system, universities are more open. It is reported that China remains the leading source of international students for London. Which of the following can we know from Barnaby Lenon's words? A. He was surprised at the present current trend. B. English universities are better than those in China. C. The English education system is welcomed by the Chinese. D. There will be fewer investors in private education. Answer: C. The English education system is welcomed by the Chinese. Question: The island Fiji has always been around me in my life. My parents met in Fiji when my father was a teacher as a Peace Corps volunteer and my mother a student. They taught me about its people, culture, foods and religious beliefs. At the age of two, I made my first trip across the Pacific Ocean to Fiji. My mother and I made that trip unexpectedly because my grandma was ill and longed to see her American granddaughter. Although I have few memories of that first trip, I do remember grandma braiding my hair every day. The brush gliding through my hair is a feeling I will treasure forever because she passed away soon. I returned to America when I was five years old. This time I had a brother, Martin, who was two. I resisted my third trip to Fiji when I was 15, being a teenager who did not want to spend the summer away from friends. It was this trip, however, that made me realize that Fiji is not just a place to visit but a part of who I am. The smells and sounds and sights came back to me, but the best part was getting to know my relatives. Vishal was one cousin I quickly bonded with. Born two days before me, I had only known him through pictures before. Though raised oceans apart in different cultures, we talked and laughed about everything from American sports to Fijian dancing. I was able to form close ties with all my cousins, and when I talk about them now, it's as if I have known them my whole life. Spending time with them helped me understand the traditions and values my mother grew up with. Hospitality and care and respect for family members are central values in Fijian culture. I truly enjoyed learning about my roots during this trip. Fiji is just like a second home, and I will never forget the time I have spent there. Which of the following is TRUE about Vishal? A. He is younger than the author. B. The author had met him on her first trip to Fiji. C. He and the author had lots of common interests. D. He and the author held different opinions about Fijian culture. Answer: C. He and the author had lots of common interests.
Light travels at a speed which is about a million times faster than the speed of sound. In one second, light travels about 300,000km, but sound travels only 344m. You can get some idea of this difference by watching the start of a race. If you stand some distance away from the starter, you can see smoke come from his gun before the sound reaches your ears. This great speed of light produces some strange facts. Sunlight takes about 8 minutes to reach us. If you look at the light of the moon tonight, remember that the light rays left the moon 1.3 seconds before they reached you. The nearest star is so far away that the light which you can see from it tonight started to travel towards you four years ago at a speed of nearly 2 million km per minute. In some cases the light from one of tonight's stars started on its journey to you before you were born. Thus, if we want to be honest, we cannot say " The stars are shining tonight." We have to say, " The stars look pretty. They were shining four years ago but their light has only just reached Earth." What does " it" refer to? Answer: the nearest star If you watch British television on Friday March 15, you might be surprised to see celebrities wearing funny red noses and joking around. But don't worry, they're not mad, it's all part of a biennial fund-raising event called Red Nose Day. Organized by the charity Comic Relief, founded in 1985 by two British comedians, the aim of the event is to raise money to fight poverty and injustice in the UK and Africa. Celebrities and public figures support the event by making appearances on comic TV shows broadcast by the BBC. This year, for example, UK Prime Minister David Cameron appeared in a music video by One Direction, which the band produced for the event. But Britons don't just raise money for charitable causes on one day a year, they do it all year round. One way of doing so is by shopping in charity shops. These small, inconspicuous shops sell clothes, books and household goods just like any other shop. But there's one big difference--it's all secondhand. There are nearly 10,000 charity shops in the UK, according to the Charity Retail Association. Their business model is simple: Anybody who has things they don't want anymore can donate them to a charity shop, where they are checked for damage, cleaned and priced. Most items go back on sale at a small part of their original price and the money that is made by selling them is used for a charitable cause. The idea of buying used clothes may sound off-putting, but for shoppers who have less spending money, such as the elderly or those in low-paying jobs, it has been a welcome option for years. Now, "thrifting"--shopping at charity shops-- is also becoming popular with young people looking for alternative fashion. "I love shopping at thrift stores. You can find very unique clothes for a very cheap price. It doesn't bother me that other people may have worn them, I simply wash them before I wear them," said Anne Marie, a 19-year-old Internet user from the US, in a comment on a Yahoo forum. So next time you spot a charity shop, why not go inside? Who knows, you might find a lovely dress for just a few pounds. Even better, you can enjoy wearing it in the knowledge that your money helped a good cause. The passage is written mainly to _ . Answer: inspire more people to join in charitable causes in the UK What's in the news? Here are some articles from the Winfield Daily News. Engaged to be married Mr. and Mrs. Eduardo Silva of Bogota, Colombia, are happy to announce that engagement of their daughter Cristina Ana Silva to Gino Antonio Leone. Miss Silva is studying art history at Winfield Community College and Mr. Leone is working at the Roma Restaurant. The wedding will take place at St. Mark's Church in Winfield on October 5th. The reception will be at the Roma. Black History Month Winfield Public Library is pleased to announce a special program to celebrate Black History Month. The well-known actor Albert Eaton will perform a one-man show named MLK:His life and Times. In the show, Eaton recreates the life and times of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., through music and drama. Performances are at 3:30 and 7:30, Thursday through Saturday. Admission free. Telephone: 5365400. Benjamins have a daughter Mr. and Mrs. Leon Benjamin are proud to announce the birth of their first child, Andrea Jean. She was born at Winfield Hospital on June 9 at 11:10 PM. SPORTS High School--Parents Beat Students The parents' football team beat the students 4 to 2 in a wild and exciting match yesterday at Winfield Stadium. It was the first win for the parents since the yearly event started five years ago. Adela Logan led the parents to victory with three goals. Her son, Bob Logan, scored the only two goals for the losing team, it was both a happy and a sad day for the Logan family! College--Winfield Community College Senior Wins State Tournament Ginny Lewis took the title away from defending state tennis winner, Susan Murray, yesterday in three straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4. this was the first time a Winfield student has played in the state finals. Ginny brought home a trophy and a $1000 prize for her studies at college. What do we know about the high school football game? Answer: The parents team won by 2 goals Students are studying some leaves. They group the leaves by shape. Which science process are the students using when they put the leaves in different groups? Answer: classifying It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. It had not rained in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. If it did not rain soon, we would lose everything. On this day, I witnessed a wonder. I was making lunch when I saw my 6-year-old son, Billy, walking very slowly toward the woods. Minutes later he came running out again, toward the house. Soon after, I saw him walking toward the woods again. This went on for an hour. Finally I walked out of the house quietly and followed him. Billy cupped both hands in front of him as he walked, careful not to drop the water he carried. Leaves slapped his face but he kept walking into the woods. Then I saw an amazing sight. Several large deer stood in front of him. Billy walked right up to them. I saw a tiny baby deer lying on the ground. It was dying of thirst, and it lifted its head with great effort to drink the water in my boy's hands. When the water was gone, Billy ran back to the house. I followed him to the tap. Billy opened it and a small trickle came out. He knelt down, letting the drops slowly fill up his "cup". Now I understood what was going on. The week before, he tried giving water to our horses but I told him not to waste water. Now when he stood up and turned, I was there in front of him. His eyes filled with tears, "I'm not wasting," he said. I joined him with a small pot of water from the kitchen. I let him walk to the baby deer alone while I stood at the edge of the woods. As tears rolled down my face, they were suddenly joined by other drops... and more drops... as if the sky itself was crying. What's the best title for the passage? Answer: The wonder of water.
Question: As you grow rapidly through your teenage years,you will experience a lot of changes.The changes may seem difficult and they may seem to happen quickly.Don't panic!You will deal successfully with them!You are a young adult now! With more responsibility,you will find more freedom to make your own choices.This is a time to be well informed about your choices so that you can make healthy balanced decisions that will help shape your future.You may already know your career path or you may have no idea at all what you want to do.Both situations are fine!Work hard and the right opportunity will present itself to you. Young adulthood means greater freedom and more choices.You will probably want to be independent.But try not to shut your family out of your life.You should learn to think of others even though you are old enough to look after yourself.Your family have been with you since you came into this world. It is also perfectly natural in this time for you to spend more time with your friends than your family.Choose your friends wisely.A true friend will stand by you no matter what happens. This period is part of the life cycle.There are _ who will be with you throughout life's journey and there will be some people with whom you part and go separate ways.Leaving school can be hard.The reality is that you may not ever see all of your classmates again. You are a young adult.It is your life.No one can live it for you.The choices that you make from now on will be your choices.So making the right choices will be important to you.Life is for living.Enjoy your life wisely! The best title for this passage would be _ . A. The Choices in Life B. The Key to Success C. Say Goodbye to the Past D. Becoming a Young Adult Answer: D. Becoming a Young Adult Question: SAN FRANCISCO--The "Reading Wizard", an 11 - year - old - boy, whose offer to read to children without being paid at a local library was refused by libraries, will get to read to younger kids after all. Mayor Willie Brown last Wednesday ordered San Francisco Public Library officials to allow John O'Connor to read to preschool children to get them interested in books and stop them from watching television and video games. "I didn't expect this kind of attention. " John said, "It's just shocking." John has chosen his first book, "The King's Giraffe", and made up fliers inviting neighborhood children, aged from three to six, to the Presidio Branch every Wednesday afternoon. He planned to call himself the "Reading Wizard" and wear a special hat, fake glasses and a black coat. But his idea was refused - on the phone, in person and finally with a letter from Toni Bernardi, the chief of the library's children and youth services. Using terms like "age appropriate material" ,she wrote that only library workers are allowed to read to children. John then went to a member of the city board of supervisors , who advised him to write letters to the library officials. "Our libraries are supposed to turn kids on, not to turn them off." Brown said he enjoyed "the creative idea, the sense of civic duty and the caring for others that John clearly showed us." The 11 - year - old boy asked librarians at the local library for permission to_. A. play video games B. wear something strange C. design fliers for new books D. read stories to young children Answer: D. read stories to young children Question: "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 education 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 for us. They taught 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 Clomps who says of her students--"so passive" --and wonders what has happened. Nothing is demanded of them, she believes. Television, says Clomps, contributes to children's passivity. "We're talking about a generation of kids who' vet never been hurt or hungry. They have learned somebody will always do it for them, instead of saying 'go and 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 s time to start telling them no again. Children are becoming more inactive in study because _ . A. they watch TV too often B. they have done too much homework C. they have to fulfill too many duties D. teachers are too strict with them Answer: A. they watch TV too often Question: CHICAGO (AP) On Jan. l,an order went into effect requiring that every checked bag at more than 400 of the nation's commercial airports be screened for bombs and weapons. Sunday was expected to the heaviest travel day since Jan. l. Yet spot checks on Sunday at several of the nation's airports showed no major delays caused by the new security measures. At the international terminal for Northwest Airlines at John F. Kennedy International Airport inprefix = st1 /New York, passengers waited up to 30 minutes longer than usual. Their bags were sent through giant screening machines and workers tore open taped boxes and searched through their contents before closing them up again. Most travelers simply accepted stricter screening developed since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11,2001,before which only 5 percent of the roughly 2 million bags checked each day were screened for bombs. The U. S. government has put an additional 23,000 people into airports to carry out the new order. Sonny Salgatar, a 23-year-old college student flying home to San Diego fromChicago, was told by an airport officer after the first pass that one of his bags was "hot", meaning there was something he couldn't identify and he wanted to open the bag for an inspection. The "hot" item turned out to be Salgatar's clothing iron. "Listen, anything they want to do for security is OK for me," Salgatar said. But not all of the passengers hold the same viewpoint as Salgatar's, complaining that they had to arrive at the airport too much time ahead of their schedule. What was the attitude of Sonny Salgatar towards the security measure taken? A. He was annoyed. B. He had no objection. C. He thought it useless. D. He didn't worry about it. Answer: B. He had no objection. Question: It all starts with a tree.In fact, it starts with several trees.Since the first modern guitars were made in northern Spain over 150 years ago, crafts persons have known the wood to be used is important in making a guitar. Every guitar is made of several different kinds of wood.Each piece is carefully chosen and then cut to fit the part of the guitar for which it is designed.The most important part of a guitar is the soundboard--the piece of wood with a large hole that lies under the strings(,).Guitar makers are careful to make the soundboard just the right shape and thickness.Then they fix stripes of wood across the inside in a special pattern, which helps strengthen the soundboard and improves the tone of the guitar. Wood for the curvy sides of the guitar must be soaked in water and bent over a hot iron pipe.When all the pieces of the guitar are ready, they are carefully stuck together with glue .Special woodworking tools are used to shape and smooth the neck of the guitar.The craftsperson must make sure that the neck is perfectly centered over the soundboard. Then it is time to use varnish .This brings out the beauty of the wood.Varnish also improves the sound of the guitar but too much varnish makes the guitar sound flat and dull. Finally guitar strings are attached and tightened to make just the right musical tones.Then it's time to play a song. What will happen to the guitar if too much varnish is used to the wood? A. The beauty of the wood can't be seen clearly. B. The sound of the guitar will be flat and dull. C. The tone of the guitar will be improved. D. A guitar will become thin. Answer: B. The sound of the guitar will be flat and dull.
Question: Chief Executive Office Lahore Stock Exchange Lahore Stock Exchange (LSE) is the 2ndlargest exchange of the country with a workforce of almost 150 employees. The Exchanges of Pakistan are currently undergoing a major reform program involving shareholding in order to develop the capital markets further. We seek a dynamic , forward-thinking Chief Executive with ability to provide strong leadership and effective management to deliver its organization goals and strategic plan. The successful candidate should have the business both pre and post shareholding with a proven record. The candidate should have minimum of 7 years of experience along with a business related degree or other professional qualifications. However, a strong record of achievement, excellent communication and team building skill are equally important. International qualifications or experience will be an added advantage together with the knowledge of the local corporate environment. _ package will be highly attractive and match the position. If you are interested in a strategic leadership role and be part of an organization to make a difference, please write to: Head of Human Resources, Lahore Stock Exchange (Guarantee)Ltd, 19thKhayaban- e- Aiwan -e- Iqbal, Lahore, Pakistan, together with your Curriculum Vitae and latest passport sized photograph. What is NOT true about LSE? A. It's Lahore Stock Exchange B. It's one of the largest exchanges in Pakistan. C. It's developing Pakistan's capital city D. It's located in Khayaban- e- Aiwan -e- Iqbal, Lahore, Pakistan Answer: C. It's developing Pakistan's capital city Question: Last year, Jack Bleed cut through the bone of his ring finger while working. The 31-year-old resident of North Little Rock, Arkansas, waited for about six hours at a nearby medical center while the medical staff there called all over town -- even as far away as Dallas and Memphis -- to find a hand surgeon to reattach his finger. Finally, a willing doctor was located in Louisville, Kentucky. But even though Bleed had insurance , he would have to hire a private plane to get himself there, at a cost of $4,300. In the end, he charged the cost to two credit cards, and his finger was saved. His insurance company eventually covered the cost of the plane, but his experience makes people aware of the fact that trauma care in the United States is not only geographically limited, but in many places, non-existent. Only eight states -- New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, New Mexico, California, Oregon, and Washington -- have local, fully functional trauma systems. The remaining states have partial systems, and 12 -- including Arkansas -- have no trauma system at all. Although the President has signed a bill of $12 million for the purpose of supporting trauma care systems nationwide, many in Congress are unwilling to spend government money for a service they think should be paid for by states, says Wayne Meredith, medical director for trauma programs at the American College of Surgeons. Meanwhile, many states have also failed to find the dollars to support trauma systems. To make matters worse, many people without insurance depend heavily on the emergency care services, placing a huge financial burden on the medical centers that serve them. For the same reason, doctors, too, often go unpaid. They are unwilling to perform emergency care, worsening critical shortages of neurosurgeons, orthopedists, and hand surgeons -- the very types of specialists Bleed needed at short notice. Supporting a trauma care system doesn't take much. A half-penny sales tax in Miami-Dade County makes its outstanding system work. In Arkansas alone, says Wayne Meredith, a well-funded trauma system would possibly prevent 200 to 600 deaths each year. If trauma care systems were to work well across the nation, experts say, many thousands of lives each year could be saved. "You don't get much better return on your investment than that," Meredith says. The example of Miami-Dade County shows that _ . A. its tax policy is admirable B. running a trauma system is profitable C. a trauma system is not expensive D. sales tax is not heavy in small counties Answer: C. a trauma system is not expensive Question: "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 can we infer about the reason why the father often shouts at his son? A. The father is getting older and older. B. The son has more fashionable opinions than his father. C. They usually disagree with each other. D. The father has got used to being a leader for long. Answer: D. The father has got used to being a leader for long. Question: If the earth quakes and a lot of people die, likely A. everything was fine B. stars went out C. sunrise was delayed D. shingles caved in Answer: D. shingles caved in Question: Winter begins in the north on December 22nd. People and animals have been doing what they always do to prepare for the colder months. Squirrels , for example, have been busy gathering nuts from trees. Well, scientists have been busy gathering information about what the squirrels do with the food they collect. They examined differences between red squirrels and gray squirrels in the American state of Indiana. The scientists wanted to know how these differences could affect the growth of black walnut trees. The black walnut is the nut of choice for both kinds of squirrels. The black walnut tree is also a central part of some hardwood forests. Rob Swihart of Purdue University did the study with Jake Goheen, a former Purdue student now at the University of New Mexico. The two researchers estimate that several times as many walnuts grow when gathered by gray squirrels as compared to red squirrels. Gray squirrels and red squirrels do not store nuts and seeds in the same way. Gray squirrels bury nuts one at a time in a number of places. But they seldom remember where they buried every nut. So some nuts remain in the ground. Conditions are right for them to develop and grow the following spring. Red squirrels, however, store large groups of nuts above ground. Professor Swihart calls " _ ". Gray squirrels are native to Indiana. But Professor Swihart says their numbers began to decrease as more forests were cut for agriculture. Red squirrels began to spread through the state during the past century. The researchers say red squirrels are native to forests that stay green all year, unlike walnut trees. They say the cleaning of forest land for agriculture has helped red squirrels invade Indiana. Jake Goheen calls them a sign of an environmental problem more than a cause. The difference between gray squirrels and red squirrels mainly lies in _ . A. the way they gather the walnut B. the time they have winter sleep C. the place they have winter sleep D. the place they store the walnuts Answer: D. the place they store the walnuts
The old man walked slowly into the restaurant. With head tilted, and shoulders bent forward he leaned on his trusty stick with each unhurried step. His torn cloth jacket, patched trousers, worn out shoes, and warm personality made him stand out from the usual Saturday morning breakfast crowd. He stopped, turned with his whole body, and winked at a little girl seated by the door. She flashed a big smile right back at him. A young waitress named Mary watched him walk toward a table by the window. She ran over to him, and said, "Here, Sir. Let me give you a hand with that chair." She pulled the chair away from the table. Steadying him with one arm, she helped him move in front of the chair, and get comfortably seated. Then she moved the table up close to him, and leaned his stick against the table where he could reach it. In a soft, clear voice he said, "Thank you, Miss. And bless you for your kind gestures." "You're welcome, Sir." She replied. "And my name is Mary. I'll be back in a moment, and if you need anything at all in the mean time, just wave at me!" After he had finished a hearty meal, Mary brought him the change from his ticket. He left it on the table. She helped him and walked with him to the front door. Holding the door open for him, she said, "Come back and see us, Sir!" He turned and nodded a thank-you. "You are very kind." he said softly, smiling. When Mary went to clean his table, she almost fainted. Under his plate she found a business card, and a note scribbled on a napkin. Under the napkin was a one-hundred-dollar bill. The note on the napkin read, "Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself too. It shows by the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness. Your kind gestures will shine through those who meet you." The man she had waited on was the owner of the restaurant where she worked. This was the first time that she, or any of his employees had ever seen him in person. The passage is developed mainly by _ . following the order of time A mountain with a melting glacier has a stream with a waterfall. The waterfall fills a lake at the base of the mountain. Where is the water coldest? glacier Hi, I'm Tom.I have a pencil box.It's big and it's purple.It's my good friend.It's from my mom.What's in the pencil box? My ruler is in it.It's blue and red.That is a pencil.It is black and white.It's not my pencil.It's Cindy.She likes black and white.You can see a green pen and an eraser in it, too.The pen isn't mine.I find it in the classroom this morning.It's Tim's.His name is on it.He isn't at school now.Tim's telephone number is 8069--4725.I can call him.The nice eraser is my sister ,Linda's. The pencil is _ . Cindy's. All too often, a choice that seems sustainable turns out on closer examination to be problematic. Probably the best example is the rush to produce ethanol for fuel from corn. Corn is a renewable resource --you can harvest it and grow more, almost limitlessly. So replacing gas with corn ethanol seems like a great idea. One might get a bit more energy out of the ethanol than that used to make it, which could still make ethanol more sustainable than gas generally, but that's not the end of the problem. Using corn to make ethanol means less corn is left to feed animals and people, which drives up the cost of food. That result leads to turning the fallow land -including, in some cases, rain forest in places such as Brazil--into farmland, which in turn gives off lots of carbon dioxide (CO) into the air. Finally, over many years, the energy benefit from burning ethanol would make up for the forest loss. But by then, climate change would have progressed so far that _ might not help. You cannot really declare any practice "sustainable" until you have done a complete life-cycle analysis of its environmental costs. Even then, technology and public keep developing, and that development can lead to unforeseen and undesired results. The admirable goal of living sustainably requires plenty of thought on an ongoing basis. What might directly cause the loss of the forest according to the text? The greater need for farmland Every evening at six o'clock an old man goes to a restaurant near his house. He eats dinner. After dinner, he drinks coffee and talks to the people at the restaurant. The old man's name is Bill. Bill eats at the restaurant every evening because he is lonely. His wife died and he has no children. Every evening the same waitress brings Bill to his dinner. Her name is Cara. She is 17 years old. Cara is kind to Bill. She knows he is lonely, so she talks to him. If Bill is late for dinner, she calls him on the telephone. "Are you OK?" she asks him. One evening Bill doesn't come to the restaurant. Cara calls him, but he doesn't answer the phone. Cara calls the police. "Please go to Bill's house." Cara tells the police. Later the police call Cara at the restaurant. "Bill died in his sleep," the police tell her. Bill was 82 years old. A week later, a man comes to the restaurant. "I have something for Cara," the man says. The man gives Cara a check for $500000. The money is from Bill. "This money is for me? From Bill?" Cara asks the man. "Yes," the man answers. "But...why?" Cara asks the man. "Bill liked you," the man says. "You were kind to him" --From whom is the money for Cara? --- _ . Bill
Sharks have lived in the oceans for over 450 million years, long before dinosaurs appeared. There are now about 360 species of sharks, whose size, behavior, and other characteristics differ widely. Every year, we catch and kill over 100 million sharks, mostly for food and for their fins. Dried shark fins are used to make shark fin soup, which sells for as much as $50 a bowl in fine Hong Kong restaurants. Other sharks are killed for sport and out of fear. Sharks are vulnerable to overfishing because it takes most species 10 to 15 years to begin reproducing and they produce only a few offspring . Influenced by movies and popular novels, most people see sharks as people-eating monsters. This is far from the truth. Every year, a few types of shark injure about 100 people worldwide and kill about 25. Most attacks are by great white sharks, which often feed on sea lions and other marine mammals. They sometimes mistake human swimmers for their normal prey, especially if they are wearing black wet suits. If you are a typical ocean-goer, your chances of being killed by an unprovoked attack by a shark are about 1 in 100 million. You are more likely to be killed by a pig than a shark and thousands of times more likely to get killed when you drive a car. Sharks help save human lives. In addition to providing people with food, they are helping us learn how to fight cancer, bacteria, and viruses. Sharks are very healthy and have aging processes similar to ours. Their highly effective immune system allows wounds to heal quickly without becoming infected, and their blood is being studied in connection with AIDS research. Sharks are among the few animals in the world that almost never get cancer and eye cataracts . Understanding why can help us improve human health. Chemicals taken from shark cartilage have killed cancerous tumors in laboratory animals, research that someday could help _ your life. Sharks are needed in the world's ocean ecosystems. Although they don't need us, we need them. We are much more dangerous to sharks than they are to us. For every shark that bites a person, we kill one million sharks. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . Answer: Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed a boy ahead of him. He had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with some clothes, a baseball bat and a glove. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the things. Since they were going the same way, he offered to carry some things for the boy. As they walked, Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill. He loved video games, baseball and history, but he was having trouble with some of his subjects. They arrived at Bill's home first. Mark was invited in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with some laughs and talk. Then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from junior school. Three days before graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk. Bill reminded Mark of the day years ago when they had first met. "Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill. "You see, I took away all my things from school. I had stored away some of my mother's sleeping pills . I was going home to kill myself. But after we spent some time talking and laughing, I realized that if I had died, I would have missed so many good times. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more. _ " Which of the following is NOT true? Answer: ALMOST everyone wants to get smarter. We struggle to improve our memory, intelligence, and attention span. We drink cup after cup of coffee to help us get through the day. However, a new study published in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science warns that there are limits to how smart humans can get, and trying to increase your thinking ability could beurisky. Each of our body parts evolved in a certain way for a reason. For example, we are not 3 meters tall because most people's hearts are not strong enough to send blood up that high. Scientists are now saying that our thinking ability works in the same way. A baby's brain size is limited by a series of factors, such as the size of the mother's pelvis . If our brains evolved to vbe bigger, there could be more deaths during childbirth. The study of Ashkenazi Jews , who have an average IQ much higher than other Europeans, showed that they were more likely to develop diseases of the nervous system. This might be because of their increased brainpower. If intelligence cannot be improved, can we at least get better at concentrating? Not really, say scientists. They studied drugs like caffeine that improve attention span. They found that the drugs only helped people with serious attention problems. For those who did not have trouble paying attention, the drugs could have the opposite effect. Scientists say that this suggests there is an upper limit to how much people can or should concentrate. Our memory is also a "double-edged sword ". People with extremely vivid memories could end up having a difficult life because they cannot forget bad things that happen to them. Thomas Hills of the University of Warwick in the UK, one of the authors of the paper, said that considering all the problems in trying to get smarter, it's unlikely there will ever be a "supermind". What does the author mean by saying "Our memory is also a 'double-edged sword '"? Answer: Which part of a plant cell is responsible for controlling the activities of the other parts of the cell? Answer: For a long time, humans have used technology to study the world around us, and Mars is the latest place we're using machines to explore. Besides the earth, the "red planet" is seen, as the one place in our solar system most likely to have life. Early last month, the first American robot, Spirit, landed on Mars without any problem. Opportunity, the second robot, landed on the planet more than a week ago. Scientists are very excited about these machines' safe landing on Mars. It means that now we have an excellent chance to look for water and other signs of life. So far, the robots have found some stones that could show Mars was once a wet and warm planet. But the trips made by Spirit and Opportunity were dangerous. Mars is often called the "death planet", because in the past its environment has been unfriendly to the robot explorers. Before Spirit and Opportunity, nearly forty spaceships had been sent to Mars since the 1960s. Two-thirds of them failed. The first spaceship, Korabl, sent in 1962 by Russia was among them. It broke apart near the earth. The two robots _ . Answer:
Four boys were at the same school. They were good friends, so they often studied and played together. They went to school every day by taxi. One day one of the boys said, "There is a test this morning. Let's go to school late. Then we won't have to take the test." "What can we tell the teacher?" One of the boys said. "He'll be angry. We'll need a good excuse. " The boys thought for several moments, then one of them said, "Let's tell him that our taxi had a flat tire ." "That's a good idea," the other boys said. "We'll tell him that." They arrived at school an hour later. The test was finished. "Why are you late?" the teacher asked, "You miss the test." "Our taxi had a flat tire," one of the boys said. The teacher thought for a moment, then he said, "Sit down, one of you in each corner of the room." The four boys did this. Then the teacher said, "Write the answer to this question on a piece of paper: Which tire was flat?" One day the four boys were late for school because _ . Answer: Sam wanted a phone, so he asked his Mom if he could have one because phones are very expensive. Sam told his Mom that he could do extra chores for money to buy one. Sam's Mom told him that a phone is very expensive, much more expensive than the toys he normally buys with his chore money. But Sam still really wanted a phone. Sam's Mom came up with an idea and told Sam to pray for one. Since she could not help him, maybe God could help him. That night Sam prayed before bed and asked if he could somehow have a phone. The next day Sam was playing bat and ball with his brother John and sister Lucy. He saw something shine from the ground. He found a phone lying there. He ran and took it to his Mom who checked the phone, and after a quick clean found the phone worked. She told Sam that someone must have lost the phone and she'll call them to tell them they have found the phone. Sam sat in the kitchen as Sam's Mom called the number in the phone. A lady called Pat answered. After telling the lady the story of Sam and his praying, the lady was so touched that she told Sam's Mom to give the phone to Sam. When did Sam find the phone? Answer: Which best describes the role of the esophagus in digestion? Answer: As a teenager in 1972, Bill Gates boasted that he would be a millionaire by the time he was 20. While he did not quite achieve that goal, only 15 years later, he was a millionaire. And by 1992, as head of the Microsoft company, he became the richest man in America with assets of nearly US $ 6.3 billion. Born in Seattle, Washington on 28, October, 1956, Gates was named William Henry after his father and grandfather. From the beginning, he was an extremely energetic and intelligent child. He had read the entire world book encyclopedia by the age of nine. His favorite subjects at school were science and math and his favorite pastime was "thinking". Gates first started to play with computers at the age of 13. Before long he became an expert at working the school's computer. After his graduation from secondary school, Gates was accepted by the three top universities in the USA-Princeton, Harvard and Yale. He chose Harvard and began classes there the next autunm, majoring maths. But he was still obsessed with computers and spent as much time in the computer laboratories as he did in the lecture halls. By 1975, Gates and a partner, Paul Allen, had developed a software program called BASIC. This was not the first program ever created, but its inventors were the first to decide that people who wanted to use it should pay for it. BASIC was a success because until it came along, there had been no efficient way of getting computers to carry out instructions. Although he had not completed his degree, Gates left university and went to work full time for the new company he had formed called Microsoft. His next project was the software program that made him famous and very rich. It was called DOS, short for Disk Operating System, and it was purchased by IBM in 1980. Today it is the operating system used in more than 14 million personal computers around the world. As chief executive officer of Microsoft, Gates is known as a bright man, but one who is not easily satisfied. He is quick to criticize his staff and hates to be questioned about decisions he has made. He was regarded as a loner and unfashionable boring computer nut until his marriage to Microsoft manager Melinda French on New Year's Day 1994. Yet to many people now, Gates, is a person who is, in spite of his great wealth, humble and ordinary. He spends his money carefully. He eats in fast food restaurants and flies economy class. And when praised for Microsoft's great success, he has been heard to say, "All we do is put software in a box and if people see it in the stores and like it, they buy it." When he was a teenager, Bill Gates wanted to be a _ . Answer: Have you ever stayed in a hotel? Most Chinese hotel often provide guests with things like disposable toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and slippers. Many guests like the idea because they don't have to bring their own. But ,if you travel to Beijing, remember to bring your own things. Starting from June, some hotels in Beijing will no longer provide guests with these disposables. They want to ask people to use fewer disposable things. Many disposable things are made of plastic. People throw them away after only using them once. It is a waste of natural resources and is very bad for the environment. Do you know that one Chinese person makes as much as as 400kg of waste a year? Most of that waste comes from disposable things. In Beijing, people throw away about 19,000 tons of plastic bags and 1,320 tons of plastic lunch bowls every year! Plastic can take between 100 and 400 years to bread down. So wherever you travel, bring your own things and use them again and again. Back at home and school, you can also do something to make our world a better place. Try to do these things in your daily life: use cloth shopping bags, not plastic ones. After using a plastic bag, wash it out and let it dry. Then you can use it over and over again. Do not use paper cups. At your school canteen . use your own bowl and chopsticks instead of disposable ones. Which of the following is NOT true? Answer:
Never Talk to Strangers? "Never talk to strangers." Many children are taught this simple rule as a precaution against abduction . In June, 2005, an 11-year-old boy was lost in the Utah wilderness for four days. During that time, he stayed on the path. He saw people searching for him but deliberately hid from them, afraid someone might "steal" him. Eventually, the unfortunate game of hide-and-seek ended and he was found. According to the Canada Safety Council, this alarming incident shows how unwise it is to instill a fear of strangers in children. The "stranger danger" message can prevent children from developing the social skills and judgment needed to deal effectively with real-life situations. In a difficult situation, a stranger could be their lifeline to safety. To have a child go missing is a parent's worst nightmare. The threat of abduction by a stranger is minimal when compared with other possible reasons for a disappearance. In 2004, there were 67,266 missing-children cases in Canada. Only 31 involved abduction; in most of those cases the abductor was a relative, friend, or person known to the family. There were 671 cases of children wandering off, and 332 cases of abductions by a parent. Almost 80 percent of all cases were runaways. These statistics cast doubt on the idea that children should never talk to strangers. Wandering off is more common--but a lost children may have to call upon a stranger for help, and must develop the ability to judge what kind of people to approach. The "never talk to strangers" rule does not protect children in the situations they are most likely to face. On top of this, it can be confusing. Adults do not model the behaviour; they often talk to strangers. A child may not know how to tell who is a stranger, and who is not. For young children, nothing replaces close supervision . Pre-schoolers do not understand risk and tend to act without thinking. Children need to develop habits and sttitudes that will protect them from the real threats and dangers they may face. The Canada Safety Council encourages parents to give their children age-appropriate positive messages about safety, bearing in mind how youngsters may understand their world. The "never talk to strangers" rule is confusing to children because _ . Jack was born in a poor family. His father had a small boat and went fishing in the morning and sold the fish in the market in the afternoon. Then he bought some food for his family. When winter came, they were often hungry. One morning the hungry man fell into the river and nobody found him. Jack's mother left her three-year-old son without saying goodbye. His aunt had to look after him. Twenty years passed. Jack became a tall, strong man. He worked on a farm. He worked hard and wanted to get more money to marry . He often went to see his aunt with some nice presents. The woman was very happy. But one day she died in a traffic accident . The young man was very sad. After he buried her, he decided to buy a beautiful tombstone for her. He went to the town and came into a shop, but all the tombstones were too expensive. He asked, "Do you sell an old tombstone, sir?" "Yes, we do, sir," answered the shopkeeper. "Is it as expensive as the new one?" "No, it is much cheaper," said the man. "But another name was engraved on it." "It doesn't matter," said the man. "My aunt could not read." Jack wanted to buy an old tombstone because _ . This is my beautiful home. There is a small garden in front of my house. There are many beautiful flowers in the garden. Behind my house there is a big tree. Near the tree, you can see a garage. My father's beautiful car is in it now. On the first floor, there is a large living room, a dining room, a kitchen and a bathroom. I like watching TV in the living room. On the second floor, there is a small study room and two bedrooms. I love playing with the computer in my study. What a nice home! I like it very much. There is a small garden _ my house. At railway stations all across Britain next week, groups of students will gather with their backpacks to wait for the trains that will carry them home for Christmas. This is as large a movement of human beings as before, but with more contradictory traffic flows, so that trains filled with the young pass each other travelling in every direction. At first, I went home every weekend with my washing, but then those visits became less regular. How did I let my parents know I was coming? They had no phone. Perhaps I wrote to them ("Expect me with dirty shirts this Friday afternoon"), but more likely I didn't let them know, and just turned up or didn't turn up, not understanding that my parents' dashed hopes of seeing me were a greater casualty of my carelessness than a spoiled tea. And in all this I suspect I was typical, at least of young men. As for our fathers and mothers, none of them talked of "empty-nest syndrome", even though its implication that the principal human duty is to protect and feed the young would have suited their generation better than ours. Then, the feelings of loss went without a name. Today, it's a condition with _ , which will make parents feel more enjoyable in their life. The Mayo Clinic, for example, suggests you try to maintain regular contact with your children through "visits, phone calls, emails, texts or video chats". If you feel depressed, lean on loved ones or your mental health provider. Above all, stay positive: "Thinking about the extra time and energy you might have to devote to your marriage or personal interests after your last child leaves home might help you adapt to this major life change." What can't be denied, however, is that children often leave home. In modern societies, this is what they do. Christmas is the very time they can be depended on to return. For the non-religious, that may be this season's true comfort and significance. The main reason for the busy traffic across Britain next week is that _ . A Bite of China, featuring delicious Chinese food, has attracted countless viewers, and moved many to tears. A Bite of China is a serious documentary providing a unique view of Chinese as well as the relations between people and food and between people and society from the view of food. The touching documentary reminds some people of their mother, and makes some realize that every grain comes from hard and laborious work. Some people see patriotism in the documentary, and some consider it a great cultural export. How did this documentary achieve a great influence beyond its subject matter in such a short time? "It is not empty propaganda about China's splendid food culture. Instead, it shows the techniques used in making food and their production process as well as the lives of ordinary people, thus striking a chord with the audience," an Internet user said. The success of the documentary should be owed to sincerity and reality. Nowadays, many works of art that have high investment, high technology, and magnificent scenes lack nothing but sincerity and reality. A Bite of China shows that a commercial documentary promoting patriotism can be full of touching details, that the emotions of ordinary Chinese people should be exhibited even in publicizing China overseas, and that even a completely commercial program can achieve both artistic and commercial success. "We made this documentary with our respect and love for food," said director Chen Xiaoqing. Being sincere is the most important thing for artists because they cannot move others unless they themselves are first moved, and cannot convince others unless they themselves are first convinced. Sincerity is the "secret" for making this documentary so popular, and every cultural creator should learn from its success. What can you find in A Bite of China?
