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Question: What is the first thing you notice when you walk into a shop? The products displayed at the entrance? Or the soft background music? But have you ever notice the smell? Unless it is bad,the answer is likely to be no.But while a shop's scent may not be outstanding compared with sights and sounds,it is certainly there.And it is providing to be an increasing powerful tool in encouraging people to purchase. A brand store has become famous for its distinctive scent which floats through the fairly dark hall and out to the entrance,via scent machines. A smell may be attractive but it may not just be used for freshening air.One sports goods company once reposed that when it first introduced scent into its stores,customers'intension to purchase increased by 80 percent. When it comes to the best shopping streets in Pairs,scent is just as important to a brand's success as the quality of its window displays and goods on sales.That is mainly because shopping is a very different experience to what it used to be. Some years ago,the focus for brand name shopping was on a few people with sales assistants'disproving attitude and don't-touch-what-you-can't afford displays.Now the rise of electronic commerce(e-commerce)has opened up famous brands to a wider audience.But while e-shops can use sights and sounds,only bricks-and-mortar stores can offer a full experience from the minute customers step through the door to the moment they leave.Another brand store seeks to be much more than a shop,but rather a _ .And scent is just one way to achieve this. Now a famous store uses complex man-made smell to make sure that the soft scent of baby powder floats through the kid department,and coconut scent in the swimsuit section.A department store has even opened a new lab,inviting customers on a journey into the store's windows to smell books,pots and drawers,in search of their perfect scent. E-shops are mentioned in the passage to _ . A. show the advantages of brick-and-mortar stores B. urge shop assistants to change their attitude C. push stores to use sights and sounds D. introduce the rise of e-commerce Answer: A Question: Singing had always been an important part of Gloria Estefan's life. " Since I was three years old, I sang. I sang everything," Gloria said. "Gubans," she added, "are a musical people." Gloria was born in Cuba in 1957. Her family left the country just before Fidel Castro came to power. In Miami, where the family settled, many people did not accept Cuban immigrants. In first grade, she spoke little English, but she worked hard to learn the language. Six months after she entered school, she won an award for reading in English! When Gloria was ten , her father returned from the Vietnam War. Soon, the family realized he wasn't well. They soon found out that he was badly ill. Her mother went back to teaching at school to support the family. Gloria cared for her father and her younger sister. She still made the honor roll, and she still had her music, but Gloria was lonely. However, when the band leader Emilio Estefan came to speak at her high school, Gloria sang for him. He asked her to join his band. It was the beginning of the Miami Sound Machine. Within a few months, the Miami Sound Machine was the top band in Miami. In 1978, Gloria and Emilio married. At first, the Miami Sound Machine was known only in Miami. Then the band signed with CBS Records. Estefan and his band became stars. Since then, the Miami Sound Machine has sold millions of records. Estefan has done more than just singing when Hurricane Andrew hit central Florida in 1992. She used only two weeks to organize an all-star concert that raised $ 2 million for the people who suffered in the hurricane. "We needed a party after that _ ," she said. Estefan said, "You have to stay true to the music you really love to do. There will always be people who will tell you, 'that won't work.' You've got to be firm in spite of difficulties. Stick to it----that's the main thing." According to the passage, probably Estefan did the following except _ . A. organizing an all-star concert for Hurricane victims B. teaching at school to support the family C. winning an award for reading in English D. taking care of her father and sister Answer: B Question: A close object will seem to be A. miniscule B. minute C. puny D. ginormous Answer: D Question: With about 10 million new iPhone 6s ordered in the initial days on the market, a lot of old iPhones are bound to be thrown into the dustbins. Sure, you could sell, donate or recycle your old iPhone, but you probably will not. And there are better things to do with it. One creative example: At the Missouri University of Science and Technology, a biology class is making old iPhones into microscopes. Using less than $10 worth of supplies, the old phones are mounted onto a lens and can magnify an object to 175 times its size. Here are 5 smart-and-cheap uses for old iPhones. Music for your car Take your music library on the road. Some cars are equipped with docking ports for iPhones and have dashboard screens so you can choose your favourite music hands-free. Or you can just use the cigarette lighter for power. Remote Control Televisions, speakers and other devices now have apps that allow users to make their iPhones into fashionable remotes. Carm Lyman, 42, of Napa, California, transformed his iPhone 4 into a remote for his household sound system after his iPhone 5 arrived. Lyman can control the audio levels and activate speakers in various parts of his home as well as access different music services. Cookbook No need to go through recipe books or hunt around for other devices when you have a kitchen iPhone. Download a cookbook app, such as My Recipe Book (99 cents) or Big Oven (free), and just leave the device on the kitchen counter. It takes up almost no space and will hold far more recipes than any book. Baby Monitor Sure, you can spend $100 or more on a baby monitor, or you can just set your old iPhone up to watch video of your baby in real time as well as hear and even talk to him or her. Cloud Baby Monitor ($3.99) also allows parents to receive the signal on a wireless network or on WiFi so they do not have to be within a certain number of feet of the monitor. Vehicle Tracker Whether you need to find your car if it is stolen, record where you have traveled, or spy on your teenage driver, the built-in GPS in your phone can be used as a tracking device. An app like InstaMapper ($2.99) lets you watch the vehicle in real-time and have a record of it. Keep in mind that the phone can still dial 911, even if it does not have cellphone service, Smith said. You can also use your old phone as a back-up in case your new model suffers irreparable harm. That said, the battery of a phone that sits in a drawer unused could be exhausted to the point where it is no longer workable. Who will probably benefit the most from an old iphone? A. A housewife B. A musician C. A traveller D. A phone user Answer: A Question: Art Beat in January 2016 Beijing Youth choir to perform The youth choir of China National Symphony Orchestra will soon perform classics including the Mexican folk song, The Golden Nightingale, and the Blue Danube, adapted from a waltz by Johann Strauss II. Pianists Zhao Lin and Wang Tianyang will join in the show. 7:30 pm, Jan 23. Forbidden City Concert Hall, inside Zhongshan Park, west of Tian'anmen Square, Xicheng district. 010-6559-8285. Orchestra recitals The China National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra led by conductor Lyu Jia will give two recitals, featuring works including Beethoven's Coriolanus Overture and Mozart's Symphonies No. 40 & No. 41 Jupiter. Cellist Wang Jian will join in the performances, playing Schumann's Cello Concerto in A minor, Op 129 and Saint-Saens' Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op 33. 7:30 pm, Jan 15; 2:30 pm, Jan 16. China National Center for the Performing Arts, No. 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng District. 010-6655-0000. Ballet from Paris Paris Opera Ballet will present two gala performances in the city. Besides highlights of classical ballet, such as Swan Lake and Manon, the program will also include modern pieces from the company's repertoire. The leading etoiles are Ludmila Pagliero and Karl Paquette. 7:15 pm, Jan 15-16. Shanghai Oriental Art Center, 425 Dingxiang Road, Pudong district. 021-6854-1234. Ensemble of swans Shanghai Ballet will present two performances of Swan Lake. The production choreographed by British artist Derek Deane who has just completed a tour in 26 cities of the Netherlands. The spectacular production features an ensemble of 48 dancers. 7:15 pm, Jan 22-23. Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 Renmin Avenue, Huangpu district. 400-106-8686. According to the text, we know that Ludmila Pagliero and Karl Paquette are _ . A. pianists B. ballet performers C. cellists D. violinists Answer: B
Question: The US government has started a website, Admongo, to help children think critically about the advertising aimed at them. It claims to provide visitors with an "education" through games and other amusement. A cartoon man dressed in old time pilot clothing greets visitors to Admongo. "Call me Haiz", he says upon arrival in a rocket ship that opens up with a crazy world inside it. Spacey dance music plays in the background as Haiz tells visitors that they need to learn about advertising. Its inventors say eight to twelve years old is the age kids develop their critical thinking abilities. Kids that age are also a big market for advertisers. The idea behind Admongo is to teach children three things: To _ the advertiser. To know what the advertiser is really saying. And to know what the advertisement is trying to get the child to do. Children learn these things through a video game. They create their own game character. They can choose different skin colors, hair styles, eye and mouth shapes. Then they begin a trip through ad-land, where there are ads on buses and billboards. The players have to find all the marketing in the neighborhood before they can move on to the next level. The Admongo game takes players inside a home, to the advertising studio and everywhere else ads can be found. It is a complete exploration of the world of marketing. One such area is food marketing. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says it is a big business. The FTC estimates that food, drink and fast-food restaurants spent more than one and a half billion dollars on advertising to young people in 2010. The FTC says children are important for three reasons. They buy products. They influence parents and caregivers to buy. And they are the future adult buyers of the products. A recent study says most advertising aimed at children is for foods of the lowest nutritional value. First Lady Michelle Obama has said she would like to see advertisers marketing healthy foods for children. What is the best title of the text? A. The guide of Admongo B. An education website for children C. A popular online video game D. A website aimed at children Answer: B. An education website for children Question: Scientists estimate that Maryland contains more than 850 million tons of coal. Coal is most commonly used to produce ___. A. electricity B. medicine C. metals D. water Answer: A. electricity Question: Many people think there is no need to take special care over home security. "I'm all right, I'm insured " Maybe--if you're fully insured. Even then you can never recover the real value you place on your possessions. But you can't insure against the upset and unhappiness that we all feel if our homes are torn apart by some stranger, our windows and doors broken, our precious possessions ruined. "It won't happen to me" Won't it? A home is broken into every minute or so of the day. The thefts of all kinds, including cars and property stolen from cars, happen twice as frequently. "I've nothing worth stealing" You may think not. But in fact everyone has something worth a thief's attention. And we all have things of special value to us even if they're worth little or nothing in cash terms. "I'm just a tenant here" The thief doesn't care whether you're a tenant or an owner-occupier. You're just as likely to be robbed. Have a word with the owner of the house if you think extra locks and fastenings are necessary. "They'll get in anyway" Most thieves are on the lookout for easy jobs. They are soon discouraged by houses they can't get into in any quick and easy way. So it's worth taking care. "This booklet will help you" It's based on the practical experience of police forces throughout the country. Most of the suggestions will cost you only a few minutes extra time and thought. A few may involve some expense, but this is small compared with the loss and unhappiness you might otherwise suffer. If you are in doubt, ask for free advice from the Crillle Prevention Officer at your local police station. Why do you still need to protect your possessions when you've already insured them? A. You tend to undervalue your possessions. B. You cannot insure against damage to property. C. A robbery can affect your moods at home. D. It takes a long time to recover your belongings. Answer: C. A robbery can affect your moods at home. Question: I am in my father's house in Connecticut, sitting at a crowded table with my brother, my two sisiters and all our partners, talking about a tree. "He doesn't want it cut down." My sister says when my father has gone to bed and none of us speaks of the tree in his presence. "He says he usef to climb it when he was a boy." When I was last here, a year and a half ago, for my father's 90th birthday, Hurricane Irene drove seawater into the roads. The large tree that hangs over the houses swayed alarmingly, but it stayed up. Last October, Hurricane Sandy acused a great deal of damage. Six months on, many of the surrounding houses are on sale, but the tree that hangs over the house still stands. "That tree," my brother says, "has survived the two worst storms of the last 100 years." Though my brother thinks highly of the amazing staying power of the tree, my sister says that the tree should never have been planted: it stops light from reaching the house. My other sister's partner says that all trees fall down eventually. There is plenty of evidence for what he says: throughout the neighborhood, the ramains of similarly sized trees lie on their sides, with their roots in the air. During this discussion, I offer to pay a quarter of whatever is required to remove the tree. "A guy I talked to," my brother says, "told me it could cost us$10,000." As night wears on, the discussion becomes increaslingly meaningless. There is no point in reaching any kind of agreement, since the decision is not for us to make. It's my father's tree, and he has refused to cut down the only thing in the neighborhood older than him. When does the discussion take place? A. After lunch B. After supper C. At the weekend D. Before their father's 90th birthday Answer: B. After supper Question: Dear Nancy, My name is Xiao Ming. I want to be in a club in our school. I'm not famous now. But maybe I can be famous someday! I can't sing or dance or act in movies, but I can do many other things. I can play three instruments: the guitar, the violin and the drums. I think I can be in the music club. Maybe I can be a famous musician. I like to read story books and I can write stories. Maybe I can be a famous writer. I like sports, too, but I don't think I can be a famous and successful sports man. Can I join you? Love Xiao Ming What can't Xiao Ming do? He can't A. write stories B. sing or dance C. act in movies D. B&C Answer: D. B&C
Having put down your pens at the end of the college entrance exam, you have ended 12 years of hard study. Forget your studies for a while. It's time to enjoy yourselves! There are many ways to celebrate this special month of graduation. You can have photos taken with your classmates and teachers, or dine out together and exchange gifts. High school students in Western countries such as the United States and Canada usually have a prom to mark their graduation. It's to mark the time kids turn into young men and women. After the prom, teenagers either go to college or find a job. It means they are no longer as dependent on their parents as they were before. At the prom, boys usually dress in dinner jackets and bow ties, though many different types of formal clothes are worn. Traditionally, girls give boys matching boutonnieres ( ). Girls traditionally wear formal dresses, or dress to shock or be noticed, in shiny or brightly colored materials. Common prom activities include dining, dancing, the crowning of a prom king and queen, and just talking to friends. In some cases, high school students collect funds for their class prom through the four years of their high school. High schools in or near large cities may rent ballrooms at expensive hotels or, to be unusual, in a pleasure cruise boat. But often costs are cut by simply using the school gym. Students make a lot of effort to decorate the gym to make the event special. The music played at the prom will be the most popular kinds, like rock and hip-hop. The students elect the Prom Queen. She is partnered with a Prom King who is elected similarly. These are great honors that the pair take very seriously. The two dance with each other to celebrate their election. The word "prom" is probably closest in meaning with _ . Answer: Few people would defend the Victorian attitude on children, but if you were a parent in those days, at least you knew where you stood: children were to be seen and not heard. Freud and his colleagues did away with all that and parents have been puzzled ever since. The child's happiness is all- important, they say, but what about the parents' happiness? Modern child-rearing manuals would never permit cruelty to children .The trouble is you are not allowed even to shout. Who knows what deep psychological wounds you might cause? The poor child may never recover from the dreadful experience. So it is the parents that bend over backwards to avoid giving their children complex which a hundred years ago hadn't even been heard of. Certainly, a child needs love, and a lot of it. But the excessive permissive of modern parents is surely doing more harm than good. Psychologists have succeeded in weakening parents confidence in their own authority. And it hasn't taken children long to get wind of the fact. In addition to the great modern classics on child care, there are countless articles in magazines and newspapers. With so much advice flying about, mum and dad just don't know what to do any more. In the end, they do nothing at all. So, from early childhood, the kids are in charge and parents' lives are regulated according to the needs of their kids. When the little dears develop into teenagers, they take complete control. Lack of authority over the years makes teenagers rebellion against parents all the more violent. If the young people are going to have a party, for example, parents are asked to leave the house. Their presence merely spoils the fun. What else can the poor parents do but obey? What's the main idea of this passage? Answer: When Ben delivered milk to my home one morning before Christmas,he wasn't his usual sunny self. He told me a customer had left without paying the bill,$79,nor leaving her new address. So it meant that he had to cover the loss. "She was a pretty woman,"he said, "with six children and another on the way. She was always saying. 'I'm going to pay you soon when my husband gets a second job.' I believed her,but she left. Isn't it annoying?" "Give her the milk. Make it a Christmas present to the kids who need it." I said. The holidays came and went. On a sunny January morning two weeks later,Ben was rushing to deliver milk when he saw a woman running down the street,waving money. He recognized her immediately--the woman who didn't pay her bill. "I'm so sorry." she said. "I really have been meaning to pay you." She explained that her husband had come home one night and announced he' d found cheaper apartment. He' d also got a new job. With all that happened, she' d forgotten to leave the new address. "But I've been saving," she said. "Here's $20 toward the bill. "That' s all right," Ben replied. "It's been paid." "Paid!" she exclaimed . "What do you mean? Who paid it?" "I did," Ben said, "It went to the children as a Christmas present!" We can probably infer from the passage that the woman _ . Answer: Grace and I are good friends. We get on very well with each other, though sometimes we fight. I remember last year we didn't talk with each other for a long time before Mid-Autumn Day. But when we met each other that day, we became good friends again. We both study well. We like talking about the problems in our studies.We also like making up stories.We made one up in English last month. It was called "Magic Sunflower Club". I think this is a wonderful name. Grace is tall and active. She does better in P.E. than me. She is good at music. She plays the piano so well that sometimes birds come to listen to her. I'm shorter and quieter than Grace. I know a lot about science. I often have some new ideas. I'm good at math and art. Our teacher says my drawing is getting better and better. If we don't know something very well, we help each other. So we never have any problems. Which of the following is TRUE? Answer: Madrid, capital of Spain, is a city with large numbers of historic sites resting in the shadows of modern skyscrapers. This city of over 3, 23 million people, up from 2,88 million in 2000, is proud of Western Europe's royal palace, considered by many to be Madrid's most beautiful building. Inside the Royal Palace 2,800 rooms are decorated with museum-quality furniture and artwork. The internationally loved Prado Museum is the largest and most impressive art gallery in Spain. Opened in 1819, it is filled with works of art that include the world's most comprehensive collection of Spanish paintings. Spain is famous for its delicious ham, and there's no better place to try it than at Museo del Jamon, which has five branches around the city. Hanging from the ceiling of each branch are dozens of hams of different types and flavors. Taste them in the bar. Madrid had some of Europe's best shopping. For 500 years, shoppers have gathered to a large outdoor flea market known as the Rastro, where they find everything from antiques to CDs. Get a great view of the city from Teleferico de Madrid. This cable car takes you on a 2.5kilometer trip 40 meters above the Manzanares River and Casa de Campo park. For a refreshing choice, relax beside the swimming pool on the roof of the Emperador Hotel. Enjoy delicious desserts and drinks while viewing the city, or take a dip in the cool water. No trip to Madrid is complete without seeing a performance of Spain's famous art form, flamenco. Every day, flamenco performers sing, dance or play the guitar in small cafes and grand theaters alike. What can readers learn about Madrid from this article? Answer:
Question: My dad runs the Blue Street Zoo. Everyone calls him the Zoo King. That means Mom is the Zoo Queen. And that means that I'm the Zoo Prince! Being a prince is very special. I spend every morning walking around to see the zoo. It's better than any animal book. I say hello to the lions. I say woof at all of the wolves. I make faces to the penguins. Once I even gave a morning kiss to a bear! My favorite animal is the piggy. I named him Samson. He likes to eat mustard, so I toss some mustard jars into his cage every morning. I don't know why that piggy likes mustard so much. Sometimes I walk around with the Zoo King and Zoo Queen. Then we say hello to the animals together! I really like those days. Everybody who works at the Zoo says hello to us when we walk by. At lunchtime, we all go to the Zoo restaurant and eat pork chops. I hope Samson doesn't get mad about that! What is Samson? A. the bear B. the Zoo King C. the narrator D. the piggy Answer: D. the piggy Question: At the onset of a northern winter, many dream of warmer climates.In 1934 the Canadian-born composer Colin Mcphee did more than dream. He set out for the island of Bali. In his bookA House in Bali,Colin Mcphee described how he first gained insight into the essence of Balinese music.For about a month he had been working on transcribing a complete score to a Balinese play he had seen. It seemed impossible that so much beauty could be achieved with a scale of only five tones. But the distinctive embellishments of the music _ him.Fortunately a young household helper and his friend decided to assist. One morning they set two objects next to Mcphee's piano.They were gangas--metal keyed instruments.The two boys played them in what struck Mcphee as"a fast duet in Morse code". At last the composer had found the key to Balinese music."Wait!" Mcphee would call out from the piano as the boys flew along,"Stop!Please!That bit once more!" Patiently the boys would stop and began again.But soon they were flying again,faster than ever, amazing Mcphee with their memory and precision. Sometimes the patterns repeated.Sometimes they opened up into something new. Then, suddenly the whole duet would fly apart and the boys would burst out laughing,breaking the spell. Although Colin Mcphee left the island in 1939,he remained spellbound by Balinese music.And its rich,distinctive sound would colour many of the compositions he would write for the next quarter century. The passage is mainly about _ . A. a book introducing the island of Bali B. two Balinese boys playing gangas C. a composer named Colin Mcphee D. Balinese music touching Colin Mcphee Answer: D. Balinese music touching Colin Mcphee Question: Protagoras was among the great teachers of ancient Athens. He taught many subjects, including the laws of argument and the right use of language. It is said that he was the first teacher to accept money for his services. A student, Evalthus, heard of this famous teacher and asked him to give him lessons. However, Evalthus didn't want to pay for his lessons at once, and after some discussion it was finally agreed between them that Evalthus should pay only if he won his first case in the court. For if he won, it would prove that he had been taught well. The lessons began and Evalthus proved himself to be a good student. But he refused to pay Protagoras anything at the end of his studies. Protagoras therefore took Evalthus to the court and told the judges that he wanted his money. He explained that he must be paid whether he won or lost the case. "Whatever you decide," he declared to the judges, " I must be paid. For if you decide in my fovor , then I win the case, and so I must be paid . But If you decide against me, then Evalthus has won his first case in the court; according to our agreement, he must pay his lessons. Therefore I shall get my money whatever happens." The Athenian judges found no fault in it, so they asked Evalthus to reply. "No, it's quite clear," said Evalthus, " that I need not pay. If the judged decide in my favor, then I have won the case, and I need not to pay. But if Protagoras wins, then I have lost my first case. Therefore, according to our agreement, I do not have to pay. So I need not pay in any event." As both arguments appeared to be faultless, the judges were unable to come to a decision. They therefore ordered the two men to appear before them again one hundred years later. What is probably the best title for the text? A. A Smart Student---- Evalthus B. A Great Teacher---Protagoras C. Come Here One Hundred Years Later D. A Fight Between Teacher and Student Answer: C. Come Here One Hundred Years Later Question: "I never did hate the Yankees . All that I hated was the war..." That's how my great-aunt Bettie began her story. I heard it many times as a child, whenever my family visited Aunt Bettie in the old house in Berryville, Virginia. Bettie Van Metre had good reason to hate the Civil War. Her brother was killed at Gettysburg, and her husband, James, a Confederate officer, was taken prisoner and sent to an unknown prison camp somewhere. One day in late September, Dick came to Bettie reporting that he had found a wounded Union soldier in a farmhouse half a mile away from the Van Metre home. When talking about her first sight of the man in the blood-spotted blue uniform, she always used the same words. _ She went out into the cool air, trying not to be sick at the thought of that smashed right hand, that missing left leg. The man's papers Bettie found in the farmhouse showed his identity: Henry Bedell, 30 years old. She knew that she should report the presence of this Union officer to the Confederate army, but she wouldn't. This is how she explained it: "I kept wondering if he had a wife somewhere, hoping, and not knowing--just as I was. It seemed to me that the only thing that mattered was to get her husband back to her." Slowly, patiently, skillfully, Aunt Bettie fanned the spark of life in Henry Bedell. Of drugs or medicines she had almost none. And she was not willing to take any from the few supplies at the Confederate hospital. But she did the best she could with what she had. The October nights in the valley grew cold. With the help of Dick and his wife, she moved the Union officer at night, to a hidden room above the warm kitchen of her own home. But the next day, Bedell had a high fever. Knowing that she must get help, she went to her family doctor, Graham Osborne. Dr. Osborne examined Bedell and said, "there was little hope unless proper medicines could be found." "I'll get them from the Yankees at Harpers Ferry." Bettie said. The doctor told her that Harpers Ferry was almost 20 miles away. Even if she reached them, the Yankees would never believe her. "I'll take proof," Bettie said. She found a blood-spotted paper bearing the official War Department seal . "When I show it, they'll believe me." Early the next morning she set off with a list of medical items. For five hours she drove, stopping only to rest her horse. The sun was almost down when she finally stood before the general at Harpers Ferry. The general listened, but did not believe her. "Madam," he said, "Bedell's death was reported to us." "He's alive," Bettie insisted. "But he won't be much longer unless he has the medicines on that list." "Well," the general turned to a junior officer, "see that Mrs. Van Metre gets the supplies." With the medicines, Bedell gradually recovered. Ten days later he was walking with sticks. "I'd better go back as soon as possible." Bedell told Bettie. So it was arranged that Dick should help Bettie deliver Bedell to Harpers Ferry in his wagon. Bedell lay down in a box filled with hay, his rifle and sticks beside him. At Harpers Ferry, the soldiers were amazed when the Union officer with the missing leg rose from his hay-filled box. Bedell told the story to Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, who wrote a letter of thanks to Bettie and signed an order to free James Van Metre. It was arranged for Bedell to go with Bettie as she searched for her husband. Records showed that a James Van Metre had been sent to a prison camp in Ohio. Then at Fort Delaware, near the end of the line of prisoner, a tall man stepped out and walked clumsily into Bettie's arms. Bettie held him, tears streaming down her face. And Henry Bedell, standing by on his sticks, wept, too. Still recovering, Henry Bedell decided to leave as soon as possible mainly because _ . A. he was eager to return to the Union to fight B. he didn't want to go on putting Bettie in danger C. hewas concerned about his safety at the Van Metre home D. he could be treated with better medicines back at Harpers Ferry Answer: B. he didn't want to go on putting Bettie in danger Question: Think of life as a game in which you are playing with five balls in the air. You name them work, family, health, friends and spirit and you keep all of them in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce( )back. But the other four balls, family, health, friends and spirit, are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be broken. They will never be the same. You must understand that and try to have balance in your life. How? Don't look down on your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different and each of us is special. Don't let other people set goals for you. Only you know what is best to yourself. Don't give up when you still have something to give. _ Don't be afraid of difficulties. Be brave! Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you have been, but also where you are going. Don't be afraid to learn. Knowledge is a treasure you can always carry easily. Don't use time or words carelessly. You can't get them back. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery , and today is a gift; that's why we call it " the present". Life is not a competition, but a trip ,step by step. According to the passage, which is the best title? A. Nothing is impossible. B. Glass balls are easy to be broken. C. treat your life in a right way. D. Things you can't do. Answer: C. treat your life in a right way.
Question: It's Sunday. There are many people in the bus. And an old man is looking here and there. He wants to find an empty seat . Then he finds one. He goes to it. A small bag is on the seat. And a young man is sitting beside it. "Is this seat empty?" asks the old man. "No, it's for a woman. She goes to buy some bananas." Says the young man. "Well," says the old man, "Let me sit here please. When she comes back, I will leave here." The bus starts . "She doesn't come, but her bag is here. Let me give her the bag." Then the old man throws the bag out of the bus window. The young man jumps up and shouts, "Don't throw! It's my bag!" The old man wants to find an empty seat _ . A. in the room B. in the bus C. beside the driver D. in a car Answer: B Question: To prevent diabetes you will get a real jolt ( shock ) when you follow the prescription offered up in the "Journal of the American Medical Association." This 'prestigious' organization reported on separate studies of coffee drinkers in Sweden and Finland. Whiz-bang medical researchers discovered that women could decrease their risk of diabetes by 29 percent when they followed a regimen of drinking three to four cups of coffee a day. The ladies who had the courage to drink 10 or more cups of coffee a day progressed even better. They reduced their risk of diabetes by 79 percent. The men participating in the studies also reduced their risk, but not to the extent as did the women. When men drank three to four cups a day, they reduced their risk of diabetes by 27 percent. The men who drank 10 or more cups of java per day reduced their risk by 55 percent. These results confirm a January report by the equally 'prestigious' Harvard School of Public Health. That report concluded that drinking six 8-ounce cups of coffee a day could reduce diabetes risk in men by about 50 percent and in women by 30 percent. If the numbers have any connection to reality, the more coffee you drink, the better off you are. And that is the rub. The numbers have nothing to do with reality, nothing to do with the truth. Here in America the rate of adult-onset diabetes, or Type 2 diabetes, is growing increasingly. Nowadays it typically shows up in middle-age populations, but the disease is on the rise among ever-younger age groups. Do not step up your coffee consumption in the belief it will help you prevent diabetes. This disease has ly nothing to do with a lack of coffee drinking. Science and truth are not synonymous. Medical scientists do not deal with truth. The medical scientists who monkey around with coffee drinking merely play with limited and approximate descriptions of reality. In this case, extremely limited and hardly approximate. If you are serious about preventing diabetes, you have to look at the differences between the people of the past who did not get diabetes and the people of today who get diabetes. _ involves more than merely harping on the fact the younger generation is becoming more overweight and less active. We have plenty of newly discovered diabetics who are active and on the thin side---and they drink lots of coffee. The primary difference between the people of the past who did not get sick and die like we do, and the present lot who become diabetics, is poor nutritional status. The diabetic-in-process has an inadequate intake of nutrients and/or excessive intake of nutrient-poor foods. Conversely , his/her healthy ancestors had a nutrient-rich diet. The nutrient-rich diet of the past contained, minimally, four times the amount of minerals, and ten times the amount of fat-soluble vitamins found in the American diet of the late 1930's and early 1940's. Folks who learn where health comes from and practice prevention won't become diabetic, and will not need the medical community dosing them with coffee, or any other magic bullet. What is the best title of the passage? A. Build Health: Want To Prevent Diabetes? B. Build Health: Why To Prevent Diabetes? C. Build Health: What To Prevent Diabetes? D. Build Health: Where To Prevent Diabetes? Answer: A Question: Shanghai Disney Resort has revealed its ticket prices for Disneyland claiming the lowest of all 12 Disney parks and six resorts in the world. Shanghai Disneyland ticket prices are set at 499 yuan (75 dollars) for the grand opening period (June 16-30, 2016) and regular price at 370 yuan. Its regular price for a one-day ticket is lower than its peers in Hong Kong, which is priced at 539 yuan and the Disneyland in Tokyo in Japan at 374 yuan. The regular price for a one-day ticket at the two parks in Los Angeles is $139. Tickets for Shanghai's Disneyland will be on sale on March 28, 2016. Shanghai's Disneyland will have its opening day on June 16, 2016. All tickets will be date-specific and valid for admission only on the date purchased. Peak pricing for high-demand dates, including summer holidays and weekends, is set at 499 yuan. Special pricing will be provided to categorized guests: children (1.4m and below), seniors (65 years old and above) and guests with disabilities will receive discounts of 25 percent, infants (1m and below) receive free admission. A two-day ticket will be available at a five percent discount. On March 28, 2016, guests can obtain information on tickets through several official channels. The project has been under construction for more than six years now. Jun 16-that is, 6-16-2016-has been apparently chosen as the date of opening because the three 6s are believed to be _ , foretelling success. "Investors believe that even a 10 square meter space for a noodle stand will be really profitable if it is close enough to Disneyland," said Lu Jianxin, a real estate agent with Shanghai Huayu Property Ltd. According to the passage, how much will the two-day tickets cost if a couple go to Shanghai Disneyland on July 16, 2016, Saturday? A. About 1900 yuan. B. About 2000 yuan. C. About 1500 yuan. D. About 1400 yuan. Answer: A Question: Who has the smelliest sneakers ? How can you get $2,500 easily? All you need is a pair of smelly sneakers.This is the true story in America in the Rotten Sneaker Contest. This year in March, there was the annual Rotten Sneaker Contest in America.This contest first came out in 1975.The person who had a sporting goods store first had the idea to promote a kind of new shoes. This year the winner was a girl named Casey Adams. She walked her dog and cleaned out her chicken coop with this pair of sneakers. So with her sneakers, there was the smell of dog and chicken poop . Other children in this contest all wore their sneakers to join the contest. However, who has the smelliest sneakers? Casey's sneakers were so smelly that she had to take them inside some bags by car. Finally, Casey got the prize money and a trip to New York to watch a show for free. ,. How did Casey make her sneakers with the smell of chicken poop? A. She walked chickens. B. She washed chickens. C. She lived with chickens. D. She cleaned out the chicken coop. Answer: D Question: Most American students go to traditional public schools.There are about 88, 000 public schools, all over the US.Some students attend about 3000 independent public schools called charter schools. Charter schools are self-governing.Private companies operate some charter schools.They are similar in some ways to traditional public schools.They receive tax money just as other public schools do.Charter schools must prove to local or state governments that their students are learning.These governments provide the schools with the agreement called a charter that permits them to operate. Charter schools are different because they do not have to obey most laws governing traditional public schools.Local, state, or federal governments cannot tell them what to teach.Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to reach them.Class size is usually smaller than in traditional public schools. The Bush Administration strongly supports charter schools as a way to re-organize public schools that are failing to educate students.But some education agencies and unions oppose charter schools.One teachers' union has just made public the results of the first national study comparing the progress of students in traditional schools and charter schools. The American Federation of Teachers criticized the government's delay in releasing the results of the study, which is called the National Assessment of Educational Progress.Union education experts say the study shows that charter school students performed worse on math and reading tests than students in regular public schools. Some experts say the study is not a fair look at charter schools because students in those schools have more problems than students in traditional schools.Other education experts say the study results should make charter school officials demand improved student progress. What's the government's attitude toward charter schools? A. Doubtful B. Supportive. C. Subjective. D. Optimistic. Answer: B
Mary and Her Friends Mary has some friends. They are Betty, Peter, Alice and Mike. Mary is the oldest of the five. Betty is thirteen years old. She is younger than Mary and older than Peter. Alice is nine and Mike is seven. Betty and Peter are good runners . But Peter runs faster. Mary and Betty like to play basketball. Mary plays better than Betty. Alice sings best of them. Mary and Betty study in a middle school. Peter, Alice and Mike study in a primary school. They all work hard at school. But Betty works hardest. Her handwriting is good, too. Betty's handwriting is _ . A. worst B. good C. better D. best Answer: B A listener from Brazil recently wrote to us asking for some advice. He's planning a trip to the United States, and wanted to know about the best places to travel in America. Today, we tell about the most popular places to visit in the country, and hear about what makes them so appealing. Each of the 50 states in America has interesting things to offer visitors, but some are more popular than others. Washington, D.C. is famous for its historical places, like the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. Visitors to Los Angeles, California can see the Hollywood Walk of Fame or shop the stores on Rodeo Drive where they may see a star or two. The Grand Canyon in Arizona appeals to hikers, climbers and nature lovers, as does Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Trip Advisor is a website where people can write reviews about their travel experiences. There are also ratings for hotels, restaurants, and places people have visited around the world. Every year, Trip Advisor makes a list of the top 25 cities to visit in the United States. The results are based on the opinions of visitors to the website. America's major cities are still the most popular destinations for visitors. This is probably because of the good quality of services they provide tourists. "They do a great job of giving travelers what they want when they're on vacation. I think they kind of cater to every type of traveler need. So whether you're traveling alone, you're traveling for business, you're traveling with your family - whatever it is, those destinations are really tuned in to delivering amazing experiences and just a lot of different opportunities when you're there." said Brooke Ferencsik, a tourist from Germany. According to Brooke Ferencsik, _ make America's major cities the most popular destinations for visitors. A. city residents' kindness and care B. the good services C. great opportunities of jobs D. the varieties of cities Answer: B I was walking along prefix = st1 /Orchard Roadwhen I realized a tall young man wearing a jacket and tie was following me. I noticed him because not many people wear a jacket and tie in the middle of a hot summer day, and I had already seen this man four times that afternoon. To make sure he was following me, I walked on quickly, turned right into a shopping center and then stopped to look in a shop window. Soon the man appeared and stopped at another shop window. I walked on and stopped several times. When I stopped , he stopped too. I began to be rather worried and decided to try to lose this strange man. When I saw a taxi coming, I jumped into it. As I was telling the taxi driver where to go, I found the man get into another taxi, which then followed mine. As the two taxies slowly made their way alongOrchard Road, I looked back at the taxi behind, and saw that the stranger was looking out at me. At MRT station, I told the taxi driver to stop and I got out. As I was paying my fare, I saw the man was getting out of his taxi. By now I got angry, so I turned and walked straight to him. I asked him why he was following me. At first he said he was not following me at all, but when I threatened to call the police, he admitted he was. He then told me that he was a journalist(news reporter) and that he was writing an article on how elderly people inSingaporespend their time. He said he was observing me to gather materials for his article. Why did the writer get into a taxi? A. To test the young man. B. To lose the young man. C. To call the police. D. To get home earlier. Answer: B "Mum, what does it mean when someone tells you that they have a skeleton in the closet ?" Jessica asked. "A skeleton in the closet?" her mother paused thoughtfully."Well, it's something that you would rather not have anyone else know about. For example, if in the past, someone in Dad's family had been arrested for stealing a horse, it would be 'a skeleton in his family's closet'. He really wouldn't want any neighbor to know about it." "Why pick on my family?" Jessica's father said with anger. "Your family history isn't so good, you know. Wasn't your great-great-grandfather a prisoner who was transported to Australia for his crimes?" "Yes, but people these days say that you are not a real Australian unless your ancestors arrived as prisoners." "Gosh, sorry I asked. I think I understand now," Jessica cut in before things grew worse. After dinner, the house was very quiet. Jessica's parents were still quite angry with each other. Her mother was ironing clothes and every now and then she glared at her husband, who hid behind his newspaper pretending to read. When she finished, she gathered the freshly pressed clothes in her arms and walked to Jessica's closet. Just as she opened the door and reached in to hang a skirt, a bony arm stuck out from the dark depths and a bundle of white bones fell to the floor. Jessica's mother sank in a faint , waking only when Jessica put a cold, wet cloth on her forehead. She looked up to see the worried faces of her husband and daughter. "What happened? Where am I?" she asked."You just destroyed the school's skeleton, Mum," explained Jessica. "I brought it home to help me with my health project. I meant to tell you, but it seemed that as soon as I mentioned skeletons and closets, it caused a problem between you and Dad." Jessica looked in amazement as her parents began to laugh madly."They're both crazy,"she thought. Why did Jessica bring a skeleton home? A. She was curious about it. B. She planned to keep it for fun. C. She needed it for her school task. D. She intended to scare her parents. Answer: C To discover how tough a certain mineral may be, one would A. measure the weight of it B. smash it to see the inside C. attempt to leave a mark on it D. see if it is able to be crushed Answer: C
Blind photography sounds strange.But a striking exhibition of photographs in California argues that it develops as a result of the contemporary art.The show "Sight Unseen", at the California Museum of Photography until Aug.29, includes everything: underwater scenes, landscapes, abstracts and everything else you might expect from a "sighted" photographer. How do the blind take their photographs? Some rely on assistants to set up and then describe the shots , and others just point and shoot in the right place."Just like any good artists," says McCulloh."They have their unique ways of operating." One participating photographer is Pete Eckert, an artist with multiple degrees in design and sculpture who only turned to photography after losing his vision in the mid-1990s.He opens the shutter on his camera and then uses flashlights, lights, and candles to paint his scene on film.A former fashion photographer in Chicago, Weston, lost his vision due to AIDS in 1996 and focuses on images of destruction and disability.His photos are also a star of the show. What do gallery-goers say? "I was very impressed by it.The technique and experience was amazingly different," says John Hesketh, a printmaker in Anaheim."You never have a sense of feeling sorry for these people because they've worked very hard to prove their value." Beyond the praise, however, the exhibition also makes a great example for disabled people everywhere.That point was explained in early May during a discussion on the TV show.At the very end of the talk, one attendee expressed his opinion."This exhibition is extraordinary and revolutionary for many reasons.I think that by being an artist with a disability, you are continuing the work of those people who fought for basic civil rights to gain access and to have a voice.In that way, it's so wonderful that your photographs say it all." We can learn from the passage that blind photographers _ . Answer: focus on different subjects. For several days I saw little of Mr. Rochester. In the morning he seemed very busy with business, and in the afternoon gentlemen from the neighborhood called and sometimes stayed to dine with him. When his foot was well enough,he rode out a great deal. During this time,all my knowledge of him was limited to occasional meetings about the house, when he would sometimes pass me coldly,and sometimes bow and smile. His changes of manner did not offend me,because I saw that I had nothing to do with the cause of them. One evening,several days later,I was invited to talk to Mr.Rochester after dinner. He was sitting in his armchair, and looked not quite so severe,and much less gloomy,There was a smile on his lips, and his eyes were bright, probably with wine. As I was looking at him,he suddenly turned,and asked me,"Do you think I am handsome,Miss Eyre? The answer somehow slipped from my tongue before I realized it: "No,sir." "Ah, you really are unusual! You are a quiet, serious little person, but you can be almost rude." "Sir, I'm sorry. I should have said that beauty doesn't matter,or something like that," "No,you shouldn't! I see,you criticize my appearance,and then you stab me in the back! You have honesty and feeling. There are not many girls like you. But perhaps I go too fast. Perhaps you have awful faults to counterbalance your few good points. I thought to myself that he might have too. He seemed to read my mind,and said quickly,"Yes,you're right. I have plenty of faults. I went the wrong way when I was twenty-one,and have never found the right path gain. I might have been very different. I might have been as good as you,and perhaps wiser. I am not a bad man,take my word for it,but I have done wrong. It wasn't my character,but circumstances which were to blame. Why do I tell you all this? Because you're the sort of person people tell their problems and secrets to,because you're sympathetic and give them hope." It seemed he had quite a lot to talk to me. He didn't seem to like to finish the talk quickly,as was the case for the first time. "Don't be afraid of me,Miss. Eyre,"He continued. "You don't relax or laugh very much,perhaps because of the effect Lowood school has had on you. But in time you will be more natural with me,and laugh,and speak freely. You're like a bird in a cage. When you get out of the cage,you'll fly very high. Good night." At the end of the passage,Mr Rochester sounded _ . Answer: encouraging The quickest way to make friends with others is to smile . When you smile, people think you are friendly and easy to talk to. It may not be easy to smile at first, but you can practice it in front of a mirror . When you look at yourself in the mirror, think about the difference between a smiling face and a sad or an angry face. Most people will stay away from a sad or an angry face. The easiest way to start a conversation with someone is to say something nice about him or her. For example, you can _ someone's great answer to a teacher's question, a great prize, a nice shirt, etc. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn't it make you want to keep talking with that person? Also, ask your new friends questions about themselves. For example, who are their favorite singers and what do they do after school are all good questions to start a conversation. When you start a conversation with a new friend, you'd better NOT talk about his or her _ . Answer: bad grade Which statement best identifies a basic need of all animals? Answer: They need to eat. Last night my husband and I were on the way to a show. We were both hungry and wanted to grab a quick bite on our way there, so we swung through a Jack-In-the-Box- Drive-thru Restaurant and placed our order. When we got up to the window the lady smiled at me, which is sometimes rare and asked how I was doing while she was collecting our money for the food. I replied, "Fine, and how are you'?"She went to get our order ready and I asked my husband to pass my "Drive-thru Smile bag" to me. He handed it to me and watched in amazement as I gathered together a "You make a difference" paper, including a smile card, a smile stamp and a smile button. She came back to the window almost before I finished putting it all together. Without looking too closely she passed the bag and said, "Thank you. Have a good day." I said, "Wait! This is for you." As I placed the little smile gifts in her hand a smile spread across her face. As she looked at the items it got a little bigger but when I thanked her for her smile there was no holding back. She gave the biggest smile and she was laughing. It was very heartwarming. My husband was very impressed by it. It made him smile too. It just takes a little effort to connect in a human way to everyone we have dealings with, even with something as small as a Drive-thru transaction. Remember, we all make a difference! What may be the best title for the text? Answer: Biggest Drive-thru Smile Ever
Soft winds blew throughout the Windy City today. We welcomed the winds, as it was another hot day in Chicago. The wind blew, bringing us some coolness and making the weather not that hot. But it was a beautiful summer day with a blue sky. Chicago is a great city for eating, and we have enjoyed tasting the different foods. Last night, we tried one of the city's most famous foods: deep-dish pizza. Chicago claims credit for the rich and cheesy thick-crust pizza, covered with a sweet tomato sauce. We topped it with olives and green peppers. We were touring the city, mainly looking for delicious local foods. Today, we enjoyed a Polish specialty at lunch: Pierogis, an Eastern European dumpling-like dish, filled with foods like potatoes, cheese, mushrooms, cabbage and meat. Polish immigrants started settling in Chicago in the 1850s, and the city has one of the largest Polish communities in the U.S. We took a break from exploring the city to talk with some of you! Ashley and Caty logged onto the Internet for an on-the-road version of TALK2US. We spoke to an English teacher in Tokyo, Japan, and a graduate student in India. Meanwhile, Adam searched for some locations around the city to shoot some video. He chose a spectacular spot: Navy Pier, Chicago's most-visited attraction. The winds from Lake Michigan keep visitors cool, and the view of the Chicago skyline never fails to impress. In fact, the view made all of us _ ! Our time in Chicago has come to an end. Tomorrow, the true journey begins, as we pass through Illinois and into Missouri via Route 66. Springfield, the home of Abe Lincoln, and St. Louis, the "gateway to the West," wait for us. What did the author and her companions mainly do in Chicago? A They explored for foreign customs. B They visited Polish communities. C They studied the history of the city. D They enjoyed famous local foods. Answer: D. They enjoyed famous local foods. Years ago, I lived in a building in a large city. The building next to ours was only a few feet away from mine. There was a woman who lived there and whom I had never met, yet I could see her seated by her window each afternoon, sewing and reading. After several months had gone by, I began to notice that her window was dirty. Everything was unclear through the dirty window. I would say to myself, "Why doesn't that woman clean her window? It really looks terrible." One bright morning I decided to clean my apartment, including cleaning the window. Late in the afternoon I finished the cleaning, I sat down by the window with a cup of coffee for a rest. What a surprise! Across the way, the woman sitting by her window was clearly seen. Her window was clean! Then _ . I had been criticizing her dirty window, but all the time I was watching hers through my own dirty window. That was quite an important lesson for me. How often had I looked at and criticized others through the dirty window of my heart, through my own shortcomings ? From then on, whenever I want to judge someone, I ask myself first, "Am I looking at him through my own dirty window? " Then I try to clean the window of my own world so that I can see others' world more clearly. The writer couldn't see anything clearly through the window because _ . A the woman's window was dirty B the writer's window was dirty C the woman lived far away D the writer was near-sighted Answer: B. the writer's window was dirty 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 a lot of noise.Find a quiet place to read.This will help your understand 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 our slow.Keep your eyes focused on words as you recognize them while using your hand as a guide.This will increase you 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. Time never had any importance to me until I received a watch from my father that organized my life and made me more responsible. I received this gift on a gray-sky day. I had to go to the airport at 9:00 a.m. to pick up my uncle Ali and take him to my father's house. However, I was late because I was hanging out with my friends. Later that day, around 11:00 a.m., I remembered my uncle, but I was very late. He had already left the airport and taken a taxi to my father's house. I got to my father's house at 2:00 p.m. on the same day and looked at my angry father's face. I felt ashamed. After I said hi to my angry father and tired uncle, my father asked me to sit next to him and handed me this watch as a gift. Then he asked, "Eric, did you have fun with your friends today?" I answered, "Yes, father, and I am sorry about not picking up my uncle." He said, "What you did was not very nice and you should be sorry for your actions." I was ashamed. "Father, I'll never do it again. I promise." Then he replied, "I hope today you learned something important, and this watch will be a reminder for you." He told me to take this watch and use it as an organizer of my life. I learned a very important lesson from my father that day: to respect time and never be late to meet someone. This watch is important to me, not because of its price, but because of the lesson that I learned from it. From the passage, we know _ . A Eric was with his friends until 2:00 p.m. that day B Uncle Ali had been to Eric's father's house before C Eric didn't live with his father D Eric always forgot important things Answer: C. Eric didn't live with his father Imagine one day, the water taps in your house stop running. You have to buy water from shops. And still there isn't enough for everyone. Your mother has to save the family's shower water to do other things. Would you be able to stand that kind of life? Probably not. But _ 's what kids in Yemen are experiencing. Experts said Yemen is going to be the first country in the world to run out of water. According to a report, the capital, Sanaa, will run out of drinking water as early as 2025. Because of the shortage, the government often cuts the water supply. Hannan, an 18-year-old from Lahej, told the Times: "In a good week we'll have a water supply all week. But then the following week there will be water only for a day or two." Hannan said only rich people have enough water to use. They can buy water from the shops or from the water truck. Private companies own the trucks. They travel around the city every day to sell water - at very high prices. "A lot of people can't afford it," she said. The average person in Yemen uses 100 to 200 cubic meters of water per year. That is far below the international water poverty line of 1,000 cubic meters. The government is thinking of making use of seawater. But it will cost a lot and it may not happen soon enough to help the people of Yemen. The purpose of the text is to _ . A tell us what life is like in Yemen B draw our attention to water shortage C remind us how important water is D show us ways of solving problems Answer: B. draw our attention to water shortage
Question: Having crossed mountains and plains, rivers and lakes, some of prefix = st1 /France's greatest works of art are now on display atChina's National Museum of fine Arts. Fifty-one Impressionist paintings are forming part of an exhibition inBeijingto kick off the Year of France. The show is being held in the capital between October 10 and November 27. Then it will move on to Shanghai and Hong Kong. "It is such a good opportunity to see the masters' works up close," said Feng Jiajia, a Senior student form the High School Affiliated to theAcademyofArtand Design. Although Feng is very busy with his studies at the moment he says he will definitely make time to see the exhibition. "I hope it will inspire me and help me with my own work," he said. Worth a total of US $600 million, the paintings ate by French Impressionist masters, including Monet, Cezanne, Renoir and Degas. As an art style, Impressionism was developed inFranceduring the late 19thand early 20thcenturies. Their work was a fresh and original way of painting. It seems that the artists painted a scene after just a quick look at it. Often painting outside, rather than in a studio, the artists observed nature more directly and tried to capture individual moments in time especially the changing light of the sun. They avoided black and earth color1s and as a result their work is often very bright and can also look like that it is shining. When they first appeared, the artists were criticized for not finishing their paintings and for being lazy. Critics said the Impressionists were satisfied with just a few inexact brushstrokes instead of completing a real painting. It was an art critic who first used the term "Impressionist" in a review of Monet's work "Impression, Sunrise"(1873) to satirize his loose, inexact manner of painting. "Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love," said Monet. Monet is the leading figure in the creation of Impressionism. He painted sunlit rivers and gardens with forceful brushstrokes and bright color1s, in which objects lose their shape in the light. Monet's painting reached its height in his later life with his paintings of water lilies. What can be concluded from the passage? A. Most of the paintings by the Impressionists were finished in a hurry or unfinished. B. People didn't like the Impressionists' paintings when they came into being. C. The Impressionists painted a scene after just a quick look at it. D. Impressionists finished their paintings according to their imagination. Answer: B. People didn't like the Impressionists' paintings when they came into being. Question: "Your honor !Let me say a few words for myself. What they have told you is just not true. I was not trying to kill anyone, and it was hardly possible to try to kill three strong young men at the same time. I didn't have anything to tell people that night and was quite alone. I didn't know them and needn't hate them. I was attacked by them, and I knocked one of them down. It's true, but I was made to do it, or I might be killed by them. I did this not because I hated the white men as they said. I just had to do so. While I was beaten in the dark street by the three men, a policeman came, caught me and took me here. I know why I was beaten. I have just moved into a house next to these three white men. I have felt that I am not welcome and I have tried to be quiet. I think, as an American, I have the right to choose where to live. I am guilty. What makes me guilty is my color opposite to theirs and I can't enjoy justice . Yes, I'm not guilty. This is all I want to say. Thank you, your honor." Why did he speak for himself? A. He wanted to live in the house next to the whites. B. He wanted to have the right to choose where to live. C. He wanted to show he was not guilty. D. He wanted to show he didn't hate the whites. Answer: C. He wanted to show he was not guilty. Question: About the year 1900,a small,darkhaired hot boy named Charlie Chaplin was often seen waiting outside the back entrance of London Theatre.He looked thin and hungry.He was hoping to get work in show business.He could sing and dance;above all,he knew how to make people laugh.But he couldn't get work and so he wandered about the city streets.Sometimes he was sent away to a home for children who had no parents. But twenty years later this name Chaplin became the greatest,bestknown,and bestloved comedian in the world.Any visitor to the cinema must have seen some of Chaplin's filmstrips .People everywhere have sat and laughed at them until the tears ran down their faces.Even people who don't understand English can enjoy Chaplin's films though most of them are silent.It isn't what he says that makes people laugh.His comedy doesn't depend upon words and languages.It depends upon little actions which mean the same thing to people all over the world.Acting out,without words,common human situations play an important part in the dances and plays of many countries.It's a kind of world language. Chaplin lived most of his life in America and died in Switzerland on Christmas Day,1977,at the age of eightyeight.The world was astonished at the news of the death and burst into sadness. Why was young Chaplin waiting outside the back entrance of the theatre? A. Because he had no money to buy a ticket. B. Because he wanted to get a returned ticket. C. Because he wanted to play a part in a play in order to make a living. D. Because he wanted to see the famous actors or actresses after the performance. Answer: C. Because he wanted to play a part in a play in order to make a living. Question: When Jane put out the idea of homeschooling to her parents, the first reaction they gave was, "You are cutting the child off the world.'' "Did the child really get cut off or did the child socialize better?" The moment we hear of homeschooling, we think the child will have no opportunities to interact with peers. However, in my friend's opinion, we forget that when attending a regular school, the child is not into socializing all the while. The child is restricted to so many other activities. Studies take a major role in a child's life. The child hardly has the time to interact at school. The child might be meeting and studying along with many peers; however, how many kids interact with all the kids in a class? But in homeschooling system, as my friend mentioned, the kid has all the time and can plan his day accordingly. During the day the child studies just like other school-going kids but with no burden of homework and project work, the child has so much free time in the evening as to effectively interact and play with peers. The quality time the child spends in education is really impressive. Homeschooled kids have the opportunity to socialize more often as they have a lot of time in their hands. They can also make socializing a regular habit. Just as my friend said, her child goes to a neighboring park almost every day and has a set of friends who go there daily. Other children get back home to finish off homework and project work whereas her child who is already through with studies gets the opportunity to spend time with family members. When I heard this, I really felt how lucky the child was. Definitely the child had a better opportunity to socialize when compared with my kid. However, I might not consider homeschooling for my kid, as I am so used to the conventional schooling system and feel regular schooling the safest bet. What is the biggest advantage of homeschooled children? A. They will become braver. B. They can be more popular. C. They can socialize better. D. They will know how to arrange time. Answer: C. They can socialize better. Question: Many years ago in a small German town, a Jewish businessman had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to the moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the businessman's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain. The moneylender told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty bag. The girl would then have to pick one pebble from the bag. If she picked the black pebble, she would become the moneylender's wife and he would _ her father's debt. If she picked the white pebble, she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven. But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail. They were standing on a pebble-strewn path. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. The sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag. No doubt she was caught in a dilemma. What would you have done if you were the girl? Careful analysis would produce three possibilities: 1.The girl should refuse to take a pebble. 2.The girl should know that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat. 3.The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. Read on... The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles. "Oh, how clumsy of me!" she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked." Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one. What lesson can we learn from the story? A. Keeping calm when facing a difficult situation. B. Thinking about a complicated problem in another way. C. Thinking twice before making a final choice. D. Coming up with a clever answer is easy. Answer: B. Thinking about a complicated problem in another way.