Question: Commencement is a time for idealism. But economic reality is cruel everywhere; especially for new graduate. They have been told repeatedly that a college degree is an open sesame to the global economy. But that's not necessarily so, according to new research by two economists at he Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Frank Levy and Peter Temin. It is true that people with college degrees make more money than people without degrees. The gap has narrowed somewhat in recent years, which is disturbing. But the earning power of college graduates still far outpaces that of less-educated workers. The bad news, though, is that a college degree does not ensure a bigger share of the economics pie for many graduates. In recent decades Mr. Levy and Mr. Temin show, only college-educated women have seen their income grow in line with economy wide gains in productivity. The earnings of male college graduates have failed to keep pace with productivity gains. Instead, a huge share of productivity growth, which expands the nation's income, is going to Americans on the top of the income scale. In 2005, the latest year with available data, the top of 1 percent of Americans---whose average annual income was $ 1.1 million--- took in 21.8 percent of the nation's income, their largest share since 1929. Administration officials, and other politicians and economists, often, believe that income inequality, reflects an education gap. But Mr. Levy and Mr. Temin show that in the case of men, the average bachelor's degree is not enough to catch the rising tide of the global economy. They argue that the real reason that inequality is worsening is the lack of strong policies that broadly distribute economic gains. In the past, for example, a more progressive income tax and unions promote equality. Positive measures have been _ and new ones have not yet emerged, making the income gap even greater. Mr. Levy and Mr. Temin conclude that only a new government policy can restore general prosperity. That's a challenge to the nation's leader and today's graduates. America needs them to contribute to the development of the nation in global economy. We can infer from the passage that _ . A. female college graduates have higher income than male ones. B. female college graduates have benefited from some governmental measures to ensure their income growth. C. income tax can grantee income equality. D. new measures and policies have been taken to promote income equality. Answer: B Question: At the World Expo Shanghai 2010, you will be able to see the world in just one day. The World Expo (short for "exposition") is the third largest world event after the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. Countries build pavilions at the Expo, showing off technologies and cultures with colorful exhibitions and performances. People can experience the most advanced technologies at the World Expo. Throughout history, many new inventions have made their debuts at the World Expo, including the TV, telephone and even the ice cream cone. But the Expo is not just a trade fair . It's a platform for cultural exchange, bringing people closer to the rest of the world. For example, at the Shanghai Expo, couples may be able to marry in French-style weddings at the France Pavilion. Thailand will let visitors walk into its emperor's palace. Visitors to the Austria Pavilion will have the chance to experience the snow-capped mountains of the country. Many countries have also decided to bring their national treasures to the event. Since the 1993 Expo in Chicago, the World Expo began to focus on one theme. It changed from a show into a community event. Visitors are invited to help solve global issues, such as environmental problems. The theme of the Shanghai Expo is "Better city, better life". It will call on the world to solve the problems human beings face as a result of urbanization . In the future, more and more people may care about protecting the places they live in. When did the World Expo begin to focus on one theme? A. In 1990. B. In 1993. C. In 1998. D. In 2010. Answer: B Question: It's Really a Miracle Mr. Clarke works in New York and he brought his family to China last summer. They visited many places of interest and had a good time here. Before they left for New York, the Clarkes climbed the Great Wall. It was the greatest project over two thousand years ago. They took a lot of photos there and then they had a picnic under a big tree. Suddenly it began to rain and they hurried to the car. And when they returned to the hotel, they couldn't find the bag in which their expensive camera was. They were all sorry for it. They could buy another camera but had no time to go to the Great Wall again. They could not miss the plane! That evening they didn't have supper. Mr. Clarke hoped to make them happy, so he said, "Well, let me tell you a story. An old man lived in a sixty-storey building. One day he fell down from it when he was cleaning the window. But he didn't hurt himself." "It was a miracle!" called out his children, "Why?" "Because he lived on the first floor!" They all began to laugh while two policemen with a bag came in. They said a Chinese boy found it under a big tree and he asked them to find out who lost it. "It's really a miracle!" the Clarkes said happily. Who found the bag? A. Two policemen. B. A Chinese boy. C. A Chinese girl. D. An American boy. Answer: B Question: Phillip Island Penguins The Little Penguin has called prefix = st1 /PhillipIslandhome for untold generations. Get to Phillip Island inplenty of time to watch a summer sunset at Summerland Beach-the stage is attractively set to see the Little Penguin leave water and step onto land. Leave Melbourne at 5:30 pm. for a direct journey to PhillipIsland See the Gippsland area-Guinness Book of Records place for the world's longest earthworm Journey along the coastal highway around the Bay with French Island and Churchill Island in the distance Cross the bridge at San Remo to enter Phillip Island-natural home for Little Penguins and many animals *Take your place in special viewing stands to watch the daily evening performance of the wild Little penguins Ultimate Penguins (+U) Join a group of up to 15. This guided tour goes to an attractive, quiet beach to see Little Pen-guins. You can see penguins at night by wearing a special pair of glasses. Adult $ 60.00 Child $ 30.00 Viewing Platform Penguin Plus (+V) More personalized wildlife viewing limited to 130 people providing closer viewing of the penguin arrival than the main viewing stands. Adult $ 25.00 Child $ 12.50 Penguin Skybox (+S) Join a group of only 5 in the comfort of a special, higher-up viewing tower. Gain an excellent overview of SummerlandBeach. Adult 16 yrs + $ 50.00 What kind of people is the text mainly written for? A. Scientists. B. Students. C. tourists. D. Artists. Answer: C Question: Long long ago, there was an old merchant who had three sons. "To which one shall I leave my fortune?" he wondered. "It must be to the cleverest son. But which one is the cleverest?" He called his three sons to him. "Here is some money," he told them, "you must each take one coin to buy something that will fill this room. Anyone who can do this shall have my fortune." "It is a big room," said the eldest son. "One coin will not buy very much," said the second son. But the youngest son said nothing. He stood and thought, and then he smiled, "Come, brothers," he said, "let us go to the market." The eldest son bought straw with his coin. But one coin bought only a bit of straw. Even when he had spread it as much as he could, the straw covered only a corner of the room. The second son bought sand with his coin. But one coin bought only a bit of sand. Even when he had spread it as much as he could, the sand covered only half of the floor. "What did you buy?" the eldest son angrily asked the youngest son. "You don't have any straw." "Yes, what did you buy?" the second son asked angrily. "You don't have any sand." "I bought this," said the youngest son. "A candle!" cried his brothers. "What good is a candle?" "Watch", said the youngest son. He lit the candle, and all at once the room was filled from wall to wall, from ceiling to floor. It was filled with light! "Although you are the youngest, you are indeed the cleverest of my sons," the old merchant said. And that is how, the old merchant left his fortune to his youngest son, the one who could fill a room with light. How do you think of the youngest son? A. He is very clever. B. He is very lazy. C. He is very mean. D. He is very diligent. Answer: A
Question: My name is Becky Smith. I'm eleven years old. I have one brother. His name's Jason and he's fourteen. I don't have any sister. We live with grandma in a small house in Chesterfield, in the north of England. My friends and I often go to the cinema on Saturday. Do you like games? I like football. My favourite team is Manchester Unite . I sometimes play football with my brother. I have seven pets: two birds and five goldfish. I want a dog and a cat, but my parents don't like them. Do you want to be my penfriend? Please write to me soon. The girl's parents don't like _ . A. birds and goldfishes B. birds and dogs C. dogs and cats D. goldfishes and cats Answer: C Question: Snowflakes seem like white stars falling from the sky. But they don't always look white. Sometimes they appear to have other color1s. Some are red, yellow, or black. There have been snowflakes of almost every shape. Think how it would seem to have these coming all around you. Wouldn't they look pretty? Black snow came down in France one year. Another year gray snow fell in Japan. It was found that such snow was mixed with ashes. This made it seem dark. Red snow has come down in other countries. When this happened, it was mixed with red dust. That is why it looked different. Most snow looks like white, but it is really the color1 of ice. It is ice that comes from snow clouds. Each snowflake begins with a small drop of water. More water forms around this drop. The way the water freeze gives the snowflake its shape. No two snowflakes are of ever just the same size or shape. All start out flat and have six sides. Some snowflakes are broken when they hit the ground, others melt as they fall. When the air is cold and dry, the falling snowflakes are small and hard. If the air is wet and warm, the snowflakes are big and soft. Would you be surprised to see snowflakes as big as your head falling from the sky? It happened once in our country. It could occur again. According to the passage, if the snowflakes are hard and small, the weather should be _ . A. cold and wet. B. cold and dry. C. wet and warm. D. dry and wet. Answer: B Question: One day, in an English class, the students are doing their lessons. Their teacher, a young woman, is very happy. She sings some nice songs with them and then she goes to the blackboard and writes "SMILES" on it. "This is the longest word in English, " she says to the class. A girl stands up and says, "It has only six letters. How can it be the longest word in English?" The teacher smiles and says, "Oh, look! There is a mile between the first letter and the last one. " A girl _ what her teacher says. A. asks B. believes C. doesn't ask D. doesn't believe Answer: D Question: Denn is on trial for arson. In its case in chief, the prosecution offers evidence that Denn had secretly obtained duplicate insurance from two companies on the property that burned and that Denn had threatened to kill his ex-wife if she testified for the prosecution. The court should admit evidence of A. Denn's obtaining duplicate insurance only. B. Denn's threatening to kill his ex-wife only. C. both Denn's obtaining duplicate insurance and threatening to kill his ex-wife. D. neither Denn's obtaining duplicate insurance nor threatening to kill his ex-wife. Answer: C Question: According to a new study by Israel researchers from University of Haifa, posting blogs to express feelings and emotions is _ for children aged 13-17. Psychology professors Meyran Boniel-Nissim and Azy Barak have found that a teenager writing a publicly-viewed blog on the Internet is more effective for relieving stress rather than keeping a private diary. The study, published in the journalPsychological Services, supports that expressing oneself through writing can be therapeutic. To conduct the research, Boniel-Nissim and Barak randomly selected Israeli high school students who displayed a certain degree of stress. The teenagers were then divided into six groups. Two groups were asked to post blogs twice a week about their social difficulties, but only one of them was asked to open the blogs for comments. The next set of groups were also asked to blog twice a week to post about whatever was going on in their mind, again with one group allowing comments. The two control groups were asked to keep an old-fashioned private diary. The researchers then collected the blog posts and diaries to discuss the adolescents' emotional and social position. From the research, they saw that the greatest improvement in mood was with the bloggers who wrote about their personal troubles and allowed people to interact with their posts. The research also noted that the comments were mostly positive and constructive. Boniel-Nissim and Barak said that the commentators' interactions helped the bloggers while they were distressed. The conclusive research noted that expressing yourself on the Internet not only let others know what was personally going on with you, but also helped you figure out some things about yourself too. _ were selected for the research. A. Those who blogged regularly. B. Those who suffered from stress. C. Those who had never blogged before. D. Those who had poor social skills. Answer: B
A new study suggests that the way to weight loss may be clear.A couple of glasses of water before meals help dieters lose about 5 pounds more than those who do not drink water.While drinking water before a meal may fill a person up,the contents of their meal are important as well.Should a person be eating a low-fat diet or a lowcarbohydrate diet? Or does it matter at all? Recent research suggests that one diet isn't any better than the other.A few weeks before the water study,another concluded that lowfat and lowcarbohydrate diets tied in weight loss.While the lowcarbohydrate dieters did show a slight increase in good cholesterol and a reduction in blood pressure,there was not much difference in the dieters'weight loss.The point here is that the person had to stick to the diet.What helps a person see a diet through? It could be body type. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association,as reported byTimemagazine,found that body shape is the key to which diet a person will be able to stick with.Apples are people who carry most of their weight above the belt,while pears carry their weight around their hips .Apple types were more likely to be highinsulin secretors who respond more strongly to carbohydrates in their bodies.They lost the most weight on a lowcarbohydrate diet.Pears were lowinsulin secretors who lost the same amount of weight on both diets.Unstable insulin levels can create stronger hunger senses,causing the apple types to go off their diet plans. All of these studies again come down to choosing the diet that helps you eat less.The bodytype diet does make some sense as men are more likely to be apple types,with larger stomachs,and tend to do well on higherprotein diets,while women,who tend to carry weight around their hips,find themselves drawn to the lowfat diets.The reality is if a diet is failing you try another one.A plan you can't,or won't,stick to will never work,no matter what the research says. In the author's opinion, _ . "Old wives tales" are beliefs passed down from one generation to another, For example, most of us remember our patents' telling us to eat more of certain foods or not to do certain things. Is there any truth in these teachings? Some of them agree with present medical thinking, but others have not passed the test of time Did your mother ever tell you to eat your carrots because they are good for your eyes? Scientists now report that eating carrots can help prevent a serious eye disease called macular degeneration Eating just one carrot a day can reduce the possibility of getting this disease by 40%. Garlic is good for you, too. It can kill the type of virus that causes colds. Unfortunately, not all of Mom's advice passed the test of medical studies. For example, generations of children have been told not to go swimming within an hour after eating. But research suggests that there is no danger in doing so. Do sweets cause tooth problems? Well, yes and no. sticky sweets made with grains tend to cause more problems than sweets made with simple sugars. Even though science can tell us that some of our traditional beliefs don't hold water, there is still a lot of truth in the old wives' tales, After all, much of this knowledge has been accumulated from thousands of our traditional beliefs don't hold water should respect this body of knowledge even as research for clear scientific support to proven it true or false What is the author's attitude toward "old wives' tales" in the text? If you've been joining in chat room conversations, or trading e-mails with net pals , you have become one of the millions who write in a special, short form of English. Throughout the world, every night children and their elders are "talking" online-many of them are talking at the same time. It's fast: trying talking to six people once. It's convenient: three or four words per exchange. It takes cleverness, concentration and quick fingers. And it requires very simple language. There's neither time nor space for explanations. Why waste valuable time telling six friends you have to leave for a moment to take care of your little brother when BRB (be right back) will do? Want to enter a conversation? Just type PMFJI (pardon me for jumping in). Interested in whom you're talking to? Type A/S/L, the nearly universal request to know your pal's age, sex and location. You may get 15/M/NY as a reply from your pal. If something makes you laugh, say you're OTF (on the floor), or LOL (laughing out loud), or join the two into ROTFL (rolling on the floor laughing). And when it's time to get back to work or go to bed, you type GTG (got to go) or TTYL (talk to you later). People want to write as fast as possible, and they want to get their ideas across as quickly as they can. Capital letters are left in the dust, except when expressing feeling, as it takes more time to hold down the "Shift" key and use capitals. Punctuation is going too. If you get 17/F/NY as an answer to your A/S/L, it means _ . An atheist was taking a walk through the woods, admiring all that the "accident of evolution" had created. "What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!" he said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7 - foot grizzly charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing. He ran even faster, so scared that tears were coming to his eyes. He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer. His heart was pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster. He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his right paw to strike him. At that instant the atheist cried out "Oh my God!" Time stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. Even the river stopped moving. As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky," You deny my existence for all of these years; teach others I don't exist; and even credit creation to a cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this difficulty? Am I to count you as a believer?" The atheist looked directly into the light. "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as Christian now, but perhaps could you make the bear a Christian?""Very well," said the voice. The light went out. The river ran again. And the sounds of the forest resumed. And then the bear dropped his right paw... brought both paws together... bowed his head and spoke, "Lord, for this food which I am about to receive, I am truly thankful." According to the passage, the "accident of evolution" refers to the following Except _ . You know that balloons must be kept away from sharp objects. They also needed to be kept away from flames. A fire can weaken the rubber and cause it to break. However, in this experiment you will find out how you can hold a balloon directly in a flame without breaking the balloon. Materials needed: * two round balloons not inflated * several matches * water Inflate one of the balloons and tie it. Place 1/4 cup of water in the other balloon, and then inflate it and tie it. Light a match and hold it under the first balloon. Allow the flame to touch the balloon. What happens? The balloon breaks, perhaps even before the flame touches it. Light another match. Hold it directly under the water in the second balloon. Allow the flame to touch the balloon. What happens to this balloon? It doesn't break. Why does the balloon with no water break in the flame? The flame heats the rubber of both balloons. The rubber of the balloon without water becomes so hot that it becomes too weak to _ the pressure of the air inside the balloon. However, when the balloon with water in it is placed in the flame, the water takes in most of the heat from the flame. Then, the rubber of the balloon doesn't become very hot, it doesn't weaken, and the balloon doesn't break. Water is a particularly good absorber of heat. It takes a lot of heat to change the temperature of water. On the other hand, when water cools, it gives off a great deal of heat. That's why areas near oceans or other large bodies of water don't get as cold in winter as areas at the same latitude further inland. When the flame reaches the balloon with water inside, _
Dear Lan Lan, I'm now writing to you at Hartsop, a village in the Lake District, a place to have most beautiful scenery in English couple here to spend Christmas with them. This was planned for overseas students to know British way of life by living with British families. We came two days before Christmas and during our stay, we have had everything we expected. Christmas turkey, Christmas cake, Christmas puddings, Christmas parties and Christmas gifts under the Christmas tree. All are exciting and amusing, but above all these, we are deeply touched by the hospitality of the family, Roger and Anne Marie. Anne Marie was a nurse and all these days, she had been busy cooking meals, washing dishes and showing us around. Roger, who was a doctor, knows a lot about China and still wants to know more. He plays us Chinese music and it seems to me he does better in that than we do. In the evenings, we all sit around the fireplace with Tim, a lovely dog, by our side. Like long-time-no-see friends, we talk about all the things that have happened or we hope to happen in our lives. There is always so much to tell and to know. After three months away from home, we are again feeling how sweet a home can be. Roger and Anne Marie are not like most of the other people we have met who always make us feel we are foreigners in a foreign country. They show such kindness to us that they bring us a person-to-person feeling, instead of a British-to-Chinese feeling. They make us believe that though there are differences of languages and cultures, one may always expect to find in every corner of the world the feeling of love and being loved. How I wish Mum and Dad could meet them! How I wish you were here with me! How strange it is that the more I feel at home here, the more I miss my real home and all of you. We always talk about "when we go back home next year..." and soon we will turn this into "when we go back home THIS year..." for the New Year's Day is coming. Miss you. Love Cao Wen When you are away from home, it is good for you to have the feeling_. A. of being alone B. of love and being loved C. of going home soon D. as a foreigner Answer: B What's going to happen in the future? Will robots control our planet? Will computers become smarter than us? Not likely. But here are some things that scientists say are most likely to happen in 10 to 30 years from now, according to the BBC.2-1-c-n-j-y Digital money We used to pay with cash for everything we bought. Now when we use a credit card to shop online, money is spent without us seeing it. That means we are already using digital money. Using a card is much easier than searching our pockets for change. It is also safer than carrying a lot of cash. When ATM cards were first introduced, they were not accepted everywhere. But now it's hard to live without them. It's reported that people in Sweden completely stopped using cash last year, and the US might be next. Bionic eye It's no longer something only in a science fiction movie. People who are blind may have a chance to get their sight back--by wearing bionic eyes. A blind eye can no longer sense light, but a bionic eye can use a camera to "see" the environment and send data to the mind. Now the bionic eye only allows patients to see lights and unclear shapes. A high resolution image could be just a few years away. Self-driving cars Unlike a human driver, a self-driving car won't get distracted by phone call, the radio or something outside the window. Sensors and cameras on the car would allow it to stick reduce the number of road accidents. You could even take a nap while the car driver itself. Many vehicle companies are now planning self!driving cars. "By 2040, driverless vehicles will be widely accepted and possibly be the dominant vehicles on the road," said Jeffrey Miller, professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage, US. From the report, we can learn some information about _ . A. industry and farming B. science and technology C. culture and art D. traffic and journey Answer: B Sunshine For All The Beijing Sunshine Secondary School students are holding a charity show at the school hall of Beijing Sunshine Secondary School, Sunny Street, Sunshine Town. Date: 29 April Time: 7:30 p. m.9:00 p. m. We hope to raise money to help poor children go to school. Ticket price: $20 Donations are welcome. Programme: 7:30 p. m. Introduction 7:40 p. m. Songs 8:00 p. m. Break 8:15 p. m. Speech 8:30 p. m. Drama 9:00 p. m. End of the show Project Hope is an organization that raises money to build schools and buy books for poor students. We would like to thank the following for their help and support: The teachers at Beijing Sunshine Secondary School The Star Shopping Mall for the costumes Sunshine Advertisement Company for the posters Whom do the students want to thank? A. Sunshine Advertisement Company for the posters. B. The Star Shopping Mall for the costumes. C. The teacher at Beijing Sunshine Secondary School. D. All of the above. Answer: D After spending a year in Brazil on a student exchange program, her mother recalled, Marie Colvin returned home to find that her classmates had narrowed down their college choices. "Everyone else was already admitted to college," her mother, Rosemarie Colvin, said from the family home. "So she took our car and drove up to Yale and said, ` _ "' Impressed-she was a National Merit finalist who had picked up Portuguese in Brazil-Yale did, admitting her to the class of 1978, where she started writing for The Yale Daily News "and decided to be a journalist," her mother said. On Wednesday, Marie Colvin, 56, an experienced journalist for The Sunday Times of London, was killed as Syrian forces attacked the city of Homs. She was working in a temporary media center that was destroyed in the attack. "She was supposed to leave Syria on Wednesday", Ms. Colvin said. "Her editor told me he called her yesterday and said it was getting too dangerous and they wanted to take her out. She said she was doing a story and she wanted to finish it." Ms. Colvin said it was pointless to try to prevent her daughter from going to conflict zones. "If you knew my daughter," she said; "it would have been such a waste of words. She was determined, she was enthusiastic about what she did, it was her life. There was no saying `Don't do this.'This is who she was, ly who she was and what she believed in: cover the story, not just have pictures of it, but bring it to life in the deepest way you could." So it was not a surprise when she took an interest in journalism, her mother said. What can be the best title of the text? A. Covering Stories in a Dangerous Conflict Area B. Applying for Top Universities, a Successful Case C. Recalling Her Daughter, a Journalist Killed in Syria D. Choosing Lifelong Careers Based on Your Own Interest Answer: C Do American children still learn handwriting in school? In the age of the keyboard, some people seem to think handwriting lessons are on the way out. 90% of teachers say they are required to teach handwriting. But studies have yet to answer the question of how well they are teaching it. One of this year's studies found that about three out of every four teachers say they are not prepared to teach handwriting. Some teachers are teaching handwriting by providing instruction for 10 to 15 minutes a day, and then other teachers who basically teach it for 60 to 70 minutes a day -- which really for handwriting is pretty much. Many adults remember learning that way -- by copying letters over and over again. Today's thinking is that short periods of practice are better. Many experts also think handwriting should not be taught by itself. Instead, they say it should be used as a way to get students to express ideas. After all, that is why we write. Handwriting involves two skills. One is _ , which means forming the letters so they can be read. The other is fluency -- writing without having to think about it. Fluency continues to develop up until high school. But not everyone masters these skills. Teachers commonly report that about one fourth of their kids have poor handwriting. Some people might think handwriting is not important any more because of computers and voice recognition programs. But Steve Graham at Vanderbilt says word processing is seldom done in primary school, especially in the early years. American children traditionally first learn to print, and then to write in cursive, which connects the letters. But guess what we learned from a spokeswoman for the College Board . More than 75 percent of students choose to print their essay(article) on the test rather than write in cursive. Which of the following is WRONG for traditional handwriting in the USA? A. Handwriting includes two skills. B. To write in cursive is taught first. C. The letters are repeated many times. D. The students are taught by practicing a long period. Answer: B
Imagine that you are the first person ever to see Hawaii. What would be the first thing you would set foot on? The beach, naturally. There are hundreds of miles of beaches on the twenty islands of Hawaii. These islands cover 1,600 miles and are about 2,300 miles west of California. Most of them are covered with fine white sand. They are thought to be among the finest beaches in the world. Another wonderful thing about the beaches of Hawaii is the water temperature. The year-round average temperature of the water at the famous Waikiki Beach is 230C! The same is true of air temperature. In fact, there are no real seasons in Hawaii. There is a difference of only two or three degrees between the hottest day of summer and the coldest day of winter. That's why the Hawaiians don't have a word for weather in their language. Perhaps the nicest thing about Hawaiian beaches are the waves. The earliest settlers in Hawaii, the Polynesians, quickly learned how much fun it was to ride the waves. They developed a sport which is now very popular on the islands called body surfing. You go out into the ocean, wait for a big wave to come towards you, jump on it, and ride it all the way to the beach. Now imagine once again that you are the first person ever to set foot in Hawaii. What do you think would be the second beautiful thing you would notice? Would it be those strange triangles rising out of the water hundreds and hundreds of meters high? What are those beautiful things? They are volcanoes , of course. These volcanoes are not just a part of the islands. They made the islands at first. Because of them the islands are still growing. The most famous volcano on Hawaii is Mauna Loa. It is the world's most active volcano. It has been erupting for thousands of years. Even when it isn't erupting, smoke comes out of the earth from a thousand little holes. In 1950 Mauna Loa erupted for twenty-three days. That erupting produced the greatest amount of lava in modern history. In 1960 it erupted again. That time it added a kilometer of beach to the island. Because Mauna Loa has erupted so often, it has become the biggest (but not the tallest) mountain in the world. These volcanoes could be dangerous to the population of Hawaii. In fact, Hilo, the second largest city in Hawaii, is built just under Mauna Loa. The volcano could erupt at any time. Most people believe that it will erupt sometime in the next twenty-five years. But the people of Hilo do not seem worried. They live with the danger as part of their lives. According to the passage, what are the two most beautiful things in Hawaii? A. Waves and cities. B. Beaches and language. C. Volcanoes and beaches. D. Volcanoes and people. Answer: C It was reported last week that developers could take photos from Apple mobile and Google Android devices without the phone owners knowing that the images were being taken. In Apple's case, developers can also obtain the location information for each photo. Senator Charles Schumer said in a telephone interview that his office had spoken with officials at both Apple and Google on Monday. "We asked them if they could find a way on their own to prevent Apple from having access to private information," Mr. Schumer said. "They were friendly and open to the idea that this ought to be changed." On Sunday, Mr. Schumer said that he planned to send a letter to the Federal Trade Commission asking the agency to investigate Apple and Google after the privacy concerns came to light. Claudia Bourne Farrell, an F.T.C. spokeswoman, said the agency had received the letter but she could not comment further. "It worries people to think that one's personal photos, address book, and who knows what else can be obtained and even posted online without permission," Mr. Schumer wrote in his letter to the F.T.C. "If the technology exists to open the door to this kind of privacy invasion , then surely technology exists to close it, and that's exactly what must happen." Mr. Schumer said if Apple and Google could not come to an agreement to fix the problem, then he would be forced to take the issue further. He said other companies had been willing to work with his office to fix issues. "I'm optimistic that we can get this changed without any regulation," he said. "If it's not changed, then we'll turn to the F.T.C., and if that doesn't work then we'llconsider legislative approach." The F.T.C. has warned companies to try to be more vigilant in their efforts to protect consumers when it comes to privacy. If the privacy concerns can't be solved with the help of the F.T.C., _ . A. The senators will turn to legislation. B. The companies will be closed. C. The companies will be fined. D. The senators will force the companies not to invade privacy. Answer: A McGill Comedy Club Important meetings today. Discussion on putting on Blazing Saddles. Union room 302, 3-4pm. New members (both actors and non-actors, living and dead) are welcome. History Students' Association Prof. Michael Cross of Dalhouseie University will be speaking on "Unskilled Labor on Rivers and Canals in Upper Canada, 1820-1850: The beginning of Class Struggle" at 10am. in Peacock 230. Design Mirror Sale All types and sizes of design mirrors priced to please. Sale today in Union room 108. McGill Teaching Assistants' Association A general meeting, for all the Tas will be held at 4pm. in peacock 116. Women's Union Important general meeting at 6pm. Union room 423. Speaker on "Importance of Deciding Basic Goals of the Women's Union." Everyone ----old, new and those interviewed, please attend. Film Society Last meeting of the term for all members. All managers are required to be present at 6pm. sharp, Union room 434. Canadian University Students Overseas CUSO presents "Guess Who's Coming to Breakfast" at 7pm. newman Centre, 3848 Peel. Find out about CUSO here and overseas. Everyone welcome. Where can you probably find this text? A. In a school magazine. B. In a national paper. C. In a guide book. D. In a university daily newspaper. Answer: D When the weather is beautiful, it can be hard to resist spending time outdoors. Fortunately, the Garden State has plenty of outdoor spaces to offer. These public parks all have unique qualities that make them stand out among the rest. Boundary Creek Natural Resource Area Boundary Creek is a 34 acre park designed for quiet nature study. Families can use the grassy open space, complete with picnic tables near the parking lot for picnics. A special feature is the observation boardwalks for people of all heights to watch the animals without being noticed. Challenge Grove Park Challenge Park is not a challenge for children with special needs. Both playgrounds at the park are wheelchair accessible and the newest playground, Build Jake's Place, was built specifically for children of all abilities. The 17-acre park also includes a basketball court. ball park and covered picnic area with bathrooms. There is a paved path throughout the park. Laurel Acres Probably the most popular park due to how full the parking lot always seems to be is Laurel Acres. Fortunately, the park is big enough that the parking is only thing that ever seems full. For children, there are three playgrounds to choose from, one of which is for smaller children. The huge hill is great for rolling or sledding down. Children also enjoy watching[the ducks and geese in and around the pond. The park includes a picnic area with covered pavilion( ). Which park is most suitable for a child with disabilities? A. Boundary Creek Natural Resource Area. B. Challenge Grove Park. C. Build Jake's Place. D. Laurel Acres. Answer: B During the day we work and play,and at night we sleep. Our body rests when we sleep. In the morning we are ready to work and play again. Our body grows most when we are asleep. Children who are tired usually need sleep. We can get better at our lessons after having plenty of rest. Boys and girls who are eight or nine years old need ten hours of sleep every night. Our body needs plenty of air when we are asleep. If we do not get enough fresh air, we will feel tired when we wake up. While in bed we must not cover our head,our lungs need to get enough fresh air. If we open our windows at night,we can have plenty of fresh air. Cool air is better than warm air. Too little sleep makes us _ . A. tired B. hungry C. happy D. angry Answer: A