George Zinunerman's first court appearance before a Florida judge came on Tuesday inconnection with the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. The case has caused a national debate in the United States about race, self-defense laws and gun control. It was the first time the public had gotten to see and hear from George Zimmerman. The judge said he had found probable cause to move ahead with the case and told Zimmerman he would be formally charged on May 29th. Zimmerman turned himself into authorities on Wednesday night,just before special prosecutor Angela Corey announced the charge against him. Corey told reporters she would fight for Trayvon Martin" "It's the victims and justice that we work tirelessly for,"Corey said Zimmerman says he shot Martin in self-defense after spotting the teenager in a gated com-munity where Martin's father lives. He told police Martin attacked him during a conflict. The shooting caused a national cry led by Martin's parents who insisted their son was murdered They also accused Zimmerman of targeting their son because he was black. "We just wanted an arrest and we got it."Trayvon Martin's mother Fulton said. Many in SanforD.Florida-the city where the shooting took place-welcomed the charge. "All of us were wanting this to move on and get to this process where it is now into the justice system."one man said "It~long overdue and I am glad they decided to do something,"another said.Police did not initially charge Zimmerman with a crime because of a Florida law that says a person has a right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force. Prosecutor Coreysays,"I'm prepared to argue the issue if Zimmerman uses the self-defense law in count." Mark O'MarA. Zimmerman's lawyer, would not make his plan publiC. but he said hisclient was worried about the trial. "If found guilty of the second-degree murdercharge, Zimmerman could face up to life in prison,"O'Mara said Which of the relationships is NOT true? Answer: My sister Sharon and I look very different. She's tall, and I'm short. She has short curly dark (,) hair, and I have long straight blond hair. We both have dark eyes, but Sharon wears glasses, and I don't. And she always wears large earrings . I don't wear earring. Sharon and I do many things together . We watch movies together, and we often go shopping. We play tennis together every Saturday. Often, people don't know that Sharon and I are sisters, because we look so . But we are also good friends. The two sisters both _ . Answer: 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 broccoli. He likes playing with balls. He is a nice dog! Where is Wu Huan? Answer: Recently, an Internet game has become a new fashion among young office workers and students. People can "farm" on a piece of "land" and "grow", "sell" or even "steal vegetables", "flowers" and "fruits" on the Net. They can earn some e-money and buy more "seeds", "pets" and even "houses". Joyce interviewed some young people. Here are their opinions: Harold: I don't quite understand why they are so mad about the childish game. Maybe they are just not confident enough to face the real world. Allan: I enjoy putting some "bugs" in my friends' gardens and we've become closer because of the game. Having fun together is the most exciting thing about it. Laura: You know, people in the city are longing for the life in the countryside. It reduces my work pressure . Besides, it gives me the exciting experience of being a "thief". Ivy: Well, it's just a waste of time. Teenagers playing the game spend so many hours on it that they can not focus on their study. According to the passage, people can't _ things in this game. Answer: An ATM that spits out cupcakes instead of cash is now filling a popular demand in the American market:late-night desire for freshly baked sweets. In six cities across the country, sugar addicts can now purchase a cupcake for $4.25 from an automatic machine 24 hours every day.The freshly baked goods are made by the California-based cupcake shop Sprinkles. The idea came to the company's co-founders Candace and Charles Nelson when Candace was pregnant with their first child. Candace thought it was ridiculous that she owned cupcake bakeries aad couldn't get a freshly baked treat at an unusual hour.That desire inspired the company's first cupcake ATM in Beverly Hills,Calif.in 2012. Charles said each ATM serves about l,000 cupcakes per day.The machine is so popular that when it appeared in Manhattan, customers were lined up around the block to use _ Yet,inventing the first cupcake ATM was not as easy as convincing customers to use it.When the Nelsons started defigning the machine,they quickly realized nothing existed that could give a fully unbroken cupcake to a customer.The company had to partner with a European firm to develop the technology that could deliver a cupcake without dropping it several feet like a typical machine.After going through a seeond development cycle with the product, the ATMs can now satisfy tlle demand of growing customers and even make as many as four cupcakes at a time. In terms of the company, the-machine allows Sprinkles to do the impossible:increase hours of operation without raising costs.Now the company can sell cupcakes around the clock through the ATM without paying employees. Now the company is partnering with a Middle Eastern company to open 34 new locations abroad. How did the Nelsons come up with the idea of'a cupulke ATM? Answer:
Question: "On a spring night, we offer book lovers a desk and a light. You can stay here as long as you want to." This is the slogan of Sanlian Taofen Bookstore in Beijing. Earlier this month, Sanlian Taofen Bookstore became the first 24-hour bookstore in the city. It hopes to encourage more people to read books. Bookstores are the brain of a city. Although many people can now buy books online, many readers still like the feeling in bookstores. They can touch the books and smell the print In China, most cities are home to at least one bookstore. Some have special themes . Popular Holdings ( ) in Shanghai is a film-themed bookstore. There are film books and posters inside. Other bookstores have colorful activities. Eslite Bookstore in Taiwan has activities like talks with famous writers as well as holding gallery shows . People come here not only for reading but also to communicate with others. The best title to explain the main idea of the text is " _ ". A. BuyingBooksinBookstores B. WarmPlacesforReading C. ANewBookstoreinChina D. GreatBookstoresOnline Answer: B Question: Reagan was walking down the street on his way to interview for a minimum wage job.He happened to cross paths with Bouvier, who was laying rock salt on the ground outside his restaurant, Papa Roux, after an ice storm had hit the area earlier in the morning. Bouvier said the 18-year-old approached him and asked how far it was to 10th and Sherman, Bouvier said the distance was at least seven miles, so he told Reagan that he would be better off taking a bus instead of walking, especially considering the freezing temperature.Reagan said "thank you" and kept on his way to the job interview. Later, Bouvier and his wife were driving to grab coffee, and they came across Reagan again -still walking.So they offered him a ride.Reagan shared with the couple that he was on his way to a shop to interview for a job, and he did not have money for bus fare.Reagan also shared that his mother had passed away and he was left to care for his two younger sisters.After his mom died a couple of years ago, he ended up dropping out of high school without obtaining a diploma. After hearing the teen's story, Bouvier told Reagan that even if he was offered the shop job, he would hire him and double his salary.Bouvier was impressed with the teen's ambition and work ethic .Reagan accepted the job.He cannot believe how everything turned out for him, saying, "I'm just too excited, just excited to start." Bouvier wanted to share the encounter with his friends, so he wrote about it on Facebook.The story is going around, with more than 15,000 likes so far.People are applauding the teen's work ethic and Bouvier's generosity. One person wrote, "You are a blessing from above, and some good will come to you." Another added, "So kindness does exist? Warms my heart!" In addition, IndyGo, the local public transportation system, gave Reagan a free one-year pass. Why didn't Reagan take a bus to go to 10th and Sherman? A. He wanted to keep himself warm by walking. B. It wasn't too long a distance to get there. C. He didn't believe in Bouvier's words. D. He was too poor to afford the bus fare. Answer: D Question: One upon a time there was a dragon named Jack. He was large and had big scales, but did not have claws or a mean look on his face like other dragons did. He also didn't have wings and couldn't fly. Jack lived near a castle that had a princess trapped in it. This castle looked and was guarded by an evil dragon named Ryan. The castle was old and dirty. It wasn't clean or special like many castles are thought to look. One day Jack thought that he was going to try to save the princess Linda when Ryan was sleeping that night. After sunset, he slowly walked around and climbed over the back wall. After passing many sleeping guards, Jack put his nose near the princess's tower window. She climbed out on to it and they ran off. During their escape, Ryan woke up and started chasing them. However, he was too sleepy to catch them. Jack took the princess to a nearby safe town where she thanked him and said goodbye. What time of day did Jack try to save the princess A. sunrise B. sunset C. night D. day Answer: B Question: The other day, I received a most unexpected message in response to one of my essays:I am so proud of you and all you have accomplished. I shared your opinion ... It was signed Margaret Leibfried, who was my English teacher -- a teacher who appeared at a vital point in my life and helped me believe that I could become a writer. Thirty years ago, I entered high school as an introvert made all the more shy because I was the school's only nonwhite student. I always felt in danger of being swept away by a sea of tall white athletes. I spent a lot of time alone, reading and writing stories, hoping to escape being teased. Ms. Leibfried taught American literature and composition grammar, which involved the usual memorizing vocabulary, but also, thrillingly, reading novels. Thrilling to me, that is. Many of my classmates expressed dislike for novels because they were "not real." For once, I didn't care what they thought. Ms. Leibfried seemed to notice my interest in both reading and writing, and she took the time to make me feel less shy; she even offered me reading suggestions, like one of her favorite novels, "The Bell Jar." That year's big project was a book report, to be read aloud to the class. However, Ms. Leibfried suggested I do something "a little different." Instead of a report, I chose a passage from "The Bell Jar" that I considered as the best to recite. The morning of the presentations, I remember my hands sweating so badly as I walked to the front of the class that I kept my hands crossed, so I wouldn't wipe them on my blouse. When I finished, to my surprise, the class applauded. "Marie has picked out a particularly sensitive piece of writing and delivered it beautifully," Ms. Leibfried said, smiling. I felt, maybe for the first time, confident. What was the author's high school life like before she met Ms. Leibfried? A. Lonely. B. Exciting. C. Wild. D. Busy Answer: A Question: The Government should raise taxes on air travel and high-polluting cars in order to help the environment, an important committee of MPs has said. It also said that the 70 mph speed limit on motorways should be reduced or enforced to bring down the amount of carbon dioxide given off by cars The House of Common Enviromental Audit committee's latest report said that transport was the only sector of the UK where carbon _ have continued to rise since 1990. It said it was time for the Government to make demand for cheap air impossible by raising air passenger tax. Emissions from air traffic have risen by 5 times as much since 1900 and are continuing to rise. The committee welcomed the recent introduction of changed car tax, which means that the lowest-carbon cars pay no road tax, while gas-guzzling 4x4s pay an increased rate of PS210. However, the MPs say it doesn't go far enough and are calling for a top limit of PS1,800 with lower limit of PS200. Committee chairman Tim Yeo said : "Air travel in particular is the fastest growing source of CO2, with emissions more than five times since 1900. The Government should take much more decisive action to reduce the difference of income favor of trains, buses, and lower carbon cars and lorries." Friends of the Earth's senior organizer Tony Bosworth said: "Emissions from transport are still rising and forecasts suggest they will carry on rising for years to come." "Tinkering around the edges is no longer enough to deal with the greatest threat the world faces." A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: "Dealing with carbon emissions in transport is a key problem." What is the purpose of Government's raising taxes on air travel and high-polluting cars? A. To reduce the number of the planes and cars B. To make more money C. To encourage people to travel by bus or by rail. D. To help the environment. Answer: D
Question: Hank Viscardi was born without legs.He had not legs but stumps that could he fitted with a kind of special boots,People stared at him with cruel interest.Children laughed at him and called him'Ape Man' because his arms practically dragged on the ground. Hank went to school like other boys.His grades were good and he needed only eight years to finish his schooling instead of the usual twelve.After graduating from school,he worked his way through college. He swept floors,waited on table,or worked in one of the college offices.During all this busy life,he had been moving around on his stumps.But one day the doctor told him even the stumps were not going to last much longer.He would soon have to use a wheel chair. Hank felt himself got cold all over.However, the doctor said there was a chance that he could be fitted with artificiallegs .Finally a leg maker was found and the day came when Hank stood up before the mirror, for the first time he saw himself as he has always wanted to be-a full five feet eight inches tall.By this time he was already 26 years old. Hank had to learn to use his new legs.Again and again he marched the length of the room,and marched back again.There were times when he fell down on the floor, but he pulled himself up and went back to the endless marching.He went out on the street.He climbed stairs and learned to dance.He built a boat and learned to sail it. When World War II came,he talked the Red Cross into giving him a job. He took the regular training.He marched and drilled along with the other soldiers.Few knew that he was legless.This was the true story of Hank Viscardi,a man without legs. Children laughed at Hank and called him 'Ape Man 'because A. he didn't talk to them B. he kept away from them C. his arms touched the ground when he moved D. he couldn't use his arms Answer: C. his arms touched the ground when he moved Question: Coketown was a town of red brick, or of brick that would have been red if the smoke and ashes had allowed it; but in fact it was a town of unnatural red and black like the painted face of savage . It was a town of machinery and tall chimney, out of which smoke trailed themselves for ever and ever. It had a black canal in it, and a river that ran purple with ill smelling color1, and large piles of building full of windows where there was a rattling and a trembling all day long, and where the steam-engine worked up and down like the head of an elephant in a state of madness. The town contained several large streets all very like one another, and many small streets still more like one another, inhabited by people equally like one another. A sunny midsummer day. There was such a thing sometimes even in Coketown. Seen from a distance in such weather, Coketown lay covered in a smoke of its own. You only knew the town was there, because you knew there could have been no such a place upon the view without a town. The streets were hot and dusty on the summer day, and the sun was so bright that it even shone through the smoke over Coketown, and could not be looked at steadily. Workers appeared from low underground doorways into factory yards, and sat on steps, wiping their face sand looking at coals. The whole town seemed to be frying in oil. There was a smell of hot oil everywhere. The atmosphere of those places was like the breath of hell , and their inhabitants wasting with heat, walked lazily in the desert. But no temperature made the mad elephants more mad or more sane . Their tiresome heads went up and down at the sane rate, in hot weather and in cold, wet weather and dry. The measured movement of their shadows of wood; while for the summer noise of insects, it could offer all the year round, from the dawn of Monday to the night of Saturday. Which of the following words is NOT properly used to describe Coketown ? A. unpleasant B. dirty C. noisy D. deserted Answer: D. deserted Question: My parents lived through the Great Depression of the 1930s and I heard stories from both of them about how their lives changed because of it. The same was true of my in-laws whose lives were also affected negatively. For example, my husband's grandfather owned a factory. Owing to the stock market crash, he lost the factory and went back to work in the very factory he'd once owned. He could no longer afford to send my father-in-law to college. My father-in-law worked full time as a pipe fitter and went to school part-time to earn his degree, which took seven years. Somehow, my husband and I never dreamed that we would live through anything similar. However, as they say, history often repeats itself. In 1929, the stock market crashed in the month of October. The same thing happened in 2008. My husband, who had invested all our money in the market, was in a state of shock. Each day the news was more terrible. "We've lost more than half of our wealth," he told me. I just stared at him. "How can that be?" "I thought we had good, solid investments, but it seems I was wrong." "Well, we do have pensions ," I said. "Hopefully, they won't be affected. Since we have never lived a high lifestyle to begin with, I don't think we have to worry." "I did hope to leave our children and grandchildren a generous inheritance ," my husband said. He shook his head in disbelief. "We'll still be able to give gifts. Love is the most important gift anyway." Our children are grown and we always try to be generous to them and our grandchildren. "It just won't be the same." "The world is always changing," I said. "You never know what will happen. The main thing is not to get discouraged. As long as we have our health and can afford the necessities of life, there's no reason to be upset. When you have your health, you can always earn more money." I hugged my husband and he kissed me in return. "I guess you're right," he agreed. "We love each other. We have our health and enough money to live on comfortably. That's all that matters." We had to move out of our house into an apartment. Since few people could afford a house in those hard days, we decided to offer it for considerably less than it would normally be worth. Even so, several buyers changed their mind days before closing. But finally, our home was sold. As we shook hands with the new owners, I told them how fortunate they were. "Not only are you getting a bargain in the price, but this house has good luck. We bought the house from a family who lived in it for nine years. They were a happy family, a husband, wife and five children. It was a cheerful house and we had a good feeling about it. We raised our children here as well." "That's good to hear," the young woman said with a smile. "We have two young children ourselves. And I believe in luck too." We nodded our heads in agreement, understanding each other. "You'll live only six houses from the best primary school in the town and your children won't even have to cross a street," I said. "Our children used to come home each day and have lunch with me." "We like the woods in the back," the young man told us. "We're going to plant a large garden in the backyard." They seemed so young and happy and full of plans. My husband and I had to smile. At least some good was coming out of the economic difficulty. We no longer needed a house. It was good to know that another young family would now be living in what had been a happy, loving home for us. Also, the house needed work that we no longer had the energy to perform. These may be tough times economically, but as for me, I intend to look forward, not back. As Shakespeare said in Macbeth, "what's done is done and cannot be undone." It's the present and future that matter. We can learn from our mistakes and make our lives better. What happened to the author's family in 2008? A. Her husband invested all their money in the stock market. B. They had to live on pensions. C. They had to sell their house. D. They got most of their money lost in the stock market. Answer: D. They got most of their money lost in the stock market. Question: I had been rather proud of myself when my friends and family got the ticket, whether it was for speeding, parking or stop sign violations . It was something that happened to others. But last Friday I joined _ . I was asked to do a new project last week. On Friday morning on my way to work, I suddenly remembered that I had spent the past six weeks without considering that I had a week's vacation planned during that time. I was very disappointed with myself for not remembering it. The truth is that I was not paying enough attention to my driving and I did not come to a complete stop at the stop sign in front of a school. I was so distracted that I didn't even notice I had a policeman on my tail with his lights flashing. Finally I looked in my mirror and caught on. The policeman was rude and took my papers. Fortunately, I had everything up to date and since I had never had a ticket before, there was nothing for him to do but write me a ticket. While I was sitting there in the seat of "shame", I felt bad. If I had been that distracted and a child had run onto the road, perhaps I would have not reacted as well as I could have. It was a wake-up call. People at work asked me if I tried to talk my way out of it . Frankly, it never occurred to me. I felt sorry. Now I no longer have a clean driving record. Please be careful out there, as a moment's distraction can lead to tragedy. When the writer received the ticket, she _ . A. felt lucky that she was an experienced driver B. was so nervous that she shook all over C. was ashamed of herself for being distracted D. was worried about being laughed at Answer: C. was ashamed of herself for being distracted Question: Alice: Good morning, Bob. Bob: Good morning, Alice. Alice: Bob, this is Grace. Bob: Hi, Grace. Grace: Hi, Bob. Alice: Oh, what is that? Bob: It's my green key. Alice: What's this? Bob: It is a ruler. Alice: Is it your ruler? Bob: No. My ruler is red. This ruler is blue. Alice: Grace, is it your ruler? Grace: Oh no. It is Frank's ruler. Alice:40 . Bob's _ is green. A. key B. pen C. map D. jacket Answer: A. key
We live in an amazing world, reading the following news and you will find it yourself. News 1: Bao Xishun is the tallest man in the world. He is 2.36 metres tall. He Pingping is the shortest man in the world. He is only 0.73 metres tall. They are Chinese. On July 13th, Bao Xishun married a girl and He Pingping took part in their wedding ceremony . News 2: In the USA, a seventh-grader, Aidan Murray Medley went fishing in the sea one morning. The 12-year-old boy caught a 250-kilogram shark! It took Aidan 28 minutes to catch the shark. It was so hard that his body lost all feeling. Aidan now has the Florida record . He beat a 232-kilogram catch from 1981. News 3: A young sheep climbs a tree to feed on leaves in a park in the southern Swedish town of Lund. The sheep climbed to a height of seven metres and spent an hour and a half in the tree before returning to the ground. How old is the boy who caught the fish? A. 13. B. 12. C. 250. D. 7. Answer: B In 1968, Easter preparation started on Saturday and Mom color1ed eggs. Mom boiled a few dozen eggs and while they cooled, Dennis, Diane and I gathered supplies. We put some color1 powder in each of six bowls, added boiling water and vinegar, and then mixed them together. Before dipping an egg into one of the pretty color1s, I'd catch a crayon and carefully print "Darlene" on one egg. Dennis and Diane did the same. Then Mum and Dad put the eggs with our names and some presents in separate baskets. When we hunted on Easter morning, we'd be sure to get the right basket. Being 8-year-old, I am quite familiar with the rule, and I explained to my younger sister, Diane: Firstly, if you find the basket with the others' egg in it, quietly put it back and continue the hunt. Secondly, if the basket with your egg in it isn't found by fifteen minutes before church, you have to continue looking for it after church. That year I was unlucky, I didn't find my basket before church, so I spent one more hour looking for my hunt. The next Easter was a different story since I was lucky enough to find my basket first. I was jumping up and down, and staring at the big chocolate rabbit in my basket when Mom and Dad told us to get dressed. I proudly left my basket in the sun porch before heading out of the door. After church, my sisters and brothers ran ahead, but I was pleased to walk between Mom and Dad since I'd already found my basket and huge chocolate rabbit. As I jumped up the porch steps I knew Dennis found his too, since he was laughing his head off. "Hungry for chocolate soup? " Dennis laughed. "Chocolate soup?" I was surprised. One look at Dennis pointed finger made me realize my beautiful chocolate rabbit was now a chocolate puddle . But I always think of the unforgettable Easters when I was a child. It can be inferred from the passage that the writer _ . A. was the luckiest one B. made rules C. didn't like chocolate very much D. knew the rules well Answer: D This is a reading room in Kate's school. It is big and very nice. There is a lot of furniture in it. There are twenty desks, eighty chairs and twenty computers. There're some pictures on the wall. They are all of famous people. Some students are in the reading room. They like reading books here. Kate is here too. Her mother is an English teacher at the school and her father is a doctor in the school hospital. They like reading books in the reading room too. Who are in the pictures? A. Kate B. Some students C. Some famous people D. Kate's parents Answer: C On December 15, Lawyer received from Stationer, Inc., a retailer of office supplies, an offer consisting of its catalog and a signed letter stating, "We will supply you with as many of the items in the enclosed catalog as you order during the next calendar year. We assure you that this offer and the prices in the catalog will remain firm throughout the coming year." Assume that on January 15, having at that time received no reply from Lawyer, Stationer notified Lawyer that effective February 1, it was increasing the prices of certain specified items in its catalog. Is the price increase effective with respect to catalog orders Stationer receives from Lawyer during the month of February? A. No, because Stationer's original offer, including the price term, became irrevocable under the doctrine of promissory estoppel. B. No, because Stationer is a merchant with respect to office supplies; and its original offer, including the price term, was irrevocable throughout the month of February. C. Yes, because Stationer received no consideration to support its assurance that it would not increase prices. D. Yes, because the period for which Stationer gave assurance that it would not raise prices was longer than three months. Answer: B Beginning in October, more than 13,000 McDonald's restaurants in America will use a new variety of cooking oil. McDonald' s aims to make its French fries and other fried foods healthier. The change will not affect the taste or the number of calories in the food. But by changing the cooking oil, McDonald's says, it hopes to cut by nearly half the amount of _ in French fries and reduce the amount of saturated fats by 16 percent. Scientists believe that trans fatty acids and saturated fats raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease. McDonald's new step is important because McDonald's is an industry leader and other fast-food chains and food processors may follow the lead. For McDonald's ,the action comes at a time when Americans are becoming more and more concerned about; obesity and are increasing pressure on food companies to offer healthy and nutritious food to consumers. After three years of study, McDonald's officials say they are _ oil that is lower in saturated fats and trans fatty acids. McDonald's says the change will not cause higher price for consumers. Though there is some change, scientists say that the amount of trans fat in foods at McDonald's and at other fast-food companies is still important. When a new kind of cooking oil is used in McDonald's, _ A. the prices of McDonald's foods will be a tot higher B. consumers will find the taste of McDonald's foods different C. many other food companies will do what McDonald's does D. obesity will disappear in American society sooner or later Answer: C
Question: When people search online, they leave a trail that remains stored on the central computers of firms such as Google, Yahoo and Microsoft. Analyzing what we're looking for on the Web can offer a remarkable understanding of our anxieties and enthusiasms. UK writer John Battelle wrote on his blog, "This can tell us extraordinary things about who we are and what we want as a culture." Google's experimental service Google Trends, for example, compares the numbers of people searching for different words and phrases from 2004 to the present. According to these graphs, sometimes people's interests are driven obviously by the latest news: when the Spice Girls, a pop group, announce a reunion, there's an immediate rush to find out more about them. Other results are strikingly seasonal: people go shopping online for coats in winter and sandals in summer. The most fascinating possibility is that search data might help predict behavior. Perhaps we search for a political candidate's name when we are thinking about voting for him or her. This information could clearly be useful to a marketer - it's already how Google decides which ads to show on its search results pages - or to a political campaign manager. Marissa Mayer, a Google vice-president, argues that Google Trends correctly "predicted" George Bush's victory over John Kerry in the 2004 election. The graph clearly shows that Bush continued his lead over Kerry, in terms of search volumes, even when polls suggested _ . However, that's not always the case. For instance, the same approach predicted Hillary Clinton would beat Barack Obama in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 turned out to be wrong in the end. The search data can help foresee the following EXCEPT _ A. the different features of different cultures B. the better place to put advertisements in C. the victory of a politician in the election D. the reunion of a pop group Answer: D Question: Tom and Edward are brothers. They are very different in many aspects . Tom likes basketball very much. It's very interesting for him. He likes tennis, too. But he doesn't like soccer. He thinks it's difficult and boring. Edward, his brother, likes soccer best. He thinks it's so exciting and interesting. He plays it every day, and he has a collection of four tennis balls. But he doesn't like tennis. They also like different food. Tom likes eggs and fruits. Apples are his favorite. But Edward likes meat and vegetables, and broccoli is his favorite. But they also have the same hobbies. They like rock music very much. They like Beatles very much. They can also play the drums and the guitar well. They make a band with their best friend, Cindy. The band's name is Sea. The people around like their band very much. Why does Tom like basketball? A. Because it's exciting. B. Because it's interesting. C. Because it's relaxing. D. Because it's exciting and interesting. Answer: B Question: Kate Anderson became an accidental car thief when she went to pick up her daughter's car near an Ohio University building last week.Anderson saw the nickelgray Toyota Camry and used her daughter's key to unlock the car,start the engine and drive home. When Charlie Vansant left class a short time later,he found only an empty parking spot.He first assumed the car had been towed,but when the police couldn't find a record of it,they took a theft report. The morning after Anderson took back the car,her daughter discovered the Camry in the driveway wasn't hers.She found Vansant's name on paperwork in the glove compartment and looked up his phone number on the Website for the university. When she told Vansant the car was in her driveway,"It sounded real fishy at first,like maybe she wanted to hold the thing for ransom,"Vansant said! He eventually went to the house with a police officer,where he was reunited with his car.According to a police report,the case was closed "because of the mistaken car identity."Anderson wasn't charged. Vansant seemed to blame the car company more than the "thief"."Her key fit not only my lock,but my ignition as well--so highfive for Toyota,I guess,"he said. Toyota spokesman Bill Kwong said key technology wasn't as sophisticated as two decades ago,and there were so many ways to cut a key,making it possible for such a mixup to occur.He said the company now has a microchip embedded in the keys for 90 percent of its vehicles that allows them to start only with the correct key. When Charlie Vansant received the phone call,he _ . A. ran as fast as he could to the police station B. felt someone was playing a joke on him C. suspected he would be forced to pay for the car D. went directly to Anderson and collected his car Answer: C Question: Chemical pesticides are sometimes sprayed on crops to kill insects that eat the crops. People have different viewpoints about the use of pesticides on crops. What might be a concern about using pesticides on the crops? A. Will the food ripen? B. Will the food stay fresh? C. Will the food harm humans? D. Will the food harm bugs in the home? Answer: C Question: Everyone has those nights-you lie in your bed for hours, tossing and turning, totally unable to fall asleep. You wish you could just turn your brain off as if it were a light. That would make things much easier, wouldn't it? Now it looks like you are one step closer to this wild dream of yours-scientists from Oxford University, UK have just discovered the "switch" that tells the brain to go to sleep, reported Forbes. To understand the study, you first need to know that there are two mechanisms that regulate sleep. There's one that we're already familiar with --our body clock, which works in a 24-hour cycle based on the light changes throughout the day. The other one is what scientists call the sleep "homeostat ". This mechanism has nothing to do with daylight. Instead, it keeps track of the brain's waking hours and urges it to rest if it has been awake for a long time. "It is similar to the thermostat in your home. A thermostat measures temperature and switches on the heating if it's too cold," Professor Gero Miesenbock, who led the study, told The Telegraph. Our bodies use both of the mechanisms to regulate sleep. "The body clock says it's the right time, and the sleep thermostat has built up pressure during a long waking day," explained Miesenbock. There is no way that scientists can trick the body clock. But with the sleep homeostat, there might be something they can do. The researchers found that the sleep homeostat works by activating a specific group of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain. They tested their theory on fruit flies by removing the neurons from the insects' brains. And as expected, they found that the flies without the homeostat neurons did not keep a regular sleep pattern anymore. Now that scientists have pinpointed the exact place in the brain-- or, the "switch"--that regulates sleep, they can begin investigating how to activate these cells at any given time so that people can be sent to sleep instantly. More importantly, figuring out how sleep mechanisms work may also help us to one day one of the oldest mysteries of all: why do we need to sleep in the first place? What can we conclude from the article? A. Generally, the sleep homeostat has less effect on people during the day than at night. B. There is little scientists can do to affect the way the sleep homeostat works. C. What makes us go to sleep at night is probably a combination of the two mechanisms. D. The more homeostat neurons there are in one's brain, the more easily one can fall asleep. Answer: C
A light is turned on and the circuit is closed so the connections get warm Lang Lang,one of the best-known Chinese pianists in the world,was born in 1982 in Shenyang.He began to take piano lessons at the age of three.At the age of five he won the Shenyang Piano Competition and played his first public recital.Four years later,he got the chance to study at the Central Music Conservatory in Beijing. What made him sad was that his piano teacher in Beijing didn't like him."You have no talent.You will never be a pianist,"said the teacher.Lang Lang was badly hurt.He decided that he didn't want to be a pianist any more.For the next two weeks he didn't touch the piano.Wisely,his father didn't push,but waited. Luckily,the day came when his teacher asked him to play some holiday songs.He didn't want to,but as he placed his fingers on the piano keys,he realised that he could show others that he had talent after all.From that point on,everything turned around.Lang Lang's father even quit his job and followed Lang Lang everywhere he went,not only as a father,but also as a manager,tutor and friend. He started winning competitions.In the 1994 International Young Pianists Competition,Lang Lang impressed the audience with his splendid piano skills.In 1997 Lang Lang went to Philadelphia,US,where he spent two years practising.During his study there he made rapid progress and became a top professional pianist.After his successful performance at Chicago's Ravinia Festival,gigs in Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall he started pouring in.Lang Lang finally worked to reach the place where fortune spotted him and let him shine. The passage wants to . encourage us to study hard to realise our dreams just like Lang Lang If you've been joining in chat room conversations, or trading e-mail with Web pals, you have become one of the millions who write in a peculiarly short form of English. And you've got a sense of humor about short forms like SOHF(="sense" of humor failure) to describe Internet newcomers who don't understand you. Across the globe, every night teenagers and their elders are "talking" online--many of them are talking at the same time. It's fast: try talking to six people at once. It's brief: three or four words per exchange. It takes wit, concentration, and quick fingers. And it requires tremendous linguistic economy. There's neither time nor space for explanations. Why consume precious key-strokes 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 response from your pal. If something makes you laugh, say you're OTF(="on" the floor),or LOL(="laughing" out loud),or combine 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 emotion, as it takes more time to hold down the "shift" key and capitals. Punctuation is going, too. If you get 17/F/NY as an answer to your A/S/L, it means _ . you are talking to a girl who is 17 and lives in New York It is true that world population is growing, but this is not the cause of our current and future global problems. Believing this will cause us to ignore the real problem and risk long-term damage to our planet. Let me start by explaining why overpopulation is a _ . For one thing, the UN Population Division regularly predicts population growth but provides a low variant , medium variant, and high variant to factor in various possibilities. In the 2010 revision, their high variant suggests that the world population will be almost 16 billion in 2100, but the low variant predicts it will peak at 8 billion and decrease to just over 6 billion by 2100. In most cases, it is the low variant that has come true in the past, suggesting the same will be true of their future population predictions. In addition to this, the size of families is actually decreasing. For another, if the Earth is overpopulated, there needs to be insufficient food, water, and space for humans to live. However, Indian economist Raj Krishna estimates that India alone is able to increase crop produce to the point of providing the entire world's food supply. The World Food Programme confirms that there is sufficient food grown to feed the world and there is the same amount of fresh water on the planet now as there was 10,000 years ago. So how is it possible that the number of people in the world is affecting our planet? Therefore, it is not an increase in population but an increase in consumption that is a severe threat. Materialism and overconsumption are facts of life for everybody in the western world, as possessions reflect a person's status in society and people strive to obtain happiness through owning the latest fashionable goods. Not only that, but waste is a common occurrence which has a huge effect on our resources. It is a sad truth that 80% of the world's resources are currently used by just 20% of the world's population. Our overconsumption must be addressed now to make our lives more sustainable and avoid continuing the terrible damage to the environment we are causing. The key is education. If we do not work towards this but instead focus on the wrong issue, we may find ourselves living on a planet that can no longer sustain human life. What is mainly discussed in the passage? The real cause of global problems. One of the requirements of every graduation ceremony speaker is that they offer some advice. Well, get ready, here it comes. Soon you will be leaving the company of those who think they have all the answers -your professors, instructors and counselors-and going out into what we like to call the real world. In time you will meet up with other people who think they have all the answers. These people are called bosses. My advice is: humor them. A little later you'll meet additional people who think they have all the answers. These are called spouses . My advice is: humor them, too. And of all goes well, in a few years you will meet still another group of people who think they have all the answers. These are called children. Humor them. Life will go on, your children will grow up, go to school and someday they could be taking part in a graduation ceremony just like this one. And who knows, the speakers responsible for handing out good advice might be you. Halfway through your speech, the graduate sitting next to your daughter will lean over and ask, "Who is that woman up there who thinks she has all the answers?" Well, thanks to the reasonable advice you are hearing today and that I hope you will all pass on, she will be able to say, "That is my mother. Humor her." What should you do with those who think they know all the answers according to the writer? Keep them happy by accepting their wishes
When I was young,I liked to play jokes on people I knew, especially on my parents and friends. One day my mother was cooking and I was playing with my younger brother Tony. Suddenly I ran to my mother and said: "Tony fell from the open window!" She was very worried and ran out of the kitchen. Then I said: "Don't worry, I'm just joking." My mother shouted at me, "If you do it again, I'll hit you." Another day I went swimming with my friends in the sea. I wanted to play a joke on them. In the beginning I swam fast and I called out "Help!". All my friends came to help me. However, they found that I was joking. But half an hour later I wasn't joking. I was so fast, soon I got tired and couldn't swim on in water. I tried my best to call my friends for help, but this time nobody came to help me. In the end they found I was telling the truth. They came and saved my life. They took me to the hospital. This is the best lesson in my life. From then on I haven't joked on anyone. The story tells us that _ . Answer: Dear Mom, Clear My Calendar September is around the corner, and some of us are already complaining about summer's end. But parents have a special reason to do so. The end of summer means the start of school. And these days, planning a young child's schedule is a big challenge. The challenge is no longer finding activities to fill a child's day; it is saying no to the hundreds of options available. Our mailbox is filled with brochures urging us to sign our kids up for classes from cooking to martial arts . Educators are themselves discouraged by the number of special classes that many children attend. In the name of "enrichment," three-year-olds not only go to preschool in the morning but study French or gymnastics after lunch. One teacher tells of a four-year-old asking for help in the toilet before hurrying off to tennis. Another teacher says that children sometimes hold on to her at pickup time. What happened to unstructured time? A generous explanation is that we enjoy giving children opportunities we never had. The truth however is that many parents have doubts about how much time they spend away from their families. And one way to reduce this guilt is to believe that time spent in these classes is somehow more beneficial to children than the time we know we should be giving them ourselves. David Elkind, an expert on children, suggests that the 1960s gave birth to the belief that earlier is better. Parents hope that early music lessons, for example will build a child's confidence. The truth, however, is that any time children are asked to do too much, too soon, they are at greater risk for feelings of failure. A child's time does not have to be planned to be meaningful. Remember the lazy days of summer? Some children sleep late and play with the kids across the street until it's time to come home for dinner. However, with the majority of mothers working, fewer children enjoy that idle time now. Come September, children across the country will finish a full day of kindergarten, only to attend an after-school program until 6 P.M., when a working mom or dad comes to take them home. That's too much for a five-year old. Finances, of course, do limit some parents. But let's be honest with ourselves - our own busy schedules, whatever they involve, are no excuse for burdening a young child's. According to the author, what is the real reason for parents to send their children to after-school classes? Answer: Maricel Apatan, 22, stands in the kitchen of the Edsa Shangi-La Hotel in Manila, preparing to decorate a cheesecake. It would seem to be a routine task for a cake chef, but Maricel is no ordinary chef -- she has no hands. Maricel has come a long way since the day in September 2000 when she and her uncle were attacked near their farm. Fortunately, both of them survived, but the 11-year-old girl lost her hands. In 2004, she entered a Manila training centre for people with disabilities. She learned how to write and do housework and, more importantly, came to terms with her disability. After graduation from high school, she took a two-year Hotel and Restaurant course and _ even though she was the only disabled student in the course. After she moved back to Manila to continue her studies, the media started reporting on this determined young woman. She didn't shy away from the attention. "I wanted others living with disabilities to believe it's possible to live a normal life," Maricel says. After managers at the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel saw Maricel on television, they hired her as part of the hotel's Care for People project. She has also accomplished her goal of inspiring others. One of them is Ronelyn Calumpiano, a 21-year-old with cerebral palsy . She saw Maricel on television and was moved by her confidence. Ronelyn will soon start classes and is already planning a career in IT. Maricel's three younger sisters have moved to Manila. She pays for the rent of their small apartment, while their parents look after their family farm in Mindanao. "It is difficult to make ends meet but I don't lose hope. I believe anything is possible if you dream, work hard and pray." According to the text, Ronelyn _ . Answer: Cities with high levels of homeownership--in the range of 75%, like Detroit and St. Louis--had on average considerably lower levels of economic activity and much lower wages and incomes. Far too many people in financial problems are trapped in homes they can't sell, unable to move on to new centers of opportunity. The cities and regions with the lowest levels of homeownership--in the range of 55% to 60% like Los Angeles and New York--had healthier economies and higher incomes. They also had higher levels of happiness and well-being. I was shocked to read these interesting points that Richard Florida made in his recent article. Let me try to understand. The people in Detroit and St. Louis are less happy than the people in New York, and Los Angeles. And, the reason is because of homeownership rates? First, to compare them to New York City (the economic capital of the world), Los Angeles (the entertainment capital of the world) seems unfair. Most people in almost any other city in the world might be less happy! Next, let's try a different way of determining whether renters are happier than homeowners. Why don't we ask them? Fannie Mae's National Housing Survey 2010 reported: 75% of current renters believe owning a home makes more sense. 67% plan to buy a home at some point in the future. When they asked current renters for the major reason to buy a house, these were their answers (they could pick several answers): 78% said it was a good place to raise children. 75% said because they would feel safe. 70% said because you have control of your own space. If you believe renters are happier, you would also have to believe the majority enjoy living in a less safe environment, which wouldn't be a good place to raise children and would be a place where they have less control of their space. The writer believes that New York City and Los Angeles _ . Answer: Every hour spent in watching TV, DVDs and videos as an adult reduces life expectancy by almost 22 minutes, a study suggests. And viewing TV for an average of six hours a day can cut short your life by five years. The research claims that a sedentary lifestyle is as bad for health as smoking and obesity, because of the dangers caused by inactivity and the greater opportunities _ offers for unhealthy eating. The academics conducting the study set out to calculate the overall risk to life expectancy from watching television. Their research involved more than 11,000 people over the age of 25. Writing in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, they concluded. "TV viewing time may be associated with a loss of life, which is similar to other major chronic disease risk factors such as physical inactivity and obesity." The researchers, from the University of Queensland, used information from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, together with population and death rate data. But they said: "Although we used Australian data, the effects in other industrialized and developing countries are likely to be similar, considering the large amounts of time spent watching TV and similarities in disease patterns." In the United Kingdom, the average amount of time spent watching TV is four hours a day, compared with five hours in the United States. Earlier this year, a separate study suggested the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease, or dying early, rises by as much as 20 percent after just two hours a day in front of the box. England's Chief Medical Officer, Sally Davies, said: "Physical activity offers huge benefits and these studies back what we already know - that a sedentary lifestyle carries additional risks. We hope these studies will help more people realize that there are many ways to get exercise." We can learn from the passage that _ Answer:
A good conductor of electricity would be A. tree B. coke bottle C. your finger D. coke can Answer: D We have designed all our bank cards to make your life easier. How to use your NatWest Servicecard . As a Switch card, it lets you pay for all sorts of goods and services, wherever you see the Switch logo. The money comes straight out of your account, so you can spend as much as you like as long as you have enough money ( or an agreed overdraft to cover it. It is also a cheque guarantee for up to the amount shown on the card. And it gives you free access to your money from over 31,000 cash machines across the UK. How to use your NatWest Cashcard You can use your Cashcard as a Solo card to pay for goods and services wherever you see the Solo logo. It can also give you access to your account and your cash from over 31,000 cash machines nationwide. You can spend or withdraw what you have in your account, or as much as your agreed overdraft limit. Using your cards abroad You can also use your Servicecard and Cashcard when you're abroad. You can withdraw cash at cash machines and pay for goods and services wherever you see the Cirrus or Maestro logo displayed. We take a commission charge of 2.25% of each cash withdrawal you make. . We also apply a foreign-exchange transaction fee of 2.65%. How to use your Nat West Credit Card With your credit card you can do the following: * Pay for goods and services and enjoy up to 56 days interest-free credit. * Pay in over 24 million shops worldwide that display the Mastercard or Visa logos. * Collect one AIR MILE for everyPS20 of spending that appears on your statement . (This does not include foreign currency or traveller's cheques bought,interest and other charges.) The purpose of the passage is to show you how to _ . A. play your cards right B. use your cards abroad C. draw cash with your cards D. pay for goods with your cards Answer: A For 99% of human history, people took their food from the world around them. They ate all that they could find, and then moved on. Then around 10,000 years ago, about 1% of human history, people learned to farm the land. The kind of food we eat depends on which part of the world we live in, or which part of our country we live in. For example, in the south of China they eat rice, but in the north they eat noodles. In European countries near the sea, people eat a lot of fish. In central Europe, away from the sea, people don't eat so much fish, but they eat more meat. For example, in Germany and Poland, there are hundreds of different kinds of sausages. In North America, Australia, and Europe, people eat with knives and forks. In China, people eat with chopsticks. In parts of India and the Middle East, people use their fingers to pick up food. Nowadays it is possible to transport food easily from one part of the world to another. We can eat whatever we like, at any time of the year. In Britain, bananas come from Africa; rice comes from India or the U.S.A.; strawberries come from Chile or Spain. Food is a very big business. But people in poor countries are still hungry while people in rich countries eat too much. _ have many kinds of sausages. A. Chile and Spain B. America and Australia C. China and Japan D. Germany and Poland Answer: D My friend Karen and I were always together. Karen was only a few months older than I. I always thought she was so beautiful, with long hair and blue eyes. I loved Karen so much because she liked me for being the way I was. I could be myself and share my secrets with her and I never felt like I was being judged. We had so much fun and were really quite silly. One time I asked my mom to make us the same dresses so we could pretend we were twins. We continued as best friends throughout grade school. One day, Karen was going to another friend's place and asked me to come along, but I couldn't go because I had a babysitting job that afternoon. We walked together to the Becker's home where I was to babysit and then she continued on her way without me. We had agreed that I would meet her at the corner when she returned and I finished my job. At four o'clock I rushed to the corner so I wouldn't be late for meeting Karen. Just as I arrived at the corner, I saw Karen crossing the street. In a second it happened. I saw Karen's body fly up in the sky. A car had hit her! Karen was on life support for a week before it was decided that they would allow her to go in peace. Karen's parents wanted to donate her organs to the hospital, but there was nothing left healthy enough to be used because she was hit so hard. I have never got so close to another person since Karen died. I do miss her! Do you cherish your friends? If you don't, please do, as you may lose them one day. What does the writer suggest we do? A. Cherish our friends. B. Accept the fact that people die. C. Be careful when crossing the street. D. Never be too close to someone. Answer: A George, when your big brother and your little dog and I walked you up to school today, you had no idea how I was feeling. You were so excited. You had packed and unpacked your pencils and safety scissors in your backpack a dozen times. I am really going to miss those lazy mornings when we waved your brother and sister off to school. Because you are my youngest, I had learned a few things by the time you came along. I found out that the seemingly endless days of babyhood are gone like lightning. I blinked , and your siblings were setting off for school as eagerly as you did this morning, I was one of the lucky ones; I could choose whether to work or not. By the time it was your turn, _ . A splash in the pool with you in your bright red boots or "just one more" rereading of your favorite book, Frog and Toad Are Friends, meant more. You didn't go to preschool and I hope that doesn't hold you back. You learned numbers by helping me count the soda cans we returned to the store. I have to admit that in my mind's eye, an image of myself while you're in school has developed, I see myself updating all the photo albums and starting that novel I always wanted to write. As the summer wound down and more frequent quarrels erupted between you and your siblings, I was looking forward to today. And then this morning, I walked you up the steep hill to your classroom and you gave me one of your characteristically fierce, too-tight hugs. This time you were ready to let go before I was. Maybe someday you will deliver a kindergartner to the first day of school. When you turn at the door to wave good-bye, he or she will be too deep in conversation with a new friend to notice. Even as you smile, you'll feel something warm on your cheek. Which statement is NOT TRUE about George's family according to the letter? A. George's parents gave birth to three children. B. The Georges is a double income family. C. They recycled soda cans. D. The children had more arguments during the summer. Answer: B
Teens don't understand the big fuss . As the first generation to grow up in a wired world, they hardly know a time when computers weren't around, and they eagerly catch the chance to spend hours online, chatting with friends. So what? But researchers nationwide are increasingly worried that teens are becoming isolated , less skillful at person-to-person relationships , and perhaps numb to the cheatings that are so much a part of the e-mail world . "And a teen's sense of self and values may be changed in a world where personal connections can be limitless," said Sherry Turkle . Another researcher , Robert Kraut , said he's worried about the "opportunity costs" of so much online time for youths . He found that teens who used computers, even just a few hours a week, showed increased signs of loneliness and social isolation. "Chatting online may be better than watching television , but it's worse than hanging out with real friends," he said . Today's teens, however, don't see anything strange in the fact that the computer takes up a central place in their social lives. "School is busy and full of pressure. There's almost no time to just hang out," said Parker Rice, 17. "Talking online is just catch-up time." Teens say they feel good about what they say online or taking the time to think about a reply. Some teens admit that asking someone for a date, or breaking up, can be easier in message form, though they don't want to do so. But they insist there's no harm. The text mainly deals with _ . Answer: different opinions on teen's chatting online Outside her shabby cottage, old Mrs. Tailor was hanging out laundry on a wire line, unaware that some children lay hidden in the leaves of a nearby tree watching her every move. They were determined to find out if she really was a witch. They watched as she took a broomstick to clean the dirt from her stone steps. But, much to their disappointment, she did not mount the broomstick and take flight. Suddenly, the old lady's work was interrupted by the cackling of her hen--a signal that an egg had been laid in the warm nest on top of the haystack. The old broomstick was put aside as she hobbled off towards the haystack followed by Sooty, a black cat she had rescued from a fox trap some time back. With only three legs, it was hard for Sooty to keep up with the old lady. The cat provided proof--the children were sure that only a witch could own a black cat with three legs. There, standing on a wooden box, was Mrs. Tailor, stretching out to gather her precious egg. Taking the egg in one of her hands, she began to climb down when, without warning, the box broke and the old lady fell. "We have to got and help her," whispered Amy. "What if it is a trick?" replied Ben. "Don't be silly, Ben. If she were a witch, she would have turned us into frogs already," reasoned Meg. "Come on Amy, let's go." The girls climbed down the tree and ran all the way to the haystack. Approaching carefully, they could see a wound on the old lady's face. She had knocked her head on a stone and her ankle was definitely broken. "Go and get Dad," Amy yelled to her brother. "Tell him about the accident." The boys did not need another excuse to leave. They ran as fast as they could for help, hoping that Mrs. Tailor would not wake and turn the girls into frogs. . Mrs. Tailor stopped sweeping when _ Answer: she heard the hen cackling Can trees talk? Yes, but not in words. Scientists have reasons to believe that trees do communicate with each other. Not long ago, researchers learned some surprising things. First a willow tree attacked in the woods by caterpillars changed the chemistry of its leaves and made them taste so terrible that they got tired of the leaves and stopped eating them. Then even more astonishing, the tree sent out a special smell---a signal causing its neighbors to change the chemistry of their own leaves and make them less tasty. Communication, of course, doesn't need to be in words. We can talk to each other by smiling, raising our shoulders and moving our hands. We know that birds and animals use a whole vocabulary of songs, sounds, and movements. Bees dance their signals, flying in certain patterns that tell other bees where to find nectar for honey. So why shouldn't trees have ways of sending messages? It can be concluded from the passage that caterpillars do not feed on leaves that _ . Answer: have an unpleasant taste Redwood trees are the tallest plants on the earth,reaching heights of up to 100 meters.They are also known for their longevity,typically 500 to 1000 years,but sometimes more than 2000 years.A hundred million years ago,in the age of dinosaurs,redwoods were common in the forests of a much more moist and tropical North America.As the climate became drier and colder,they declined to a narrow strip along the Pacific coast of Northern Califomia. The trunk of redwood trees is very strong and usually forms a single straight column.It is covered with a soft bark.This bark can be pretty thick,well over two feet in the more mature trees.It gives the older trees a certain kind of protection from insects,but the main benefit is that it keeps the center of the tree harmless from moderate forest fires because of its thickness.This fire resistant quality explains why the giant redwood grows to live that long.While most other types of trees are destroyed by forest fires,the giant redwood actually prospers because of them. Moderate fires will clear the ground of competing plant life,and the rising heat dries and opens the ripe fruit of the redwood,releasing many thousands of seeds onto the ground below. New trees are often produced from shoots,little baby trees,which form at the base of the trunk.These shoots grow slowly,fed by the root system of the "mother'' tree.When the main tree dies,the shoots are then free to grow as full trees,forming a "fairy ring" of trees around the original tree.These trees,in turn,may give rise to more shoots,and the cycle continues. Why were redwood trees easier to find in the forests of North America millions of years ago? Answer: The climate there was warmer and wetter. Although they may not die from lack of love ,adults also need a great amount of affection and companionship . In the past , many people spent their entire lives in the communities in which they were born and raised .Many more people continued to live with their parents ,brothers and sisters after they were married and had children of their own . By remaining in familiar communities with s nearby, families had enough opportunities for friendly contact and for support in time of trouble. Recent studies suggest that family arrangements in Western societies have not changed as much in the last few centuries as is generally believed .Yet most sociologists agree that in modern societies ,there are fewer opportunities for friendship and support from s outside the immediate family .Parents and children often live apart from other s ,and seldom visit them .Also ,the family moves when a parent accepts a job in another place or when it decides to live in a better neighborhood. Together , loneliness and mobility force immediate family members to depend heavily on one another for affection and companionship. Because the family is one of the few ongoing sources of affection and companionship in modern societies, a high percentage of people continue to marry ,even though it is possible for a single man and woman to live together without marrying. On the other hand, because affection and companionship have become so important, families are more likely to break up if the husband's or wife's emotional needs are not met within the family circle--even if all other family functions are being satisfactorily performed ,and in this sense ,affection and companionship have become the touchstone of the modern family. Sociological studies show that _ . Answer: parents and children live together to make up for the lack of s outside the family
This week in our Foreign Student Series,we discuss rules about getting a job while studying in the United States. International students are permitted to work for the college or university they attend or for a business at the school.But the business must directly provide a service to students.You could work at the bookstore,for example,but not for a construction company that is building something on campus .Also,a foreign student cannot displace an American citizen in a job.International students can work twenty hours a week while attending classes;more during school breaks.You can work until you complete your studies. Foreign students normally cannot take a job that has no connection to their school.But the government may give permission if students are suddenly faced with a situation that is out of their control.Examples include large medical bills. The loss of financial aid or an unexpected change in the financial condition of their source of support.Students must also meet other conditions.They must have attended their American school for at least one year.Government approval is given on a case-by-case basis.Students must re-apply after a year if they want to continue all off-campus job. Foreign students who will be attending graduate school can apply for some jobs before they come to the United States.A good example is a university job like a teaching or research assistantship.Some schools pay their assistants.Others provide free education in return. Many do both.Graduate assistants might teach, give tests,grade work, assist professors with research and hold office hours.Many universities now provide language training to foreign teaching assistants to help them improve their English.Some schools require foreign students to pass an English speaking test before they arc permitted to teach. International student offices at schools have to provide information on students each term to the Department of Homeland Security.Students who violate the terms of their visa--for example, By working off-campus without permission--could be sent home. This passage is probably from_. A a magazine B a radio program C a text book D a newspaper Answer: B. a radio program Recently the barbican museum in London held an exhibition called the rain room. During the time this exhibition was open, my twitter stream was filled with photos of people standing in the rain room, accompanied by the caption "rain room@ the barbican!" and a location attachment to prove that they were indeed in the rain room. This got me thinking. What were people actually saying by Tweeting about their visit? I think all they were doing was fulfilling the obligation that we have to share. Not sharing in the sense of treasuring a moment with people close to us, but sharing in the sense of "tell the world that I am doing a thing". It's not sharing; it's showing off. When we log in to Facebook or Twitter we see an infinitely updating stream of people enjoying themselves. It's not real life, because people only post about the good things whereas all the dull or deep stuff doesn't get mentioned. But despite this obvious fact, it subconsciously makes us feel like everyone is having a better time than us. This is the curse of our age. We walk around with the tools to capture extensive data about our surroundings and transmit them in real-time to every friend we've made. We end up with a reduced understanding of reality because we're more concerned about choosing a good Instagram filter for our meal than how it tastes. I don't think that it's inherently wrong to want to keep the world updated about that you're doing. But when you go through life robotically posting about everything you do, you're not a human being. You're just a prism that takes bits of light and sound and channels them into the cloud. The key thing to remember is that you are not enriching your experiences by sharing them online; you are detracting from them because all your efforts are focused on making the look attractive to other people. Once you stop seeing things through the eyes of the people following you on Twitter or Facebook or Instagram, you can make your experiences significant, because you were there and you saw the sights and smelled the smells and heard the sounds, not snapped a photo of it through a half-inch camera lens. It seems to the author that _ . A Facebook or Twitter is a good place where we share personal experience B people seldom show depressing stuff on the social networking websites C most of people tend to show off that they are having a better time than others D sharing experience on the social networking websites is not real life Answer: B. people seldom show depressing stuff on the social networking websites There's one language that is used in every country in the world. It's everyone's second language. It's easy to be understood, although you can't hear it. It's sign language. When you wave to a friend who is crossing the street, you're using sign language. When you raise your hand in class, you're saying, "I think I know the correct answer." Babies can point at things. They're using sign language. A policeman who wants to stop the traffic holds up his hand. He's using sign language, too. Sign language is a bridge between the deaf and non-disabled people. They use the movement of the hand, arms or body to express a speaker's thoughts. Today, in many countries, there are special TV news programs for deaf people. The news reporter tells the news in sign language. At the same time, the words appear on the TV screen. The actors in the theater for the deaf often use their hands to show what they want to say. They can make a roof with their hands over their heads when they want to show "house". One finger over a person's mouth can mean "quiet". You can talk to people behind closed windows. And when you go swimming with your friends, you can have a talk under water with sign language. If an actor in the theater for the deaf wants to show "house", he often _ . A puts his finger over his mouth B makes a roof over his head with his hands C stands with his arms crossed D sits down and smiles Answer: B. makes a roof over his head with his hands As more Americans go to mainland China to take jobs, more Chinese and Americans are working side by side. These cross cultural partnerships, while beneficial in many ways, are also highlighting tensions that expose differences in work experience, pay levels and communication. In the last few years, a growing number of Americans in their 20s and 30s have been heading to China for employment, attracted by its faster growing economy and lower jobless rate. Their Chinese coworkers are often around the same age. But the two groups were raised differently. The Americans have had more exposure to freemarket principles. "Young Americans were brought up in a commercial environment," said Neng Zhao, 28, a senior associate at Blue Oak Capital, a private firm based in Beijing. "We weren't. So the workplace is a unique learning process for my generation." Managers hiring workers in China appear to be paying for Western experience. Foreigners tend to earn 10 to 15 percent more than their Chinese counterparts (persons working in similar positions), said Michael Norman, senior vice president at Sibson Consulting, an American firm. That _ does not go unnoticed by Chinese workers. "There is definitely the belief that Americans get paid more for the same work." said Ting Wang, 25, an associate at Wild China, a travel company based in Beijing. On the other hand, Chinese workers have a deeper understanding of the influences, like Confucianism and Communism, which play a part in their country's culture and economy. It is important and necessary for Americans working in China to adjust, said Mr. Norman, who works on management and work force issues for multinational companies operating in Asia. "In the West, there is such a bonus on getting things done quickly, but when you come to work in China, you need to work on listening and being more patient and understanding of local ways of doing business," he said. What is mainly talked about in the passage? A Cross - cultural conflicts. B Cross - cultural partnerships. C Multi - national companies in China. D Different pays for the same work. Answer: B. Cross - cultural partnerships. Canada is the second largest country in the world after Russia. It stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the high Arctic to the northern border of the continental U.S.A. Although very much a "northern" country, the geography of Canada is very _ . As well as the popular image of Canada as a country of forests, there are also deserts and badlands , rain forests and long and wide beaches. Canada has huge inland lakes, evergreen forests, woodlands and meadows. Canada's coastlines are thousands of miles long, with long, wild rivers leading to the oceans. In contrast to the expanses of open country, Canada also has its share of urban areas. The majority of the population and heavy industry is in the two provinces of Quebec and Ontario, but large and modern cities are spread across the land from the Atlantic to the Pacific, all within a few hours drive, at most, from the border with the United States. Business is active throughout the country, The Prairie Provinces with their vast fields of grain help to feed the world. The fisheries on both the West and the East Coast are widespread. Oil and natural gas have recently been discovered off the East Coast. The Trans-Canada Highway links the country from coast to coast, there is an extensive network of railways, and a widespread network of airline routes serving both major and remote communities. The rural areas are less populated, with more and more people leaving for the larger towns and cities. The lands to the north are much less developed, but as some of these areas are used for their plenty of natural resources, populations are growing. The following details about Canada are all true EXCEPT _ . A it is convenient for people to travel in Canada B Canada exports grain to other countries C Canada's fishing industry is not developed D Canada is thought of as a country of forest. Answer: C. Canada's fishing industry is not developed
Maggie was very glad that James was not a frequent visitor to the house. So far as the children were concerned, they had a mystery about him that stirred their imagination. He stirred Maggie's anger, however, so that she often said to her husband, "It's mercy that brother of yours doesn't come oftener." In fact James came once a year, unexpectedly, around eight o'clock in the evening, and he stayed for six hours of close discussion with his brother. His arrival was a signal to the children that their bedtime would be delayed. Not that he ever spoke to them or played with them. He took no notice of them, as if he was unable to see children, at least until the time came for him to go. Instead, after his first greeting and a careless kiss, James took no notice of Maggie either, except to add, "You'll be getting on with the supper, Maggie." Such was his regard for her. Maggie paid him back in her own way. She kept the children up, the four of them, to keep her company, she said, but of course they sang and made a noise and broke the endless sound of James's voice. Very late, they dropped off to sleep in their chairs. Then, when James was about to go, Maggie woke them up and so more or less forced him to part with four shillings before he left. That gave her some satisfaction, for James, though rich, was mean. He always went home by the last train, just after two o'clock. Maggie's children secretly stared at their uncle. They could not forget that he had, in their mother's words, "lost two wives and taken a third, " They wondered about those two unfortunate lost ladies. They asked each other what their fate had been, and if neither could ever be found again. James never brought his third wife with him nor ever mentioned her. The children decided that he must be so frightened of losing her that he never allowed her outside the door. Maggie never prepared anything special for James because _ . A he was a man difficult to please B she never knew when he was coming C she was too busy looking after her children D he never stayed long enough for a meal Answer: B Most parents of kids under age 8 don't worry about how much time they spend watching TV or using other media, from computers to smart phones to tablets PCs, according to a new survey that found a child's use of media often reflects how much time parents spend in the similar way. We generally found that media use is not a source of conflict in the home" for families with young children, Ellen Wartella, a researcher from Northwestem University, told USA Today. She led a survey of 2,326 parents who have children 8 and younger.It found that in 80 percent of families, children's media use was not a problem, with 55 percent "not too" or" not at all" concerned about it. It also showed parents have more positive than negative feelings about how media consumption affects a child's learning and the development of creativity.The exception is video games, which are viewed more negatively than TV, computers or mobile devices."Parents rated video games as more likely to have a negative effect on children's school performance, attention time, creativity, social skills, behavior and sleep than any other medium," the researchers said in a news conference about the survey. The findings exposes a generational shift in parental attitudes about technology's role in young children's lives," said Wartella."Today's parents grew up with technology as a central pact of their lives, so they think about it differently than earlier generations of parents, instead of a battle with kids on one side and parents on the other, the use of media and technology has become a family affair. " The researchers identified three media environments created by parents: media-centric (39 percent of families) , media-moderate (45%)and media-light (16%). Children in media-centric families spend at least three hours more each day watching TV or using computers, video games and tablet PCs don't make parenting easier.And 88 percent of parents say they are most likely to turn to toys or activities to keep their children occupied.Slightly fewer turn to books (79%) and TV(78%). The survey didn't look at how media affects children. That's a topic that the American Academy of Pediatrics has handled a number of times. The AAP says studies have found too much media use can lead to attention- problems, school difficulties, sleep and eating disorders and being fat. In addition, the Internet and cell phones can provide platforms for illegal and risky behaviors. By limiting screen time and offering educational media and non-electronic formats such as books, newspapers and board games, and watching television with their children, parents can help guide their children's media experience. Putting questionable content into context and teaching kids a700ut advertising contributes to their media literacy ," it says. The pediatricians' group says parents should have "screen-free zones" and TV should be turned off during dinner. At most, it recommends children and teens engage with entertainment media for no more than two hours a day and that should be high-quality content. It is important for kids to spend time on outdoor play, reading, hobbies and using their imaginations in free play." Kids under 2 should not use television and other entertainment media because their brains are developing quickly and they learn best from direct human interaction," the group says. An article on screen time by t.he Mayo Clinic also notes problems linked t.o over screen time, including being fat, irregular sleep , behavioral problems , weak school performance , violence and less time for active and creative play. Parents have more negative than positive feelings about media consumption like _ . A computers B smart phones C video games D tablets PCs Answer: C Whether we're 2 years old or 62, our reasons for lying are mostly the same: to get out of trouble, for personal gain and to make ourselves look better in the eyes of others. But a growing body of research is raising questions about how a child's lie is different from an adult's lie, and how the way we _ changes as we grow. "Parents and teachers who catch their children lying should not be alarmed. Their children are not going to turn out to be abnormal liars," says Dr. Lee, a professor at the University of Toronto and director of the Institute of Child Study. He has spent the last 15 years studying how lying changes as kids get older, why some people lie more than others as well as which factors can reduce lying. The fact that children tell lies is a sign that they have reached a new developmental stage. Dr. Lee conducted a series of studies in which they bring children into a lab with hidden cameras. Children and young adults aged 2 to 17 are likely to lie while being told not to look at a toy, which is put behind the child's back. Whether or not the child takes a secret look is caught on tape. For young kids, the desire to cheat is big and 90% take a secret look in these experiments. When the test-giver returns to the room, the child is asked if he or she looked secretly. At age 2, about a quarter of children will lie and say they didn't. By 3, half of kids will lie, and by 4, that figure is 90%, studies show. Researchers have found that it's kids with better understanding abilities who lie more. That's because to lie you also have to keep the truth in mind, which includes many brain processes, such as combining several sources of information and faking that information. The ability to lie -- and lie successfully -- is thought to be related to development of brain regions that allow so called "executive functioning", or higher order thinking and reasoning abilities. Kids who perform better on tests that involve executive functioning also lie more. What is NOT included in the passage? A The reasons why kids tell lies. B Which kind of kids tells more lies. C Experiments about lying of young kids. D What to do with lying children. Answer: D While Nick was on the bus, reading his newspaper, the man sitting next to him suddenly pushed a large envelope into his hands. "Here, take this!" the man said, stood up and got off the bus before Nick could say a word. Nick sat there, holding the envelope. It felt heavy. There were papers inside, or money perhaps. "I'd better hand it over to the police," he thought. There was a police station close to his office. But, as he got off the bus, a man came to him. He seemed to be waiting for something. "He wants the envelope," Nick thought. Nick began to walk quickly, and the man hurried after him. Nick started to run, and the man began to run, too. But then, just before he got to the police station, Nick managed to lose the man in the crowds. When he entered the police station, the man was no longer in sight. Inside the police station, Nick handed over the envelope to a policeman in charge. The man opened it. The envelope was full of money, false money. "Clearly the man made a mistake," the policeman said. "He thought you were one of the gang !" Nick felt like a hero. He could already see his name in all the papers. He could imagine an interview on television. "However," the policeman went on, "I'm afraid I must ask you to keep quiet about all this. We're trying to catch some very clever thieves, and we don't want them to know that we have some of the money. So you mustn't say a word to anyone -- not even your boss!" Nick decided to give the envelope over to the police probably because _ . A the whole thing was strange B another man was waiting for it C he didn't want the money inside it D the police station was near his office Answer: A A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. "Your son is here,"she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. Heavily drugged with sleep because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out with his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's weak ones, expressing a message of love and encouragement. The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward , holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest a while. He refused. Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only holding tightly to his son all through the night. Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited. Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her."Who was that man?"he asked. The nurse was surprised. "He was your father,"she answered. "No, he wasn't,"the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life.""Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"asked the nurse. "I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."he answered. Why did the old man hold the Marine's hand all through the night? A Because he knew he would die the next day. B Because he hadn't seen his son for a long time. C Because he was dying and mistook him for his son. D Because he enjoyed doing that and so did the Marine. Answer: C
Question: The layer of material on the bottom of the Snake River was put there by what? A. fish swimming B. weather related degradation C. global warming D. animal movement Answer: B. weather related degradation Question: Wind energy is A. unreal B. careless C. re-useable D. noneffective Answer: C. re-useable Question: Researchers may tell us that spending money on experiences produces more happiness than spending money on things. Going to a bar with friends is always pleasurable in slightly different ways. However, on the other hand, a table may also give us lots of positive experiences sometimes. I just moved from New York City to suburban Pennsylvania, It's been quite a change of pace, with some positives and negatives, One of the best parts is that I'm spending more time outside. I quite enjoy staying outside, especially eating outside. I had a goal to eat outside as often as possible this summer, so one of my first purchases for the new house was a table and a set of chairs for the yard. Is my yard table a thing or an experience? It's clearly a thing and yet it enables the experience of eating outside. I love eating outside, and so my yard table is one of my favorite purchases, ever. Therefore I find the dividing line between things and experiences is more nuanced than at first glance. However, to be happy, the most important thing is what kind of purchases you have made. Sometimes we may all have purchases that seem like a waste of money like probably half the clothes in our closets, but how does this happen?' There are many reasons for why this happens. The biggest is that we spend a lot of our time working to earn money to buy things. The problem is that we buy a lot of stuff that we don't actually need. There's nothing worse than looking in your closet and realizing how many hours you spent laboring to buy things you never wear. But how about a table that lets you enjoy being outside in the summer? That's worth every minute and penny and from it you will also get more happiness. Which one is an example of spending money on experiences? A. Buying some clothes. B. Going to a bar with friends. C. Purchasing a table. D. Moving from the city to the suburbs. Answer: B. Going to a bar with friends. Question: A little stress is good, since it helps you keep motivated to meet your goals. However, too much stress is bad for your health. Stress needs to be managed in order to prevent anxiety . Here are some tips on how to manage stress. Write it out Write down everything that seems stressful, and ways to deal with each problem. You'll find a things-to-do list much easier to manage than having all messed up in your head. Write down the tasks along with the specific times when you can do them. One task at a time Give each task all your attention while you're doing it, and forget the rest. This will keep you from feeling anxious about things you have left to do. Thinking about other tasks only adds unnecessary stress, and can even stop you from doing the task you're busy with at present. You don't need to do everything all at once, or on your own. The feeling of being pressed to finish something on time will somehow disappear if someone is there to help you. Give yourself a reward Rewarding yourself for what you've already done, no matter how small, is a great way to motivate yourself to keep going. It will reduce stress, and make you happier to go on with the next task. Give yourself a break Breaks of ten to fifteen minutes are important. Visit a cafe or take a quick walk --anything to take your mind off the work for a while. If you need to stay at work, sit with your eyes closed and imagine a peaceful place or some other relaxing scenes. This will remove the stress from your muscles and mind. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? A. It's better to plan a specific time to do the task. B. It helps you stay motivated to think about the undone tasks. C. It's unnecessary for you to do all the tasks by yourself. D. It helps if you put your attention to one task at a time. Answer: B. It helps you stay motivated to think about the undone tasks. Question: When I was at university, I studied very hard. But a lot of my friends did very little work. Some did just enough to pass exams. Others didn't do quite enough. Fred Baines was one of them. He spent more time drinking in the Students' Union than working in the library. Once, at the end of the term, we had to take an important test in chemistry. The test had a hundred questions. Beside each question we had to write "True" or "False". While I was studying in my room the night before the test, Fred was watching television. Fred usually worried a lot the night before a test. But that night he looked perfectly calm. Then he told me of his plan. "It's very simple. There are a hundred questions and I have to get fifty correct to pass the test. I'll take a coin into the examination room. I haven't studied a chemistry book for months, so I'll just toss the coin. In that way, I'm sure I'll get half the questions right." The next day, Fred came cheerfully into the examination room. As he sat tossing a coin for half an hour he marked down his answers. Then he left half an hour before the rest of us. The next day, he saw the chemistry professor in the corridor. "Oh good," he said, "Have you got the results of the test?" The professor looked at him and smiled. "Ah, it's you, Baines, just a minute." Then he reached into his pocket and took out a coin. He threw it into the air, caught it in his hand and looked at it. "I'm terribly sorry, Baines," he said, "You failed!" According to the text, we can know working hard is _ . A. unnecessary B. valuable C. useless D. a waste Answer: B. valuable
Paris is a very nice city. Mrs. Curie often goes to Paris and she has a good time there. Mrs. Curie is old and very , so she sometimes can't find her way. Now she sees a man near a bus stop. "I can ask him the way," she says. "Excuse me," she says in French. "But can you tell me the way to Notre Dame de Paris , please?" But the man doesn't know French. He is Australian! Then he puts his hand into his coat and takes out a small book. He opens it and finds a phrase . He reads, "I'm sorry. I don't speak French." From the story we know _ . A the man is a driver B the man doesn't tell Mrs. Curie the way C Mrs. Curie lives in Paris D Mrs. Curie and the man are friends Answer: B. the man doesn't tell Mrs. Curie the way All students need to have good study habits .When you have good study habits, you will learn things quickly and also remember them easily. Do you like to study in the living room? This is not a good place because it is usually too noisy. You need to study in a quiet place, like your bedroom. A quiet place will help you only think about one thing. When you study, don,t think about other things at the same time. Only think about your homework. If you do so, you will do your homework more quickly , and you will make fewer mistakes. Good study habits are very important. If you do not have them, try to learn them. If your study habits are already good, try to make them better. You need _ when you study. A a dining room B a quiet place C a living room D a noisy place Answer: B. a quiet place One of our biggest fears nowadays is that our kids might some day get lost in a "sea of technology"rather than experiencing the natural world.Fear-producing TV and computer games are leading to a serious disconnect between kids and the great outdoors,which will change the wild places of the world,its creatures and human health for the worse,unless adults get working on child's play. Each of us has a place in nature we go sometimes,even if it was torn down.We cannot be the last generation to have that place.At this rate,kids who miss the sense of wonder outdoors will not grow up to be protectors of natural landscapes."If the decline in parks use continues across North America,who will defend parks against encroachment ?"asks Richard Louv,author ofLast Child in the Woods. Without having a nature experience,kids can turn out just fine,but they are missing out a huge enrichment of their lives.That applies to everything from their physical health and mental health,to stress levels,creativity and cognitive skills.Experts predict modern kids will have poorer health than their parents--and they say a lack of outside play is surely part of it:research suggests that kids do better academically in schools with a nature component and that play in nature fosters leadership by the smartest,not by the toughest.Even a tiny outdoor experience can create wonder in a child.The three-year-old turning over his first rock realizes he is not alone in the world.A clump of trees on the roadside can be the whole universe in his eyes.We really need to value that more. Kids are not to blame.They are over-protected and frightened.It is dangerous out there from time to time,but repetitive stress from computers is replacing breaking an arm as a childhood rite of passage. Everyone from developers,to schools and outdoors' citizens,should help regain for our kids some of the freedom and joy of exploring,taking friendship in fields and woods that cement love,respect and need for the landscape.As parents,we should devote some of our energies to taking our kids into nature.This could yet be our greatest cause. According to the passage,children without experiencing nature will _ . A keep a high sense of wonder B be over-protected by their parents C be less healthy both physically and mentally D change wild places and creatures for the better Answer: C. be less healthy both physically and mentally When Julio Diaz stepped off the subway after work one night, he was simply planning to go to his favorite local diner for a meal. But when a teenage boy approached him with a knife, Diaz knew the evening was about to take a more dramatic turn. The young man demanded Diaz's wallet, and Diaz passed it over without objection . But just as he turned to walk away, Diaz called, "Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something." The young man turned around, surprised. "If you're going to rob people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep warm." The teenager looked at Diaz in disbelief, and asked why he would do such a thing. Diaz replied, "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, I guess you must really need the money."He said he was heading out for dinner, and that he would be happy to take someone with him. The young man decided to _ his offer. As they were sitting at the table, the manager, dishwashers and waiters all stopped over to say hello to Diaz, and the young man was amazed at his popularity. "Haven't you been taught that you should be nice to everybody?"Diaz asked him. "Yeah, but I didn't think people actually behaved that way," the teenager replied. Thanks to Diaz, he was beginning to see that kindness wasn't so strange, after all. When the bill came, Diaz told the teen that he'd have to get the check. After all, he still had Diaz's wallet. But the teenager put the wallet on the table without a moment's thought, and Diaz treated him to dinner. Diaz also gave the would-be robber a $20 bill -- in exchange for his knife. "I figure, you know, if you treat people right, you can only hope that they treat you right," Diaz said. The teenager gave the wallet back to Diaz maybe because _ . A Diaz was so popular with people in the restaurant B he began to realize people should be nice to others C Diaz had to pay for the meal they had together D he had been given a $20 bill to take with him Answer: B. he began to realize people should be nice to others 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. ,. What does Kate's father do? A A teacher. B A worker. C An actor. D A farmer. Answer: C. An actor.