One day Marilla said, "Anne, your new teacher, Miss Stacy, spoke to me yesterday. She says you must study for the examinations for Queen's College in two years' time. Then if you do well, you can study at Queen's in Charlottetown for a year, and after that you'll be a teacher!" "That doesn't matter, Anne. When Matthew and I adopted you three years ago, we decided to look after you as well as we could. Of course we'll pay for you to study."So in the afternoons Anne and some of her friends stayed late at school, and Miss Stacy helped them with the special examination work. Diana didn't want to go to Queen's, so she went home early, but Gilbert stayed. He and Anne still never spoke and everybody knew that they were enemies, because they both wanted to be first in the examination. Secretly, Anne was sorry that she and Gilbert weren't friends, but it was too late now. For two years, Anne studied hard at school. She enjoyed learning, and Miss Stacy was pleased with her. But she didn't study all the time. In the evenings and at weekends she visited her friends, or walked through the fields with Diana, or sat talking to Matthew. "Your Anne is a big girl now. She's taller than you," Rachel Lynde told Marilla one day. "You're right, Rachel!" said Marilla in surprise. "And she's a very good girl now, isn't she? She doesn't get into trouble these days. I'm sure she helps you a lot with the housework, Marilla." "Yes, I don't know what I'd do without her," said Marilla, smiling. "And look at her! Those beautiful grey eyes, and that red-brown hair! You know, Marilla, I thought you and Matthew made a mistake when you adopted her. But now I see I was wrong. You've looked after her very well." "Well, thank you, Rachel," replied Marilla, pleased. That evening, when Matthew came into the kitchen, he saw that his sister was crying. "What's the matter?" he asked, surprised. "You haven't cried since... well, I can't remember when." "It's just... well, I was thinking about Anne," said Marilla. "I'll...I'll miss her when she goes away." "When she goes to Queen's, you mean? Yes, but she can come home at weekends, on the train." "I'll still miss her," said Marilla sadly." In June the Avonlea boys and girls had to go to Charlottetown to take their examinations. "Oh, I do hope that I've done well," Anne told Diana when she arrived back at Green Gables. "The examinations were very difficult. And I've got to wait for three weeks before I know! Three weeks! I'll die!" Anne wanted to do better than Gilbert. But she also wanted to do well for Matthew and Marilla. That was very important to her. Diana was the first to hear the news, she ran into the kitchen at Green Gables and shouted, "Look, Anne! It's in Father's newspaper! You're first... with Gilbert... out of all the students on the island! Oh, how wonderful!" Anne took the paper with shaking hands, and saw her name, at the top of the list of two hundred. She could not speak. "Well, now, I knew it," said Matthew with a warm smile. "You've done well, I must say, Anne," said Marilla, who was secretly very pleased. For the next three weeks Anne and Marilla were very busy. Anne needs new dresses to take to Charlottetown. Which of the following statements is true? A To be a teacher was one of Annes' dreams. B Both Anne and Diana studied hard for the special examination. C Matthew and Marilla were Anne's parents. D Anne was adopted by Matthew and Marilla. Answer: D Tens of thousands of ancient pictures carved into the rocks at one of France's most important tourist sites are being gradually destroyed. Scientists and researchers fear that the 36,000 drawings on rocks in Mont Bego in the French Alps are being damaged so rapidly that they will not survive for future generations. The mountain, believed to have once been a site for prayer, is scattered with 4,000-year-old drawings cut into bare rock. They include pictures of cows with horns, cultivated fields and various gods and goddesses. But as the popularity of the site increases, the pictures are being ruined by thoughtless graffiti . Jean Clottes is the chairman of the International Committee on Rock Art. He says, "People think that because the pictures have been there so long they will always continue to be there. But if the damage continues at this rate there will be nothing left in 50 years." He describes seeing tourists stamping on the drawings, wearing away the rock and definition of the artwork as they do so. Some visitors, he says, even cut off parts to take home as souvenirs. "When people think they can't take a good enough photograph, they rub the drawings to get a clearer picture," he said. "The drawings are polished by the weather, and if the sun is shining and the visitors can't see them properly they simply rub them to make them look fresher." Other researchers describe how people arrive carrying long sticks with sharp ends to scratch their own drawings, or even their names, in the rocks. But experts are divided over the best way to preserve the drawings. Henry de Lumley, director of the Museum of Natural History in Paris, believes that the only way to save the site is to turn the whole mountain into a "no-go" area, preventing the public from going there except on guided tours. Otherwise, he says, not only will the site be completely destroyed but important research work will be reduced. Clottes disagrees, "The measure suggested by Henry de Lumley is the most severe, and while it is the most effective, it is also certain to bring about protests from people who live there," he said. "The site was classified as a historic monument years ago by the Ministry of Culture, and we must do as much as possible to save what is there." David Lavergne, the regional architect, also wants to avoid closing the site. "Henry de Lumley's idea isn't ideal," he said. "Our department feels that the best solution is to let people look at the site, but because the area is very big it is difficult to prevent visitors from damaging it. I would prefer that everyone was able to look at it, but the main problem is money. We do not have the funds to employ the necessary number of guards. We may have to consider charging a fee. It doesn't seem to be possible to get the government support." In Nice, Annie Echassoux, who also worked on researching the site, is alarmed that as the mountain becomes easier to reach -- tourists can now avoid the three-and-a-half-hour walk by hiring vehicles -- the damage will increase rapidly. She thinks that the only solution is to rope off the area and provide guides. "You can't say the plan can't go ahead because there is no money," she said. "That is not good enough. Money must be provided because the Ministry of Culture has classified this area as a historic site. If we don't take steps, we will be responsible for losing the drawings for the next generation." According to Jean Clottes, some of the visitors to the area have _ . A helped to clean the drawings B taken bits of the rock home C been unable to take photographs D misunderstood what the pictures mean Answer: B The next generation of smart phone could combine the date from its gyroscopes with a built-in compass to allow you to track your indoor movements even without GPS. Research described it in the international Journal of Innovative Computing and Applications by Shahid Ayub of Lancaster University, and his colleagues there and at HW Communications, suggests that the embedded inertial sensors in many smart phones have added the facility to be used for localization and tracking applications. The primary benefit of using smart phones is that no additional infrastructure would need to be installed for monitoring personnel movements in a wide variety of situations not least staff, equipment and inventory movements in warehouse facilities, shopping malls and factories. In contrast, other technology being proposed would require new equipment,such as RFID technologies. However, smart phones do not yet have the ability to pinpoint their location without recourse to the GPS system, which is not accessible indoors and has the added disadvantage of using up battery power very quickly even if it could be used. Inertial navigation only provides the necessary information to a specified starting point the team says. This is useful for anyone with a non-GPS smart phone who wishes to track the route they take when walking or jogging if they specify their starting point. The team suggests that pedestrians indoors could be positioned using a combination of the smart phone accelerometer and an built-in digital compass, something that will become available in future smart phones. They have now investigated the potential of three different smart phone placement modes: idle, hand held and listening, which could be used with pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) techniques to allow users to record the path they follow or for various kinds of workplace or other monitoring requirements. "The technique could be used in underground tube stations, airports , train stations where there is no infrastructure installed for tracking or navigation," Ayub explains, "It can also be used for location-based service applications. In big shopping malls it becomes easier to navigate to a target shop or meeting place, while in large offices and across industry it could be used to track employees and control movements of workers in restricted areas." We can learn from the passage that the recent studies of smart phones _ . A were conducted by Shahid Ayub alone B were supported by GPS C have no connection with everyday needs D can be applied to underground tube stations Answer: D The American Relay for Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or an open place and take turns in walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, it's an overnight event of up to 24 hours in length. History of Relay for Life: Relay began in 1985 when Dr. Klatt, a surgeon in Tacoma, Washington, ran and walked around a track for 24 hours to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Since then, Relay has grown from a single man's passion for fighting cancer into the world's largest movement to end the disease. Each year, more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities in the United States, along with additional communities in 19 other countries, gather to take part in this global event and raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer. Requirements for Relay for Life: Anyone can participate in Relay for Life. Friends, families, neighbors, classmates, sports teams, etc., can form their own teams. No matter who you are, there's a place for you at Relay. The only requirement to participate in Relay for Life is the $10 registration/commitment fee per person. After that, anything you can raise through individual, team, or online fundraising is accepted. It is recommended that each participant sets a personal goal to raise $100. If you raise more, that's even better. Even if you do not raise $100, you are still welcome to participate. If you want to be part of Relay, you can start a team or join an existing team online. You can also make an online donation. By supporting Relay, you help the American Cancer Society save lives, and that helps us move closer to our ultimate goal of a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Online Help: Please check our Online Help&FAQ page for answers to commonly asked questions about online fundraising and about Bark For Life. Local Help: If you have questions that are not answered by the Online Help&FAQ page, or if you would like assistance from your local event representative, feel free to contact Jill Tetherow at (402) 310-2498, or jill.tetherow@cancer.org. Cancer Information&Help: For cancer information and support at any time, visit cancer.org or call 18002272345 to speak to one of our highly trained cancer information specialists. They can answer questions about all things related to cancer -- treatment, insurance, pain, nutrition, and many more. What is the author's purpose of writing this passage? A To call on people to take active part in Relay for Life. B To introduce the origin and development of Relay for Life. C To stress the importance of Relay for Life in fighting cancer. D To explain why Relay for Life is popular with people worldwide. Answer: A Few in the west seemed to notice when the International Olympic Committee(IOC) decided to award the 2014 Winter Games to the Russian town of Sochi. Yet this choice if full of geopolitical meaning. President Vladimir Putin flew to Guatemala to address IOC delegates before they voted, and surprised them by speaking in French and - for the first time ever in public - English. Later he declared that Sochi's victory was "not only a recognition of Russia's achievements in sports but also an assessment of our country". Sochi, located between the Caucasus and the Black Sea, has poor roads, one old resort and out-of-date facilities. In the next five years it will be transformed by a burst of constructions unprecedented in the history of Russia. Winning the Olympic bid has given Russian politicians a focus, a $ 12 billion project they can use to showcase their power and that of their country. Several have already announced bid investments in Sochi. Olympic planners will have to assure that the Sochi project dose not collapse under the weight of corruption , which Russian officials are famous for. With many eyes watching, they will also have to green landscape around Sochi, where some of Europe's last wild bears roar in primitive mountain forests, with more care for the environment than Russia has traditionally shown. Sochi also sits on the edge of a region that has been boiling with ethnic and political tensions since the collapse of the Soviet Union. In past centuries it was ruled by both Georgia and Abkhazia, which is now a breakaway region of Georgia. Russia backs the rebel regime in Abkhazia, but as the Olympics approach, it may feel it needs to be careful. The president of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili, might have bitterly protested the Olympic Committee's decision to award the Winter Games to a country that actively supports rebels within Georgia. Instead he was wise enough to realize that this event could push Russia toward compromise solutions in Abkhazia and perhaps even in Ossetia, Nagorno Karabakh and Chechnya. Although Sochi has poor transportation and unsatisfying facilities, holding the 1014 Winter Olympic Games there obviously gives it a chance _ . A to ask the IOC for more money B to break away from Georgia C to challenge the world D to develop Answer: D
So much to do, so little time.So much information, so little time to read.In this age there is more information than ever before.There is not enough time to read everything we want to read.However, you can take in and understand more information in shorter time through speed-reading.This article will not make you read 3,000 words per minute, but it will show you how to increase your speed greatly.You will also learn the basic techniques of speed reading, along with the dos and don'ts of speed-reading. When you first learned to read, you would say the word out loud and sound it out.Then you might whisper the word because people can become annoyed when you read aloud.The stage you are now at is saying the word in your head.Most people tend to read this way.Saying the word in your head will cut your reading speed tremendously . How do you calculate your reading speed? The speed is measured by how many words per minute you can read.Get some reading material, preferably a book.Find out how many words are on the page.Time yourself one minute.Start your timer and start reading.When the timer sounds, stop at once.If you counted 500 words on the page and you read half of the page, then you are probably reading at 250 words per minute. The first thing about speed-reading is looking at the word and recognizing it.Don't say the word in your mind, just look at it and recognize its appearance.Later you will recognize groups of four words or more to increase your speed.This is the first and most important step in speed-reading. The next step is technique.As with any other skill, speed-reading requires technique.You should first be sitting up straight with your book on a horizontal surface, such as a table or desk.Next, should be able to see the entire page.This is necessary if you want to recognize clumps of words.Lastly, _ .It's hard to read with a lot of noise.Find a quiet place to read.This will help your understanding of the text.You need something to guide your eyes while reading.Then right, you should use your hand.Remember when you were little, you would read using your finger.That is a great technique, only now you're using your hand to underline each line.Move your finger smoothly across page.No need to go rush, start out slow.Keep your eyes focused on words as you recognize them while using your hand as a guide.This will increase your speed. The third step is practice.Practice makes perfect.Set time intervals.Read using different techniques, but make sure you understand what you're reading. Which of the following statements is true according to the text? A Now there is limited information than ever before. B Now conditions ask people to use less time to know more information. C Now people can read what they like. D The less you read, the more time you will spend. Answer: B. Now conditions ask people to use less time to know more information. "What's in a name?" According to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, there is not too much. "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." But Shakespeare may have been wrong. In most cultures, names matter a great deal. Americans choose names for their children with care. Parents usually think about the impression a name gives, not its meaning. Most Americans would consider a "Jennifer" more attractive than a "Bertha", for example. The last name, or, surname, must also be considered when choosing a first and middle name. A name like Lester Chester Hester would sound poetic, but odd. Parents would avoid names that remind them of people they don't like. On the other hand, people might name their children after a respected elderly or even a famous person. The popularity of certain names can change with each new generation. Names that were once common, like Fanny or Elmer, sound old-fashioned today. But other names---like John and David, Mary and Sarah---have stood the test of time and continue to be favorites. People in America don't always call their friends and s by their given names. Instead, they often use nicknames. Sometimes nicknames are short forms of a longer name. For instance, a girl named Elizabeth may be called Lisa, Beth or Betsy. As children grow up, they may decide for themselves which nickname they wish to be called. Some people just go by the initials of their first and middle names, like B.J. or R.C. And of course, people may call their children or their sweethearts other special nicknames. Often they have a "sweet" flavor, like Honey or Sugar. What's in a name? A word of significance. So if you're choosing an English name for yourself, take care to choose a good one. A made-up name could sound strange to native English speakers. And a translation of your Chinese name may not make an appropriate name, either. But a good name can leave a positive and lasting impression. As an American politician once said, "In real life, unlike in Shakespeare, the sweetness of the rose depends upon the name it bears." What is the main idea of this passage? A Names have great significance to Americans. B Names change when time goes by. C Chinese people should be careful when choosing their English names. D Roses smell sweet by any other name. Answer: D. Roses smell sweet by any other name. The earth is dying before us yet we sit and watch. If the TV or the game system breaks, we run off to the stores to get it fixed immediately no matter what the cost. Why aren't we willing to fix our earth? Are our televisions and game systems more important to us than where we live? Where shall we continue to live, until the end of time? The earth is our home and cannot be replaced. We must take care of it. We have come up with so much technology that limits us instead of helping us. Take that game system we run to repair. What does it do? It occupies kids' time! The earth has already given kids plenty of entertainment in the forms of fields and hills, forests and plains, water and land. However, instead of using what the earth has given us, and helping kids by giving them exercise as they run around, we decide to ruin kids' minds with game systems that glue them to the screen for hours, and make them ignore their homework and chores. We have polluted this earth by making these things which do not even help in any way! We have already messed up this world, we have ruined the air, water, and animals that it has so willingly provided for us. We need to stop this destruction of life and bring back the world we had before. It will not be easy, but everybody can help! What about something as simple as turning the lights off when you leave a room? Recycling what can be recycled? Picking up litter? Donating money to an environmental organization? None of these things are very hard. We can't just always say, "Oh, the earth is a mess. Ah, well, those big companies that are polluting so much can stop and fix it." Instead, we need to help out. It's not only those big companies; it's everyday things that we do too that are ruining the earth. So stop and think about what you can do to make a difference to our world! We can clearly feel that the author wrote this passage with deep _ A anger B emotion C sadness D regret Answer: B. emotion A seeing eye dog is able to do this better than his master: A open a door B speak out loud C talk to friends D observe visually Answer: D. observe visually A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed,the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible?" He then stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible. Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and a wonderful family, but realizing his father was very old, he thought perhaps he should go to see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make the arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things. When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he was reading, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words. "PAID IN FULL". How many times do we miss blessings because they are not packaged as we expected? Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. Sometimes we don't realize the good fortune we have or we could have because we expect "the packaging" to be different. What may appear as bad fortune may in fact be the door that is just waiting to be opened. According to the passage we can infer that _ . A the author's father was once very rich. B the author's father didn't love him. C the author's father had not enough money to buy a run car. D the author's thought was wildly unrealistic. Answer: A. the author's father was once very rich.
Life in Britain Homes and families Many British people live in Houses, not apartments. Most houses have gardens. Daily life Most office workers start work at about nine in the morning, and finish at about five or six in the afternoon. Most people don't go home for lunch, and they just have a quick meal. School life Children start school at about nine am, and finish at about three thirty pm. Most children have lunch at school. All children go to school when they are four or five years old, and leave when they are sixteen or seventeen. Shops Most shops open at about nine am and close at about six pm. Usually, they don't close for lunch. Most office workers and school children don't have lunch _ . One day, Susie was unhappy when she came home from school. "What's the matter, my dear?" asked her mother, drawing her to her side and smiling. "All our class must hand in compositions tomorrow. We must write 12 lines at least. But I can never write one. I'll have to go to school without a composition, for I won't copy one from a book, or ask you or papa to write one for me." "That's right," said her mother. "You'll be happier with a poor composition, if it's your own, than with a fine one written by somebody else. But cheer up. Run into the garden and play. I'll call you in half an hour. Don't think about your composition now. Just have a good time." It seemed just a few minutes to Susie before she heard her mother calling her. She went into the house immediately -- her hands full of sweet flowers, and her face red with exercise. Then her mother asked her to sit by the window with a nice piece of paper and a pencil, and write something about what she could see. "Never mind your composition; do this to please me, and we'll talk about that later." Although Susie thought her mother's request was strange, she knew she always had a good reason for everything she did. So she did as her mother requested. As she looked out, she first saw the western sky and some bright, sunset clouds. "Oh, mother, what a sunset!" "Don't talk. Just write." The pencil began moving rapidly across the paper. She wrote about the sunset clouds, the look of the distant hills, the streets, the river, the garden with its flowers, and the birds flying past the window. She forgot all about the terrible composition! Just as she had reached the bottom of the page, her mother came in and said with a smile, "Well, Susie, how does that composition come on?" "Composition! You told me not to think about it, and I've never thought of it once. I've had such a nice time writing about what I could see from the window." Mrs. Smith took the paper and read what Susie had written. She said, "There, Susie, that's a very nice composition, really." "A composition! Is that a composition?" Susie asked in surprise. "Yes, my dear, and a very good one, too, if we find a title for it," replied her mother. Then she added, "I'm sure it will please your teacher, as it does me. You see, it's easy enough to write a composition if you have anything interesting to write about." From the story we can know Susie's mother _ . When I was nine years old I lived in a small town. I found an ad for selling greeting cards in the back of a children's magazine. I thought to myself I could do this. I begged my mother to let me send for the kit . Two weeks later the kit arrived. The next three hours later, I returned home with no card and a pocket full of money shouting, "Mama, all the people couldn't wait to buy my cards!" A salesperson was born. When I was twelve years old, my father took me to see Zig Ziegler. I remember sitting in the dark hall listening to Mr. Ziegler raise everyone's spirits up to ceiling. I left there feeling like I could do anything. When we got to the car, I turned to my father and said, "Dad, I want to make people feel like that." My father asked me what I meant. "I want to be a motivational speaker just like Mr. Ziegler," I replied. A dream was born. Recently, I began pursuing my dream of motivating(inspire) others. I realized that everything I had accomplished -- the graduate degree, the successful sales career, speaking appointments, training and managing for a major fortune 100 company as a senior manager-- had prepared me for this moment. I told my boss who was a great leader I would leave the company though I might not reach such a height in career. He told me to proceed and he believed I would succeed. Having made that decision, I was immediately tested. One week after I gave notice, my husband was laid off from his job. We had recently bought a new home and needed both incomes to make the monthly mortgage payment and now we were done to no income. I even planned to turn back to my former company, knowing they wanted me to stay but I was certain that if I went back, I would never leave. I decided I still wanted to move forward rather than end up with a mouth full of "if onlys" later on. A motivational speaker was born. When I held fast to my dream, even during the tough times, the miracles really began to happen. In a short time period my husband found a better job. We didn't miss a mortgage payment. And I was able to book several speaking appointments with new clients . I discovered the incredible power of dreams. I loved my old job, my workmates and the company I left, but it was time to get on with my dream. To celebrate my success I had a local artist paint my new office as a garden. At the top of one wall she marked, "The world always makes way for the dreamer." When did the author decide to become a motivational speaker? The Legend of Bruce Lee was a very popular TV play. The surprising life of Brue Lee came to the small screen in the play. The play followed the 32 vears of Bruce Lee's life, from his hard young age to his experience in the U.S.A. and his movie-making life. Lee was born in San Francisco, California, and grew up in Hong Kong. He loved his motherland China and Chinese kung fu. His Hong Kong and Hollywood films were quite different from the traditional kung fu films. He started a new kung fu film age. Because of his films, the west began to show great interest in Chinese culture. He affected Chinese kung fu and Chinese kung fu films in Hong Kong and the rest of the world. Lee showed Chinese national pride( )in his movies. According to this article, we know young Bruce _ . It was late on a snowing night. Doctor Van was driving fast to the hospital to do an operation on a badly hurt person. Minutes later he came to a red traffic light and had to stop to wait. A man suddenly opened the door of the car and got in. "Drive on, " shouted the man, "Just do what I've told you to. " The man was strong and tall while Doctor Van was not. "But I'm a doctor, " Van tried to tell him what he was going to do. "I'm on my way to the hospital to save..." "Stop talking and drive faster, as fast as you can!" the man stopped Van and Van had to do so. Only a few minutes had passed when the man made Van stop his car again and drove him off, and he himself drove away very quickly. Van stood in the snow for a moment and then walked around to look for a taxi. Another half an hour had passed when Van got out of the taxi and ran into the hospital. But it was too late and nothing could be done. The man who had taken Van's car was standing by the person all the time. He was so sad! Only then did Van know that the man was the father of that badly hurt person! What was the weather like that night?
Question: Do You Want To Change the Future of Education? Our goal is to give a world-class education to everyone, everywhere, regardless of gender, income or social status. Today, edx.org, a not-for-profit website, provides hundreds of thousands of people from around the globe with access to free education .We offer amazing quality classes by the best professors from the best schools. We enable our members to find out a new passion that will transform their lives and their communities. Around the world from coast to coast, in over 192 countries, people are making the decision to take one or several of our courses. As we continue to grow our operations, we are looking for talented passionate people with great ideas to join the edX team. We aim to create an environment that is supportive ,diverse, and as fun as our brand.If you're hardworking and ready to contribute to an unparalleled member experience for our community, we really want you to apply. As part of the edX team, you'll receive: Competitive compensation Generous benefits package Free lunch every day A great workplace where everyone cares and wants to change the world While we appreciate every applicant's interest, only those under consideration will be contacted .We regret that phone calls will not be accepted. We promise that every applicant will be treated fairly. All positions are located in our Cambridge offices. What's the aim of the text? A. To give an introduction to edX. B. To encourage people to join edX. C. To predict the future of education. D. To advise us to choose quality education. Answer: B Question: When ice cream is left out of a freezer, the ice cream changes from a ___. A. solid to a gas B. gas to a liquid C. solid to a liquid D. liquid to a gas Answer: C Question: A plant's roots break down rocks as the roots do what? A. decay B. grow old C. develop D. dcerease Answer: C Question: Friendship and friends continue to be the centre of our life. The relationship that we share with our friends is grounded in mutual care as our friends help us in _ our personalities as well. Even in this age of online social networking and e-cards, the need of keeping the network of friends, whether online or offline remains a primary concern for people. We may not completely understand what makes a friend but we all want to have a good number of friends around us. The first step to make friends with someone is to make them like you. If they don't like you in the first place, it is unlikely that they'll be eager to become your friends. To let someone know that you are specially interested in them, simple gestures like a little smile and calling them by their names can lay the basic foundation. To make the other person feel important to you, you need to be a good listener and encourage the other person to talk. Give your honest and sincere opinion but do not directly criticize or make fun of him or her. The second step of making someone your friend is to develop a mutual understanding. You need to share his or her experiences and it is necessary for you to develop a habit to see things from the other person's point of view. The third or final step towards friendship is to show your unconditional support and encouragement towards your friend. Moreover, you also need to be very clear about your expectations from your friend. If what you expect from the person you want to make friends with matches with what that person can give, the developing friendship between you and your friend is sure to be successful. If you want to make friends with someone, you can _ . A. show your interest with a smile to him or her B. make him or her feel more important than you C. never expect him or her to support you D. have your own ways of seeing things Answer: A Question: You may picture firefighters holding a hose outside of a burning building, but the Golden Eagles Hotshots don't fight fires quite that way. When they go into action, you may not even see a fire truck. The Hotshots are firefighters who battle fires in wildness areas. But don't think you'll only find them in their home state California. Wherever there is a national wildfire emergency, the Golden Eagles Hotshots could be there. But these firefighters don't work the same way as firefighters in a big city. They work in areas where there are a large number of trees, bushes, and grass. They climb up and down steep hills to clear brush and burnable debris . They sometimes use water, but they often fight fire with fire! They do that by lighting what are called "backfires," which are small, controlled fires that burn up fuel in the path of large wildfires. That way, when the wildfire gets there, it has nothing to burn and nowhere to go, because all the burnable fuel has already gone up in smoke. The Hotshots also clear away fuel using old-fashioned hard work. For example, they use a saw to cut away trees and heavy brush that could catch fire. Of course there are times when the Golden Eagles Hotshots do have trucks to supply water to the fires. But the water is limited, and these guys have to rely on hard work more than anything. Physical fitness is very important. They have to be in great physical shape to handle steep hills and difficult terrain while carrying a 60-pound pack. The Golden Eagles Hotshots definitely work hard for their pay. But thanks to their efforts, many lives have been saved, many houses have not burned, and countless trees are still standing. 70. What is the author's attitude towards the Golden Eagles Hotshots? A. Appreciative B. Doubtful C. Worried D. Critical Answer: A
Mrs Weeks was reading a newspaper story to her class. The story said: Were you ever in a hospital when you were small? How did you feel? The doctors in Children's Hospital are asking for money for children's toys. Some children in the hospital must stay in bed for many weeks. Toys are needed to keep these sick children happy and quiet. Money for them can be sent to the hospital. After Mrs. Weeks read the story, she said,"This story gave me an idea." "You want us to bring some money for the toys.""We could bring some of our own toys for the children in the hospital, "said the boys and girls one after another. "Well, your ideas would be nice, "Mrs. Weeks said,"but mine is different." Mrs. Weeks smiled. "Do you think you could make toys?" she asked. "Yes, yes," the whole class answered. "Great! Let's begin to make toys tomorrow," said Mrs. Weeks. On Saturday afternoon, Mrs. Weeks took the children to the hospital with the toys made by her students. The children in the hospital felt very happy to see the toys. The children in the class felt happy, too. A few days later, Mrs. Weeks read another newspaper story to the class: Some school pupils brought toys to Children's Hospital last week. The toys were made by the pupils of Grade Three in Green Street School. The doctors said, "We have never had so many wonderful toys. Our children are very happy with them. They say, 'THANK YOU, GRADE THREE'" Doctors in Children's Hospital didn't have _ to keep the children happy and quiet. enough toys Today the word friendship has been used so often that it has lost its meaning. Some jokingly or seriously say that friends are made to be used. It makes me very sad. True friendship doesn't mean that when you need your friend's help,you will treat him to dinner,and when you have to protect yourself,you will put your friends in a difficult situation. In fact,true friendship is the communication and understanding of the hearts . True friendship is like water. Compared wish decent wine,water is tasteless,but is of great help when we are thirsty. True friends don't need to be with each other every day,but are connected in heart every minute. True friendship is like medicine. Though it is bitter,it cures your illness. True friends give you some suggestions even if they know you would not take. They criticize you when others have a good word for you,not because of envy but worrying that you may lose your cool head. True friendship has nothing to do with fame,power or money. True friends would often watch you silently far away when you are _ ,but come to you whenever you need their help. You're not his stepping-stone to success,but are his crutch to live through difficulties. True friends make you complete. Many persons go along with you through your life-your parents,your spouse,and your children,who take care of you and make your life happy. However,you still need someone who understands your thoughts and souls. Without them,you are likely to be unhealthy in spirit. True friends stay in your heart,rather than at your side;they know you more than yourself,and try to better you. Once you have found such a true friend,do treasure him. If your true friend disappears,how can you make the sound of your heart understood? The writer speaks of water because _ . it is important to our life I work in a nursing home and my job is to take care of the elderly. This year, a very sweet old lady that I cared for,Alice, had gone through a difficult time .She got _ and so she had been in the hospital twice .In November I was finally able to get her back to her"home". Alice had thought her daughter was coming to visit her on Christmas day and that they were going to have the whole family together like the old days. When she finally realized that that happy moment was not going to happen,she was very sad.Knowing that her daughter was coming after Christmas was not enough to make her feel happy,I hated the idea of her being alone on the holiday! On Christmas Eve,I gave her a surprise by asking if she could like to go to a candlelight service at church that night Instead of taking her to my church,I took her to her old neighborhood church where all her friends were. We got there early and I got her a seat where her friends could see her as they came in.Then soon some of her friends came to the church and they rushed over to greet her and sit with her. The candlelight service was beautiful and Alice got a lot of love from her old and new friends there. The truth of the story is that I am the one who got the best gift: the smile on Alice's face What is the best title for this passage? A special candlelight Christmas Eve At the age of 16, Clara Barton was advised to become a teacher since she was quite shy. She taught in Massachusetts for ten years, and was invited to Bordentown, New Jersey to teach in a school. She saw that these communities needed _ education for their citizens, and she took action by creating a free school, one of the first in her state. But later, ignoring her, officials named a male instead as the head teacher. Disappointed, she left her job and moved to Washington D.C., becoming the first woman employed by the US Patent Office. Clara Barton was forever changed by her experience with the army in the Civil War. She saw doctors use leaves when dealing with injuries since they had nothing else. The medical supplies were well behind the army, who were moving faster than their medical supply lines. She brought in a truck of medical supplies that she collected personally some years ago. Miss Barton continued to work on the battlefields throughout the war. She helped in the identification of 13,000 dead Union soldiers. This non-stop work made her fully exhausted, and upon recommendation by her physicians, she traveled to Europe where she recovered energy and enriched herself. While in Europe, and still in poor health, Miss Barton was moved by the hardship on people brought about by the France-Prussia war. She helped in their relief effort, which encouraged her to create the Red Cross, which served the whole army and common people under a neutral flag. Clara Barton returned to America and then began the establishment of the American Red Cross. The US government did not think there would ever be another war after the Civil War. But she convinced them that the Red Cross would be valuable to serve in times of natural disasters as well. This was her lasting legacy , an agency that still provides aid to all people today. The US government agreed to establish the Red Cross because Clara Barton _ . explained it would help people in peacetime as well. Hello, everyone! My name is Steve. Lunchtime is my favorite time. I love the school lunch. Many students don't like the school lunch. They take their own lunch to school. Their mothers may make hamburgers and salad for them for lunch. Some students take leftovers for lunch. But I don't! The lunch is very _ . For only $1.3, I can eat a lot of good and healthy food. Then I take my food to my lunch table and sit with my friends. Boys don't sit with girls. We eat lunch and we like to talk about sports and TV shows . We also talk about school life : our favorite subjects, our favorite teachers and our favorite days. After our lunch, we usually play games. At school, I love lunchtime. For me it is the best time of my day! They don't talk about _ . favourite girls
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 The purpose of writing this passage is to _ . Answer: Much has been written about body language during a job interview. Experts from across many fields are full of advice on just how to present your best performance in an interview using conscious body language choices. While many of these experts say there is a "secret" system for making the most of an interview, the reality is that most of them focus on a few general types of behavior that have the greatest effect during a job interview. Entering the interview location -- Your walk should be active and confident. Keep your shoulders straight, head up, and make eye contact with the people around you. Maintain an active facial expression and be confident when shaking hands and greeting people to whom you are introduced. During the interview -- Sit in a straight and attentive posture. Never let your shoulders drop or your head hang down, but rather keep your head up and make eye contact with the interviewers. Don't play with any papers or notes you have in front of you, and don't lean your arms heavily on the table. Keep your body position open and make eye contact while listening to and answering questions. Leaving the interview location--No matter how you feel about your performance during the interview, carry yourself with confidence till you leave the interview location. Be confident when shaking hands and making eye contact as you say goodbye, and keep your body posture straight as you walk all the way to your car. Remember, the more you make active and confident body language a part of your daily life, the more it becomes a habit that follows you wherever you go. We can learn from the text that the "secret" system mainly refers to _ . Answer: Every man wants his son to be somewhat of a clone, not in features but in footsteps. As he grows you also age, and your ambitions become more unachievable. You begin to realize that your boy, in your footsteps, could probably accomplish what you hoped for. But footsteps can be muddied and they can go off in different directions. My son Jody has hated school since day one in kindergarten. Science projects waited until the last moment. Book reports weren't written until the final threat. I've been a newspaperman all my adult life. My daughter is a university graduate working toward her master's degree in English. But Jody? When he entered the tenth grade he became a "vo-tech" student . They're called "motorheads" by the rest of the student body. When a secretary in my office first called him "motorhead", I was shocked. "Hey, he's a good kid," I wanted to say. "And smart, really." I learned later that motorheads are, indeed, different. They usually have dirty hands and wear dirty work clothes. And they don't often make school honor rolls . But being the parent of a motorhead is itself an experience in education. We who labor in clean shirts in offices don't have the abilities that motorheads have. I began to learn this when I had my car crashed. The cost to repair it was estimated at $800. "Hey, I can fix it," said Jody. I doubted it , but let him go ahead, for I had nothing to lose. My son ,with other motorheads, fixed the car. They got parts from a junkyard, non-toasting toaster have been fixed. Neighbours and co-workers trust their car repair to him. Since that first repair job, a broken air-conditioner, a non-functioning washer and a non-toasting toaster have been fixed. Neighbors and co-workers trust their car repairs to him. These kids are happiest when doing repairs. They joke and laugh and are living in their own relaxed world. And their minds are bright despite their dirty hands and clothes. I have learned a lot from my motorhead: publishers need printers, engineers need mechanics, and architects need builders. Most important, I have learned that fathers don't need clones in footsteps or anywhere else. My son may never make the school honor roll. But he made mine. What can we learn about the author's children? Answer: Most nutrition education isn't very effective. People know that an apple is better than a Snickers bar, but they often eat the Snickers bar anyway. After conducting hundreds of studies on the psychology of how and why we eat, I've seen that it's good to understand nutrition, but it's much better to change your eating environment. Doing so can help you make better choices without even thinking about it. Part 1 We all know children can be stubbornly habitual in what they want to eat. If kids had French fries yesterday, they want them again today. We came up with a simple way to interrupt this default. Instead of asking kids what they want, what if we ask them about someone they admire? We studied this with elementary school-aged children one summer. We treated 22 kids to apple slices or fries at a fast-food restaurant. The first week, 20 of them ordered French fries, and two ordered apple slices. But the next week, we asked, "What would Batman eat: apple slices or French fries?" After they answered for Batman, we asked them what they wanted. This time, the number of kids who ordered apple slices jumped from two to ten-- almost half of them. If you ask yourself before deciding between the salad and the cheesy bacon fries, "What would my role model choose?" you'll be a lot less tempted. Thinking about what a well-liked person would do makes us _ . Part 2 If we knew what a skinny person's kitchen looked like, we could set up our own kitchens in a similar way. Once we got into people's homes, we took pictures of everything: their dishes, sinks, refrigerator shelves, counters, snacks, pet-food dishes, tables, lighting -- even random items held up by magnets on their refrigerators. Then we spent eight months coding these kitchens to see what thin people do differently. We wondered if big kitchens turn us into big people. But it turns out that kitchen size isn't the problem. It's what you see in the kitchen. The average woman who kept potato chips on the counter weighed eight pounds more than her neighbor who didn't. "In sight, in stomach." We eat what we see, not what we don't. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? Answer: Timothy likes to play sports. He spends his time after school playing basketball and baseball. Sometimes Timothy pretends he is a famous baseball pitcher for his favorite team with his friends. He plays with his friends Mandy and Andrew. Timothy also plays pretend when he is alone. He has an imaginary friend named Sean. Sean is an elephant who watches television with Timothy. Mandy likes playing baseball but she also likes to paint. Mandy's favorite class at school is art. She likes making pictures of flowers. Her teacher says she is a good artist. She painted a picture of a tree for her teacher. There were red and yellow leaves on it. It had apples on it. When Andrew goes home after baseball, he likes to eat a snack. He eats carrots and bananas. If he is a good boy his mom, Mrs. Smith, sometimes gives him milk and cookies. Afterwards, Andrew finishes his homework. What does Andrew eat after baseball? Answer:
Many young people in America go to camps when they are out of school during the summer. They are offered a chance to explore different things: nature, sports, music, technology ----even business and economy. One such program for high school students in the Pacific Northwest is called Washington Business Week. The program began in 1975. Officials say forty-five thousand people have attended Washington Business Week. Other states now have similar camps. Washington Business Week describes itself as a way to learn more about how to plan for the future in an ever-changing economy. Students form an executive management team. They lead an imaginary company to financial success. The camp is held at three colleges in Washington State. The high school students live in the college housing. The cost of the camp is almost three hundred dollars, but families can receive financial assistance . Some business camps are free. These are for students from poor areas. The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) is an organization based in New York City that supports such camps. It has programs around the United States and its Web site lists international partners in China, Tanzania and a few other countries. NFTE says it has served more than one hundred thousand young people since 1987. Among other business camps is Camp C.E.O.. C.E.O is an chief executive officer. And this camp is for girls only. Camp C.E.O. is supported by the Girl Scouts of America and takes place for one week each summer. The camp took place last month in Tennessee. The girls worked with successful businesswomen from different industries. The girls learned how to build a business and develop an idea into a product. And, we imagine, they also had some fun. Which of the following is True about NFTE? Answer: One of its aims is to train students to be business managers. On the New York set of the film Hide and Seek, ten-year-old Dakota Fanning spends her time playing a deeply disturbed girl who deals with her mother's suicide by creating an imaginary friend, who may not frighten her family. Today, though, she has the day off. "This week I only worked two days,"says Fanning, sitting in a sofa in her hotel's library, "but I get bored when I'm not working. Especially because it's cold here and I can't do anything, you know? So, I've been knitting --- all day, every day."The actress, who's held her own opposite Oscar winners such as Sean Penn and Denzel Washington, recently mastered the fine art of scarves . Though she's about ready to move on to hats, she first plans to make a souvenir scarf for Robert De Niro, who plays her father in the film. "He's the nicest guy you'd ever meet in your entire life,"she says, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I would make him a brown one." Like any other fifth-grader, Fanning spends several hours a day going to school. In addition to her personal trailer --- which is kept well-supplied with hot chocolate packets, lemon Gatorade, and a TV that doesn't always work --- she has another trailer where her teacher, Jan, conducts classes in history, spelling, reading, math, science and health. "We have this big board where we have a calendar ,"Fanning says. "When we were here in January, I wrote the calendar in all blue. February was red, and March was green." On this particular morning, she had a spelling test. "There was a topic for each of the word lists,"she says, sitting on her knees. "This one was flowers --- they were all names like oxygen, carbon dioxide, chrysanthemum ..."Chrysanthemum? "Well, they didn't make me spell that one. They just had me fill in the 'e'. But I can spell it: c-h-r-y-s-a-n-t-h-e-m-u-m." Which of the following is NOT true? Answer: Dakota Fanning is a lonely orphan. "You are going abroad and will live there? Oh, wonderful! You are so lucky." Perhaps your family and friends said similar things to you when you left home. But is it true all the time? Is your life in the new country always wonderful and exciting? Specialists say that it isn't that easy to get used to life in a new culture. "Culture shock" is the term specialists use when talking about the feelings that people have in a new environment. "There are three stages of culture shock," say the specialists. In the first stage, the newcomers like their new environment. Then, when the fresh experience dies, they begin to hate the city, the country, the people, and everything else. In the last stage, the newcomers adapt to their surroundings and finally enjoy their life there. Culture shock arises from many obvious factors. The weather may be unpleasant. The customs may be different. The public service systems such as the telephone, post office, or transportation may be difficult to work out. Even the simplest things become headaches. Still worse, the language may be difficult. Who feels culture shock? Everyone does in this way or that. But culture shock surprises most people. Very often the people having the worst culture shock are those who never had any difficulties in their home countries and were successful in their community. Coming to a new country, these people find they do not have the same established positions. They find themselves without a role, almost without an identity. They have to build a new selfimage. Culture shock leads to a feeling of disorientation . This feeling may be homesickness. When homesick, people feel like staying inside all the time. They want to protect themselves from the strange environment, and create and escape inside their room for a sense of security. This escape does solve the problem of culture shock for the short term, but it does nothing to make the person familiar with the culture. Getting to know the new environment and gaining experience are the long term solutions to the problem of culture shock. According to the passage, the more successful you are at home, _ . Answer: the more problems you may have to face abroad Welcome every morning with a smile. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail. Starting the day right can give good momentum for the rest of the day. Having a power morning is a key factor for a fruitful day. Here are some tips on getting the most out of the morning. Wake up early. In theory, there's no difference in waking up early or late as long as you get the proper amount of sleep. However, there is a psychological advantage when you wake up earlier than the average person and then you'll have more time to do preparation before engaging in the real world. Exercise. Good health is always a benefit with exercise, but studies have also shown that morning exercise helps you to sleep better at nights. Eat breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day. According to the Mayo Clinic, we should choose three from the following four: fruits and vegetables, grains, dairy, and protein. Did you know that you can actually gain weight when you skip breakfast? Take a shower. When you shower, do you do it in the morning or at night? I used to shower in the evenings, but I found that morning showers helped me to be more alert. Prioritize your To-Do list. Leo _ the acronym MIT to mean "most important tasks." Our to-do list might be never ending, but put on top of the list a couple of urgent tasks that will define the day to be a successful one. Check your emails. Only once. Getting a lot of emails can be very distractive. You actually are more productive when you check them only a few times at fixed time of the day. I only do them 2-3 times a day--once in the morning, once at lunch, and one more as it gets toward the end of the day. The purpose for the author to write this passage is to _ . Answer: offer you the best way to start the day There once was a lion who did not roar, but instead he said meow. The lion was sad, because he could not roar like his other lion friends. The lion went to talk to his family. He first went to talk to his brother, but his brother was not home. Then he went to talk to his dad, but his dad was not home either. Luckily, the lion's sister was home. He asked his sister why he thought he could not roar. His sister said they need to go talk to their friend the squirrel. The squirrel lived in a tree with a nice door mat outside. The squirrel said to the lion if he wanted to start to roar instead of meow, then he need to run faster than the other lion's. So the next day, the lion played a game, in which he ran faster than all the other lions. Now, the lion roars and doesn't meow. Instead of roaring what noise did the lion make? Answer: He meowed
Alice was twenty-three years old, and she was a nurse at a big hospital . She was very kind and all of her patients likes her very much . One day she was out shopping. She saw an old woman. The woman was waiting to cross a busy street . Alice wanted to cross the street, too. So she went over to help the woman cross the street. When Alice was near her, she suddenly laughed and said, " Mrs Green ! You were my patient in the hospital last year." Mrs Green was very happy to see her. "I will help you cross the street, Mrs Green," Alice said. "Oh, thank you very much , Alice , " Mrs Green said and stepped forward . "No, no, Mrs Green," Alice said quickly . "Wait! The light is still red." "Oh," Mrs Green answered when she stepped back. "I can easily cross the street by myself when the light is green ." Did her patients like her? Answer: Yes, they liked her very much. A young man was in love with a beautiful girl .One day the girl said to him ,"It is my birthday tomorrow ". "Oh ",said the young man ,"I'll send you roses, and one rose for each year of your life." The same evening he went to the flower shop . As he knew the girl was twenty-two years old, he paid for twenty-two roses and asked the shop assistant to send them to the girl the next day . The assistant of the flower shop knew the young man very well as he often bought flowers in his shop before . When the young man left the shop , the assistant thought ,"The young man is very kind to me .He often comes to buy my flowers . In return I'll send ten more roses." He did so . The next morning thirty-two roses were sent to the girl . When the young man came to see her , she didn't want to speak to him . And he never knew why she was so angry with him . The young girl received the roses _ Answer: on her birthday Technology is the application of knowledge to production. Thanks to modern technology, we have been able to increase greatly the efficiency of our work force. New machines and new methods have helped cut down time and expense while increasing overall output. This has meant more production and a higher standard of living. For most of us in America, modern technology is thought of as the reason why we can have cars and television sets. However, technology has also increased the amount of food available to us, by means of modern farming machinery and animal breeding techniques, and has made our life span longer via medical technology. Will mankind continue to live longer and have a higher quality of life? In large measure, the answer depends on technology and our ability to use it widely. If we keep making progress as we have over the past fifty years, the answer is definitely yes. The advancement of technology depends on research and development, and the latest surveys show that the united States is continuing to put billions of dollars annually into such efforts. So while we are running out of some limited resources, we may well find technological substitutes for many of them through our research programs. Therefore, in the final analysis, the three major factors of production (land, labor and capital) are all influenced by technology. When we need new skills or techniques in medicine, people will start developing new technology to meet those needs. As equipment proves to be slow or inefficient, new machines will be invented. Technology responds to our needs in helping us improve our standard of living. According to the passage, people can live a long life with the help of _ . Answer: medical technology The American Community Survey(ACS) is an outgoing survey designed to provide communities a fresh look on how they are changing, which provides data every year-- giving communities the current information they need to plan investments and service. The ACS collects information such as age, race, income, home value, and other important data. Information about individuals will remain confidential because participating in the American Community Survey is safe. Your address was selected as a part of a sample and represents thousands of other households like yours. We randomly select about 3 million addresses each year to participate in the survey. Your answers are important. As part of a sample, you represent many people. Find out how each question helps your community, your state, and the federal government in questions in the form and why we ask. The information that the Census Bureau collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion dollars of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services. Your answer help state and local leaders make decisions about programs and investments such as new highway, schools, hospitals, job training, community centers and emergency services. Do you have questions about the American Community Survey? Have you lost the form? Would you rather complete the form over the phone? Respond by mail: Fill out the form and mail it back in the postage-paid return envelope. If you have trouble answering a question, call us and we will help you. Respond by phone: Call 1-800-354-7271 to answer the American Community Survey over the phone, or for other help. If we don't hear from you by mail or phone, a Census Bureau field representative may visit you in person to help you complete the American Community Survey. The author writes the passage mainly to _ . Answer: introduce something about the ACS First direct coal liquefaction line produces (Xinhua) HOHHOT - China's first direct coal-to-oil project, operated by the country's leading coal producer, Shenhua Group, produced 866,000 tons of oil products last year. The direct coal liquefaction line is located in Ejin Horo Banner , Ordos city, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region. It produces 3,000 tons of oil products by using nearly 10,000 tons of coal per day, said Shenhua Coal Liquefaction and Chemical Co.,Ltd. With an investment of 12.6 billion yuan ($2.06 billion), Shenhua Group began construction of the project in 2004, using self-developed technologies. The project began trial production at the end of 2009 with a designed annual capacity of 1.08 million tons of diesel , naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas . Proven coal reserves around Ordos are estimated at 160 billion tons, or 11.4 percent of the country's total coal reserves. As part of its clean energy strategy, China has begun a number of direct or indirect coal liquefaction and coal gasification projects in Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Liaoning in the past three years. What's mainly talked about in the passage? Answer: China's first direct coal-to-oil project.
Two sculptures of life-size lions, each weighing about 5 tons in ancient times, have been discovered in what is now Turkey. The discovery of the massive lions, along with other pieces such as a large stone basin about 7 feet in diameter, left the archaeologists with a mystery ----what were they intended for? A search of the surrounding area revealed no evidence of a Hittite settlement dating back to the time of the statues. Also, the steep size of the sculptures meant that the sculptors likely did not intend to move them very far. Summers assumes that, rather than being meant for a palace or a great city, the lions were being created for a monument to mark something else- water "I think it's highly likely that that monument was going to be associated with one of the very abundant springs that are quite close," he said in the interview, "There are good parallels for association of Hittite sculptural traditions with water sources" Indeed one well-known monument site, known as Eflatun Pnar, holds a sacred pool that "is fed by a spring beneath the pool itself," write Yiit Erbil and Alice Mouton in an article that was published in the most recent edition of the Journal of Near Eastern Studies. The two researchers were writing about water religions in ancient Anatolia (Turkey). "According to the Hittite cuneiform texts, water was seen as an effective purifying element," Erbil and Mouton write, "used in the form of cleaning or even full baths during ritual performances, its cleaning power is self-evident." To the Hittites the natural world, springs included, was a place of great religious importance, one worthy of monuments with giant lions. "These things (water sources) were sacred, just as their mountains were sacred," Summers said. What would be the best title of the text ? Answer: What were the lions intended for? Of course, the main difference on the Chinese dinner table is chopsticks instead of knife and fork, but that's only superficial. Besides, in decent restaurants, you can always ask for a pair of knife and fork, if you find the chopsticks not helpful enough. The real difference is that in the West, you have your own plate of food, while in China the dishes are placed on the table and everyone shares. If you are being treated to a formal dinner and particularly if the host thinks you're in the country for the first time, he will do the best to give you a taste of many different types of dishes. The meal usually begins with a set of at least four cold dishes, to be followed by the main courses of hot meat and vegetable dishes. Soup then will be served (unless in Guangdong style restaurants) to be followed by staple food ranging from rice, noodles to dumplings. If you wish to have your rice to go with other dishes, you should say so in good time, for most of the Chinese choose to have the staple food at last or have none of them at all. Perhaps one of the things that surprise a western visitor most is that some of the Chinese hosts like to put food into the plates of their guests. In formal dinners, there are always "public" chopsticks and spoons for this purpose, but some hosts may use their own chopsticks. This is a sign of genuine friendship and politeness. It is always polite to eat the food. If you do not eat it, just leave the food in the plate. People in China tend to over-order food, for they will find it embarrassing if all the food is consumed. When you have had enough, just say so. Or you will always overeat! What's the main difference on dinner table between China and West is _ . Answer: You have your own plate of food in West while in China everyone shares the dishes. One morning, Mr Black was driving in the country and looking for a small hotel. When he saw an old woman on the side of the road, he stopped his car and said to the old woman, "I want to go to the Sun Hotel. Do you know it?" "Yes," the old woman said,"I will show you the way." She got into Mr Black's car and they drove about twelve miles. When they came to a small house, the old woman said, "stop here!" Mr, Black stopped and looked at the house."But this isn't a hotel." He said to the old woman. "No"the old woman answered, "This is my house. And I'll show you the way to the hotel. Turn round and go back nine miles. Then you'll see the hotel." The writer wrote the story in order to _ . Answer: tell us a joke Long ago ,there lived in Greece a learned man. He was so well known for his good knowledge of almost everything that lots of people from all over the country came to learn from him. The great man taught his students whole-heartedly and answered their questions with great patience. One day a student asked him, " My dear teacher, didn't you say you yourself have many ,many more questions about things than we do? But I think we students have far more than you." With a smile on his face, the teacher drew two circles ,one as large as a big cake, the other smaller. Then he said , "Of course, I have learned much more. But it's wrong to think that a teacher has fewer questions than his students. Now, look at these two circles. The inside of the bigger one is my knowledge of things, and the inside of the smaller one is yours. Out of the circles is what is still unknown to us. Since mine is larger, I have to use the longer line to draw the bigger circle. That means I have more opportunities to face what is still unknown. And that's why I myself have more questions than you do. The more you learn , the more questions you have. You will never learn enough ,you know." The learned man drew two circles to show _ . Answer: why he had more questions than the students A report by the Consumer Electronics Association says electronics are among the most popular gifts being bought this holiday season. Jim Barry is a spokesman for the Consumer Electronics Association. He says the CEA study found that electronics represent three of the top five things on its "holiday gift wish list" this year. JIM BARRY: "Notebook computers are at the top, followed by iPads and then e-readers. IPad is a touch-screen tablet computer and that's really the big player in that category." The computer company Apple began selling its small, touch-screen computers in April. People use the touch-screen computers to surf the Web, write e-mails, watch movies and read books. Since the iPad's release earlier this year, several other companies have come out with their own tablet computers just in time for Christmas. A report from the e-Marketer research group predicts that worldwide, tablet sales will reach more than eighty-one million in two thousand twelve. Still, Jim Barry says these devices are facing tough competition this year from another Christmas favorite. JIM BARRY: "Another hot category right behind that are the e-readers. So you can read on an iPad or a touch-screen tablet, but the e-book readers are less expensive. The Kindle is the market leader there, from Amazon. But you also have the Nook from Barnes and Noble and the e-reader from Sony. And you have more and more of those e-readers coming into the market as well." The Consumer Electronics Association report found that iPod music players are also in high demand this holiday season. But not all of the things on the holiday gift wish list involved electronics. Clothes, cars and motorcycles also made the list. So did family togetherness and good health. And the one thing that people wanted most? JIM BARRY: "At the top of the list was peace and happiness." That is also our wish for you this holiday season. You don't have enough money for an iPad, but you can buy _ for a friend who enjoys reading. Answer: e-book readers
Is it possible that the sinking of the Titanic was caused by a ghost? A plot of the story below is true ... but did it really happen quite like this? Our story begins not in the icy cold waters of the North Atlantic, but rather thousands of miles away in Egypt. It is here, perhaps, that we can find the start of the mystery of the Titanic, in the year 1910, in the great city of Cairo. One day, a famous professor of Egyptian history called Douglas Murray was staying in Cairo, when he was contacted by an American adventurer. The American had something unusual to offer Murray, something that was certain to thrill him: a beautiful ancient Egyptian mummy case, containing the mummy of an Egyptian queen. It was over 3,000 years old, but in beautiful condition -- gold, with bright paintings on it. Murray was delighted with both the object and the askingprice. He gave the man a cheque immediately. The cheque was never cashed. That evening the American adventurer died. For his part, Murray arranged to have the treasure sent back to Britain. However, it was not long before he learnt more about the beautiful mummy case: On the walls of the tomb in which it had been discovered, there were messages which warned of terrible consequences to anyone who broke into the tomb. Murray was disbelieving of these warnings until a few days later, when a gun he was holding exploded in his hand, shattering his arm. The arm had to be cut off. After the accident, Murray decided to return to his homeland. On the return journey, two of his companions died mysteriously, and two servants who had handled the mummy also passed away. The nowterrified Murray decided he would get rid of the _ case as soon as he arrived in London. A lady he knew named Janet Jones said she would like it, so he gave it to her. Shortly afterwards, Jones' mother died, and she herself caught a strange disease. She tried returning the mummy, but naturally Murray refused it. In the end, it was presented to the British Museum. Even in the museum, the mummy apparently continued to cause strange events. A museum photographer died shortly after taking pictures of the new exhibit, and a manager also died for no apparent reason. In the end, the British Museum decided to get rid of the mummy too. They sold it to a collector in New York. At the start of April 1912, arrangements for the transfer were complete, and the mummy began the journey to its new home. But the New Yorker never received the mummy or its case. For when the Titanic sank, one of the objects in its strongroom was the mummy case. Or so they say. What is the main purpose of this passage? Answer: To entertain readers with a story of mystery. People usually talk about two groups of colors: warm colors and cool colors. Scientists think that there are also two kinds of people: people who prefer warm colors and people who prefer cool colors. The warm colors are red, orange and yellow. Where there are warm colors and a lot of lights people usually want to be active. People think that red, for example, is exciting. Sociable people, those who like to be with others, like red. The cool colors are green, blue and violet. These colors, unlike warm colors, are relaxing. Where there are cool colors, people are usually quiet. People who like to spend time alone often prefer blue. Red may be exciting, but one scientist says that time seems to pass more slowly in a room with warm colors than in a room with cool colors. He says that a warm color, such as red or orange, is good color for a living room or restaurant. People who are resting or eating do not want time to pass quickly. Cool colors are better for offices or factories if the people who are working there want time to pass quickly. According to this passage, people who don't like to be with others _ . Answer: like blue color The tendency of a stationary object to resist being put into motion is known as Answer: inertia. Even before World War II ended in 1945,many world leaders dreamed of a new organization that would keep international peace and safety,and encourage international cooperation .An organization was formed.The United Nations was to work to this ideal of mankind. When the UN was founded in 1945,it was made up of fifty members.Fifteen members sat on the Security Council .Five members--the United States,the Soviet Union,Great Britain,France and China--were given,not changing membership on the Council.The Council was given the power to settle fights among nations by persuasion,mediation or other means.A General Assembly ,which included every UN member,was also set up.The Assembly could consider,discuss,and pass resolutions . As the UN passed its fortieth birthday in 1985,it came under increasingly sharp attack by Americans.It declared that the UN is unfit as a peace keeper and cited 130 wars since 1945 as a proof . The UN's supporters say that the organization is the world's best hope for peace.The UN provides,supporters also point out,much needed economic and technical help to less developed nations. Why has the UN come under increasingly sharp attack by Americans since 1985? Answer: Because the UN has been unfit as a peace keeper. What is colour? Why do some of the things around us look red, some green, others blue? Colours are really made by reflected light. We see colour because most of the things reflect light. Something is red, for it reflects most of the red light. In the same way, if something is green, it reflects most of the green light. If something reflects all light, it is white. If it doesn't reflect any light, it is black. Some of the light is reflected and some is taken in and turned into heat .The darker the colour is, the less light is reflected, the more light is taken in. So dark-coloured clothes are warmer in the sun than light-coloured clothes. What's the best title of this passage ? Answer: Colour
Quickly ask yourself: What did you eat today? Now tell me how you actually feel. If you're complaining of stress, anxiety, depression, aches and pains, foggy thinking, or just a general lack of energy, a new medical theory will blow your mind. The chances are that those disease-like symptoms are all the result of what's called hidden food allergies . This is what Ken Drew found out when he was lucky enough to be recommended to medical practitioner Dr. Patel. Patel is considered something of a genius, and has been called a modern day Louis Pasteur. You've heard of him, of course--Pasteur figured out how to keep milk from getting spoiled. Dr. Patel is like a Louis Pasteur for keeping your body from getting spoiled from chronic diseases. "Foggy thinking, slightly constipated , heart pain,...you name it. It's part of getting old," you say. "It's just stress." Most of the body's immune defenses are all located in your stomach, so when you have a hidden food allergy and you expose yourself to harmful foods, your defenses malfunction and disease-carrying bacteria take over. Had you not eaten that one food you were allergic to for breakfast, you would never have got sick. Together, Dr Patel and Ken Drew have developed the Reverse My Disease program, which claims it can _ your body against diseases like arthritis , Alzheimer's, diabetes, heart disease and cancers. You won't need a prescription and there isn't any kind of medical procedure involved. There's no medical jargon, no complicated diet to do. What it does do is claim to tell you how to hack your body's natural defense system. Dr. Patel has remained under the radar of the entire medical establishment because his ideas are so threatening to doctors who don't want you to stop being sick enough for them to write you prescriptions. Those doctor visits cost you, so check out Reverse My Disease if you want to prevent disease by learning how to eat food that won't harm your body. What can we know from the passage? To many basketball fans in Taiwan, the William Jones Cup or the Basketball Association may be their sweetest memory. But if you ask them, "What's the hottest basketball event now?" There is the only answer: HBL, the High School Basketball League. Founded in 1988, the HBLwas at first just a high school basketball tournament. After the Taipei School Sport Federation took charge in 1996 and renamed it HBL, everything changed. The Federation decided to co-operated with Nike, the well-known sportswear manufacturer, and use its experience in marketing to promote the game. The HBL started with 129 teams; today there are more than 250. no longer just of interest to the players, it's now Taiwan's biggest basketball event. Fellow students, alumni (,), and sports fans all over Taiwan cheer for their favorite teams. At last year's finals, Taipei and Kaohsiung mayors came to cheer for their teams. The HBL starts in September with qualifying and preliminary(,) rounds and continues through April of the following year, when the finals are held. Broadcasting the games on television has helped make the HBL a wildly popular event. It's become the place to spot young basketball talent. Today's HBL players are tomorrow's professionals. Recent HBL tournaments have been very competitive, with no one school taking the advantage. This wide-open quality of the tournament makes it more exciting. Everyone wants to see how this year's games will come out. HBL fever just keeps getting hotter. Why does the writer say"Recent HBL tournaments have been very competitive"? How do you get a man to do his share of the housework? If you are like most women, you've faced this question the hard way. A man will enjoy a clean, orderly house, but he usually won't make the effort to clean or organise it. This doesn't mean that a woman has to do all the housework:; she may have to manage many of the household duties, and request her partner's participation . A woman can often say that men and women should take equal responsibility for housework. Very few men are raised to be fully responsible for housework, and many men look on housework as women's work. On the other hand, most men will readily work around the yard, make repairs and complete projects on weekends or evenings, and it's important that you give your man appreciation for those things, too. Most men will take on a little additional housework around the house if asked politely. They are even more likely to do housework if they can choose what they want to do, and do it without being monitored. Here's the key: men want to feel that they are doing housework either because they want to do a task, or because they simply want to please their women. Men are much less likely to take on household tasks they consider uninteresting and unimportant. In other words, men are likely to do a household task just for the good of the house. In order to get men to do some housework, women should often _ . Albert Einstein was probably the most famous scientist of the twentieth century. He changed scientific thinking in the modern world. He is generally considered as the greatest physicist who ever lived. What's more, he devoted a lot of his time and energy to working for human rights and progress. In 1933, while Einstein was visiting England and the United States, the Nazi government of Germany took all his things away, including his position and his citizenship. Einstein then settled down in the United States. In 1939, Einstein, who loved peace--afraid of a world in which only Hitler would had an atomic bomb --tried hard to persuade President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a famous letter to have the United States start uranium research. That Germany, after all, had no bomb, and that the first bomb would fall on Japan, could not have been expected. After the war, Einstein never stopped working for peace and reducing the number of soldiers in the world. Although he wasn't connected with any accepted religion , Einstein felt that trust in a personal God was too special an idea to be suitable to the God at work in this universe, but he never believed that the universe was one of chance or disorder. The universe to him was one of pure law and order. He once said, "God may know everything, but he is not hateful." From the passage we know that_. Thousands of people in the world are a hundred years old - or more and certain parts of the world are famous for the long lives of their inhabitants: the Vilacamba Valley in Ecuador, and the home of the Hunzas in the Himalayas. Why do so many people live to a healthy old age in certain parts of the world? What is the secret of their long lives? Three things seem to be very important: fresh air, fresh food and a simple way of life. People work near their homes in the clean mountain air instead of traveling long distances to work by bus, car or train. They do not sit all day in busy offices or factories, but work hard outdoors in the fields. They take more exercise and eat less food than people in the cities of the West. For years the Hunzas of the Himalayas did not need policemen, lawyers or doctors. There was no crime, no divorce and not much illness in their society. They were a happy, peaceful people, famous all over India for their long, healthy lives. Do you want to live to a hundred years old? Here are some rules for success. First, live in the right place. Second, choose the right kind of job. Doctors, dentists and bus-drivers die young. Farmers, priests and orchestral conductors live much longer. If you are in the wrong kind of job, you can still improve your way of life. An old man in the Caucasus was talking about his past life. "I was young then," he said, as he described his 87th year. His secret was: "Think young and stay young." An old woman from Missouri, the USA, gave this advice, "Drink a little whisky and some warm beer every day." An English lady just said, "Take a cold bath every morning." The shortest, simplest piece of advice came from Mr Jim Chapman, aged 103. "Just keep breathing," he told reporters. Who is most likely to live a long life?