When you're surfing the Internet on your laptop from your dorm or home, do you know your personal details are being gathered secretly? And would you be surprised to know the information may be sold cheaply to advertisers and marketers? According to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal, all it takes is a tiny file in a computer-a single code consisting of a long series of numbers and letters to record the computer user's age, gender, location, favorite movies and hobbies. The newspaper reports that Lotame Solutions Inc., a New York company, uses sophisticated software called a " beacon" to capture what people are typing on a website. Lotame packages that data into profiles about individuals, only without their names, and sells the profiles to companies seeking customers. Batches of such data may be sold for a few dollars. The Wall Street Journal survey discovered that spying on Internet users is one of the fastest-growing businesses on the World Wide Web. The "cookie" a tiny text file put on your PC by websites or marketing firms which might be used to remember your. preferences for one site, or to track you across many sites is already old news. There are new and more complex tools such as "beacons " which scan in real time what people are doing on a webpage. These beacons instantly assess the Internet user's location, income, shopping interests and even medical conditions. Millions of Internet users around the world also face unprecedented threats. Private, sensitive, personal and business information is being gathered and sold without their knowledge. Companies insist the information they gather is anonymous and the data is used harmlessly. But the technology has grown so powerful that even some of the biggest websites in the US don't know that they were installing intrusive files on visitors' computers. These include MSN. com and Yahoo. com. Next time you visit a webpage and find an ad banner advertising something you've been planning to buy, don't be amazed that your computer can read your mind. The purpose of the passage is to _ . Answer: What is the result of cellular respiration? Answer: Which of these would most likely improve the air quality in large Texas cities? Answer: Reading new peaks of popularity in North America is Iceberg Water which is harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Arthur von Wiesenberger, who carries the title Water Master, is one of the few water critics in North America. As a boy, he spent time in the larger cities of Italy, France and Switzerland, Where bottled water is consumed daily. Even then, he kept a water journal, noting the brands he liked best. "My dog could tell the difference between bottled and tap water." He says. But is plain tap water all that bad? Not at all. In fact, New York's municipal water for more than a century was called the champagne of tap water and until recently considered among the best in the world in terms of both taste and purity. Similarly, a magazine in England found that tap water from the Thames River tasted better than several leading brands of bottled water that were 400 times more expensive. Nevertheless, soft-drink companies view bottled water as the next battle-ground for market share-this despite the fact that over 25 percent of bottled water comes from tap water: PepsiCo's Aquafina and Coca-Cola's Dasani are both purified tap water rather than spring water. As diners thirst for leading brands, bottlers and restaurateurs salivate over the profits. A restaurant's typical mark-up on wine is 100 to 150 percent, whereas on bottled water it's often 300 to 500 percent. But since water is much cheaper than wine, and many of the fancier brands aren't available in stores, most dines don't notice or care. As a result, some restaurants are turning up the pressure to sell bottled water. According to an article in The Street Journal, some of the more shameless tactics include placing attractive bottles on the table for a visual sell, listing brands on the menu without prices, and pouring bottled water without even asking the dinners if they want it. Regardless of how it's sold, the popularity of bottled water taps into our desire for better health, our wish to appear cultivated, and even a longing for lost purity. By saying "My dog could tell the difference between bottled and tap water" (Para 2), von Wiesenberg wants to convey the message that _ . Answer: Most people are writing blogs . Others are reading them. The word " blog" is a short way of saying Web log almost like QQ Zone . Many popular Web sites now offer free, easy ways to create personal Web pages and fill them with writings and pictures. Blogs offer people a place to show their writings and feelings over the Internet. They can also be helpful to connect people with others. A blog has both good and bad points, of course. People choose to write what they think in blogs, for they know that their friends will read what they write. If you are feeling sad one day and write your feelings in your blog, your friends may quickly write back to _ you or offer their help. Blogs help people keep good friendship and let them know what their friends are doing. But the problem is that anyone can read what you write in your blog. If you are not satisfied with a friend during school, and you write something bad about him in your blog, your friend read the blog and get angry. So we have to be careful of what we write. In many ways, a blog and a diary are almost the same. So what makes a blog different from a diary? The biggest difference is that a blog is more public than a diary. _ can offer free ways to create personal Web pages and fill them with writings and pictures. Answer:
Healthy food is a general term applied to all kinds of food that is considered healthier than the types of food sold in supermarkets. For example, whole grains, dried beans, and corn oil are health food. A narrower classification of healthy food is natural food. This term is used to distinguish between types of the same food. Raw honey is a natural sweetener, while refined sugar is not. Fresh fruit is a natural food, but canned fruit, with sugars and other additives is not. The most exact term of all and the narrowest classification within health food that has been grown on a particular kind of farm. Fruits and vegetable that are grown in gardens, that are treated only with organic fertilizers, that are not sprayed with poisonous insecticides , and that are not refined after harvest, are organic food. Meat, fish, dairy and poultry products from animals that are fed only on organically-grown food and that are not injected with hormones are organic food. In choosing the type of food you eat, then, you have basically two choices: inorganic, processed food, or organic, unprocessed food. A wise decision should include study of the reason why processed food contains chemicals, some of which are proved to be poisonous and that vitamin content is greatly reduced in processed food. Bread is typically used by healthy food supporters as an example of a processed food. First, the seeds from which the grain is grown are treated with a chemical that is extremely harmful. Later, the grain is sprayed with a number of very deadly insecticides. After the grain has been made into flour, it is made white with another chemical that is also poisonous. Next, a dough conditioner is added along with a softener. The conditioner and softener are poisonous, and in fact, the softener has sickened and killed experimental animals. A very poisonous antifungal compound, is added to keep the bread from getting moldy . Other food from the supermarket would show a similar pattern of processing and preserving . You see, we buy our food on the basis of smell, color1 and texture, instead of vitamin content, and manufacturers give us what we want, even if it is poisonous. The alternative? Eat health foods, preferably the organic variety. What happens to food when it is processed? ks5u A The basic content remains the same. B Vitamin is not available after processing. C The vitamin content increases a bit. D The vitamin content is greatly reduced. Answer: D. The vitamin content is greatly reduced. Once upon a time, a doting mother asked Albert Einstein what she should read to her son to help him grow up as brilliant and intelligent as the famous scientist. "Fairy-tales," he said, wisely nodding his head. Why? Why would Albert Einstein -- the Nobel Prizes winning physicist recommend reading fairy-tales? Was he joking? All the evidence suggests he was deadly serious. He also said, "When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking." Childhood is one of the factors that blur the distinctions between the self and other objects. Thus fantasy stories appeal to children and appear to make sense to them. There are several commonly accepted genres of fantasy, "Animal Fantasy" which centers around the lives of lovable talking animals and "Modern Fantasy" which focuses on adventures in other worlds and magical events. I am inclined to add a third genre "Human and Animal Fantasy", which mixes human and animal characters. Another genre of fantasy may be "High Fantasy" which features heroes who combat evil and save the world from destruction. Fantasy feeds a child's imagination and encourages creativity. The enjoyment that the genre engenders promotes reading and enhances literacy. Moreover, the fantasy genre may be used for teaching purposes. For example: A story about cruelty to animals would limit appeal to a child; however a fantasy celebration of closeness between the children and their pets may give an element of excitement as the children are able to save animals from someone with cruel intentions. Children love the Harry Potter series, and if they only see the movies they miss a great opportunity to develop their reading skills by spending time with the lovable young wizards and witches of the Hogwarts community. Albert Einstein recommended reading fairy-tales because _ . A he was just joking with the mother B he contributed his gift of fantasy to reading fairy-tales C he got some scientific ideas from fairy-tales D the gift of fantasy equals to the talent for abstract, positive thinking Answer: B. he contributed his gift of fantasy to reading fairy-tales Our most commonly held code for success is broken. Conventional wisdom holds that if we work hard we will be more successful, and if we are more successful, then we'll be happy. If we can just find that great job, win that next promotion, lose those five pounds, happiness will follow. But recent discoveries in the field of positive psychology have shown that this code is actually backward: Happiness fuels success, not the other way around. When we are positive, our brains become more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, and productive at work. This discovery has been repeatedly borne out by rigid research in psychology and neuroscience , management studies, and the bottom lines of organizations around the globe. In The Happiness Advantage, Shawn Achor, who spent over a decade living, researching, and lecturing at Harvard University, draws on his own research--including one of the largest studies of happiness and potential at Harvard and others at companies like UBS to fix this broken code. Using stories and case studies from his work with CEOs of Fortune 500 in 42 countries, Achor explains how we can reprogram our brains to become more positive in order to gain a competitive ability at work. Based on seven practical, actionable principles that have been tried and tested everywhere from classrooms to boardrooms, stretching from Argentina to Zimbabwe, he shows us how we can _ the Happiness Advantage to improve our performance and maximize our potential. A must-read for everyone trying to stand out in a world of increasing workloads and stress, The Happiness Advantage isn't only about how to become happier at work. It's about how to acquire the benefits of a happier and more positive mode of thinking to achieve the extraordinary in our work and in our lives. Why did the writer write the book The Happiness Advantages? A To reprogram one's brain to be healthier. B To make people more positive and competitive. C To study stories and cases of CEOs. D To make a lecture at Harvard University. Answer: B. To make people more positive and competitive. In department stores and closets all over the world, they are waiting. Their outward appearance seems rather appealing because they come in a variety of styles, patterns, materials, and color1s. But they are eventually the biggest deception that exists in the fashion industry today. What are they? They are high heels -- a woman's worst enemy (whether she knows it or not). High heel shoes are the downfall of modern society. Fashion myths have led women to believe that they are more beautiful or stylish for wearing heels, but in reality, heels succeed in creating short as well as long term troubles. Women should fight the high heel industry by refusing to use or purchase them in order to save the world from unnecessary physical and psychological suffering. For the sake of fairness, it must be noted that there is a positive side to high heels. First, heels are excellent for aerating lawns . Anyone who has ever worn heels on grass knows what I am talking about. A simple trip around the yard in a pair of those babiesgets rid of all the need to call for a lawn care specialist, and provides the perfect-sized holes to give any lawn oxygen without all those messy blocks of dirt lying around. Second, heels are quite functional for defending against oncoming enemies, who can easily be scared away by threatening them with a pair of these sharp, deadly fashion items. Regardless of such practical uses for heels, the fact remains that wearing high heels is harmful to one's physical health. Talk to any podiatrist , and you will hear that the majority of their business comes from high-heel-wearing women. High heels are known to cause problems such as misshapen feet and torn toenails. The risk of severe back problems and twisted or broken ankles is three times higher for a high heel wearer than for a flat shoe wearer. Wearing heels also creates the threat of getting a heel caught in a narrow sidewalk gap and being thrown to the ground--possibly breaking a nose, back, or neck. And of course, after wearing heels for a day, any woman knows she can look forward to a night of pain as she tries to comfort her aching feet. Women don't take the disadvantages of high heels too seriously because of _ . A the multi-functional use of high heels B their attempt to show off their status C the rich variety of high heel styles D their wish to improve their appearance Answer: D. their wish to improve their appearance When we say the way of life. it means culture. It is the way people do things, for example, culture of eating. Festivals and holidays are also part of culture. Let's have a look at the American way of life. Fast food Fast food is so popular in America. Every street in America has a fast food restaurant. You can find McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut, Dominoes, 1Hop, Dennys and so on. McDonald's is the most popular place to go to. Greetings Americans shake hands with each other when they are first introduced or when they meet again. Social kissing with a hug is also common between men and women who know each other well and among women. American men hardly hug or kiss each other. Family A family here _ a pet. Most families have a dog. It is a good friend in the house and it is part of the family. For some, it is even considered as one of their children. Sports Americans love sports. Soccer, baseball and basketball are the most famous sports here. Most of them like wrestling too, if you would consider that a sport. How many names of fast food restaurants can you find from the passage? A Six. B Seven. C Eight. D Nine. Answer: C. Eight.
Mr. Clinton and his 13-year-old son Tony are baseball fans. Last October 10th was Tony's birthday, so Mr. Clinton decided to drive him to New York, for the first game of the World Series . They had no ticket but hoped to buy a pair from others. After they arrived, they walked in the street for two hours, carrying a sign, "We need two tickets." Then they found the cheapest ticket was $200. They were about to leave when suddenly a man stopped them. He took out two tickets and handed them to Mr. Clinton. "How much do you want?" "Just a present." said the man, "Enjoy the game." Mr. Clinton wouldn't accept, so the man explained, "I'm Jackson. Hans is my boss. He and his wife haven't missed a World Series in 18 years. But he is ill and can't watch the game this time. So he told me to give the two tickets to people who would actually enjoy the game. Then I saw you and I followed you for a while. You seemed very sad. You made me think of my dad and me when I was a child. I dreamed of going to a World Series game with my father. But my dream never came true." How do you suppose this made Mr. Clinton and his son feel? Here is what Mr. Clinton said: "This is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to us. My boy and I must have turned to each other over 30 times and said, 'I can't believe this.' We still never forget Jackson and Hans." The two tickets from Jackson saved Mr. Clinton at least _ . $ 400 Since many of you are planning to study at a college or university in this country, you may be curious to know what you usually do in a typical week, how you can get along with your fellow students, and so on. These are the questions I want to discuss with you today. First, let's talk about what your weekly schedule will look like. No matter what your major may be, you can expect to spend between four and six hours a week for each class attending lectures. Lectures are usually in very large rooms because some courses such as introduction to sociology or economics often have as many as two or three hundred students, especially at large universities. In lectures, it's very important for you to take notes on what the professor says because the information a lecture is often different from the information in your textbooks. Also, you can expect to have exam questions based on the lectures. So it isn't enough to just read your textbooks; you have to attend lectures as well. In a typical week you will also have a couple of hours of discussion for every class you take. The discussion section is a small group meeting usually with fewer than thirty students where you can ask questions about the lectures, the reading, and the homework. In large universities, graduate students, called teaching assistants, usually direct discussion sections. If your major is chemistry, or physics, or another science, you'll also have to spend several hours a week in the lab, or laboratory, doing experiments. This means that science majors spend more time in the classroom than non science majors do. On the other hand, people who major in subjects like literature or history usually have to read and write more than science majors do. The main purpose of this text is _ . to help the students to learn about university life. The story I am going to tell you happened about three years ago when I started to learn how to drive. At first, I was very frightened, and I thought I could never learn how to drive a car. Driving a car frightened me because in my home country women never drive, but in the United States every woman has to know how to drive. My husband paid an to teach me how to drive. After that, my husband practiced with me for a long time. My husband always told me that I had to learn. It was important to me and my family. However, I couldn't get my license right away. I failed my driving test two times. After practicing for a long time, I decided to go for my third driving test. I had failed my first test because I was very nervous. Everybody encouraged me to continue practicing. Three weeks later, I decided to try it again, but I failed again. After that, I was very embarrassed , and I said I couldn't get it, so I stopped practicing for a while. Not knowing how to drive was bad because I couldn't do anything. I had two kids, my husband works, and I have to take care of everything. Driving was so necessary that I decided to try it again. And finally, that time, I passed the test. Now I have my license. I know how to drive, and it has changed my life in some important ways. Now I'm driving to the college, learning English and hoping I will get a good job in the future. The best title of this passage should be " _ ". Never Give Up There is a definite possibility that the climate of the world may be changing. Some scientists imagine that this could even mean the beginning of another ice age. The effects of such a change in climate on the human population of the world would be amazing. Recent research suggests that the general warming trend of the past hundred years or so may be coming to an end. During the past ten years, meteorologists tell us the average temperature of the earth has dropped about one degree Fahrenheit. This does not seem like much, but it could have effects on wind and rain patterns which influence the overall weather picture. If these patterns change a lot, it could mean that certain regions of the world may continue to have long droughts while others will possibly suffer from widespread flooding. What regulates the climate is not exactly known. Meteorologists believe that clouds may be an important factor in regulating the amount of solar heat held by the earth, which in turn determines the temperature of the planet. Another possibility is that man's industrial and agricultural methods may be affecting the natural weather patterns. However, the weather is not understood well enough for scientists to say for certain what is happening to the climate and what side effects this will actually have on the world's population. According to the text, the climate of the world seems to _ . be getting colder Dear Mr./Ms, I would like to suggest that the starting time be changed at our school. Classes at Sebastian Valley Middle School simply start too early in the morning. Getting eight to nine hours of sleep each night is almost impossible when classes begin at 7:30 am. In order to shower, dress, get organized, eat a quick breakfast, and meet the school bus by 6:45, I would have to get up at 5:45. Early in the morning, students are too sleepy to learn well. Without enough sleep, young people cannot think clearly or enjoy learning. According to a report called "Are Students getting Enough Sleep?" From Sebastian Valley Times, "Sleepiness disturbs concentration, reduces short-term memory, and causes bad feelings." Researchers have learned that teens normally fall asleep and wake up later than adults. Teens who stay up late at night have trouble getting up early in the morning. Studies show that some schools have already adjusted school hours to better match the teen sleep cycle , as a result, students in these school are learning better on the new schedule . Some of my classmates argue that starting school an hour later will prevent them from taking part in after-school athletic programs. A solution would be to carry out these programs before school instead of after school. The students who are involved in sports and clubs would continue to arrive at the usual time. The rest of the student body could get a little more sleep and arrive an hour later. Teens usually have a later sleep cycle, and learn and behave better when rested. So I would like to suggest that we have a meeting to discuss the problem and listen to all the students' voice. Thank you for considering this request ! In Tom's opinion, classes should begin at _ . 8:30
Fucheng Garden Villas is situated along the North 4th Ring Road, just 2 kilometres east away from the Asian Games Village with easy traffic connection. It is 5 kilometres from the Beijing Lufthansa Centre. Fucheng Garden Villas occupies an area of 34.7 hectares , over 80% of which is covered by trees and green, just like a garden in the city. All the 108 villas were designed by American Company IDI, in American style, luxurious besides comfortable. All materials of the construction and decoration as well as equipment are famous American products. From now to July 31st, preferential prices for sale and rent are offered. You can move into Fucheng Garden Villas on signing an agreement. Bank will provide a 50% mortgage for 5 years. Overseas sales License: NO.124. Developer: Beijing Hongda Read Estate Co.Ltd. 60 East, North 4th Ring Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing. Tel: (8610)64967050 64967049 Fax: (8610)64933575 (From Wednesday, June 25, 1997 CHINA DAILY) According to the advertisement, which of the following statements is NOT true? A. From June 25 to July 31, 1997, you can buy or rent the Fucheng Garden Villas with a low price B. You can't move into Fucheng Garden Villas before signing agreement C. If you haven't got enough money at the moment, you can't buy the Villas D. Not only equipment but also all materials of the construction and the decoration are made in America. Answer: C Princeton University Location The University is in Princeton, New Jersey. It is an hour's train ride south of New York City and an hour's train ride north of Philadelphia. Students There are 4,600 undergraduates . There are also 1,900 graduate students, but Princeton is unusual among universities in having a student body made up largely of undergraduates. Faculty Princeton has about 700 full-time faculty members . There are another 300 or so part-time and visiting faculty. All faculty members at Princeton are expected to teach and research. Degrees Princeton offers two undergraduate degrees:the bachelor of arts (A. B. ) degree and the bachelor of science in engineering (B. S. E.) degree. Academic Year An academic year runs from September to late May and lasts two terms (fall and spring). A normal course load is four or five courses per term, although many students take extra courses. Residences Princeton provides housing for all undergraduate students. Freshmen and second-year students are required to spend their first two years in one of five colleges. Each college has its own dining hall, common rooms and computer centers. Fees and Expenses (Academic Year 2011-2012) Tuition : $29,910 Room and board: $ 8,387 Other expenses (books, telephone, etc.): $ 3,083 Total: $ 41,380 In what way is Princeton University different from other American universities according to the text? A. It has five colleges. B. Its students are mainly undergraduates. C. It provides housing for all undergraduate students. D. All the faculty members at Princeton are expected to teach and research. Answer: B One day a dentist was starting his morning work. Suddenly a man ran in. His face was red and he could only say "Quick! Quick!" The dentist thought he must be very ill. His assistant helped to make the poor man sit in a chair. The dentist gave the man some medicine to make him sleep. Then, he looked into the man's mouth and pulled out all the bad teeth. As soon as the man woke up, he said in a low voice, "Quick, doctor, quick." "It's all right now," the dentist told him, "It's over." "You don't understand," said the man, "I came to tell you your house is on fire." The man _ after he took some medicine. A. began to work B. began to cry C. went home D. went to sleep Answer: D World travel has moved on to a new level as new websites spring up to enable travelers to plan their trips online. Virtual tourism is the latest name of the game and although relatively new, has seen some tourism websites grow to host over one-million users. Typically, this development features a website that contains the answers to almost any tourism question.Tips and information are not provided by a single source, such as the website host, but rather from travelers themselves-often in the thousands. This has proven to be exceptionally beneficial for would-be travelers who are seeking infomtation on questions such as where to find the best museum or beach; whether it is better to tour Brussels with a bicycle or on foot; and which exchange rate bureaus are available in Italy. Questions about food and restaurants; tourist spots; safety; accommodation; and others are all answered. In addition, posted tips promote better preparation, such as what to pack when heading for Sicily . Apart from the useful tips, visual images and virtual tours have also been made available.If you'd like to visit the Eiffel Tower, it's a good idea to view the surrounding areas; to pick a safer train route; or to know that it's very close to the Seine River and that a walk along it would enhance the experience. Virtual tours have _ globally.In South Africa, John Gore established the Virtual Tour Guide in November last year. On his blog, Gore was quoted a saying, "The world is panoramic . "'We are able to tum our heads and look in all directions and get a feel for where we are, but the typical photograph cannot show or describe that experience completely. " However, there is an answer--technology makes it possible to share the world around us in a 360 degree panoramic way, which really makes the viewer feel as though he or she is really there. What makes us see the world in a panoramic way? A. Information. B. Photograph. C. Technology. D. Virtual images. Answer: C For many years I had a good life. My illness was reasonably under control, I had a nice relationship with my husband, I did work, I didn't hate. It was, as I said, a good life. But there's a saying that the good is the enemy of the best. I finally realized this one day, and began making my best life. I changed doctors and tried a new way that could relieve my symptoms , rather than just making them easier to deal with. I started talking more with my husband and listening to what he had to say. And I quit my job and started working for myself. I have the best life I've ever had. I'd call it great. It is possible there's a better life for me, which would then be my "best life" , but for now I don't think so. I've started a business I love. My husband and kids are wonderful. I have a good friend and I'm close to my older sister who lives in town. Could it get better? I suppose so. But for me I think this is the best life I can have right now. Think more about your life. Where are you living? Are you in a job you just don't mind? What makes your life "good" ? Why isn't it great? What's the enemy of the best and what can you do about it? Enjoy your best life. We're only here for a short while, and we all need to have the best possible time we can. It's like going to Disney World. If you spend too much time standing in line waiting for the ride, pretty soon your time's up. Get out of the "good" line and have your best life. What is the best title for the article? A. Attitude to Life B. Making Your Best Life C. What Makes Your Life "Good" D. A New Way to Treat the Illness Answer: B
With only two weeks to go before Christmas, buying presents is a lug priority for a lot of people. However, this year not so many people are leaving their homes to browse around the shops. These days lots of people do their shopping in the comfort of their own home with the help of the Internet. Online shopping is becoming more and more popular for a number of reasons: prices are often lower online, you don't have to queue up in busy shops and you can buy almost any product imagin- able with just a few clicks of your mouse. Computer trends are often man-dominated but this year women are expected to do more shop-ping on the Internet than men. It seems .that women are now more attracted to the convenience of on-line shopping than they used to be. Average spending online this Christmas by women will rise to $240 compared to the slightly lower average $233 for men, while the average spending per person on the high street is only $197. 70% of lnternet users, male and female, are now buying their Christmas gifts online. In the past a lot of people were unwilling to shop online. Many were worried about the security of entering their card details on the Intemet and the reliability of the Internet but as shopping; online has become more widespread, these worries have begun to disappear. 45% of Internet users still do have security worries but it hasn't slowed the ever-increasing numbers of online shoppers. One victim of the online shopping boom is the UK high street. Christmas trading can represent up to 60% of turnover for some stores. Many companies are concerned that not enough shoppers are coming through their doors in the run-up to Christmas. As a result there are lots of special offers in the shops. Most shops traditionally have sales after Christmas but this year the bargains have come early. Which of the following is NOT the reason for people liking online shopping? Using the bank cards. The strength of a hurricane will increase in a sweltering environment Oscar-winning actress Joan Fontaine, who rose to fame during Hollywood's golden age as the star of several Alfred Hitch.cock classics, died from natural causes at her home in Carmel, northern California on December 16, 2013 aged 96, US media reports said. Born in Japan to British parents, Fontaine moved in 1919 to California, where she and her elder sister -screen idol Olivia de Havilland-were to shape successful movie careers.Fontaine and de Havilland remain the only sisters to have won lead actress honours at the Academy Awards.Yet the two sisters also had an uneasy relationship, with Fontaine recording a bitter competition in her own account "No Bed of Roses ". Fontaine began her acting career in her late teens with Largely less important roles on the stage and later in mostly B-movies in the 1930s. It was not before famous British film director Hitchcock spotted her a decade later that her career took off. Greatly surprised by her expressive looks, the suspense master cast Fontaine in his first US film, a 1940 adaptation of the Daphne du Maurier novel "Rebecca". She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance as a troubled wife. A year later, Fontaine finally won the long-sought golden figure, for her role as leading lady in "Suspicion" opposite Cary Grant, becoming the first and only actress to earn the title for a Hitchock film. Although her sister, Olivia de Havilland, preceded her in gaining Hollywood fame, Fontaine was the first of the sisters to win an Oscar, beating Olivia's nomination as best actress in Mitchell Leisen's "Hold Back the Dawn". The dislike ,between the sisters was felt at the Oscars ceremony."I froze. I stared across the table, where Olivia was sitting.'Get up there!' she whispered commandingly," Fontaine said."All the dislike we'd felt toward each other as children...all came rushing back in quickly changing pictures...I felt Olivia would spring across the table and seize me by the hair." Olivia did not win her first Oscar until 1946, for her role as the lover of a World War I pilot in Leisen's " To Each His Own". Fontaine later made it known that her. sister had slighted her as she attempted to offer congratulations."She took one look at me, ignored my hand, seized her Oscar and wheeled away," she said. The sisters were also reportedly competitors in love. Howard Hughes, a strange businessman who dated the elder de Havilland for a time, offered marriage to Fontaine several times."I married first, won the Oscar before Olivia did, and if I die first, she'll undoubtedly be extremely angry because I beat her to it!" Fontaine once joked. As her film career fruited in the 1950s, Fontaine turned to television and dinner theatre, and also appeared in several Broadway productions, including the Lion in Winter". Anything but the ordinary lady, Fontaine was also a licensed pilot, a champion balloonist, an accomplished golfer, a licensed .decoration designer and a first-class cook. When she moved to California, Joan Fontaine was _ years old. two Holiday Inns and McDonald's. both saw unmatched growth in the 1960s. Their growth opened another direct business operation--franchising. These operations have the same general pattern. The franchisor, the parent company, first establishes a successful retail business. As it expands, it sees a profit potential in offering others the right to open similar business under its name. The parent company's methods and means of identification with consumers are included in this right. The parent company supplies skill, and may build and rent stores to franchisees. For these advantages the franchisee pays the franchisor a considerable fee. However, some of the advantages and disadvantages are different. By extending a "proven" marketing method, a parent can profit in several ways. First, the franchisee's purchase price gives the parent an immediate return on the plan. Then the sale of supplies to the franchisee provides a continuing source of profits. As new businesses are added and the company's reputation spreads, the values of the franchise increases and sales of franchises become easier. The snowballing effect can be dramatic. Such growth, too, bring into play the economies of scale. Regional or national advertising that might be financially impossible for a franchisor with 20 franchises could be profitable for one with 40. The parent, then, finds immediate gains from the opportunity to expand markets on the basis of reputation alone, without having to put up capital or take the risk of owning retail stores. Added to this advantage is a less obvious but material one, Skilled, responsible retail managers are rare. People who invest their capital in franchises, though, probably come closer to the ideal than do paid managers. In fact, the franchisee is an independent store operator working for the franchisor, but without an independent's freedom to drop supplies at will. Of course the factory's costs of selling supplies are less. But also certainly the franchisee buying goods that have had broad consumer acceptance will not casually change supplies, even when the contract permits. If the hamburger is not what the customer expected, they may not return. Having paid for the goodwill, the franchisee won't thoughtlessly destroy it. Franchising refers to a business operation in which a successful parent company _ . sells the right, the guidance to a business under its name Apple Seeds Circulation : 1 Year, 9 Issues Cover Price: $44.55 Price For You: $33.95 Product Description: Apple Seeds is an award winning magazine filled with stories for kids aged from 7 to 9. The cover is very soft, providing durability that allows each issue to be enjoyed for many years to come. Besides, there is a big surprise for you --- it's being sold at a more favorable discount than usual. Better Life Circulation: 1 Year, 12 Issues Cover Price: $44.55 Price For You: $15.00 Product Description: Designed for those who have a strong interest in personal lifestyle, Better Life is America's complete home and family service magazine. It offers help with food, recipes, decorating, building, gardening, family health, money management, and education. Humor Times Circulation: 1 Year, 12 Issues Cover Price: $36.00 Price For You: $11.95 Product Description: Humor Times Magazine is for those who love to laugh! Full of cartoons and humor columns, it shows up in your mailbox once a month and keeps you smiling all year round! In today's world, you need a reason to laugh. So let's find it in Humor Times. News China Circulation: 1 Year, 12 Issues Cover Price: $47.88 Price For You: $19.99 Product Description: News China Magazine is the English edition of China Newsweek. The magazine covers the latest Chinese domestic news in politics, business, society, environment, culture, sports and travels, etc. It is the first comprehensive news magazine for readers interested in China. What kind of people may buy News China ? People who are interested in China's politics, business and culture.
When people have money, they have the freedom to choose how to use it. Some people have more money than others, but no one has all the money in the world. The amount of money we have is limited. The supply of goods, land, and resources is limited. Because of this, people can not have or buy everything that they might want. This means that if you have only five dollars to spend, you can not buy something that costs ten dollars. As our country has grown in the number of citizens, the price of goods has increased. In the recent years the cost of food, clothing, housing and cars has risen quickly. The price of films and books has gone up. In a time when prices are rising, people cannot buy as much with the money as before. When a person has some money, he or she is _ to decide how to use it. Answer: Liang Huili is the leader of Huana International Volunteer Service Group,with hundreds of students, young professionals and business leaders. They held a basketball match to help 150 poor students in western China with school supplies and winter clothes. She also worked with an organization in the US to raise money for children with heart disease. Born in Guangdong Province in 1942, Liang moved with her family to Taiwan at the age of seven. Liang taught at a primary school for seven years until her boyfriend went to America in 1969, one year after they got married. "We didn't have much money," she says, " so I started babysitting for other Chinese families and taking care of my own daughter at the same time." She also taught children Chinese at Chinese schools. What's more, she would help newly arrived Chinese families find apartments and work, and sometimes lend them money. "I remember those students from China who first came in 1986. They didn't have much money, and idea of what to do," Liang told us. " I then asked people in my neighborhood and my Chinese friends for donations -not only some money but also small electronic appliances needed for daily living." One of her experiences in Dayton, Ohio made her want to make volunteering a vocation . She remembers how she once collected two Chinese professors who had missed their flight and had no one there to pick them up. A friend told Liang about it, and she went to meet them herself around midnight. She found the men feeling lost in that strange country, where no one spoke their language. They didn't want to go to an American hotel, and didn't know how they would get to Columbus the next day. " So I talk to them and took them home with me," she says, " and today, I am still in touch with those two professors. We are good friends." Her experience of _ made her decided to make volunteering her vocation. Answer: When something becomes fashionable very quickly , we say that it's a "craze". The latest craze is sometimes a style of clothes or a hairstyle. Sometimes it is a game or a TV programme. In the 20thcentury a lot of crazes started in the USA and then became popular in the USA andthen became popular in other parts of the world. American youth culture has spread through tourism , TV , films, magazines and music videos. One of the biggest crazes was the hula hoop . Hula hoops are not popular now, but in the1950s they were a _ . An American company called Wham-O started to make plastic hoops toys, and in the USA the company sold 100 million hoops in a year. Frisbees were another Wham-O product . Some people say that the idea started in the factory of the Frisbee Baking Company in Connecticut. Workers there threw metal pans to each other during their breaks. Two businessmen made a plastic type of the flying pans, and sold their products to Wham-O. They became a big business. So businesses usually help to produce a craze. Yoyos were another example. In the Philippines, where its name means "comeback", the yoyo was a popular toy in the 1920s. But it didn't become a global craze until an American called Donald Duncan bought the idea and sold it to the world. Around 100 million people bought yoyos in 1962 and 1963. Most crazes come and go, but sometimes they survive. When the big skateboard started in California in 1965, many parents and governments said that the boards were dangerous, and they were not allowed in some areas. But the boards became popular again and they are still an important part of youth culture today. What fact does the passage provide ? Answer: Which of the following structures is not present in animal cells? Answer: Dolphins live in a dark underwater world. It's often impossible to see each other or anything else around them, so sound plays an important role in their survival. To communicate with each other, dolphins produce all kinds of sounds. Only other dolphins understand what the sounds mean. Scientists haven't uncovered their secret communication, except for one kind of whistle. It might last less than a second, but this whistle is a big deal. Why? Because these whistles are actually names of dolphins - and every dolphin has one. Scientists call these sounds a "signature whistle." When other dolphins hear the whistle, they know which dolphin is calling. Dolphins often hunt by themselves but still need to stay connected to the group. Since they can't always see each other, dolphins use their signature whistles to check in with other dolphins hundreds of yards away. "In coastal areas, dolphins exchange whistles even when they're a third of a mile apart," says Greg Campbell, who studies animals. That means dolphins shout out to group members that might be nearly five football fields away. What's amazing is who names the baby dolphin. Not the mother. Not an auntie dolphin or another group member. Scientists believe the baby dolphin itself comes up with the signature whistle. Like human babies, a baby dolphin plays with sounds throughout its first year. While testing its sound skills, a baby dolphin is doing something amazing. It's creating or figuring out its signature whistle. How or why it chooses its signature whistle is not clear. Studies show that most of the time the signature whistle is nothing like its mother's or group members' whistles. When the baby dolphin is about a year old, its signature whistle is set. It repeats it often so the other dolphins learn to recognize it. Deciphering dolphin names is just the beginning of figuring out what dolphins communicate about. Do they chat about sharks? Discuss the tides? Maybe they even have a name for people. Someday scientists are to decipher the rest of dolphins' communication. The author writes the text mainly to _ . Answer:
Comets are parts of our solar system. Like the planets, they go around the sun. But comets are not made of solid rocks like planets. A comet is a ball of dust, stones, and ice. Many people call comets dirty snowballs. The "snowball" may be only a few miles across. But when the sun heats the "snowball," much of it is changed to gases. The gases spread out and form the comet's head, which may be thousands of miles across. A comet moves fast in its trip around the sun. But when we see it, the comet does not seem to move. That's because it is so far away. The moon moves fast, but when you look at it, you can't see any motion . That's because the moon is far away. Each year astronomers discover new comets. Some of them are seen only once. They make one trip around the sun and then go away out into space. The sun's gravity cannot hold them. Other comets, like Halley, keep returning. They have been captured by the sun. Halley's earliest visit was probably 3,000 years ago. It may keep returning for another 3,000 years. But every time a comet goes around the sun, the comet loses part of itself. Gases and dust are pulled out of the comet. That's why Halley is now dimmer than it used to be. Next time it visits us, in 2062, it may be even dimmer. Each visit it may get dimmer and dimmer, until it finally disappears. What is the most likely reason the writer wrote this passage? A. To give information about comets. B. To tell readers about famous comets. C. To explain the importance of comets. D. To encourage readers to look for comets. Answer: A. To give information about comets. Alex London Research Laboratory (ALRL) is part of Alex Co. , Ltd., a major Australian medicine-making company. Opened in 1992, ALRL specializes in the development of new medicines for the treatment of heart diseases. A position is now open for a Research Operations Manager(ROM) to support our growing research team at the new laboratories in Hatfield,due to open in the autumn of 2010. Reporting to the Director,you will help set up and run the technical and scientific support services of our new laboratories now under construction.You will be expected to provide expert knowledge about and be in charge of all areas of ALRL'S Health and Safety,and to communicate with support employees at ALRL'S laboratories based at University College London.Working closely with scientists and other operations and technical employees,you will manage a small number of research support employees providing services to help with the research activities to be carried out at the new laboratories. Candidates will have experience of both management and research support/technical services.Knowledge of research operations and excellent communication skills are necessary. Education to degree level is also desirable. If you are interested in this position,please send your CV to Alex London Research Laboratory,University College London,Hatfield,London,W1E 6B7 or by email to ALRL@alex. co. uk. For more Information.please visit www. alex. co. uk. What is the purpose of the text? A. To describe the job of a ROM. B. To provide information about ALRL. C. To announce an open position at ALRL. D. To make known the opening of the new laboratories. Answer: C. To announce an open position at ALRL. This story is about a 92-year-old, short, well-behaved and proud lady. She is fully dressed each morning by eight, with her hair fashionably done and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is totally blind. She is moving to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the hall of the nursing home, she moved to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window."I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old girl having just been presented with a new puppy. "Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room yet. Just wait." "That doesn't have anything to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged, it's a decision I make every morning when I wake up." "I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away, just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account, you withdraw from what you've put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. Thank you for your part in filling my memory bank. I am still depositing." The best title of the passage would be " _ ". A. Life Is like a Bank Account B. Saving More Money for Your Life C. Life Is Full of Sorrow and Happiness D. Coming Out from the Shadow of Life Answer: A. Life Is like a Bank Account You-yes, you!-can help keep people from getting sick this flu season. How? It's not too hard. Just take these steps: Wash your hands often, especially before eating and after coughing or blowing your nose. Keep your coughs to yourself(use a _ instead of your hand). *Keep your hands out of your eyes, mouth, and nose. You may have heard all this before, but flu season is a great time to really start doing them. By following these pieces of advice, you might be able to keep yourself from getting sick and stop germs from spreading around and making other people sick. So your hands are very important. A lot of germs get in our bodies from there. Germs get on our hands and we put our hands in our eyes, noses, and, especially, our mouths. How to stop germs? Yeah, hand washing. You might pick up germs here and there. So when you wash your hands, you wash away germs. But how to wash your hands? That's easy: wash your hands with soap and warm water(not cold or hot). Don't forget to wash around your fingernails . This is one place germs like to be. Wash for about 15 to 20 seconds---about how long it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice. How many pieces of advice does the writer give us about washing hands? A. One. B. Two. C. Three. D. Four. Answer: D. Four. Teenagers who do not get enough of the nutrients commonly found in fruits and fish are easier to have bad lungs, coughing and wheezing .Teens who eat the least of fruit and especially vitamin C have weaker lungs compared to the others. Teens who take in less vitamin E, found in vegetable oil and nuts, are more likely to have asthma , Jane Bums at the Harvard School of Public Health found. Based on these findings.Bums said that current recommended dose of vitamin C, 85 mg a day, may not be enough for teens to have healthy lungs.Teens who eat less fruit and don't take in enough fatty acids are more likely to have asthma and the signs of breathing difficulty. Proper amounts of fatty acids are protective, Bums said, though fish, the best source of fatty acids, is particularly unpopular with teenagers.Fatty acids are also found in some nuts as well as some green vegetables'.Smokers who avoid vitamin C will increase their chances of coughing, wheezing and developing phlegm . More than 80 percent of teens are getting their recommended doses of vitamin C - mainly from fruit drinks."I wouldn't approve of drinking them, but at least they're getting their vitamin C from somewhere," Burns said. Burns added that there are several different ways to get the necessary nutrients."I think vitamin supplements are fine.I think adding vitamin D to orange juice is fine.But I do think there are added benefits that we don't fully understand of eating whole foods like fruits and vegetables and fish," she said.The researchers did not account for poverty and other factors that often distinguish less-healthy eaters and may explain their findings. According to Burns, how should teens get the necessary nutrients? A. By drinking juice as much as possible. B. By eating more whole foods. C. By taking vitamin pills. D. By giving up smoking. Answer: B. By eating more whole foods.
2010 was the year the Earth struck back. Earthquakes, heat waves, floods, volcanoes, super typhoons, blizzards , landslides and droughts killed at least a quarter million people in 2010 - the deadliest year in more than a generation. More people were killed worldwide by natural disasters this year than have been killed in terrorism attacks in the past 40 years combined. "It just seemed like it was back-to-back and it came in waves," said Craig Fugate, who heads the US Federal Emergency Management Agency. It handled a record number of disasters in 2010. "The term "100-year event' really lost its meaning this year." And we have ourselves to blame most of the time, scientists and disaster experts say. Even though many disasters have the ring of random chance, the hand of man made this a particularly deadly, costly, extreme and strange year for everything from wild weather to earthquakes. Poor construction and development practices make earthquakes more deadly than they need be. More people live in poverty in vulnerable buildings in crowded cities. That means that when the ground shakes, the river floods, or the tropical cyclone hits, more people die. Disasters from the Earth, such as earthquakes and volcanoes "are pretty much constant," said Andreas Schraft, vice president of catastrophic perils for the Geneva-based insurance giant Swiss Re. "All the change that's made is man-made." The January earthquake that killed well more than 220,000 people in Haiti is a perfect example. Port-au-Prince has nearly three times as many people - many of them living in poverty- and more poorly built shanties ,than it did 25 years ago. So had the same quake hit in 1985 instead of 2010; total deaths would have probably been in the 80,000 range, said Richard Olson, director of disaster risk reduction at Florida International University. Climate scientists say Earth's climate also is changing thanks to man-made global warming, bringing extreme weather, such as heat waves and flooding. The excessive amount of extreme weather that dominated 2010 is a classic sign of man-made global warming that climate scientists have long warned about. They calculate that the killer Russian heat wave - setting a national record of 111 degrees - would happen once every 100,000 years without global warming. Data show that 18 countries broke their records for the hottest day ever. "The Earth strikes back in response to bad human decision-making," said Debarati Guha Sapir." "It's almost as if the policies, the government policies and development policies, are helping the Earth strike back instead of protecting from it. We've created conditions where the slightest thing the Earth does is really going to have a surprising impact." White House science adviser John Holdren said we should get used to climate disasters or do something about global warming. "The science is clear that we can expect more and more of these kinds of damaging events unless and until society has sharply reduced the amount of heat-trapping gases and particles ." The author gives the example of the big earthquake in Haiti to show that _ . Answer: King Juan Carlos of Spain once insisted "kings don't give up the throne , they die in their sleep." But embarrassing scandals and the popularity of the republican left in the recent Euro-elections have forced him to eat his words and stand down. So does the Spanish crisis suggest that monarchy is seeing its last days? Does that mean the writing is on the wall for all European royals, with their magnificent uniforms and majestic lifestyles? The Spanish case provides arguments both for and against monarchy. When public opinion is particularly polarized, as it was following the end of the Franco regime, monarchs can rise above mere politics and symbolize a spirit of national unity. It is this apparent transcendence of politics that explains monarchs continuing popularity as heads of state. And so, the Middle East excepted, Europe is the most monarch- filled region in the world, with 10 kingdoms (not counting Vatican City and Andorra). Most royal families have survived because they allow voters to avoid the difficult search for a non-controversial but respected public figure. Even so, kings and queens undoubtedly have a downside. Symbolic of national unity as they claim to be, their very history and sometimes the way they behave today symbolizes outdated and indefensible privileges and inequalities. At a time when Thomas Piketty and other economists are warning of rising inequality and the increasing power of inherited wealth, it is strange that wealthy noble families should still be the symbolic heart of modern democratic states. The most successful monarchies try their best to abandon or hide their old noble ways. Princes and princesses have day-jobs and ride bicycles, not horses (or helicopters). Even so, these are wealthy families who party with the international 1%, and media interference makes it increasingly difficult to maintain the right image. Monarchs are kept as heads of state in Europe mostly Answer: My grandfather is eighty years old now. He always complains about how fast things have changed, and he often says that life used to be better. Families aren't families they used to be. A lot of families have broken up. If husband and wife have problems with their _ , they no longer stay together. And mothers used to stay at home and take care of their children, but now not any more. Everyone is busy working. Mother used to spend all day cooking in the kitchen. But now the family don't eat home-cooked food any more. And the cars! No one walks any more. More and more people drive. Students used to walk 5 miles to school every day, even in winter. But nowadays students don't. And in school, children don't have to think any more.. In math class, for example, they used to add, subtract, multiply and divide in their heads. Instead, they use calculators. And people today have TV and computers, and they don't talk to each other any more. They are too busy to talk, too busy to eat, too busy to think. Life used to be simple, but it isn't any more. Which is TRUE according to the passage? Answer: They wear the latest fashions with the most up-to-date accessories .Yet these are not girls in their teens or twenties but women in their sixties and seventies.A generation which would once only wear old-fashioned clothes is now favoring the same high street looks worn by those half their age. Professor Julia Twiggy, a social policy expert,said,"Women over 75 are now shopping for clothes more requently than they did when they were young in the 1960s.In the 1960s buying a coat for a woman was a serious matter.It was an expensive item that they would purchase only every three or four years--now you can pick one up at the supermarket whenever you wish to.Fashion is a lot cheaper and people get tired of things more quickly." Professor Twiggy analyzed family expending data and found that while the percentage of spending on clothes and shoes by women had stayed around the same--about 5 or 6 percent of spending,the amount of clothes bought had risen sharply. The professor said,"Clothes are now 70 percent cheaper than they were in the 1960s because of the huge expansion of production in the Far East.In the 1960s Leeds was the heart of the British fashion industry and that was where most of the clothes came from,but now almost all of our clothes are sourced elsewhere.Everyone is buying more clothes but in general we are not spending more money on them.'' Fashion designer Angela Barnard,who runs her own fashion business in London,said older women were much more affected by celebrity style than in previous years.She said,"When people see stars such as Judi Dench and Helen Mirren looking attractive and fashionable in their sixties,they want to follow them.Older women are much more aware of celebrities.There's also the boom in TV programmers showing people how they can change their look,and many of my older customers do yoga to stay in shape well in their fifties.When I started my business a few years ago,my older customers tended to be very rich,but now they are what I would call ordinary women. My own mother is 6l and she wears the latest fashions in a way she would never have done ten years ago." What can we learn about old women in terms of fashion? Answer: A plant will be able to photosynthesize even better when Answer:
A woman is having some trouble with her eyes, so she goes to see the doctor. He is a new doctor and doesn't know her, so he asks some questions and one of them is, "How old are you?"The woman says, "I don't know, doctor, but let me think about it." She thinks for a minute and then says, "Yes, I know now, Doctor!When I marry , I am eighteen years old, and my husband is thirty. Now my husband is sixty. And that is twice thirty. So I am twice eighteen. That's thirty-six, isn't it?" Something is wrong with the woman's _ . eyes How much paper do you use every year? Maybe you can't answer this question quickly. In 1900 the world's use of paper was about one kilogram for each person in a year. Now some countries use 50 kilograms of paper for each person in a year. But countries like America, England and Sweden certainly use more paper than other countries. Paper was first made in China about 2000 years ago. It was made from the hair-like parts of certain plants. Paper was not made in southern Europe until about the year 1100. In 1500, a German named Schaeffer found out that one could make the best paper from trees. After that the forest countries of Canada, Sweden, America, Finland became the most important ones in paper making. When we think of paper, we think of newspapers, books and writing paper. But there are many other uses. Only half of the paper is used for books and things like that. Paper is very good for keeping you warm. Houses are often insulated(, ) with paper. You may see some men asleep on a large number of newspapers. They're insulating themselves from the cold. In Finland the temperature is sometimes -40 centigrade (C). The farmers wear paper boots in the snow. Nothing could be warmer. Each year more and more things are made of paper. We have had paper cups and plates for a long time. But now we hear that chairs, tables and even beds can be made of paper. With paper boots and shoes, you can wear paper hats, paper dresses and paper raincoats. When you have used them away and buy new ones. People have made paper boats, but they haven't made paper planes or cars. Just wait they perhaps will. _ use more paper than other countries. A, B and C Which tools are best used to determine the speed of a turtle as it walks along a path? Stopwatch and meter stick Are people less happy or happier when they get older? If your answer is"happier", then you are right,based on a study published seven years ago.It found that people become happier and experience less worry after age fifty.In fact,it found that by the age of eighty-five,people are happier with their life than they were at eighteen. The finding came from a Gallup survey of more than three hundred and forty thousand adults in the United States in 2008.At that time,people were between the ages of eighteen and eighty-five. Arthur Stone in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stony Brook University in New York led the study.His team found that levels of stress were the highest among adults between the ages of twenty-two and twenty-five.Stress levels dropped sharply after people reached their fifties. Levels of happiness were the highest among the kids and those in their early seventies. The survey also found that men and women have similar emotional patterns as they grow older.However, women at all ages reported more sadness,stress and worry than men did. So why would happiness increase with age? One theory is that,as people get older, they become more thankful for what they have and have better control of their emotions.They also spend less time thinking about bad experiences. Why does happiness increase with age? It takes them less time to think about bad experiences. Scientists have always wanted to know more about the other _ in space. Years ago, they knew many facts about the moon. They knew how big it was and how far away it was from the earth. But they wanted to know more about it .They thought and thought. At last they found the only way to know more was to send men to the moon. The moon is about three hundred and eighty-four thousand kilometers away from the earth. A plane can not fly to the moon because the air reaches only 240 kilometers. Then there is no air. But something can fly even when there is no air. That is a rocket. How does a rocket fly? There is gas in the rocket. When the gas is made very hot inside the rocket, it will rush out of the end of the rocket, so it can make the rocket fly up into the sky. Rockets can fly far out into space. Rockets with men in them have already reached the moon. Some rockets without men in them have flown to other planets much farther away than the moon. One day rockets may be able to go to any place. ,A, B, C, D,. A plane can't fly to the moon because _ . it can't fly without air
Question: As is known to us, Washington University in St. Louis became the first college in the United States to ban selling bottled water in 2009. Since then, more than a dozen small colleges and schools have done the same. The ban isn't because the schools don't want students to have easy access to water. Instead, the goal is to encourage students to bring reusable bottles to save money and, more importantly, to save the environment. Many people believe that producing and using bottled water not only wastes money but also harms the environment. They say that bottled water is unnecessary because public water supplies in the U.S. are among the best in the world. These people believe that water fountains and reusable bottles with easy access to filling stations are a better choice. But the makers of bottled water argue that plastic bottles make up a small part of the nation's total waste. They say it's unfair to single out their product when so many other items are packaged in plastic containers, and what's more, water is a healthy choice compared to some sodas and juices that are also sold at school. What do you think: Should sales of bottled water be banned from schools? We want to hear your opinion. Write a 200-word response. Send it to tfkasks4you@timeforkids.com . Your response may be published in a future issue of Time For Kids. Please include your grade level and contact information for your parent or teacher if you want your response to be published. The deadline for responding is August 31, 2012. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage? A. Bottled water is healthier. B. Sodas and juices are of great harm. C. Students think it unfair to ban selling bottled water. D. The makers of bottled water are against banning selling bottled water. Answer: D. The makers of bottled water are against banning selling bottled water. Question: Dryden is on trial on a charge of driving while intoxicated. When Dryden was booked at the police station, a videotape was made that showed him unsteady, abusive, and speaking in a slurred manner. If the prosecutor lays a foundation properly identifying the tape, should the court admit it in evidence and permit it to be shown to the jury? A. Yes, because it is an admission. B. Yes, because its value is not substantially outweighed by unfair prejudice. C. No, because the privilege against selfincrimination is applicable. D. No, because specific instances of conduct cannot be proved by extrinsic evidence Answer: B. Yes, because its value is not substantially outweighed by unfair prejudice. Question: Last summer, when Amanda R of Anaheim Hills, California, was running on a cross-country course with her team, she blacked out. "I got really dizzy," she says. "I was out for a few minutes." At first, Amanda thought she was just tired and didn't think she had a health problem. She did go to the emergency room, where she was fine after tests, but she fainted again several days later as she was talking with her coach. Another doctor guessed that Amanda had blacked out "because we were in heat so much with not enough water and not enough of the right kind of foods". Teens often don't want to stop and take a break or don't notice when they start to feel bad, doctors say. However, paying attention if you're not feeling well is important, as Amanda learned. As a result, Amanda has changed her habits. "I drink a lot more water," she says. "And put more salt in my diet. I'm eating more balanced meals." Amanda advises teen athletes to trust their coaches and speak up when they're not feeling well. "And recognize the difference between when you're tired and when there's something really wrong." Some people - up to 3 percent of the population - sweat too much, even in cold weather. The condition, called hyperhidrosis , can affect many parts and it often runs in families - hands down from generation to generation. Too much sweating over the whole body could be a symptom of another medical condition. Doctors aren't sure what causes hyperhidrosis, but using special medications or other treatments can help. What caused the happening mentioned in the passage during Amanda's running? A. She couldn't breathe in enough air in the race. B. She didn't eat anything before the race. C. She had been running all summer without a rest. D. She neither drank enough water nor ate enough of the right kind of foods. Answer: D. She neither drank enough water nor ate enough of the right kind of foods. Question: One day a man saw an old lady standing by her expensive car,clearly in need of help.So he stopped his old truck and got out.Although he was smiling,the old lady was worried.Was he going to hurt her ?He didn't look safe. The man could see that she was frightened,so in his friendliest voice he said," I'm here to help you,madam.Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm ?By the way,my name is Bryan Anderson."Bryan quickly fixed the car and the lady thanked him.Then she asked how Much she should pay him. But Bryan wanted no money.He was just giving a hand to someone in trouble.This was normal for him.He said,"If you really want to repay me,next time you see someone in need ,help them and think of me." After saying goodbye,the lady continued down the road until she reached a small care where she decided to stop for something to eat.As the pretty waitress took her order,the lady noticed she was nearly eight months pregnant .Although the waitress looked tired,she was very kind.As the lady was going to pay the$1 0 bill she remembered Bryan's words. She paid with a hundred--dollar bill.But when the waitress returned with the change,the lady was gone.On the table she saw a small note.There.were tears in her eyes when she read it:"Somebody once helped me the way I'm helping you.If you want to pay me back,continue being kind to others."Under the note were nine more$1 00 bills. Was the old lady an angel ?The waitress was so excited that she called her husband to tell him the news."Bryan*Bryan Anderson my dear*you're not going to believe what just happened..." When the lady saw Bryan,she was worried because she thought _ . A. he may hurt her B. he was n't going to stop C. he could n't help her D. she did n't have enough money Answer: A. he may hurt her Question: Harriet Tubman lived a life filled with adventure.Tubman worked with the Underground Railroad. She helped many slaves reach freedom in the North. She was a scout in the Civil War. She also worked as a nurse during the war. Life in the Old South was very hard for slaves. Most slaves lived in small houses.They had large families, and even the children had to work in the fields.Most slaves dreamed of getting to the north.They wanted to be free. One day Harriet saw a slave trying to run away. Then she saw the keeper running after him with a whip.Harriet stood in the keeper's way.The keeper took a weight and threw it at the slave.He hit Harriet above her eyes.It almost killed her. The scar on Harriet's head was an emblem of her will to fight for what she believed in. The Fugitive Slave Law made Harriet's job harder.The law said that slaves could be caught even in the North. Harriet began leading slaves all the way into Canada.There they were safe.The law couldn't hurt them there. When Harriet came for her mother and father,they were very old.Harriet was afraid they might not be able to make the trip.She got a horse.She and a friend made a wagon.She helped her mother and father ride to freedom. We can infer from the story that the author _ . A. was in favor of slavery B. was supportive about Harriet's work C. thought the Fugitive Slave Law was good D. thought slaves were treated well in the North Answer: B. was supportive about Harriet's work
Why do people feel so rushed? Part of this is a perception problem. Generally, people in rich countries have more free time than they used to. This is particularly true in Europe, but even in America free time has been inching up. Women's paid work has risen a lot over this period,but their time in unpaid work,like cooking and cleaning, has fallen even more significantly, thanks in part to dishwashers, washing machines and microwaves, and also to the fact that men shift themselves a little more around the house than they used to. The problem, then, is less how much time people have than how they see it. Ever since a clock was first used at a workplace to record labor hours in the 18th century, time has been understood in relation to money. Once hours are financially quantified , people worry more about wasting, but tend to save or use them more profitably. When economies grow and incomes rise, everyone's time becomes more valuable. And the more valuable something becomes, the rarer it seems. Once seeing their time in terms of money, people often _ the former to maximize the latter. Workers who are paid by the hour volunteer less of their time and tend to feel more upset when they are not working. The relationship between time, money and anxiety is something Gary Becker noticed in America's post-war boom years. "If anything, time is used more carefully today than a century ago," he noted in 1965. He found that when people are paid more to work, they tend to work longer hours, because working becomes a more profitable use of time. So the rising value of work time puts pressure on all time. Leisure time starts to seem more stressful, as people are forced to use it wisely or not at all. Women's time in unpaid work has fallen partly because _ . A men's ability to support a family has been improved B men's involvement in housework has increased C women's leisure time was taken up by heavy housework D women become more skilled at household equipment Answer: B When a baby shakes a rattle, it makes a noise. Which form of energy was changed to sound energy? A electrical B light C mechanical D heat Answer: C Venus fly traps are poor at creating their own food though photosynthesis because A they are unhealthy B they need water C they require insects D they grow slowly Answer: C When you have a post-office box, the postman doesn't bring letters to you, but you go to the post-office and get your letters and parcels from your box. The box is locked, only you have the key, so the letters and parcels are safe. One day the headmaster of a school wrote to the post-office and asked for a post-office box for his school. He soon got an answer. It said, "We will give you a post-office box in one month." Three months later, the headmaster wrote to the post-office and said, "Why haven't we got a post-office box yet?" This was the answer from the post-office: "Dear sir, We gave you a post-office box two months and wrote to you then to tell you. Here is the key to your box. You will find our letter to you in it." Which of the following might not be true? A If you want to get a post-office box, you must let the post-office know. B When you get a post-office box, you have to do the work of a postman. C You go to the post-office to get the key to your box. D After you get a post-office box, the post man will not send mails to your house. Answer: B Ways to Burn More Calories Run through water Running in water is one of the toughest activities you can perform because the wet stuff is about 12 to 15 times as resistant as air. Try your hardest to run and you can burn about 17 calories per minute. Start fast Don't be fooled -- slow and steady won't win the race. A recent study found that after a short warm-up, cyclists who rode hard during the first half of their workouts and then slowed for the second half burned about 10 percent more calories than those who started slow and finished fast. Take to the sand Here is some easy-to-remember advice on burning calories: the softer the surface, the more you burn. By walking or running on the beach, you can use up 20 to 50 percent more calories than you do going at the same pace on a hard trail. Shut up and dance Here's the perfect excuse to sign up for that hip-hop dance class you've been eager to try. Surprising your body with new activities -- dance, a new sport, you name it -- forces it to work harder because it's doing unfamiliar movements and using muscle groups in different ways. Use your arms Getting both your upper and lower body involved can provide a big calorie-burning advantage. So if you're short of time or want to get everything you can out of your usual 45-minute workout, try total-body activities such as rowing ormming. You can evenng your arms as hard as you can while you walk. What does "it" in Part 4 refer to? A Dance. B Movement. C Body. D Muscle. Answer: C
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 explains _ . Answer: why there are many stone walls in New England Tom and Mike are good friends. They are good with children. They want to find jobs in summer vacation. This Friday Tom tells Mike that Sunson School Trip needs teachers to help with sports, music and computer. Mike is glad to know that. Tom can play basketball, volleyball, and he can swim. Mike can play the violin, the trumpet, the drums and the guitar, and he can swim,too. Tom and Mike like computers very much. Can they join Sunson School Trip? What do they want to do in summer vacation? Answer: They want to find jobs. Which plant trait is inherited? Answer: the shape of its leaves An early invention by Albert Einstein has been rebuilt by scientists at Oxford University. They are trying to develop an environmentally friendly refrigerator that runs without electricity. We all know that modern fridges cause damage to the environment. They work by using a kind of man-made greenhouse gas called Freon , which is far more damaging than carbon dioxide. Now Malcolm McCulloch, an electrical engineer at Oxford, is leading a three-year project to develop appliances that can be used in places without electricity. His team has completed a prototype of a fridge patented in 1930 by Einstein. It used only pressurized gases to keep things cold. The design was partly used in the first refrigerators, but the technology was dropped when more efficient compressors became popular in the 1950s. That meant a switch to using Freon. Einstein's idea uses butane and water and takes advantage of the fact that liquids boil at lower temperatures, when the air pressure around them is lower. "If you go to the top of Mount Qomolangma, water boils at a much lower temperature than it does when you're at sea level and that's because the pressure is much lower up there," said McCulloch.At one side is the evaporator , a bottle that contains liquid butane. "If you introduce a new vapor above the butane, the liquid boiling temperature decreases and, as it boils off, it takes energy from the surroundings to do so," says McCulloch. "That's what makes it cold." The gas fridges based on Einstein's design were replaced by Freon-compressor fridges partly because Einstein's design was not very efficient. But McCulloch thinks that by changing the design and replacing the types of gases used it will be possible to quadruple the efficiency. However, McCulloch's fridge is still in its early stages. "It's very much a prototype," he said. "Give us another month and we'll have it working." Which of the following is TRUE according to the text? Answer: Freon is what makes current fridges big polluters. Bob, Jim and Alice are good friends. They all study in the same class in Red Star Middle School. The weekend is coming and the weather is going to be sunny and warm. Now they are talking about their plans. Bob is going to the hospital on Saturday. It is not far from his house, so he wants to go there by bike. He is going to visit a sick boy called Ben in the hospital. He wants to make Ben happy and give him some interesting storybooks. He is going to stay there for the whole day. Jim is going to ride to Great Zoo with his father on Sunday. He wants to see the pandas, tigers, lions and elephants. He wants to stay there for the whole day. On Saturday, Alice is going to the Green Park with her friends on foot. She is going fishing by the lake, going boating on the river and playing on the slide . She plans to stay there for the whole afternoon. Which of the following is NOT true? Answer: Alice will go to the zoo with her father this weekend.