Question: JAMES shook his money box again. Nothing! He carefully counted the coins that lay on the bed. All that he had was $24.52 . The bicycle he wanted was at least $90! How on earth was he going to get the rest of the money? He knew that his friends all had bicycles. It was hard to hang out with people when you were the only one without a bicycle. He thought about what he could do. There was no point asking his parents, for he knew they had no extra money. There was only one way to get money, and that was to earn it. He would have to find a job. He decided to ask Mr Clay for advice. "Well, you can start right here," said Mr Clay. "You see, my windows need cleaning and my car needs washing." That was the beginning of James' part-time job. For the next three months he worked every day after finishing his homework. He took dogs for walks, cleared out cupboards and mended books. The day finally came when James counted his money and found $94.32. He wasted no time and went down to the shop to pick up the bicycle he wanted. He rode home proudly, looking forward to showing his new bicycle to his friends. It had been hard working for the money, but James knew that he valued his bicycle far more because he had bought it with his own money. He had achieved what he thought was impossible, and that was worth even more than the bicycle. Why didn't James ask his parents for help? A. Because they didn't love him. B. Because they didn't have extra money. C. Because they lived far away from him. D. Because they didn't need a bike. Answer: B. Because they didn't have extra money. Question: Welcome to London! Now let me tell you something about this wonderful city. London, the capital of the United Kingdom, is the biggest city in Western Europe with over 7 million people. It sits by the River Thames. London has a history of more than 2,000 years. Because of its long history and different cultures, London is a very famous city in the world. People all over the world are familiar with the city's red double-decker buses and black taxis. People The British Empire used to rule around the world, so many people from around the world moved to London. They have brought with them their own languages and cultures. More than 300 different languages are spoken in London. Culture London is known for its many museums. One important museum is the British Museum. It is the oldest public museum in the world. There are two main art museums in London: the National Gallery and the Tate Gallery . Besides, London is also home to arts, such as theatre and music. The Globe Theatre, which was popular in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, was opened for performances of William Shakespeare's plays. Tourist attractions London has many wonderful places to visit. For example, the well-known Clock Tower, a 320-foot high tower, was called the Big Ben. Another famous London building is Buckingham Palace. The members of royal family of England live there. Besides, Hyde Park is the largest open area in central London. How many museums are mentioned in London according to the passage? A. Two. B. Three. C. Four. D. Five. Answer: B. Three. Question: A student newspaper reports that most students go to sleep at 1:30 am. Even if that's an overstatement , it's close to the truth. Scientists say teens should sleep nine hours each night. But that's hard. Some are even "pulling all-nighters" . These students must hand in their homework the next day but they haven't done it. In the morning they don't look healthy and you can tell who's been doing it. One of my classmates did a survey on the topic. She found that most kids pull all-nighters to finish homework, but some do it for other reasons, such as playing computer games! Maybe our lack of sleep is because of laziness -- I think I'm a rather lazy student -- or maybe it's because we have too much to do in American high schools. I usually go to bed around midnight. If I stayed up past 1:30 am, I wouldn't get any work done. I'd be falling asleep at my computer. My classes begin at 7:30 am. I'm partly awake in my first class. By the second, I'm a little sleepy. By my third class, I'm sleepy. By midday I'm finally fully awake. But by 3:00 pm, I'm slowing down again. Yet I get more sleep than usual students. Most American high schools seem to have a similar problem with sleepy students. High school classes start at 7:30 am, so students have to get up one and a half hours before that to get ready and catch the bus. It's believed that lack of sleep can be bad for both grades and health. Some schools are paying attention. Classes in those schools start at 8:30 am. Why do most of the teens have to stay up late? A. They play computer games. B. They watch videos late. C. They have to do a lot of housework. D. They have to do a lot of homework. Answer: D. They have to do a lot of homework. Question: My family had always been close and lucky. No one died and no one was sick. We were all living a happy life until my grandfather had cancer. No matter how much I told myself he might not die, somehow I still felt as if it was a death sentence. He fought so hard but died at 63. I honestly didn't know how I dealt with. I never cried alone. I had the support of my family and teachers. I just remembered my grandfather's wish that we should celebrate his life. That's how we came up with the idea for Hives for Lives -- a business my sister and I started where all the profits go to the American Cancer Society (ACS). During our first year we donated more than $2,000 to the ACS. The next year a man who belonged to my grandparents' "bee club" gave his honey to us, and our little business grew. We sold at wine festivals, schools, and to anyone else who would buy! We had my uncle sell in California and my grandmother sell in Chicago. We have sold honey in 13 states -- even in Puerto Rico! This year we donated more than $10,000 to the ACS and we're hoping to do more next year. Hopefully our business will help research into the causes of cancer or just improve the life of someone with cancer. I feel like Hives for Lives is a way to honor my grandfather. Honor his love, his life, and his strength. With Hives for Lives reminding me of my grandfather every day, I feel as if I can move on in life, that he will always be alive in my heart and memories. It made me deal with his death, because I felt like I had truly honored his wish of celebrating his life. The purpose of the author's starting Hives for Lives is NOT for _ . A. improving his life B. honoring his grandfather C. helping do research for cancer D. supporting people with cancer Answer: A. improving his life Question: Little Tommy was doing very badly in math. His parents had tried everything--tutors , cards, special learning centers--in short, everything they could think of. Finally they took Tommy to a catholic school. After the first day,little Tommy came home with a very serious look on his face. He didn't kiss his mother hello. Instead,he went straight to his room and started studying. Books and papers were spread out all over the room and little Tommy was hard at work. His mother was surprised. She called him down to dinner and as soon as he finished eating, he went back to his room, without a word. In no time he was back _ as hard as before. This went on for some time,day after day while the mother tried to understand what was happening. Finally,little Tommy brought home his report card. He quietly put it on the table and went up to his room and hit the books. His mom looked at it and to her surprise, little Tommy got an A in math. She could no longer hold her curiosity . She went to his room and asked,"Son, what was it? Was it the nuns ?" Little Tommy looked at her and shook his head,"No." "Well then,"she asked again,"WHAT was it?" Little Tommy looked at her and said,"Well, on the first day of school,when I saw that man nailed to the plus sign ,I knew they weren't joking." Tommy's mother felt surprised that his son _ . A. was still the same as usual B. ate so much at dinner C. kissed her hello after school D. worked hard but said little Answer: D. worked hard but said little
Common sense would tell us that physically active children may be more likely to become active and healthy adults. In the United States, elementary and middle schools are advised to give students two and a half hours of physical activity a week. That is what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association recommend. They say high schools should provide about four hours of physical activity each week. Yet many schools across the country have reduced their physical education programs. Just this week, a study reported that life _ has fallen or is no longer increasing in some parts of the United States. The situation is worst among poor people in the southern states, and especially women. Public health researchers say it is largely the result of increases in fatness, smoking and high blood pressure. They also blame differences in health services around the country. In 2006, a study found that only four percent of primary schools provided daily physical education all year for all grades. This was true of eight percent of middle schools and two percent of high schools. The study also found that twenty-two percent of all schools did not require students to take any P.E. Charlene Burgeson , a health expert says one problem for P.E. teachers is that schools are under pressure to put more time into academic subjects. Also, parents may agree that children need exercise in school. Yet many parents today still have bad memories of being chosen last for teams because teachers favored the good athletes in class. But experts say P.E. classes have changed. They say the goal has moved away from competition and toward personal performance, as a way to build a lifetime of activity. These days, teachers often lead activities like weight training and yoga. Some parents like the idea of avoiding competitive sports in P.E. class. Yet others surely dislike that idea. In the end, schools may find themselves in a no-win situation. What is the main idea about this passage? A. P.E. is the most important subject for all students. B. P.E has changed its goal for some reasons in America. C. It introduces us the present situation of P.E in American schools and its cause. D. P.E can help students improve their academic subjects. Answer: C. It introduces us the present situation of P.E in American schools and its cause. Books, Films and Plays The novelist's medium is the written word, one might almost say the printed word. Typically the novel is consumed by a silent, individual reader, who may be anywhere at the time. The paperback novel is still the cheapest, most portable and adaptable form of narrative entertainment. It is limited to a single channel of information---writing. The narrative can go, effortlessly, anywhere: into space, people's head, palaces, prisons and pyramids, without any consideration of cost or practical possibility. In determining the shape and content of his narrative, the writer is restricted by nothing except purely artistic criteria. The novelist keeps absolute control over his text until it is published and received by the audience. He may be advised by his editor to revise his text, but if the writer refused to meet this condition no one would be surprised. It is not unknown for a well-established novelist to deliver his or her manuscript and expect the publisher to print it exactly as written. However, not even the most well-established playwright or screenplay writer would submit a script and expect it to be performed without any rewriting. This is because plays and motion pictures are cooperative forms of narrative, using more than one channel of communication. The production of a stage play involves, as well as the words of the author, the physical presence of the actors, their voices and gestures, the "set" and possibly music. Although the script is the essential basis of both stage play and film, it is a basis for subsequent revision negotiated between the writer and the other creative people involved. They are given "approval" of the choice of director and actors and have the right to attend rehearsals , during which period they may undertake more rewriting work. In the case of the screenplay, the writer may have little or no control over the final form of his work. Contracts for the production of plays protect the rights of authors in this respect. In film or television work, on the other hand, the screenplay writer has no contractual right to this degree of consultation. While the script is going through its various drafts, the writer is in the driver's seat, although sometimes receiving criticism from the producer and the director. But once the production is under way, artistic control over the project tends to pass to the director. _ Which of these subtitles would be most appropriate? A. Why does the future look good for writers of books, plays and films? B. What do audiences want from these three forms of entertainment? C. How do these forms of media compare for their producers? D. What benefit can we get from these forms of media? Answer: C. How do these forms of media compare for their producers? I resisted for years becoming anything like my dad or at least acknowledging that I was anything like him because, well, because I wanted to be me, not him; but there I sat at his memorial service several months ago, telling myself,"You've got a lot more of your dad in you than you think." There's this phrase my dad used, and I know I'm going to sound rude to complain about it, but it did use to bother me."I'm so proud of you,"he told us kids, whether we'd won a sailing race or run a marathon or managed to get a book published."I'm so proud of you."That should be a good thing, but here's what always went through my unforgiving mind: You're taking credit for what isn't really yours but mine."I'm so proud of you."It came out of my dad's mouth all the time, on those long-distance calls where I might have mentioned something that happened at work or when he and Mom came to visit and we showed off the talents of our two boys. I knew the feeling of parental pride well, especially when my boys achieved in ways that were beyond my comprehension and ability, but I looked for other ways to express it."That's an incredible story you've written,"I would say about the composition."I can't believe how fast you solved that problem,"I would admire the work of the math genius. But never just the blanket phrase. But there I was at Dad's memorial, about to praise him, thinking that I could say exactly what my brother said,"He lets me be me."That was his achievement. In the phrase that I promised I would never utter to my children was a world of forgiveness, care and appreciation. So just the other day when my older son, now a promising manager, sent me an email about the thank-you dinner his latest client threw him, I thought hard for clever things to say, finally realizing my kids just want what my dad gave me."I'm so proud of you,"I wrote. Just like the old man. What did the writer think when his father said"I'm so proud of you"? A. He should work harder. B. His achievement was wrongly claimed by his father. C. His father went too far to praise him. D. He didn't clearly know what his father meant. Answer: B. His achievement was wrongly claimed by his father. Soap operas from South Korea have been popular in China for more than twenty years now. So it is not the first time for the soap operas made in China to feel less popular. But this time, they are facing more difficulties, for The Heirs and My Love From the Star really made a full success. A senior official said he sometimes watched soap operas from South Korea, as well as House of Cards, an American opera about politics . These operas made both in South Korea and in America have a lot of lovers in China. Many people agree that China's soap operas can't be much loved by most Chinese, because they are not as interesting and exciting as those operas from South Korea and America, such as My Love From the Star, a South Korean love story between a time-traveling professor and a famous movie star. However, South Korea not only provides soap operas but also some variety shows . Where Are We Going, Dad? is not an original Chinese show. We learned it from South Korea although not many in China know about that fact. South Korea has created many popular shows and these stories tell there's no difference between men and women but in their country men are certain to _ Most people in China like watching shows made in _ . A. Europe B. China C. South Korea D. Japan Answer: C. South Korea The Vienna-based researchers showed that dogs will stop doing a simple task when not rewarded if another dog, which continues to be rewarded, is present. The experiment consisted of taking pairs of dogs and getting them to present a paw for a reward.On giving this "handshake" the dogs received a piece of food.One of the dogs was then asked to shake hands, but received no food.The other dog continued to get the food when it was asked to perform the task. The dog without the reward quickly stopped doing the task, and showed signs of anger or stress when its partner was rewarded. To make sure that the experiment was really showing the interaction between the dogs rather than just the frustration of not being rewarded, a similar experiment was conducted where the dogs performed the task without the partner.Here they continued to present the paw for much longer. Dr Frederike Range from the University of Vienna says this shows that it was the presence of the rewarded partner that was the greater influence on their behaviour. "The only difference is one gets food and the other doesn't, they are responding to being unequally rewarded." she said. The researchers say this kind of behaviour, where one animal gets frustrated with what is happening with another, has only been observed in primates before. Studies with various types of monkeys and chimpanzees show they react not only to seeing their partners receiving rewards when they are not, but also to the type of reward. The dog study also looked at whether the type of reward made a difference.Dogs were given either bread or sausage, but seemed to react equally to either.Dr Range says this may be because they have been trained. The dogs refused to give the paw when they _ . A. found another dog was given nothing B. felt they were not treated equally C. were aware they received less food D. were given too much reward Answer: B. felt they were not treated equally
Like many people ,I have no clear idea about heroes . A t some point , we all wonder if we need a hero and what a hero really is. Although there are a lot of differences in cultures, heroes around the world generally share a number of characteristics which give us courage and make us want to learn from them. A hero does something worth talking about, A hero has a special story to tell and people think highly of it. But a hero is not just person with great fame . A hero has power larger than himself . Some people want to live like a hero. And they have to experience life with new and further meaning .A sure test for would- be heroes is what or whom they serve. What do they want to live and die for? If their answer suggests they serve only own fames, they may be famous persons but not heroes. A hero has a _ from the mountain top .He has the power to move people . He creates new possibility. Without Gandhi, India might still be part of Britain, Without Martin Luther King .Jr, Americans might take different parks , and shop in different stores of the different colors of their skins. There might be changes in society without a hero, but the speed of the change would be rather slow . Thanks to heroes in history ,they make the society develop so rapidly. Black people in American used to _ before Martin Luther King Jr. Answer: eat in restaurants without the white The West is full of fast food and large amounts of food which contribute to many women's being fat. While many are fat, thin women are admired and seen as healthier. This has led to a culture of gym-going, strange dieting methods and, frequently, eating disorders. In the East, women tend to be smaller and many women take pills to keep their slim figures as they get older. However, you're mistaken if you think thinness is the beauty standard all over the world. The BBC reports that in Mauritania, Africa, the opposite is true. In Mauritania, mothers force their daughters to eat a lot of food so that they get as fat as possible. The fatter they are, the more likely they are to marry well. Fat is also considered healthy, because in a country where HIV/AIDS is a very real problem, thin people are often sick and dying. However, "healthy" fat women are suffering from some problems of their own and many are dying in their 40s of weight-related diseases. The Mauritanian government is trying to warn its people of the dangers of being overweight but it's not easy to change cultural views. Many women worry that if they lose weight, their husbands will leave them for fatter, more attractive women. It seems that while education about the dangers of being too thin and too fat is very important, what the world really needs is to become less pre-occupied with the size, shape and weight of women's bodies. The promotion of healthy practices is easy but changing cultural beauty standards takes more time, imagination and effort. According to the article, why do some women in Mauritania not want to lose weight even though they know being fat is unhealthy? Answer: They worry that their husbands will leave them if they're thin. The new world of today introduced new threats that were not known in the previous generations: Internet predators . Often we do a lot of our researching, shopping, talking; just about everything online nowadays. New advancements in revolution comes along with the unwanted attackers. There are people out there who gain pleasure from, interrupting and taking from our peaceful lives what's not rightfully theirs. But like with everything, there are indeed counteractive measures that can be set in place to fend off these predators from such damage. I'd like to introduce the Guardian Eye. Within this program is a complex program which has several functions to create a safe atmosphere for whomever uses the computer, It has the ability to track and log every key stroke, every website that has ever been accessed, takes screenshots of web pages, blocks web pages according to content and even sends you messages via email once conspicuous activity has been reported and logged. Just think, you or child could be browsing and searching through the Internet and inappropriate content pops up with several different windows. You try to click out of the windows but you accidentally click one which releases spyware, infecting your computer. Guardian Eye blocks unwanted content from popping up or appearing to the users, which I thought was extremely convenient. In this way there is not even the slightest temptation. This product helps prevent damage from being done to your computer and worse, your identity. It's quite the product and it offers a little version so you may try it out first. If you'd like the full package, it's a once time fee 39.99 and can be installed on unlimited computers for your convenience. It's a nice deal and I'm considering getting it again considering I do a lot of writing on various websites myself. In what way is Guardian Eye most useful to kids? Answer: It keeps them from seeing unwanted contents. Noise pollution in cities is causing out health to suffer, according to the World Health Organization. Recently, researchers at the Free University of Brussels in Beigium have developed an applocation: NoiseTube. It allows everyone who downloads it the ability to measure the amount of noise they are exposed to by transforming their smart phone into a sound level meter. NoiseTube works by recording sound levels and GPS locations. Once launched the app shows decibel levels of green or red depending on the level of noise. That information is then sent to the NoiseTube server via the Internet where a "noise map" is produced and then made available to the user. Since its launch, the app has been popular with community groups who want to monitor their own noise levels. According to D'hondt of the Noise Tube project, these groups don't think that city produced noise maps give an adequate interpretation of the level of noise they're experiencing. City produced noise maps are based on statistical models involving very few actual measurements. NoiseTube on the other hand gives a detailed account of the level of noise experienced at a specific time and location. "Ten people walking the same area from 9 to 10 am every day for one week can make a valid and detailed map for an area of a couple of blocks," D'Hondt said. "It's reasonable effort by the community groups to produce these maps, and with it they can go to the authorities and have real evidence about what they're experiencing." So far these sorts of noise maps have been produced for a number of European cities. The app has been downloaded by 10,000 people with 2,700 people registered on the NoiseTube website. This passage is most likely to be found in _ . Answer: a piece of newspaper Many people go to work each day to a job they hate.The harmful feelings influence their entire life,putting a negative cloud over the home, their friends and many of their other activities.There is a better way to live your 1ife.Meaningful purpose is a driving force that adds enthusiasm to your days.Here are a few steps to get the new career rolling: Do some self-analysis.Ask yourself--What really matters to me? What problem or wrong would I like to fix? What do I enjoy? Where are my interests and hobbies? What are my priorities? What is my secret passion? What do I want to do with the rest of my life? Reviewing these questions can give you new insight to where you want to go. Use your unique genius and talents.Every person is born with a unique set of natural abilities.Talents,such as managing,creating,researching,training others,drawing,can all seem like easy work because you have a natural ability for them.True happiness comes from combining your natural talents,developing and excelling in them,and working in a field,job,industry that you have a passionate interest in. Make a decision.Only action can change your life.Read a book.Take vocational tests.Use a good career--management professional.Do some career exploration and gather all the information you need.Then make a decision and go forward.Outline the action steps to reach your career goal.Finding meaning,passion and purpose every day you go to work is the wonderful reward, so don't wait any longer.Begin right now and set in motion to live a happier,more satisfying life. Which is the best title of the passage? Answer: Suggestions on How to Build a More Meaningful Career
Alan is in Class Two,Grade Seven.He is l2.His English teacher is Mr. Smith.He is English.His daughter is Helen.She is l3.Alan and Helen are good friends.They like English.This is Helen's school ID card.Its number is A-270789.Is that Alan's school ID card? No.He can't find his school ID card.If you find it,please call Alan at 346--2828.Thank you! Mr. Smith is _ . A Alan's father B an English teacher C Helen's friend D a Chinese teacher Answer: B There is a time when Karyn Bosnak couldn't pay a $59 bill at the grocery store. She was officially broke. She didn't have enough money to get on the subway, but she looked rich. She was a television producer, earned $900 a week, and had a closetful of designer labels like Gucci and Louis Vuitton. But she also had a $20,221.40 credit card bill and an empty bank account. Karyn decided that it was time for a change. She built a website and simply asked people to help her out by sending her a dollar or two. On the site, Karyn honestly explained her situation. "If 20,000 people gave me just $1, I'd be home free." Amazingly, it worked. Her website was visited by more than a million people. Although most donors just gave a few dollars, one generous donor sent $1,000. She was on TV and in newspapers and magazines. She was offered a book deal and a movie contract. And of course, she was able to pay off her credit card debt. She also sold her designer clothes on eBay. In her closet, where the Gucci purse once sat, Karyn keeps all the letters that people have sent her. It's hard to understand why so many people helped a total stranger pay off her huge credit card bill. Karyn explains, "I was just honest about what happened; I didn't make up some sob story about saving the world." Her donors think it's funny and original, and view it less as a charity than as an entertainment site. Imitators have appeared all over the Internet, some with extremely selfish requests for things like a BMW or a house. Actually, Karyn was not the first person to put up a website asking strangers for money. The practice has a name: "cyber-begging." Most sites receive little traffic and even less cash. Karyn also had thousands of enemies and critics. People sent her hate mail and scolded her on websites. Karyn says she never let this anger bother her. "They are probably jealous they didn't think of it." She explains. After building a website, Karyn _ . A became very famous. B decided to make a movie C decided herself to charity D started a fashion magazine Answer: A Kate White has a big family. There are nine people. Her grandfather's name is James White. He is a doctor. Her grandmother's name is Alice White. She is a housewife . They have a son and a daughter. Her father's name is Thomas White and he is an actor. Her mother's name is Jenny White and she is a nurse. Kate is 13 years old and she is a junior high school student. She has a little brother, Jimmy. Jimmy is three. Charles in her uncle, and Casey is her aunt. They are teachers. They have a baby. His name is Tommy. Kate likes her family very much. ,. How old is Kate? A Nine. B Thirteen. C Three. D Four. Answer: B Take control of your health by learning these four numbers. They'll help with everything from losing weight to protecting your heart. Your daily calorie needs This is not technically a measurement, but it can have a huge influence on your health. Most women need 2,000 calories a day for good health, and men generally need about 2,550. One way to work out your daily calorie needs is to multiply your weight in pounds by 13 to 15, depending on your activity level. But roughly, that's 300 to 400 calories for breakfast, 500 to 600 for lunch, and 600 to 700 for dinner. Trying to lose weight? Eat about 500 calories less. Your waist size Waist size is one of the best ways to measure whether your weight is affecting your heart health. When body fat is packed into your abdomen ,your risk of heart attack increases. For women, health risk begins to rise when your waist is more than 35 inches. For men, risk increases with a measurement when your waist is over 40 inches. Your blood pressure Blood pressure rises and falls normally during the day. When it remains high, you have high blood pressure and this carries a higher risk or heart disease and stroke. A reading of 140/90 mm Hg or more is considered high, and if it's between 120/80 and 139/89, you may still be at risk and should be taking steps to prevent the development of high blood pressure. Your morning pulse rate Your pulse rate is the number of times your heart beats in one minute. A normal resting pulse rate is 60 to 90 beats per minute. People who are fit tend to have lower resting pulse rates because their heart muscles are in good shape. But if you don't exercise regularly and your heart rate is lower than the normal range, tell your doctor--it could be a sign of heart disease. When your waist size becomes larger than the figures given in the text, _ . A you are surely unhealthy B you should try to reduce your waist C you should go on a strict diet D the chance of heart disease rises Answer: D Winter is coming, and some parts of the world are already covered with deep snow. The best way to warm those cold hands is a cup of hot sweet chocolate. Hot chocolate has been used for many years to treat diseases and fight bad moods. It's known as a special healthy drink from the 16thto 19thcenturies, and sometimes was taken as a medicine. Nowadays people don't consider hot chocolate as a medicine, but drink even more than ever! There are plenty of tasty and healthy hot chocolate recipes you can try to enjoy the following health benefits of drinking hot chocolate. It improves your brain power The study shows that drinking hot chocolate can help improve your brain power and your brain health. The flavonoids in hot chocolate increase the blood flow and oxygen to your brain, helping you think better. If you want to improve your memory, try drinking two cups of hot chocolate a day. Not only will you improve your memory, but your mood as well. Just make sure you don't use too much sugar in your hot chocolate.[:Zxxk.Com] It improves your mood Chocolate, including hot chocolate, is well-known mood booster. This tasty drink helps fight stress, anxiety, and depression. But the problem is, hot chocolate may contain high amounts of sugar. Consider making sugar-free hot chocolate to get all its mood-improving properties . It can help you lose weight If you are trying to drop a few pounds, drinking hot chocolate can help you achieve your weight loss goal. When made correctly, hot chocolate is a delicious and low calorie drink that you can enjoy every time you have chocolate desire. Besides, drinking a cup of low calorie hot chocolate helps prevent the intake of high-calorie and sugar foods like cakes. Now that you're aware of some of the best health benefits of drinking chocolate, what are you waiting for? Rush into your kitchen and make this fantastic winter drink. Hot chocolate is popular in winter because _ . A it can make your cold hands warm B it has been used for many years C it was used to treat kinds of illnesses D it is regarded as the healthiest drink Answer: A
Friendship can deeply affect the physical and mental health of both men and women. Studies show that people who have no friends or who are lonely, are more likely to die earlier, get sick more often and suffer greater physical wear and tear than those who have a support system of friends. Sometimes, family members may be more likely to give you advice or tell you what you don't want to hear. It may not be as good as a friend who will listen to you and guide you, but support your decisions anyway. The most important elements about friendship are those who suffer support and do not judge your decisions based on society. One reason for the link between social support and good health practice seems to be that people who feel cared for by others are less stress-out and protected against the symptoms of depression and loneliness. Generally, women benefit most because of how they deal with stress. Women are more social in how they deal with stress than men while men are more likely to have a "fight or flight" reaction. Women also tend to have larger, denser social network, in which more people know each other and help each other, while men typically have smaller groups of friends and will rely on their wives or other important people for more support. While all these affect people psychologically , friendship brings comfort that reduces the ill effects of stress, and the sex difference also contributes to the difference in the length of one's life time. According to the passage we can infer that _ . A. it's good for women to tell men what they should do or not B. friends are always more important than family members C. men don't want to share their problems with many people D. the trend that women can live longer makes them more relaxed Answer: C Even though Brisbane is all about sun and surfing during the summer, spring time still brings a nice change to the place. That entire region is known as the gold coast, and it extends miles and miles of beaches with some of the best surfing condition in the world. In fact, you would be more pressed for time if you are just visiting, because there is so much for the nature _ to see. They can see the wild animals and quiet and beautiful environment, and there are many interesting activities for them to do. If you are going there to relax then it's probably safe to say that you want your hotel with a quiet and relaxing environment. You may even want to stay at a place like Urban Hotels located in Brisbane. You have everything you need right there in the hotel. A trip to Brisbane should not be spent indoors, especially during spring time when you have all of that natural beauty that surrounds you. The Botanical Gardens is a must to see during spring because plants have come to life from the cold weather and you get to see more flowers after a boring and cold winter. There are plenty of sports sites for you to visit, where you can do some climbing, boating and cycling. You can enjoy the fresh spring air and get some exercise at the same time. If you are in the mood for a bit of culture, then you can visit some of the galleries and museums located throughout the city. You can even go on a cruise up the river. It's not quite the right time for surfing in spring, but surfing is still good in some places if you are brave enough to hit the water. The region of Brisbane is famous for _ . A. miles and miles of beautiful beaches B. its gold coast and the surfing condition C. wild animals and the botanical gardens D. the quiet and beautiful environment Answer: B Mr. King is a tall and strong man. He teaches P.E. in a middle school. He has a long beard and takes care of it. It was Sunday yesterday. There was a big football match of the year on the playground in the centre of the city. Mr. King likes the games very much and of course he was going to watch it. With his friends' help he got a ticket a few days ago. After breakfast he hurried to the bus stop, but a lot of people were waiting there. A bus came. There were lots of people on it and it was difficult for them to put their feet. He had to grip the back of the chair. At the next stop a boy got on the bus. He was short and couldn't grip anything. Suddenly the bus stopped and the boy was likely to fall off. He looked around and saw Mr. King's beard and gripped it. The man found it at once and called out,"Go off my beard, boy!" "Are you going to get off, sir?"asked the boy. Mr. King was afraid _ , so he shouted at him. A. the boy would pull him down B. the boy would hurt his beard C. the boy could be hurt again D. the boy would borrow his ticket Answer: B Regrowth Poetry Competition is open to all published and unpublished, UK and non-UK based male and female writers over 16 years of age. This competition is open to poetry submissions. Poems must be based around the theme of "regrowth, birth, survival, and new life" and in any genre. The poem should be between 5 and 30 lines in length (including title). Entry details, rules and regulations to the competition are listed below: 1. All entries must be sent using the form online. 2. Entry will cost PS4.00. You can pay online via PayPal or credit card. You can also pay by cheque, making it payable to Susan Cawte. The postal address is 412 Thorold Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 4HF. Multiple entries are allowed. 3. Entries will not be returned. 4. All entries submitted must be work which has not been published elsewhere or submitted to another competition which is currently still open. 5. All entries must be your own work. Any entry found to be _ or printed elsewhere will be disqualified. 6. All entries submitted must clearly state the author's name, address, email address and contact telephone number on the submission. 7. The winner will be notified within one month of the closing date. 8. The closing date for entries is midnight (BST) 30th April 2016. Prizes: 1st: PS50, published story in the magazine, and a feature article about the winning author. 2nd: PS25, story published in the magazine. The 20 shortlisted authors will be listed online in May. Winners will be announced on 1st June 2016. What should be the theme of the poems in the competition? A. Peace. B. Friendship. C. Regrowth. D. Health. Answer: C Once there was a piano player in a bar . People came just to hear him play. But one night, a lady asked him to sing a song. "I don't sing," said the man. But the lady told the waiter, "I'm tired of listening to the piano. I want the player to sing!" The waiter shouted across the room, "Hey, friend! If you want to get paid, sing a song!" So he did. He had never sung in public before. Now he was singing for the very first time! Nobody had ever heard the song Mona Lisa sung so beautifully! He had talent he was sitting on! He may have lived the rest of his life as a no-name piano player in a no-name bar. But once he found, by accident, that he could sing well, he went on working hard and became one of the best-known singers in the US. His name was Nat King Cole. You, too, have skills and abilities. You may not feel that your talent is great, but it may be better than you think. With hard work, most skills can be improved. Besides, you may have no success at all if you just your talent. Nat King Cole succeeded because _ . A. the lady helped him a lot B. he caught the chance C. he continued to play in the bar D. he played the piano well Answer: B
Enjoy a museum visit with your class! Available Programs: Art Tells a Story: By looking at the subject matter and by drawing from personal experiences, students can find the story in some works of art. ( All grades) Learning to Look: An interactive tour that explores a variety of art using storytelling, movements, music, games, and other techniques helps introduce children to a museum. (Preschool~ Grade 3) Native American Collection: This program explores relationships that exist between art, culture, the geographic location and natural resources. Students will see a bowl made by Maria Martinez, a Towa storyteller, a Northwest coast mask, and Inuit clothing. ( For Grades 2~5) The Language of Art: Classes are welcomed into the museum to take part in an interactive tour of American Art. It gives participants a new set of vocabulary while helping them feel comfortable. Art-on-the-Move: Teachers may borrow suitcases filled with art objects. Free organizations with Education Membership. Planning Your Visit: Booking: Booking is necessary for all tours and programs. Please book at least a week in advance. Teachers are encouraged to organize self-guided visits for their classes during public hours. Tour Hours: Tours can be organized between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. Program Fees: Tours are free for those with Education Membership. There is a charge of $6 per student of non-member organizations. Tour with art activities cost $12 per student (non-members) or $10 per student (members). Chaperones :We require one adult chaperone for every 10 children. Chaperones help to make your museum visit a success. A chaperone must pay $5 admission. Lunch: We regret that no lunch facilities are available at the museum. Museum Rules: Don't touch works of art. Don't take photographs. Ask questions. Look, and then LOOK again! Enjoy! In which section of the newspaper does the passage most probably appear? A. Health. B. News. C. Culture. D. Advertisement. Answer: D. Advertisement. A bear snacks on a tiny bird and the person watching this will know that the bear may be all aside from A. a herbivore B. an omnivore C. a carnivore D. a predator Answer: A. a herbivore A blocked airway can kill someone in three to four minutes, but it can take more than eight minutes for an ambulance to arrive. So a simple procedure such as opening someone's airway can save their life while they're waiting for emergency medical help. This means you're more likely to give first aid to someone you know than a stranger. There are many misconceptions surrounding first aid. Below are the 'most popular' ones with details of what you should do. You should put butter or cream on a burn. The only thing you should put on a burn is cold water - keep the butter for cooking. Put the affected area under cold running water for at least ten minutes. The best way to treat bleeding is to put the wound under a tap. If you put a bleeding wound under a tap you wash away the body's clotting agents and make it bleed more. Instead put pressure on the wound with whatever is available to stop or slow down the flow of blood. As soon as possible call 999. Keep pressure on the wound until help arrives. Nosebleeds are best treated by putting the head back. If you put the head back during a nosebleed, all the blood goes down the back of the airway. Instead advise them to tilt their head forwards and ask the person to pinch the end of their nose and breathe through their mouth. You need lots of training to do first aid. You don't - what you mostly need is common sense. You can learn enough first aid in a few minutes to save someone's life - whether it's from a book, attending a course or watching videos online. Remember: anyone can save a life The most important point to save a person's life is to ensure _ . A. his smooth breath B. ambulances' arriving time C. the quiet surroundings D. emergency medical help Answer: A. his smooth breath The very wealthy English Baron Fitzgerald had only one child, a son, who understandably was the apple of his eye. His wife died when the child was in his early teens. So Fitzgerald devoted himself to (...) fathering the kid. Unfortunately the son died in his late teens. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald's wealth greatly increased. He spent a lot on art works of the masters . Later Fitzgerald himself became seriously ill. Before his death, he had carefully prepared his will as to how his wealth would be settled - to sell his entire collection at an auction . Because of the large quantity and high quality of his collection, a huge crowd of possible buyers gathered for the auction. Many of them were museum directors and private collectors eager to bid . Before the auction, the art works were shown, among which was a painting of Fitzgerald's son by an unknown artist. Because of its poor quality, it received little attention. When it was time for the auction, the auctioneer gaveled the crowd to attention. First the lawyer read from Fitzgerald's will that the first art work to be auctioned was the painting of his son. The poor-quality painting didn't receive any bidders, except one old servant who had served the son and loved him, and who for emotional reasons offered the only bid. As soon as the servant bought the painting for less than one English pound, the auctioneer stopped the bidding and asked the lawyer to read again from the will. The crowd became quiet, and the lawyer read from the will: "Whoever buys the painting of my son gets all my collection." Then the auction was over. Why did the old servant bid for the painting of Fitzgerald's son? A. He was devoted to the family. B. He saw that no one bid for it. C. He knew the content of the will. D. He found it cheap for him to buy. Answer: A. He was devoted to the family. China Completes First Manned Space Docking China successfully achieved its first manned space docking, an important step in the country's quest to launch a space station by around 2020.The Shenzhou-9 spacecraft on Monday docked with China's Tiangong-1 space laboratory. The mission's three astronauts included China's first woman in space, an air force pilot named Liu Yang. China's political leadership has heavily promoted this week's mission as proof of the country's growing clout. Additionally, the Shenzhou-9 mission reinforced China's long-term aspirations for a manned space presence just as the U.S. has significantly drawn down its own manned space program and retired its ageing fleet of space shuttles. The Shenzhou-9 mission is the first time China has sent a person into space since 2008. It follows China's first unmanned space docking last November and is the latest step in a 30-year plan to assemble a space station by around 2020, part of an effort known as Project 921. When Chinese leaders approved a plan for a space station in 1992, 'Chinese space professionals believed they would be latecomers to an expanding human presence in low Earth orbit,' said Gregory Kulacki, a senior analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists, in a recent research note. 'Ironically, by the time they finish their space station in the early 2020s, the Chinese might be the only people left up there.' Washington's decision to end the shuttle program left Russia with a virtual monopoly over manned spaceflight. China's space program, while decades behind the achievements of the U.S. and Russia, has made steady progress in recent years. Its planned space station is expected to come online around 2020, just as the $100 billion International Space Station is expected to cease operation. The U.S., meanwhile, is hoping the private sector can pick up where the shuttle program left off. What may happen in 2020 according to the text? A. America will stop its space research. B. The Chinese might he the only people in space. C. Russia may be the only one over manned spaceflight. D. China may end the Project 921. Answer: B. The Chinese might he the only people in space.