Relax. He is the same little boy you loved yesterday. I smiled trying to hold back the tears. "No, he isn't. Yesterday I dreamed he would be an astronaut. Today I am hoping he will learn to talk." It was like some sort of cosmic joke. I could still recall the day that determined my fate. It was October in Ottawa and the summer breezes had given way to the autumn rainfall of leaves. The snow would begin soon. The crispness of coming frost was in the air. My casually mentioning Wyatt's behavior to Dr. Martin aroused his worries. He started asking me questions about Wyatt's activities speech pattern and emotions. I still see clearly in my mind the cleanness of the room and all its belongings when the doctor turned to me and said, "He almost sounds autistic ." I couldn't face that picture in my mind. I had to run to get away from this all too painful place that was reminding me of what was to be my child's life-being strange. I could not remember how many times I told myself, "This is normal. He is a little boy who is not talking yet," when my asking questions met with his blank-eyed response in a restaurant; how many times I would tell myself, "He loves to play on his own for hours at a time and he never gets into trouble," when Wyatt was playing games that no one else could imagine, let alone join in while other boys in the park were playing together or in small groups played around a sand pail or toy truck. My life was changing direction. So was Wyatt's. I started to hide Wyatt from my friends and neighbor especially from a good friend. It was too painful to let others know about my boy acting strange. It was a Thursday afternoon and I found one half of a great pair of kitchen scissors was missing. They were unbelievably sharp and could be taken apart so they could be washed or the blades sharpened. I knew Wyatt had taken the missing blade. "Wyatt," I began as patiently as I could, "Do you see this?" I held up the blade. "Do you know what this is?" Wyatt put a bunch of Fruit Loops in his mouth. No response. "Wyatt!" I forced eye contact with him. "Where are the other scissors? See these." I showed him the half pair. He smiled big. Ate Fruit Loops. Turned the TV on and off. Still no response. I didn't know what to do. It was really hard. "Wyatt," I tried once more, "Mommy wants these scissors. Can you go get them for Mommy? It will make Mommy so happy if you bring me the scissors." "Watch Spongebob." Wyatt asked as he slid down from his kitchen stool and ran off, leaving me shaking my head and wondering in exactly which way this situation was going to end badly. Five minutes later, I turned my head to see Wyatt coming downstairs, his favorite doll in one hand, the missing half pair of kitchen scissors in the other. I immediately ran over and took it from him. "Wyatt!" I hugged him. "Thank you for bringing me the scissors! Good job! You did it! These scissors need to stay in the kitchen. These are Mommy's scissors!" Wyatt laughed, looked at me straight in the eye and said, "Mommy so happy!" I came close to tears. A realization dawned on me that he was the best gift I had ever gotten even though he was not as normal as other children. And why did I hide him from others as if he were some dark and terrible secret. No! He was my pride. It was a long, hard battle to get him to this point, expressing his wants and needs without turning to violence in embarrassment. With love and patience I have found the beautiful, happy boy who would teach me more about life. And that is the solution. Why could the mother recall the day so clearly when the doctor told her his son's illness? A the questions the doctor asked puzzled her. B the cleanness of the doctor's room stuck her C His son's illness was beyond her wildest expectation. D The sudden change of weather left her a deep impression. Answer: C. His son's illness was beyond her wildest expectation. A population of small, plant-eating beetles lives in a forest. About half of the beetles are light brown and the others are dark green. If years of drought cause the area to become dry with few trees, what would the beetle population most likely look like after several generations? A It would be mostly light brown beetles. B It would be mostly dark green beetles. C It would be mostly carnivorous beetles. D It would be mostly very large beetles. Answer: A. It would be mostly light brown beetles. Which of the following correctly orders part of a fish's respiratory system from the least complex to most complex? A cells -> gills -> tissues B cells -> tissues -> gills C gills -> tissues -> cells D tissues -> gills -> cells Answer: B. cells -> tissues -> gills A Scottish university is considering allowing students to use their own computers in exams. Edinburgh University already has the equipment to allow a small number of students to use computers during exams. Senior officials at Edinburgh University say that it is unfair to expect students to use pens and paper in exams when the majority of their coursework is done on computers. Undergraduates at the School of Divinity have the choice of using computers with their final answers being collected on a USB stick, but the take-up stands at less than 10 per cent. Dai Hounsell, professor of higher education at the university, said, "We've got to look at alternatives to the handwritten exam. Looking ahead ten years from now, I'm sure there will not be handwritten answers any longer in the exam of certain subjects, but how we get there from here isn't easy. The plan doesn't apply so much to science and engineering subjects where students have to use charts and mathematical formulae . There isn't technology at the moment to allow them to do that on a computer." He adds that the approval of students is the key before anything is carried out. He also said, "We don't want to put students' future at risk by experimenting as there are technical things which can go wrong. There could be a power failure." Nora Mogey, head of Media and Learning Technology Service at the university, said, "A lot of students are not _ enough to make that step in such an important situation. They don't feel they've had enough practice in typing on a computer with a time limit in a high-pressure environment. They think they do better with a pen in their hand than on a keyboard." Jennifer Cadiz, president at the National Union of Students in the UK, said, "It's great to see universities recognizing that times have changed. Exams can be a really stressful time for students and it's helpful to offer them a flexible way to complete exams." No other major Scottish universities have plans to follow in Edinburgh University's footsteps and the Scottish Qualifications Authority says it has decided not to carry out the plan in its universities. We can infer from the passage that _ . A other universities will try to carry out the challenging plan B universities shouldn't make students stressful during exams C the use of computers in exams won't spread widely in a short time D students should get ready to use computers in exams in future Answer: C. the use of computers in exams won't spread widely in a short time (NEW YORK)---Scientists have discovered small signs of awareness in some vegetative brain injury patients and have even communicated with one of them---findings that are beneficial to how to assess and care for such people. The new research suggests that standard tests may ignore patients who have some consciousness, and that someday some kind of communication may be possible. In the strongest example, a 29-year-old patient was able to answer yes-or-no questions by picturing specific scenes the doctors asked him to imagine. "We were stunned when this happened," said one study author, Martin Monti of the Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge. "I find it really amazing. This was a patient who was believed to be vegetative for five years." Ever since a research paper four years ago described obvious signs of awareness in a vegetative patient, families of patients have been demanding brain scans, said Dr. James Bernat, a spokesman for the American Academy for Neurology. But experts said more study is needed before the specialized brain scans could be used in medical treatment. "It's still a research tool," Bernat said. Experts also pointed out that only a few tested patients showed evidence of awareness. And they said it is not clear what degree of consciousness and mental abilities the signs imply. They also noted that the positive signals appeared only in people with traumatic brain injury---not in patients whose brains had been lacking in oxygen, as can happen when the heart stops. The new study used brain scanning called functional MRI, for 23 patients in a vegetative state and 31 that are minimally conscious. Patients are said to be in a vegetative state if they are tested and found unable to do such things as move on command or follow a moving object with their eyes. Minimally conscious patients show signs of awareness, but they are minimal and discontinuous. What is the practical use of the research? A It leads to studying how to cure vegetative patients. B It attracts society to pay more attention to vegetative patients. C It helps doctors know whether patients are vegetative or not. D It drives the government to care about vegetative patients. Answer: C. It helps doctors know whether patients are vegetative or not.
Everyone should visit a lighthouse at least once. The most important reason for such a visit is to realize how our ancestors battled nature with the basic tools they had . They had only basic ways of creating light , and yet they found a way of using this simple technology in isolated places to save ships from hitting rocks . Secondly , visiting lighthouses will help us to understand the lives of lighthouse keepers .By their very nature , lighthouses were built on some rocks or cliffs . Thus , the lighthouse keepers often lived lonely lives . To walk around their small home , and imagine the angry storm outside beating against the walls , is to take a step towards understanding the lives they had. The reasons for a visit to a lighthouse are not all so backward-looking in time . It is true that lighthouses were built in _ places . But on a pleasant sunny summer day. This very isolation has a natural beauty that many people will love to experience . Therefore, with the gentle waves touching all round the lighthouse . the visitor is likely to think it is a world preferable to the busy and noisy modern life. Another reason for considering a visit is that the lighthouses themselves can be very attractive buildings . Mankind could often not be content just to put up a basic structure . but felt the need . even in such an isolated place , to build with an artistic touch . The result is a view for tired eyes to enjoy . Finally , lighthouses have a romantic attraction , summed up by the image of the oil-skin coated keeper climbing his winding stairs to take care of the light to warn ships and save lives . What is the reason to look back into the past of a lighthouse ? Answer: To learn about the living condition of lighthouse keepers . A source of heat could be Answer: a mini flashlight Many middle school students don't know how to spend their free time. When they have holidays, they always have nothing to do and feel bored. Some may play computer games all day long and some may stay in bed and sleep all day. It's not a good way. Here are some suggestions . If you don't like to stay at home, you can go for a picnic or play some sports. In this way, you can take some fresh air and keep healthy. If you like to stay at home, you may enjoy some light music or read a few novels. You can play some indoor games such as chess, cards, and table tennis. You can also plant some trees and flowers in your garden to make your home beautiful. It is also a good way to keep a pet and talk with it. Just develop some hobbies and you will feel much happier after a long holiday. What's the main idea of the passage? Answer: How to spend your free time. Joan worked in a hospital as a nurse. One evening there was a big dance at the hospital. Most of the doctors and nurses would be there, but it was Joan's turn to look after the sick children. She liked dancing very much, so she felt very sorry for herself. She went to each sick child one after another and said good-night, until she came to one little boy, Dickey. He was eleven years old, but he was already able to talk like an adult( ). Poor Dickey had a very serious illness, and now he was hardly able to move any part of his body except his hands. Joan knew he would never get any better, but he was always happy and always thinking about other people instead of about himself. Dickey knew that Joan loved dancing, so now when she came to say good-night to him, he greeted her with the words, "I' m very sorry that you have to miss the dance because of us. But we are going to have a party for you. If you look in my drawer , you ' Il find a piece of cake. I saved it from my supper today, so it' s quite fresh. And there is also a dollar there, You can buy something to drink with that. And I' d get up and dance with you myself if I was able to," he added. Suddenly the hospital dance seemed very far away and not at all important to Joan. Joan felt unlucky that evening mainly because _ . Answer: she would miss the big dance Recently, China UnionPay did an experiment in a subway station in Beijing--Are you willing to offer a hand to a stranger who needs help? The leading role of the experiment was an old man. With a small bag in one hand and a large case in the other, the old man appeared in a cold winter morning in the bustling subway station. He was so old that he couldn't carry the heavy case up the stairs. Standing in front of the steps, he looked helpless. Something good happened finally. At 9 o'clock, a kind man showed up, he offered to carry the case for the old man and walked up the stairs with him, at 9:25, another man helped ... Within six hours,the old man walked up the stairs for 25 times,among which he was helped for 23 times. What's more,two ladies tried to help the old man--one in the front and the other in the back. They carried the case up the stairs for him. The most noteworthy thing was that another old man tried to help too. When these kind people were asked why they helped the stranger,they all said " It's just the right thing to do," "I always help people as long as I can" ,or "it's not a big thing, and I just want to help". We often see negative news about fake falling and blackmailing or scheming and cunning. But this experiment brought sheer warmth into our heart. Why did China UnionPay carry out the experiment? Answer: To find out whether someone can help strangers who are in need of help.
I clearly remember the day when my little brother was born: January 1, 1994. One of my favorite family photos shows me lying with my mother in the hospital bed, happy but un-aware of the small, sleeping baby in the background. I stayed with my grandparents for the weekend of my brother's birth, excited about my new brother but not yet aware of what having a little brother would mean. I didn't truly realize what was going on until we were in the hospital room at Duke University---- coincidentally , the same room in which I had been born two years earlier. When I looked at my brother for the first time, I felt a mixture of fear and interest. Little did know that small, pink creature would grow up to be one of my favorite people in the world. In reality, though I am two years older than my brother, I am more often than not the real baby in the family. I am very lacking when it comes to common sense. Instructions constantly confuse me and I frequently find myself totally puzzled by things like knowing how to start the washing machine or manage the storage settings on my iPhone. That's where Gibson comes in. The poor kid has had to guide me through more tasks than I would care to admit, but he never complains. Though I should probably be told to figure it out myself, he always comes through. I'm envious of his ability to readily answer the ever-present, "What do you want to do with your life?" question at family gatherings. "Be a doctor," he says----a solid answer, completely opposite to my shaky one, "Well, I'm an English major, so..." My brother truly is my best friend. No one understands me better, and there isn't anyone else I would want to be stuck with in our family. I may not have a clear idea of where I'm headed, but he is stuck with me. What does the brother often help the author do? Help him deal with many daily tasks. Many people think a telephone is essential. But I think it is a pest and a time waster. Very often you find it impossible to escape from some idle or curious chatter-box, or from somebody who wants something for nothing. If you have a telephone in your own house, you will admit that it tends to ring when you are asleep, or in the middle of a meal or a conversation, or when you are just going out, or when you are taking your bath. Are you strong minded enough to ignore it, to say to yourself,"Ah, well, it will all be the same in a hundred years' time" You are not. You think there may be some important news or messages for you. I can assure you that if a message is really important it will reach you sooner or later. Have you never rushed dripping from the bath, or chewing from the table, or dazed from the bed, only to be told that you are a wrong number? But you will say, you need not have your name printed in the telephone directory, and you can have a telephone which is only usable for outgoing calls. Besides, you will say, isn't it important to have a telephone in case of emergency--illness, an accident, or fire? Of course, you are right, but here in a thickly populated country like England one is seldom far from a telephone in case of dreadful necessity. I think perhaps I had better try to justify myself by trying to prove that what I like is good. I admit that in different circumstances--if I were a tycoon(business VIP),for instance, or bed ridden I might find a telephone essential. But then if I were a taxi-driver I should find a car essential. Let me put it another way: there are two things for which the English seem to show particular talent; one is mechanical invention, the other is literature. My own business happens to be with the use of words but I see I must now stop using them. For I have just been handed a slip of paper to say that somebody is waiting to speak to me on the telephone. I think I had better answer it. After all, one never knows, it may be something important. In the author's opinion, which of the following is NOT true? It's necessary for everyone to have a telephone. A man went to see a doctor. "Open your mouth ", the doctor said. The man opened his mouth and the doctor looked in quickly. "It's clear what's wrong with you .You need more exercise, " the doctor said. "But doctor," the man said "I don't think ..." "Don't tell me what you think," " I am the doctor, not you. I know what you need . I see hundreds of people like you. None of them get any exercise. They sit in offices all day and in front of theTV in the evening. What you need is to walk quickly for at least 20 minutes a day" "Doctor, you don't understand ," the man said, "I..." "I don't want to hear any excuses," the doctor said , " You must find time for exercise .If you don't you will get fat and have health problems when you are older." " But I walk every day ,"the man said. "Oh, yes , and I know what kind of walk that is .You walk a few feet to the train station from your house, a few more feet from the station to your office, and a few more feet from your office to a restaurant for lunch and back. That's not real walking .I'm talking about a walk in the park for twenty minutes every day."" Will you listen to me , doctor !" the man shouted, getting angry with this doctor who thought he knew everything. "I m a postman"., the man went on, " and I walk for seven hours every day! It's my wife, she is ill." The story happened _ . in the doctor's office Suddenly another thought went through Kate's mind like an electric shock. An express train was due to go past about thirty minutes later. If it were not stopped, that long train, full of passengers, would fall into the stream. "Someone must go to the station and warn the station-master," Kate thought. But who was to go? She would have to go herself. There was no one else. In wind and rain she started on her difficult way. Soon she was at the bridge that crossed the Des Moines River, a bridge also built of wood, just like the bridge across Honey Creek. The storm had not washed this away, but there was no footpath across it. She would have to cross it by stepping from sleeper to sleeper. With great care she began the dangerous crossing, sometimes on her hands and knees, hardly daring to look down between the sleepers into the wild flood waters below. If she should slip, she would fall between the sleepers, into the rapidly flowing stream. At last -- she never knew how long it had taken her -- she felt solid ground under her feet. But there was no time to rest. She still had to run more than half a mile and had only a few minutes left. Unless she reached the station before the express did, many, many lives would be lost. She did reach the station just as the train came into sight. Fortunately the station-master was standing outside. "The bridge is down! Stop the train! Oh, please stop it!" Kate shouted breathlessly. The station-master went pale. He rushed into the station building and came back with a signal light. He waved the red light as the train came into the station. It was not a second too early. Which of the following words best describes Kate's journey? Risky. The Ant Bully Actor: Julia Roberts -- Hova(voice) Nicolas Cage--Zoc (voice) Language: English Run Time: 1Hour 25 Minutes Price: Mon--Fri$30(VIP:18) $ 15 (Children under 7) Sat.--Sun.--$40 (VIP:28) $ 20 (Children under 7) Lucas Nickel is often bullied by the big boy in his neighborhood. Because he cannot fight back, he takes out his anger on an anthill in his front yard. He stamps it, squirts it with his water gun, and floods it. One wizard ant, Zoc, makes Lucas as little as an ant and Lucas has to work and live in the ants' county. During his staying with the ants, Lucas learns the value of friendship and teamwork, and finally gains the things he wants most: friendship and the courage to stand up for himself. I really enjoyed this movie. It's a fun movie for the whole family. I had really good laughs and enjoyed being there. --James I went to see this film today with my 8-year-old daughter, really without knowing too much about it. My daughter and I were pleasantly surprised at how funny it was. We just couldn't help laughing. I would recommend this film for the whole family. --Mary I've seen several movies of this kind, like Antz or Bugs Life, but this one blows them both away as having greater movie qualities. The film is so well made --some of the scenes are unbelievably beautiful. --John I would recommend their movie to everyone. Whether you go with family or friends, I honestly think this movie has something you will really enjoy. --Sam Where can we most probably find this text? In a movie poster
Four pieces of News News Item 1 ChongQing--A man has received compensation of more than 130,000 yuan(US&15,662)for being wrongly convicted of murder and serving nearly seven years in jail.Tong Liqing,who is now 41,was jailed for killing his brother's maid.At his trial,Tong said he had admitted to the crime to escape further police beatings.His case attracted the attention of a local lawyer who spent six years finding evidence to prove Tong's innocence. News Item 2 Tokyo--An earthquake shook Tokyo on Wednesday but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.National broadcaster NHK said there was no danger of tidal waves.The earthquake measured a moderate 6.5 on the Richter scale.NHK said the epicenter was off the coast of the Kii peninsula in western Japan. News Item 3 Hong Kong--More women from the Chinese mainland intend to visit Hong Kong in search of Mr. Right after restrictions on travel to Hong Kong were eased.In the first seven months of this year,some 18,000 couples registered for marriage in Horn Kong.For one third of these newly married couples,husbands or wives were from Chinese mainland.According to the China News Service,local matchmaking agencies have recently received more inquiries from women who are from the mainland,wanting to meet well-educated men with a ly good income. News Item 4 Nanjing--A report that three kindergarten teachers knelt down before a South Korean couple to apologize,in Nanjing,of East China's Jiangsu Province,has triggered wide criticism. At a local kindergarten,a Chinese teacher frightened a South Korean child by saying she would cut off his fingers if he continued to make mischief.Although the kindergarten had apologized to the couple and dismissed the teacher surnamed Yang,the mother insisted that Yang should kneel down before her. Sheng Dalin,a columnist,wrote in the XINXI SHIBAO that it was enough to fire the teacher and make an apology to the couple,but the mother's request was beyond all reason. Which of the following will be the best heading for News Item 3? A Women married to Hong Kong B Mr. Right in Hong Kong C Match girls D A Hong Kong matchmaking agency Answer: C For the last couple of weeks, I had been stuck in front of my computer working on a project that was very important to me. My every waking hour was consumed by the project and although I imagined that I would feel happy after completing parts of the project, I was confused to find that instead, I was feeling rather depressed. I tried a range of methods to help cheer myself up. I had a relaxing bath, cooked a delicious meal to enjoy with my family and even watched a lighthearted movie, but _ . It was only when I turned to meditation for a solution that the answer came to me: turn to nature! The very next day, I grabbed my camera and a bottle of water and set off to spend a few hours walking in a nature reserve, even though it was pouring with rain. Within a couple of minutes I felt alive again. To be honest, I felt like a young school girl again and had to stop myself from hopping along the path singing, "I'm singing in the rain", a song I used to sing when I was a child. I think as adults we often try too hard to control our inner children and as a result we restrain our own spirits, which only leads to depression and stress. Interestingly, it has been shown that people who spend 40 minutes walking in a nature reserve have a drop in their blood pressure levels, but this does not happen when they spend a similar amount of time walking in a busy city centre. If you feel a little low in spirit and know that you have spent too much time indoors, relax completely, remove your shoes and let your inner child come out and play. In the author's opinion, _ . A a bath can make people relaxed. B depression is usually caused by hard work. C walking in a busy city centre harms people's health. D adults should express their inner feelings freely. Answer: D Many television programmes are very realistic. One who watches TV often feels that whatever happened in the film could well happen to him. With only a little imagination, every man in the street becomes a thief, a spy or a murderer. Jane had been watching a spy film at her friend's house. In it, a young girl had been followed and murdered. She felt a little frightened, walking to the station. She took a train back to the centre of the city. There were a lot of people traveling with her, so she felt much safer. A man sitting opposite her, reading a newspaper, glanced at her. She thought nothing of it until she saw him staring at her. Remember the film and feeling very uncomfortable, she got off the train and went to the bus stop. When he got on the same bus as she did, she found that he was following her. As long as she had been with other people she wasn't frightened. But when she got off the bus, the streets were almost empty. She walked as quickly as she could. She could hear footsteps following her but she didn't dare to look around. After what seemed to have been hours, she was unable to find them, because she was so frightened. The footsteps stopped behind her. She felt a hand on her shoulder. Instead of feeling hands round her neck, however, she heard a pleasant voice. "I apologize if I frightened you. I'm your new neighbour. I thought I recognized you in the train, but I wasn't sure." The man put his hand on her shoulder. He meant to _ Jane. A kill B be friendly to C frighten D play a joke on Answer: B Recently a professor of philosophy in the United States has written a book called Money and the Meaning of Life. He has discovered that how we deal with money in our day to day life has more meaning than we usually think. One of the exercises he has asked his students to do is to keep a record of every penny they spend for a week. From the way they spend their money, they can see what they really value in life. The professor says our relation with others often becomes clearly defined when money enters the picture. You might have wonderful friendship with somebody and you think that you are very good friends. But you will know him only when you ask him to lend you some money.If he does,it brings something to the relationship that seems stronger than ever before. Otherwise it can suddenly weaken the relationship if he doesn't. Since money is so important to us, we consider those who are rich to be very important. The professor interviews some rich people in his research for his book. Question: What is the most surprising thing you have discovered about being rich? Answer : The most surprising thing is why people give me so much respect . I am nothing.I don't know much.All I am is rich. People just have an idea of making more and more money, but what is it for? How much money do I need for any given purpose in my life? In his book,the professor uncovered an important need in modern society:to bring back the idea that money is a tool rather than the end.Money plays an important role in the material world,but expecting money to give happiness may be missing the meaning of life. Through his book,the professor seems to tell us _ . A money is very important in the material world B the purpose of our life is to make money C money does not surely mean happiness D we should value money in our life Answer: C There are more to enjoy in the city this summer than beaches. Some of Toronto's biggest attractions have new and exciting features for summer 2014,both indoors and out. Here's a look at what's new this summer. Art Gallery of Ontario If you are looking to get some culture, there's plenty to see and do at the Art Gallery of Ontario, including art exhibits and collections from around the world. Right now there's Picasso: masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso, Paris>> which runs until April 26. Canada's Wonderland Just outside the city limits is Canada's wonderland, the biggest theme park in Canada. This year sees a lot of new additions to the park, most notably Leviathan, one of the world's longest and tallest roller coasters. There is also an interactive dinosaur park,stage shows for the kids and the Splash Works water park. Cosa Loma The city's only historic castle is a great place to take the kids for a day of exploration through the castle grounds, gardens and stables. The venue has many events going on throughout the year, and this summer's activities include archery course and Teddy Bear picnics for kids ages two and up. Black Creek Pioneer Village The village features people dressed up for the 19th century, living the old fashioned way. There are gardens, farms filled with domestic animals and more than 30 historical buildings to explore. During the week visitors can tour the grounds, meet with historians, practise Victorian traditions, taste samples, in the brewery and more. The site has activities on holidays,like a Revolutionary War Re-enactment and BBQ on Father 's day and a Canada Day celebration. Toronto Zoo The Toronto Zoo has more than 5, 000 animals on display, including some new faces this year. A polar bear cub named Hudson made his debut in March, and starting in May, there is a pair of rare White Lions in the African Savannah section. Be sure to stay for informative talks and presentations from the animal handlers, presented daily. If your child enjoys theme parks, you will go to _ . A Cosa Loma B Art Gallery of Ontario C Canada's Wonderland D Toronto Zoo Answer: C
The vast majority of fitness trackers count your steps and are worn around the wrist, but now there's a device that's designed to be worn like a necklace and monitors tiny movements to improve your posture. The Fineck device aims to address neck pain by tracking tiny movement, spotting bad habits and suggesting exercises via an accompanying app. Made from silicone and titanium , Fineck monitors a wearer's movement, balance, posture and movement thanks to sensors inside. The Mountain View California-based firm says that a high percentage of people suffer from neck pain and associated problems, probably caused by more individuals doing office jobs, which generally involve leaning over computer keyboard. The device contains sensors, several different types of instruments to monitor movement, plus a monitor to shake. It connects to an IOS app via Bluetooth so that wearers can see their bad habits and play "neck training" games. The app warns of health risks and records a user's activity to build up a customer personal health description. The necklace shakes to give smart advice, such as reminding wearers to sit up straight. The app also allows users to set goals, like many other wearables do. "Fineck is the first wearable device for your neck that tracks your neck activity and warn you when you are in a bad posture for too long. You can also exercise your neck with Fineck's interactive games." The company writes on Kickstarter. "No matter where you are and what you are doing at office, on the go, or simply just feeling bored, Fineck will bring you enriched exercise experience through motion sensing games and therapies." It also claims that it is "the world's first titanium wearable device". The metal is widely used in fashion stuff that you can wear or carry to match your clothes because it is lightweight, durable and does not tend to cause allergic reactions. It also offers additional features such as shaking to indicate alerts on a user's smartphone, but it is not currently clear whether it can also be used like bands, to count steps, and so on. The Fineck has a battery life of around seven days and takes one hour to charge. It is available to pre-order via Kickstarter from $69(PS44)and is due to ship in March next year. We can infer from the passage that the Fineck device will _ . A. actually not cause allergic reactions. B. enrich your life by providing "neck training" games C. monitor a wearer's movement due to the material it is made of D. help to correct your improper postures Answer: D In 1963,former Senator Gaylord Nelson began to worry about our planet (A senator is a person that the people of the United States have chosen to help make the laws.). Senator Nelson knew that our world was getting dirty and that many of our plants and animals were dying .He wondered why most people weren't trying to solve these problems. He talked to other lawmakers and to the President. They decided that the President would go around the country and tell people about these concerns . He did, but still not enough people were working on the problem. Then, in 1969, Senator Nelson had another idea. He decided to have a special day to teach everyone about the things that needed changing in our environment .He wrote letters to all of the colleges and put a special article in Scholastic Magazine to tell them about the special day he had planned (Most of the schools got this magazine) and he knew that kids would help him. On April 22,1970, the first Earth Day was held .People all over the country made promises to help the environment. Everyone got involved and since then, Earth Day has spread all over the planet. People all over the world know that there are problems we need to work on and this is our special day to look at the planet and see what needs changing. Isn't it great? One person had an idea and kept working until everyone began working together to solve it. See what happens when people care about our world? The passage mainly talks about _ . A. the importance of Earth Day B. the person who planned the Earth Day C. the history of Earth Day D. the first Earth Day Answer: C Madrid, capital of Spain, is a city with large numbers of historic sites resting in the shadows of modern skyscrapers. This city of over 3, 23 million people, up from 2,88 million in 2000, is proud of Western Europe's royal palace, considered by many to be Madrid's most beautiful building. Inside the Royal Palace 2,800 rooms are decorated with museum-quality furniture and artwork. The internationally loved Prado Museum is the largest and most impressive art gallery in Spain. Opened in 1819, it is filled with works of art that include the world's most comprehensive collection of Spanish paintings. Spain is famous for its delicious ham, and there's no better place to try it than at Museo del Jamon, which has five branches around the city. Hanging from the ceiling of each branch are dozens of hams of different types and flavors. Taste them in the bar. Madrid had some of Europe's best shopping. For 500 years, shoppers have gathered to a large outdoor flea market known as the Rastro, where they find everything from antiques to CDs. Get a great view of the city from Teleferico de Madrid. This cable car takes you on a 2.5kilometer trip 40 meters above the Manzanares River and Casa de Campo park. For a refreshing choice, relax beside the swimming pool on the roof of the Emperador Hotel. Enjoy delicious desserts and drinks while viewing the city, or take a dip in the cool water. No trip to Madrid is complete without seeing a performance of Spain's famous art form, flamenco. Every day, flamenco performers sing, dance or play the guitar in small cafes and grand theaters alike. Which of the following should you not visit if you suffer from a fear of heights? A. The Royal Palace B. The Prado Museum C. The Museo del Jamon D. The Teleferico de Madrid Answer: D The fame of Jane IN the 19th century the novel came into its own. Thousands upon thousands of novels were published. Of those novels, very few are remembered today. However, there are exceptions ; the works of Jane Austen - Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility - for example. They achieved only modest success at first but grew and grew in fame and reputation. How did Jane Austen become so popular? Of course, the novels are romantic. Everyone knows the love story of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett (in Pride and Prejudice), and how they overcome their own pride and prejudice to live happily ever after. The lovers are almost as famous today as Romeo and Juliet. But there is more to Austen's popularity than the fact that she wrote about love. The books are very witty and ironic , and show a great understanding of society and of people. Pride and Prejudice opens with what must be the most famous sentence in the English novel: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." The truth, of course, is the opposite: wealthy, unmarried young men are extremely attractive to young women. And women - especially penniless or near-penniless ones - are the subjects of Austen's tales. Women nowadays may be more equal to men than they were in Jane Austen's day. However, a sense that women still basically live in a world dominated by men ensures that Austen still has many keen readers. According to the article, most of the heroines in Austen's works _ . A. are poor and young B. are happily married C. marry wealthy men D. are penniless but witty Answer: A Over a hundred years ago people in London were surprised to see a very unusual boat come sailing up the Thames River.The boat was eighty feet long flat-bottomed,with big wooden eyes on both sides in the front and was colorfully painted at the back. People came to know that it was a sailing boat from Fuzhou in distant China.The boat had sailed round the Cape of Good Hope up the western coast of Africa,and finally to England.It had covered fifteen thousand miles--more than half of the distance round the world. Although it was unexpected,the Chinese were warmly welcomed.The boat carried goods such as silk and tea as well as a number of gifts from the Emperor of China for the Queen of England. People had always mistakenly thought of the Chinese as a people not used to sea.However,from centuries of trading and sailing in dangerous seas,the Chinese had learned how to build good boats and sailed them well.The coming of this sailing boat to London proved once again that the Chinese could sail to distant countries in the world. The boat was considered unusual because _ . A. it was a small wooden boat B. it carried Chinese silk and tea C. it had traveled fifteen thousand miles D. it looked strange in several ways Answer: D
A proposed federal statute would prohibit all types of discrimination against black persons on the basis of their race in every business transaction executed anywhere in the United States by any person or entity, governmental or private. Is this proposed federal statute likely to be constitutional? A Yes, because it could reasonably be viewed as an exercise of Congress's authority to enact laws for the general welfare. B Yes, because it could reasonably be viewed as a means of enforcing the provisions of the Thirteenth Amendment. C No, because it would regulate purely local transactions that are not in interstate commerce. D No, because it would invade the powers reserved to the states by the Tenth Amendment. Answer: B. Yes, because it could reasonably be viewed as a means of enforcing the provisions of the Thirteenth Amendment. At the age of sixteen,I joined a volunteer group with my dad. I went on my first volunteer project in West Virginia. On the night we arrived, we discovered that "our family" was living in a trailer that was in poor condition. A crew had been working on it for two weeks,but every time they finished one problem,another surfaced(, ). We decided the only reasonable solution was to build a new house--something unusual but necessary under these circumstances. The family was overjoyed with their new house that was twenty by thirty feet with three bedrooms,a bath and a kitchen. On Tuesday of that week, while we were eating lunch together,I asked the family's three boys,Josh,Eric and Ryan,"What do you want for your new room?"Expecting toys and other gadgets that children usually ask for, we were astonished when Josh responded,"I just want a bed." The boys had never slept in a bed! They were accustomed to plastic mats. That night we had a meeting and decided that beds would be the perfect gift. On Thursday night, a few adults in our group drove to the nearest city and bought beds and new bedding. When we saw the delivery truck coming,we told the family about the surprise. We could hardly control ourselves. It was like watching excited children on Christmas morning. That afternoon, as we fitted the frames of the beds together, Eric ran into the house to watch us. Too dirty to enter his room,he observed with wideeyed enthusiasm from the doorway. As my father slipped a pillowcase onto one of the pillows,Eric asked,"What is that?" "A pillow," he replied. "What do you do with it?" Eric continued to ask. "When you go to sleep,you put your head on it," I answered softly. Tears came to my eyes as my father handed Eric the pillow. "Oh...that's soft," he said,hugging it tightly. Now,when my sister or I start to ask for something that seems urgent,my dad gently asks, "Doyouhaveapillow?" We know exactly what he means. From the passage, we can learn that Eric had never seen _ before. A a trailer B a truck C a pillow D a house Answer: C. a pillow More than a century ago, the composer and bandleader John Philip Sousa warned that technology would destroy music, who said, "These talking machines are going to ruin the artistic development of music in this country. When I was a boy ... in front of every house in the summer evenings you would find young people together singing the songs of the day or the old songs. Today you hear these terrible machines going night and day. We will not have a vocal cord left." Music has greatly changed in the past hundred years, which has been everywhere in our world: rivers of digital melody flow on the Internet or on disc; MP3 players with forty thousand songs can be put in a back pocket or a purse. Yet, for most of us, music is no longer something we do ourselves, or even watch other people do in front of us. It has become a radically virtual medium, an art without a face. Ever since Edison invented the phonograph cylinder , people have been assessing what the medium of recording has done for and to the art of music. Sousa was a spokesman for the party of doom; in the opposite corner are the utopians , who argue that technology has not imprisoned music but liberated it. Before Edison came along, Beethoven's symphonies could be heard only in select concert halls. Now the recordings carry the man from Bonn to the corners of the earth. Glenn Gould, after renouncing live performance in 1964, predicted that within the century the public concert would disappear into the electronic air. Having discovered much of my favorite music through LPs and CDs, I am not about to join Sousa's party. Modern urban environments are often so soulless or ugly that I'm grateful for the humanizing touch of electronic sound. But neither can I accept Gould's slashing futurism. I want to be aware of technology's effects, positive and negative. Fortunately, scholars and critics have been methodically exploring this _ for many decades, trying to figure out exactly what happens when we listen to music with no musicians in the room. The author's attitude towards the recorded music may best be described as _ . A dissatisfied B defensive C optimistic D objective Answer: D. objective A push or a pull on an object is an example of A force. B weight. C energy. D work. Answer: A. force. I've ridden a lot of buses in my time. There was the one in India that was so crowded, I had to climb onto the top just to breathe. Neither will I forget the bus in South Africa that was almost taken up by monkeys. No matter how entertaining they were at the time, none can compare to my first ride on what I now call the Leisure Village Local. When I first moved into Leisure Village, I didn't even know bus transportation was provided. Then I had an operation on my left foot and I couldn't drive. As I didn't want to keep making trouble for friends to shop for me, I decided to try out the Leisure Village Local. The next morning, undaunted, I stood with the support of my crutches and waited. Suddenly, the bus arrived. As soon as I boarded the bus, I discovered I was all by myself. Then the bus approached another stop, and four women climbed aboard. They sat next to me and introduced themselves. A few minutes later, we arrived at the Wal-Mart in Middle Island. As soon as we entered, one of my new friends showed me how to operate the motorized shopping cart . Another walked alongside the entire time, waiting to help if something was out of reach. One hour later, another insisted on carrying my bags onto the bus. And the fourth woman carried my bags to my front door when we got back. I thanked them all for their help, and told them I would see them soon. The next day morning, I found a brown paper bag at the front door. Inside was a giant bowl of chicken soup, and a note. "Get well soon." It was signed, "Your guardian angels." I rode the Leisure Village Local two more times later, but didn't see any of my guardian angels. Maybe they're helping someone else, I thought. Or, maybe they flew south for the winter. The four women passengers _ . A helped the author onto the bus B were friendly even to strangers C each cooked the author a bowl of soup D finally became the author's friends Answer: B. were friendly even to strangers
Question: One morning, Tina and Wesley both wake up with sore throats and stuffy noses. They have the same symptoms, but they react very differently. While Tina reaches for water and vitamins, her husband, Wesley, reached for the phone. "I'd better make a doctor's appointment," he says. Why do these two Chinese people react to sickness so differently? Tina grew up in the U.S. Wesley grew up in Taiwan. And they have discovered that differences between Chinese and American cultures extend to every area of life. Even sickness and health. When Westerners experience pain, they usually express their discomfort. Most Asians don't. This creates a challenge for American nurses who care for Asian patients in the U.S. How do they know if that calm, quiet patient is really hurting? They have to keep asking their Asian patients how they feel. In addition, Americans usually don't want sickness to slow them down. Unlike Chinese people, Americans often don't take time off work to rest and get well. They'd rather sneeze and cough all day at the office. Americans who get sick in Asia may protest when Chinese friends suggest they go to the hospital. "I'm not that sick!" they may say. In the U.S., only very sick or injured patients go to hospital. People go to a doctor's office for less serious problems. Like Tina, Americans more often turn to vitamins or over-the-counter drugs to help them get well. Chinese people, however, often head straight for the doctor when they get sick, like Wesley did. They want a prescription to treat their sickness before it gets serious. Chinese patients often just trust their doctors to give them the information they need. Most Americans, however, ask their doctors lots of questions and do research. American patients want to know everything they can about their condition. So, are one culture's attitudes toward health better than the other's? Perhaps not. Tina and Wesley will both recover from their colds. And today, doctors all over the world are sharing treatment methods with each other. In health, as in everything else, we can learn a lot from each other. What is an American way to deal with a cold? A. Ignore it by sneezing it away. B. Slow down for some good rest. C. Turn to the doctor's for medication . D. Take vitamin pills and drink much water. Answer: D. Take vitamin pills and drink much water. Question: The name England comes from the words "Angle land".The Angles were people who came from northern Germany in the 5th and 6th centuries,after the Romans had left.The French name for England is Angleterre,which also means "Angle land".There were also invasions of southern England by Saxons and Jutes (people from another part of northern Germany).English people are sometimes called AngloSaxons.The Celts who used to live in this area were forced to move back into Scotland,Ireland,Cornwall and into Western France (the area known as Brittany). England at first became a series of kingdoms,the strongest of which was Wessex (the name comes from WestSaxon).The names of many of the areas in England come from this period--for example,the name Sussex comes from SouthSaxon,Essex from EastSaxon,and East Anglia from EastAngle.The Vikings then came from Denmark,and later the Normans invaded from France. Eventually England,Wales,Scotland and Northern Ireland were united,forming the United Kingdom. The English language is the main language spoken throughout England,although there are many different accents.It can be difficult to know how to spell or to pronounce some English words,because the language has been influenced by Latin and Greek (languages used at the time of the Romans,and used in religion and education until recent times),German (the language of the Angles,Saxons and Jutes),French(the language of the Normans),Gaelic/Scots (Celtic languages) and Danish (the language of the Vikings). There are now many people throughout the United Kingdom who speak a foreign language either as their first or second language;mainly due to immigration from Europe or the Commonwealth (countries which used to be part of the British Empire). Why do many people in the UK speak a foreign language nowadays? A. Because they are required to learn a foreign language at school. B. Because they plan to live outside the UK in the future. C. Because they have moved from other countries. D. Because they have worked in other countries. Answer: C. Because they have moved from other countries. Question: Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mum, you must come and see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Lake Arrowhead. "I will go next Tuesday," I promised, a little unwillingly, on her third call. The next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and so I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house and hugged and greeted my grandchildren, I said, "Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! Theroad is invisible in the cloud and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and thesechildren that I want to see!" My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this weather all the time, Mum. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience." After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand-lettered sign that read "Daffodil Garden"?We got out of the car and each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, we turned a comer of the path, and I looked up amazed. Before me lay the most beautiful sight. Flows of flowers of different colors seemed poured down the peak and slopes. There were five acres of flowers! A seas of daffodil! It was like a fairyland all beyond description. "But who has done this?" I asked Carolyn. "It's just one woman," Carolyn answered. That's her home, "Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house that looked small and modest in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house. On the patio , we saw a poster." Answers to the Questions I KnowYou Are Asking" was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs " it read. The second answer was, "One at a time,by one woman." The third answer was, "Began in 1958." I thought of this woman whom I Had never met, who, more than fifty years before, had begun-one bulb at a time-to bring the beauty and joy to the mountain top. Just planting one bulb at a time, year after year, had changed the world where she lived and created something of magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small amounts of daily effort, we too can accomplish great things. Everyone can do something to change the world. What has the writer learned from this experience? A. It's never too late to learn B. Nothing is too difficult if you put your heart into it C. People can change the world where they live by growing flowers D. Accumulation of small steps may lead to something magnificent Answer: D. Accumulation of small steps may lead to something magnificent Question: How do coal and the sun compare as sources of energy? A. Coal is renewable, and the sun is renewable. B. Coal is renewable, and the sun is nonrenewable. C. Coal is nonrenewable, and the sun is renewable. D. Coal is nonrenewable, and the sun is nonrenewable. Answer: C. Coal is nonrenewable, and the sun is renewable. Question: Inside the pleasingly fragrant cafe, So All May Eat(SAME) in downtown Denver ,the spirit of generosity is instantly noticeable :A donation box stands in place of a cash register. Customers here pay only what they can afford, no questions asked. A risky business plan, perhaps, but SAME Cafe has done one unchangeable thing in the Mile High City for six years: Open only at midday, the restaurant provides poor local can instead volunteer as waiters and waitresses, and dishwashers, or took after the buildings and equipment for the cafe. "It's based on trust, and it's working all right" , says co-owner Brad Birky , who started the cafe in 2006. With his wife Libby. Previously volunteering at soup kitchens, the Birkys were dissatisfied with the often unhealthy meals they served there. "We wanted to offer quality food in a restaurant where everyone felt comfortable ,regardless of their circumstances," Birky says. SAME's special lunch menu changes daily and most food materials are natural and grown by local farmers. The cafe now averages 65 to 70 customers (and eight volunteers) a day. And the spirit of generosity behind the project appears to be spreading. In early 2007,one volunteer who had cleared snow for his meals during the long winter said goodbye to the Birkys," He said he was going to New Orleans to help with the hurricane clear up," says Birky. 68.What can we learn about the soup kitchens the Birkys previously worked for? The author's attitude towards running such a cafe is _ A. unfavorable B. approving C. doubtful D. cautious Answer: B. approving
The temperature in a hot star is high enough to pull electrons away from atoms. What state of matter results from this process? Answer: plasma The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to rule soon that milk from cloned animals and meat from their offspring are safe to eat. The agricultural industry has observed a self-acting stop on using the products of clones, but it has recently become clear that a few offspring of cloned pigs and cows are already flowing into the food supply. Many in agriculture believe such genetic copies are the next logical step in improving the nation's livestock . Many Americans are likely to be against the idea of serving clones' milk to their children or putting meat from the offspring of clones into the kitchens. When they were asked earlier this year in a survey by the International Food Information Council whether they would willingly buy meat, milk and eggs that come from clones if the FDA declared them to be safe, 63 percent of consumers said no. Yet scientific evidence suggests there is little cause for alarm, at least on food-safety grounds. Studies have shown that meat and milk from clones are not different from that from normal animals, although work is not complete and researchers say that clones do suffer slight genetic abnormalities . While milk from clones might reach the shelves, _ They'd be used as breeding stock , so the real question is whether their produced offspring would be safe. The FDA has been promising a policy for three years, but hasn't produced a final view, and some biotechnology companies involved in cloning have run out of cash while waiting. Livestock producers have called the FDA the"Foot Dragging Administration". What is the best title for this passage? Answer: Clone-generated meat and milk may be accepted. This is a new picture. There are four boys and three girls in the room. They are all students. The boy on the desk is Jim. The girl near the window is Kate. Jim's sister Jane is on the chair. Ann and Mike are at the door. Mike's brother Sam is under the table. Where is Tom? Oh, he is over there, near the door. They are all very happy. Sam is _ . Answer: Mike's brother At the age of 11, Peter Lynch started caddying at Brae Burn Country Club in Newton, Mass. "It was better than a newspaper carrier, and much more profitable," the Fidelity vice chairman recalls. He kept it up during the summers for almost a decade. "You get to know the course and can give the golf players advice about how to approach various holes," he says. "Where else, at age 15 or 16, can you serve as a trusted adviser to high-powered people?" One of those people was George Sullivan, then president of Fidelity's funds, who was so impressed with Lynch's smarts that he hired him in 1966. "There were about 75 applicants for 3 job openings," Lynch says now. "But I was the only one who had caddied for the president for 10 years." In between caddying and managing money, Lynch went to Boston College on a scholarship from a program called the Francis Ouimet Fund. Named after the 1913 winner of the U.S. Open, the fund launched in 1949 which is open to Massachusetts kids only. Ouimet executive director Robert Donovan says, "Help with college is a logical extension of friendly relation between golfers and their favorite caddies, because there is a close tie to train up them to be excellent that happens between the players and the kids who carry their golf poles. And for the teens, caddying is all about being around successful role models." It is obvious that caddies who are finally successful include all kinds of outstanding personnel, from actor Bill Murray, to New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, to former GE chairman and CEO Jack Welch. Of course, the great number of financial giants who caddied in their youth might be coincidence, but Dick Connolly thinks not. "Caddying life teaches you a lot about business, and about life," he says. "You learn to show up early and look people in the eye when you shake their hand, and you learn how to read people -- including who's likely to cheat and who isn't." Connolly is a longtime investment advisor at Morgan Stanley's Boston office, a former Ouimet scholarship student and, along with Peter Lynch and Roger Altman, one of the program's biggest supporters. He wants to share the most important lesson he learned on the links, so he says: "One golfer I caddied for told me that if you want to succeed in any field -- golf or business -- you have to spend a lot of lonely hours, either practicing or working, when you'd rather be partying with your friends. That's true, and it stuck with me." Which of the following may Peter Lynch agree about caddying? Answer: His caddying experiences contributed to his later career. Many Chinese kids, known as "left-behind" children, hardly ever see their parents, because their parents are migrant workers. Li Ling, 11, is a left-behind child. Her parents have been working in Zhejiang for 10 years, while she lives with her grandparents in Guangdong. She was reunited with her parents last Spring Festival. As the number of migrant workers in China increases, the number of left-behind children is rising fast. Li is one of the 61. 02 million left-behind children under 17. They account for 37. 7 percent of rural children and 21. 88 percent of all Chinese children The large number of left-behind children has already become a social issue. If left unsolved, it will cause serious problems, Wang Zhenyao, director of the China Philanthropy Research Institute, told China Daily. The education level of adults supervising these children is generally not that high. They can only take care of the children's personal safety and daily living, being unable to care for their educational and spiritual needs. Meanwhile, the absence of parental support will make some left-behind children lack self-confidence. They may be slower in physical and emotional growth than their peers. Others may even become "problem youths". To solve this problem, the government is taking action. For instance, 30 provinces and cities have allowed certain children to attend school and take the college entrance exam in the city where their parents are. However, Wang suggested that the country do more, such as making policies encouraging migrant workers to work in their hometowns. He also said that a well-balanced child welfare system is needed. "These children are the future of the nation, so they deserve our loving care and protection," Wang said. Left-behind kids hardly see their parents because _ . Answer: their parents are making a living in other cities
18:00 Children's World 19:00 News 19:45 Around the World 20:20 Movie: A Nurse's Day 21:50 Message from the Market 22:20 Modern Arts 23:00 End CCTV4 18:30 Modern English 19:00 Women's Life 19:30 Culture and Life 20:45 Volleyball match: China-America 22:30 English News 22:50 English Movie: Gone with the world 00:30 End NTTV 18:30 NTTV News 19:00 Popular Songs 19:30 Animal World 20:20 American English Today 21:15 Science and Life 22:30 Sports News 23:00 End JSTV 18:40 English for Children 19:00 News fromCCTV-1 19:30 JS News 19:45 Football Match: China-Japan 21:30 TV-play: Story of a Spanish Artist (1) (2) 23:15 End The English news on CCTV-4 lasts about _ minutes. Answer: When students and parents are asked to rate subjects according to their importance, the arts are unavoidably at the bottom of the list. Music is nice, people seem to say, but not important. Too often it is viewed as mere entertainment, but certainly not an education priority .This view is shortsighted. In fact, music education is beneficial and important for all students. Music tells us who we are. Because music is an expression of the beings who create it, it reflects their thinking and values, as well as the social environment it came from. Rock music represents a lifestyle just as surely as a Schubert song. The jazz influence that George Gershwin and other musicians introduced into their music is obviously American because it came from American musical traditions. Music expresses our character and values. It gives us identity as a society. Music provides a kind of perception that cannot be acquired any other way. Science can explain how the sun rises and sets. The arts explore the emotional meaning of the same phenomenon. We need every possible way to discover and respond to our world for one simple but powerful reason: No one way can get it all. The arts are forms of thought as powerful in what they communicate as mathematical and scientific symbols. They are ways we human beings "talk" to each other. They are the language of civilization through which we express our fears, our curiosities, our hungers, our discoveries, and our hopes. The arts are ways we give form to our ideas and imagination so that they can be shared with others. When we do not give children access to an important way of expressing themselves such as music, we take away from them the meanings that music expresses. Science and technology do not tell us what it means to be human. The arts do. Music is an important way we express human suffering, celebration, the meaning and value of peace and love. So music education is far more necessary than people seem to realize. What is the main idea of the passage? Answer: Brown contended that Green owed him $6,000. Green denied that he owed Brown anything. Tired of the dispute, Green eventually signed a promissory note by which he promised to pay Brown $5,000 in settlement of their dispute. In an action by Brown against Green on the promissory note, which of the following, if true, would afford Green the best defense? Answer: Last spring, members of Alaska's Troop 34, based in Fairbanks, trudged out into the snowy wilderness to take part in their state's Take a Kid Trapping program. In many parts of the state, beavers are pests and need to be controlled. The 10-to-12-year-old girls found out where beavers lived, set traps, and skinned the two animals they caught. The girls hope to catch ten more beavers so that the entire troop can make mittens and hats with the fur. They also want to cook beaver meat. Troop leaders and members say the Scouts are doing a good deed by helping control the state's beaver population. But animal-rights activists say trapping is cruel. They want the Girl Scouts to stop in their tracks. Beavers aren't only causing a problem in Alaska. Residents in Sampson County, N.C., have turned to a local committee to help them battle the growing beaver population there. County landowners are frustrated after the county spent more than $ 50,000 in eight years trying to reduce the beaver population through a government program. The joint state and federal program included paying money to trappers for every beaver carcass they trapped. Many local residents say that the program didn't work because there were too few trappers. That's why the county set up its own committee to investigate other ways to control the area's beaver population. The county will rely on its own beaver-trapping program. It has hired a trapper to set traps in various areas. The county will pay $10 for every beaver carcass. Why do many people say that beavers are a nuisance? For beavers to survive, they need lots of water. Water provides the large rodent with a place to hide from meat - eating animals. Beavers also store food underwater for the winter. When there's not enough water in a particular area, beavers get busy building dams. Beaver dams can cause major flooding and damage to the surrounding countryside as the animals cut down trees to use in their construction projects. Beavers build canals to transport heavy objects. What is Alaska's Troop 34? Answer: While negligently driving his father's uninsured automobile, 25-year-old Arthur crashed into an automobile driven by Betty. Both Arthur and Betty were injured. Charles, Arthur's father, erroneously believing that he was liable because he owned the automobile, said to Betty, "I will see to it that you are reimbursed for any losses you incur as a result of the accident." Charles also called Physician and told him to take care of Betty, and that he, Charles, would pay the bill. Arthur, having no assets, died as a result of his injuries. Dodge, one of Arthur's creditors, wrote to Charles stating that Arthur owed him a clothing bill of $200 and that he was going to file a claim against Arthur's estate. Charles replied, "If you don't file a claim against Arthur's estate, I will pay what he owed you.""Assume that Charles, honestly believing that he owed Dodge nothing, refused to pay anything to Dodge, who honestly believed that Charles owed him $200. If Dodge then accepts $150 from Charles in settlement of the claim, will Dodge succeed in an action against Charles for the remaining $50? Answer:
Question: People have been interested in color and its effects for hundreds of years. More recently, research has turned to the question of how different colors can help students learn better. Believe it or not, some colors can affect a child's IQ . For example, a simple black and white color scheme may cause IQ to become low, while the good use of reds and oranges may raise it as much as 15 points. Be careful not to use too much, however; a little red is exciting, but too much makes people uncomfortable. Bright yellow is exciting to the brain, while the color green is thought to encourage creativity. Use blue and green to calm yourself. Blue, especially, can cause you to calm down. Something blue in a reading area, for example, may help you focus on what you are reading. But too much dark blue can make you sad, so use light blue on walls or large floor areas. If you are struggling to read, try a different color of paper. According to a study, 80 percent of children who had difficulty in reading improved their understanding when they put something grey or blue over their pages. Do not use bright colors here, as they become difficult to look at after a while. However, use bright colors like red, orange and yellow for important points. These colors attract the eye and may help you notice details. The same color of the walls of a room do not help you focus on your studies, but make you slow in understanding. Colors, on the other hand, make the senses active and encourage learning. Use primary colors red, yellow and blue in a proper way. Then how do you make your choices of color? It mainly depends on your space, the lighting and the function of the room. The color grey may help you _ . A. read better B. calm down C. raise IQ D. feel creative Answer: A Question: Once there was a parrot on sale in a pet store. It was a beautiful red and blue bird. It sat on a perch in the middle of the store, so that everyone could see it when they came in. The owner was very proud of it and asked a high price for it. One day a man went into the store. "That's a beautiful bird," he said to the pet store owner, "But why is it so expensive? Is it unusual bird?" "No, it's not very unusual. It's expensive because it can talk," the pet store owner said. "I see. How can I make it talk?" the man asked. The pet store owner asked him, "Do you see those string tied to each of the bird's legs?" "Yes," the man answered. "Well, you pull those strings," the pet store owner told him. "That will make the parrot talk." The man asked, "Do you mind if I try?" "Not at all," the pet store owner said. The man walked up to the parrot and pulled the string on its left leg. The parrot said, "Good morning." The man pulled the string on the parrot's right leg. This time the parrot said, "How are you today?" "That's not very interesting," said the man. "Any parrot could do that." Then he laughed, "But what would happen if I pulled both strings at the same time?" "I'll fall off my perch, you fool!" the parrot said. The parrot was expensive because _ . A. it was pretty beautiful B. it could talk with the people C. it was a very unusual bird D. it was in the middle of the store Answer: B Question: I can't remember a winter being as cold as this in Pennsylvania, but I'm sure there were colder days. Even though the daylight hours are growing longer minute by minute, it's easy to find an excuse not to go out unless you ly must, but then again I often have to push myself to accomplish things. People I speak to have been in all kinds of _ moods. They say they're "under the weather," not feeling good about this time of year. As I stood outside with my two dogs yesterday, it was so cold that my nose and face felt frozen and my ears were stinging. Of course, that doesn't matter to Ricky and Lucy. They have a routine they must go through to find just the fighting spot no matter how cold or hot it is. So I wait. But this time it was different. As cold as it was, I suddenly was excited thinking about how wonderful this extreme cold really was. Then the sun broke through the clouds and memories of summer's extremely hot days flashed through my mind. I could remember standing in the heat of the afternoon, with sweat pouring down my brow and the hot, burning sun against my face. I reminded myself then and there that in the cold of the winter I would wish I had this heat. I was grateful for the extremes. Without the extremes in my life, I would never appreciate the days when things were just right. Without the extremes, life would be boring. It's being pushed to one of the extremes that makes us appreciate the middle more. Health challenges remind us that we need to pay more attention to how we live. Financial extremes remind us that when things go smoothly it's also time to save for raining days. ks5u I've come to the conclusion that all too often I find a reason not to be happy with where I am at that moment. Whether it's hot or cold, good health or bad, in the money or out of it, I always want it to be different. I'm tired of being "Under the Weather!" At last the author drew a conclusion that _ . A. happiness cannot be gained by complaints B. things will be different whatever the situation is C. happiness will fail to come to you if you can find a reason D. he is disappointed with his present situation Answer: B Question: Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation are all processes which occur in the A. water cycle. B. energy cycle. C. carbon cycle. D. nitrogen cycle. Answer: A Question: Do you want to know something about children in Africa? What to they do for fun every day? Find out here: Education School is expensive for many African children. Lots of families can't afford school uniforms or exercise books even though they don't have to pay for school. For those lucky enough to go to school , they have a lot to learn. Some take two language classes: English or French, and their first language. There is also math, science, history, social studies and geography. _ take up much of children's time after school. They have to get water and firewood for the family every day. Also there's cleaning , washing and helping Mum with the meal. Daily fun It's not all work and no play. Sports are very popular. Children can make goals with twigs ( )and their own footballs with plastic and bits of string ( ). They play in the country and the streets of old towns. There're many football teams for teenagers in Africa. Internet It's really expensive to get on the Internet. To surf the net for 20 hours costs over 600yuan. This is more than the average monthly pay per person. Egypt and South Africa are the top two users of the Internet in Africa. All of the capital cities there can get on the Internet. Some schools offer computer lessons but few students can enjoy computer fun at home. From the passage, we can infer that in Africa _ . A. basketball is popular among children B. children in Africa have to pay for school C. some children in Africa have to take two foreign language classes D. people in Egypt and South Africa may get higher pay than people in the other countries Answer: D
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, I'm Roy, and this is my show. This is a television show for all families, and I know you'll enjoy it. Let's start with a story. Once there was a proud pig on a farm. He thought he was the most important of all the animals on the farm. But it was not enough that he himself thought this: he had to be sure that other animals thought it, too. So he went up to a chicken and asked, "Who is the most important animal on the farm?" The chicken answered, "You are, Mr. Pig." Then he asked a dog, and he got the same answer. Next, he asked a cow. When the cow seemed _ of the right answer, the pig looked angry, and showed his teeth, "Oh, you are, of course, Mr. Pig." said the cow. "Of course," the pig said, "there is no doubt about it. " At last the pig asked a big horse the same question. The horse lifted one foot, rolled the pig over and placed his foot on the pig's head. "I think you know the answer now." said the horse. What's the best title of this passage? _ . Tu Youyou, an 84-year-old female scientist, became the first Chinese to win a Nobel Prize in science on Oct 5. Before that, she ever won the 2011 Lasker Award for finding out artemisinin (Qinghaosu), which saved millions of lives. She was grateful for the Lasker prize, but said, "It is just a scientist' duty. I will go on fighting for the health of all humans." Tu kept her work in the 1960s and 1970s. In that age, Malaria could took away people's health. Scientists all over the world had already tried over 240, 000 times but failed. Tu Youyou, a member of the Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, began to study Chinese herbs. Before 2011, people didn't know Tu very much. Many friends played jokes with her "the Professor of Three None's" : no degree , no study experience abroad, not a member of any Chinese national colleges. But she is hard-working. She read a lot of traditional Chinese medicine books and did a lot of researches on the disease. In February, 2012, Tu was named National Outstanding Females (One of the Ten) Tu is now a model of Chinese medical workers. Artemisinin is used to _ . Very far away from the city lived a poor farmer and his wife. In front of their house was a small dirt road. Very few cars drove on this road because it was so far from the city. On the dirt road, there was a big hole filled with water. The hole was very deep, but drivers on the road didn't know just how deep. Drivers always drove into the hole, but they never drove out. One day, a man in a new car was driving down the road. He saw the hole with the water, but he didn't think it was very deep. He drove into the hole, but he couldn't drive out. The man saw the farmer on his tractor working in the field, and he signaled to the farmer. The farmer drove over to the man in the new car. "Is there a problem?"asked the farmer. "Yes,"said the man."My car is stuck in this hole. Can you help me?" "Maybe,"said the farmer."But I'm very busy." "lf you help me, I'll pay you," said the man. "OK,"said the farmer. The farmer pulled the car out of the hole with his tractor, and the man paid him a lot of money. The man looked at the farmer and said,"You must. make a lot of money pulling cars out of this hole day and night." "Actually, no,"said the farmer. "Why not?"asked the man. "The hole is very deep, and a lot of people get stuck and ask for help. But I don't make money day and night because I don't pull cars out at night." "At night I'm busy filling the hole with water," answered the farmer. The reason why few cars drove on the small dirt road was that _ . Once upon a time in Greece there lived a clever man. His name was Aesop. One day, when Aesop was taking a walk in the country, a man on the road stopped him. He said, "Kind sir, can you tell me how soon I can get to town?" "Go," Aesop answered. "Of course I know I must go," said the man," But I want to know how soon I can get to town." "Go," Aesop shouted to him again. The man got angry. "He must be mad," he thought. And he walked away. Suddenly he heard Aesop shouting to him, "You will get to town in two hours."The man was in great surprise. He turned back and asked, "Why didn't you tell me that before?" "How could I tell you that before?" answered Aesop. "I didn't know how fast you could walk." The man got angry because _ . Losing weight comes with a lot of health benefits--including making your brain sharper. Yes, it turns out that overweight may damage cognitive functions such as memory and attention. There have been few studies of overweight and cognitive functioning, possibly because it is generally believed that it is not a primary risk cause for poor cognitive performance. Losing weight, therefore, may help improve these mental functions, according to a new research led by John Gunstad, assistant professor of psychology at Kent State University. Growing evidence suggests that being fat is linked to cognitive deficits . So Gunstad and his team guessed that losing weight might improve mental function. For their study, they measured memory and attention in a group of 150 overweight participants, some of whom had some kind of operation for weight loss and some did not. All of the volunteers completed mental skills tests to assess their abilities of memory and attention at the beginning of the study, and again 12 weeks later. To begin with, about 24% of the patients showed damaged learning and 23% showed signs of poor memory when tested. At the end of the study, those who had lost weight after operation improved their scores into the average or above average range for cognitive functions. Scores for the volunteers who didn't lose weight dropped even further. The study helped Gunstad to find out whether losing weight had any effect on mental function. Now that he's seen the positive effect that weight loss can have on memory and attention, he says he will next study those who choose to lose weight by the traditional way--eating healthier and getting more active. He expects that losing weight in this way will have a similarly positive effect on the brain. "If we can improve the condition with operations, then we can probably produce the same change with behavioral weight loss as well," he says. The result of Gunstad's study shows that _ .
Question: Long ago, poems were recited out loud instead of being written down. When the Greeks first started the Olympics, they held poetry contests as well as athletic competitions. Now, poetry competitions have been revived .This year 120,000 high school students competed in the first Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest, performing poems from memory for $100,000 in prizes. The first competitions were held in classrooms. The winners went on to school-wide contests, and then they competed in city and state competitions. Finally, the 50 state champions, along with the District of Columbia champion came to Washington, D.C. last week for the last show down. After the 51 champions competed against one another, 12 went on to the finals. Then the field was narrowed to five. The final five had one last chance to "perform" a poem. The overall champ, Jackson Hille, a high school senior from Ohio, won a $20,000 scholarship. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation started Poetry Out Loud because they realized that hearing a poem performed is a different experience from reading it on a page. It's not just a matter of saying the words in the right order. It's the tone of voice, the pauses, the gestures, and the attitude of the person performing that bring the words to life. "Each time we hear somebody recite a poem, we find something fresh and interesting about it, " says National Public Radio Broadcaster Scott Simon, master of ceremonies for the finals. Hearing it in a new voice offers something new to the listener. Not only do the people hearing poems have a new experience, memorizing and presenting poems helps the participants understand those poems in a new way. Another benefit of a competition such as Poetry Out Loud is that the participants learn public -speaking skills that can help them for life. What's the main idea of the passage? A. Reciting poems improves your memory. B. Remembering a lot of poems is fun. C. Poets have a great time. D. Poetry competitions freshen us up. Answer: D. Poetry competitions freshen us up. Question: Next time a customer comes to your office, offer him a cup of coffee.And when you're doing your holiday shopping online, make sure you're holding a large glass of iced tea.The physical sensation of warmth encourages emotional warmth, while a cold drink in hand prevents you from making unwise decisions--those are the practical lesson drawn from recent research by psychologist John Bargh. Psychologists have known that one person's perception of another's "warmth" powerfully determines social relationships.Judging someone to be either "warm" or "cold" is a primary consideration, even trumping evidence that a "cold" person may be more capable.Much of this is rooted in early childhood experiences, Bargh argues, when babies' conceptual sense of the world around them is shaped by physical sensations, particularly warmth and coldness.Classic studies by Harry Harlow, published in 1958, showed monkeys preferred to stay close to a cloth "mother" rather than one made of wire, even when the wire "mother" carried a food bottle.Harlow's work and later studies have led psychologists to stress the need for warm physical contact from caregivers to help young children grow into healthy adults with normal social skills. Feelings of "warmth" and "coldness" in social judgments appear to be universal.Although no worldwide study has been done, Bargh says that describing people as "warm" or "cold" is common to many cultures, and studies have found those perceptions influence judgment in dozens of countries. To test the relationship between physical and psychological warmth, Bargh conducted an experiment which involved 41 college students.A research assistant who was unaware of the study's hypotheses handed the students either a hot cup of coffee or a cold drink to hold while the researcher filled out a short information form: The drink was then handed back.After that, the students were asked to _ the personality of "Person A" based on a particular description.Those who had briefly held the warm drink regarded Person A as warmer than those who had held the iced drink. "We are grounded in our physical experiences even when we think abstractly ," says Bargh. What would be the best title for the passage? A. Physical Sensations and Emotions. B. Developing Better Drinking Habits. C. Experiments of Personality Evaluation. D. Drinking for Better Social Relationships. Answer: A. Physical Sensations and Emotions. Question: Mark felt that it was time for him to take part in his community activities, so he went to the neighborhood meeting after work. The city councilman was leading a discussion about the decreasing life quality. The neighborhood faced many problems. Mark looked at the charts taped to the walls. There are charts for crime, parking problems, and for problems in vacant buildings. People were supposed to suggest solutions to the councilman. It was too much for Mark. "The problems are too big," he thought. He turned to the man next to him and said, "I think this is a waste of my time. Nothing I could do would make a difference here." Mark thought some more on his way to the bus stop. "People should just take care of themselves," he decided. "That's enough to do. I can't take on all the problems of the world." As he neared the bus stop, Mark saw a woman carrying a grocery bag and a baby. She was trying to unlock her car, but she didn't have a free hand. As Mark got closer, her other child, a little boy, suddenly _ into the street. The woman tried to reach for him, but as she moved, her bag shifted and groceries started to fall out. Mark ran to take the boy's arm and led him back to his mother. Then he picked up the groceries while the woman smiled in relief. "Thanks!" she said. "You have got great timing!" "Just being neighborly," Mark said. As he rode home, he glanced at the walls of the bus. On one of them was "Small acts of kindness add up." Mark smiled and thought, " Maybe that's a good place to start." We learn from the passage that _ . A. Mark always played an active part in community activities B. the city councilman was responsible for the decreasing of life quality C. the seriousness of problems is made known to people in the community D. many people were discouraged by the many problems facing them Answer: C. the seriousness of problems is made known to people in the community Question: Working at camp is a great journey that not only creates lifelong memories for yourself ,but the chance to make an influence on the loves of children who attend Kids Camp. As a summer camp professional, you are a teacher , a friend and most importantly a role model. Staff-members ensure the Our youngest staff is 18, but most are over 20 years old we desire a staff with a strong interest in children and job-related experience,Each tent has six campers and two staff members ,We run an exciting range of activities and programs such as Athletics, Arts, Basketball ,Computers , Field Games, Fun & Games, Gardening, Hiking, High\Low Ropes Course, Nature Education. Great Reasons to Become a Camp Professional Meet energetic, warm-hearted staff from around the world Gain meaningful leadership experience Sing crazy songs and wear funny costumes A positive challenge you will remember in the rest of your life Make a difference to the life of a child Staff Needs Lifeguards --Red Cross certified preferably holding a current WSI certification High Ropes Staff--training/certification from a nationally recognized organization Fun & Games - lead non-competitive athletic games Juggler/Clown - teach circus skills Archery - with certification from a nationally recognized course Nature/ Garden - with strong knowledge or interest in natural wildlife and gardening Dave Meizels , Camp Director E-mail: demeizels@channe12kidscamp.org Tel:860-742-2267 Contact Dave if you have any questions about our-application process. What's the main idea of the text?' A. .Various activities of Kids Camp. B. .Benefits of working at Kids Camp. C. .How to sign up for Kids Camp. D. .Employing staff for Kids Camp. Answer: D. .Employing staff for Kids Camp. Question: Did you know that there are actually people who have paid for a flight to the moon? In the future, there will be a lot more opportunities to travel to faraway places than now... perhaps even as far as the moon. As people adventure further and further away and as planes, trains, cars, and rocket ships become faster, is it safer to have these vehicles controlled by humans or by computers? While many flights by plane are controlled automatically by machines, most people today wouldn't let their car drive itself. That's because currently the autopilot function on your car can only keep it on the same course you are travelling on. It won't turn the car right or left. It won't stop if an animal jumps in the way. However, cars today can sense when something is too close and warn the driver with flashing lights and alarms. Many cars also have GPS(global positioning systems) that tell drivers which road to take and when to turn. These systems, unlike human drivers, never get lost. In the future, it is easy to believe that your car will be better able to drive itself with the aid of computers that can determine the position of your car and the speed it should travel at. In addition to computers being 'smarter' than people regarding the best way to go or knowing how close another vehicle is, computers don't get sick, tired, or angry. This means they won't make the same mistakes that people make when they are not having a good day. While responding with emotion is a good thing when choosing the best way to deal with a friend's personal problem, it may not be such a good thing when deciding what to do at the wheel of a fast-moving vehicle. So what are the disadvantages of autopilot systems? Maybe one disadvantage is that a small computer problem could cause a serious accident. It could also be argued that in unexpected situations, computers might not be able to respond appropriately; some decisions require human emotions. Another problem might be that if everything were controlled by computers or robots, people wouldn't have any jobs. What is the best title for the passage? A. The Development of Autopilot B. Technology of Future Travel C. A New Driving System D. Computerized Cars Answer: B. Technology of Future Travel
Last week Lu visited England. He stayed with my grandmother. He found it was strange. 'I don't know why, but I frightened your grandmother a lot. When I arrived, I gave her a purse from Dongtai. She looked in it and asked me to take it back. Then I saw a red spider on the table, and I killed it for her. She seemed very unhappy. Do English people like spiders? 'Later we went shopping. Someone was painting a shop front, so there was a ladder. Grandmother stopped me from walking under it and said I must walk around it. I liked the shops and bought some lovely rose soap for my mother, a smart umbrella for my father and some new shoes for myself. When we got back, I put the shoes on the table and opened the umbrella to check if it was all right. Your grandmother came in and screamed! 'Then I broke a small mirror in the bathroom. Your grandmother's face went white. I felt very sorry. When I left, I gave your grandmother some flowers. She counted and there were 13. She didn't like them.' I explained to Lu, 'My grandmother follows the old customs. You must not give someone an empty purse, or they will have no money. You must not kill a "money spider", or the same will happen. Also it is very unlucky to walk under a ladder or put new shoes on the table. An open umbrella in a house means someone will die. Breaking a mirror brings seven years' bad luck, and 13 is also a very unlucky number. You were really making my grandmother very afraid.' How many wrong things did Lu do altogether? A. 5. B. 6. C. 8. D. 10. Answer: B. 6. The expression "keeping up with the Joneses" was first used in 1913 by a young American Arthur Momand. He told this story about himself: he began earning $125 a week at the age of 23. That was a lot of money in those days. Young Momand was very proud of his riches. He got married and moved with his wife to Long Island, outside New York City. But just moving there was not enough. For when Momand and his wife saw that their neighbors belonged to a country club they too joined a club. And when he saw that rich people were expected to ride horses, Momand went horseback riding every day. Momand and his wife also hired a servant and gave grand parties for their new neighbors. It was like a race, but one could never finish this race because one was always trying to keep up. Momand and his wife could not do that. The race ended for them when they could no longer pay for their new way of life. They moved back to an inexpensive New York City apartment. Momand later said that his experience had been a cruel awakening for him. However, he was able to see the funny side of it. He looked around him and noticed that many people do things just to keep up with their neighbors. He decided that this would make good stories for many papers across the country. He called it "Keeping up with the Joneses", because "Jones" is a very common American name. "Keeping up with the Joneses" came to mean keeping up with the people around you. Momand's stories appeared in different newspapers for over 28 years. People never seem to tire of keeping up with the Joneses. That is one reason why they read the "right" books, go to the "right" universities and eat in the "right" restaurants. But no matter what one does, Mr. Jones always seems to be ahead. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? A. Momand earned a lot of money when he got married B. Momand was always very interested in riding horses C. Momand found there was something wrong with his way of life D. Momand wrote stories for newspapers about himself and his neighbors Answer: B. Momand was always very interested in riding horses Fifty years ago, Martin Luther King dreamed of an America that would one day deliver on its promise of equality for all of its citizens, black as well as white. Today, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has a dream, too: he wants to provide Internet access to the world's five billion people who do not now have it. But the world currently faces a growing technological divide, with implications for equality, liberty, and the right to pursue happiness. Around the world, more than two billion people live in the Digital Age. They can access a vast universe of information, communicate at little or no cost with their friends and family, and connect with others with whom they can cooperate in new ways. The other five billion are still stuck in the Paper Age in which my generation grew up. Internet.org, a global partnership launched by Zuckerberg, plans to bring the two-thirds of the world's population without Internet access into the Digital Age. The partnership consists of seven major information-technology companies, as well as non-profit organizations and local communities. A friend working to provide family-planning advice to poor Kenyans recently told me that so many women were coming to the clinic that she could not spend more than five minutes with each. These women have only one source of advice, and one opportunity to get it, but if they had access to the Internet, the information could be there for them whenever they wanted it. Enlarging our vision still more, it is a hope that putting the world's poor online would result in connections between them and more affluent people, leading to more assistance. Research shows that people are more likely to donate to a charity helping the hungry if they are given a photo and told the name and age of a girl like those the charity is aiding. If a mere photo and a few identifying details can do that, what might _ with the person do? Providing universal Internet access can also raise new risks and sensitive ethical issues, the distinctiveness of local cultures may be eroded, which has both a good and a bad side, for such cultures can restrict freedom and deny equality of opportunity. On the whole, though, it is reasonable to expect that giving poor people access to knowledge and the possibility of connecting with people anywhere in the world will be socially transforming in a very positive way. What is Zuckerberg's purpose of providing Internet access to people who do not now have it? A. Attracting more users for his social network. B. Making people without Internet enjoy the benefits of it. C. Establishing connections will affluent people and organizations. D. Helping poor people being available to necessary cure. Answer: B. Making people without Internet enjoy the benefits of it. Jerry Baldwin was 63 years old. He was manager of a pizza restaurant in America. He lived in an apartment about one mile north of the restaurant. He walked to and from the work. When it was rainy, he took the bus. Jerry loved gangster movies. When a new one came out, he would go to the theatre and watch the new movie three or four times. Jerry would also buy videos at Barney's Video Store. Jerry had a home collection of over 1,000 gangster videos. Old ones, new ones, color, black and white, English, Spanish, Japanese - he loved them all. He could tell you the names, the directors, the stars and all the details of the movies. And then he would invite you to his place to watch a gangster film some time. He was a nice man. Jerry finally decided that he would like to own a gun, just like the gangster. So he saved money for some months. Then he went to a gun store and bought a used revolver for $ 300. While there, he also bought a lot of bullets . The following Saturday morning, he went to the gun club for only ten minutes when the accident happened. The gun went off, and the bullet went into Jerry's right knee. Why did Jerry want to buy a gun? A. Because he was a gangster. B. Because he wanted to kill someone. C. Because he wanted to be a person like a gangster. D. Because he wanted to protect himself. Answer: C. Because he wanted to be a person like a gangster. At Christmas,1871,Edison,the famous American scientist,got married to Mary. Lots of their friends came to their wedding ceremony . At about two in the afternoon,Edison suddenly thought out a good way to solve the problem on the automatic telegraph after the wedding. So he said to the bride ,"I'll have to go to the factory because I have something important to do. Then I'll come back to have dinner with you."The bride had no way but to agree. On the night of the festival, other families were full of joy while the bride stayed in the house alone,just looking out of the window. How lonely she was! A worker went into the lab and said as soon as he saw Edison, "My goodness! I have never seen a bride-groom like you. It's already twelve now!"Edison was greatly surprised. "Twelve? Too bad! I said I would have dinner with Mary." he said as he ran downstairs. That's how hard Edison worked.He gave all his life to the invention of lights, films and over two thousand other things. A new invention came into being every fifteen days. In all Edison's life, _ new inventions came into being. A. fifteen thousand B. one thousand C. two thousand D. over two thousand Answer: D. over two thousand
The Book of Life So far,scientists have named about 1.8 million living species ,and that's just a small number of what probably exists on Earth.With so many plants,animals,and other living things covering the planet,it can be tough to figure out what type of grass is growing by the roadside or what kind of bird just flew by. A soon-to-be-started Web site might help.An international team of researchers has announced the creation of Web-based Encyclopedia of Life(EoL).The project aims to list every species on Earth in a single,easy-to-use reference guide. To get the encyclopedia started,the creators will use information from scientific databases that already exist.And eventually,in special sections of the site,non-scientists with specialized knowledge will come to help.Bird-watchers,for example,will be able to input what birds they've seen and where.To make sure the encyclopedia is accurate,scientists will review much of the information added to it. As the EoL develops,you might find it useful for school projects.The site will feature(......) _ special pages for kids who are studying ecosystems in their neighborhoods.Another convenient feature of the EoL is that you'll be able to pick the level of detail you want to see to match your interests,age,and knowledge. It now takes years for scientists to collect all the data they need to describe and analyze species.The creators of the Encyclopedia of Life hope that their new fool will speed up that process. The Web based EoL aims to _ . Answer: Community service is an important component of education here at our university. We encourage all students to volunteer for at least one community activity before they graduate. A new community program called "One On One" helps elementary students who've fallen behind. Your education majors might be especially interested in it because it offers the opportunity to do some teaching, that is, tutoring in math and English. You'd have to volunteer two hours a week for one semester. You can choose to help a child with math, English, or both. Half-hour lessons are fine, so you could do a half hour of each subject two days a week. Professor Dodge will act as a mentor to the tutors-he'll be available to help you with lesson plans or to offer suggestions for activities. He has office hours every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. You can sign up for the program with him and begin the tutoring next week. I'm sure you'll enjoy this community service...and you'll gain valuable experience at the same time. It looks good on your resume, too, showing that you've had experience with children and that you care about your community. If you'd like to sign up, or if you have any questions, stop by Professor Dodge's office this week. What is the purpose of the program that the speaker describes? _ Answer: The neglected baby is crying alone. The young man, suffering from a lack of sleep, threatens suicide. The marriage fails because of the husband's crazy behavior. Is this just another story of social breakdown in the modern age? Not really. But they are the effects of a real social problem--Internet Addiction , or, Internet Addiction Disorder. The addiction is obvious from the popularity of one game alone: "Halo 2". It's a first-person shooter developed by Bungie Studios for the Xbox video game console. By early 2005, 1 million players worldwide had clocked up an amazing 100 million hours on the game, among which are 360, 000 Chinese players. China has about 94 million regular Internet users. Of these, a survey suggested, 4.4 million are teenagers who are so addicted to it that they neglect anything else. Video gamers who have gone too far show symptoms similar to those of alcohol and drug abusers. "The real world meant nothing to me when I was fully involved in online games. I lost track of time, space, hunger, pain, and everything," explained Liu Pinyi, a 19-year-old college dropout. She has had treatment in Beijing for her addiction. What makes it similar to drugs is that online game addicts also develop a chemical imbalance in their brains. Gaming stimulates the production of a chemical compound that produces delighted or pleasant feelings. When they're away from the screen, they suffer feelings of anxiety and headaches. Experts say young people are attracted to video games partly because they are partly because they are pushed right into the center of the action. This allows them to overcome a lack of confidence which people at that age can often suffer from. When video gamers get lost in a game, they do the following EXCEPT that _ . Answer: The students were having their chemistry class. Miss Li was telling the children what water was like. After that, she asked her students, "What's water?" No one spoke for a few minutes.Miss Li asked again,"Why don't you answer my question?Didn't I tell you what water is like?" Just then a boy put up his hand and said,"Miss Li,you told us that water has no color and no smell.But where to find such kind of water?The water in the river behind my house is always black and it has a bad smell."Most of the children agreed With him. "I'm sorry,children."said the teacher,"Our water is getting dirtier and dirtier.That's a problem". Most of the children _ the boy. Answer: An owl is a bird with very large eyes. Those eyes make the owl look clever. The owl can not move its eyes freely as we can. It can only look straight ahead. If it wants to look at both sides, it must turn its neck. Owls make a strange noise because the owls sleep most of the day. They usually give their cries at night. The cry sounds like " Whoo! Whoo". This strange sound sometimes frightens people at might. An owl looks clever because _ . Answer:
There are many things we need to know that we do not learn at school. For example, if we want to use our money wisely, we need to shop carefully. We need to know how to compare the prices of things in different shops. We need to be able to compare the quality of different brands . We need to know how to make a choice when we shop. Knowing how to make such choices is a "life skill", and we need these skills if we are to live useful and happy lives. Some of these choices are small. For example, will I take an apple for lunch or a pear? Will I go to school by bus or on foot? Will I wear the red T-shirt or the blue one to the movies? Other choices are more important. For example, will I eat healthy food for lunch or will eat junk food because it is tastier? Will I work hard in all my classes or will I only work hard in the classes I enjoy? We make choices like this every day. We have to realize that the choices we make can affect the rest of our lives. Just as importantly, our choices can also affect other people. The next time you decide to waste time in class, play a joke on someone or talk loudly at the movies, think about this: who else does your choice affect? We need "life skills" _ Answer: to live useful and happy lives A man in a very splendid restaurant started to take off his jacket. Seeing this, the head waiter ran to his table and said, "I'm afraid I must ask you to keep your jacket on, sir, for it is not good manners to do it in such a smart restaurant." "Now listen", said the man, "I'll let you know that the Queen of England gave me permission to remove my jacket here." "The Queen of England?" said the waiter in great surprise. "Sure," replied the man, "When I was in England last month, a friend of mine who had a very important position took me to see the Queen. It was rather hot, so I started taking my coat off. The Queen looked over and said, 'You may do that in the United States, but you may not do it here.' So I got the Queen's permission, right?" When the head waiter asked the man not to take off his jacket, the man _ . Answer: refused to listen to him In some urban centers, workaholism is so common that people do not consider it unusual.They accept the lifestyle as normal.Government workers in Washington D.C., for example, frequently work sixty to seventy hours a week.They do this because they have to; they do it because they want to. Workaholism can be a serious problem.Because true workaholics would rather work than do anything else, they probably don't know how to relax; that is, they might not enjoy movies, sports, or other types of entertainment.Most of all, they hate to sit and do nothing.The lives of workaholics are usually stressful, and this tension and worry can cause health problems such as heart attacks or stomach ulcers.In addition, typical workaholics don't pay much attention to their families.They spend little time with their children, and their marriages may end in divorce. Is workaholism always dangerous? Perhaps not.There are, certainly, people who work well under stress.Some studies show that many workaholics have great energy and interest in life.Their work is so pleasurable that they are actually very happy.For most workaholics, work and entertainment are the same thing.Their jobs provide them with a challenge; this keeps them busy and creative. Why do workaholics enjoy their jobs so much? There are several advantages to work.It provides people with paychecks, and this is important.But it offers more than financial security It provides people with self-confidence; they have a feeling of satisfaction when they have produced a challenging piece of work and are able to say," I made that." Psychologists claim that work gives people an identity; by working, they get a sense of self and individualism.In addition, most jobs provide people with a socially acceptable way to meet others. A workaholic is a person who _ . Answer: tends to work long hours Look at the picture. This is our school. There are five buildings in our school. There are thirty- two classrooms in the Teaching Building. Our gym is behind the Teaching Building. The teacher's offices are in the Office Building. Our Library Building is next to the Office Building. There are many books and magazines in the library. Is the Library Building next to the Science Lab Building? No, it's in front of it. There are seven labs in it. Behind the Science Lab is the dining hall. In the dining hall there are many tables and chairs. We have meals there. Welcome to our school. The students have meals in _ . Answer: the dining hall Michelle, a famous lady, has found that more than 25% students are too fat in her country. It is a very serious problem. So she starts a health program to deal with it. The health program is to reduce the amount of fat students today and in the future. The program will get families, schools, newspapers, magazines and TVs to join together and deal with the students' obesity so that students will be at a healthier weight. The program includes: Food stores should sell healthier foods. Schools should serve healthier meals with less fat and should also offer gym classes. The lady is trying to fight the students' obesity all over the country because it can cause illnesses and higher health cost. She wants the students to eat right, exercise more and control their weight. She also wants the students to understand it is important to have less sweet food, and drink water, milk and fresh juices, but not to choose cokes. At the same time she has also set a good example by planting a vegetable garden. She hopes that the garden will encourage more people to plant one, too. The health program is really helpful to the students today and in the future. As she says, we cannot always build the future for youth, but we can build our youth for the future. In Michelle's country over _ of the students are too fat. Answer: a quarter
Elizabeth Freeman was born about 1742 to African American parents who were slaves. At the age of six months she was acquired, along with her sister, by John Ashley, a wealthy Massachusetts slaveholders. She became known as "Mumbet" or "Mum Bett." For nearly 30 years Mumbet served the Ashley family. One day, Ashley's wife tried to strike Mumbet's sister with a spade. Mumbet protected her sister and took the blow instead. Furious, she left the house and refused to come back. When the Ashleys tried to make her return, Mumbet consulted a lawyer, Theodore Sedgewick. With his help, Mumbet sued for her freedom. While serving the Ashleys, Mumbet had listened to many discussions of the new Massachusetts constitution. If the constitution said that all people were free and equal, then she thought it should apply to her. Eventually, Mumbet won her freedom---- the first slave in Massachusetts to do so under the new constitution. Strangely enough, after the trial, the Ashleys asked Mumbet to come back and work for them as a paid employee. She declined and instead went to work for Segdewick. Mumbet died in 1829, but her legacy lived on in her many descendants . One of her great-grandchildren was W.E.B. Du Bois, one of the founder of the NAACP, and an important writer and spokesperson for African American civil rights. Mumbet's tombstone still stands in the Massachusetts cemetery where she was buried. It reads, in part: "She was born a slave and remained a slave and remained a slave for nearly thirty years. She could neither read nor write, yet in her own sphere she had no superior or equal." What did Mumbet do after the trial? A She chose to work for a lawyer B She found the NAACP C She continued to serve the Ashleys D She went to live with her grandchildren Answer: A. She chose to work for a lawyer Our quarrel with efficiency is not that it gets things done, but that it is a thief of time when it leaves us no leisure to enjoy ourselves, and that it strains our nerves when we try to get things done perfectly. In building bridges, American engineers calculate so finely and exactly as to make the two ends come together within one-tenth of an inch. But when two Chinese begin to dig a tunnel from both sides of a mountain both come out on the other side. --The Chinese's firm belief is that it doesn't matter so long as a tunnel is dug through, and if we have two instead of one, why, we have a double track to boot. The pace of modern industrial life forbids this kind of glorious and magnificent idling. But, worse than that, it imposes upon us a different conception of time as measured by the clock and eventually turns the human being into a clock himself. (This sort of thing is bound to come to China, as is evident, for instance, in the case of a factory of twenty thousand worker. The luxurious prospect of twenty thousand workers coming in at their own sweet pleasure at all hours is, of course, somewhat terrifying.)Nevertheless, such efficiency is what makes life so hard and full of excitement. A man who has to be punctually at a certain place at five o'clock has the whole afternoon from one to five ruined for him already. Every American adult is arranging his time on the pattern of the schoolboy - three o'clock for this, five o'clock for that, six-thirty for change of dress, six-fifty for entering the taxi, and seven o'clock for arriving at the destination. It just makes life not worth living. In the eyes of the author, the introduction of industrial life gives rise to _ . A more emphasis on efficiency B magnificent idling of time C the excitement of life D terrifying schoolboy Answer: A. more emphasis on efficiency Reducing bacteria in food prevents what? A electricity B maladies C observation D signals Answer: B. maladies Roger Alvarez, 22, was one of the 52 percent of students who didn't make it through his senior year at Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles. He dropped out several years ago, but by the time he was in ninth grade, Alvarez says he already knew he wasn't going to graduate. "There's a certain amount of knowledge you have to have when you enter in a specific grade, and I didn't have it." Alvarez says,"Every class I used to go in, I was like, 'Do I know this? I don't know this.'" It was a shameful attitude, he tells his former English teacher, Antero Garcia, 29. "You were determined to help me, but what was I willing to give? I could have actually tried." For his part, Garcia wants to know how he could have reached out to Alvarez better, but Alvarez says Garcia had always been helpful. "I mean, you could cheer me up, and then I see other students doing way better," Alvarez says,"So then, I get nervous. I get stuck, and then _ ." He felt the situation was hopeless. "You talked to me like if I could do it, but inside me, I knew I couldn't." he tells Garcia,"I just didn't want you to think that I'm...stupid." Now, school is a life tool that Alvarez says he's missing--but his teacher isn't to blame. "Always, I just wanted you to know...you were a good teacher, and I always respected you." he tells Garcia,"Some teachers, I felt like they only wanted to teach a certain group of people. But you looked at me and you paid attention." "Maybe it didn't get me to graduate, but there're a lot of teachers, they don't take the time to take a look. And it was never your fault." Alvarez now works the night shift at a loading dock . He still hopes to get his degree one day. In the opinion of Alvarez, most teachers _ . A paid no attention to teaching B had no time to read books C didn't care about what he did D showed no respect to students Answer: C. didn't care about what he did The Canada's Most Interesting Towns Contest is started by Reader's Digest Association (Canada) and is open to all Canadians. All entries must be submitted by December 18,2012. Entry requirements Participants must submit a story in English or in French and one photo that tell why their town is the most interesting town in Canada. The story must not be over 250 words and the photograph must not be over 2M B. The story is a must but the photo is optional. Submission will require your full name and the name of the city you are recommending. You must write clearly which of the following categories you are covering: Best Destination; Greenest; Healthiest; Best Cuisine; Most Community Spirit; Most Artistic. Voting Submissions will be voted by people entering the contest. During the Voting Period anyone may vote for their favorite submission by clicking the vote button online. Each person may vote for as many submissions as they wish in any given day. The Voting Period begins on September 18, 2012 and ends on December 18,2012. You may vote for your own submission. Prize and awards At the end of the Voting Period, the top 20 entries will be judged by a group of judges. The entry with the highest score from the judges will be the Grand Prize winner, who will receive a $5,000.00 cheque. And the city featured in the Grand Prize winner's entry will be awarded a prize as well, a $5,000.00 cheque. The entries with the next seven highest judges' scores will be the seven Runners Up each deserving a $1,000.00 cheque. On January 17,2013 at our Montreal office, the prizes will be awarded to winners. It can be learned that a participant _ . A must submit a photograph B can vote for his own submission C must write the story in English D can only vote for one submission Answer: B. can vote for his own submission
WELLINGTON, September 19 (Xinhua) -- If your teenage son won't get out of bed in the morning, then take comfort from the fact that he might be sleeping his way to a healthier future, according to a new research from New Zealand. Researchers in human nutrition at the University of Otago have found that teenage boys who sleep less have more body fat when compared to girls, for whom lack of sleep has no noticeable effect on their body fat ratios. The study of 386 boys and 299 girls aged 15 to 18 found that average-sized 16-year-old boy weighing 69.5 kg and 176 cm tall, who slept for eight hours a day, had a waist size l.8 cm bigger and l.6 kg, or 9 percent, more body fat than the average-sized boy who slept 10 hours a day. "The boys who slept eight hours a day would also have l.8 kg more lean (bone and muscle) mass compared to the boys who slept 10 hours, but that's only a 1.4-percent increase, compared to the 9- percent increase seen in body fat," said lead researcher from the Department of Human Nutrition, Dr. Paula Skidmore. "Our results suggest that for older teenage boys, making sure that they get enough sleep may help to maintain a healthier body. It seems to be that, within reason, the more sleep the better for boys," Skidmore said in a statement Thursday. "It was unexpected that we did not find the same result in girls, who may actually be more aware of their diet and more in tune with a healthier lifestyle." The researchers ruled out the effects of food choice and number of screens, such as televisions, games and consoles, which the teenagers had in their bedrooms. What's the result of less sleep for teenage boys? A Bigger waist and more fat in the body. B An increase in weight and height. C More concerned with their diet. D A decrease in bone and muscle. Answer: A. Bigger waist and more fat in the body. There are two major parties in Britain today,the Conservative and the Labour,which have been in power by turns since 1945.The twoparty system of Britain was formed in the course of the development of the capitalist state and the political parties. To strengthen the state machine,the British bourgeosie have let it come into being and exist in one form or another since the 17th century. P.S.Tregidgo once said,"The more parties there are,the less likely it is that any one of them will be strong enough in Parliament to control all the others; but when there are only two,one of them is sure to have a majority of seats. This helps to ensure a strong and stable government." This explains why the British have the twoparty system. The division into two parties grew out the establishment of a Protestant Church of England in the 16th century. Because of a purely religious difference of opinion,the Puritans were separated from the broad body of the Anglican Church. The non Puritan Anglicans were on the side of the King and Church,whose supporters were called by their opponents "Tories".The Puritans were for Parliament and trade,whose supporters are called by the "Tories" "Whigs".The Tories and the Whigs were in power by turns for a long time. In 1833,the Tory Party split into two and its name was changed to Conservative. In the 1860s the Whigs became Liberals. Since then,the Liberals and the Conservatives were in office by turns until 1922.They have some different opinions,but were both controlled by the rich. The working class became more and more unwilling to follow the Conservatives and the Liberals. They wanted to have their own party. So the Labour Party was formed by the trade unions. After 1922,the Labour Party gradually replaced the Liberal Party. What can we infer from the forming of the Tory Party and the Whig Party? A These two parties originally believed in different religions. B These two parties were established under the influence of different religious beliefs. C The British King and the Parliament supported different religions because they were for the twoparty system. D The British King and the Parliament were supported by different parties for political reasons. Answer: B. These two parties were established under the influence of different religious beliefs. Over three years ago, the French director Jean--Pierre Jeunet and actress Audery Tautou won people's hearts with their popular comedy "Amelie". The fairytale-like film tells the story of a single waitress who helps lonely people find love. Now, _ are back with another film. "A Very Long Engagement" is a film about World War I. It received 12 nominations from France's Cesar Awards last week, including best film, best director and best actress. Mathilde (Audrey Tautou) is a young woman who becomes disabled after suffering from a disease as a chilD.She lives on a farm with her aunt Benedicte (Chantal Neuwith) and uncle Sylvain (Dominique Pinon). She receives a regular income from the wealth left to her by parents. She has a fierce and loyal love for Manech (Gaspard Ulliel), her childhood boyfriend and fiance' . He is the son of a lighthouse keeper. When he goes off to the battle fields of World War I, she is lonely, but confident he will return. Early on in the film, five French soldiers are sentenced to death because of intentionally hurting themselves to escape duty. They are pushed into the German's line of fire. They are made to protect themselves without guns. One of them is Manech. Mathilde firmly believes that Manech is alive. She is determined to find him. She hires a private detective to find out what really happened to those French soldiers. Through letters, photographs, interviews with people who remain alive after the war, and wartime papers, Mathilde discovers how cruel the war is. She also sees the heroism of ordinary men, trying to stay alive on the battle field. It's funny, sweet and sometimes sad to watch. Jeunet gives a realistic portrait of warfare. Tautou remains the emotional center of the film. She shines as Mathilde, a woman who suffers one failure after another, but refuses to give up her seek for her lover. It's a film for all romantic people who are in search of true love. What do we learn about Mathilde from the passage? A She becomes disabled after a car accident. B She was a strong-willed woman. C She lives on a farm with her parents. D She has a fierce and loyal love for Gaspard Ulliel. Answer: B. She was a strong-willed woman. The researchers used a national long-term survey of adolescent health to investigate the relationship between media use and depression. They based their findings on more than four thousand adolescents who were not depressed when the survey began in 2000. As part of the survey, the young people were asked how many hours of television or videos they watched daily. They were also asked how often they played computer games and listened to the radio. Media use totaled an average of five and one-half hours a day. More than two hours of that was spent watching TV. Seven years later, in 2007, more than seven percent of the young people had signs of depression. The average age at that time was twenty-one. The researchers say they did not find any such relationship with the use of other media such as movies, video games or radio, etc. But the study did find that every extra hour of television meant an eight percent increase in the chances of developing signs of depression. Young men were more likely than young women to develop depression given the same amount of media use. The study didn't explore if watching TV causes depression. But one possibility is that it was taking time away from activities that could help prevent depression. Last December, the journal Social Indicators Research published a study of activities that help lead to happy lives. Sociologists from theprefix = st1 /UniversityofMarylandfound that people who describe themselves as happy spend less time watching television than unhappy people. The study found that happy people are more likely to he socially active, to read, attend religious services and to vote. The best title for this passage should be _ . A Teens, Television and Depression B Men Develop Depression Easier than Women C Media Use is Harmful to Adolescents D Take Great care of Teenager's depression Answer: A. Teens, Television and Depression David hated spending money. When he had to buy something in a shop, he always tried his best to knock down the price, even for the cheapest things. If he wanted to buy a bottle of orange, for example, and the shopkeeper asked for $2, David would say, "Make it $1.90 and I'll buy it." Sometimes the shopkeepers agreed to _ their prices a little. "What's ten cents?" they asked themselves. "If it makes this man happy, it won't hurt me very much." In this way David saved a few cents here and a few cents there, and by the end of the year he had saved several hundred dollars. One day he had a very bad toothache and had to go to the dentist. The dentist looked at the tooth and said, "This tooth will have to come out. It's too serious to save." "How much must I pay you to take out a tooth?" David asked. "Forty dollars," the dentist said. "How long will it take you to pull out the tooth?" he asked. "About two minutes," the dentist answered. "Forty dollars for two minutes' work!" he shouted, "That's robbery ." The dentist smiled. "You're right," she said. "Thank you for telling me. I'll pull your tooth out very slowly. How about if I take half an hour?" David thought that two minutes was _ . A too little time to pull out a tooth B too little time to pay the dentist $40 C too long to pull out a tooth D too short for the dentist to finish the operation Answer: B. too little time to pay the dentist $40
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. Which one of the following is true according to this passage? Answer: He met her at the party. She was so outstanding, with many boys around her, while he was so normal, with nobody paying attention to him. At the end of the party, he invited her to have coffee with him. She was surprised, but due to being polite, she agreed. They sat in a nice coffee shop. He was too nervous to say anything, and she felt uncomfortable, thinking, "Please let me go home." Suddenly he asked the waiter, "Would you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee." Everybody stared at him---so strange! His face turned red, but, still, he put the salt in his coffee and drank it. She asked him curiously, "Why do you have this hobby?" He replied, "When I was a little boy, I lived near the sea. I liked playing in the sea, and I could feel the taste of the sea, just like the taste of the salty coffee. Now every time I have the salty coffee, I always think of my childhood. I miss my hometown so much. I miss my parents who are still living there." While saying that, tears filled his eyes. She was deeply touched. That's his true feeling, from the bottom of his heart. A man who can tell about his homesickness must be a man who loves home, cares about home, and has a good sense of responsibility. Then she also started to speak, about her faraway hometown, her childhood, her family. That was a really nice talk, also a beautiful beginning of their story. They continued to date. She found that actually he was a man who meets all her demands: he was kind-hearted, warm and careful. He was such a good person but ! Thanks to his salty coffee! Then the story was just like every beautiful love story, the princess married the prince, then they were living a happy life...And, every time she made coffee for him, she put some salt in the coffee. After 40 years, he passed away, leaving her a letter which said, "My dearest, please forgive my whole-life lie. This was the only lie I said to you ---the salty coffee." "Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous at that time. Actually I wanted some sugar, but I said salt. It was hard for me to change so I just went ahead." "I tried to tell you the truth many times in my life, but I was too afraid to do that, as I have promised not to lie to you for anything." "Now I'm dying, I'm afraid of nothing so I tell you the truth: I don't like the salty coffee. What a strange and bad taste! But I have had the salty coffee for my whole life!" "Since I knew you, I never feel sorry for anything I do for you. Having you with me is my biggest happiness for my whole life. If I can live for a second time, I still want to know you and have you for my whole life, even though I have to drink the salty coffee again." Her tears made the letter totally wet. Someday, someone asked her, "What's the taste of salty coffee?" "It's sweet," she replied. From the passage, we can see that the man is _ . Answer: Global warming threatens to hold back human progress, and make unachievable all UN targets to reduce poverty, according to some of the world's leading international development groups. In a report published today, Oxfam, Greenpeace, Christian Aid, Friends of the Earth, WWF and 15 other groups say rich governments must immediately address climate change to avoid even "unbearable levels" of worldwide poverty. "Food production, water supplies, public health and people's living environment are already being damaged," the report says. "The world must meet its promise to achieve poverty reduction and also deal with climate change." The report, which draws on UN predictions of the effects of climate change in poor countries over the next 50 years, says poor countries will experience more flooding, declining food production, more disease and the worsening or disappearing of entire ecosystems on which many of the world's poorest people depend. "Climate change needs to be addressed now. The poor will bear the burden of it. The frontline experience of many of us working in international development indicates that communities are having to fight against more extreme weather conditions." Climate change will play havoc with agriculture and water supplies and will increase diseases. "By 2025 the proportion of the world's population living in countries of great water stress will almost double, to 6 billion people. Tropical and sub-tropical areas will be hardest hit -- those countries already suffering from food shortage". Poor countries mostly do not need high-tech solutions, but would most benefit from education, research and being shown how to farm better. The report says unchecked global warming, more than wars or political confusion, will displace millions of people and destabilize many countries. Who should play a leading role in resisting the more extreme weather conditions? Answer: Hello, I'm June. Now let me tell you something about my holiday last week. I had a pretty good holiday to Hainan with my family .We have great fun playing in different places.On Monday, the weather was sunny and hot. On Tuesday,it was cloudy and humid .We visited two museums.We saw a lot of old things . On Wednesday and Thursday,it was rainy and windy . We walked in the city . We bought some interesting things and ate some delicious food.On Friday, the weather was cool. We went to the mountains. We were very tired but very happy . I really enjoyed my holiday. . Did June visit museums during her holidays? Answer: Humming birds help with the growth of Answer:
C "Over the years the unthinkable has become thinkable and today we sense we are close to being able to alter human heredity ." These were the words of David Baltimore of the California Institute of Technology,on December 1st,when he opened a threeday meeting in Washington to discuss the morality and use of human gene editing.Dr Baltimore is an old hand at these sorts of discussions,for he was also a participant in the Asilomar conference,in 1975,which brought scientists together to discuss a safe way of using the thennew technology of recombinant DNA,and whose recommendations influenced a generation of biotechnology researchers. Four decades on,the need for a similar sort of _ has arisen.The International Summit on Human Gene Editing has been held by the national scientific academies of three countries--America,Britain and China.They are particularly concerned about whether gene editing should be used to make heritable changes to the human germ line,something Dr Baltimore described as a deep and troubling question.Like those of Asilomar,the conclusions of this meeting will not be binding.But the hope is that,again like Asilomar,a mixture of common sense and peer pressure will create a world in which scientists are trusted to regulate themselves,rather than having politicians and civil servants do it for them.The meeting is being held against a backdrop of rapid scientific advance.Since 2012 research into a new,easytouse editing tool called CRISPRCas9 has blossomed.This technique involves a piece of RNA (a chemical messenger,which can be used to recognise a target section of DNA) and an enzyme called a nuclease that can snip unwanted genes out and paste new ones in. Public interest was aroused in April,when Chinese scientists announced they had edited genes in nonviable human embryos,and again in November when British researchers said they had successfully treated a oneyearold girl who had leukaemia ,using geneedited Tcells.Tcells are part of the immune system that attack,among other things,tumour cells.The researchers altered Tcells from a healthy donor to encourage them to recognise and kill the patient's cancer,to make them immune to her leukaemia drug,and to ensure they did not attack her healthy cells. In another recent development,a firm called Edit as Medicine,which is based in Cambridge,Massachusetts,has said it hopes,in 2017,to start human clinical trials of CRISPRCas9 as a treatment for a rare genetic form of blindness known as Leber congenital amaurosis .Though other companies are already testing geneediting therapies,these employ older,clunkier forms of the technology that seem likely to have less commercial potential.Moreover,researchers at the Broad Institute,also in Cambridge,said this week that they had made changes to CRISPRCas9 which greatly reduce the rate of editing errors--one of the main obstacles to the technique's medical use. On the subject of germline editing,Eric Lander,the Broad's head,told the meeting it would be useful only in rare cases and said it might be a good idea to "exercise caution" before making permanent changes to the gene pool.The need for caution is advice that might also be heeded by those pursuing work in animals other than people,and in plants--subjects not being covered by the summit. Which of the following is TRUE about CRISPRCas9? Answer: Thailand's capital Bangkok is both attractive and wonderful, a city of glass towers and concrete buildings crowded with nearly 10 million people. The ground beneath is spongy and moist. Imagine a brick resting on top of a birthday cake. That's Bangkok-and it's sinking into the Earth at an alarming rate. Thailand's disaster specialists have been warning of this coming disaster for years. One expert has said he's worried about Bangkok resembling Atlantis. Another previously told Global post that the city will be under five feet of water by 2030. The latest estimates suggest that Bangkok is now sinking as fast as two centimeters per year in parts of the city. The predictions for 2100 are even more terrible. By then , Bangkok will be fully submerged and unlivable. Like global warming, which will accelerate the city's submersion by raising the sea leavel, Bangkok's sinking problems are repeatedly _ But the monsoon season, currently underway, tends to bring this crisis to mind. A nasty storm can suddenly turn Bangkok's streets into gushing streams. Sewers overflow, taxis move through dirty water and, occasionally, kids can pick up displaced fish. Anond Snidvongs, director of the Southeast Asia Regional Research Center, predicts the city's outskirts will be the first to go. Parts of the shoreline ebyong Bangkok are already liend with pumps that make noises and help to transform invading seawater. They don't always work. During heavy rains, salt water flows in the streets of the city. Bangkok is swallowed up a little more each day. Experts tend to offer two solutions. The first is to pu up a massive seawall that could cost nearly $3 billion-nearly 1 percent of Thailand's current GDP. The second option is to give up entirely and move the capital to higher ground. What's the best title of the passage? Answer: The crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear energy center caused by the terrible earthquake has raised questions about the future of the nuclear energy industry. Arjun is president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research in the United States. He says the disaster in Japan is historic. This week, the chairman of America's nuclear agency said there is little chance that harmful radiation from Japan could reach the United States. Gregory also said America has a strong program in place to deal with earthquake threats. No new nuclear power centers have been built in the United States since 1979. That was when America's worst nuclear accident happened at the Three Mile Island center in Pennsylvania. The accident began to turn public opinion against nuclear energy. At present, about twenty percent of electricity in the United States comes from nuclear energy. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Germany would close seven nuclear power centers for the time being while energy policy is reconsidered. The European Union is planning to test all centers in its twenty-seven member nations. Developing nations are less willing to slow down the development of nuclear. China says it will continue with plans to build about twenty-five new nuclear reactors . And India, under a cooperation agreement with the United States, plans to spend billions on new centers in the coming years. Nuclear reactors supply fourteen percent of global electricity. Nuclear energy is a clean resource, producing no carbon gases. But radioactive waste is a serious problem to be solved. So is the presence of nuclear power centers in earthquake areas like the one near Bushehr, lran. According to the text, which country will be most likely to have a similar disaster? Answer: A firm handshake is key to interview success. As any serious job-hunter knows, it helps to dress smartly and smile at that all-important interview. But research has showed that a firm handshake is what really matters when it comes to impressing potential employers. The US research looked at 98 undergraduates taking part in mock interviews with businesses. As each undergraduate was graded on their overall performance, five "handshake raters" also marked them on their grasp, strength, duration, vigor and eye contact. Professor Greg Stewart, from the University of Iowa, who led the study, said those who scored highly with the handshake raters were also considered to be the most hirable by the interviewers. Students with " wimpy" shakes were judged to be more timid and less impressive. The study also found women with a firm handshake were likely to be evaluated more favorably than their male counterparts. Professor Stewart said: "We've always heard that interviewers make up their mind about a person in the first two or three minutes of an interview. But we found that the first impression begins with a handshake that sets the tone for the rest of the interview. We don't consciously remember a person's handshake but it is one of the first non-verbal clues we get about the person's overall personality, and that impression is what we remember." Women were less likely to have a highly rated handshake, partly because traditionally they shake hands less than men. But when women did possess a firm handshake, they were likely to be evaluated more favorably than their male counterparts. Body language experts warn, however, that the firmness needs to be just right, - as an over enthusiastic "bone crusher" handshake can indicate self-importance, a controlling personality and a lack of trustworthiness. The handshake is thought to have originated in medieval Europe as a way for kings and knights to show that they did not intend to harm each other and possessed no hidden weapons. The passage is probably intended for _ . Answer: What will be the most likely result for some species of animals with the continued burning of rain forests in Africa? Answer:
Question: Nowadays, shopping online becomes a new way of shopping. It is getting more and more popular. Many people like doing some shopping through Internet. Why is shopping online becoming more and more popular? First, it provides lots of advantages . There are many goods on the Internet. People can find anything they want. The price on the Internet is usually cheaper than that in the store. People can save some money.Second, more and more people have their own computers and they join their computers with the Internet. So it is possible for many of them to do shopping through the Internet. People don't need to go to the shop themselves. They can save a lot of time. But, a coin has two sides. Customers can only see the pictures of the goods on the Internet. And they can't enjoy the pleasure of buying things in a large supermarket or a wonderful shopping center. Maybe shopping online makes people boring. So some people don't like this new wayof shopping. They are worried about the safety of shopping online. Some people don't like shopping online because they _ . A. havetopay moremoney B. mustsendtheirmoneyfirstonline C. don'thaveenoughtime D. are worried about the safety Answer: C Question: Michelle Obama has launched her campaign against childhood obesity in the US,saying that it is a problem that concerns her both as the first lady and as a mother. Mrs.Obama said that the campaign was designed to encourage people to live healthier lives,but admitted that she herself was not immune to the temptations of junk food. "I love burgers and fries.And I love ice cream and cake.And so do most kids," she said.But,she added,"We're not talking about a lifestyle that excludes all that." "The question is how we help people balance their diet so that they're not facing lifethreatening,preventable illnesses,but they're enjoying their food,they're eating their vegetables,they're doing their running,walking and playing,and they still have time to get a good,fun meal every once in a while." One in three American children are overweight or obese,putting them at the higher risk of developing diabetes ,high blood pressure,high cholesterol and other illnesses. Billions of dollars are spent every year treating obesityrelated conditions. "None of us wants this future for our kids," Mrs.Obama said at the White House. "We have to act,so let's move." Her campaign has four parts:helping parents make better food choices,serving healthier food in school vending machines and lunch menus,making healthy food more available and affordable,and encouraging children to exercise more. The campaign,which Mrs.Obama starts,is aimed at solving the childhood obesity problem in a generation,so that children born today can reach adulthood at a healthy weight. "This isn't like a disease where we're still waiting for the cure to be discovered.We know the cure for this," she said at the opening ceremony. President Barack Obama praised his wife for solving what he called one of "the most urgent health issues facing the country". "This has enormous promise in improving the health of our children,in giving support to parents to make the kinds of healthy choices that are often very difficult," he said. What do we know about Americans? A. They all enjoy junk food. B. They don't eat their vegetables. C. They have some time for exercise. D. Many have obesityrelated illnesses. Answer: D Question: According lo a new survey . Students' safety has become a big problem .Nearly 50% of students say they are worried about robbery on the way to and from school.Now in main big cities.in China some schools have taught all unusual lesson: self-protection. Students like this lesson because there are no exams or boring classes. And they can learn how to save lives and know how to stop danger before it really happens. Chen Haoyu, a teacher at Beijing No 25 Middle School .give young students advice on how to deal with danger If you are robbed Keep calm.lf youcan not cry for help or run away.Give the robber your money.Try to remember what the robber looks like and tell the police later. If you are in a traffic accident. It a car hitsyou. You should remember the car number.If it is a bicycle. Try to call your parents before you let the rider go. This is because you don't know how seriously you are hurt If it is raining hard and there is lighting. Don't stay in high places and stayaway from trees. When there is a fire.Get away as fast as yon can.Put wet things on your body and try to find an exit.Do not lake the lift. If someone is drowning If you can't swim. don't get into the water. Cry out for help. Remember that danger is never as far away as you think.Take care of yourself at alI times! The best title for this passage is _ . A. How to Keep Calm B. Self-protection C. An usual lesson D. Danger Answer: B Question: Car are necessary in our daily life. In moden society we even can't go without cars. Therefore,car servicing becomes something that every car owner has to experience at least some have the servicing done methtxJically according to your car maker. Considerthis: Your car is uo and running smoothly but the mileage figures indicate that you need to have it serviced. Certainly, this is the right thing to do, but have you wondered what actually goes in to make you pay that servicing bill every 6 months? Servicing your car is a simple DIT( Do It Yourself) job that you can learn quickly and easily save some good money. If you have never serviced your car before personally, here're the servicing basics: Car servicing essentially means inspecting the car thoroughly for any damaged components, and replacing some parts regulariy that wear out over time. If you review carefully it is certainly possible to do all this by yourself, as below: You will need a complete set of tools as provided by your car maker when you purchased the vehice. This will usually consist of all the spanners that you might need. Completely servicing your car will need a few hours but you will end up saving a lot of money. Besides, it's fun too and a lot of learning. What is the best way to service your car? A. .To service your car by yourself. B. To turn to other car owers for help. C. To send your car back to the car maker. D. To have your car serviced at service station. Answer: D Question: Most American schools have boys and girls in the same classroom. But a public high school in the small, rural town of Boonsboro, Maryland, offers a special program called the Academy. Top students in the ninth and tenth grades can attend single-sex classes for math, science, English and social studies. The aim is to help teenagers keep their mind on their work by keeping males and females apart. What they really want to do is take that top group of kids and take them to the very highest level they can achieve there, so that they're prepared for college. Students are invited to enter this program after they finish middle school, and placement in the Academy is voluntary. However, they need high marks and test scores and strong teacher recommendations. They also need to be involved in activities. Almost 350 students have taken part in the Academy. It began as an experiment in 2010. Michael Bair has been at Boonsboro High for twenty years and directs the Academy. His ninth-grade English class for boys centers on books that he believes boys find interesting. He says that the novels the students are reading now are very manly novels. These novels deal with the arrogance of man and the pride of man which finally leads to man's downfall. One of those books, for example, is The Call of the Wild by Jack London. This classic story tells of a dog stolen from his home and sold to work as a sled dog in Canada's Klondike Gold Rush. Morgan Fleet, a senior at Boonsboro High, likes being in the Academy. She says boys and girls act differently when they are together in a classroom. She believes this difference seems to prevent her from developing herself because she's more focused on thoughts like "Oh, I wish they would shut up. Oh, what do they think of me?'' instead of focusing on "What's the homework? What's going on in this class? What's the lesson?". There is one activity that girls and boys in the Academy do together. At the end of the day, many of them stay and help tutor students who are having trouble in school. Which is likely to be Morgan Fleet's opinion? A. A girl cares about the boys' opinions of her. B. Single-sex classes should be stopped. C. Girls are more focused when studying with boys. D. Boys and girls act the same in separate classrooms. Answer: A
"Men get all the breaks!" the veteran teacher announced to me. A cold greeting. Her stare stabbed like an icicle . "Hello," I countered, extending my hand. "I guess we'll be teaching together this year." "I swear, all you have to do is wear pants and walk into an elementary school and they hire you! It makes me sick!" I would have responded, but she turned her back to me and stomped off down the hall. Who would have imagined that the biggest challenge I would face during my first year on the job would not be students, but fellow teachers? "You can't put that there!" Another teacher burst into my classroom. "You can't put the teacher's desk at the back of the room!" "Pardon?" "If you put your desk way back there, you won't be able to see them cheating!" Next I was told I must not arrange student desks into abutting clusters because "the students might talk too much." At home my wife kept assuring me, "You're there for the kids. When you meet your students, things will be different." And she was right. One day the bell rang and there were thirty-five wonderful sixth graders sitting at their desks (still arranged in clusters) and it was different. I was happy. "Welcome to sixth grade." I began the year as I'd rehearsed for months. "You'll notice," I continued, "my desk is at the back of the room." They chuckled. "I don't want that desk between us. I want to be involved in your learning and involved in your lives." In the days that followed, I ate with my students at lunch (" _ "); I played with my students at recess (" _ "); I read with my students in the library (" _ "); I even stayed after school with some boys who got in trouble with the principal (" _ "). I went home to my wife. "Don't worry," she said. "They're just threatened by you because you're new and you're good. Let the other teachers know you're not a threat. Just keep being nice to them." Obediently, I pulled out the Golden Rule, dusted it off, and vowed to start again. As I did with the children, I started looking for specific, positive things I could build upon and reinforce sincerely in my colleagues: "Nice job on the announcements this morning!" "Wow! I like that worksheet you made up." "Man, your kids walked down the hall so quietly." "I heard your class singing great songs. You do a super job with music!" "I like your bulletin board," I said to Mrs. Icicle Eyes. "Really?" she asked. "It's just the same old thing I put up every year." She reached out and straightened a sagging border. Then, not unlike one of my students, she added, "Do you really like it?" "Yes," I answered firmly. As sure as sun beams, the Golden Rule was shining, and things were finally warming up. That very afternoon, a few parents went to the principal's office asking if their sixth graders could be moved into my class. Of course the students were not transferred, but when the grapevine circulated the request, up went the old barbed wire fence. Complete with machine guns. I continued to do the best job I could. I worked. I taught. I cared. I waited for a breakthrough moment. Months passed. It was lunch recess. I asked a boy walking down the hall. "Have you seen Mrs. So-and-So?" I was, in fact, searching for Mrs. Icicle Eyes. I needed to consult with her. Grinning, he came toward me as if sharing a secret. "She's outside shooting baskets with the girls!" "She's playing basketball with the girls?" I asked incredulously. "Yeah," he nodded. I smiled. I didn't say another word. But my smile inside was even bigger than the one on my face. What was the Golden Rule the writer followed? Answer: He should learn to appreciate the shining points in people around him. Code Offence Points What is Driving _ Points System? After the introduction of this system, certain traffic offences will make the driver lose points besides other punishments . A driver makes any of these offences, the points will be recorded.When the driver gets a certain number of points, he will be forbidden to drive for a certain amount of time. what are the purposes of this system? This is a system designed to make road much safer. It can improve standards of driving and reduce accidents. Which traffic offences will result in Driving Offence Points? Of course, not all traffic offences are covered by this system. Only those that have direct effect on road safety are included.There are fourteen items in all. 1 Causing death by dangerous driving 10 2 Dangerous driving 10 3 Careless driving 5 4 Driving after drinking or taking drugs 10 5 Driving over speed limit by more than15 km/hour 3 6 Driving in a motor race on the road 10 7 Failing to stop after an accident 3 8 Failing to give information after an accident 3 9 Failing to report an accident 3 10 Failing to obey directions of police officers 3 11 Crossing double white lines 3 12 Failing to obey traffic signals 3 13 Failing to give way to walkers at a crosswalk. Failing to stop for people walking 3 14 Failing to stop at school crossing 3 What will happen if you have got up to 10 points? If you have got 10 points or above, but still less than 15 points, you will receive a warning letter from the Transport Department. This letter will tell your record of Driving Offence Points and remind you of the result of getting more points. It is hoped that this warning will change your driving behavior for the better. What will happen if you have got 15 points? If you have got 15 points or more within two years, a court will take away your driving license. The first time you are found guilty you will not be able to drive for three months, but if you are caught a second time you will not be able to drive for six months. What will happen to you if you have got 13 points? Answer: You will get a warning letter from the Transport Department. 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." When the girl went back home, she found her father _ . Answer: was badly ill Waste can be seen everywhere in the school. Some students ask for more food than they can eat and others often forget to turn off the lights when they leave the classroom. They say they can afford these things. But I don't agree with them. Waste can bring a lot of problems. Although China is rich in some resources , we are short of others, for example, fresh water . It is reported that we will have no coal or oil to use in 100 years. So if we go on wasting our resources, what can we use in the future and where can we move? Think about it. I think we should say no to the students who waste things every day. Everybody should stop wasting as soon as possible. In our everyday life, we can do many things to prevent waste from happening, for example, turn off the water taps when we finish washing, turn off the lights when we leave the classroom, try not to order more food than we need, and so on. Little by little, everything will be changed. Waste can be stopped one day, if we do our best. From the passage we know that some students often _ in the school. Answer: waste things What happens when five Chinese teachers take over a British classroom full of teenagers? The experimental program was designed to test how 50 students ages 13 and 14 at the Bohunt School in Hampshire would deal with a completely Chinese teaching method. With long school days and tough rules, it's considered to be "strict" to Westerners. It took the BBC six months to choose suitable Chinese teachers. They had to be English, math, science or social science teachers with more than five years teaching experience in China. They also had to be able to teach in English. Though language was not a problem for the Chinese teachers, they weren't used to the difference between Chinese and British students. Li Aiyun from the Nanjing Foreign Language School told British media that when she handed out homework sheets, she expected the students to _ on their homework. "But when I walked in the classroom, some students were chatting, some students were eating, somebody was even putting make-up on her face. I had to control myself, or I would be crazy. About half of them tried their best to follow me. And the other half ? Who knows what they were doing?" she said. While Rosie Lunskey, 15, told BBC interviewers that she found it difficult to get used to the Chinese teachers. "Acting like robots was the right way to go. I'm used to speaking my mind in class, giving ideas, often working in groups to develop my skills and improve my knowledge. But a lot of the time in the experiment, the only thing I felt I was learning was how to copy notes really fast and listen to the teacher, "she complained. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage? Answer: Rosie Lunskey liked the Chinese teaching methods very much.