Today's 20-somethings are often called" millennials . " They grew up around the time of the millennium in the year 2000 Are these adults? The law says yes. But societies have their expectations for what being an adult means. Some say today's 20-sometbings are having a" delayed adulthood. " The term "boomerang kids" means young people leave their parents' house but, like a boomerang thrown through the air, later return. Research psychologist Jeffrey Arnett says these terms suggest many Americans are frustrated with 20-somethings. He says Americans should consider the positive aspects. They usually have various school and work experiences or they might. try living in different cities or countries. Cheryssa Jensen Cheryssa Jensen might agree. She says she expected to get married right after college and to find a job near her parents. Instead, she traveled the western part of the U. S. , went to a dozen different cities there. Her job also took her to Taiwan, Sweden and Denmark. After a year of traveling, she was not sure what to do. "Some words were nagging at me, saying, 'What else, what else can you do, what else can you do while you re young?" Julia Shaw Julia Shaw is 28, just a year older than Cheryssa, but very different in the way she has lived her life so far. After college, Julia began her career as a writer. She and her husband have stayed in Washington, and have lived there for the last two years. Julia says many people are surprised that she is married and settled in one place. But she believes she is more free than many other people of her generation and she says marriage has made her life more stable. Though their stories are different, Julia and Cheryssa still have some things in common. Both say their families are proud of them Both say they do not feel pressured by society to follow a particular path. And both say they are happy with their decisions. Julia Shaw and Cheryssa Jensen have something else in common. They have not made a high-paying career their first priority. Instead, most in the survey said the most important things to them are being good parents, having a successful marriage and helping other people. Which of the following terms is NOT used to describe today's 20-somethings? ( ) A. The millennials. B. The lost generation. C. The boomerang kids. D. The delayed adults. Answer: B From the moment that an animal is born it has to make decisions. It has to decide which of the things around it are for eating, and which are to be avoided; when to attack and when to run away. The animal is, in fact, playing a complicated and potentially dangerous game with its environment, discomfort or destruction. This is a difficult and unpleasant business and few animals would survive if they had to start from the beginning and learn about the world wholly by trial and error, for there are too many possible decisions which would prove fatal. So we find, in practice, that the game is always arranged in favor of the young animal in one way or another. Either the animal is protected during the early stages of its learning about the world around it, or the knowledge of which way to respond is built into its nervous system from the start. The fact that animals behave sensibly can be attributed partly to what we might call genetic learning, to distinguish it from individual learning that an animal does in the cause of its own life time. Genetic learning is learning by a species as a whole, and it is achieved by selection of those members of each generation that happen to behave in the right way. However, genetic learning depends upon a prediction that the future will more or less exactly resemble the past. The more variable individual experience is likely to be, the less efficient is genetic learning as a means of getting over the problems of the survival game. It is not surprising to find that very few species indeed depend wholly upon genetic learning. In the great majority of animals, behavior is a compound of individual experience added to the action patterns animals are born with.That is why animals can survive. Most animals survive because they can make right decisions by _ . A. a series of trials and errors B. knowledge obtained in their life time C. the nervous system D. genetic learning and individual experience Answer: D It was a Sunday morning. Peter, a seven-year-old boy, watched TV in the room while his brother Bill did his homework. Their father watered the flowers in the garden and their mother went out to do some shopping. At ten the woman came back with a heavy basket. Peter ran up to her. He wanted to know what his mother bought. He found a bag of oranges in it. He liked them very much and wanted to eat. His mother stopped him. She gave five to each son and went to cook food. Peter ate his oranges soon but his brother was busy doing his homework and didn't eat his. Suddenly the telephone rang and Bill ran to answer it. Bill's friend asked him to play football with them. And when Bill talked with his friend, Peter took two of his oranges away and ate them. Bill found it and called him out and beat him behind the house. Peter didn't tell his parents about it. The next morning Peter's teacher, Mrs Ball, taught the students subtraction . Peter didn't listen to her carefully and couldn't understand it. So he couldn't answer her questions. The teacher began to give him an example, "If your brother has five oranges and you take two from him, what will the result be?" "He'll beat me, madam," answered the boy. All his classmates began to laugh. Peter couldn't answer the teacher's question because _ . A. he was not clever B. he didn't listen to the teacher carefully C. he was not good at maths D. he was thinking about eating oranges Answer: B Amy Pankratz spent a few nights in the hospital with her daughter, Isabella, who caught a bad flu. "Lying in bed beside Isabella, I could hear the cries of children in pain, "says Amy. "It completely broke my heart." When Isabella was getting well and could leave her room, she wore her prized possession--a "superhero cape " Amy had sewn to encourage her--and walked into the hallway. The pink cape was an instant hit with the other young patients, who were doing exercise around the nursing station. "Then, all the kidswere taking turns wearing the cape, giggling, "Amy says. "These were some of the same children I had heard crying the night before, and here they were playing and having fun--kids just being kids!" From that moment on, Amy began making Comfort Capes for little ones battling with serious illnesses. "I felt God presenting an opportunity, "she says. "I hoped Comfort Capes can help these kids feel brave, to lift some of the fear away. " Since then, Amy has made and donated more than 5, 000 capes in the United States. Amy usually pays for materials herself, although she accepts donations. The capes she makes for kids in treatment are different from those her own children have. Before Amy starts to sew she learns what image or character the little boy or girl connects with. "I choose the pattern, color and theme specially for each child," explains Amy. When she is not sewing, Amy is raising awareness of childhood cancers and looking into ways to get Comfort Capes to more kids who need them, "If a cape can help a child, even only for a moment, forget his illness, it's worth the time spent sewing," she says. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage? A. Turning Sick Kids into Superheroes B. How to Treat the Sick Children C. A strong Mom Who Helps Others D. Amy: a Considerate Woman Answer: A An elephant wants to have some friends. He sees a monkey in a tree. "Can you be my friend?" asks the elephant. "You are too big. You can't swing in the tree like me." Then the elephant meets a rabbit. "Please be my friend," he says. "How can I? Sorry, sir. You are strong." The elephant is very _ . Then he goes home. The next day, he sees all the animals running. He doesn't know why. The monkey says a tiger is near here. He will come to eat the animals. The elephant goes to the tiger. "Please, Mr. tiger. Don't eat the animals." "Go away!" says the tiger. The elephant is not happy and kicks the tiger. Then the tiger goes away. At last, all the animals want the elephant to be their friend. Why don't the monkey and the rabbit want the elephant to be their friend? A. Because the elephant is big and strong. B. Because they are strong and big. C. Because the elephant is scared of them. D. Because they are scared of the elephant. Answer: A
In the traditional marriage, the man worked at a job to earn money for the family. Most men worked in an office, a factory, or some other place away from the home. Since the man earned the money, they paid the bills. The money was used for food, -clothes, the house, and other family needs, the man made most of the decisions. He was the boss. In the traditional marriage, the woman seldom worked away from the house. She stayed at home to care for the children and her husband. She cooked meals, cleaned the house, washed the clothes, and did other housework. Her job at home was very important. In recent years, many couples continues to have a traditional relationship of the kind. The man has a job and earns the money for the family. The woman stays at home and cared for the children and the house. Many Americans are happy with the kind of marriage. But some other Americans have a different impression of marriage and family responsibilities. There are two important differences in male and female roles now. One is that both men and women have many more choices. They may choose to marry or to stay single. They may choose to work or stay at home. Both men and women may choose roles that are comfortable for them. A second difference in male and female roles is that within marriage many decisions and responsibilities are shared. The husband and wife may choose to have children, or they may not. If they have children, the man takes care of them some of the time, all of the time or not at all. The woman may want to stay at home and take care of the children, or she may vant to go to work. Men and women now decide these things together in a marriage. Many married people now share these decisions and responsibilities of their families. The following are all now true EXCEPT _ . A they may choose to have children or not B the man may take care of the children some of the time C the woman may want to go to work D the woman is the most important person in the house Answer: D Bill, Frank, Dave and Tom were brothers. Every year they sent their mother expensive gifts on her birthday. They liked to show her how rich they were. The eldest brother, Bill, had lots of money and wanted his mother to have the most expensive gift, but he didn't know what to buy. So he put an ad in the newspaper, "Wanted--the greatest gift for my mother". About a week before his mother's birthday, a man came to his office. He brought a big bird, this bird can speak foreign languages and sing pop songs. The man made the bird talk in French and tell a joke in Japanese. Then the bird sang a beautiful song. The next day, Bill sent the bird to his mother with a birthday card. The day after his mother's birthday, he called his mother, "Well, mother," he asked, "what do you think of the bird?" "Oh, it's very delicious, dear." said his mother. Bill put an ad _ to find the greatest gift. A on the radio B on TV C in the newspaper D on the Internet Answer: C Here are my three photos. This is my friend,Wu Huan.She is a good girl.She is 11 years old.She is in Chongqing with her family.She likes vegetables and chicken.She doesn't like ice cream or strawberries. This is me.My name is Chen Ming. I am 12 years old.I am a middle school student in Suzhou.I like eating fruit and vegetables. But I don't like eggs or carrots. This is my friend,too.His name is Doudou. He is in Suzhou with me. He likes bones( ). He doesn't like vegetables .He likes playing with balls. He is a nice dog! : Doudou likes _ . A ice cream B bones C vegetables D eggs Answer: B When I was a kid in Minnesota, watermelon was expensive. One of my father's friends, Bernie, was a rich businessman, who owned a large store in St. Paul. Every summer, when the first watermelons arrived, Bernie would call. Dad and I would go to Bernie's place. We' d sit on the edge of the dock , feet dangling , and got ready for a big meal. Bernie would take his knife, cut our first watermelon, hand us both a big piece and sit down next to us. Then we'd bury our faces in watermelon, eating only the heart--the reddest, juiciest, firmest, sweetest, most seed-free part--and throw away the rest. Bernie was my father's idea of a rich man. I always thought it was because he was such a successful businessman. Years later, I realized that it was not Bernie's wealth itself but his way of dealing with it that my father liked. Bernie knew how to stop working, get together with friends and eat only the heart of the watermelon. What I learned from Bernie is that being rich is a state of mind. Some of us, no matter how much money we have, will never be free enough to eat only the heart of the watermelon. If you don't take the time to dangle your feet over the dock and enjoy life's small pleasure, your work is probably hurting your life. For many years, I forgot that lesson I'd learned as a kid on the loading dock. I was too busy making all the money I could. Well, I've relearned it. I hope I have time left to enjoy the success of others and to take pleasure in the day. That's _ . I have learned again to throw the rest away. In the eyes of the writer's father, Bernie _ . A was just a rich businessman B worked hard all the time C lived a rich but healthy life D knew how to make money Answer: C It is growing dark as Daniel and I walk along the path. "I would be afraid to be out at this time in London," he says. "I would be frightened of being attacked." I am spending the day with 16-year-old Daniel and six other pupils from Burlington Danes School on a farm in Bath. Most of them have never been in the countryside, and have spent the past week feeding cows and going for long winter walks. They are here on Jamie's Farm. Started by Feilden, it aims to give inner-city children the experience of rural life. The children, many of whom have been in gangs or in trouble with the police, stay for a week in the Feildens' family home. According to Feilden, not a single item has been lost, stolen or broken in the farm. As his mother says, "I think the beauty here helps them." Or as 16-year-old Daniel says, "I like to be here. It smells all fresh." The pupils rise early to feed the cows, ping, chickens and horses, before eating a cooked breakfast. Following this comes more farm work, lunch, more work, a long walk, supper and finally bed. They love it. "It is great not having a phone," explains one. "I focus so much better." Many speak of how the diet has changed their mood and others of how much they like feeding the animals. The idea for the farm came when Feilden was working as a teacher in a "challenging" Croydon school. Most of the pupils had never been beyond the town, let alone into the countryside. Feilden felt farming could help. "It gave the pupils something to do besides fighting." It is, of course, not a _ -- a troubled child will still be a troubled child -- but Feilden says it still worthwhile. "If all we achieve is to show them the beauty of the countryside, then I think we've achieved a lot." According to Feilden's mother, the children didn't cause any trouble while staying in the farm because _ . A it smells fresh on the farm B they focus much better without having their phones C they have other things to do besides fighting D the beauty of the farm changes them Answer: D
Do you remember the good old days? Innocent times spent sharing documents and executable files without a care in the world. Okay, every month or so you might encounter a boot sector virus -- but they were easy to deal with even if the anti-virus software didn't pick them up. But those long lazy summers disappeared too fast. Macro viruses made Information Technology (IT) administrators grow up fast as they realized there was a type of virus which could spread very quickly throughout an organization. It wasn't unusual to find hundreds of computers within personal company infected by viruses transmitted via email attachments. The IT staff were amongst the fittest departments in your company, running from Personal Computer (PC) to the next cleaning them up. There had to be a better way. Companies now realize that viruses aren't "urban myths", and can have a serious impact on their operations. They invest in anti-virus software on the desktops, servers and email gateways and even put in place procedures to ensure their anti-virus is up-to-date with the very latest detection routines. It sounds like companies have put in place adequate defenses to protect against viruses. But have they? Anti-virus software detects most of the viruses your users are likely to encounter -- often without the user even knowing. However, the software must be updated regularly, preferably daily in any large company. Even then, a very new virus can infect your users. With the rapid transmission of files through networks and the Internet, a virus can spread a considerable distance before it can be identified and protected against. Fortunately, only a few viruses ever do this but the likes of Melissa and the Love Bug can inflict serious damage before their progress is stopped. While employees become suddenly aware during the ensuing media excitement, they soon forget about the virus threat as the stories disappear from the news headlines. This is the danger. Complacency can set in when there is no perceived "action" on the virus front with no global crisis, and the importance of being vigilant about viruses recedes in your users' minds. They forget what the big deal was in the first place -- after all, anti-virus software deals with the viruses, doesn't it? And isn't it the IT department's job to look after this sort of thing? Before you know it your users are opening unsolicited attachments once more, downloading unauthorized software, and putting your company's data and credibility at risk. All because the users think that they are working in a safe environment. Employees see anti-virus software, firewalls and IT departments as guarantees that their computers will work and be safe. Of course, there aren't any guarantees. Anti-virus software plays one, albeit important, part in the defense of your company from malicious attack but the security of your computer system is only as strong as the weakest link. And that, more often than not, is the human factor. No employer wants to come across as a killjoy or an ogre. Most will willingly accept that the happiest employees are those who feel that they are respected and trusted by their employer. Many companies accept that employees will send and receive a certain amount of personal email and make the odd personal telephone call. However, the worry comes when employees start risking company security in pursuit of personal amusement. Funny screensavers and games downloaded from the Internet can seem harmless enough but they could easily be harboring a dangerous virus. Software downloaded from the net is often unlicensed and unsupported, and may cause conflicts with existing software in use at your company. Unlicensed, pirated software is an ideal vector for a computer virus. Virus writers and hackers often use such software as the ideal "kick-start" for their virus distribution. It is vitally important that employees be educated about the virus threat but this cannot be a one-off event. The potential threat should always be in the back of an employee's mind and precautionary measures should be taken as a matter of course. There is no harm in reminding people about what could happen if they let their guard down. In the end, education is the key to a virus-free environment and this is a continual process. It may not be the most exciting thing on the agenda but it works. The lesson is simple. You can have the best software in the world protecting your company's defenses; you can even be the biggest IT company in the world; but without your users practicing safe computing they will always be the weakest link. Which of the following best summarizes the main idea of the passage? A Employees welcome the free software available on the Internet and they download a lot of it. B Employees should be constantly warned about virus threats to ensure the normal functioning of the company's computer system. C Employees like to take advantage of the facilities in their companies to handle their personal matters. D Employees take anti-virus software, firewalls and IT staff as guarantees for the normal functioning of their PCs. Answer: B. Employees should be constantly warned about virus threats to ensure the normal functioning of the company's computer system. "Where is Papa going with that ax ?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast. "Out to the hoghouse," replied Mrs. Arable. "Some pigs were born last night." "I don't see why he needs an ax," continued Fern, who was only eight. "Well," said her mother, "one of the pigs is a runt . It's very small and weak. So your father has decided to do away with it." "Do away with it?" shouted Fern. "You mean kill it?" "Don't shout, Fern!" she said. "Your father is right. The pig would probably die anyway." Fern pushed a chair out of the way and ran outdoors. The grass was wet and the earth smelled springtime. Fern's shoes were wetting by the time she caught up with her father. "Please don't kill it! It's unfair," she said. Mr. Arable stopped. "Fern," he said gently, "you will have to learn to control yourself." "This is a matter of life and death, and you talk about controlling myself." Tears ran down her cheeks and she took hold of the ax and tried to pull it out of her father's hand. "Fern," said Mr. Arable, "I know more about raising a group of pigs than you do. A weak pig makes trouble." "But it's unfair," cried Fern. "The pig couldn't help being born small. If I had been very small at birth, would you have killed me?" Mr. Arable smiled. "Certainly not," he said, looking down at his daughter with love. "But this is different. It's a pig." "There is no difference," replied Fern. What puzzled Fern at the beginning? A Why her father refused to eat breakfast. B If the hoghouse was big enough for many pigs. C How pigs were born at night. D What his father would do with an ax. Answer: D. What his father would do with an ax. Which relationship is true? A a soccer pitch slows the ball down via magic B a soccer pitch slows the ball down because it is wet C a soccer pitch slows the ball down because there is always wind D a soccer pitch slows the ball down via friction Answer: D. a soccer pitch slows the ball down via friction It was the last day of final exams in a university. On the steps of one building, a group of engineering students were discussing the exam. On their faces was confidence . This was their last exam and then they would graduate. With all these four years of college behind them, they felt ready to go into the world. The professor had said they could bring any book or note they wanted, but they could not talk to each other. They went into the classroom happily. The professor gave them the papers. They smiled when they found that there were only five questions. Three hours passed and the professor began to collect the papers. The students no longer looked so confident . The professor faced the class. No one spoke. They just held papers in their hands. The professor then asked, "How many of you finished all five questions?" Not a hand was raised. "How many answered four?" Still no hand. "Three? Two?" The students looked worried in their seats. "One, then?" Certainly somebody finished one. However, nobody replied. The professor put down the papers. "That is just what I thought," he said. "I just want to tell you that, even though you have finished four years of engineering, there are still many things about the subject you don't know. These questions you could not answer are quite common in everyday practice." Then he added with a smile, "You will all pass this course, but remember----even though you are now college graduates, your education has just begun." When did the story happen? A At the beginning of a new term. B After graduating from the university. C On the first day of the final exams. D On the last day of the final exams. Answer: D. On the last day of the final exams. In February 2006, Lydia Angyiou and her two sons were walking through their village in northern Canada. The sound of children shouting made her turn around. To her horror, Lydia saw a 700-pound polar bear behind her eyeing her seven-year-old son. Getting between the bear and her child, Lydia yelled at the children to run away. She then began hitting and kicking the animal as hard as she could. A neighbor who heard all the noise came and shot the bear. But everyone agreed it was Lydia who had saved her children's lives. A local policeman described it this way: "... I guess when your back is up against the wall, ... we come up with super-human strength." Where does this "super-human strength", courage and quick thinking come from? Experts say it comes from stress! In stressful situations, the body releases chemicals that prepare it to take action. These chemicals give people the speed and strength they need to fight danger or run away from it. When we think of stress, we usually think of its negative effects. Studies, though, show that moderate levels of stress are actually helpful. In fact, the way we perform is usually affected by the amount of stress we feel. Stress causes the brain to release adrenaline which in turn increases our energy and excitement. The chemical gives us clearer minds and helps us to do more. This is why some people say they work better under a deadline. Adrenaline that is not released for long periods of time can cause us to increase and strengthen our abilities instead of weakening them. We sometimes turn out our very best work when we push ourselves to the limit. Stress can also make us more confident. Handling small amounts of stress now prepares us for handling serious situations in the future. Who knows? Today's stress may even prepare for the next polar bear that comes along! What does the policeman probably mean by saying "your back is up against the wall"? A You are helped. B You are inspired. C You are confident. D You are cornered. Answer: D. You are cornered.
It's you and I who are to blame for the state of the earth. No question about it. It's our life-style that is threatening life on Earth, so we must make the changes. The good news is that many of those changes are really quite simple, even enjoyable, but for every careful step we take as individuals , we must press government and industry to take a big step on our benefit . And we must start now. Tomorrow's too late. My aim this year is to persuade as many of my friends and colleagues as possible to choose the train, and leave their cars behind too. My gardens have been pesticide -free zones for years and I enjoy seeing more wildlife on my doorstep as a result; I've tried to reduce my contribution to water pollution too, by using environment-friendly, phosphate -free washing powder , and by no longer thinking of the toilet as a suitable waste-disposal point . I ran after a young lady through town recently to give her back the piece of paper she had carelessly thrown away. She disappeared into a shop, and when I followed her inside and made my presentation, she was doubly embarrassed--she worked there, and the boss gave her a ticking-off too. I've started asking fellow drivers at gas stations why they aren't using unleaded petrol . These are small things, but we have to start somewhere, and every little does help . The purpose of this passage is to_. A persuade his friends to take the train B inform us of the good news C make clear who is responsible for the environment D try to advise us all to protect our environment Answer: D. try to advise us all to protect our environment Has anyone noticed how, with the passage of time, one's relationship with one's grown-up daughters and sons becomes changed? I've been aware of this for some time but I'm not quite sure how to deal with it. Take the kitchen sink for example. Following a family get-together at my place, I walked into the kitchen to find Kate, my daughter carefully cleaning the sink. "Don't do that; what are you doing that for?" I said, unhappy about the hidden criticism. "Mum," she said, "you really ought to put your glasses on when you clean the sink. Behind the tap here was black!" But it's not just things like kitchen sinks. Another time Kate arrived to pick me up to lunch. She looked at me and then asked, "Mum, why do you use brown eyebrow pencil when your hair is grey?" A sudden memory of her, aged 14, going to her first mixed party flooded back. She had come in to say goodbye. For a moment I thought she'd been an accident. Both eyes were black. I remember suggesting that perhaps a little less eye make-up might be more effective. Now I told her, "My hair used to be brown." "It looks absurd." "Mrs. Menzies had dark eyebrows with grey hair." "Yes, but you're not Mrs. Menzies, are you?" she said triumphantly, as if that proved her point. But a recent event made me realize that something really must be done. She had returned some for a few weeks before getting married. One evening I went out on a dinner date. By the time my companion left me at the front door, it was about 2am. As I stepped in, an angry figure in a white nightgown stopped me. "Well, what time of night is this to be coming home?" she shouted. "Where have you been? I've been worried sick!" Shades of the past come back to disturb me. But what should I do about all this? Nothing, probably. Maybe, after all, it's only a stage young people are going through. The daughter thought her mother didn't clean the kitchen sink well because of her_. A laziness B carelessness C unhappiness D poor-quality glasses Answer: B. carelessness By now, we are all aware that social media has had a tremendous influence on our culture, in business, on the world-at-large. Social media websites revolutionized the way people communicate and socialize on the Web. However, aside from seeing your friends' new baby on Facebook, or reading about Justin Bieber's latest conflict with the law on Twitter, what are some of the real influences? Social networks offer the opportunity for people to re-connect with their old friends and acquaintances, make new friends, share ideas and pictures, and many other activities. Users can keep pace with the latest global and local developments, and participate in campaigns and activities of their choice. Professionals use social media sites like LinkedIn to enhance their career and business development. Students can work together with their peers to improve their academic and communication skills. Unfortunately, there are a few downsides too to social networking. If you are not careful, immoral people can target you for cyber bullying and disturbance on social sites. School children, young girls, and women can fall victim to online attacks which can create tension and suffering. If you are a victim of cyber bullying, do not take it lying down, but try to take appropriate legal action against the attacker. Many companies have blocked social networks as addicted employees can distract themselves on such sites, instead of focusing on work. In fact, studies show that British companies have lost billions of dollars per year in productivity because of social media addiction among employees. Also, what you carelessly post on the Net can come back to trouble you. Revealing( ) personal information on social sites can make users vulnerable to crimes like identity theft, stalking, etc. Many companies perform a background check on the Web before hiring an employee. If a potential employee has posted something embarrassing on social media, it can greatly affect their chances of getting the job. The same holds true for our relationships too, as our loved ones and friends may get to know if we post something undesirable on social networks. Social media has its advantages and drawbacks as each coin has two sides. It is up to each user to use social sites wisely to enhance their professional and social life, and exercise caution to ensure they do not fall victim to online dangers. Faced with problems caused by social media, some companies _ . A take legal action against the attackers B avoid posting embarrassing information C refuse to hire potential addicted employees D forbid the use of social networks during work time Answer: D. forbid the use of social networks during work time Born in 1983 in Arizona, US, Jessica has learned to live her life with her feet. She was born without arms, and no doctors could figure out why. There were many questions at the time about whether Jessica would be able to live a "normal" life. However, Jessica ' s father said , "I have never shed a tear about her birth condition. " With the support of her parents and family, Jessica became confident in herself as an adult and continued to explore the world with her feet. As a child, Jessica studied dance in her home town. When the first performance arrived, she asked to be put in the back row. Her dance teacher told her there was no back row. Nervously, she took the stage with the other students and performed her routine. When she finished, the applause from the audience gave her encouragement and the confidence to continue dancing for 14 years. After graduating from high school, Jessica attended the University of Arizona, where she earned a bachelor' s degree in Psychology. When talking about her major, she frequently explainsthat psychology has a great effect on her life, helping her out of a physical limitation. During college, Jessica signed up for a club of Taekwondo and learned all of the color1 belt material. The instructors created a course that would be accessible to any future armless students. Jessica became the first armless person to earn a black belt in the club. Jessica' s most famous accomplishment was learning how to fly. It took three states, four airplanes, two flight instructors and a discouraging year to find the right aircraft. She received the Cuinness World Record for being the first person permitted to fly an airplane with only her feet. Now Jessica works as a motivational lecturer. She travels the world sharing her story and encouraging people to be creative with the slogan "Think outside the shoe." From what Jessica' s father said. we know that A he showed sympathy to her B he had confidence in her C he lost hope in her D he felt sorry about her Answer: B. he had confidence in her Half a year before graduation from college, my son David began to seek a job. Due to the financial crisis, the competition was ever-fierce. My son targeted a company that was located in a coastal city. It was intended to employ only one person among more than twenty candidates, I said to David, "You should not harbor too much hope for fear that you would feel terribly disappointed when you fail." He said to me, "I am not afraid of disappointment. As long as I try, there will always be hope!" Three young men could enter the final round, which would later decide one person to be employed. Everything seemed to go quite well and David entered the final round in a week. Unexpectedly, the interview was unbelievably simple, during which the interviewer only chatted with them for a while. The interview strategies my son prepared were not useful at all. The interviewer said the company would inform them of the result in 3 days. On the morning of the third day, David received the text from the company that he was not employed. David felt disappointed. In nightfall that day, David suddenly told me excitedly on phone that he had been employed. Greatly surprised, I asked him, "What's the whole matter?" David told me that he received another text saying that he was employed. David felt very confused about it. Later he found out the first text sent to him was also part of the test in the interview. Three men received the same text this morning and only David's reply was satisfying to the company. I asked my son, "How did all of you reply?" My son said, "One did not reply. The other said "goodbye" and I said "thank you"." Only then did I know that my son's "hope" came in that way. That is, when you feel disappointed, do not forget to say "Thank you" to the one who disappoints you. Actually, it is a piece of cake to say "Thank you". Saying "Thank you" shows respect for others' work and demonstrates your grand generosity. Therefore, while under the same condition, you will get the upper hand in terms of opportunities compared with others! Which of the following is True about David's final round interview? A David was nervous because the competition was really fierce. B David's preparations for the interview were not used. C The three young men performed equally well. D The result was announced on the spot. Answer: B. David's preparations for the interview were not used.
Almost everyone stood when the bride walked down the aisle in her white dress,but not the wedding conductor,because she was fixed on her chair. The wedding was led by "IFairy",a 1.5meter tall seated robot with flashing eyes and plastic hair. Sunday's wedding was the first time a marriage had been led by a robot,according to manufacturer,Kokoro Co. "Please lift the bride's veil ," the robot said in a tinny voice,waving its arms in the air as the newlymarried couple kissed in front of about 50 guests. The wedding took place at a restaurant in Hibiya Park in central Tokyo,where the IFairy wore flowers and directed a rooftop ceremony. Wires led out from beneath it to a black curtain a few feet away,where a man clicked commands into a computer. Japan has one of the most advanced robotics industries in the world,with the government actively supporting the field for future growth. Industrial models in factories are now standard,but recently Japanese companies have been making a push to inject robots into everyday life. Honda makes a walking childshaped robot,and other firms have developed robots to entertain the elderly or play baseball. Kokoro,whose corporate goal is to "touch the hearts of the people",also makes giant dinosaur robots for exhibitions and lifelike Android models that can smile and laugh. The company is a subcompany of Sanrio Co.,which owns the rights to Hello Kitty and other Japanese characters. "This was a lot of fun. I think that Japanese people have a strong sense that robots are our friends. Those in the robot industry mostly understand this,but people mainly want robots near them to serve some purpose," said the bride,Satoko Inoue,36,who works at Kokoro. The IFairy sells for about 6.3 million yen ($68,000) and three are in use in Singapore,the US and Japan,according to company spokeswoman,Kayako Kido. What do people mainly expect robots to do? Answer: Meet their own requirements. Peter is a tall boy. He is 1.8 meters tall. He lives in Canada. On Sunday morning he likes to go to see his friend. Her name is Alan. She is a girl. She has a good garden . There are many trees and rose in the garden. They are apple trees oranges trees and other fruit trees. There are lots of fruits on the trees. There are many birds in the garden, too. They are happy. The birds sing in the trees. Peter and Alan listen to the birds and sing songs with them. They draw pictures of birds. It's lunch-time. They are hungry. They go to a restaurant. Peter would like some dumplings. Alan wants to have a bowl of noodles. They order them for lunch. Peter _ . Answer: has a girl friend The Winter Olympics is also called the White Olympics. At that time, many color1ful stamps are published to mark the great Games. The first stamp marking the opening of the White Olympics was issued on January 25th, 1932 in the United states to celebrate the 3rd White Olympics. From then on, issuing stamps during the White Olympics became a tradition. To observe the 4th Winter Olympic Games, a group of stamps were published in Germany in November, 1935. The five rings of the Olympics were printed on the front of the sportswear. It was the first time that the symbol appeared on stamps of the Winter Olympics. In the 1950s, the stamps of this kind became more color1ful. When the White Olympics came, the host countries as well as the non-host countries published stamps to mark those Games. China also published four stamps in February, 1980, when the Chinese sportsmen began to march into the area of the Winter Olympics. Japan is the only Asian country that has ever held the White Olympics. Altogether 14,500 million stamps were sold to raise funds for the sports meet. Different kinds of sports were represented on these small stamps. People can enjoy the beauty of the wonderful movements of the athletes. In the 1950s, when the White Olympics came, _ published stamps. Answer: not only the host countries but also the non-host countries Rhea is a moon of Saturn. Which of these facts about Rhea best indicates that it does not have a water cycle in which water changes state? Answer: Its temperature is between -174°C and -220°C. Are your children liked by their teachers? All parents want their children to impress(...) their teachers and succeed in school. You can get your children to impress their teachers by following these easy steps. Make sure they're prepared. Teachers are impressed by children coming to school prepared to learn. Make sure they have everything they need--pencils textbooks, erasers and so on. Require them to be active in class. Teach them to ask teachers questions when they don't understand something. Some children think teachers are bothered by questions, but most teachers are impressed when children take the initiative in asking questions. They should take part in class discussions, giving their opinions politely. Keep your children healthy. If your children are tired and hungry, they won't be ready to learn. Children need at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. Feed your children a solid breakfast and prepare a healthy lunch. Provide them with fruit and other healthy foods--apples or bananas are better for them than cookies. Make sure that your children do their homework. If they really don't understand it, discuss it with them patiently. Don't help them do their homework. Teachers can always tell who it is that does the work. Teach your children good manners and habits. Children need to arrive at the school punctually, and be polite to their teachers and classmates. Parents need to teach these skills at home. Nothing is sweeter than children who say "please" and "thank you", and these are children their teachers are certain to love. Which of the following statements is NOT true? Answer: Teachers aren't able to decide if parents do homework for their children.
My color1 television has given me nothing but a headache.I was able to buy it a little over a year ago because I had my s give me money for my birthday instead of a lot of clothes that wouldn't fit.I let a salesclerk fool me into buying a discontinued model.I realized this a day later,when I saw newspaper advertisements for the set at seventy-five dollars lessthan I had paid. The set worked so beautifully when I first got it home that I would keep it on until stations signed off for the night. Fortunately, I didn't get any channels showing all-night movies or I would never have gotten to bed. Then I started developing a problem with the set that involved static noise. For some reason,when certain shows switched into a commercial, a loud noise would sound for a few seconds. Gradually,this noise began to appear during a show, and to get rid of it,I had to change to another channel and then change it back.Sometimes this technique would not work,and I had to pick up the set and shake it to remove the sound. I actually began to build up my arm muscles shaking my set. When neither of these methods removed the static noise,I would sit helplessly and wait for the noise to go away.At last I ended up hitting the set with my fist,and it stopped working altogether .My trip to the repair shop cost me $62, and the set is working well now,but I keep expecting more trouble. How did the author finally get his TV set working again? Answer: By having it repaired. Can you make animals work for us? Some scientists think that one day we can teach animals to do a lot of things for people. In a film shown on TV, you may see elephants, monkeys, tigers or some other animals are always given a little food to eat after they have done something. Scientists say that people can teach many different animals to do some of the easy work if they know they will get something to eat. We all know elephants can carry large logs ,and dogs can look after houses. And we even teach animals to work in factories. In America, for example, people have used to help make cars and scientists think that those large monkeys may drive trains one day. Now people are trying to get them to do the same thing that man does. Scientists are planning to make big monkeys to _ . Answer: drive trains Players Wanted Are you good at playing basketball? Can you play ping-pong or soccer? Can you swim very well? If so, you are welcome to join our school sports team. Please call Victor at 8863543 or send an email to sports@ yahoo.com. Dancers Wanted Can you dance? Do you like kids? Can you help them with dancing on weekends? Come and join us. Call Tom at 3854922 for more information. Chess Club Do you like playing chess? Mr. Wang can teach you. He gives lessons here every Friday afternoon.Tel: 8358939 .Add: Room 102 in School's P. E. Building. Let's Learn Japanese Can you speak Japanese? Do you want to learn Japanese? Join the Japanese club now. Time: 2:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m.( from Monday to Friday ) Call Mary at 6253928. What does Mr. Wang teach? Answer: Chess. Many of the world's famous cities are known by some special names. Paris is known as the "City of Light". Hong Kong is the "Wall Street of Asia". One small city in Pennsylvania may be the sweetest place on Earth. That is town of Hershey, which is known as the "Chocolate Town". It is named after Milton Hershey, the founder of the largest chocolate factory in the world. Milton Hershey built his first candy factory in the early 1900s. At the time, Hershey was developing a technique for milk chocolate. Eventually he succeeded. Hershey was also the first to produce individually wrapped chocolate bars. His factory grew and produced more and more types of chocolate. To this day, Hershey's chocolate factory is the largest in the world. Hershey used his success to give back to the community. He built a town around the factory for his employees. He gave streets fun names like Chocolate Avenue. He built schools, parks and shops. This generous man gave millions of dollars to charity. He built an amusement park with rides, trains for children and a swimming pool. Over the years, the town grew. People from near and far came to visit this special town, whose beauty and fame continue to attract lots of tourists. Every year close to three million tourists visit the Chocolate Town. Today visitors to the city can enjoy a variety of attractions and activities. The Hershey chocolate factory offers tours. Visitors can learn all about chocolate and how it is made. A gift shop sells all kinds of chocolate and toys made to look like chocolate. Even if you don't buy a souvenir, there is one thing that is impossible to forget: the wonderful _ of fresh chocolate everywhere. In this special place even the streetlights are shaped like chocolate. Another attraction is the Hershey Hotel. It has an unusual mineral spring where guests can enjoy a variety of special treatments. The treatments all have one thing in common: chocolate. What can we know about Milton Hershey? Answer: He cared about his employees. Recently in the hope of earning both money and social experience, I became a door-trw door salesman. I once read a saying. "If somebody wants something of yours, you will be treated as warmly as spring, but if they don't you may be treated as coldly as winter." You may consider this an exaggeration , but if you are a salesman, it is clearly correct. You would never have found it to be so true if you hadn't been a salesman. You needn't stand doubtful looks and unfriendly comments; you needn't listen to something completely wrong and nod to say that it was quite right, you needn't worry about being refused time after time; you needn't always keep patience and a smile; you needn't repeat the same sentences over and over again; you needn't talk to somebody you dislike .... I did this work for a month, then I decided to give it up; Apart from the reasons above, I found I was paying too much attention to the job and thus sacrificing my study time. The latest test result proved that my grades were getting worse. Even worse, I hadn't enough time to join my classmates in college activities. Some times 1 felt lonely and unhappy because of both my study and my part-time job. Now I don't think it is worth doing such a thing for even though I was earning money it came at great cost. Newspapers and magazines often publish stories about excellent students who do part-time work while also keeping high scores in class. But according to my experience, park-time work can have some strong negative influences on study. Most students don't view the relationship between study and work correctly. In my opinion, if it isn't a must for financial reasons, students should be careful about taking up a part-time job. The writer thought _ . Answer: it was hard to deal with the relationship between study and work
Question: Life in the future will be different from life today.Between then and now many changes will happen.But what will the changes be? The population is growing fast.There will be many people in the world and most of them will live longer than people live now. Computers will be much smaller and more useful,and there will be at least one in every home.And computer studies will be one of the important subjects in schools then.People will work fewer hours than they do now and they will have more free time for sports,watching TV and traveling.Traveling will be much cheaper and easier.And many more people will go to other countries for holidays. There will be changes in our food,too.More land will be used for building new towns and houses for all the people.Then there will be less room for cows and sheep,so meat will be more expensive.Maybe no one will eat it every day.Instead,they will eat more fruits and vegetables.Maybe people will be healthier.Work in the future will be different,too.Robots will do dangerous and hard work.Because of this,many people will not have enough work to do.This will be a problem. In the future people don't have to _ . A. work long hours B. work fast C. walk on foot D. eat meat Answer: A. work long hours Question: Everyone needs friends. There is an old saying "Friends are God's way of taking care of us." But how do you find real friendship and keep it? The American writer Sally Seamans tells young students some smart ways to find friends. Sally says finding friendship is just like planting a tree. You plant the seed and take care of it to make it grow. First, you should choose a friend. What good friends should you make? It's not because a person has money or good looks. A good friend should be kind and _ For example, if you have a bad day, a good friend should listen to your complains and do his or her best to help. To make a friend, you can not be too shy. You should make each other happy and share your lives. But things cannot always be happy. Even the best have fights. What should you do when you have a fight with your friend? You have to talk to him or her. When there is no one around, have an honest talk. If he or she doesn't want to talk, you could write a letter. There are three steps to being friends again: Tell him or her how you are feeling ; say what your friend has done wrong, and explain why you did this or that. Remember that friendship is the most important thing in your life. ,. (5,2,10) According to the text, you can _ your friend after a fight. A. buy a present for B. never say a word to C. have dinner with D. write a letter to Answer: D. write a letter to Question: Nobody likes staying at home in a public holiday, especially when the weather is fine. Last august we decided to spend the day in the country. The only difficulty was that millions of other people had exactly the same idea. We moved out of the city slowly behind a long line of cars. But at last we came to a quiet country road and after some time, stopped at a lonely farm. We had brought plenty of food with us and we got it out of the car. It was very peaceful in the cool grass until we heard ringing at the top of the hill. What we saw made us pick up our things and run back to the car as quickly as possible. There were about two hundred sheep coming towards us down the path. The family stopped at a lonely farm _ . A. to watch sheep B. to have a meal C. to visit someone D. to find something Answer: B. to have a meal Question: "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. One of Sonia's friends wanted a divorce because _ . A. she thought her husband was not clever enough B. her husband always opened her letters C. her husband always looked through her purse D. her husband didn't respect her right to privacy Answer: D. her husband didn't respect her right to privacy Question: What is the sky? Where is it? How high is it? What lies above it? These questions are difficult to answer, aren't they? Is the sky blue? The sky has no colour. We know that there is air around the world. When planes fly, they need air to lift their wings. Planes cannot fly very high because when they go higher, the air gets thinner. If we go up about 1,200 kilometres from the earth, we find there is no air. Perhaps we can answer some of our questions now. The sky is space. In this space there is only the sun, the moon and all the stars. In space there is _ . A. nothing B. air everywhere C. everything D. only the sun, the moon and all the stars Answer: D. only the sun, the moon and all the stars
If you want to walk in the footsteps of some of the world's greatest figures, then go to Oxford. Many of Oxford's 38 colleges are open to the public year-round. Here are a few of the colleges worth visiting and some famous people who have studied there. Christ Church College Long before it became known as a location for the Harry Potter films, Christ Church was the college where Albert Einstein, author Charles Dodgson who wrote Alice in Wonderland, and 13 British prime ministers studied. In this large and popular college, you can see the paintings in the 16th-century Great Hall. Magdalen College Many consider Magdalen to be one of the most beautiful Oxford's colleges. This is where author Oscar Wilde read his classics course. You can enjoy the medieval church with its 15th-century tower. Opposite the college is the beautiful Botanic Garden founded in 1621. Merton College Founded in 1264, Merton has the oldest medieval library in use. J. R. R. Tolkien is said to have spent many hours here writing The Lord of the Rings. One of the college's treasures is an astrolabe ,thought to have belonged to Chaucer. The college has the most amazing collection of medieval colored glass in Oxford. Bodleian Library The Bodleian Library, the main research library of the University of Oxford, is the largest university library in the UK. It is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library. It holds more than 9 million printed items on 189 km of shelving and seats up to 2,500 readers. The users of the library here include five kings, 40 Nobel Prize winners, 25 British prime minister and countless famous writers. What do we know about the Bodleian Library? A It lies in Magdalen College. B It is the most famous library in the UK. C It has a collection of 2,500 kinds of books. D It is smaller than the British Library. Answer: D. It is smaller than the British Library. Have you ever wondered why stems grow upwards and roots downwards? Why plants always seem to turn, towards the light and climbing plants run up rather than down? The answer is simple:auxin,a chemical substance that controls growth in plants. Auxin gives away its secrets Auxin is a plant hormone . Darwin was already interested in it in the 19th century. Only in recent years, however, has the hormone started to give away its secrets ,thanks to intensive molecular research.Auxin is produced in the young,growing parts of plants and then transported throughout the plant-to a low -lying stem for example. The stem needs to straighten out as soon as possible to be able to absorb the topside,resulting in the underside growing faster and the stem straightening out. For the same reason, plants in front of windows will always turn to the light . This active regulation of auxin transport allows plants to take ideal advantage of local and changing conditions. A new means of transport for auxin? The transport of auxin through the plant plays a vital role. And ,from all appearances,it is not a simple matter. The researchers identified an important new link and means of transport for auxin: PILS proteins . PILS proteins are vital for auxin-dependent plant growth and adjust the intracellular storage of the hormone. It is exactly this compartmentalizing of auxin that seems functionally important for the various developmental processes. Growing crops more efficiently: the right amount of auxin in the right place Higher auxin levels at the right moment and in the right place result in better growth and greater harvest. Better adjustment of auxin levels would make plants grow more efficiently. The researchers hope to contribute to the development of more efficient growing processes by continuing to sort out auxin transport processes. Which of the following is true of ausin according to the text? A It helps the plant to bend at the right places while growing. B It prevents the roots of plants from growing faster. C It is no use when the surroundings have changed. D It helps the underside of plants grow faster than the topside. Answer: D. It helps the underside of plants grow faster than the topside. Comparing an arid acre to a jungle acre, the jungle acre will host A less moisture B excesses of moisture C fewer water droplets D less fluid Answer: B. excesses of moisture A child's birthday party doesn't have to be a _ ; it can be a basket of fun, according to Beth Anaclerio, an Evaston mother of two, ages 4 and 18 months. "Having a party at home usually requires a lot of running around on the part of the parents, and often the birthday boy or girl gets lost in wild excitement. But it really doesn't have to be that way," said Anaclerio. Last summer, Anaclerio and her friend Jill Carlisle, a Northbrook mother of a 2-year -old, founded a home party-planning business called "A Party in a Basket." Their goal is to help parents and children share in the fun part of party planning, like choosing the subject or making a cake, while they take care of everything. Drawing on their experiences as mothers, they have created 10 ready-to-use, home party packages. Everything a family needs to plan a party, except the cake and ice cream, is delivered to the home in a large basket. "Our parties are aimed for children 2 to 10, " Anaclerio said, "and they're very interactive and creative in that they build a sense of drama based on a subject. For example, at the Soda Shoppe party the guests become waiters and waitresses and build wonderful ice cream creations." The standard $ 200 package for eight children includes a basket filled with invitations, gifts, games and prizes, paper goods, a party planner and the like. For more information, call Anaclerio at 708-864-6584 or Carlisle at 708-205-9141. The main purpose of writing this text is _ . A to share information about party planning B to introduce the joys of a birthday party C to announce a business plan D to sell a service Answer: D. to sell a service A person is celebrating a new baby and family is happily celebrating as well. The family is glad that the person who had the baby is A a corpse B a child C a monster D an adult Answer: D. an adult
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. It can be inferred from the passage that Yocum and Bell _ . Answer: got inspiration from decorating their old building Visit Dongqian Lake Zoo Come and see big elephants from Yunnan and tigers from the northeast. The African giraffes are waiting for you. Clever monkeys are going to make you laugh. A lot of other animals you have never seen are waiting to meet you. Tickets: Grown-ups: Y=80 Children: Y=40 Under Six: Free Opening Hours From Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m.---4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 a.m.---5:30 p.m. Keep the zoo clean. Do not feed or go near to the animals. Now Mr. and Mrs. King are going to the zoo with their seven-year-old son and five-year-old daughter. How much will they pay for the tickets? Answer: Two hundred yuan. On October 31st, 2009, Chinese famous scientist Qian Xuesen, died in Beijing when he was 98 years old. He is famous as "the country's father of space technology and king of rocketry". Qian was born in 1911 in Hangzhou. He left for the United States after winning a scholarship to graduate school in 1936. He studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and later at the California Institute of Technology. Qian began his career in the US and was regarded as one of the brightest minds in the new field of aeronautics before returning to China in 1955. After he returned, Qian set up the first missile and rocket research institute of China. The institute later helped start Chinese space program. He led the development of China's first nuclear-armed ballistic missile and worked on its first satellite. He retired in the year before Chinese manned space program was launched in 1992. But his research formed the basis for the Long March CZ -2F rocket that carried astronaut Yang Liwei into orbit in 2003. In August, 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Qian and _ him for devoting his life to Chinese defense technologies. Qian told him, "I'm trying to live to be 100 years old". Qian was regarded as _ before returning to China. Answer: one of the brightest minds in the new field of aeronautics Most of us spend our lives seeking the natural world. We go fishing, sit in the garden, have a picnic, live in the suburbs or go to the seaside. The most popular leisure activity in Britain is going for a walk. When joggers jog, they don't run the streets. Every one of them tend to go to the park or the river. But despite this, our children are growing up naturedeprived . I spent my boyhood climbing trees. These days, children are robbed of these ancient freedoms, due to problems like crime, traffic, the loss of the open spaces and strange new ideas about what is best for children, that is to say, things that can be bought, rather than things that can be found. The truth is to be found elsewhere. A study in the US: families had moved to better housing and the children were assessed for ADHD--attention deficit hyperactivity disorder . Those whose accommodation had more natural views showed an improvement of 19%; those who had the same improvement in material surroundings but no nice view improved just 4%. ADHD is one of the great problems of modern childhood. One study after another indicates that contact with nature gives huge benefits to ADHD children. However, we spend money on drugs rather than on green places. The life of old people is measurably better when they have access to nature. The increasing concern for the growing population of old people is in quality rather than quantity of years. And study after study finds that a garden is the single most important thing in finding that quality. Even problems with crime and aggressive behaviour are reduced when there is contact with the natural world. We need the wild world. It is essential to our wellbeing, our health and our happiness. According to the author, people enjoy _ to seek nature. Answer: sitting in the garden "Find a job you love, and you'll never work a day in your life." Do you agree with this old saying? Joanne Gordon does. She is the author of Be Happy at work and other books about careers . Gordon believes that about 30% of employees in North America do not like their jobs, and she thinks that is terrible. She wants to help people who do not feel satisfied with their jobs find work that is good for them. Joanne says, "There are no happy jobs, only happy workers." She believes that happy workers share three main characteristics. First, happy workers enjoy the daily activities of their jobs, and they look forward to the workday. Take Tony Hawk, for example. At age 14, he became a professional skateboarder. Now he is a businessman working on projects related to skateboarding--films and video games, but he still skates every day. He once said, "My youngest son's pre-school was recently asked what their dads do for work. My son said, 'I've never seen my dad do work.'" Tony agrees that his job doesn't look like work. He has found a way to spend each day doing a job he enjoys. Second, happy workers like the people they work with. Sally Ayote says, "I work with the coolest people in the world." She and her group cook for almost 1,200 people in Antarctica. Most of these people are scientists who are doing research. Sally loves to sit and talk with them. She says, "There is no television here, no radio, so I get to know the scientists and what they're studying." Sally thinks she has a great job, and the best part about it is the people. Third, happy workers know that their work helps others. Caroline Baron's work helps people who have had to leave their home countries because of war or other dangers. She is a filmmaker who started an organization called FilmAid, which shows movies in refugee camps around the world. Caroline believes that movies can be very helpful in these camps. For one thing, entertaining movies let refugees forget their troubles for a little while. Movies can also teach important subjects like health and safety. For example, in one camp, thousands of refugees saw a movie about how to get clean water. Caroline knows that is helping other people, and this makes her feel proud and happy about her work. Tony Hawk, Sally Ayote, and Caroline Baron all get great satisfaction from their work. Tony Hawk says, "Find the thing you love. If you are doing what you love, there is much more happiness there than being rich or famous." Joanne Gordon would agree. She encourages people to find something they enjoy doing, find people they like to work with, and find ways to help others. Then they can be proud of what they do, and they will probably be happy at work. Who is the book, Be Happy at Work, written for? Answer: People who do not feel satisfied with their jobs.
My name is Li Jing. Today let me show you around my community. In front of my apartment , there is a very small garden with a table, four chairs and some flowers. I love taking a walk in the garden in summer. After getting out of the garden, I can get to a big market soon. I walk past the market when I go to work every day. There are fresh vegetables, fruit and meat there. I often buy some fresh fruit there with my friends. After passing the market, I will be near the main road . There are a lot of shops on both sides of the road, like shoe shops, clothes shops ... After walking straight along the main road for fifteen minutes, I can see a bus stop. I only need to pay 0.5 yuan, and then I can go almost anywhere. That's very cheap. I feel very happy to live in a community like this. Li Jing's apartment is. Answer: Which explains the pattern of day and night? Answer: With roads and tube lines set to be more crowded than ever this summer, a few people may be tempted to use it as an excuse for a day off. But for employees at data services provider, Interxion, a chaotic commute during the Olympics will _ . That's because, in an effort to keep things from progressing slowly this summer, bosses at the London company are asking staff to sleep at work -- in space pods. Far from sleeping on the job, engineers will be asked to stay behind and sleep in the closed capsules to avoid the rush hour. And while other companies are planning to offer staff the luxury of working from home during the Games, the firm behind the capsules hopes to get more workplaces on board. Podtime, the firm behind the unusual cabins, are describing them as the perfect solution to the Olympics' crowded commute. On their official website they state 'London businesses will be severely affected by the transport problems caused by the Olympics.' Reasonable prices and various pods provide the best solution to this by allowing your staff to stay on site as necessary, in comfort and privacy. Coming in a range of colours, the capsules, made of polycarbonate, sell at anything from PS1,375. The stock models are fitted with either foam mattresses or a standard single mattress as well as a storage shelf, mirror and power points. These types of capsules have been around for years, in hotels, but Interxion is thought to be among the first to have them installed at the workplace. An independent report carried out by Oxford Economics last year estimated that around 450,000 visitors will stay in London while 5.5 million people will visit for at least a day during the Games. This will inevitably mean more cars on the road and greater congestion on the Underground. All the facilities are fitted to the stock models EXCEPT _ . Answer: Reading is very important. World Book Day falls on April 23 every year. It encourages people, especially teenagers, to discover the pleasure of reading. It is also the day to honor great writers. Many countries celebrate World Book Day. On that day, millions of school children can buy books at a much lower price than usual in any bookstore in England. It has been done every year since 1998. World Book Day is also celebrated in China. Wen Jiabao, Premier of China, is an avid reader. He does lots of reading every day though he is very busy. On World Book Day 2009, he called on people to do more reading. Wen suggested that young people should spend more time reading. "Books can not change the world, but people can change the world by changing themselves through reading," he said. Reading helps us become more knowledgeable and smarter. Reading helps us to follow the latest developments of science and technology . Reading gives us information about other cultures and places in the world. Reading is also one of the most important ways to learn a foreign language like English. We all know that it is difficult to learn everything in the classroom, for example, the ways English people are living and working today can be learnt by reading. Books, magazines, newspapers and other kinds of reading materials can help us to know more about the outside world. Therefore, it is necessary for us to spend time reading every day. An avid reader is a person who _ . Answer: WASHINGTON--A baby born with the virus that causes AIDS appears to have been cured, scientists announced Sunday, describing the case of a child from Mississippi who's now 2.5 and has been off medication for about a year with no signs of infection. There's no evidence that shows that the child will remain healthy, although complex testing uncovered just traces of the virus' genetic material still lingering . If so, it would mark only the world' s second reported cure. Specialists say Sunday's announcement, at a major AIDS meeting in Atlanta, offers promising clues for efforts to remove HIV infection in children, especially in African countries where too many babies are born with the virus. "You could call this about as close to a cure," Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health, who is familiar with the findings, told The Associated Press. A doctor gave this baby faster and stronger treatment than usual, starting a three-drug mixture within 30 hours of birth. That was before tests confirmed the infant was infected and not just at risk from a mother whose HIV wasn't diagnosed until she was in labor . "I just felt like this baby was at higher-than-normal risk, and deserved our best shot," Dr. Hannah Gay, a pediatric HIV specialist at the University of Mississippi, said in an interview. That fast action apparently knocked out HIV in the baby's blood before it could form hideouts in the body. Those so-called reservoirs of dormant cells usually rapidly reinfect anyone who stops medication, said Dr. Deborah Persaud of Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Next, Persaud's team is planning a study to try to prove that, with more aggressive treatment of other high-risk babies. "Maybe we'll be able to block this reservoir seeding." Persaud said. No one should stop anti-AIDS drugs as a result of this case, Fauci warned. Who will benefit most from the case reported in this passage? Answer:
Welcome to Ontario Parks, a new body set up to manage Ontario's most treasured special places, the parks in our area. We are entering a very exciting year for Ontario Parks. Last season we asked some 15,000 visitors in 45 parks how we could improve our programs and services. We also looked at the thousands of comment cards we received. As a result, new comfort stations have been added, the number of campsites has been increased, and we've made other facility improvements. In addition, we'll be providing more educational programs. This year, for example, more than 40 parks will offer special day and evening activities to excite your curiosity about nature and history. Through the Internet, you'll be happy to know that you can now explore all 270 parks on line. Let your family plan your park vacation, study a map of canoe routes, listen to the call of a loon or find up-to-date information about programs, services and facilities. So come and discover what Ontario Parks has to offer. Our parks are places to go with families and friends, for relaxation and fun, or simply to get away from it all. They are places where we can enrich our souls and "recharge our internal batteries". They provide chances to explore nature, see wildlife, swim, canoe, camp, hike, picnic, ride a bike... You'll enjoy some of the best outdoor experiences available anywhere in the world. We urge you to make 2013 the year that you come out and have an Ontario Parks experience! According to the text, we can safely say that _ . Answer: In Europe, many people make friends across the borders between their countries through town twinning. Town or city twinning means two towns in different countries agree and decide to become "twins" with sister city relationship. Their citizens find pen friends in the twin town. They exchange newspapers and stamps. The school teachers discuss teaching methods with the teachers in the twin town. Officials visit the twin town for celebrations. Ordinary citizens travel to the twin town, too, but not very often if it is far away. Sometimes, schools even exchange their classes for two or three weeks! For example, German middle school students study for a while at the school in their twin town in Britain, staying with British families. A few months later, their British friends come to study in Germany. Some towns even arrange exchange visits for theatre groups, choirs and orchestras ( ). Others send lecturers to the twin town who tell the people there all about their own town , and show photos and slides. Town twining can help make friends and motivate people to learn from each other. It helps students to improve their language skills, and it contributes to strengthening peace and understanding between different nations. Which is the best title for the passage? Answer: A round of applause, please, for the Indian man who recently sang for 80 hours straight, setting a new Guinness world record. It's an impressive feat, to be sure, but let's just hope he still has a voice.According to Indian newspapers, Rajesh Burbure has been told to keep silent for several days so his vocal cords can heal. It was reported that Burbure and his family are in a celebratory mood. "It's a proud moment for all of us," his wife told DNAIndia.com. I, on the other hand, am unable to share their enthusiasm.Don't get me wrong: I hope the 35-year-old Burbure lives forever, sells a million records and becomes an international celebrity.But his record--singing for 80 hours straight--is about as meaningful as most of the other curious but crazy feats listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Granted, I'm not qualified to speak on the subject.I've got no world records to my name, and I never expect to have any.Then again, maybe I am qualified to speak for those of us who have better things to do than train for years to sing an 80-hour medley of pop songs. But let's not just pick on poor Burbure.He's not the only person chasing meaningless accolades .The Guinness Book of World Records is full of the names of people who at one time grew the longest hair, or built the biggest bicycle, or baked the largest cheesecake. To all of these enterprising souls I ask, simply, "What was it all for?" Congratulations! For all of your painstaking effort, you became a footnote in a thick book that no one reads, except for you and the person who will eventually surpass you, with one more hour of singing, a few more centimeters of steel or a few more pounds of cheese. After all, records are made to be broken. We can infer from the article that _ . Answer: What is your favourite English letter? Many of you may say Q. Why?Because so many of you chat with your friends on QQ. What do you like about QQ? What do you talk about? The CCTV reporter, Miss Wang, interviews three kids. Let's listen to what they say. When do you chat on QQ? What do you talk about? Lin Yuhan, Xi'an: On weekends. We talk about homework and chat with each other. Tang Xuting, Shanghai: At weekends and when I don't have much homework. We exchange test answers and chat. Yang Yuhang, Dalian: Our class goes online together at 4----6 pm on weekends. We complain about homework, chat and talk about computer games. What do you put on your QQ blog ? Lin: I put good articles I have found online on my blog. I also write articlesmyself. They are about funny things that have happened in my class. Tang: I put pictures on my blog. Not my own photos, but pictures from myfavorite Japanese cartoons like Tennis Prince and Conan. Yang: I put DV films on my blog. I shoot them during sports meetingsand school parties. The most popular one is about a dancing teacher. Itis so funny that everyone watches it. How do you like QQ? Lin: It's a good place for us to make a record of our lives, of both good timesand sad times. Tang: My friends and I may not have time to chat at school. But we can doit on QQ. It's very helpful to our friendships. Yang: If you chat with friends on the telephone, your parents sometimeslisten in on your conversation. There's no such problem with QQ. Youcan relax and talk freely. How many kids are interviewed about QQ? Answer: You are going to high school, aren't you? Maybe you don't know what to do. Well, here's a list of the top six things to do when you are in high school. These things will give you ideas of what your high school life could be like. Here you go! 1 Find your passion and what kind of person you are: Whether it's dance, basketball, or drawing, the important thing is that you have found something you are interested in. 2 Talk to people you wouldn't usually talk to: meet new people, find new friends and even talk to people you don't like. It will show what a great person you are. You never know what will happen after high school. 3 Take part in at least one contest : This will give you tears of laughter, happiness and memories. 4 Get a job: This will help you see what it's like to have responsibility . It can also help you make a little money to spend on yourself. 5 Take a trip with your friends: It doesn't matter where you go or what you do, the memories will happen on the way and go on till the final place. 6 Do your best at school: Don't ever get lazy; working hard now will help you in the future. The writer mainly tells you six things you should do _ . Answer:
On the list of a flower's goals would be to Travelling abroad for leisure is becoming more and more popular for Chinese. The UK is high up in the list of places that the Chinese want to visit. There is a sense of mystery about the UK; it's often the images of England's green parks, countryside and Victorian houses that people point to as an alternative to polluted, overcrowded cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou. The capital is viewed as modern and dynamic, while being filled deep with history. When asked what other images are thought of by the UK, the reply is often "the Queen, tea and Oxbridge". So what's stopping them actually coming? Sebastian Wood ,the British ambassador in Beijing, has described the UK as a _ , and while this is perhaps an exaggeration ,Britain does have a reputation as a country that is harder to access. The main problem for Chinese tourists is obvious. Although visa applications are now completed online, visitors are still required to visit one of 12 UK centers across the country for a face-to-face interview and fingerprinting. If you don't live near one of these enters already, you'd have to travel some distance to get there. Another problem is also to be mentioned. If travelers from China visit the UK, they also want to cover as much ground as possible. But the UK is not included in the Schengen visa, which allows access to a host of 26 European countries such as France and Germany. So it makes the former seem a less worth it. There is also the issue of cost: PS47 for a Schengen visa, PS82 for the UK. On top of this, the UK is viewed as stricter in its handing of visas compared with the rest of Europe, fed by urban legends of rejected applications. In the end, the decision comes down to one question: Is Britain worth a visit? Which of the following statements is NOT true for the UK visa? One answer to the question of land shortage was suggested by an organization some years ago. A city was to be built at sea, housing 30,000 people. The suggestion was to shape the city like a harbor .The outer wall of the harbor would stand on steel columns resting on the sea-bed. Naturally this could only be where the water was fairly shallow. The people would like to live in flats in the fifty-metre high outer wall. The flats would be all face inwards, and would be made of concrete and glass. The glass would be specially made and colored to control the heat and strong light from the sun. The planners called this man-made harbor would be calm. On it would be floating islands carrying more building: a hospital, two theaters, museum, an art exhibition hall and a church. On one of the islands would be a special factory to take the salt out of sea water and turn it into fresh water. People living in the city could move around on small boats driven by electricity, so there would be no air pollution from the burning of gas. There would be platforms outside the man wall for ships bringing supplies. People could also travel to the mainland by motorboat or water plane. The purpose of the writer is _ . What do you usually do after school? Playing football? Watching TV? Let's see how kids in foreign countries spend their free time? Mess around with Dress-up Do your parents have any old clothes? See if you can get an old box and start collecting hats, shoes and clothes now! Then, when your friends come over after school,you can play dress-up. See if you can make yourself into a doctor, or a cowboy, or even a spaceman! If you are really clever, you could even put on a show for your family! Let your imagination run wild! Start a Club Want to learn new things after school? Want to make new friends who aren't in your class? You can get both of them in clubs. In other countries' schools,there are usually all kinds of clubs for kids to join. There is a French club,a student government, a theatre,a choir and a photography club. Take a photography club as an example. One may learn all the skills about taking photos. For example,you will learn how to choose a camera,how to use the light and how to develop pictures. One can also make a lot of friends in clubs. It's always good to enjoy your free time with friends, isn't it? What will you learn from the passage? _ . David was a successful young man who worked in a large company in a big city in America. His favorite hobby was fishing. But it was several years since he had last gone fishing. He was too busy to get a chance to practice. Then one summer he decided to go on vacation to a village where there were a lot of streams . "I ought to be able to have some good fishing there," he said to himself confidently and made good preparations for fishing. The next morning after he arrived there, he walked to the nearest stream with his fishing rod . To his surprise, he saw an old man standing beside the water, doing nothing. So he asked him whether it was a private stream. The old man answered that it was not a private stream and everyone could fish there, so David said to him, " Well, then it won't be fined if I catch some fish here, will it?" "Oh, no," answered the old man. "It won't be, but it will be a miracle ." What did the old man mean by the word "miracle"?
I'm afraid to grow old--we're all afraid. In fact, the fear of growing old is so great that every aged person is an insult and a threat to the society. They remind us of our own death, that our body won't always remain smooth and responsive, but will someday betray us by aging. The ideal way to age would be to grow slowly invisible, gradually disappearing, without causing worry or discomfort to the young. In some ways that does happen. Sitting in a small park across from a nursing home one day, I noticed that the young mothers and their children gathered on one side, and the old people from the home on the other. Whenever a youngster would run over to the "wrong" side, chasing a ball or just trying to cover all the available space, the old people would lean forward and smile. But before any communication could be established, the mother would come over, murmuring embarrassed apologies, and take her child back to the "young" side. Now, it seemed to me that the children didn't feel any particular fear and the old people didn't seem to be threatened by the children. The division of space was drawn by the mothers. And the mothers never looked at the old people who lined the other side of the park. These well-dressed young women had a way of sliding their eyes over, around, through the old people; they never looked at them directly. The old people may as well have been invisible; they offended the aesthetic eye of the mothers. My early experiences were somewhat different; since I grew up in a small town, my children had more of a nineteenth-century flavor. I knew a lot of old people, and considered some of them friends. People are afraid of growing old because it is usually associated with _ . A insult B threat C death D betrayal Answer: C. death One day when I opened my email, a beautiful woman named Rachel appeared on my computer screen. She greeted me by name and started talking with great enthusiasm. Every now and then she stopped to smile at me or blow a kiss. It was pretty cool. Rachel was there thanks to Facemail. Facemail lets you send email that gets read to the receiver by an attractive male or female form. The free software can be downloaded at www.facemail.com, and you can choose different faces. The basic idea is pretty clever. The Facemail people have taken biologically based imaging and used it to create lifelike digital faces. The voice reading the email is standard. And Facemail will get more interesting. Soon you can have your own voice read the email you send. The company has signed a deal with Kodak and next year you can submit your photo and your own face will be the one reading your email. LifeFX, the company that produces Facemail, says that one reason e-commerce is struggling is that buying over the Internet lacks the human touch. But what if you went to the Nike website and Michael Jordan greeted you by name and waited on you? The company will also use Facemail to make greeting cards and living wedding albums. Personally, I'm a fan of Facemail. But Facemail should be used carefully. If you select an angry face, put a few harsh words and add some angry emotions, you've got Psycho-mail. The main advantage of Facemail is that one can _ . A see the person that sends the email B have the email read in a more lovely way C design the email in any way he / she likes D ask a beautiful woman to read his / her email Answer: B. have the email read in a more lovely way I am a mother of three children and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was social study. The last project of the term was called "Smile". The last class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. Soon after we were given the project, my husband, my youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one cold March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back way. I turned around and found there standing behind me were two poor homeless men with a horrible "dirty body" smell. The short gentleman, close to me, was "smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of light as he searched for acceptance. The second man played with his hands uneasily as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation . The short man just asked for a coffee because that was all they could afford. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the men's table. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes and said "Thank you". I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That's why God gave you to me, Honey. To give me hope." On the last evening of class, I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and we all knew that we need to heal people and to be healed. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE. "LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS---NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE." According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? A The author's husband was very proud of her. B What the author did to the men touched many people. C Poor as the homeless men were, they had their dignity. D The author felt we should know how to heal people. Answer: D. The author felt we should know how to heal people. Zhou Xun is a famous film star of China. She has an English name--Jue.She was born on October 18th. She comes from Zhejiang Province . She is 1.60 meters tall, and she is slim and beautiful. She has black hair in two bunches . She likes watching VCD and sleeping. Her favourite colors are black and blue. She also loves running. Living a happy life is her wish . Lots of students and young people like her. Zhou Xun is _ . A fat and tall B tall and beautiful C slim and beautiful D thin Answer: C. slim and beautiful For those who are tired doing the laundry, Samsung has found an answer: a washing machine that can tell you when your laundry is done via a smartphone app(application). Strange though it may seem -- "my wife already does that" was a common response among attendees viewing the device when it was introduced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week -- Samsung is just one of many appliance makers racing to install a large number of internet-connected features in machines in an effort to make them "smart". Last year, it was a refrigerator that tweeted. This year, it's Wi-Fi-enabled laundry machines and fridges that can tell you when your groceries are going bad. The washers and dryers, available starting in the spring, connect to any smartphone through a downloadable application. The phone can then be used as a remote control, so the machines can be turned on and off while their owners is at work or on the bus. Samsung says it's not just something new -- the app connection actually has some practical uses. "If you started to dry clothes in the morning and forgot to take them out, you can go to your phone and restart your dryer for the time when come home, so your clothes are refreshed and ready to go," said spokesperson Amy Schmidt. The company also says that with electricity rate varying depending on the time of day, more control over when the machines are used can help save money. Perhaps, but what they will probably really accomplish is what all good technologies do --enable laziness. Rather than getting up to check on whether the laundry is done, users will instead monitor it on their phones while watching TV. What can be inferred from the common response of the attendees at the CES? A The machine will be a big success. B their wives like doing the laundry. C The machine is unrelated to their life. D This kind of technology is familiar to them. Answer: C. The machine is unrelated to their life.