With just a few minutes left before school was to start, my six-year-old, Dustin, was crying. "I don't want to go," he said. Ever since he'd entered first grade, he had hated school. What's going on? If he hates school this much now, how bad will it be later on? Every kid sometimes complains about school. But five to ten percent of kids dislike it so much they don't want to attend. "If a child seems worried or anxious about school, pretends illness to stay home, or refuses to talk about things of the school day, you should be concerned," says a school psychologist, Michael Martin. Fortunately, you can usually solve the problem--sometimes very easily. In our case, my husband and I visited Dustin's class and noticed that the teacher, just out of college, called only on kids who sat right under her nose. Dustin, who often sat near the back, was ignored . We simply told him to move up front. He did, and he was happy again. Which of the following is TRUE about Dustin's teacher? A. She treats her pupils equally. B. She is inexperienced in her job. C. She gives poor lessons. D. She doesn't like Dustin. Answer: B Nowadays,much of the profit of a business--sometimes the whole of its success--depends upon the use of the odds and ends.The odds and ends are various small things,which are left over when the main things are produced.But they possess a real value of their own. If a business,big or small,looked down upon these odds and ends,it would mean a big difference in the amount of the benefit of the business.Take a meat factory for instance,there are countless odds and ends--bones and hair,which can be made into glue and rope to increase its profit greatly. Then,if we are college students,what about our odds and ends--the odd moments?Take time for example.Every one of us has the exact same amount of it.Everyone's success or failure depends on the use of their time.But everyone uses the time more or less in the same way.However,why many great men in science or art have made huge successes for themselves in the world?Because they have made best use of their odd moments.Thomas A.Edison,never allowed his odd moments to slip by.He thought,planned,and tried his inventions.He always worked twenty hours out of each twentyfour.His inventions made him famous all over the world,and provided valuable wealth for the human beings. So,remember this _ :busy people always find time for everything.However,people with great spare time find time for nothing.Is it very strange?Not at all!The question is how to gather up fragments of time and make full use of them.As many big businesses have found,the real profit is in using the odds and ends.We also must do in this way to make best use of our odd moments and manage to be successful in something we do. Which of the following statements is TRUE? A. The profit of all companies depends on the odds and ends. B. In some way,big meat companies can ignore some small things,such as bones. C. College students only make full use of their spare time before exams. D. Many successful men are good at using the odds and ends. Answer: D "Just take a deep breath." "Don't think about it." "You're more likely to die in a car wreck on the way to the airport than you are in a plane crash." These are just some words given to people with a fear of flying. But as Tom Cruise, playing Lt. Daniel Kaffee in the movie A Few Good Men, said, "I get sick when I fly because I'm afraid of crashing into a large mountain. I don't think Daniel will help." But there's a new application that just may. Today, the VALK Foundation, a Dutch group that's a partnership between KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and the University of Leiden, launches the app in the US. The VALK Foundation was one of the first centers for research and fear-of-flying treatment in the world and is the organizer of three world conferences on fear of flying.The foundation said the app, called Flight App VALK, is the first scientifically-developed, web-based treatment for people who suffer from mild to moderate fear of flying. "The fear of flying application we have created aims to transfer all of the knowledge we have developed through our program into a mobile application that will help ease travelers' fears," said Dr. Lucas van Gerwen, director of the VALK Foundation. Dr. van Gerwen is also a psychologist and professional pilot with more than 30 years experience. The foundation said up to 30% of adults are fearful fliers. The Flight App is designed to help relax passengers before and during flights by educating users about flight safety and turbulence. It explains the sounds and sensations they can expect during departure, flight and landing. And, if a passenger's flight stress reaches a panic level, they press a special panic button which provides audio and written information to help decrease stress levels. Most importantly, the Flight App can be used during the flight in the airplane mode. Once downloaded, the program does not require Internet connection in the air. In which column of a newspaper can we read this passage? A. Culture B. Entertainment C. Technology D. Education Answer: C After record increase in over 40 countries, Universal Robots' lightweight robotic arms are now making their US debut at this year's International Manufacturing Trade Show (IMTS) in Chicago. The UR5 robotic arm made by Universal Robots has been announced officially "The world's most innovative robot" by The International Federation of Robotics and IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Robotics and Automation Society. The US audience will now see the award-winning robot -- along with its big brother UR10 -- for the first time. The UR5 and UR10 robotic arms are aimed at small-sized companies that thought robots were too expensive and hard to operate in existing production. The robotic arms are easily moved around the production area and present a simple user interface which lets workers quickly operate them. Esben Ostergaard, founder and CTO (Chief Technical Officer) at Universal Robots, explains how the robots were designed to be as user--friendly as possible: "We decided to make programming easy by developing a user interface worked together with a "teaching function" allowing the user to simply took hold of the robot arm and show _ how a movement should be done. The robot can work in any production process very quickly. Our experience shows this is generally done in a few hours." The robots weigh as little as 40 pounds, making it possible for them to be moved around the production area to do different tasks. The UR5 can handle a load of up to 5 kilos (11 pounds), the UR10, 10 kilos (22 pounds). As soon as a worker touches the robot arm and uses a force of at least 150 Newton, the robot arm will automatically stop operating. According to the text, the UR5 robotic arm _ . A. was designed by IEEE B. is aimed at small companies C. has won a number of awards D. made its appearance in 40 countries Answer: B Are you ever so worried about something that you even have a headache or can't sleep at night? Do you ever feel a stomachache during a test? If so, then you know what stress is. Stress is what you feel when you are worried about something. When you are under stress, you may feel angry, sad, scared, or afraid --all this can give you a stomachache or a headache. In modern society, most people are under the higher stress than ever before. There are different kinds of stress. Some kinds of stress are good and others are bad. Good stress may happen when someone asks you to answer questions in class or when you have to give a report. This kind of stress can help you to finish things better. Under this stress, you will find yourself have more motivation and energy to study. However, bad stress can happen if the stress lasts too long. You may not feel well if a family member is sick, if you're having problems at school, or if anything else makes you upset every day. That kind of stress isn't going to help you. The best way to keep stress away is to have a balanced life. If you get enough sleep and food, and if you exercise and leave time for fun, you'll feel less stress. What is the purpose of the passage? A. To tell us how to lead a healthy life. B. To give us some advice on how to do better in a test. C. To tell us something about good stress and bad stress. D. To tell us about stress and how to face it. Answer: D
About us Summer Camps offer many programs that develop athletic skills, teamwork and healthy habits to kids. We create a safe and noncompetitive environment for learning and making friends. Our counselors are required to complete much training. Directors and head counselors are certified in CPR and First Aid and so on. Full-day Camp (ages 6-13) A typical camp starts with soccer, kickball, basketball or field games. After lunch, the kids do three activities. Depending on location, there are swimming, science and nature, arts and crafts, rope courses. Li'1 Rascals Day Camp (ages 3-5) Preschoolers get all the fun of full-day camp in half the time. Activities include arts and crafts, sports, games and relays. Each week has different themes. All participants must be able to be taught to use a patty . Specialty camps (ages 14-16) These specialty camps build many athletes. Our experienced staff will help your child be excellent in his or her favorite sport. Tennis Basketball Soccer Dance *Cheerleading Fee: $120 Contact Information Call: 068-990-3224; E-mail: summercampsforkids@hotmail.com or Write to: 125 Seventh Avenue South New York, NY 10014 What the parents from last year say about the camps: "All the activities were perfect. My son definitely wants to return next year and I will recommend the camp to others." --Kate "I think this is one of the best camps that my children have attended. The counselors and directors are enthusiastic and friendly. The programs are excellent and it is the only camp that they ask to go back to." --Jack "My children had an excellent time at your camp. I was very impressed by both your friendly, helpful counselors and directors and the excellent way that the entire camp was organized and run. I will consider next year! Many thanks." --Mary It can be known from the parents that _ . Answer: the workers at the camps are responsible ones A 34-year-old mother has spoken of how she woke up thinking she was 15 years old and living in 1992. Naomi Jacobs, from Manchester, was convinced she was still a teenager. In her mind, John Major was Prime Minister and George Bush Sr. was running the White House. She also showed how she screamed when a boy appeared and called her "Mum". Mobile phones and e-mails were puzzling and Google, Facebook and YouTube sounded like made-up words, she said. Ms. Jacobs, who had no memory of the years, was told by doctors that she had Transient Global Amnesia (TGA). She has now written a book about the experience which happened in 2008. "I fell asleep in 1992 as a brave, very confident know-it-all-15-year-old, and woke up as a 32-year-old single mum living in a rented house," Ms. Jacobs said. "The last thing I remember was falling asleep in my bed, dreaming about a boy in my class. When I woke up, I looked in the mirror and had the fright of my life when I saw an old woman with wrinkles staring back at me. Then a little boy appeared and started calling me Mum. That's when I started to scream. I didn't know who he was. I didn't think he was much younger than I was, and I certainly didn't remember giving birth to him. I began sobbing uncontrollably. I just wanted my mum. I couldn't get my head around going to bed one night and waking up in a different century." TGA is a rare type of amnesia which can occur suddenly, affecting around three people per 100,000 each year. Fortunately, permanent memory loss is rare. Ms. Jacobs' memory started to return after eight weeks. Some people who often suffer from migraines also appear to be more likely to have TGA. The cause of TGA is unknown. Some think that it may be caused by a temporary cut of blood flow to parts of the brain involved in memory. According to the text, TGA _ . Answer: causes people to lose part of their memory Below is a page adapted from About Wikipedia on how to take full advantage of Wikipedia. Wikipediais a web-based, free-content encyclopedia in many languages. SSExploring Wikipedia Many visitors come to Wikipedia to acquire knowledge, while others come to share knowledge. At this very instant, dozens of articles are being improved, and new articles are also being created. Over 3,500 articles have been listed by the Wikipedia community as featured articles. Another 15,000 articles are listed as good articles. Wikipedia is available in more than 280 languages including English. Its related projects include a dictionary, quotations, books, manuals, and scientific reference sources, and a news service. All of these are kept, updated, and managed by separate communities, and often include information and articles that can be hard to find through other common sources. SSBasic navigation in Wikipedia Wikipedia articles are all linked, or cross-referenced. In every article, there are links to some related articles or Wikipedia pages with further in-depth information. Holding the mouse over a certain link will often show to where the link will lead. There are other links towards the ends of most articles, for other articles of interest, related websites and pages and so on. Some articles may also have links to dictionary definitions, audio-book readings, quotations, the same article in other languages etc. SSUsing Wikipedia as a research tool Wiki articles are never considered complete and may be continually edited and improved. Over time, this generally results in an upward trend of quality and a growing agreement over a representation of information. Users should be aware that not all articles are of encyclopedic quality from the start. Indeed, many articles start their lives as displaying a single viewpoint; and, after a long process of discussion, debate, and argument, _ gradually take on a neutral point of view reached through agreement. Others may, for a while, become caught up in a heavily unbalanced viewpoint which can take some time--months perhaps--to achieve better balanced coverage of their subject. SSWikipedia vs. paper encyclopedias Wikipedia has advantages over traditional paper encyclopedias. Wikipedia has a very low "publishing" cost for adding or expanding entries and a low environmental impact in some respects, since it never needs to be printed. In addition, Wikipedia has wikilinks instead of in-line explanations and its articles provide not only summaries but also plenty of details. Additionally, the editorial cycle is short. A paper encyclopedia stays the same until the next edition, while editors can update Wikipedia at any instant, around the clock, to help ensure that articles keep up with the most recent events. The passage is presented in a way of _ . Answer: instruction There are two types of people in the world. Although they have an equal degree of health and wealth and other comforts of life, one becomes happy, while the other becomes unhappy. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons and events and the resulting effects upon their minds. People who are happy fix their attention on the convenience of things. They enjoy all cheerful things. Those who are unhappy think and speak only of unpleasant things. Through their remarks, they _ , offend many people, and make themselves disagreeable everywhere. If this turn of mind is founded in nature, such unhappy people should be pitied. The intention of criticizing and being disliked is perhaps taken up by imitation . It grows into a habit, unknown to its possessors. The habit may be strong, but it can be cured when those who have it realize its bad effects. Although this attitude is mainly an act of the imagination, it has serious results since it brings on deep sorrow and bad luck. If such people aim at getting some advantages in social position or fortune, nobody wishes them success. Nor will anyone speak a word in favor of their hopes. If they are criticized, no one will defend or excuse them, and many will join in criticizing their wrong doings. So they should change this bad habit and stop worrying needlessly about themselves and others. If they do not, it will be good for others to avoid any contact with them. Otherwise, they will have a disagreeable time, especially when someone becomes mixed up in their quarrels. In this passage, the writer mainly _ . Answer: suggests ways to help unhappy people A couple had two little boys aged 8 and 10 who were very naughty. They were always getting into trouble and their parents knew that if any trouble occurred in their town their sons were probably involved. The boys' mother heard that a clergyman in the town had been successful in educating children so she asked if he would speak with his boys. The clergyman agreed but asked to see them individually. So the mother sent her 8-year-old first in the morning with the elder boy to see the clergyman in the afternoon. The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him strictly, "where is God?" The boy's mouth dropped open but he made no answer, sitting there with his mouth hanging open, wide-eyed. So the clergyman repeated the question in an even stricter tone "where is God?" Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the clergyman raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and shouted "where is God?" The boy screamed and escaped from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, _ the door behind him. When his elder brother found him in the closet, he asked "what happened?" The younger brother replied out of breath, "We are in big trouble this time. God is missing, and they think we did it." What do you suppose the boy felt when he was asked by the clergyman? Answer: Afraid
Question: If you've been joining in chat room conversations, or trading e-mail with Web pals, you have become one of the millions who write in a peculiarly short form of English. And you've got a sense of humor about short forms like SOHF(="sense" of humor failure) to describe Internet newcomers who don't understand you. Across the globe, every night teenagers and their elders are "talking" online--many of them are talking at the same time. It's fast: try talking to six people at once. It's brief: three or four words per exchange. It takes wit, concentration, and quick fingers. And it requires tremendous linguistic economy. There's neither time nor space for explanations. Why consume precious key-strokes 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 response from your pal. If something makes you laugh, say you're OTF(="on" the floor),or LOL(="laughing" out loud),or combine 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 emotion, as it takes more time to hold down the "shift" key and capitals. Punctuation is going, too. To save time on the Internet _ . A. some people leave their letters in the dustbin B. some people never use "shift" in their writing C. many people leave the capital and punctuation D. people seldom use capital letters or punctuation Answer: D Question: According to the US government, wind farms off the Pacific coast could produce 900 gigawatts of electricity every year.Unfortunately, the water there is far too deep for even the tallest windmills to touch bottom.An experiment under way off the coast of Norway, however, could help put them anywhere. The project, called Hywind, is the world's first large-scale deepwater wind turbine .Although it uses a fairly standard 152-ton, 2.3-megawatt turbine, Hywind represents totally new technology.The turbine will be fixed 213 feet above the water on a floating spar, a technology Hywind's creator, the Norwegian company StatoilHydro, has developed recently.The steel spar, which is filled with stones and goes 328 feet below the sea surface, will be tied to the ocean floor by three cables ; these will keep the spar stable and prevent the turbine from moving up and down in the waves.Hywind's stability in the cold and rough sea would prove that even the deepest corners of the ocean are suitable for wind power.If all goes according to the plan, the turbine will start producing electricity six miles off the coast of southwestern Norway as early as September. To produce electricity on a large scale, a commercial wind farm will have to use bigger turbines than Hywind does, but it's difficult enough to balance such a large turbine so high on a floating spar in the middle of the ocean.To make that turbine heavier, the whole spar's center of gravity must be moved much closer to the ocean's surface.To do that, the company plans to design a new kind of wind turbine, one whose gearbox sits at sea level rather than behind the blades. Hywind is a test run, but the benefits for perfecting floating wind-farm technology could be extremely large.Out at sea, the wind is often stronger and steadier than close to shore, where all existing offshore windmills are planted.Deep-sea farms are invisible from land, which helps overcome the windmill-as-eyesore objection.If the technology catches on, it will open up vast areas of the planet's surface to one of the best low-carbon power sources available. The Hywind project uses totally new technology to ensure the stability of _ . A. the cables which tie the spar to the ocean floor B. the spar which is floating in deep-sea water C. the blades driven by strong and steady sea wind D. the stones filled in the spar below the sea surface Answer: B Question: Do you know how to use a mobile phone without being rude to the people around you? Talking during a performance irritates people. If you are expecting an emergency call, sit near the exit doors and set your phone to vibrate . When your mobile phone vibrates, you can leave quietly and let the others enjoy the performance. Think twice before using mobile phones in elevators, museums, churches or other indoor public places--especially enclosed spaces. Would you want to listen to someone's conversation in these places? Worse yet, how would you feel if a mobile phone rang suddenly during a funeral! It happens more often than you think. Avoid these embarrassing situations by making sure your mobile phone is switched off. When eating at a restaurant with friends, don't place your mobile phone on the table. This conveys the message that your phone calls are more important than those around you. Mobile phones have sensitive microphones that allow you to speak at the volume you would on a regular phone. This enables you to speak quietly so that others won't hear the details of your conversations. If you are calling from a noisy area, use your hand to direct your voice into the microphone. Many people believe that they can't live without their mobile phone. Owning a mobile phone definitely makes life more convenient, but limit your conversations to urgent ones and save the personal calls until you are at home. Putting your mobile phone on a restaurant table may make your friends think _ . A. you prefer to talk to your friends at the table B. you value your calls more than your friends C. you are enjoying the company of your friends D. you are polite and considerate of your friends Answer: B Question: A horse doesn't think she is beautiful. She goes to see the God, "My God! Thanks for giving me a beautiful body, but I want to be more beautiful." The God says, "What do you want to be like?" The horse says, "If you can make my neck a little longer, my upper body will be more beautiful. And if you can make my legs much thinner, then my lower body will look more beautiful." Then the God makes her become a camel . "Oh, God, I want to become more beautiful. But now ... " says the horse. The God says, "This is what you ask for." The horse cries, "Oh no, I don't want to be a camel!" The God says, "Never try to get more. If you want more and more, you will have no idea what the result will be." The horse wants to have _ . A. a short body with long legs B. a strong body C. a long neck and thin legs D. strong logs and a short neck Answer: C Question: There are many rights to make sure that people will be treated fairly when they are suspected or accused of a crime. Sometimes these rights are called "due process of law". In using these rights, a person should have the help of a lawyer. You have a right to protect against unreasonable searches and seizures. The police generally may not search you or your home, or take things you own, without a "warrant". A warrant is a paper which states, very exactly, the place to be searched and the things to be taken. Sometimes, however, the police will not need a warrant to search you or your property. If an officer sees you committing a crime, or if he has a good reason to believe you have committed a serious crime, he may arrest you and search you and the area right around you without a warrant. If you invite a police without a warrant to come into your house and he finds proof of crime, the evidence may be used against you in court. If you do not want an officer to search you or your home and he does not have a warrant, tell him that you do not give him the right to search. However, if the officer will not listen, do not try to stop him. It is dangerous to resist and it may be illegal to do so. Any evidence which a policeman gets during an unlawful search and seizure cannot be used against you. Police officers must act reasonably and fairly at all times. They should use physical force only when it is needed to arrest someone to enforce a law. They may not use physical violence to "teach someone a lesson". The passage centers around _ . A. the rights of citizens B. the importance of warrants C. the duty of the police D. criminal cases Answer: A
Question: We sometimes think global warming or climate change is a problem very far away from our lives, and that only the government needs to worry about it. But it's hardly possible to completely stay out of it scientists are now 95 percent sure that humans have been the " cause" of global warming trends since the 1950s. One of the conclusions of a report released on Sept 27 by the United Nations says that human activities have caused global temperatures to rise by 0.89 0C between 1901 and 2012. That might not seem like a lot, but the truth is that a major part of that heat has been absorbed into the oceans, which is not surprising given that they cover two thirds of Earth's surface. Also, water has a much greater capacity to absorb heat than the air does, according to The Economist. While many greenhouse gases occur naturally and are needed to keep the Earth warm enough to support life, humans' use of fossil fuels is the main source of excess greenhouse gases. According to CNN, by driving cars, using electricity produced by burning coal and oil or heating our homes with coal or natural gas, we release a large amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Your body can barely feel a difference of 0.89 0C, but the Earth's ecosystems are so sensitive that even small changes can disturb them. It often starts with the smallest creatures at the bottom of the food chain, eventually affecting bigger animals, many of which could end up becoming extinct. Global warming is also linked to an increase in extreme weather. A larger amount of carbon dioxide traps more energy inside the atmosphere. This changes the patterns of storms and rainfall in many regions and can lead to droughts and floods. Worse still, melting sea ice in warmer oceans is causing sea levels to rise at a speed of more than three millimeters per year, according to The Guardian, which also increases the risk of flooding. "The report should serve as another wakeup call that our activities today have a profound impact on society, not only for us, but for many generations to come," French Michel Jarraud, secretarygeneral of the World Meteorological Organization, said at a news conference. What is Michel Jarraud's attitude toward the report released by the UN? A. Negative. B. Supportive. C. Doubtful. D. Uninterested. Answer: B Question: Sally was a student. It was going to be her mother's birthday. She wanted to buy her a present that would be nice and useful but not expensive. A week before her mother's birthday, she went shopping after a quick and simple lunch. When she had been looking for half an hour, she found a shop that was selling cheep umbrellas , and decided to take a black one, since her mother had lost hers the month before. She thought, "You could carry that when you are wearing clothes of any color." So she decided to buy a lovely black umbrella and took it back to school with her until her classes had finished. On her way back home in the train that evening, she felt hungry because she had such a small lunch that she went along to the buffet car for another sandwich and cup of coffee. She had left the black umbrella above her seat in the compartment , but when she got back, it had gone! When she had left the compartment, there had been no other passengers in it, but now there were three. Sally began to cry when she saw that the umbrella was no longer there. The other passengers felt very sorry for her and asked what the matter was. She told them that the black umbrella she had bought for her mother was gone, and that she had to get out at the next station. After the three other passengers heard it, they asked her for her mother's address so that they could sent the umbrella to her if someone had taken it by mistake and brought it back after Sally had got out of the train. The next week, Sally heard from her mother. It said, "Thank you very much for your lovely presents, but why did you send me three black umbrellas?" Which of the following is the best for the sentence "You could carry that when you are wearing clothes of any color?" A. You can carry it when you are wearing any clothes. B. Any color of your clothes will be all right. C. The umbrella will be OK for your clothes in any colors. D. You can take any clothes that you like to wear. Answer: C Question: Imagine that you are on a jury and you hear the testimony of an eyewitness who says that the accused person is guilty. You would probably vote to _ don't you think? Well, more often than not, you'd be wrong. A few years ago, an experiment was done on an evening news show on WNBC in prefix = st1 /New York. Viewers were shown a film of what seemed to be a mugging. In this simulation, a man snatched a woman's purse. He then knocked her down and ran face forward at the camera so that the viewers got a good look at him. Viewers were then shown a lineup of six men. They were asked to decide if the mugger was in the lineup and, if so, to tell which one he was. In effect, then, they had seven choices. The suspect was either one of the six or he wasn't even in the lineup. Of the 2,145 people who called up to respond, 1,843 were wrong. That means about one in seven was right. This is what you'd expect from random choice. Eyewitness accounts can be the most convincing evidence presented to a jury. Yet we are finding out that such accounts can be faulty. Something is just wrong. Why is this so? Recent findings have removed doubts on whether memory can last long. We also know that it can be changed by things such as leading questions. Mistaken eyewitness accounts are common. They are also the major cause of innocent persons being convicted in the United States. Of the people who called up to respond, _ . A. half of them were right B. 2,145 were on a jury C. six out of seven were wrong D. 1,843 made seven choices Answer: C Question: USA's participation in World WarIIbrought major changes to the lives of American women. Before the war,there had been a huge pool of female labour,consisting largely of young,single women. Many jobs were closed to them and they were effectively restrictetl to working in domestic service and selling-goods business. Wartime production requirements,however,combined with the loss of the men who entered the military,provided women with the opportunity to move into a far wider range of jobs. The response to the US govemment's request for more women workers was amazing and the changes marvelous.ln 1941,there were 14.6 million women workers; by 1944 the number had grown to over 19.4 million. At one point during those wars,more than 50 percent of American women worked and by 1945 half of all women workers were over 35 years old. Women were particularly active in the defense industries. Between 1940 and 1944 women working in enterprises that produced goods increased by 141 percent. In Detroit in 1943 ,'omenmade up 91 percent of the new hirings in 185 war plants. Over 10 percent of all shipbuilders were women. Most of these jobs came with a "pink-slip" attached,as women understood that they would be dismissed when the men returned from the war. Women were also frustrated by unfair pay differentials,for men were paid more money for doing the same job. With the end of the war and armymen being sent home,women were released twice as fast as men. In 1945, three-quarters of the women in aircraft and shipbuilding were let go,and women in the car industry decreased from 25 percent t0 7 percent. Although women found their work satisfying and liberating,postwar publicity focused on women's duty to help the returning soldiers fit in with society by "making him the man of the home again". When the war ended,many women left work to take up the duties of homemaking and raising children. Before World War II,women in the USA had jobs mostly related to_. A. aircraft production B. shipbuilding C. sales business D. defense industries Answer: C Question: Online English Web Sites * www.english-zone.com----A site teaching English grammar; vocabulary and reading skills. Also lots of jokes. * www.theenglishprofessor.com----ESL (="English" as a second language) links. "Learning English free" is its slogan. Very good at helping students improve their writing skills. * www.globalstudy .com/est----Directory of "English as a Second Language" web sites in the United States; Canada; Australia; New Zealand; Great Britain and Ireland. * www.netsurflearning.com----A free English course using materials from the web and catering for all levels. You can improve all kinds of language skills there. * www.rg-chonang.com----Hundreds of ESL links for you to go to. * www.wfi.fr/volterre/weblinklearners.html----A wide variety of English language resources links. What can you get from the web site "www.english-zone.com"? A. Some sweet music. B. Some information about Australia. C. Many web sites to learn English. D. Some jokes. Answer: D
Mr. Li was in bed and was trying to go to sleep when he heard the bell ring . He turned on the light and looked at his clock. It was half past twelve. "Who can it be at this time of night?" he wondered. He decided to go and find out .So he got out of bed, put on his dressing gown and went to the door. When he opened the door, there was nobody there. "That's very strange." He thought. Then he went back to his bedroom, took off his dressing gown, got back into bed, turned off the light and tried to go to sleep. A few minutes later he heard the bell ring again. Mr. Li jumped out of bed very quickly and rushed to the door. He opened it, but again he found no one there. He shut the door and found a piece of paper with some words on it: "It is now after midnight, so it is April 1st. April fool to you!" "Oh, it was the English boy next door!" Mr. Li exclaimed, and almost smiled, He went back to bed and fell asleep immediately. The bell did not ring again. The English boy rang the bell because he _ . Answer: A romantic message-in-a-bottle discovered by a mother and daughter at a Scottish beach has sparked a mystery about whether it could have travelled 5,000 miles across the seas from China. Nicola MacFarlane, 41, and daughter Lucy, four, from Portobello, near Edinburgh, were looking for driftwood on Portobello Beach when they came across an old glass bottle containing a note inside written in _ . Now the family are trying to work out if the letter has managed the extraordinary journey across the Philippine Sea, into the Indian Ocean and through both the South Atlantic and the North Atlantic Ocean's before washing up on the shores of Great Britain. It was written on Chinese Valentine's Day or Qixi Festival as it is more traditionally known, lunar July 7, 2012, so it sent off as recently as six days ago because it followed the modern calendar, which celebrated the occasion on August 23. Nicola was still excited to read about the Chinese love story after having it translated. "I really do hope that it is from China but even it is from nearer to home, it's still a lovely gesture and an inspiring find. It's a love story regardless of where it came from. Nicola, who runs a beach art business in Portobello, added: "I'm always at the beach looking for bits of driftwood but I've never come across anything like this before. We knew it was Chinese, but we had no idea what it said.' Unable to read the Mandarin text, Nicola turned to the internet and her Australian friend, Julie Gould, whose daughter attended a Chinese school in Sydney. Several hours later Julie returned with the news that it was in fact a love letter. The translated letter reads: "Da Hai(Ocean), I hope no-one will get this bottle, as we just wish you can hear our voice, and get your blessing. Today is the Chinese Valentine's Day, we pray that our relationship will last forever and we will have a long happy life together..." Nicola said: "It sounds to me like the couple are in love but cannot be together so they have sent the message to tell the world of their love." When did Nicola and her daughter come across the message-in-bottle? Answer: For years I fought with the bird's nest that sat on top of my head-my Medusa hair.No matter what I did and how hard I tried, in no way could I make my unruly hair to my satisfaction. Growing up in a Russian-Jewish home with parents who thought North American styling products were something illegal such as drugs, I was never allowed to put them in my hair. "Why buy hair gel? Your hair is so beautiful naturally." my mother would say.The teens at school did not agree.From boys' not wanting to kiss me when we played spin the bottle in Grade 7 to being called the mop, I suffered from my hair. When I got to university, I believed my hair was a wall that stood between me and everything---finding a part-time job, getting a boyfriend, etc. If only I could find a way to manage the curls and put it behind bars, I told myself, I would feel secure and sexy.I tried everything: rollers, hairspray, gels and, at one point, an iron.Then, in my second year, a miracle happened.I was asked to be a hair model for Japanese hair straightening, a process by which the molecules of my curls would be broken and reset in a bone-straight position.I was the perfect candidate, the hairdresser told me.Although they said how hair relaxing could damage the scalp , for the next five years I didn't find them to be true. All of the hairdresser's promises were fulfilled: With my hair straight and smooth, I was no longer the " mop". However, there was extreme damage done to my wallet. To keep up the straightening cost $ 700 every six months, and that was considered cheap. While some people thought I was crazy, I was willing to do anything to never again feel like that anxious, curly-headed girl in Grade 7.But when I moved out of my parents' house at age 26 and rented an apartment, the upkeep of my new image became too costly. I couldn't hide from my inner Medusa any longer.It was time to hug her and let her fly.Seeking a choice, I turned to the Internet, Google.After hours of searching, I hit upon a "curly haired" salon, a place designed for girls like me. I doubted these so-called "Curl Ambassadors" could do anything without using machine of some sort, and though I bought the service called the "Curly-Doo", I suspected I'd have the same unruly mop at the end of the appointment. I dragged my feet so hard getting there that I arrived 45 minutes late.I secretly hoped they would turn me away.Instead, my stylist simply said: "You are very late.Let me see your hair". At that moment, my world and beliefs about myself were turned upside down along with my hair. As my head was in a basin full of freezing-cold water, then covered with a jelly-like jam, I wondered what I had got myself into. "Do you really think this will work?" I asked the stylist, Jones." My curls are a disaster." "No curly hair is hopeless," she replied."They just haven't found a way to work with it, that's all." After the hour was over, Jones had completed her work.She had styled my hair using only her hands, water and a mixture of organic jam.I couldn't believe what I was seeing in the mirror: a naturally curly, Medusa-free me.You could argue that hair is just hair. Yet, it is just such physical features that have such a large influence on how we view ourselves. According to Jones,75 percent of the population have a wave or curl in their hair and don't know what to do with it.Men cut theirs short.Women flat-iron theirs to death.When I read through a beauty magazine or take the subway to work, it makes me sad to see so many people repressing their natural beauty. Since then, my world has changed.I have always been outgoing, but these days I seem to be more outspoken and confident than ever.On top of that, friends and co-workers tell me I am looking better than ever, but they don't know the source of the change. I don't need to tell them. My Medusa hair speaks for herself. What was the reaction of the stylist in the salon when she saw the writer? Answer: This US competition is for camping related articles in which you share your tips, advice, experience, etc. Closing: When we've received 100 articles -- so you'd better be quick. Prizes: $100,$75,$25 -- all in VISA Gift Cards. How to enter our writing competition In your own words, write an article on a camping topic such as: how to's, reviews, tips and advice, or any topic camping related.The best articles will include useful information about camping, in an interesting and well-written way.Remember that it should be no less than 200 words. Other requirements 1.Fill in all the information required, including your article, on our webpage CampTrip.com and then submit it. 2.You must be 16 years old or over to take part in the competition. 3.You must be a student who is now studying in the US. And what's in it for you? We are giving out a VISA Gift Card for first, second and third best articles.Simply share your experience with others and try to win a VISA cash card.The writing competition is limited to 100 articles which gives you a better chance of writing.So why don't you take up this chance? It can be learned from the text that _ . Answer: Lang Lang, the young Chinese pianist, was born in Shenyang in 1982. He began to play the piano when he was 3. At the age of 5, he won first place in a piano competition in Shenyang. People thought he was a genius . From then on, playing the piano became the dream of Lang and his parents. When Lang was 9 years old, he and his father went to Beijing to study piano. His father even left his work. Although he endured great pressure , Lang never gave up his dream of becoming a concert pianist. When he was 17, Lang became famous after he played in a great concert in Chicago, US. Now 28-year-old Lang is famous all over the world for his great performances. He played at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He was also one ofTimesmagazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2009. He is one of the world's great musicians. What does Lang Lang do? Answer:
Question: If you want to make friends and form strong, lasting friendships, consider these suggestions. To make friends, you first need to put yourself out there somehow. Friends seldom come knocking on your door while you sit at home watching TV. Join a club with people who have common interests. You don't necessarily have to have a lot of common interests with people in order to make friends with them. In fact, some of the most rewarding friendships are between two people who don't have much in common at all, but if you have something in common with people, it can make it a lot easier to start a conversation and plan activities together. Use the web and get out! Websites like Meetup.com are aiming to bring people together with common interest. You can join any group or just start your own. If you don't know of a specific topic, try searching for just a location. It's a great way to meet new local people! Join a sports team. A common misconception about this is that you have to be really good at playing a particular sport in order to make friends with others on the team, but not all teams are so competitive. As long as you enjoy the sport and support your teammates, joining a local team with a laid-back attitude could be a great way to make new friends. Volunteer. Volunteering is a great way for people of all ages to meet others. By working together you build bonds with people, and you might meet others who have a passion for doing things the way you do. To make friends, besides spending more time around people, you also need to talk to people. Which of the following ways to make friends is NOT mentioned in this passage? A. Joining a club with people with common hobbies. B. Joining a sports team. C. Using the web and getting out. D. Being ready to help others. Answer: D Question: My friend Jack is a taxi driver. He has done this job for ten years. It's a nice job most of the time. He can meet a lot of people every day. He always works late into the night because there are lots of people calling his taxi during the night. He usually goes home after two o'clock in the morning. There are some very strange things, which often happen at night. One day Jack was taking a young lady back home from a party at three o'clock in the morning. She had her little dog with her. When they got to her house, she found that she had lost her key. So Jack waited in the taxi with the dog while she climbed into her house through the window. Jack waited for about half an hour outside, but the young lady didn't show up . So he decided to find out what was going on. He tied the dog to a tree and started to climb in through the window. At that moment some policeman came. They thought Jack was a thief who wanted to get into the house to steal things. Luckily, the young lady came downstairs. She must have gone to sleep and forgotten about my friend and the dog. The young lady took a little _ with her. A. cat B. dog C. pig D. rabbit Answer: B Question: Dear Frank, Thank you for your email. I'm very glad you are having a good trip now. Ottawa is very beautiful in May. I hope I can have a chance to go there one day. Our summer holiday will start next month. I like my summer holiday, although it's hot at that time in America. In summer holiday, I can swim in the sea and go fishing. It's so cool. And I am going to our hometown near Chicago with my sister, Linda, and my parents agree .Our uncle lives there, so Linda and I can stay with him. We are not going to take a plane. We are going there by train. I am going to fish there. And Linda likes painting. She is going to do some painting there. I'm sure we'll have a good time. Sincerely, Jack Jack's summer holiday will start from _ . A. March B. May C. June D. July Answer: C Question: To positively affect the environment A. cut down trees and shrubs B. drive a gas guzzling car C. use Styrofoam plates and cups D. cultivate dogwoods and oaks Answer: D Question: Malawi Lake Home to 1,000 species of fish, Malawi Lake is Africa's third largest lake at 363 miles long and up to about 50 miles wide in some spots. Located 2,300 feet below sea level, it supports hundreds of local villages with its rich underwater stock. The lake's southern area represents the world's first freshwater national park. A star of the water here is the mbuna, a native freshwater fish known for eating directly from people's hands. Peyto Lake Banff National Park's Peyto Park is brilliant turquoise . For the most dramatic views of the 1.7-mile-long lake, encircled with thick forest and dangerous mountain peaks, pull into at Bow Summit, the parkway's highest point, and follow the steep hike to the overlook. Crater Lake Thousands of years ago, a 12,000-foot-high volcano in the Cascade Range exploded. The massive pit left behind became known as Crater Lake. Forests of towering evergreens and 2,000-foot-high cliffs surround the lake. At 1,949 feet deep, it's the deepest lake in the United States. If winter hiking and cross-country skiing aren't your thing, wait until early July to visit, when the roads have been plowed and the trails cleared. Taal Lake This dangerous beauty, situated just 37.28 miles south of Manila, is the deepest lake in the Philippines, with a depth of 564feet. Taal Lake is also home to one of the world's smallest but most active volcanoes, the Taal Volcano, which sits within its water on the island of Luzon. The lake itself was formed when a larger volcano crater here collapsed. Plenty of tour groups offer trips to the natural wonder ---- in spite of the fact that the volcanoes are very active. If you want to visit the world's first freshwater national park, you should go to _ . A. Malawi Lake B. Taal Lake C. Peyto Lake D. Crater Lake Answer: A
A female opossum can give birth to 5-15 offspring. What increases with a larger litter? the likelihood that some will survive and reproduce Americans who volunteer for the Peace Corps get a chance to help improve lives in developing countries. They also get a chance to learn more about the world, and about themselves. This week this program is celebrating its 50th anniversary . President John Kennedy set up the Peace Corps soon after he took office in 1961. It was the time of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union . The new program gave Americans a chance to answer the call to service that the president made in his inaugural speech. "Ask not what your country can do for you," he said. "Ask what you can do for your country." Kennedy told Peace Corps volunteers that America's image in the countries where they were going would depend largely on them. On August 30th, 1961, the first group of 51 Peace Corps volunteers arrived in Accra, Ghana, to serve as teachers. They had agreed to work for almost no pay. They would spend two years in Ghana helping its people and learning the reality of life in a developing country. Most of the volunteers had just completed college. About half of them taught English or health care. In the 50 years since then, more than 200,000 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers. They have worked in 139 countries. The Peace Corps is a government agency that was created to promote world peace and friendship. There are three goals: First, to help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. Second, to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people served. And, third, to help promote a better understanding of other people on the part of Americans. Today, the Peace Corps has more than 8,000 volunteers and trainees in 77 countries. They work in agriculture, economic development, education, the environment and health care. Some work in programs related to youth development. Fifty percent of current Peace Corps volunteers are women. The average age of a volunteer is 28. But the ages of Peace Corps volunteers range from 18 to 86. Some Americans join the Peace Corps after they retire . Today seven percent of volunteers are over the age of 50. And 19 percent are members of minority groups. According to the text, volunteers and trainees help in the following fields EXCEPT _ . government In December in the northern hemisphere you need mittens Oxnard owned Goldacre, a tract of land, in fee simple. At a time when Goldacre was in the adverse possession of Amos, Eric obtained the oral permission of Oxnard to use a portion of Goldacre as a road or driveway to reach adjoining land, Twin Pines, which Eric owned in fee simple. Thereafter, during all times relevant to this problem, Eric used this road across Goldacre regularly for ingress and egress between Twin Pines and a public highway. Amos quit possession of Goldacre before acquiring title by adverse possession. Without any further communication between Oxnard and Eric, Eric continued to use the road for a total period, from the time he first began to use it, sufficient to acquire an easement by prescription. Oxnard then blocked the road and refused to permit its continued use. Eric brought suit to determine his right to continue use of the road. Eric should lose, because his use was with permission. The term "resume" means a document describing one's educational qualifications and professional experience. However, guidelines for preparing a global resume are constantly changing. The best advice is to find out what is appropriate regarding the company culture, the country culture, and the culture of the person making the hiring decision. The following list is a good place to start. In many countries, it is standard procedure to attach a photo or have your photo printed on your resume. Do not attach a photograph to your resume if you are sending it to the United States, though. Educational requirements differ from country to country. In most cases of "cross-border" job hunting, just stating the title of your degree will not be enough. Provide the reader with details about your studies and any related experience. Pay attention to the resume format you use--chronological or reverse-chronological order. If you find no specific guidelines, the general preference is for the reverse-chronological format, which means listing your current or most recent experience first. The level of computer technology and accessibility to the Internet varies from country to country. Even if a company or individual lists an e-mail address, there is no guarantee that they will actually receive your email. Send a paper copy of your resume, as well as the emailed copy, just to make sure that it is received. If you are writing your resume in English, find out if the receiver uses British English or American English because there are variations between the two versions. Although English is widely accepted today as being the universal language of business, most multinational companies will expect you to speak the language of one of the countries in which they do business, in addition to English. Have your resume prepared in both languages, and be ready for your interview to be conducted in both languages. Most companies will want to see and hear proof of your language skills. *Be aware that paper sizes are different in different countries. The United States standard is 81/2 by 11 inches, while the European A4 standard is 21 by 29.7 centimeters. When you send your resume by email, reformat it to the receiver's standard. Otherwise, when it is printed out, half of your material may be missing! The passage is most probably intended for _ . job hunters that seek careers abroad
Social Program: 22nd--26th August 2011 Monday Evening--Study Centre or Sports Park Study Center: The school will be open from 7.45 pm to 9.35pm. Sports Park: Aerobics, Swimming or Fitness Training (with a Fitness Card). Tuesday Evening--Cinema Cinema: To get your free ticket, you must write down which film you would like to watch. See the leaflet on the board for this evening's UCI Cinema program. For more information about the films, visit the UCI website www.uci.co.uk or see the film section in this week's Time Out magazine. Wednesday Evening--Study Centre of Tennis Coaching Study Center: The school will be open from 7.35 pm to 9.35 pm. Tennis Coaching: With former Junior Wimbledon tennis player Stuart Silvester. Thursday Evening--Chinese Party Chinese Party: Come along and enjoy the hospitality of the Chinese students! You can try delicious Chinese food and learn about Chinese traditions. Please note that you should eat your evening meal at your home-stay, as the food is a taster and not a full meal. Non alcoholic and alcoholic drinks will be served. Friday afternoon--Historical Walking Tour or Sports Parks Historical Walking Tour: This afternoon you will have the opportunity to visit parts of Norwich you may have otherwise missed, with a professional guide. In medieval times Norwich was the second most important city in England and this afternoon you can learn some of the interesting history of our fine city. Sports Park: Badminton, Basketball, Fitness Training (with a Fitness Card), Football, Squash, Swimming or Volleyball. Please sign early if you wish to play any of the sports listed above. From the passage we can infer that _ . A. students in the school can have access to computers B. students in the school only have morning classes C. the school often serves Chinese food to students D. every Friday afternoon the students will have a tour Answer: C. the school often serves Chinese food to students My 18-month-old son, Adam, called from the front door. "Look, Mama! Doggie!" I dropped what I was doing and stuck my head out the door. Brandy, our next-door neighbor's 11-year-old dog, was over again. "Go away!" I shouted. Brandy's owner had died about a month earlier. The woman's family had emptied the house and stuck a "For Sale" sign in the front yard, but the family had left old Brandy behind. For weeks, she'd been wandering around the neighborhood. It wasn't that I disliked dogs or anything like that. I just didn't think about them very much. I never had a dog growing up and had never thought to get one. Brandy went away and I stayed outside with Adam. Then the phone rang. I went inside to take the call. When I came back, Adam was gone. I searched the yard, front and back, then the basketball court and public pool. No trace of him. I was so nervous that I ran home and called the police, then my husband. Police searched the neighborhood. Suddenly I heard another sound: a dog barking. "It's coming from the woods," one of my neighbors said. We followed the barking to a wooded cliff . There we found my son, and he was just inches away from the edges of the cliff, fast asleep. Brandy was beside him, leaning against him to keep him away from the edge. When I picked Adam up, Brandy sank down on her side, breathing quickly. She must have been holding Adam there for hours! I thanked the police and brought Adam and Brandy back to our house. She hesitated a moment on our doorstep, no doubt remembering the time I'd driven her away. "Come on, girl," I said. "This is your home now." Brandy stepped in, and once she saw she was really welcome, she relaxed and lay down on the floor just inside the door. She'd done a great thing, and I wondered if she knew it . She'd certainly touched me in a way that no animal ever had. What a pity a dog like Brandy had been left behind! How were they able to know that the woman's son was near the cliff? A. By searching the neighborhood. B. By hearing a dog barking. C. By following a dog's footsteps. D. By hearing her son's crying. Answer: B. By hearing a dog barking. Soon it would be the holidays. But before that, there was the end of year exams. All the students worked hard for some time. If they didn't pass, they would have to take the exams in September again. Some students failed, but Kate decided not to be one of them. She worked hard all day, but just before the exams she was working so hard that her sister was worried about her. She was staying up too late . The night before the first exam, Barbala insisted that she should have an early night and take a sleeping pill. She promised to wake her in the morning. As she was falling asleep, Kate was worried in case she over-slept. Her mind kept jumping from subject to subject. At last, with the help of the pill, she fell asleep. she was sitting in the examination hall, looking at the paper. She couldn't answer any of the questions. Everyone round her was writing pages and pages. However hard she thought, she couldn't find anything to write about. She kept looking at her watch. Time was running out. There was only one hour left. She started one question, wrote two sentences, gave up and tried another one. With only half an hour left she wrote another two sentences. By this time she was so worried that she started crying. Her whole body shook(,). It shook so much that it woke her up. She was still in bed and it had all been a terrible dream. A minute later, Barbala called her name. Kate worked very hard before the exams for _ . A. she was very poor at her lessons. B. she decided to be the best one in her class. C. she didn't work hard all year. D. she didn't want to fail in them. Answer: D. she didn't want to fail in them. John was an old man who lived in New York City. John used to work at the Post Office before he quit. John has a grandson named Timmy. Timmy came to visit John and brought his friends David, Roger, and Bill. John gave them each a glass of lemonade to drink. Timmy wanted his friends to try his grandfather's meat soup. John was known to be a good cook. He enjoyed cooking burgers, fish, pizza, and soup. John's meat soup was his favorite recipe. John asked his grandson to go to the store to buy the food. He wanted Timmy to buy some meat. Timmy took some money from John and went to Kroger. Timmy thought of buying ground beef, chicken, turkey, and sausage. He bought three pounds of ground beef. He took it back to John, who had started making the soup in his kitchen. John cooked the ground beef and added it to the soup. They let the soup cook for two hours and then John tested it to see if it was ready to eat. The soup tasted delicious. Timmy and his friends loved it and told John they would be back for more. What did Timmy want his friends to try? A. fish B. pizza C. Soup D. burgers Answer: C. Soup Students learn their lessons in class. In class teachers teach them. Students sit in the classroom listening to the teacher. This is a way of learning. Is this the only way for students to learn something? Of course not. There is another way to learn: students can teach themselves. For example, if you can't remember something when you are doing your homework, you can look at your book to find the answer. This is a way to teach yourself. And it is not a difficult thing. We can do this at any place and at any time. How do you teach yourself? The first thing you must do is reading. Read something you are interested in. or you have to read. The second is that you must ask yourself questions. The question is something you don't understand, or you want to know more about. You can write down these questions. A clever student is usually good at asking questions. The third is to answer the question yourself by thinking hard, by reading the passage or other books, and sometimes by asking other people. This is the way of teaching yourself. And you must do this all by yourself. If you keep doing like for a long time, you are sure to succeed in your study. A clever student usually likes _ . A. asking questions B. answering questions C. finding answers D. teaching others Answer: A. asking questions
If my life were a movie, I would fast-forward through junior high.Like every junior high kid, I was struggling with who I was and how I would make my mark in life.But I was sure I was alone with these strange feelings. I was trying and failing in a number of things.I wanted to do well in athletics but had not yet figured out that would never happen.I wasn't academic enough to spell academic.I was trying to gain a spot as a new kid in school.All the while, I remember suffering the rejection of most of my peer, being cut from the basketball team, failing to play football that I so wanted to play.To be loved and accepted seemed to me at the time something I could never, in all my life, achieve. During that time I would go through the cafeteria line and eat alone, feeling unloved and unnoticed.As spring came, one day I was starting out the door and complaining that I had no one to eat with.Mom said to me, "If you want, you can come home for lunch." That day, when lunch came, it was a beautiful spring day in the hills of central Ohio.The bell rang at noon and I _ from the school and ran across the little village home to eat. That was in about 1972.thirty years ago.My mom sat across the table for about 15 minutes and looked at me and listened to me and three decades later I still remember those times with fondness.She just paid attention to me.It's a powerful thing to pay attention to people. I now know that I didn't need my stomach filled as much as I needed my emotional fuel tank refilled.I just needed a friendly place of warm acceptance for a few minutes a day.And refueling an emotional fuel tank is a good mother's specialty. Now you know a little more about how I see home.Home is a place where you don't have to sit alone and eat.Home is a place where people don't ignore you and avoid you.Moms are people who listen to you when no one else is interested.And moms don't ever think the small unexciting things you do don't matter.Moms don't laugh at your dreams.Good moms pay attention.Great moms fix you something warm to eat and pay attention. Which of the following statements about the author is TRUE? Answer: Once upon a time there was a boy monster named Jerry who lived in a train car at the railroad tracks. He had lived there all his life. Jerry's mother was named Marge, and she was 36. Marge raised Jerry at the railroad tracks because she wanted to keep him safe. She was afraid of the people who lived in the town nearby. The town was named Qarth, and 100 people lived there. Marge believed that the people of Qarth would attack them if they knew they were there. Qarth used to be filled with factories when Jerry was born. By the time Jerry was a teenager, most of the factories had gone away and most of the people worked on special new machines. They ate food from the fields outside of town. Their favorite food to eat was a special kind of corn. They didn't eat meat because nobody raised any farm animals. One day when he was 11, Jerry asked his mother who his father had been. His father's name was George, and he was 2 years older than Marge. Marge looked sad and told Jerry that George had left after he was born because the people in the town didn't like him. This made Jerry very sad. He went off to his corner of the car and didn't talk to Marge again until she went to bed. After she fell asleep he wanted to go out and look for his father. He packed some food and left. When Marge woke up she was upset, but she thought she knew where he had gone. What fear caused Marge to raise Jerry at the railroad tracks? Answer: It is a matter of common observation that although money income keeps going up over the years, we never seem to become richer. Prices are rising continuously. This condition is what we call inflation: the money supply is becoming inflated so that each unit of it becomes less valuable. We have got used to higher and higher rates of inflation in recent years. What could be bought twenty years ago for one pound now costs well over 2 pounds. And at present this rate of inflation seems to be rising rather than falling. If in the real world our money incomes go up at the same rate as prices do. One might think that inflation doesn't matter. _ When money is losing value it also loses one of the qualities of a good money--stability of value. It is no longer acceptable as a store of value; and it becomes an unsuitable means of delayed payment. Nobody wants to hold a wasting possession, so people try to get rid of money as quickly as possible. Inflation therefore simply stimulates our spending and discourages saving. .Under inflation people are likely to _ . Answer: Please excuse me if I'm a little sad today. Mark is leaving, and I'm feeling kind of sad. You probably don't know Mark, but you might be lucky enough to know someone just like him. He's been the heart and soul of the office for a couple of years combining great professional skills with a sweet nature. He just wants to do his job, and to do it superbly well. And now he's moving on to an exciting new professional opportunity. It sounds like it could be the chance of a lifetime, and we're genuinely, sincerely pleased for him. But that doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye to a dear friend and trusted colleague. Life has a way of throwing these curve balls at us. Just when we start to get comfortable with a person, a place or a situation. A terrific neighbor moves away. Someone in the family graduates. A child finds new love and loyalties through marriage. The family's principle bread-winner is laid off. But how do we do that? A friend of mine who works for the government once told me that the answer to life's problems can be summed up in four words: "Go with the flow." "It's like surfing," Chris explained. "You can't organize the ocean. Waves just happen. You ride them where they take you, then you paddle back out there and catch the next one. Sure, you're always hoping for the perfect wave where you can get. But mostly you just take them the way they come. I'm not exactly sure, but I think Chris was saying that life is a series of events--both good and bad. There will always be life-influencing factors over which you have no control. That doesn't mean you don't keep trying to make all your dreams come true. It just means that when things come up that aren't exactly in your plan, you work around them--and then you move on. Of course, some bumps along the road of life are easier to take than others. A rained-out picnic, for example, is easier to cope with than the sudden death of a loved one. But the principle is the same. We're going to miss Mark, just like you'll miss that graduate, that neighbor or that newlywed. But rather than drown ourselves in the sadness of our parting, we'll focus on our hopes for a brighter future--for him, and for us. And then we'll go out and do everything we can to make that future happen. The passage is mainly about _ . Answer: A young lady was driving alone through the street. It was dark and rainy. Suddenly she saw an old woman by the side of the road, holding up her hands as if she wanted a lift . "I can't leave her out in this weather," the young lady said to herself. She stopped her car and opened the door. "Do you want a lift?" she asked. The old woman nodded and got on the car. After a while, she said to the old woman, "Have you been waiting for a long time?" The old woman shook her head, "Strange" the young lady thought. She tried again, "Bad weather, isn't it?" The old woman nodded. Then the young lady noticed the old woman's hands, which were large and hairy. Suddenly she realized the woman was a man! She was frightened at first. Then she stopped the car. "I couldn't see out of the rear screen ,"she said, "Would you mind cleaning it for me?" "The old woman" nodded and opened the door. As soon as "she"got out of the car, the frightened young lady drove off as fast as she could. When she got home, she noticed "the old woman" had left her handbag behind, she picked it up and opened it. Inside there was a gun. From the story, we know the young lady was _ . Answer:
The World Health Organization and several other United Nations agencies are calling for a major new effort to fight malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS. These three infectious diseases killed almost 6 million people last year. That is about 10 percent of the total number of deaths around the world last year. The WHO and UN agencies released a new report at the World Economic Forum in New York City earlier this month. The document says that deaths around the world from malaria and tuberculosis could be cut in half by the year 2010. It also says the number of deaths from AIDS could be reduced 25 percent within that same time period. The report is called "Calling Up the Response to Infectious Diseases." It calls for huge new investments in methods to prevent and treat infectious diseases. Officials say money is needed for research and to purchase drugs. Money is also needed to devices to prevent diseases, such as bed nets. Bed nets prevent mosquitoes that carry malaria from biting people while they sleep. David Heymann, director of the infectious disease program at the World Health Organization, says that providing effective drug treatments is important for improving peoples' health and economic well - being. Reducing disease can also help improve economic growth in developing countries. The WHO report also describes successful health programs in developing countries. In Peru, for example, the number of tuberculosis cases was cut in half by increasing the treatment to control the disease. In Vietnam, malaria was reduced 97 percent through the use of bed nets. And in Uganda, cases of the virus that causes AIDS were cut in half among pregnant women and children through the use of anti - AIDS drugs. This new international health campaign is estimated to cost about 12,000 million dollars a year. So far, officials say the campaign has about 2,000 million dollars. The WHO says the campaign will need stronger relationships among government, private aid agencies, and drug companies to succeed. To fight the diseases, _ is necessary. Answer: The small number of newborn babies, which has been caused by high prices and the changing social situation of women, is one of the most serious problems in Asia. When people talk about it, you can hear a word invented in Japan. which means Double Income Kids . In many major Asian cities like Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo, the cost of a ****** is extremely high. A young couple who want to buy their own house may have to pay about $3000,000 (though prices have fallen). For a flat with one bedrooms, one dining-room, a kitchen, and a bathroom, the couple will pay about $900 a month. What's more, if they want to have a child, the child's education is very expensive. For example, most kindergarten charges are at least $5.000 a year. In such a situation, it's difficult to afford children. The number of married women who want to continue working because they enjoy their jobs. However, if they want to have children, they immediately have serious problems. Though most companies allow women to leave their jobs for a short time to have a baby, they expect women with babies to give up their jobs. In short, if they want to bring up children properly, both parents have to work, but it is hard for mothers to work. Indeed, women who want to contimue working have to choose between having children or keeping their jobs. In a word, Asian governments must take steps to improve the present situation as soon as possible. To buy a flat and send a child to kindergarten, how much will a couple pay each year? Answer: If you planning to study in the United States, you need to consider several factors . Everyone has different opinions about where is the best place to live in. Also, the best places to live in are not always home to the best schools. What's more, many schools specialize in different areas of study. They Massachusetts Institute of Technology, for example, is a great school for computer science. And if you want to study oceanography, your interests may be better served by attending school in a place which is near the ocean. Now I will tell you about which states I believe are the best to live in. California is a nice state. Northern California especially has very good weather. As for me, I enjoyed the time I spent in Massachusetts, Virginia and Mary land. These states have a lot of history and culture. The weather is not so perfect as that in California, but is still quite nice. My favourite of America is the Midwest. Middle America, I think, is home to the true American sense of values. Besides, there are many good universities, too. Also you need to think about your likes and dislikes and then research the different areas. You like sunshine and hate snow? Then you probably won't like the Midwest or even the Northeast. Open space, nature, peace and quiet? Then you'd better stay away from America's larger cities. Are you interested in government? Then Washington D.C. is the only place for you. Whatever you decide, put some thought into it. The writer likes Middle America best because _ Answer: A schoolboy, who has been unable to play sports, has found the perfect entertainment--snowboarding. Thomas Pettigrew is enjoying himself by performing difficult actions at freestyle events. The youngster can't join in PE lessons at school, because he suffers from a rare condition, which means his body dangerously overheats. This makes it difficult for his body to cool down naturally. But the ice-cool temperatures on the mountains mean Thomas can slide down the slopes freely. His father Richard came up with the idea of taking Thomas snowboarding in March, 2010. Now while other children look forward to playing outside in the sunshine, Thomas is applying his new activity at the Snow Zone in Castleford, in temperatures of about -5degC. Mr. Pettigrew said, "When Thomas tries most sports, he has to stop when he gets too hot but that never happens with snowboarding. I was surprised at how good he was when he started. He now goes every week for three or four hours. He's been so enthusiastic about his snowboarding that he's even persuaded me to have a go, so we can enjoy it together." Thomas's parents have spent the past 10 years watching the schoolboy for any signs of overheating, only taking him on holiday in the cooler months. "He has no energy and no interest in doing anything if he overheats and we do whatever it takes to cool his temperature, such as putting him in the car with the air conditioner working or running cold baths." Aiden Harington, head of the ski school at Snow Zone, said, "Snow sports are a great way for anyone to keep fit, but seem to be particularly beneficial to Thomas as he is able to make sure he stays cool. Thomas does very well in snowboarding, and he can now perform plenty of freestyle actions. I'm sure that he will continue to progress in the coming months, and hopefully take part in some of our freestyle events." According to the passage, Aiden Harington _ . Answer: Do You Want to Be an Artist? Do you want to be an artist? Come to our club. We have guitar, violin, piano and drum lessons for just Y=240 each. You can also learn to sing or dance for just Y=180 each. If you like art, you can be satisfied, too. Art lessons are just Y=200 each. How many instruments do you know in the ad? Answer:
Jimmy was 2 years old. One day his mom was out and his dad took care of him. Someone gave Jimmy a little tea set as a gift and it was one of his favorite toys. Dad was in the living room watching the evening news. Then Jimmy brought his dad a little cup of "tea". In fact, it was just water. After some cups of tea, his dad said to him, "Jimmy, you are a nice good boy. I love you." Later, Jimmy's mom came home. His dad made her wait in the living room to watch Jimmy bring him a cup of tea. "It's the cutest thing," he said to his wife. Mom waited. Jimmy came down the hall with a cup of tea for his dad. She watched him drink it up and laughed. Then she said: "Did you know that the only place he is tall enough to get water from is the toilet ?" Jimmy's dad was _ before Jimmy's mom came home. Answer: watching TV We probably all know people, either at work or in our personal lives, who are really good listeners. No matter what kind of situation we're in, they always seem to know just what to say and how to say it so that we're not offended or upset. We probably also know people who are masters at managing their emotions . They don't get angry in stressful situations. Instead, they have the ability to calmly look at a problem and find a solution. They take criticism well, and they know when to use it to improve their performance. People like these who have a high degree of emotional intelligence, or EI . They know themselves very well, and they're also able to sense the emotional needs of others. As more and more people accept that emotional intelligence is just as important to professional success as technical ability, companies are increasingly using EI when they hire and promote someone. For example, one large cosmetics company recently changed their hiring process for salespeople to choose candidates based on emotional intelligence. The result? Salespeople hired with the new system have sold, on average, $91,000 more than salespeople selected under the old system. Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize your emotions, understand what _ are telling you, and realize how your emotions affect people around you. Emotional intelligence also involves your perception of others: when you understand how they feel, this allows you to manage relationships more effectively. People with high emotional intelligence are usually successful in most things they do. Why? Because they are the ones that others want on their team. When people with high EI send an email, it get answered. When they need help, they get it. Because they make others feel good, they go through life much more easily than people who are easily angered or upset. The good news is that emotional intelligence can be taught and developed. Many books and tests are available to help you determine your current EI, and identify where you may need to do some work. Which statement is TRUE about people with high EI? Answer: They can understand others' feelings well. Tuesday, 1stSeptember I had mixed feelings today, nervous, worried, happy, excited... My heart went down when Miss Chan, our head teacher, said that Matthew and Beth, two students from England, would spend three months with us! I was worried that I had to speak English so much! But at the end of the school day, I was happier than I thought: the morning with them today was more enjoyable than I expected. Today is the most unforgettable first day I have had! Matthew is fantastic! His English is clearer and easier to listen to than I thought. The other English student, Beth, is the most helpful girl I've ever met. There were lots of things to do on the first day. Beth offered to help Miss Chan put up all the notices. Of course, some of the credit should also go to ME because I translated some of the notices for her. Miss Chan praised us! We finished all the preparations 10 minutes earlier than expected, then Beth and I talked for a while, Matthew sang several English songs and did some stand-up comedy at the party. We all praised him. When the bell rang to end the first school day, none of us wanted to leave. When I went back home, I had a little headache. I have probably spoken more English today than the whole of last year. It was really a happy day! I hope our friendship can continue, even after they gone back to England! Matthew _ at the party. Answer: sang several songs More than one in four children alive in Britain today will celebrate their 100thbirthday, official figures showed. The special figure shows a huge social change, with today's children likely to survive far longer than their parents or grandparents. Of the 12.4 million children aged 16 and under, 3.3 million(27%)will become someone who is a hundred years old or more. In a class of 30 children, eight can live to be 100. And the rest of the children are likely to get to an old age, even though they will not make it to three figures. Experts warned that children may live to 100, but that they will not get their State pension until they are 70 or beyond. The State pension age is rising to 66 for both men and women by 2020, and the Government has warned it will continue to rise. Laith Khalaf, a pension expert, said, "Living to an old age is lucky if you can afford it, but a _ if you can't. Those without enough savings will be depending on the State pension which will be changed." It also increases the possibility of millions of people surviving until their 100thbirthday with a poor quality of life because of poor health and little money. Millions of older people have no pensions, no savings and no plans about how they are going to pay for their retirement other than to carry on working. If the older population demands more resources ,then it has to come from their own wealth or the government. Laith said, "Millions of people will be spending over a third of their lives in retirement. It is high time that we reformed the State pension system. We want to make it fair for future generation." Why should the government at present reform the State pension system? Answer: The present pension system is unfair for future generation. In your life, there are a lot of people around you. They are your relatives, neighbors, friends or classmates. Sometimes you get along well with them, but sometimes don't. What can you do when someone hurts you? Most people may be angry or even fight with him. But it's not a good idea. You'd better forget all this and forgive(,) him. Maybe it's not easy for you to do that, but it's possible. Please remember: Keep a good mood, and you will keep healthy. Staying angry with others, in fact, means letting others' mistakes treat yourself unfairly. How can you forgive others? First, think of something pleasant and try to get yourself happy. Second, don't wait others to say sorry to you. If anyone hurts you, he won't say sorry to you. He may just want to hurt you or just don't see things the same way. Third, _ . You can understand their minds better and make yourself a little happier. At last, try to know yourself very well. Whose mistakes caused that, yours or others'? If it's your fault, try to say sorry to them. If it isn't, smile at the thing. ,. Forgiving others is _ according to the writer's opinion. Answer: possible
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 shelled 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",Mrs.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." Mrs.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,absolutely 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? SALT LAKE CITY--The Utah Jazz basketball team signed a 5-year-old.Free-agent player to a one-day contract for a special performance in October.The Utah Jazz has just made his dream come true.The boy has suffered from blood cancer since 2012. JP Gibson,who was diagnosed with severe blood cancer,signed his contract with Jazz President Randy Rigby before joining the team for the pre-season training play at Utah Jazz's sport center.JP was joined by his parents,Josh and Megan,and his 2-year-old sister,Elsie. The activity was hosted by the Jazz and photographer Jon Diaz's"Anything Can Be"project,which provides support and hope to families like the Gibsons.Jon Diaz asks children with cancer what their dreams and wishes are,and he writes their stories in a book. JP,wearing a No.1 shirt,even got to play in the play.He passed the ball,and Rudy obert,a player of Utah Jazz,lifted him up so he could dunk and shake hands with some players as fans were cheerful. "JP loves most sports,but basketball is absolutely his favorite," Megan Gibson said in a statement released by the Jazz."When he was just over one year old,he would sit with my husband,Josh,watching games.He started insisting on shooting hoops for an hour each night before bedtime when he was just 15 months old.He knows he has to be 6 before he can play Junior Jazz,and he reminds us all the time that he can't wait until he's 6." According to the passage,JP Gibson _ . Music is often thought of as "easy" or "play time", but it's not that at all. Music plays a very important part in our education. Students who learn music learn a lot of music history at school. This includes "modes ",which were used in churches during the development of music. They are still used today. Students learn about the historical events that were taking place when the music they play was written. They learn what the music was used for. So much of our culture is in music and has been for centuries. Music also helps with science. Students use science to help them discover what sounds good together and what doesn't. Students also need science to understand something called the "overtone series", which is about how music is produced by vibration and why. Students learn a lot about languages. Many songs are written in other languages, including ancient ones. Students must learn to translate these works to understand what they are singing about. Some songs are famous poems or short works set to music. Students learn a huge amount of coordination through music, so parts of the body can work better together. Students must use fine motor skills in order to play an instrument. Singers and players must learn breath control and be in good shape to play. Students learn about art. Some famous pieces were written about important works of art, and students learn about the artists and styles as they're playing the music. Music education also brings higher thinking to our children. It allows them to think about complex patterns (How can I make my part sound better?How do this music and these different parts fit together?). Students have to know absolutely what every other musician does at all times. In that way, it develops teamwork. As one can see, music is very important to education besides bringing us fun. Students who learn music have to translate songs _ . Stephen Hawking was one of the most famous scientists in this century. He was born in 1942. He's a world well-known on space and time. Stephen is researching some very big questions, such as: How did the universe begin? How will it end? Stephen was a student at Oxford University. He studied math and science. Then, at the age of twenty, he became sick. He was so young, but the doctors said to his family, "He has only two more years to live." As a matter of fact, the doctors were wrong---- he didn't die. He can't walk now but he uses a wheelchair . He can't feed himself and get in or out of bed himself. But he refused to give in to the condition. He talks with the help of a computer. After Oxford, Stephen went to Cambridge University. Three years later, in 1965, he became a doctor of philosophy . Because of his serious health problems, it was difficult for him to draw diagrams or to write. So he started to think in pictures. With this new way of thinking, he became one of the most famous scientists in the world. In 1991, he met the Pope in Rome. They talked about his ideas. Then in 1998, he wrote his first important book, A Brief History of Time. It sold more than 5.5 million copies in 33 different languages. He was once invited to China, he impressed us with his self-confidence, humorous and witty conversation. A Brief History of Time is _ . Not long ago the movie 2012 came into screen. The people were threatened by those scenes of destroying flood, severe earthquake, terrifying hurricane and constructions representing human civilization being destroyed and even swallowed by disaster. Luckily, they are just the director' s imagination, but the present situation is not heading a positive direction, either. Take my own experience in Alaska as an example. Once I took a trip to the glacier. Along the way there stood signposts marking the snow lines of different years. They started from the foot of the mountain, but it was at the top when I finally saw melting glaciers . My heart ached seeing the beautiful blue ice melting at every second. Sad but true, they are the effects of global warming and the result of our human impact. Furthermore, each year the rising sea level will kill 56 million people, and that's about the population of the entire Italy. According to studies, if the temperature keeps on rising like this, by the year 2050, some islands and coastal cities including New York, Shanghai, Tokyo and Sydney will be drowned in water. Our fortune is in our own hands. It depends on us to shape our future, to reduce future human impact and find ways to form a peaceful relationship with our environment. Therefore, it's time for actions to be taken right now. Contribute a little to energy saving by using more efficient light bulbs and less hot water. Let recycle become our habit by thinking twice before throwing something away. Let us take public transportation as our first choice when going to a certain place. It might cost more time for now, but it' s to the benefit of a permanent future. Take care of every tree and grass around us by watering them or simply just avoid destroying them. In a word, _ The earth does not belong to us. On the contrary, we belong to the earth. Please bear in mind that the earth is our home. It is our responsibility to build a brighter and better future of our planet and prevent what happened in the movie 2012 from becoming reality. According to the passage, you are advised to _ .
A teenager realized her dream of becoming a professional model three years after a serious car accident. Marita Davies was on her way home from a party when the crash happened. The car that Marita took as a passenger was going the wrong way and crashed into another car driven by a drunken driver named David Hudson, which left her with a broken leg and back. It took the firefighters more than two hours to free the teenager from the damaged car before she was taken to hospital. Marita was in a wheelchair for a year after being bed-ridden for nine months. Marita feared her dream of a modeling career was over. She said, "I was extremely upset and shocked when I knew about my terrible injuries. I thought my dream of becoming a model was over. My leg and back were broken. The crash had broken my confidence and I became quiet and spent less time with other people. I was 16, and at that age all I wanted to do was to go out with my friends." But as her health took a turn for the better, Marita finally came out of the wheelchair and learned to walk. She decided she would still try to follow her dreams, and sent some photos off to some modeling agencies. She did a few unpaid jobs while studying at college. Soon, paid commercial modeling jobs started coming in. Marita was a bit doubtful at first, because the crash had left her with huge scars on her leg and back. She was worried that people wouldn't want her to model for them, but this didn't stop her. Marita had done amazingly well to overcome everything that had been thrown at her in the three years. Finally, Marita became a professional model in 2013. She was signed up for advertising campaigns and appeared in TV ads. The passage is intended to _ . A. prove modeling is a promising career. B. warn people not to drive after drinking C. suggest having a dream is a good thing D. praise Marita's spirits to overcome difficulties Answer: D. praise Marita's spirits to overcome difficulties Dyslexia is a problem that restricts the ability to recognize words and connect sounds with letters when people read. People with this learning disorder may also have problems when they write. Dyslexia is not related to eyesight or intelligence. The problem involves areas of the brain that process language. Brain scientists are studying whether they can predict which young children may struggle with reading to provide them with early help. John Gabrieli at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is leading the study of five-year-olds in about twenty schools in the Boston area. They studied in the schools with kindergartens. And for all the children joining in the study, they give them a brief set of paper-and-pencil tests to look at which children appear to be at some risk for struggling to read. So far, fifty of them have been examined in a scanner, a special machine, to show brain activity. Written tests are not always able to identify dyslexia or other problems, while brain scans may offer a more scientific way to identify problems. And with reading problems, early identification is important. When it comes to helping children overcome reading difficulties, the younger the child, the more effective they are. Reading problems are not usually identified until a child is in the third or fourth grade. The later children are recognized as poor readers, the less treatment can help. And, as Professor Gabrieli points out, poor reading can make education a struggle. Reading is everything. Even math and science have textbooks. While the children are given tasks related to reading, the brain scans measure the extent to which certain parts of the brain become active while the children do the work. The scientists say they are pleased with early results from the study, but have a long way to go. Dyslexia affects the part of brain concerning _ . A. eyesight B. intelligence C. language D. emotion Answer: C. language What a week it's been for Jeremy Lin! With five breakout games, the Taiwanese-American has become the NBA's newest playmaking sensation . In the New York Knicks' 92-85 win over the Los Angles Lakers last Saturday, Lin had 38 points--a record high in his career so far. And a day later, he led the Knicks to their fifth straight victory , 100-98, to Minnesota Timberwolves. In his earlier games, Lin, 23, had 23 points against the Washington, 25 points against New Jersey and 28 more against Utah in his first start. No doubt, Lin fever is starting to spread. If you haven't caught it yet, get ready, because it's coming, as the Knicks depends on the rising star for their final victory. Before graduating from high school in Palo Alto, California, Lin sent his basic personal information to all the Ivy League Schools. He only got into Harvard and Brown, and he chose Harvard. In 2010, Lin graduated with a degree in economics . After graduating from Harvard, Lin wasn't accepted by any NBA team. Later, he started off on the Golden State Warriors. Lin first signed with the Warriors in July, 2010, but hardly played in games before the start of the fourth quarter. His first time on the court for the Warriors scored several points in just eleven minutes. New York Knicks has been in need of a dependable point guard and to Mike D'Antoni, the Knicks coach who is going through a hard season, Lin is a most unexpected valuable player. "Lin just does everything easy and the rest of the players around him are playing the way we want to play," D'Antoni said. "I think it's serious, and it can only get better." In which game did Lin got the highest scores according to the passage? A. The fifth game. B. The fourth game. C. The second game. D. The first game. Answer: B. The fourth game. It is a wonderful morning,as I write this:hot,but without being too hot. Outside my window,I can see the sunniest sky of the year reflected in a huge natural expand of water. It is the kind of sun that makes you well aware of summer's temporary nature --a reminder that if I am ever to go around to book this year's holiday,time is running out . It is now close to four years since I last took a holiday. This is because I have come to the conclusion, over the course of my adult life, that I am not very good at it. _ What could possibly be difficult about the natural act of putting your working life on hold for a couple of weeks and going somewhere to do nothing? So what is my problem? On the surface, I'm probably a bit of homebody. And I just find the pressure of being on holidy too severe: it always feels like having a gun held to my head and being forced to have fun. Somehow, packing a carefully itemized list of possessions and meeting a scheduled flight has none of the excitement of suddenly deciding to take a day off and driving somewhere for the fun of it. Thankfully, I am not alone. This summer, most of my friends have decided not to have a break. And a recent survey highlighted the downside of holidays, with the results shoeing that nearly two thirds of people found that the calming effects of a holiday wore off within 24 hours, as stress levels returned to normal. And this year's the Idler magazine published its book of awful holidays .Here you will find a list of the five most ecologically--damaging vacations it's possible to take, along with 50 horrible holidays experiences voted for on the idler website. Over the last decade, The Idler has become well known for promoting the idea of an easy, lazy life. The leisure industry might seem an unlikely target of its criticism, but Dan Kienan, the book's editor, says that he was flooded with entries from readers for his list of awful holidays. The writer takes the book of Awful Holidays as an example to _ . A. damage the reputation of the magazine B. prove his idea to be more popular than expected C. indicate that his dislike of holidays is widely shared D. foucs entirely on bad personal experiences of holidays Answer: C. indicate that his dislike of holidays is widely shared Put yourself in these tourists' position. You are walking an icy mountain path in the Alps in Europe. Suddenly you spot a body on the ground,face downward and stuck to the ice. You think someone may have been murdered or in an accident. So you rush back and call the police. The police,however,quickly realize that this body is different from others they've found on the mountain. For one thing,it is mostly undamaged. For another,its skin is dried out,like a mummy's. And with it is a knife with a small stone knife. The body turned out to be much older than the tourists could have guessed. When specialists had a chance to examine it,they discovered it had been there for about five thousand years! How could a body stay preserved for all this time?Two things probably helped. First,the place where the man died was somewhat sheltered,so animals couldn't get at it. Then he was quickly covered by falling snow. Wind blowing through the snow probably "freezedried" his body,removing all _ from it. Objects found with the body told something about the Iceman's life. He wore a thick fur overcoat and trousers. He clearly had been hunting,for he carried arrows,and animal bones were nearby. He also had a grass cushion for sitting or sleeping on. Perhaps he was exhausted when he lay down for the last time. The body was found in 1991,when some of the ice on the mountain melted. Searching for the cause of the Iceman's death,scientists put the body back into cold conditions and hoped... In this passage the word "moisture" means _ . A. skin B. nutrition C. water D. heat Answer: C. water
Some strange,wi1d and wonderful stories color1ed the news in 2011: A Copenhagen bus company has put "love seats" on its vehicles for people looking for a partner." Even love at first sight is possible on the bus",said a spokesman to explain the two seats on each bus that are covered in red cloth and a "love seat "sign . Shoppers at an international fair in Verona,Italy,found a cellphone-equipped golden coffin among the items on display.The phone will help" the dead" contact s if they have been buried alive by mistake. A man in New York came up with a disarming way to set off his latest bank heist ,approaching the clerks window with a large bunch of flowers and handing over a hold-up note saying "give me the money"! An Englishman who lost all his legs and arms in an electrical accident successfully swam across the Channel, a challenge he had been preparing for two years.The whole cost is 400 dollars. A set of artificial teeth made for British war-time prime minister Winston Churchill known as "the teeth that saved the world "sold for nearly 18,OOO pounds(21,500 euros,24,OOO dollars)at auction. A British woman caused an Internet hate campaign after she was caught on camera dumping a cat in a rubbish bin.She was fined 250 pounds(280 euros,400 dollars) after admitting guilty. The BBC apologized completely and without any doubts after a radio presenter jokingly announced that Queen Elizabeth II had died. TWO Australian men who needed surgery after shooting each other in the bottoms during drinking to see if it would hurt were charged 400 dollars separately. What is special about the coffin in the second news? A. It is golden. B. It has many items. C. It has a cell phone. D. It can hold a person alive. Answer: C Some schools have programs to recycle paper products such as student papers, newspapers, and cardboard boxes. Which of these statements describes a positive effect of recycling paper products? A. Schools need to buy less paper. B. Fewer trees need to be cut. C. Landfills have less room for other trash. D. Recycling consumes more energy than making new paper. Answer: B How to Be a Better Student Maybe you are a common student. You probably think you will never be a top student. This is not necessary so, however. Anyone can become a better student if he or she wants to. Here's how: Plan your time carefully. When you plan your week, you should make a list of things that you have to do. After making this list, you should make a schedule of your time. First set your time for eating, sleeping, dressing, etc. Then decide a good, regular time for studying. Don't forget to set aside enough time for entertainment. A weekly schedule may not solve all your problems, but it will force you to realize what is happening to your time. Find a good place to study. Look around the house for a good study area. Keep this space, which may be a desk or simply a corner of your room, free of everything but study materials. No games, radios, or television! When you sit down to study, concentrate on the subject. Make good use of your time in class. Take advantage of class time to listen to everything the teachers say. Really listening in class means less work later. Taking notes will help you remember what the teacher says. Study regularly. When you get home from school, go over your notes, review the important points that your teacher is going to discuss the next day, read that material. This will help you understand the next class. If you do these things regularly, the material will become more meaningful, and you will remember it longer. Develop a good attitude about tests. The purpose of a test is to show what you have learned about a subject. They help you remember your new knowledge. The world won't end if you don't pass a test, so don't be over worried. There are other methods that might help you with your studying. You will probably discover them after you have tried these. What is the purpose of a test according to the writer? A. To help you solve some problems. B. To make us become better students. C. To discover if you are interested in a subject. D. To show what you have learned about a subject. Answer: D This is a true story from Guyana. One day, a boy took a piece of paper from a box. He made a paper ball and pushed it into his nose. He couldn't get it out. He ran crying to his mother. His mother couldn't get the paper out, either. A week later, the paper was still in the boy's nose. His nose began to have a bad smell. So his mother took the boy to a hospital. The doctor looked up at the child's nose, but she couldn't get the paper out. She said she had to cut the boy's nose to get the paper out. The boy's mother came home looking sad. She didn't want her child to have his nose cut. The next day she took the boy to her friend Sidney who lived in a house with an old lady called May. May wanted to see the child, so the child let her look up his nose. "Yes, I can see it," May said. "It will be out soon." As she spoke, she shook some black pepper on the child's nose. The child gave a mighty sneeze and the paper flew out. His mother was surprised. May told his mother to take the boy to the seaside for a swim, for the salt water would go up his nose and stop the bad smell. So the lucky boy didn't have to go to the hospital to have his nose cut. Which of the following is TRUE? A. The doctor helped to take the paper ball out of the boy's nose. B. May succeeded in taking the paper out. C. The boy's mother found some black pepper to solve the problem. D. The boy had to have his nose cut at last. Answer: B A cat jumps when startled by a loud noise. This is an example of an organism A. sensing and responding to its external environment B. sensing and responding to its internal environment C. changing and controlling its external environment D. changing and controlling its internal environment Answer: A
Everybody has had at least one experience from which he knows the meaning of life.This time, which took place several years ago, but seems as if it just happened. On an afternoon several years ago, my brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's dress and picked out a beautiful skirt."Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least 8 or 9 years ago.She never wore it.She was saving it for a special occasion." he said.I guess this was the occasion: it was the funeral of my sister, after her unexpected death. He took the shirt and put it on bed, with the other clothes we were taking to the funeral.Then he closed the drawer and turned to me, "Don't ever save anything for a special occasion.Every day you're alive is a special occasion." I'm thinking about his words, and they've changed the way I live my life.I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings.Whenever possible, life should be a kind of experience to enjoy, not to suffer."Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their importance on my vocabulary.If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing,I want to see and hear and do it now. Ever since that day, I have been trying very hard not to put off, hold hack or save anything that would add laughter and color to our lives.Every morning when I open my eyes.I tell myself that every day, every minute, every breath, truly is a gift.So every day and find the true meaning of your life. What does the author write this passage for? Answer: To tell people to cherish every day and find the meaning of life. In the summer of 1980 a Spanish tourist, Gaspar Carner, went to prefix = st1 /Great Britainon holiday. When he was travelling in Scotland, he decided to visit Loch Ness, the famous lake where people say there is a monster . But while he was going across the lake in a boat, his bag fell into the water. In the bag were his passport , car keys, pen, and all his money. Loch Ness is 150 metres deep, so he didn't expect to see the bag again! Fourteen years later, in 1994, some scientists decided to explore the lake. They looked for the Loch Ness monster. Suddenly one of them saw something black in the water. They carefully went nearer. They thought the black thing was the monster. They went nearer and nearer. It was a bag. They took the bag out of the lake. They found that the photo on the passport was still clear. One of the scientists knew Gaspar Carner. So the bag was returned to him. Carner visited Loch Ness _ . Answer: on holiday In my second year of high school, the class was scheduled to run the mile. when the coach yelled, "Ready. Set. Go!", I rushed out like an airplane, faster than anyone else for the first 20 feet. I made up my mind to finish first. As we came around the first of four laps, there were students all over the track . By the end of the second lap, many of the students had already stopped. They had given up and were on the ground breathing heavily. As I started the third lap, only a few of my classmates were on the track. By the time I hit the fourth lap, I was alone. Then it hit me that nobody had given up. Instead, everyone had already finished. As I ran that last lap, I cried. And 12 minutes, 42 seconds after starting, I crossed the finishing line. I fell to the ground. I was very upset. Suddenly my coach ran up to me and picked me up, yelling, "You did it. Mark! You finished, son. You finished" He looked at me straight in the eyes, waving a piece of paper in his hand. It was my goal ( ) for the day which I had forgotten. I had given it to him before class. He read it aloud to everyone. It simply said, "I, Mark Brown, will finish the mile run tomorrow, come what may." My heart lifted. My tears went away, and I had a smile on my face as if I had eaten a banana. My classmates clapped. It was then I realized winning isn't always finishing first. Sometimes winning is just finishing. We can learn from the passage that _ . Answer: Finally Mark was happy because he achieved his goal that day International Students' Orientation Programme What is it? It is a course which will introduce you to the College and to Bingham. It takes place in the week before term starts, from 24th-28thSeptember, but you should plan to arrive in Bingham on the 22ndor 23rdSeptember. Why do we think it is important? We want you to have the best possible start to your studies and you need to find out about all the opportunities that college life offers. It will enable you to get to know the college, its facilities and services. You will also have a chance to meet staff and students. How much will it cost? * International students (non-European Union students) For those students who do not come from European Union (EU) countries, and who are not used to European culture and customs, the progamme is very important and you are strongly advised to attend. Because of this, the cost of the programme, without accommodation, is built into your tuition fees. * EU students EU students are welcome to take part in this programme without accommodation for PS195. Accommodation costs (international and EU students) The cost of accommodation for one week is PS165 If you have booked accommodation for the year ahead (41 weeks) through the college, you do not have to pay extra for accommodation. You can ask us to pre-book accommodation for you one week only in a hotel with other International students. What is included during the programme? Meals: lunch and an evening meal are provided as part of the programme. Please note that breakfast is not available. Information: including such topics as accommodation, health, religious matters, study skills, and other necessary information. Social activities: including a welcome party and a half day trip round Bingham. Who is encouraged to attend the course according to the ad? Answer: Those who are not familiar with their future college. Two young artists named Sue and Joanna shared a studio apartment in the Greenwich Village area of New York, trying to realize their dreams. In November pneumonia killed many people. Unluckily, Joanna fell ill, too. One morning, a doctor examined Joanna and then spoke with Sue in another room. "She has decided that she has no chance. All we can do is give her a strong will to live." Holding back her tears, Sue went to Joanna's room. Joanna lay with her face toward the window, eyes wide open. She was counting something backward. "Twelve," she said, and a little later "eleven" until "five," almost together. Sue looked out of the window. What was there to count? There was a wall covered with an old ivy vine growing half way up it. The cold breath of autumn has stricken the leaves from the vine until it was almost bare. "Five what, dear?" asked Sue. "Leaves. On the ivy vine. When the last one falls I must go, too." "Oh, Don't be silly." Said Sue, "You will get better." "There goes another one. I want to see the last one fall before it gets dark." "Try to sleep." said Sue. "I must call Mr. Behrman up to be my model for my drawing of an old miner. Don't try to move until I come back." Old Behrman was a poor painter who lived in the building. For years he had always been planning to paint a work of art, but had never yet begun it. He earned a little money by serving as a model to artists who could not pay for a professional model. Sue found Behrman in his room. In one area was a blank canvas that had been waiting twenty-five years for the first line of paint. Sue told him about Joanna and how she feared that her friend would float away like a leaf. "What!" Old Behrman was angered at such an idea. "How silly! Just take me to her room." Joanna was sleeping when they went in. A cold rain was falling, mixed with snow. The next morning, Sue awoke after an hour's sleep. She found Joanna staring at the covered window. "Pull up the shade; I want to see." Sue obeyed. "It's the last leaf," said Joanna. "It will fall today, and I will go with it." When night came, the rain began to fall again with a strong wind. The next morning, Joanna demanded that the window shade be raised. The ivy leaf was still there. Joanna lay for a long time, looking at it. And then she called Sue, "I have been a bad girl. I'm so wrong. Now I want to get well and paint again." The doctor came to see Joanna in the afternoon. He told Sue "Joanna is improving. Now I must see Behrman. Pneumonia, too, very ill. Little hope for him." Later that day, Sue came to Joanna, and put one arm around her. "Mr. Behrman died of pneumonia in the hospital today. He was sick only two days. When someone went into his room, Behrman was lying there with his shoes on. His shoes and clothes were all wet. Nobody knew why." "Oh, poor Behrman!" Cried Joanna. "See the last leaf on the wall," said Sue, " It looks like a real leaf, doesn't it? " "A real leaf ? " "Ah, darling, it is Behrman's masterpiece -- he painted it there the night when the last leaf fell." Which words can best describe Old Behrman? Answer: Poor but noble.
Question: As researchers learn more about how children's intelligence develops, they are increasingly surprised by the power of parents.The power of the school has been replaced by the home.To begin with, all the factors which are part of intelligence--the child's understanding of language,learning patterns, curiosity--are established well before the child enters school at the age of six.Study after study has shown that even after school begins, children's achievements have been far more influenced by parents than by teachers.This is particularly true about learning that is languagerelated.The school rather than the home is given credit for variations in achievement in subjects such as science. In view of their power, it's sad to see so many parents not making the most of their child's intelligence.Until recently parents had been warned by educators who asked them not to educate their children.Many teachers now realize that children cannot be educated only at school and parents are being asked to contribute both before and after the child enters school. Parents have been particularly afraid to teach reading at home.Of course,children shouldn't be pushed to read by their parents, but educators have discovered that reading is best taught individually--and the easiest place to do this is at home.Many fourand fiveyearolds who have been shown a few letters and taught their sounds will compose single words of their own with them even before they have been taught to read. Researchers conclude that _ . A. it is with the help of the teachers that children have an understanding of language B. curiosity is formed after the children enter school C. children's learning patterns are developed at the early age D. only the school can give children the opportunity to make achievements Answer: A Question: If your dog looks pleased to see you - it is probably because it loves the particular way you smell. The odour of a familiar human apparently lingers like perfume in the animal's brain - where it triggers an instinctive emotional response, research published yesterday reveals. Our scent acts on a part of the canine brain associated with reward and the strongest reactions are produced by humans that pets know best, say scientists in America. Gregory Berns, of Emory University in Atlanta, said: 'While we might expect that dogs should be highly tuned to the smell of other dogs, it seems that the "reward response" is reserved for their humans. 'When humans smell the perfume or cologne of someone they love, they may have an immediate, emotional reaction that's not necessarily cognitive. 'Our experiment may be showing the same process in dogs. But since dogs are so much more olfactory than humans, their responses would likely be even more powerful than the ones we might have. 'It's one thing when you come home and your dog sees you and jumps on you and licks you and knows that good things are about to happen. 'In our experiment, however, the scent donors were not physically present. Why do animals avoid pylons? Because they emit terrifying flashes of light that are INVISIBLE to humans. Dolphins use sponges to protect their sensitive noses while foraging for food on the sea floor 'That means the canine brain responses were being triggered by something distant in space and time. It shows that dogs' brains have these mental representations of us that persist when we're not there.' The university's experiment - the first of its type - involved 12 dogs of various breeds who underwent brain scans while five different scents were placed in front of them. The scent samples came from the subject itself, a dog the subject had never met, a dog that lived in the subject's household, a human the dog had never met, and a human that lived in the subject's household. The familiar human scent samples were taken from someone else from the house other than the handlers during the experiment, so that none of the scent donors were physically present. The results showed that all five scents elicited a similar response in parts of the dogs' brains involved in detecting smells. Responses were significantly stronger for the scents of familiar humans, followed by that of familiar dogs. The findings, which were published in the journal Behavioural Processes, showed that dogs reacted strongest to the scent of a familiar human even when they were not there. Pets trained as help or therapy dogs showed greater brain activity than the other dogs in the test. Researchers say the findings could improve the way animals who assist wounded veterans or disabled people are selected. What's the purpose of Emory university's experiment ? A. To study dog's reaction while five different scents were placed in front of them. B. To learn how to get along well with dogs C. To know how to tell the difference between dogs D. To improve the way animals who assist wounded veterans or disabled people are selected. Answer: A Question: I remember a day when I was a little kid. I was making a sandwich in the kitchen when I noticed the date on one of the wine bottles. " Dad, dad!" I cried. "This wine is too old to drink." " Son, hold on," he said. " No, you can't drink this tonight! This bottle of wine was made 10 years ago." " Wait, let me tell you..." " Would you like me to throw it away fro you?" I asked. " Son, wait a second," he said. "Son, some wines get better over time. The longer you wait to drink it, the better it will be. Although this may seem strange, it is true." When I was young, I didn't have any understanding of what this meant, but now, this would have been very helpful to remember as I went through my teenage years. In our society, we forget this simple rule: The longer you want for certain things, the better they will be. But we want the best job as quickly as possible; we want to graduate from college in as few years as possible; we even speed through our homework just to chat with friends. When we do this, we lose something of great importance. We all want to get to the next step so quickly that perhaps we don't get ready enough to get there. This has a negative effect on our society. When trying to go to the right college, we will do anything to get in and when we rush through our class-work, we may not study enough for the test, and end up failing. We need to be ready for whatever comes, ready for the unexpected. Wine gets better over time, so do the things in our paths of life. Which of the following best reflects the main idea of the passage? A. Well begun is half done. B. More haste, less speed. C. Failure is the mother of success. D. Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. Answer: B Question: Every so often, birds, just like humans, do what it takes to feel really, really good. The bird version is to sit on an anthill so that hundreds of ants climb all over their bodies, or even better, some birds pick up mouthfuls of pressed ants and rub themselves all over. Afterwards, the birds either eat the ants or set them free. Scientists call this "anting." It's a common bird practice, and is especially done by the smarter birds. Ravens do it. Magpies do it. However, birds aren't the only animals that use anting --- squirrels, cats, and hedgehogs have all been observed doing the same sort of thing! Why birds "ant" is something of a mystery, but one thought is acceptable. Ants have defensive secretions , chemical weapons they use to fight off other insects and bacteria. So pressed ants help the birds drive the insects away. Similarly, if you cover your body with them, you can move through the forest without worrying about being bitten by insects. Plus, ants are cheap. They are around. However, we have a better explanation. Birds "ant" a lot in spring and summer. For many birds, that's the season for birds to change feathers. So maybe ant secretions are like bath oil; they comfort the skin during feather replacement. A British scientist once declared "the purpose of anting the stimulation and comfort of the body," and that the general effect "is similar to that gained by man from the use of outside stimulants, and perhaps also smoking." And like cigarettes, anting can become a habit. Another study compares anting to "the human habits of smoking and drug taking," and says, "it is enjoyed for the feeling of excitement it results in. So once experienced, it is difficult to stop." That's why you often see mother birds shouting at their babies who come near their first anthill. "Stay away from there, child... Don't touch those ants!" they cry. I don't speak Raven. Or Magpie. But I have been a parent. So some things I know. The text is most probably taken from a _ . A. popular science magazine B. short-story collection C. research paper D. personal diary Answer: A Question: New vaccines for diseases are being developed all the time. How do vaccines most likely help people? A. Vaccines help prevent illnesses. B. Vaccines keep the environment cleaner. C. Vaccines help cure people who are sick. D. Vaccines kill bacteria that cause infections. Answer: A
At the heart of the debate over illegal immigration lies one key question: are immigrants good or bad for the economy? The American public overwhelmingly thinks they're bad. Yet the agreement among most economists is that immigration, both legal and illegal, provides a small net boost to the economy. Immigrants provide cheap labor, lower the prices of everything from farm produce to new homes, and leave consumers with a little more money in their pockets. So why is there such a discrepancy between the perception of immigrants' impact on the economy and the reality? There are a number of familiar theories. Some argue that people are anxious and feel threatened by an inflow of new workers. Others highlight the stress that undocumented immigrants place on public services, like schools, hospitals, and jails. Still others emphasize the role of race, arguing that foreigners add to the nation's fears and insecurities. There's some truth to all these explanations, but they aren't quite sufficient. To get a better understanding of what's going on, consider the way immigration's impact is felt. Though its overall effect may be positive, its costs and benefits are distributed unevenly. David Card, an economist at UC Berkeley, notes that the ones who profit most directly from immigrants' low-cost labor are businesses and employers --meatpacking plants in Nebraska, for instance, these producers' savings probably translate into lower prices at the grocery store, but how many consumers make that mental connection at the checkout counter? As for the drawbacks of illegal immigration, these, too, are concentrated. Native low-skilled workers suffer most from the competition of foreign labor. According to a study by George Borjas, a Harvard economist, immigration has reduced the wages of American high-school dropouts by 9%. Among high-skilled, better-educated employees, however, opposition was strongest in states with both high numbers of immigrants and relatively generous social services. What worried them most, in other words, was the financial burden of immigration. That conclusion was reinforced by another finding: that their opposition appeared to soften when that financial burden decreased, as occurred with welfare reform in the 1990s, which curbed immigrants' access to certain benefits. The irony is that for all the overexcited debate, the net effect of immigration is minimal. Even for those most acutely affected -- say, low-skilled workers, or California residents -- the impact isn't all that dramatic. "The unpleasant voices have tended to dominate our perceptions," says Daniel Tichenor, a professor at the University of Oregon. "But when all those factors are put together and the economists calculate the numbers, it ends up being a net positive, but a small one." Too bad most people don't realize it. What is the chief concern of native high-skilled, better-educated employees about the inflow of immigrants? A. It may change the existing social structure. B. It may pose a threat to their economic status. C. It may decrease .their financial burden. D. It may place a great pressure on the state budget. Answer: D Many children love to play with snow in winter. But Long Chuan has come to hate it. This year his hometown suffered from snowstorms for nearly a month. The heavy snow stopped cars and trains, broke the electricity tower and turned tap water to ice. Every day Long Chuan had to walk several kilometers to carry drinking water. "I couldn't ride a bike and it took me 3 hours to walk to school. I can't remember how many times I slipped on the hard ice, " said Long Chuan. Long is not alone. This year millions of people in central and southern China had a freezing winter without enough water and electricity. The biggest snowstorms in 50 years killed more than 100 people. They also cost the country 111.1 billion yuan. Experts say a special type of climate condition , La Nina, caused the storms. During a La Nina, the water in the Pacific Ocean near the equator becomes colder than usual. It changes the weather around the world. Besides China, Canada, the US and Middle Eastern countries also met with heavy snowstorms this winter. The special climate caused the recent flooding in Australia, too. However, experts say that people have destroyed the environment . Global warming may be causing these terrible weather events to happen more and more often. What took place in Long Chuan's hometown last winter? A. Earthquake. B. Flooding. C. Traffic Accident. D. Heavy snowstorms. Answer: D Certain countries make it illegal to bring in certain species of animals that breed very fast because that will lead to A. extinction B. milk C. underpopulation D. overpopulation Answer: D IMAGINE if there was a device that could do everything for you - wake you up every morning, chat with you and type your e-mails. The piece of technology in question would be smart, able to tell you about the weather and where the nearest restaurants are. The good thing is you no longer need to wonder, because something like this already exists. And its name is Siri. Siri is a voice recognition application designed for Apple products and the concept has been around for almost a year. When Siri first came out it could only speak English, but now it has "learned" lots of new languages, including Chinese, Cantonese and Taiwanese, reported The Wall Street Journal. So, you can give it orders in your mother tongue. But how could a cell phone or a computer "hear" what you are saying and understand it? This is all because of voice recognition technology. When you speak, your voice creates vibrations in the air - a bit like waves in the water when you throw a rock into the lake. The microphone receives the vibrations and the computer changes them into digital data that is then divided into many parts. They are analyzed one by one to see what pronunciations each part stands for. The computer then puts these pronunciations together into possible words according to its built-in dictionary. But figuring out the words is far from enough; building words into meaningful sentences is the most difficult part. The computer has to compare what it hears to a large library of known phrases and sentences to determine what the user is saying. However, people don't always talk in the most standard way and sometimes make grammatical mistakes. This is why traditional voice recognition software always requires you to remember keywords and to speak in a certain way. Fortunately, Siri isn't like that. It's not just "voice recognition"; it's "natural language understanding (NLU)". You can ask it things like "Do I need an umbrella today?" and it will know that you are asking about the weather, according to ABC News. "The key thing is NLU - understanding what you mean and what you want," Neil Grant from Nuance, a software company in the US, told The Guardian. "Historically, you had to learn a huge long list of commands . As NLU progresses, you can say what you want in a way that's natural to you." How can you get Siri to respond according to the article? A. You can speak in a natural way as you would to a person. B. You can only speak English and Chinese. C. You have to say things in a certain way. D. You have to remember keywords and speak specific commands. Answer: A A husband-and-wife team from California reached the Pacific Ocean after a 4,900-mile cross-country walk, becoming the first to backpack the American Discovery Trail in one continuous walk. Marcia and Ken Powers,of Pleasanton,started the travel across 13 states,through 14 national parks and 16 national forests on Feb.27 from Cape Henlopen in Delaware.Nearly eight months later,the excited couple walked through water into the Pacific Ocean at Point Reyes,a day ahead of time. "We are a little sad that a great adventure is over.It was a fantastic adventure.And now we go home and just de housework.It's really sad."Marcia,who said she's in her 50s,and her 60-year-old husband _ cities,deserts,mountains and farmland before reaching the Pacific alone with arms around each other's backpacks. They overcame deep snow in the East,a quicksand in Utah,close lightning strikes in the Midwest and strong desert sandstorms in the West while averaging 22 miles a day and taking only four days off.But they enjoyed the French history of St Louis,the beauty of the Colorado Rockies and the kindness of strangers they met along the way. They particularly remember two brothers--a doctor and dentist--who put them up in their homes around Chester,Ill.,after terrible days,and a motorcyclist who gave them water after they failed to find any on Utah's lonely Wah Wah Desert. "Americans are truly warm-hearted and wonderful people."Marcia Powers said."We got to meet people that we would never meet in our daily living at home.We got to touch it with our feet and hands and smell all its scents and hear its wildlife.It's an amazing country,"she added. After the long walk,Marcia and Ken Powers felt sad probably because_. A. they had to do the heavy housework again B. they had no way to earn their living C. they couldn't go on enjoying their walk D. they had experienced too many difficulties Answer: C
Eureka, Inc., inventor of the LBVC, a laser-beam vegetable chopper, ran a television ad that described the chopper and said, "The LBVC is yours for only $49.99 if you send your check or money order to Box 007, Greenville. Not available in stores." Gourmet, who owned a retail specialty shop, wrote Eureka, "What's your best firm price for two dozen LBVCs?" Eureka sent a written reply that said in its entirety, "We quote you for prompt acceptance $39.99 per unit for 24 LBVCs." Gourmet subsequently mailed a check to Eureka in the appropriate amount, with a memo enclosed saying, "I accept your offer for 24 LBVCs."A contract would arise from these communications only if A both parties were merchants. B Eureka had at least 24 LBVCs in stock when Gourmet's check and memo were received. C Gourmet's check and memo were mailed within three months after his receipt of Eureka's letter. D Gourmet's check and memo were mailed within a reasonable time after his receipt of Eureka's letter. Answer: D The rumors had been spreading for months but it still came as a shock when the hospital would be closing. It had served this poor neighborhood for nearly 100 years but it would close because of the health care crisis. The day after the announcement co-workers found out that pretzels had been _ . Soft pretzels are the lifeblood of this city. So losing access to soft pretzels is no small matter. A week later, I decided to cheer up my co-workers by picking up some soft pretzels at a local store. I arrived just as it opened so I was the only customer. But I only had $6 in my wallet. I was working inside a large office at the hospital and knew I'd need more than the half dozen pretzels my six dollars would buy. A man's voice interrupted my thoughts. "Can I help you?" I said, "I only have $6. I'm not sure how many pretzels I need. You see, I work at a hospital and it's closing and they stopped selling pretzels." The man's smile disappeared. "What hospital?" "Oh, Northeastern Hospital." The guy looked deeply shocked. "I used to sell medical supplies and that was one of my hospitals." Then he turned around and grabbed a box of 25 pretzels and slid them across the counter. I was surprised by his generosity and started to reach for my wallet, "Oh I can pay. Please let me ..." The guy smiled, "Just tell them Joe Sullivan said to do something nice for someone else." And so that day everyone in medical records was treated to a soft pretzel. Word spread fast as people came asking, "Is it really true?" It was as if I'd carried in a box of gold. It mattered to them that a stranger cared. According to the passage, Joe Sullivan used to be a _ . A cook B doctor C shopkeeper D salesman Answer: D Alan took an early interest in gardening---first on his grandfather's Yorkshire allotment in Ilkley, and then in his parents' back garden. Small polythene greenhouses appeared in the back garden, and cacti were bought from church markets. Alan left school at fifteen with one `O' level in Art and took a job as an apprentice gardener in Ilkley Parks Department nursery, studying for his City and Guilds in Horticulture in the evening. He went on to horticultural college at Oaklands in Hertfordshire where he studied for one year full-time, being awarded the National Certificate in Horticultural. This was followed by three years at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, resulting in the award of the Kew Diploma. After two years as supervisor of staff training at Kew, Alan entered journalism where he became first a gardening books editor, and then Deputy Editor of Amateur Gardening magazine. He appeared regularly on BBC Radio and Television in programs such as Nationwide , Breakfast Time, Open Air, Pebble Mill, Songs of Praise, Titchmarsh's Travels, and the Chelsea Flower Show. He presented the 100th edition of The Word for Channel 4, and hosted the quiz show Ask the Family. Gardeners' World and the hugely popular Ground Force, second only to Easterners in the BBC1 ratings, are broadcast as far as Australia, New Zealand and North America. After leaving both programs, Alan worked on two other series for the BBC to be transmitted in 2003 and 2004, one of them a landmark series on the natural history of Britain. Alan writes for the Daily Express, Sunday Express, Radio Times and BBC Gardeners' World magazine, and has more than thirty gardening books to his credit. His four novels, as well as a book about his own life, have been best sellers. Alan, 53, gardens organically, and lives with his wife, two daughters and a medley of animals. We know that Alan _ in his school days. A was good at writing novels B loved Horticulture very much even C didn't do so well in his studies D decided to be an apprentice Answer: C People have always wanted to speak with animals. There are many books about this, especially children books. Now there are also movies, such as Dr. Doolittle. When you watch animals, it seems clear that they can communicate with each other. Many people wonder why people can't also communicate with them. Scientists know how some animals communicate. Bees, for example, use their bodies. They do a kind of dance to give information about food. Birds, on the other hand, share information with sounds. They use certain sounds to protect their homes and to stay together when they fly. Some male birds use lovely songs to attract a female . Other animals communicate with both body movements and sounds. For example, dogs wag their tails when they are happy, and they bark when they are excited. People used to think it was possible to teach human language to animals. Parrots and other birds, for example, can learn to say words. But the birds just repeat the words. They don't understand them. Some American scientists tried to teach English to chimpanzees , close s of human beings. However, this was impossible. Chimpanzees can't move their mouths the right way. They could never learn to speak like people. Then scientists tried to teach human language to chimpanzees in other ways. Some tried with American Sign Language (ASL). Others tried with a simple computer. But chimpanzees could only learn to use a few words. They could never learn to use grammar. Their brains are very different from the brains of human beings. Now some scientists are studying the same points between human and animal language. In fact, some animals use sounds like people do. Dogs, for example, use an unpleasant, low sound to tell other dogs to stay away. People, too, use that kind of voice to say the same things. A dog's noisy bark communicate that something is happening. People use the same high tone when they shout, "Watch out!" Scientists want to understand the language of other animals, such as whales and bears. To do this, they go out to the animals' natural homes. They watch the animals for days or even years. They take pictures and make tape recordings and share the information with other scientists. In this way, they hope to learn more about the way animals communicate, and maybe someday we'll be able to communicate better with them. Bees do a kind of dance to _ . A tell other bees where food is B attract other bees C show they are happy D play with other bees Answer: A You may have never heard of Lanthanum, Cerium or Neodymium, but these elements and others known as "rare earth" play a major role in modern technology. They can actually be found in many places on the earth, but not in quantities that can be mined. Only a few countries -- China, America, India, Australia, Brazil and Malaysia have any that can be mined enough to be traded. Even though some of these elements such as Cerium are as abundant as Copper, they are not found in concentrated amounts on the earth's surface. They are often mixed together with other metals, which makes extraction of these elements an expensive and an environmentally messy process. It was due to this reason that the term "rare earth" was invented. Rare earth metals are used widely in our life. Rechargeable car batteries, computers, iPhones, DVD players, computer monitors, televisions, lighting, lasers, glass polishing, and superconductors all use quantities of rare earth metals. Also, with the advancement in "green" technology like solar panels, these shiny materials are becoming more important than ever. An average electric car uses 10 pounds of Lanthanum for its rechargeable battery! America has large deposits of rare earths and has one of the first mines. It was opened in Southern California in 1940. The element "Europium" was the first metal to be separated in quantity for use in color televisions. However, in the 1980's and 1990's, as China started producing these elements in Inner Mongolia, the mines in America and elsewhere could not keep pace. The mine in Mountain Pass, California also failed environmental regulations and shut down in 2002. Now, recognizing the importance of having more than one supplier of this important resource, other rare earth owning countries like India and Australia are either dusting off their rare earth mines or speeding up their production. It is believed that the debate over rare earths will become louder in the coming months and years. What can we learn about rare earths? A They are actually as abundant as Copper. B They can be mined easily as other metals. C They can only be found in a few countries. D They are not really as rare as they are named. Answer: D
Masses of floating ice are so large that they dwarfs your ship, making you question whether your ship still can be spotted among such floating mountains. They are so improbable looking that you simply look in wonder. It seems that nothing that large could be natural-- and then it strikes you that something so large could only be natural. Now, people realize that as climate change is raising global temperatures, more icebergs are being born. Antarctica creates far more of them than Greenland, the source of bergs in Arctic waters. Antarctica's are also much larger, sometimes reaching the size of small countries. Recent data show the average atmospheric temperature has increased about 4.5degF in the western Antarctic Peninsula since the 1940s, making the region, among the fastest warming on earth. This jump has been shown in the recent breaking of major ice shelves along the Antarctic Peninsula. As a result, thousands of new icebergs have broken off, from ice shelves into the Southern Ocean at an accelerated rate. Even as more icebergs are being created, scientists are learning that these beauties are far from inactive masses of ice. In fact, they strikingly alter their environments biologically, chemically, and physically, making them islands of life in the open sea. Observers at sea had long remarked that they attract seals, and seabirds, and divers had noticed that fish are more numerous near them than in the surrounding sea. Now scientists are learning just what the attraction is all about. Depending on their size, location, and the season, icebergs can be nurturers or destroyers. During their existence--typically years from breaking off from an Antarctic or Greenlandic glacier to their gradual melting as they float into lower altitudes, they support animals on, around, even inside their splendid ice castle. They fertilize the ocean with nutrients, increasing sea creature production. Grounded bergs can shelter areas of the seafloor, protecting bottom-living creatures from free-floating icebergs. However, large bergs can also trap sea ice, preventing its annual breakup and thus stopping phytoplankton from getting life-giving sunlight, breaking the food chain at its first link. ... Icebergs will continue to astonish and attract visitors to the polar regions with their size and extraordinary beauty. But now these frozen masses are taking on a new dimension of wonder as we uncover their vital role in the environment of polar seas. No longer can we look at icebergs as mere passive beauties. They are active agents of change, each one an icy oasis with a wake of life as it floats on its unstoppable oceanic journey to melting. What is the author's attitude towards the icebergs? Answer: In China, safety education is becoming more and more important now. The last Monday in March is for students to learn it at school. It helps students learn more about what they should do to keep themselves safe. What are the accidents at school? Take a look. Stampedes , earthquakes and fires are the main accidents at school. A stampede always happens in crowded places. When students around you begin to push, just stand there and try to hold onto something. If you fall down in the crowd, move to one side and protect your head with your hands around. When earthquakes happen, you can get under a desk quickly and hold on. It'll protect you from falling things. If you are outdoors, find a place away from buildings, trees, and power lines. When there's a fire, leave the classroom quickly. It's better to put something wet over your mouth and nose. In this way, you won't breathe in smoke. Many people die in a fire, not because of the fire but smoke. It makes them cough and they can't breathe. That's very dangerous! So when you want to get out, you should make yourself close to the floor. Then you can breathe some fresh air. Which is the following sentences is Right Answer: Global Positioning Systems are now a part of everyday driving in many countries.These satellitebased systems provide turnbyturn directions to help people get to where they want to go.However,they can also cause a lot of problems,send you to the wrong place or leave you completely lost.Many times,the driver is to blame.Sometimes a GPS error is responsible.Most often,says Barry Brown,it is a combination of the two. Barry Brown is with the Mobile Life Centre in Stockholm,Sweden.He told us about an incident involving a friend who had flown to an airport in the eastern United States.There he borrowed a GPSequipped car to use during his stay.Mr Brown says,"They just plugged in an address and then set off to their destination.And,then it wasn't until they were driving for thirty minutes that they realized they actually put in a destination back on the West Coast where they lived.They actually put their home address in.So again,the GPS is kind of 'garbage in garbage out'." Mr Brown says this is a common human error,but what makes the problem worse has to do with some of the shortcomings,or failures,of GPS equipment.He says,"One problem with a lot of the GPS units is they have a very small screen and they just tell you the next turn.Because they just give you the next turn,sometimes that means that it is not really giving you the overview that you would need to know that it's going to the wrong place." Mr Brown says,"One of the things that struck us,perhaps the most important thing was that you have to know what you're doing when you use a GPS.There are these new skills that people have developed.There are these new competencies that you need to have to be able to use a GPS because they sometimes go wrong.This goes against a common belief that GPS systems are for passive drivers who lack navigational skills." Barry Brown says to make GPS systems better we need a better understanding of how drivers,passengers and GPS systems work together. The example of Barry Brown's friend is used to show that _ . Answer: Four identical candles are set on a safe surface and lit. One is covered with a small-sized jar, one is covered with a large-sized jar, and one candle is left in the open. A fourth lit candle is placed in a vacuum. Which candle will most likely stay lit the longest? Answer: Those who spend more pre-bedtime hours using the Internet or watching television are more likely to report insufficient sleep, even though they sleep almost as long as people spending fewer pre-bedtime hours in front of a computer or television screen, survey findings show. "While many people use electronic media, say, the Internet, it should be noted that the longer media use before sleep can trigger (self-perceived) insufficient sleep," lead researcher Dr Nakamori Suganuma, of Osaka University, Japan, told the reporter. He and colleagues obtained data on self-perceived sleep problems and the use of electronic media prior to bedtime from 5,875 altogether Japanese respondents in two separate Internet-based surveys. Their findings are published in Sleep and Biological Rhythms. Nearly half of the respondents associated their problem with electronic media use before bedtime. Longer electronic media users were also more likely to report insufficient sleep. "Overall, 29% of light users (less than 1.5 hours) listed electronic media use as a possible cause of their insufficient sleep. By comparison, 40% of medium users (1.5 to 3 hours) and 54% of heavy users (more than 3 hours) said the same. However, longer Internet and television use before bedtime did not _ less actual sleep. While heavy users averaged about 3 more hours in front of computer or television screens than light users, the heavy users averaged only about 12 minutes less pre-workday sleep time than light users. Notably, Suganuma said, "Internet use affected self-perceived insufficient sleep more than TV watching not only in younger Internet users but also in middle-aged or aged Internet users." Up to 38% of the respondents listed accessing the Internet far into the night as a possible cause for their sleep disturbance, while about 25% said watching television far into the night caused it. The findings suggest that while heavy computer and television use before bedtime has a small effect on sleep duration, it may have a more significant effect on "sleep demand and sleep quality," Suganuma notes. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage? Answer:
Scientists have transformed men's minds into avirtual woman's body in an experiment that could throw light upon how humans distinguish themselves form others. In a study at Barcelona University, men wore a virtual reality headset that allowed them to see and hear the world as a female character. When they looked down, they could even see their new body and clothes. The "body-swapping" effect was so convincing that the men's sense of self was transferred into the virtual woman, causing them to react to events in the virtual world they wereimmersed . "This work opens up another avenue for virtual reality, which is not just to transform your sense of place, but also your sense of self," said Mel Slater, "If you can temporarily give people the illusion that their bodies are different, then the evidence suggests it also affects their behavior and the way they think. They can have new experiences: a person who is thin can know what it is like to be fat. A man can have an experience of what it's like to be a woman." During the experiment, a "female" approached and hit the face of the character another man was playing. "Their reaction was immediate," said Slate. "They would take in a quick breath and maybeflinch . The more people reported being in the girl's body, the stronger physical reaction they had." But in all cases, the feeling was temporary and lasted only as long as the study. The study shows that our minds have a very fluid picture of our bodies. The research is expected to shed light on the puzzle of how our brain tells the difference between a part of our own body and something else in the wider world. Thus the work might improve the conditions for those who have experienced strokes by placing them in a world that helps them to use their bodies to the full again. What is the author's intention of writing this passage? A. to introduce an interesting and advanced study B. to inform us of the latest development of virtual reality C. to illustrate the importance of virtual reality D. to build up our confidence to fight stroke Answer: A Dear March - Come in - How glad I am - I hoped for you before ... Who knocks? That April - Lock the Door - I will not be pursued - He stayed away a year to call - When I am occupied - But trifles look so trivial - As soon as you have come ... This lovely poem was written by Emily Dickinson, who is considered a major American poet, though she was not accorded this honor until well after her death. Emily Dickinson was born on December 10, 1830, in Amherst, Massachusetts. She attended school for only one year. Throughout her life, she seldom left her home and visitors were few. She lived in almost complete isolation from the outside world. She admired the poetry of Robert and Elizabeth Barren Browning, as well as John Keats. Though she was dissuaded from reading the poetry of her contemporary Walt Whitman by rumors of its disgracefulness, the two poets are now connected by the distinguished place they hold as the founders of a uniquely American poetic voice. While Dickinson was extremely prolific as a poet, she was not publicly recognized during her lifetime. Upon her death, Dickinson's family discovered forty hand-bound volumes of nearly 1,800 poems. Her younger sister began to share the enormous body of work that Emily left behind. Emily's odd punctuation, capitalization , and formatting did not meet with standard publishing "approval" for earlier editions. There is a whimsical nature to many other poems, as the subject of death was the most frequent theme. According to the text, Emily Dickinson _ . A. was completely homeschooled and had a talent for writing poems B. was greatly influenced by four of her contemporary poets C. is regarded as a leading poet in American literature D. published a large number of poems during her lifetime Answer: C What will man be like in the future----in 5000 or even 50,000 years from now? We can only make guesses, of course, but we can be sure that he will be different from what he is today, for man is slowly changing all the time. Let us take an obvious example. Man, even five hundred years ago, was shorter than he is today. Now, on average, men are about three inches taller. Five hundred years is relatively short period of time, so we may assume that man will continue to grow taller. Again, in the modern world we use our brains a great deal. Even so, we still make use of only about 20% of the brain's capacity. As time goes on, however, we shall have to use our brains more and more, and eventually we shall need larger ones! This is likely to bring about a physical change to the head, in particular the forehead, will grow larger. Nowadays our eyes are in constant use. In fact, we use them so much that very often they become weaker and we have to wear glasses. But over very long period of time it is likely that man's eyes will grow stronger. On the other hand, we tend to make less use of our arms and legs. These, as a result, are likely to grow weaker. At the same time, however, our fingers will grow more sensitive because they are used a great deal in modern life. But what about hair? This will probably disappear from the body altogether in course of time because it does not serve a useful purpose any longer. In the future, then, both sexes are likely to be bald. Perhaps all this gives the impression that future man will not be a very attractive creature to look at! This may well be true. All the same, in spite of all these changes, future man will still have a lot in common with us. He will still be a human being, with thoughts and emotions similar to our own. It can be inferred from the passage that _ . A. future life is always predictable B. human beings hope for a change in the future life C. human beings will become less attractive in the future D. Less use of a bodily organ may lead to its degeneration Answer: D The Voice of China Many Chinese like watching The Voice of China, because the songs sound really good. My daughter, my wife and I like it, too. We watch the programme every Friday. Some famous singers like Wang Feng, Zhang Huimei, Na Ying, Harlem Yu are the _ . The coaches listen to the songs, and find their favorite singers. They can listen to the singers , but they can't watch the singers sing . Then they teach their favorite singers. The singers sing songs again. The Voice of China is to find the best voice. We can watch The Voice of China on _ ? A. Tuesday B. Wednesday C. Thursday D. Friday Answer: D Scientists are trying to make the deserts into good land again. They want to bring water to the deserts, so people can live and grow food. They are learning a lot about the deserts. But more and more of the earth is becoming deserts all the time. Scientists may not be able to change the deserts. Scientists think that people make deserts. People are doing bad things to the earth. Some places on the earth don't get much rain. But they still don't become deserts. This is because some green plants are growing there. Small green plants and grass are very helpful to dry places. Plants don't let the hot sun make the earth even drier. Plants don't let the wind blow the earth away. When a little bit of rain falls, the plants hold the water. Without plants, the land can become deserts much more easily. Scientists are _ to make the deserts into good land again. A. carrying water B. growing food C. doing nothing D. studying a lot Answer: D
Western artist R.V. (Ron) Jahns creates his unique western wildlife paintings by tapping into his vast experience of true life. He had rich western experiences out in the mountains in the great Northwest. Ron paints from the heart and his experience as a cowboy in the west. He has a particular passion for the mountains from Eastern Oregon to Alaska and draws from his many years of mountain adventures as inspiration for his western paintings. Born and raised on a farm, this cowboy artist is well knowledgeable with the subjects of his Western art. Ron struggles for historical accuracy in his western cowboy paintings when an artist gives a false description of the facts about cowboys in the west! Living in Alaska for 17 years added a new factor to Ron's western art. As a hunter and fisherman he observed the wildlife in its natural setting and has conveyed this spirit to his canvas. Ron's western art can be viewed throughout the United States, in Europe and through occasional private showings. You can find western wildlife paintings by Ron at various art shows throughout the year. For a list of art shows the Cowboy Artist will be attending, visit his Art Show page. Although a self-taught western artist, Ron himself has taught painting in colleges and through private lessons. Ron is quite a storyteller and the last of an old kind of cowboy poets and western storytellers. If you've met Ron at the Flea Markets in Sumpter, Oregon then you no doubt have already had a taste of his knack for telling tall tales and sharing his original cowboy poems of true life on the ranch. Why can Ron truly present the facts about cowboy life in the west? The January fashion show, called Future Fashion, exemplified how far green design has come. Organized by the New York-based nonprofit Earth Pledge, the show inspired many top designers to work with sustainable fabrics for the first time. Several have since made pledges to include organic fabrics in their lines. The designers who undertake green fashion still face many challenges. Scott Hahn, a cofounder with Gregory of Rogan and Loomstate, which uses all-organic cotton, says high-quality sustainable materials can still be tough to find. "Most designers with existing labels are finding there aren't comparable materials that can just replace what you're doing and what your customers are used to," he says. For example, organic cotton and non-organic cotton are virtually indistinguishable once woven into a dress. But some popular synthetics, like stretch nylon, still have few eco-friendly equivalents . Those who do make the switch are finding they have more support. Last year the influential trade show Designers & Agents stopped charging its participation fee for young green entrepreneurs who attend its two springtime shows in Los Angeles and New York and gave special recognition to designers whose collections are at least 25% sustainable. It now counts more than 50 green designers, up from fewer than a dozen two years ago. This week Wal-Mart is set to announce a major initiative aimed at helping cotton farmers go organic: it will buy transitional cotton at higher prices, thus helping to expand the supply of a key sustainable material. "Main-stream is about to occur," says Hahn. Some analysts are less sure. Among consumers, only 18% are even aware that eco-fashion exists, up from 6% four years ago. Natalie Hormilla, a fashion writer, is an example of the unconverted consumer. When asked if she owned any sustainable clothes, she replied, "Not that I'm aware of." Like most consumers, she finds little time to shop, and when she does, she's on the hunt for "cute stuff that isn't too expensive." By her own admission, green just isn't yet on her mind. But thanks to the combined efforts of designers, retailers and suppliers--one day it will be. According to Scott Hahn, one big challenge to designers who will go organic is that _ . Smog has affected Beijing for at least a week and the Great Hall of the People, where lawmakers will meet next week for the country's parliamentary session , is hardly visible. Much of north and central China, or one-seventh of the country, was covered in it over the weekend. Responses have included reduced industrial activities, a ban on fireworks and barbecues, raised pollution alerts and reduced vehicles travelling on the roads. Citizens are advised to stay indoors while schools have either stopped classes or suspended outdoor activities. And Chinese officials, after a long period of prioritizing economic development over environmental protection, are now likely to see their future career shaped by how effectively they handle the serious pollution. "Even as a foreigner, I know the pollution has a lot to do with too much focus on economic indicators in evaluating Chinese officials," said Florian Kessler, an executive director with German law firm WZR Consulting. The German executive speaks fluent Chinese, loves Beijing food and is a big fan of Beijing Guo'an Football Club, but after staying in the city for eight years, he now wants to leave. "Since I smoke, I'm okay with the pollution, but I can't let my kid breathe in the polluted air. That's why I'm leaving," Kessler explained. He also said that German companies operating in Beijing, such as BMW, Benz and Volkswagen, have all had a hard time finding staff willing to work here. China has repeated in the past that we would not follow the old path of industrialized nations to develop first and deal with pollution afterward. But the smog is an awkward reminder that our country is already on that path. Whether we can change route depends on the choice Chinese officials make between environment and growth in the years ahead. These are the reasons for smog except _ . Further education is officially described as the"post-secondary stage of education, comprising all vocational and non-vocational provision made for young people who have left school, or for adults". Further education thus embraces the vast range of university, technical, commercial, and art education and the wide field of adult education. It is this sector of education, which is concerned with education beyond the normal school-leaving ages of 16 or 18, that has experienced the most astonishing growth in the number of students. In the 19th century the dominance of Oxford and Cambridge was challenged by the rise of the civic universities, such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Following the lead of the 18th century German universities and responding to a public demand for increased opportunity for higher education, Britain's new civic universities quickly acquired recognition--not only in technological fields but also in the fine and liberal arts. Many new post-school technical colleges were founded in the early 20th century. The Fisher Act of 1918 empowered the local authorities to levy a rate (tax) to finance such colleges. The universities, on the other hand, received funds from the central government through the University Grants Committee, established in 1911 and recognized in 1920, after World War I. A new type of technical college was established in the 1960s--the polytechnic, which provides mainly technological courses of university level as well as courses of a general kind in the arts and sciences. Polytechnics are chartered to award degrees validated by a Council for National Academic Awards. Thus, the third level in the United Kingdom is made up of colleges of further education, technical colleges, polytechnics, and universities. The colleges offer full-time and part-time courses beyond compulsory-school level. Polytechnics and universities are mainly responsible for degrees and research. The innovative Open University, with its flexible admission policy and study arrangements, opened in 1971. It uses various media to provide highly accessible and flexible higher education for working adults and other part-time students. It serves as an organizational model and provides course-materials for similar institutions in other countries. Changes in British education in the second half of the 20th century have, without changing the basic values in the system, extended education by population, level, and content. New areas for expansion include immigrant cultural groups and multicultural content, the accommodation of special needs, and the development of tools and content in the expanding fields of microelectronics. Post-school technical colleges _ . We have three meals a day. In the morning,we have breakfast. It is at about 6 or 7 o'clock. Breakfast should be good. We can have milk,egg,and other things. Some students often have no breakfast. It is very bad for their heath. In china,lunch is the main meal of the day. It is at about 12 o'clock. It is a big meal. There are often three or four dishes. We should be full after lunch. We usually have supper at about 6 or 7 o'clock in the evening. We should have a small supper. But in England,people call the main meal dinner. It often means supper. What do people often eat for breakfast?