Question: A casual employee is one who is engaged and paid as such by agreement between the employer and employee. There is a three-hour minimum payment for each period of engagement and a four-hour minimum engagement on a Public Holiday. No notice of termination is required. For night work between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Monday to Friday a penalty of $1.28 per hour (or part of hour) shall be paid with a minimum of $4.37 for any one day on which such hours are worked. Meals: Casual employees whose engagement extends for five hours or more shall be provided with a meal free of charge, or shall be paid in lieu of $5.00 ($6.00 from 1 May 1996) Casual employment over eight hours: Paid at the overtime rate of full time employees. Payment of wages: By mutual consent either weekly or on termination of engagement. Annual leave: Pro-rata Annual Leave entitlement for casuals is on the basis of 1/12thof earnings. Many employers pay this inclusive with the hourly rate. If this is not done, it should be paid on termination of services or at the end of 12 months' service. Special clothing: A casual employee is required to provide and wear a black and white uniform or an equivalent standard specified by the club (e.g. blue and white, cook's clothing, etc.) this includes how tie and cummerbund if required by the employer. The employer may launder all uniforms, or pay the employee and allowance of $1.00 per engagement ($1.20 from 1 May 1996) for general staff. Cooks shall be paid $1.50 per engagement ($1.70 from 1 May 1996). Which of the following sentences best sums up the situation of casual staff? A. The employers of casual staff are well protected by regulations. B. Casual staff need to provide their own uniforms. C. The rights and conditions of casual staff are clearly specified. D. The conditions of casual staff are as good as those of full-time staff. Answer: C. The rights and conditions of casual staff are clearly specified. Question: Relation between the United States and Columbia suffered for many years because of an incident involving the Republic of Panama. By the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898, many Americans felt that an easier and faster way was needed to get ships from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. Some people in the United States first believed that a canal across Nicaragua was the answer. However, President Theodore Roosevelt decided that a canal through Panama would be a better choice. In order to build the canal , the United States had to negotiate a treaty with Columbia , which at that time controlled Panama . Roosevelt offered Columbia $ 10 million plus $ 250,000 a year for 99 years for a six-mile-wide strip of land across Panama. Columbia rejected the United States' offer. This ranged President Roosevelt, and negotiations with Columbia ended. In 1903, a revolution broke out in Panama. The United States ships were sent by President Roosevelt to protect the Panamanian revolutionaries from Columbian forces. The revolution succeeded, and Panama declared its independence from Columbia. The United States then negotiated with the newly formed government. A treaty was signed, and the United States began building the canal. As a result of the incident, Columbia and the United States remained on bad terms for many years. Not until 1921, when the United States agreed to pay Columbia some compensation for its territory, did relations between the two countries improve. It can be inferred from the passage that an important reason for the decision of the United States to build a canal was to _ . A. develop trade relations with Europe B. improve relations with South American countries C. prevent European ships from reaching the Pacific Ocean D. reduce travel time for its ships in case of war Answer: D. reduce travel time for its ships in case of war Question: I'm trying to be a writer, but I can't even start. What should I do? Abraham, Nebraska There are many ways to come up with ideas, one of which is to write down a list of your experiences, as well as things from your imagination. When you want to write, look in the notebook for ideas. Books for writers often have good suggestions, too. One we like isSpilling Ink: A Yong Writer's Handbook by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter. Perhaps your library has it. My classmates keep asking about a new movie I've seen. But I don't want to spoil it for them. What should I do? Corinne (by e-mail) You could ask your classmates whether they are sure they want to know and if they insist, go ahead and tell them. You may be able to give them a general idea of the movie without revealing details of the ending. I'm going to a soccer camp for youth, but I'm not sure if I'm good at soccer or if I'll make friends. Louise, New Hampshire Soccer camp is for people who share an interest in the sport. No matter what a person's ability is at the beginning, it's likely that everyone will leave camp with improved skills. Sharing a common interest may make conversations easier. Smile, be friendly, and have a sense of humor. Before long, you may find that you've made some good friends. Someone invited me to a birthday party. When I got there, kids were doing stuff I'm not interested in, like watching scary movies. I told them my mom would pick me up, so I just left. Was I rude for doing that? Sam (by e-mail) You just did the right thing and that isn't being rude. We hope you'll talk with your parents about this. They're probably proud of what you did. They may have other suggestions for you, too. Talk about different situations that might come up and what would be the best way to handle them. According to the passage, you can make friends by the following means EXCEPT _ . A. keeping smiling B. Being humorous C. Changing your habits D. Being friendly to others Answer: C. Changing your habits Question: "Before you fall in love, you'd better get a job" As told by Lee Joon-ho, 20, a senior in law at Seoul National University Korean TV dramas have shown a lot of rebellious youth, but in fact most students still live a traditional life. Confucianism has a great influence on us. For instance, Confucius said that we should be dutiful to our parents and value the family. Thus we prefer a school that's close to home so we can go back every day. Also as a result of Confucianism, teachers enjoy a high status in Korea. The other day, my professor was flying to Vienna on a business trip. Instead of waiting for hours in the queue, he was told to check in first and didn't have any problem with overweight luggage. When it comes to important decision-making, such as choosing a university, a job, and a wife, we listen to our parents' suggestions. Most parents seem _ in study decisions, but they take a firmer attitude towards their children's love and marriage choices. Often, a man has to have his own business or a solid career before he's allowed to pursue romance. Male chauvinism is popular among our parents' generation, since they had to support the whole family through hard work. We need to shoulder the same responsibility, but we've also learned to respect women, as they're doing outstanding work in lots of areas. But to be honest, my friends and I still prefer a traditional woman as a girlfriend and future wife. We want her to be elegant and thoughtful in taking care of a family. Our sense of tradition is also reflected in our buying habits. In my house, you see only Korean appliances. Although European cell phones are available in ROK, we favor LG and Samsung, which are suited more to our tastes and widely promoted in TV dramas and films. Which of the statements is true according to the passage? A. Generally speaking, men need to support the whole family in Korea. B. Korean women have no freedom in choosing husbands. C. Male chauvinism is popular among young people now. D. Young people are out of control of their parents. Answer: A. Generally speaking, men need to support the whole family in Korea. Question: Read our guide because ---trust us--- you don't want to be the one everyone's rolling their eyes at. GO RIGHT AHEAD: GOLDEN RULE: Home is pretty much the only place where you can safely blab about anything without having to consider the needs of the people around you. HANDLE WITH CARE in these places: Waiting rooms: People here tend to be feeling anxious about their news --- not yours. Shopping: Chatting while you're in line will slow down checkout and make other shoppers angry. GO RIGHT AHEAD: Make calls quickly and quietly, and be respectful of those forced to listen. DON'T DO IT in these places: Museums/libraries/churches: There are places we go for peace and quiet --- it's not proper to disturb others. Movies and plays: People pay to hear someone other than you perform. Elevators/ bathrooms/ beauty salons/ public transportation: No one around you can escape. Why force them to listen to your chitchat? Restaurants: People come here partly to get away from ringing phones and enjoy their conversations , so don't subject them to yours. GO RIGHT AHEAD: Put your phone on vibrate if you must get a call but always wait until you are outside before you start talking. While driving a car: It's rude to put other drivers in danger. So instead of going by the Golden Rules above, use a voice-activated phone --- and use it as little as possible. You are four times as likely to get into a car accident if you're on the phone while you're driving. Hang up already: How to politely ask that loud cell-take to speak softly: If you're in a place that has a manager, ask him or her to do _ . Otherwise, put on your sweetest smile, tap the offender on the shoulder, and try one of these carefully worded lines: "Would you please end your call? I can't hear what they're saying?" (Try this when you're watching movies and plays.) "Excuse me, but you're making it really hard for me to concentrate ." (Good for museums, libraries, and places of worship.) "Is it possible for you to speak a little more softly? I have a bad headache." (This will usually work just about anywhere.) This passage is mainly about _ . A. cell phone manners B. how to make phone calls C. where to make phone calls D. where you can use your cell phone and where not Answer: A. cell phone manners
Chloe Lang is a fifteen-year-old American girl. She loves cooking a lot. When she was a little girl, she helped her grandma make meals at home. A year ago, Chloe wrote a letter to Rachel Ray, a famous host of a TV cookery show. She asked for a ticket to be one of the audience, but she got nothing. One day in June, Chloe got a phone call from Rachel Ray luckily. One of his programmes is called Cafe One Night and it needed five teen cooks to help in a restaurant for a night. In mid-July Chloe went to meet Rachel Ray and the other teen cooks. "During our stay with Rachel Ray, we were happy and excited. We were working so hard when they made the records." Chloe says. "We made some wonderful food that night." Guess who came to eat! When Chloe and her friends saw their guests, they all held their breath, and then they screamed and clapped! In addition to some famous singer stars, the former US President Bill Clinton was also there! ,. How old is Chloe Lang? A Five. B Ten. C Twelve. D Fifteen. Answer: D Inventors are always looking for ways to make our lives easier, greener and a lot more fun.Take a look at 2010's biggest and coolest breakthroughs in science and technology.What in the world will inventors dream up next? Superhero Suit Have you ever dreamed of becoming a superhero? Dream no more.There's a real Iron Man suit, XOS 2, which provides the power to lift 200 pounds with ease .It was designed to help the military with heavy lifting.One person in the suit could do the work of three soldiers. Up, Up and Away! It took him 30 years to develop it, and now Glen Martin's invention is ready to take off.The Martin Jetpack allows its operator to fly 8,000 feet into the air.Unfortunately, you can't soar through the skies too long.The jetpack holds only about 30 minutes' worth of fuel. Hardworking Robot The EMIEW2 robot is the perfect office helper.Need a document delivered? No problem! It can also guide visitors to their destinations.The three-foot-tall robot can identify different human voices and respond to commands.One day, it may serve as a receptionist or a security guard. Green Machine Say goodbye to gasoline! The AirPod car runs on air power.That means this car won't pollute.A high-pressure air tank can fill the car in minutes.The three-wheeler can travel about 130 miles between fill-ups. Beef Power All aboard the beef train! Amtrak's Heartland Flyer runs partly on fuel that is made from cow fat.The goal is to reduce carbon emissions by 10%.The train travels between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Fort Worth, Texas. Robo-Guard EMILY is a robotic, four-foot-long buoy .She can swim through riptides at up to 24 miles per hour.Her inventor, Tony Mulligan, says that's 15 times as fast as human lifeguards! EMILY is powered by a tiny electric pump and operated by remote. How many environment-friendly inventions are mentioned in the passage? A One. B Two. C Three. D Four. Answer: B Little Mike's grandmother died weeks ago. He missed her very much. One afternoon Mike went to the city park where his grandmother used to go. There he saw an old lady. She looked very kind. She was sitting there, watching pigeons . Little Mike went up and sat next to her. He took out his food and drinks and gave some to her. She smiled at him. Her smile was very sweet and Mike wanted to see it again. She seemed to understand him, so once again she smiled. Mike was very happy. They sat there all the afternoon, eating and talking. As it was dark, Mike got up to leave. Before he left, he hugged the old lady and she gave him her sweetest smile. When Mike got home, his mother was surprised by the happy look on his face. " I met an old lady in the park. Her smile was like the smile I used to see on Grandmother's face." The old lady also returned to her home happily. She told her son she had food and drinks with a little boy. " He was as lovely as Bill." She said. Her son was surprised, because he had never been so happy since Bill, her grandson, died weeks ago. Mike and the old lady _ . A were good to each other B knew each other well C often met in the park D did nothing that afternoon Answer: A When something goes wrong,it can be very satisfying to say,"Well,it's so-and-so's fault."or "I know I'm late,but it's not my fault;the car broke down."It is probably not your fault,but once you form the habit of blaming somebody or something else for a bad situation,you are a loser. You have no power and could do nothing that helps change the situation. However,you can have great power over what happens to you if you stop focusing on whom to blame and start focusing on how to _ the situation. This is the winner's key to success. Winners are great at overcoming problems. For example, if you were late because your car broke down, maybe you need to have your car examined more regularly. Or, you might start to carry along with you the useful phone numbers, so you could call for help when in need. For another example, if your colleague causes you problems on the job for lack of responsibility or ability, find ways of dealing with his irresponsibility or inability rather than simply blame the person. Ask to work with a different person, or don't rely on this person. You should accept that the person is not reliable and find creative ways to work successfully regardless of how your colleague fails to do his job well. This is what being a winner is all about--creatively using your skills and talents so that you are successful no matter what happens. Winners don't have fewer problems in their lives; they have just as many difficult situations to face as anybody else. They are just better at seeing those problems as challenges and opportunities to develop their own talents. So, stop focusing on "whose fault it is." Once you are confident about your power over bad situations, problems are just stepping stone on for success. According to the passage, winners _ . A deal with problems rather than blame others B meet with fewer difficulties in their lives C have responsible and able colleagues D blame themselves rather that others Answer: A When people imagine a classroom, they usually think of older people teaching younger ones. But when it comes to learning about high-technology devices, the opposite can often be true. A training program called the 50 Plus Center in the eastern American city of Columbia, Maryland offers free technology classes to adults over 50. The training program also offers many other kinds of lectures from Qigong and Tai Chi to yoga and Latin jam dance. There are a lot of exercise programs including playing cards and physical exercises where many people just relax and spend some time together. Myra Stafford is 73 years old. She signed up for the class to learn how to use her iPad. She is learning quickly with the help of the young and she enjoys learning from them. She says she is more confident today than she was before. Working with young people makes her feel wonderful because they don't make her feel that she is old or dumb. Eleven-year-old Zhion Perekins is a teacher of the technology class. He says some of the older adults know nothing about high-technology devices and they are very anxious, so patience is very important when working with them. He gains more than just social skills from teaching older residents. He has learned a lot on how to communicate with people. He used to be a shy person, but now he has become outgoing. There is a huge growing population over 60. The training program offers an opportunity for the old people to buy products online using high-technology devices. As senior citizens get more excited about what they want to buy, it is likely that they will go into the market and buy it, so that could lead to an increase in economy. Who usually act as the teachers in the 50 Plus Center? A The young. B Adults over 50. C The older people. D High-technology devices. Answer: A
With the press of a button, a person with severe spinal cord injuiy is able to walk again, thanks to the Walking Assistive Exoskeleton Robot (WAER). Powered suits that could help paralyzed people walk and others lift and carry heavy loads with ease have been a dream since late 19th century. But they can realize their dreams in the 21st century. The 20-kilogram robot has four battery-powered motors that can run for up to three hours. Inventor Wu Chenghua, from Taiwan's Industrial Technology Research Institute, says it has successfully been in tests on 12 patients. "We have learned from our research process that patients whose injuries are below the fourth chest joint are able to use our robot to stand, walk and sit down," he said. Since walking contributes to muscle exercise, Wu says patients receive some additional benefits. "In the clinical process, we would check their bone mineral density ,and we found that the bone mineral densities of these patients had been improved." he said. Wu says his exoskeleton may be available for consumers by 2018. Meanwhile, baggage handlers at Tokyo's Haneda Airport will soon start testing a similar robot, developed by the Japanese firm Cyberdyne. The battery-powered robot weighs only 3 lift a heavy object, the machine monitors the movemen",says Yoshiyuki Sankai, the developer and CEO of Cyberdyne. "This robot suit monitors the signal from the human nerve system to support the waist's movement," Sankai said, "It self-adjusts the level support to reduce the load on the human waist, light and smart. We believe that it will change the life of paralyzed people in many ways and have a promising future." With the help of WAER, patients will probably_. A. recover from spinal cord injury B. improve their bone mineral density C. walk as fast as normal people D. monitor their waist's movement Answer: B All the Grizzly bears felt excitement at the arrival of their new shirts; everyone except Truman, he was a very unhappy bear who didn't like to wear clothing. He also hated tying his shoes and matching his socks. These were all things Truman didn't like doing. So when the Grizzly bear king held a town meeting to pass out all the shirts, Truman stole the microphone and sang a song to express his feelings: "I won't wear those shirts you bear bosses, I won't wear my socks. I have all the fur I need, don't put me in a shirt box. I want to scratch the ground with my claws, and feel the wild wind; If you all make me wear, then my darlings as a bear, I think I'll smash you with my paws, and chew off all your skins." The other bears felt Truman had a point, and so they too chewed up the shirts, shoes, and socks the king gave them; and they chose a king who didn't have a mustache and never, ever wore a shirt and tie. Do all the Grizzly bears like shirts? A. Yes, they all like their shirts B. No, Truman doesn't like shirts C. No, none of the bears like shirts D. No, the king doesn't like shirts Answer: B Do you want to go by ship to Australia or anywhere? A big ship may help you. It looks like a big house. There are rooms for everyone. In the day you can swim in the pool or play games on the ship. You can even see a film on the ship. Sometimes you can see birds flying around you. They are flying here and there. Look at the picture of the ship. Does it look like a house? It's very large. And it's the most luxury passenger liner in the world, called 'Freedom of the Seas' . The ship is 339 meters long and 38.6 meters wide, with a golf field on it. It's so cool to take a trip on a ship! A big ship looks like _ . A. a pool B. a house C. a school D. a cinema Answer: B Once upon a time, there were two seeds . They were good friends. They often talked with each other when they were free. One day, they had nothing to do . They lay on the ground. They looked up at the sky and had a chat with each other. The first seed said, "I want to grow! Then I can enjoy the sun and the rain!" Later, it grew. It had a chance to enjoy the sun and the rain. The second seed said, "I am afraid of growing up. If I grow, I have to live in the _ . Little animals may come up to me and eat me. How terrible! If I become a beautiful flower, a child will come and pick me. It is much better for me to wait. It's a dangerous way to be alive." It did nothing and refused to grow. Spring came soon. A duck came up to the seeds. It eat the second seed and went away. See? We shouldn't act like the second seed. We should face our life bravely. From the passage, we should A. face our life bravely B. hide ourselves C. run away when we are in trouble D. refuse to grow Answer: A When Zhang Ning , whose pen name was Misha, started drawing manga in junior high school, it was a time when Japanese cartoonists occupied most of the Chinese market. She was warned about the poor wage cartoonists earn and the risk of pursuing a career in an industry where China is not yet competitive. But with the growth of domestic animation and manga industry in recent years, Zhang managed to draw her way up to become one of the country's top cartoonists. In 2011, the 29-year-old won the Golden Dragon award, one of the most influential awards in China's manga industry. Looking back, the graduate of Zhejiang University of Technology said: "It was a dream come true." Zhang's success boomed along with the industry. In 2010, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's animation and manga industry was worth 47 billion yuan. It has seen annual growth rates of more than 20 percent in recent years. These big numbers seem a far stretch from Zhang's in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. But she thinks the very reason why cartoonists can enjoy a decent life is the country's decision to well develop the industry. "The country is not giving us money directly, but it's creating a market in which we can succeed,"said Zhang. Apart from government investment, Zhang is also benefiting from technology advances. The Internet has provided a wider platform for cartoonists to publish their work. The electric edition of Zhang's work ranked the 6th among free book apps on the Apple Store. "I think the Internet has encouraged new cartoonists and given them more chances. Before we could only contribute to magazines and it was difficult to convince the editors to publish our work", said Zhang. "But when you release your work online, you receive encouragement and support from many netizens. It increases your confidence. "said Zhang. New technology has also attracted more people to read comics. "China has entered 3G era. It's very convenient for people to read on their smart phones when traveling around. It opens comics to a bigger readership," said Zhang. Only last week, Zhang published her new manga based on the ancient classic Tangzi which set during the warring states period. According to Zhang, the inspiration came from wall painting in Dunhuang, Gansu province. She hopes her works will encouraged more people especially the young, to explore the cultural treasures of ancient China. "Chinese youths now need a spirit to help them to realize their dreams," said Zhang. "Like Kua Fu chasing the sun --- people can accomplish great things by choosing to something seemingly beyond their ability. I think that's my "Chinese dream" and I want to share it with the public through my cartoons." This passage is mainly about _ . A. that Chinese cartoonists are the greatest in the world. B. that China's dream of being the top animation and manga nation. C. that technology alone helps cartoonists to achieve success. D. that a Chinese cartoonist has chased her dream and lived it. Answer: D
Every year several thousand people die in the car accidents in Great Britain. And between one and two hundred thousand people are hurt. There are rules to make the roads safe, but people do not always obey the rules. They are careless. If everybody obeys the rules, the road will be much safer. How can we make the roads safer? Remember this rule. In Great Britain traffic keeps to the left. Cars, buses and bikes must all keep to the left side of the road. In most other countries traffic keeps to the right. Before crossing the road, we should stop and look at both ways. Look right and left. Then, if you are sure that the road is clear, it is safe to cross the road. If you see small children or very old people, help them to cross the road. We must teach our children to cross the road safely. We must always give them a good example. Small children must not play in the street. The safe way to cross the road is to _ . A look right B look left C look both ways, right and left D run cross the road Answer: C Here is an examination notice . Mrs. Dickson gave it to her students last week. To the students of Class 3 * Examinations start on January 22 and end on June 23. * The time for each of the subject is: English June 22 9:30 A.M.- 10:30 A.M. Math June 22 11:00 A.M.- 12:00 A.M. History June 22 2:30 P.M.-3:30 P.M. PE June 23 8:00 A.M.-10:00 A.M. Music June 23 1:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M. * For the PE test? go to the playground. For the music test, go to the Piano Room. All else are written tests. They will be held in Classroom 3. * No student can get into the examination room more than 15 minutes after the exam starts. * No food or drink during ANY test. * No dictionaries during the English exam. * Wear pants and sports shoes for the PE exam. * If you have questions, go to the Teacher's Office before the tests. Tom still has some questions about the exams, he can _ . A ask his teacher any time B find his teacher in the playground. C ask his teacher on June 22 or June 23. D go to the Teacher's office on June 21 Answer: D More than 200 scientists have completed a twoyear study to identify the most natural and undeveloped areas on Earth. Their findings are reported in a new book called Wilderness:Earth's Last Wild Places. The book describes 37 wilderness areas around the world. Each has an area greater than 10,000 square kilometers. The study considered only areas where at least 70% of all plants are native. North and South America are home to the largest number of wilderness areas. There are 16 such areas, from southern Argentina to Alaska and northern Canada. Africa has 8 wilderness areas, including the thick forests and the grasslands. Australia and New Guinea share 6 areas. Europe has 3 areas and Asia has 2.The Arabian Desert and Antarctica also are considered wilderness areas. The largest wilderness area is the Boreal Forest .It extends for 16million square kilometers south of the Arctic Circle. The Boreal Forest extends across Alaska, Canada, northern Europe and Russia. The smallest of the 37 wilderness areas is the Sundarbans. It is the world's largest tidal mangrove forest .It covers 10,000 square kilometers of land at the mouth of the Ganges River in India and Bangladesh . The study found that wilderness areas cover about 46% of the Earth's land surface. However, they are home to less than 2.5% of the world's population. Nineteen of the wilderness areas have only about one person for each square kilometer. Native people usually live in these areas. Wilderness areas help to influence the world's weather systems and rainfall. They are also home to many plants and animals. Population growth and the spread of agriculture and mining operations threaten wilderness areas. But just 7% of all such areas have some form of official protection. What does the author think of the wilderness areas around the world in the book? A Unwanted. B Long-lasting. C Valuable D Perfect. Answer: C When it comes to President Obama, most of his personal business is already known by the public. Personal information about his children, Malia and Sasha, however, has been kept a little more _ . The New York Timesrecently released a list of rules that Michelle Obama has mentioned over the years that Malia and Sasha must follow during their time in the White House, as well as in general. See how the first family educates their children: The girls must write reports about what they've seen on their trips, even if it's not required by their school. Malia may use her cell phone only on the weekends, and she and her sister cannot watch television or use a computer for anything but homework during the week. Malia and Sasha have to play two sports: one they choose and one selected by their mother. Malia must learn todo laundry before she leaves for college. The girls have to eat their vegetables, and if they say they are not hungry, they cannot ask for cookies or chips later. While these might be shocking to some, Michelle said, "They're not little princess. It's just basic rules, boundaries, and expectations that we would have normally." Michelle also mentions another set of rules: The girls must do their chores , though the White House has a large staff. Malia and Sasha have chores of their own. They must play a team sport, because it's about learning how to play on a team, how to lose and how to win gracefully. ... It sounds like Michelle and Barack want the best for their kids and to make them as well-rounded as possible. What are your thoughts on the Obama family rules? Which of the following is the exception for the girls? A To use cell phone freely. B To play two sports. C To learn to do laundry. D To eat their vegetables. Answer: A Ben: Leo, you work too hard. Let's go and sit in the park. Leo: I can't do _ . I have to study for my English test next week. Ben: But, Leo... You already know that you're going to Tsinghua University! Well, what are you going to major in? Leo: English and management. How about you? Which school are you going to next year, Ben? Ben: Oh, I'm going to work for my dad for a year. Then I'll go to college after _ Leo: What do you want to study? Ben: I'm not sure yet. I'd like to study Chinese. So, do you want to be an English teacher or work for a big company after 4 years in Tsinghua University? Leo: In fact, I hope to go on to study computer science in Beijing University. Ben: Wow. We are quite different! You know, I just want to find an easy job. I guess you will be a computer programmer. Leo: Uh-huh. I'd like to. Ben: Well, I hope to work as a teacher and have a nice family in the future. Leo: Really? I want to make a lot of money. . What is Leo going to study after he leaves Tsinghua University? A Management B Chinese C Computer Science D English Answer: C
The Kernel Corporation, through its president, Demeter Gritz, requested from Vault Finance, Inc., a short-term loan of $100,000. On April 1, Gritz and Vault's loan officer agreed orally that Vault would make the loan on the following terms: (1) The loan would be repaid in full on or before the following July 1 and would carry interest at an annual rate of 15 percent (a lawful rate under the applicable usury law); and (2) Gritz would personally guarantee repayment. The loan was approved and made on April 5. The only document evidencing the loan was a memorandum, written and supplied by Vault and signed by Gritz for Kernel, that read in its entirety: "April 5 In consideration of a loan advanced on this date, Kernel Corporation hereby promises to pay Vault Finance, Inc., $100,000 on September 1. Kernel Corporation By /s/ Demeter Gritz Demeter Gritz, President" Kernel Corporation did not repay the loan on or before July 1, although it had sufficient funds to do so. On July 10, Vault sued Kernel as principal debtor and Gritz individually as guarantor for $100,000, plus 15 percent interest from April 5. "At the trial, can Vault prove Kernel's oral commitment to repay the loan on or before July 1? Answer: Classes for foreign students at all levels 3 months, 6 months, 9 months and one year course Open all year Small class (maximum 12 students) Library, language laboratory and listening center Accommodation with selected families 25 minutes from London Course fees for English for one year are PS1, 380, with reduction for shorter periods of study. If you go there for a one-term course, you will pay _ for it. Answer: Olivia, owner in fee simple of Richacre, a large parcel of vacant land, executed a deed purporting to convey Richacre to her nephew, Grant. She told Grant, who was then 19, about the deed and said that she would give it to him when he reached 21 and had received his undergraduate college degree. Shortly afterward Grant searched Olivia's desk, found and removed the deed, and recorded it. A month later, Grant executed an instrument in the proper form of a warranty deed purporting to convey Richacre to his fiancÃ©e, Bonnie. He delivered the deed to Bonnie, pointing out that the deed recited that it was given in exchange for "$1 and other good and valuable consideration," and that to make it valid Bonnie must pay him $1. Bonnie, impressed and grateful, did so. Together, they went to the recording office and recorded the deed. Bonnie assumed Grant had owned Richacre, and knew nothing about Grant's dealing with Olivia. Neither Olivia's deed to Grant nor Grant's deed to Bonnie said anything about any conditions. The recording act of the jurisdiction provides: "No conveyance or mortgage of real property shall be good against subsequent purchasers for value and without notice unless the same be recorded according to law." Two years passed. Grant turned 21, then graduated from college. At the graduation party, Olivia was chatting with Bonnie and for the first time learned the foregoing facts. The age of majority in the jurisdiction is 18 years. Olivia brought an appropriate action against Bonnie to quiet title to Richacre. The court will decide for Answer: As a child, I was really afraid of the dark and of getting lost. These fears were very real and caused me some uncomfortable moments. Maybe it was the strange way things looked and sounded in my own room at night that scared me so much. There was never complete darkness, but always a streetlight or passing car lights, which made clothes on the back of a chair take on the shape of a wild animal. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the curtains seem to move when there was no wind. A very low sound in the floor would seem a hundred times louder than in the day. My imagination would run wild, and my heart would beat fast. I would lie very still so that the "enemy" would not discover me. Another of my childhood fears was that I would get lost, especially on the way home from school. Every morning I got on the school bus right near my home. That was no problem. After school, though, when all the buses were lined up along the street, I was afraid that I would get in the wrong one and be taken to some other strange places. On school or family trips to a park or a museum, I wouldn't let the leaders out of my sight. Perhaps one of the worst fears of all I had as a child was that of not being liked or accepted by others. Being popular was so important to me then, and the fear of not being liked was a serious one. One of the processes growing up is being able to realize and overcome our fears. Understanding the things that scared us as children helps us achieve greater success later in life. When she went to some other places, she would _ . Answer: Why are first ladies so important in the United States? They are unpaid and have no official work? There are several reasons, but the most important reason is that they are role models for other women in the United States. Jacqueline Kennedy was the best first lady in the US. Although she wasn't an actress, model or singer, she was a fashion and cultural icon who charmed people wherever she went. If you are looking for someone who is as charming as Jacqueline Kennedy, it will be hard to find anyone more suitable than Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping. If you were writing a novel and trying to describe the perfect mixture of personal history, capabilities, confident lady for a character, you'd come up with someone like Peng. Born into a family in Shandong province, she joined the People's Liberation Army at the age of 18, doing pretty well in singing military songs. But she is not only famous for her voice and great achievements, but also for her charity efforts. She has, among other things, worked as a member of World Health Organization to fight against AIDS, and has done much for 2008 Sichuan earthquake. The media reported Peng's trip with her husband. This was Xi's first foreign trip as president. The trip shows that she can be a role model for Chinese women, especially young Chinese women at home and abroad. In the past, China has not had a tradition of first ladies like in the US. Now that China has a higher position on the world stage, it can have its first first lady! And Peng Liyuan is the perfect person with whom to begin. Which may be the best title for the passage? Answer:
Miles above the equator, people from several faiths celebrate holidays in cool months Orris had title to Brownacre in fee simple. Without Orris' knowledge, Hull entered Brownacre in 1950 and constructed an earthen dam across a watercourse. The earthen dam trapped water that Hull used to water a herd of cattle he owned. After 12 years of possession of Brownacre, Hull gave possession of Brownacre to Burns. At the same time, Hull also purported to transfer his cattle and all his interests in the dam and water to Burns by a document that was sufficient as a bill of sale to transfer personal property but was insufficient as a deed to transfer real property. One year later, Burns entered into a lease with Orris to lease Brownacre for a period of five years. After the end of the five-year term of the lease, Burns remained on Brownacre for an additional three years and then left Brownacre. At that time Orris conveyed Brownacre by a quitclaim deed to Powell. The period of time to acquire title by adverse possession in the jurisdiction is 10 yearsAfter Orris's conveyance to Powell, title to Brownacre was in Hull. Everybody may have seen the film "Death on the Nile (n. )", but nobody can imagine that the writer of the story, Agatha Christie, saved a baby in a most unusual way. In June 1977, a baby girl became seriously ill in Deleville. Doctors there were unable to find out the cause of her illness, so she was sent to a famous hospital in London, where there were many excellent doctors. The baby was so seriously ill that a team of doctors hurried to examine the baby without delay. The doctors, too, were puzzled by the baby's illness and they also became discouraged. Just then a nurse asked to speak to them. "I think the baby is suffering from thallium (n. ) poisoning. " said the nurse. "A few days ago, I read a story 'A Pale Horse' written by Agatha Christie. Someone uses thallium poison, and all the symptoms are written in the book. They are exactly the same as the baby's." "You're very good at observing things," said a doctor, "and you may be right. We'll carry out some tests and find out whether the cause is thallium poisoning or not." The tests proved that the baby had indeed been poisoned by thallium. Once they knew the cause, the doctors were able to give her correct treatment. The baby soon got well and was sent back to Deleville A week later, it was reported that the poison might have come from an insecticide (n. ) used in Deleville. As far as we can tell from the story, Agatha Christie _ . had never met this baby Ice sculpting is a difficult process . First , ice must be carefully selected so that it is suitable for sculpting . Its ideal material is pure , clean water with high clarity . It should also have the minimum(=least) number of air bubbles. Perfectly clear ice blocks weighing 140 kg and measuring 100 cmx50 cmx25 cm are available from the Clinebell Company in Colorado . Much larger clear blocks are produced in Europe and Canada or harvested from a frozen river in Sweden . These large ice blocks are used for large ice sculpting events and for building ice hotels. Another difficulty in the process of ice sculpting is time control . The temperature of the environment affects how quickly the piece must be completed to avoid the effects of melting . If the sculpting does not take place in a cold environment , then the sculptor must work quickly to finish his piece . The tools used for sculpting also affect when the task can be finished . Some sculptures can be completed in as little as ten minutes if power tools are used . Ice sculptors also use sharp chisels that are specifically designed for cutting ice . The best ice chisels are made in Japan , a country that , along with China , has a long tradition of magnificent ice sculptures . Ice sculptures are used as decorations in some cuisines , especially in Asia . When holding a dinner party , some large restaurants or hotels will use an ice sculpture to decorate the table . For example , in a wedding banquet it is common to see a pair of ice-sculpted swans that represent the union of the new couple . Why is ice sculpting difficult according to the passage ? It is not easy to find the right kind of ice and work environment . One example of matter is water

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