Alice is an American girl. She has two good friends. One is Tom, the other is Jim. They come from the same country. They are studying in Beijing now. They are at the same school-- No.2 Middle School. They have a lot of Chinese friends here. They go to school from Monday to Friday. They go to school at seven in the morning. They all go to school by subway. In the evening, they do their homework and learn Chinese. On Saturdays and Sundays they go to their friends' homes. There they learn more Chinese from their Chinese friends and their friends learn English from them. Sometimes they write to their parents in America. They tell them about China and their life in China. They all like living here . They want their parents to come to China one day. How many days do they go to school? Five Celebrities are more in love with themselves than the average person,according to a new study. In case anyone needed proof, a new study supports the widely held perception:Famous people are more narcissistic ,which means they are more in love with themselves than the average person is.That is the conclusion drawn by Drew Pinsky and S.Mark Young of the University of Southern California,whose study of 200 celebrities will appear in the Journal Of Research in Personality. It is not the entertainment industry that turns stars into narcissists,the study found.Rather, it suggests,the self-adoring people seek jobs in show business.The study, whose subjects were a11 celebrities from Pinsky's'Loveline'radio show, found that reality TV stars were the most narcissistic of all celebrities.Female stars were also more likely than the male stars to exhibit narcissistic characteristics. It's "common sense" that celebrities are narcissists,said Jeremy Ritzlin,a longtime Hollywood psychologist who has not seen the study."Everyone knows famous people are really in love with themselves,"he said."So it would be natural for narcissists to be attracted toward the stage and spotlight,where other people will also think highly of them." Pinsky, an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at USC'S Keck School of Medicine,said narcissists desire attention,are overconfident,behave strangely and lack sympathy."However, they are easily-liked,especially on first meeting,are outgoing and perform well in public," added Pinsky, who has hosted the radio show"Loveline"for 20 years. Celebrity guests appearing on the program were randomly chosen to participate in the study.They anonymously took the Narcissistic Personality Inventory test.which rates self-love levels based on seven components:superiority, exhibitionism,entitlement,vanity,authority, exploitativeness,and self-sufficiency. According to Pinsky, narcissists may NOT_. be kind to poor people Once again, I had run away and really did not know why. I walked out of the gate to go to school and then kept walking, and walking, and walking. I was 11years old. It was almost dark; I was tired, cold, and all alone. I had not eaten all day and was afraid to turn myself over the police. I knew I would receive another beating once I returned to the Children's Home Society. There was nothing for me to do, except keep on walking. As darkness fell, I entered the darkened area in a city park sat down on a wooden bench hoping to avoid the police cars. It was cold and I began to tremble uncontrollably. All was quiet except for the passing cars in the distance. "Well, hello young man." A voice came from behind me. I jumped, almost falling off the park bench. My heart was beating ninety miles per hour. I gasped and I could hardly catch my breath. I looked up and saw a woman standing behind me in the shadows. "You look cold and hungry," she said. She took off her scarf, wrapped it around my shoulders and asked me to follow her. We walked about twenty feet, and then stopped under one of the park streetlights. She held out her hand and said, "Here, you take this letter." Seeing nothing in her hand., I stood still. "Reach out and take the letter from my hand," she insisted. Slowly I reached out, acting as though I was taking something from her hand. "Now hold the paper tightly and take it to any store owner," she instructed. I closed my thumb and finger as though I were grasping the letter and began walking toward Five Points. Several blocks down the road, I came to a store with a woman sitting behind a counter. I opened the door, walked in, and stopped directly in front of her. Very slowly I held out my hand toward her. I watched her face to see if she might think I was crazy or something. She reached out and as her hand touched mine, I opened my tightly closed fingers and stood there waiting. She pulled back, smiled, and looked down at her hands. She immediately turned and walked to the back of the store. After a while, the woman returned holding a paper plate. "Here is something for you to eat." She smiled and signaled to me to eat. Within two or three minutes, I downed the entire plate of food and several Coca Colas. Before I left, she held out her hand and asked me to take the letter. Again seeing nothing, I held out my hand and closed my thumb and finger as though I were taking something from her. Tightly grasping nothing more than air, I walked out into the street and headed back to the park. The old woman was still there. "It is really magic. Can I have the letter so I can be magic too?" I asked her. She reached out, took my hand, and opened my tightly closed fingers. Whatever was being held between my fingers, she took and placed into her apron pocket. "Would you help someone if they were hungry?" she asked me. "Yes Ma'am." "Would you help someone if they were hurt, cold or scared?" "Yes Ma'am. I would be their friend." "You are a very lucky little boy. You will never need the magic letter," she responded. What's the best title of the passage? A Magic Letter. Not everyone has a chance to be a detective , but I got one when I was 13 years old. It happened in 1994. One afternoon, I was walking down the street when I saw my father's new car. I expected to see my father in the driver's seat. But to my surprise, I saw a young woman driving instead, "She has stolen my father's car," I thought. So I quickly stopped a taxi and got in. I said to the driver, "Follow that new car in front," I told him why. The taxi driver had a car phone, so I asked him to call the police. Soon we heard the sound of a police car. The police told the woman to stop the car using a loudspeaker. The taxi came to a stop, too. I got out right then and said to the woman, "This is not your car. It's my father's car." The woman smiled and said, "Oh. You're Mr. Johnson's son, right? I've seen your photo in your father's office." Before I could say one word, the woman explained that she was my father's new assistant . My father had asked her to take his computer to the shop to have it repaired. He lent her his car. After hearing this, I called my father and he told us what the woman said was right. The police and the taxi driver laughed. I felt very sorry. It was both the first time and the last time I worked as a detective. What did the writer see one afternoon on a street? He saw a young woman in his father's new car. Joker found one of the biggest diamonds in the world in his own back yard. He sold the stone to a diamond dealer for over three hundred thousand dollars. In New York, the diamond was resold. This time for almost eight hundred thousand dollars. The true value of a diamond is never known until it has been cut. Once cut successfully, its value can increase a thousand times. It's easy to understand why the owner of the Joker diamond went to the best diamond cutter he knew, Kaplan. The cutter studied the diamond for twelve whole months. When he felt he was ready to start work, he discovered a flaw . He had to begin with his calculations all over again, or he might have made the stone useless. Six more months passed, and Kaplan finally said to the owner, "I m ready to start my work. There will be one excellent diamond that be comparable to any in the world, plus eleven small diamonds of first-class quality." Kaplan waited a few more days until be felt he was in the best physical and mental condition possible. He picked up his tools and held his breath as he made the first blow. The diamond split exactly as he promised. A diamond dealer is a person _ , in the diamond business
Tuesday, Jan. 6, 9:50 p.m. We were sitting in our warm living room. The TV was on, and everything was peaceful. Suddenly the light went on and off for a few times and then went out completely. Then the rain started, and everything went black. We found the flashlight and some candles and went to bed. Wednesday, Jan. 7, 7:30 a.m. My first thought after waking up was that it was pretty cold in my bedroom. Clearly, the power didn't come back. After I looked out of the window, I felt even sadder: it was still raining heavily. The room was becoming colder and colder. We had no idea when the power would come back, so my wife started a fire in the fireplace. Thursday, Jan. 8, 12:30 p.m. The snow started. The poor trees now had to carry the heavy snow. The storm seemed to last and we had nothing to do but stay at home. Friday, Jan. 9, 6:00 p.m. Still no power. Even though we lit a few candles, it was still difficult to do anything in their weak light. I was sitting near several candles, but I had trouble reading. Saturday, Jan. 10, 1:00 p.m. The storm stopped this morning, and I drove my car to look for an open store. The trees along the roads were broken. I only bought the most necessary things: bread, some fruit, more drinking water and batteries for the flashlight. On my way home, the power came back and people were very happy. The material is probably from a _ . Answer: diary Marjorie Gestring Marjorie Gestring was a springboard diver from the United States who won the gold medal in 3-meter springboard diving at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany at the age of 13 years. With the cancellation of the Olympics in 1940 and 1944 because of World War II, Gestring did not get a chance to defend her title, and her comeback attempt for the 1948 Summer Olympics failed. Bob Mathias 17-year-old American Bob Mathias won the decathlon only four months after taking up the sport. He is the youngest athlete in Olympic history to win a men's track and field event. By the time Mathias retired from decathlon competition in 1952, he had nine victories in nine competitions. He had won two gold medals separately in 1948 and 1952. In 1954 a film about his early life called The Bob Mathias Story was made, in which he and his wife played themselves. Fu Mingxia Fu Mingxia was born on August 16, 1978 in Wuhan, Hubei Province. At an early age, her father taught her to swim at a nearby river. She started exercising gymnastics at age 5, soon turning to diving. Fu Mingxia left home at age 9 to train in Beijing. In the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona, Fu Mingxia became China's youngest Olympic champion ever when she won the 10-meter platform gold at the age of 13. Ian Thorpe Ian Thorpe was born on 13 October, 1982. He is a former Australian freestyle swimmer. At the age of 14, he became the youngest male ever to represent Australia. Ian Thorpe, 17 years old, won the gold medal in the 400m freestyle by breaking his own world record in Sydney 2000. He has won five Olympic gold medals. According to the passage, the youngest athlete who won the most Olympic gold medals came from _ . Answer: Australia Life is like a train ride. We get on. We ride. We get off. We get back on and ride some more. There are accidents and there are delays .At certain stops, there are surprises. Some of these will change into great moments of joy; some will result in bad results. When we are born and we first get on the train, we meet people who we think will be with us for the whole journey. Those people are our parents. Sadly, this is far from the truth. Our parents are with us when we completely need them. They, too, have journeys they must complete. We live on with the memories of their love, support and so on. There are others who get on the train and who finally become very important to us. These people are our brothers, sisters and friends, whom we will learn to love and take care of. Some people regard their journey as a pleasant tour. They will just go happily along. Others will _ many upsets, tears and losses on their journey. Some others will stay on to offer a helping hand to anyone in need. Some people on the train will leave a deep impression when they get off. Some will get on and get off the train so quickly that they will hardly leave a sign. We will sometimes be upset that some passengers, whom we love, will choose to sit in another compartment and leave us to travel on our own. Then again, there's nothing that says we can't look for them anyway. But when we find them, we may not even be able to sit next to them because that seat will already be taken. That's okay... everyone's journey will be filled with hopes, dreams, challenges, difficulties and goodbyes. When we first get on the train, the people we meet are our _ . Answer: parents Laura Brent is a manager in an important company. She has three children--the eldest is 10, and youngest is three. "My job was only possible because my husband David was prepared to take my place and become a house husband," she says. More and more couples are finding this arrangement suits them better in today's world, where women are rising to the top of their careers faster and more easily than they did in the past. Many men, on the other hand, like the idea of staying at home and looking after the children. "My children see a lot more of me than I saw of my father when I was young, and I think it's better for them, especially for the boys," says David. "It works just as well for Laura." "Now I can come home from a hard day at work, and immediately relax with the children, instead of having to do the housework and the cooking," she says. Is there anything David misses about going out to work? "Not really. I suppose the worst thing about looking after children and doing the housework is not having a lunch break! It's a lot harder than most men think." What does David think of his job at home? Answer: Fun Apple Inc co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs, counted among the greatest American CEOs of his generation, died on Wednesday at the age of 56, after a-year-long and highly public battle with cancer. Jobs' death was announced by Apple in a statement late on Wednesday. The Apple.com homepage featured a black-and-white picture of him with the words "Steve Jobs, 1955-2011". A message on the site read, "Apple has lost an imaginary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring leader." "His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts." "Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple." The Silicon Valley hero who gave the world the iPod and the iPhone had resigned as CEO of the world's largest technology corporation in August, handing the position to current chief executive Tim Cook. Two years before the iPhone that forever transformed the way people around the world access and use the Internet, Jobs talked about how a sense of his death was a major driver behind that vision. "Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever got to help me make the big choices in life," Jobs said during a Stanford commencement ceremony in 2005. "Because almost everything-all others' expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure-these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important." "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." In Jobs's speech in Stanford, we can learn that _ . Answer: in the face of death, nothing is truly important except to follow your dream
Does your school have any problems with discipline ? What happens when students _ ? Here are some examples of bad behaviour: * Playing truant (missing school without permission from parents). * Stealing, smoking, hitting, swearing, running, kissing. * Cheating on exams. * Calling a teacher or another pupil a bad name. * Not doing homework. * Not listening or not paying attention in lessons. * Wearing unsuitable clothes. Here are some of the ways that UK school children can be punished: * Exclusion : a pupil is asked to leave the school and not come back. The pupil has to find a new school or a different method of education. * Suspension : a pupil cannot enter the building or attend lessons until the school has a meeting about their situation. Suspension can last from one to 45 days. The pupil is usually given work to do at home with a special teacher. * Detention : a pupil is asked to stay after school and work for 30-60 minutes before they can leave. * Lines: a pupil has to write a sentence many times (e.g. 100 or more) on a sheet of paper, e.g. "I must not shout in class." Freya MacDonald, a 15-year-old pupil from Scotland, _ when she refused to accept her school's punishment. Her family says that she was given 11 detentions for trivial things such as having fizzy drinks in class and coming into school through a fire door. Freya says that repeated detentions ruined her right to an education under Scottish law and made it difficult for her to learn. So she refused to return until the school respected her civil rights. She wants the headmaster and her teachers to sign a letter to promise this. Hundreds of schools in Scotland were told not to use detention as a punishment because of her legal action. Many UK schools now give parents a home&school contract(,), explaining their discipline and rules. Parents must sign this document to agree that they accept the school's rules and discipline and that they are responsible for their child's behaviour. What is the best title for the passage? A Punishments in UK School B What is Bad Behavior? C UK School Discipline. D Too Many School Rules in the UK Answer: A I am a boy from the USA. Now I go to school in China. I have Chinese food now, I like it. I usually have porridge and milk for breakfast at home with my parents. Sometimes I have some small cakes, too. But I don't have lunch at home. I have it at school with my classmates . I usually have meat or fish, rice and vegetables for lunch. After lunch I have some fruit. I get home at half past four in the afternoon. So I have supper with my parents again. Sometimes we go out for supper. My mother often cooks supper. Sometimes my sister does it. We usually have rice, fish, meat, vegetables and fruit juice for supper. We sometimes have noodles and dumplings. After supper, I often have some fruit. I like apples very much. ,. Where does the boy have lunch at weekends? A At home. B At school. C At home or at school.. D We don't know. Answer: D He was once referred to as the _ of poetry. Beloved by Chileans of all classes, he is one of the most widely read and respected poets in history. And this year is the 100th birthday of Pablo Neruda(1904--1973). Born with the name Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basolto, he was a tall, shy and lonely boy. He loved to read and started to write poetry when he was ten. The American poet Walt Whitman, whose framed picture Neruda later kept on his table became a major influence on his work. However, his father did not like the idea of having a poet for a son and tried to discourage him from writing. To cover up the publication of his first poem, he took the pen name Pablo Neruda. In 1924 Neruda gained fame with his most widely read work "Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair." Yet his rich experience as a diplomat and exile made him go beyond the theme of love. His work also reflected the political struggle of the left and development of South America. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. Neruda loved the sea which he saw as creative, destructive and forever moving. He found inspiration in the power and freedom of the waves and the seabirds on the coast. "I need the sea because it teaches me," he wrote. "I move in the university of the waves." He loved how the sea forever renewed itself, a renewal echoed in his work. Neftali Ricardo Reyes Basolto took the pen name Pablo Neruda because _ . A literary greats usually used the pen name B his father encouraged him to use the name C he wanted to prevent his father knowing the publication D he was greatly influenced by other poets Answer: C It is always hard for a small fish to live in a big pond. Pluto's recent departure from the classical planet family clearly proves that size really matters. Astronomers voted on August 24 to create the first scientific definition of the word planet, and Pluto obviously didn't make the cut. It turned out to be only a "dwarf planet" . After weeks of heated debate, over 2,500 astronomers from 73 countries voted on the definition of a "planet" at a conference of the international Astronomical Union (IAU). According to the definition, a planet must have a clear neighborhood around its orbit. Pluto has widely been considered a planet since its discovery in 1930. Unfortunately, it has a special orbit which overlaps with Neptune's. It is all because, compared with Neptune, Pluto is very small. It is attracted by Neptune's gravity when the two planets get closer. According to IAU, a "dwarf planet" should have an orbit around the Sun. It will not have a clear neighborhood around its orbit, and must not be a satellite. The new classification means that the science textbooks will have to be updated. The solar system is now made up of the eight "classical planets," together with a number of dwarf planets. The classical planets are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The debate over Pluto's status started in 1992. After an advanced telescope was sent into space, astronomers started find a belt of objects, which lies beyond Neptune. The belt contains nearly 1,000 objects, including Pluto. As they continued the exploration, scientists recently discovered at least 41 dwarf planets at the edges of the solar system. There are at least two objects of a similar size to Pluto. It seems that even if the IAU had kept Pluto's status as a planet, the classical theory of nine planets in the solar system would have had to be changed, but the other way around. More dwarf, planets of a similar size to Pluto would join the family of planets. Scientists will probably find many more dwarf planets. According to the passage, Pluto is _ . A a planet which has a clear neighborhood around its orbit B a satellite of Neptune which was discovered in 1930 C the smallest planet in the solar system D a planet which has an orbit around the sun Answer: D Sam was driving. It was late, it was dark, it was raining, and he was out of cookies. His squirrel was asleep in the passenger seat, as was his hamster, in the back seat. He had gone down to the beach for the day, but it had started raining, so he had started driving back. But he had gotten lost. Now, he thought he was on the right way back. His headlights were not very strong. He could only see a few feet in front of him, except when the lightning hit. When the thunder came after, his squirrel, Joey, and his hamster, Broey, turned over in their sleep. Suddenly, lightning and thunder hit at the same time. There was a bright light and a crunching sound. A tree fell in front of the car! Sam hit the brakes. The car slowed down and stopped, and he got out. Sam walked up to the tree. He tried pushing it. It was too heavy. What would he do? He heard the car door open and shut behind him. It was Joey! And Broey! Together, the three of them pushed. Joey and Broey were small, but strong. And together, they moved the tree. They got back in the car. Sam was wet, and turned on the heater. He was tired, but he knew he would get home now - thanks to his animal friends. Why couldn't Sam see far ahead? A Because it was dark B Because he forgot his glasses C Because he was tired D His headlights were not very good Answer: D
Question: We see 3D movies, games, TVs, and so on. Do you hear of 3D newspapers? Yes, here is a kind of newspaper from Belgian. And it was born on March 3rd, 2010. This is the first 3D newspaper in the world. Huber Leklein with his friends began to make the 3D newspaper in January,2010. They worked really hard. And they finished in March. If you buy this newspaper ,you can get a pair of free 3D glasses. All the pictures and ads in the newspaper are in 3D,but the articles are not in 3D.You can read this 3D newspaper by holding( ) the newspaper 50cm away from the eyes. In fact, if people don't wear the 3D glasses, they can't read the newspaper very well because the pictures and words in it are not clear. People like reading 3D newspaper very much. But Hubert Lekein and his friends don't want to continue with it because they spent too much money and time. Hubert and his friends spent _ making the newspaper. A. two days B. two weeks C. two months D. two years Answer: C Question: If music makes you smarter, and exercise helps brain function, can exercising to music really boost brainpower? Some researchers said it could. Volunteers who listened to Vivaldi~ "Four Seasons" while working out on a treadmill did much better on a test of verbal ability than when they exercised without music, a team at prefix = st1 /OhioStateUniversityfound. "Evidence suggests that exercise improves the cognitive performance of people with coronary artery disease ," said psychologist Charles Emery, who led the study. "And listening to music is thought to enhance brainpower. We wanted to put the _ together," Emery added in a statement. Writing in the latest issue of the journal Heart & Lung, Emery and colleagues said they studied 33 men and women taking part in a cardiac rehabilitation program after having bypass surgery, angioplasty or other procedures to treat clogged arteries. The volunteers said they felt better emotionally and mentally after working out with or without the music. But their improvement on the verbal fluency test doubled after listening to music on the treadmills ."Exercise seems to cause positive changes in the nervous system, and these changes may have a direct effect on cognitive ability," Emery said. "Listening to music may influence cognitive function through different pathways in the brain. The combination of music and exercise may stimulate and increase cognitive arousal while helping to organize cognitive output." Emery said he now wanted to test people using music of their own choice. "We used The Four Seasons' because of its moderate tempo and positive effects on medical patients in previous research," Emery said. "But given the range of music preferences among patients, it's especially important to evaluate the influence of other types of music on cognitive outcomes." According to the latest issue of the journal Heart & Lung, which of the following is tree? A. The volunteers only didn't feel better mentally after working out with out the music. B. Improvement on the verbal fluency can be achieved by working out with the music. C. improvement on the verbal fluency can be achieved by working out without the music. D. The volunteers only felt better emotionally and mentally after working out with the music. Answer: B Question: Son's Help Mr. Lang worked in a factory. As a driver, he was busy but he was paid much. His wife was an able woman and did all the housework. When he came back, she took good care of him and he never did anything at home. So he had enough time when he had a holiday. A few friends of his liked gambling and he learned it soon. So he was interested in it and hardly forgot anything except gambling. He lost all his money and later he began to sell the television, watches and so on. His wife told him not to do it but he didn't listen to her. She had to tell the police. He and his friends were punished for it. And he was hardly sent away. After he came out of lockup , he hated her very much and the woman had to leave him. It was New Year's Day. Mr. Lang didn't go to work. He felt lonely and wanted to gamble again. He called his friends and they came soon. But they were afraid the police would come. He told his five-year-old son to go to find out if there were the policemen outside. They waited for a long time and didn't think the police would come and began to gamble. Suddenly opened the door and in came a few policemen. "I saw there weren't any policemen outside, daddy," said the boy, "so I went to the crossing and asked some to come." Mr. Lang was paid much because _ . A. he was a driver B. he worked in a factory C. he had worked there for a long time D. he had a lot of work to do Answer: D Question: A good modern newspaper is an extraordinary piece of reading. It is unusual for what it contains: the news from local crime to international politics, from sports to business to fashion to science, and the comments and special features as well, from editorial page to feature articles, from interviews to criticism of books, art, theatre, and music. A newspaper is even more unusual for the way one reads it never completely, never straight through, but always by jumping from here to there, in and out, glancing at one piece, reading another article all the way through, reading just a few paragraphs of the next. A good modern newspaper offers a variety to attract many different readers, but far more than any one reader is interested in. What brings this variety together in one place is its _ , that is, its immediate relation to what is happening in your world and your locality now. But this immediacy and the speed of production that goes with it also mean that much of what appears in a newspaper has no more than temporary value. For all these reasons, no two people really read the same paper: what each person does is to put together, out of the pages of that day's paper, his own selection and order, his own newspaper. For all these reasons, reading newspapers efficiently which means getting what you want from them without missing things you need but without wasting time, demands skill and self-awareness as you change and apply the techniques of reading. A good newspaper offers "a variety" to readers because _ . A. readers like to read different newspapers B. it has to cover things that happen in a certain locality C. readers are difficult to please D. it tries to serve different readers Answer: D Question: Tattoos and body piercings have moved up on the trend list in recent years. Around Western schools lots of teens are sporting new holes and "flesh ink" . As with all other subjects, the Chinese will surely have to deal with this situation with respect to their children. To get a better view of what has happened in the West, 1et's sit down and hear what they say. Tiara from Indiana: I personally think body piercing is sickening. If there were supposed to be holes in your body,you would have been born with them. I do,however,think that ear piercing is not wrong. There is a difference between ear piercing and belly button piercing. Ear piercing is not nearly as dangerous. I would be sick if someone stuck a needle in my belly button. Lee from Illinois: Hi! I live in Illinois. I am 23. I have 12 tattoos and three piercings. I love my tattoos and consider myself an art collector. You would be surprised at who has given me the thumbs up on my art work. People on the street stop me to look at the tattoo on my leg. Most of them don't know what it is. They just think the work itself is great. Subotai from California: I'm not forbidden of self-expression,but when I see high school students getting these piercings, I really wonder. In some cases, the drive is deeper and darker than mere fashion. A friend of mine tried piercing her own tongue with a safety pin. It got infected and she had a tongue the size of a cow's. Jackson from Ohio: I don't think it is wrong, but when people do it all over the place like their face and everything--I think that's ridiculous. People who get the big "dragons that cover the whole body--I don't think that's necessary." When I see naked chicks on guys, I think, "You have no respect for women." We can conclude that _ . A. tattoos and piercings are a new kind of elegant art B. all the teachers in the West are in favour of tattoos and piercings C. everything is changeable as time goes on D. it is necessary to live with different views of beauty Answer: D
On Friday afternoon, Mr. Tian, the Chinese teacher asks his students to write an article . The topic is My Beautiful Mother. Mr. Tian says to the students,"You can go home after you finish it. " All the students except Xiao Hong begin to write. They want to go home early. Xiao Hong is sitting there and thinks of her activities on weekends. She usually plays basketball on Monday afternoon if it is sunny. She plays volleyball on Tuesday afternoon. On Wednesday she plays tennis. She often plays ping-pong on Thursday. And she likes playing soccer on Friday afternoon. She raises her head and looks around. There are only five students except her in the classroom. Forty students hand in their articles and leave for home. She is a little worried . She thinks it over, and then, she has a good idea. She writes down the words on the paper: My mother is a tall and healthy woman. She is really beautiful. If you look at her daughter, you can know all about her. Xiao Hong doesn't begin because she _ . A thinks of her activities B isn't in the classroom C thinks it is easy D feels it interesting Answer: A Students are leaving the junior high school . What are they taking with them ? A lot of things for sure , but the most important thing is friends . We asked some teachers to give us one last lesson . The lesson is proverbs(, ) about friends . Proverbs teach people about life . Older people often teach proverbs to younger people . Every culture has proverbs . They are short and easy to remember . Mrs Minelli says , " It is important to remember this Sicilian proverb , ' Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty .' It means that only good friends tell you when you are making a mistake ." Mr Tulga says , " I have a favorite proverb about friends , ' Friendship is a plant we must water .' It is German . It means that everyone needs to take care of friendship like we take care of a garden ." Mr Tulga says , "My grandfather in Turkey told me , 'Nobody is so rich that he can throw away a friend .' It means that everyone needs friends . Be good to them ." The good news is :there is no test for this lesson ,. The bad news is :We will miss you . Goodbye , friends ! Don't forget us ! Which is the best proverb to the meaning "Take care of friendship like we take care of a garden"? A A friend is easier lost than found. B Friendship is a plant we must water C Nobody is so rich that he can throw away a friend . D Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty. Answer: B Today, roller skating is easy and fun. But, before 1750, the idea of skating didn't exist . That changed because of a man named Joseph Merlin. Merlin's work was making musical instruments. One day Merlin was invited to a music party. He was very pleased and a little excited. As the day of the party came near, Merlin began to think how to make a grand entrance at the party. He had an idea. He thought he would get a lot of attention if he could skate into the room. Merlin tried different ways to make himself roll. Finally, he decided to put two wheels under each shoe. These were the first roller skates in the world. Merlin was very proud of his invention and dreamed of getting to the party on wheels while playing the violin. On the night of the party Merlin rolled into the room playing his violin. Everyone was surprised to see him. There was just one problem. Merlin had no way to stop his roller skates. He rolled on and on, suddenly, he ran into a huge mirror that was hanging on the wall. Down fell the mirror, breaking into pieces. Nobody forgot Merlin's entrance! What was the job of Joseph Merlin? A Making shoes B Making toys C Making mirrors D Making musical instruments Answer: D Venice is the "Queen" of the Adriatic Sea . Every year thousands of people from all over the world travel to Italy to visit the city. Do you know why they like to go there for a visit? Venice is a very beautiful city. It is quite different from other cities in the world. There aren't any roads and streets in the city. So there aren't any cars and buses. There are many canals in the city. There is one big canal and one hundred and seventy-seven small canals. People move up and down the canals in boats to go to work, go shopping or visit their friends. But Venice is sinking. It is going down and the water is going up. In 2040Venice will be under water, The Adriatic Sea will cover the city. The Venetians love their city and want to stay there. So they want to save Venice? They can build some strong huge walls and gates in the sea. The gates will close to keep too much water out. Thus Venice will not sink. The Venetians usually go to work or visit their friends _ . A by bus. B by bike. C in cars. D in boats. Answer: D Do you know what Street Sense is? It's a newspaper in Washington D.C. about homeless people and problems that affect them. Homeless, or formerly homeless, Washingtonians write many of the articles. The newspaper's business model is based on homeless sellers who sell the newspaper. You can hear them call out "Street Sense for sale!" near subway entrances, lunch places and other areas around the city. The Street Sense newspaper is housed in an office in a Christian church in Washington. Every other Wednesday about fourteen thousand copies are printed. The newspaper expresses the thoughts and experiences of people who call the streets home. Four staff members work at Street Sense and two of them are paid. The staff members write the first two pages of the paper. Interns--students working as part of their studies--and volunteers help. Homeless writers provide the rest of the material. This includes poems, stories and essays. Street Sense provides training for the homeless people who want to become part of the sales team. After the training, each student is given ten free copies of Street Sense. Once those are sold, trainees become real salespeople. They buy papers for thirty-five cents each and sell them for a dollar. Lisa Gillespie is the managing editor of Street Sense, She says the newspaper plays a part in homeless people's lives that other media can not. With the help of the newspaper, a lot of homeless people have become confident again, and their lives have also been improved a lot. What do the staff members mainly do at Street Sense? A They sell newspapers along the street. B They write the first two pages of the paper. C They edit the newspaper after they receive articles. D They provide the last two pages of the paper. Answer: B
A friend of mine named Paul received an expensive car from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shining car. "Is this your car, sir?" he asked. Paul answered, "Yes, my brother gave it to me for Christmas." The boy was surprised, "You mean your brother gave it to you and it did cost you nothing? Sir, I wish..." He hesitated . Paul thought of course he knew what the boy wanted, but what the boy said surprised him greatly. "I wish, " the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that. " Paul looked at the boy in surprise, and then he said again, "Would you like to take a ride in my car?" "Oh yes, I'd love to." The boy answered. After a short ride, the boy turned with his eyes shining and said, "Sir, would you mind driving in front of my house?" Paul smiled a little. He thought he know what the boy wanted, He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big car. But Paul was wrong again. "Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up to the steps. Then in a short while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He Was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat down on the step and pointed to the car. "There he is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent . And some day I'm going to give you one just like it... then you can see for yourself all the nice things in the Christmas window- that I've been trying to tell you about." Paul got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed elder brother climbed in beside him and the three began an unforgettable holiday ride.[:Zxxk.Com] The best name of the story is _ . A Brother Like That Protagoras was among the great teachers of ancient Athens. He taught many subjects, including the laws of argument and the right use of language. It is said that he was the first teacher to accept money for his services. A student, Evalthus, heard of this famous teacher and asked him to give him lessons. However, Evalthus didn't want to pay for his lessons at once, and after some discussion it was finally agreed between them that Evalthus should pay only if he won his first case in the court. For if he won, it would prove that he had been taught well. The lessons began and Evalthus proved himself to be a good student. But he refused to pay Protagoras anything at the end of his studies. Protagoras therefore took Evalthus to the court and told the judges that he wanted his money. He explained that he must be paid whether he won or lost the case. "Whatever you decide," he declared to the judges, " I must be paid. For if you decide in my fovor , then I win the case, and so I must be paid . But If you decide against me, then Evalthus has won his first case in the court; according to our agreement, he must pay his lessons. Therefore I shall get my money whatever happens." The Athenian judges found no fault in it, so they asked Evalthus to reply. "No, it's quite clear," said Evalthus, " that I need not pay. If the judged decide in my favor, then I have won the case, and I need not to pay. But if Protagoras wins, then I have lost my first case. Therefore, according to our agreement, I do not have to pay. So I need not pay in any event." As both arguments appeared to be faultless, the judges were unable to come to a decision. They therefore ordered the two men to appear before them again one hundred years later. Evalthus would pay Protagoras _ . after the court proved that he was taught well Her frozen fingers touched the flame trying to feel alive. She could feel the warmth but it was a cold heat, as if the candle was rejecting her. Her arms turned red because of the cold, her short sleeved shirt not giving her enough warmth. The winter air grabbed at her arms, causing her pain, but she didn't mind. She knew she should put her jacket on, it was winter in Connecticut, but that would be giving up. Up here, in this tree she felt safe. She looked at the candle, surrounded by hardening wax . She placed her fingers gently on the warm green wax. This candle was a reminder of her life inside that house, a life she would have to return to eventually. As a child, she had gotten this candle. She spent all she had on it. The beautiful crystal box had caught her eye. Five whole nickels had brought her that candle. She gave it to her mother for Mother's Day. Her mother had managed a smile and put it on a shelf. "It's very pretty, honey! I will put it right here." Since then that candle had never been moved, never been lighted, sitting dusty on a cluttered shelf that no one could see. Later on, her parents got divorced. By now the candle was colder than the air and the darkness was complete. The snow on the ground made the night lighter and less satisfying than it had been before the first snowfall. She liked the darkness because she felt safe in it. From the glances of her friends who liked the girl she used to be. From the boys who could never figure out who she was. From her guidance counselor whose endless worried looks never made her feel any better. No one was outside at this time of night. She was alone in the world, just how she liked _ Just as she was about to lean back against the branch, she heard a sound. She heard footsteps breaking the ice in the snow, heading toward her. He was making his way toward the white fence at the edge of the building, right against the road. Normally she would have ignored this person and stayed on her branch faraway from human contact, but this figure had something with him. He trudged toward the white fence carrying a case. The figure reached the fence, opened the case and took out a shiny object. She took her eyes off this figure only long enough to climb down the tree to get a better view of him. She reached the bottom and saw that the person had turned to face the street, sitting on the white fence that she and her friends once sat on. She stepped carefully on the ice, making her way toward him. And then a beautiful sound of music came from the shiny object. She stopped and listened to it. She started walking towards the guy again. Just as she was about to step onto the snow banks, she slipped on the ice crashing to the ground. The figure turned around in surprise and a sudden recognition fell upon them both. From the end of the story, it can be known that the girl _ . knew the person Perhaps you have never heard of Katherine Lawes.Katherine was the wife of Lewis Lawes, warden at Sing Sing Prison from 1920 to 1941.In these 21 years he made many reforms --- and an important part of his success was due to his wife Katherine. Katherine took seriously the idea that the prisoners are human beings ,worthy of attention and respect .She regularly visited inside the walls of Sing Sing.She encouraged the prisoners, took things to them and spent time listening to them.Most importantly, she cared about them.And as a result, they cared deeply about her. Then one night in October of 1937, news was "telegraphed" between the prison cells that Katherine had been killed in an accident.The prisoners asked the warden to allow them to attend her funeral.He agreed to their strange request and a few days later the south gate of Sing Sing swung slowly open.Hundreds of men who had committed almost every crime imaginable marched slowly out of the prison, later gathered again at the gate and returned to their cells.There were so many that they proceeded unguarded.But no one tried to escape.If he had, the others might have killed him immediately.So devoted were they to Katherine Lawes, the woman who daily walked into Hell to show the men a piece of Heaven. Katherine' s strength was to see the men less as prisoners and more as individuals.Thomas Moore once said, "We can only treat badly those things or people whose souls we show no respect for." The best title of this passage is _ . To Honor Their Souls When a dirty and untidy orange cat showed up in the prison yard,I was one of the first to go out there and pet it.I hadn't touched a cat or a dog in over 20 years.I spent at least 20 minutes,knelt down behind the kitchen as the cat rolled around,relaxed.What he was expressing outwardly, I was feeling inwardly.It was an amazing bit of grace to feel him under my hand and note that I was reaching a life or another creature with something as simple as my care. Over the next few days,there were other prisoners responding to the cat.Every yard period,a group of prisoners gathered there.They stood around talking and taking turns petting the cat.These were guys you wouldn't usually find talking to each other.Several times I saw an officer in the group,not chasing people away, but just watching and seeming to enjoy along with the prisoners.Bowls of milk and water appeared along with bread, wisely placed under the edge of the dustbin to keep the birds from getting it. The cat was obviously homeless and in pretty bad shape.People said that the cat came to the right place.He's getting treated like a king.This was true.but as 1 watched 1 was also thinking about what the cat was doing for us.There was a lot of talk about what's wrong with prisons in America.We need more programs.We need more psychologists or treatment of various kinds.Some may even talk about making prisons more kind.But I think what we really need is a chance to practise our own kindness.Not receive it,but give it.After more than two decades here,I know kindness is not a value that's encouraged.It's often seen as a weakness. Instead,the culture encourages keeping your head down,minding your own business,and never letting yourself be weak. The cat did my heart good to see the effect he had on me and the men here.By simply saying,"I need some help here",he did something important for us.He needed us.And we needed to be needed.I believe we all do. What is the best title for the passage? Caring Makes Us Human.
Question: What do you do if you don't get into your first choice of university? That's the dilemma that faces thousands of British students every year. Many candidates turn to Clearing, the service that helps find university places for students at the last moment. If they don't have the marks to get into their first choice of institution, Clearing tells them about places available at other universities, though they might have to read another subject. But this year has seen a record number of people applying to university. This, combined with the weak economy, an uncertain job market and budget cuts at universities, means that _ than usual. Some sources say six students have applied for each remaining undergraduate university place. The British university admissions service, UCAS, says up to a quarter of this year's university applicants --- almost 190,000 people --- still don't have a place on a degree course. That's a rise of over 46,000 students from last year. Faced with these figures, some British students might be thinking of an interesting alternative: studying abroad. The University of Nottingham, for example,is offering places at its campuses in Ningbo, near Shanghai, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Students here can gain University of Nottingham degrees in business, accounting, engineering and English. Similarly, the University of Bolton says it has 'unlimited' places at its campus in the United Arab Emirates. Given the problems getting into university, the UK's Higher Education Minister, David Willetts, encourages students who haven't made the grade to consider alternatives to university, such as apprenticeships and studying at home. "There are a range of options available," he says. "People are able to reapply. They should think how they can spend their year adding that bit to their CV, which would help their application --- getting practical work experience or extra skills --- anything that strengthens their chances next year." But some experts say that rising university costs, poor long-term job prospects, and a drop in graduate recruitment mean it's the worst time to be a university student in the UK. When the author says this year "there's been more of a scramble for places" (Para. 3), he means _ . A. more people have applied to university B. there is more competition between the candidates C. there are more services that help find university places D. more places are available Answer: B Question: Fred is a dog. He always wants to have everything for himself. He doesn't like to share his food or toys with other dogs. One day, he was running in a field, and found a large bone in the bushes. He was so happy! He thought, "Wow! This is the biggest bone in the world! And it's all mine! I should put it somewhere. Another dog may try to steal it." "I'll run very far," he thought. "That way, no other dogs will find my bone." One hour later, he saw a small river and a bridge, "I'll cross the bridge, and put my bone on the other side," thought Fred. Then, he began to cross the bridge. He looked down, and saw a dog with a bone in the water. He thought it was another dog with another bone! "There is a dog in the water. I want his bone too!" thought Fred. Then, he opened his mouth and tried to grab the other bone. Splash! His bone fell into the water. "Oh, no! My bone is gone!" he thought. "Now I have nothing." What can we learn from the passage? A. We must learn to find good things for others. B. We must learn to protect good things from others. C. We must learn to collect good things with others. D. We must learn to share good things with others. Answer: D Question: Have you ever wondered why the roots of the plants always know which way to grow--into the soil but not above it? Some British scientists have recently solved this mystery. It turns out that roots have special hairs that tie them into the soil and help them grow their way past obstacles, a team at the John Inners Center in Norwich reports in the February 29 issue of Journal Science. "The key is in the fuzzy coat of hairs on the roots of plants," says professor Liam Dolan. "We have found a growth control system that enables these hairs to find their way and to become longer when their path is clear." Root hairs explore the soil in much the same way a person would feel their way in the dark. If they come across an obstacle, they make their way around until they can continue growing in an opening. In the meantime, the plant is held in place as the hairs grip the soil. The hairs are guided by a clever chemical trick. A protein at the tip of the root hairs called RHD2 helps them to take calcium from the soil. Calcium makes the hairs grow, and produce more RHD2, and take more calcium. But when an obstacle blocks the hair's path, or the hair reaches the surface of the soil, the cycle is broken and growth starts in another direction. This system gives plants the flexibility to explore a complex environment and to live in even the most unpromising soils, says Dolan. In poor soils such as in parts of Australia and Africa, native plants have adapted by producing enormous numbers of root hairs. A better understanding of this adaptation will allow scientists to develop hairy rooted crops that can grow in unfriendly environments. According to Dolan, "Research in the John Inners Center is taking a breeding approach to increase hair length in wheat but it will be some time before new cultivars are developed." The passage is mainly about _ . A. why the roots of plants grow into the soil but not above it B. how the roots of plants grow into the soil but not above it C. the process of plants growth D. a growth control system of plants Answer: A Question: The greatest sales woman in the world today doesn't mind if you call her a girl. That's because Markita Andrews made more than $80,000 by selling cookies when she was 13 years old. Andrews and her mother shared a dream of traveling around the world. Once while reading a magazine ad, Andrews found that the person who sold the most cookies could win a free trip for two around the world. She decided to give it a try. To make her dream come true, Andrews went door to door every day after school and repeated, "Hi, I have a dream. I'm earning a trip around the world for my mom and me by selling cookies. " Then she asked," Would you like to buy one or two dozen boxes of cookies?" Andrews kept asking for a whole year, no matter how heavily it was raining or snowing outside. Her hard work _ She sold 42,000 boxes of cookies that year and she won her trip around the world. Andrews is no smarter than thousands of other people. The key to her success is that she has found the secret of selling: Ask, Ask, Ask! Many people fail before they even begin because they fail to ask for what they want. It takes courage to ask for what you want. And , as Andrews has discovered, the more you ask, the easier ( and more fun) it gets. ,. _ gave Andrews the idea to sell cookies. A. An advertisement in the magazine B. Her dream to travel around the world C. Her mother D. Her friends Answer: A Question: International students in Christine Rhodes' English class in Australia share theirimpressions of places they have visited in Australia. Canberra, the nicest city in Australia I went for a short holiday to Canberra. My uncle lives there. It's the nicest city in Australia, a little bit similar to Cairns. There're lots of big rivers and trees around the city. Siggi Siebold from Germany The small city of Mount Isa I went to Mount Isa six months ago. It's a long way from Brisbane -- about 2,000 km. It's a small city, with a population of 21,000, but it has all the basic _ such as a base hospital, six schools and supermarkets. Here the weather is hot and gets very little rain. There're two big lakes to keep rainwater for people in the city to drink. Indra Ekanayake Lake Moondarra and amine In Mount Isa, there's adam called Lake Moondarra. At weekends you can go there with your friends, and it is beautiful. On the lake, there is water skiing. Also, people can go fishing there. There's a big mine in Mount Isa. Many people go to work in the mine and earn a lot of money. Mount Isa isn't a beautiful green place, but many people love it. Ida Robb from Indonesia Which of the following is TRUE? A. Siggi Siebold stayed in Canberra for six months. B. Mount Isa is a famous village in Australia. C. People in Mount Isa drink rainwater. D. People can't go water skiing on the lake. Answer: C
Question: A few days ago, prefix = st1 /Adrianbought six packages of ink for his printer at a $1 Store. Then he found a deal on better ink at the local computer store. SoAdrianwent back to the $1 Store to exchange the ink for some other items. He put the ink into a plastic bag and tied it up. When he entered the store, he immediately showed the bag to a clerk and told her that he was returning some items. She looked at him but said nothing, soAdrianput the bag into a push-cart and started shopping. He was midway through shopping when a female employee suddenly stopped him. "Sir," she said sternly , "you are not allowed to carry a plastic bag of items around in this store." Adrianwas taken back. There was no need for her to yell. He opened the bag and showed her the six packages of ink. "I'm exchanging these for some other items,"Adriansaid. "You should have left the bag with the clerk when you entered the store. Let me see your receipt!" the employee demanded.Adrianwas embarrassed. He felt like a shoplifter while he showed her the receipt. By the time Adrianhad finished shopping and exchanged the items, he was angry and asked what her name was. She mumbled something and he heard "Ursula." WhenAdriangot home, he called the store's corporate headquarters. Two days later,Adrianreceived a phone call from a representative. "I'm sorry," she said, "but there's no one at that store named Ursula. Can you describe her? I'll find out who she is. I assure you, we do not tolerate rude behavior, nor do we tolerate lying to customers." By this time,Adrianhad calmed down. He didn't really want the employee to lose her job. He told the representative to forget about it. Adrianwent back to the $1 Store in order to _ . A. buy some cheap items B. exchange the ink for some other items C. look for his receipt D. complain to the manager about a clerk Answer: B Question: Over the next 20 to 50 years, it will become harder to tell the difference between the human and the machine. All body parts will be replaceable. A computer will function like the human brain with the ability to recognize feelings and respond with emotions. They can then make fake people. We will then be able to create a machine duplicate of ourselves so we will appear to be alive long after we are dead. Maybe a few decades later, a way will be found to transfer our spirit to the new body. Then we can choose to live for as long as we want. Once one of you is duplicated, you will just have to press Ctrl + D and you will have two of you. If you want 500, select 500. Naturally, when duplicates are running around all over the place, there will be a food problem. The most practical choice would be garbage. Your modified duplicate will be made to eat garbage like a goat. But don't worry. Their taste buds and sense of smell will be changed so they will really enjoy it. They will want to eat lots of garbage. When it becomes possible to do a spirit transfer, you will be able to live within whichever duplicate you want, whenever you want and as long as you want. Just imagine what it would be like when you are with so many duplicates of yourself. You will be very busy enjoying many things. One duplicate of yourself is in the middle of doing a jigsaw puzzle and another duplicate has almost completed another puzzle. When you become tired of the joy of puzzles, "you" jump to the duplicate that is eating garbage, then to the one that is playing in a rock concert, then to the one that is scoring the winning goal. You will be so busy enjoying so many things that it could drive you crazy. When it is predicted that things will be better in the future, it doesn't necessarily mean that things will be easier! What is the main idea of the text? A. How to duplicate people. B. What it will be like if people are duplicated. C. Duplicating people makes trouble. D. What duplicated people eat. Answer: B Question: When producers create food in an ecosystem, a portion of the nutrients are A. carbs B. energy C. grass D. flowers Answer: A Question: This is a photo of Mr. Black's family. The man with glasses is Mr. Black, the father. The woman is the mother. They have a son and a daughter. The son is behind(....) Jack and Kate are in the same school, but they are in different grades. Jack is in Grade Three and Kate is in Grade One. They are good students. Jack and Kate are in the same _ . A. class B. grade C. school D. year Answer: C Question: The earliest newspapers started in ancient Rome. They were handwritten news sheets. The first printed newspapers appeared in China during the Tang dynasty, which were printed from carved wooden blocks. Modern papers first appeared in Venice, Italy in the middle of the 14th century. The newspapers of today, with advertising and a mixture of political, economic, and social news and comments, were started in Britain in the mid-18th century. The main function of newspapers is to report news. Many newspapers also provide special information to readers, such as weather reports and television timetables. They also provide comments on politics, economics, arts and culture. Almost all newspapers depend on advertising to make money. Nearly six out of ten adults in the United States and Canada read a newspaper every day. Seven out of ten read a paper each weekend. Readers search newspapers for de-tailed background information and analysis . This is what television and radio news reports seldom offer. Newspapers tell readers what happened, and they also help readers understand what caused an event and how it will affect the world around them. The workers at large newspaper companies work under a lot of pressure to bring news to readers as soon as possible. Reporters, photographers, artists, and editors collect articles in just a few hours. Page designers select articles, photos, advertisements, and eye-catching headlines to make the pages, and then rush their work to the printer. Printing workers may work overnight around printing presses to _ more than 60,000 copies per hour. Which is the best title for the passage? A. Production of Newspapers B. Functions of Newspapers C. Publication of Newspapers D. An Introduction to Newspapers Answer: D
A disorder is associated with certain flaws in the human respiratory system. Which is most likely a typical symptom of this disorder? A. poor vision B. difficulty breathing C. reduced muscle mass D. increased saliva production Answer: B Have you been asked for money by some disabled beggars while you're enjoying shopping?Do you have any pity on them who are so poor and lonely or do you just feel afraid of their terrible shapes?As one of the most special groups,disabled people's living conditions--not only their material conditions,but their mental world,really need improvement. The treatment for disabled people should go like this:First,don't look down upon them.Don't be afraid of looking at the terrible shapes of the disabled.Try to treat them _ .Because they are a part of the society ,we can't discard them.The second is to help them as much as we could.If you can be a volunteer and do some work for the disabled people,that would be very nice.That does help not only to the disabled people but also to yourself because you will feel good after your kind action. If every one of us gives a little love,the world will become a beautiful wonderland! Most disabled people are begging along the street because _ . A. it's their job B. they want to make a living in this way C. more and more people love to help them D. they are a part of the society Answer: B Paul's dog has just pooped on the lawn. The dog has A. had a nutritious meal within the last day B. gotten himself into trouble C. had a lot to drink D. been a good boy Answer: A Japanese professor Yoji Kimura believes laughter is a weapon that in healthy doses can end the world's wars. To measure it, the expert on communications has invented a machine to chart out laughter--and a new unit of "aH" to calculate it. "We have found that children laugh more freely, releasing 10 aH per second, which is about twice as much as an adult," Kimura, a professor at Kansai University in the western city of Osaka, told reporters. "Adults tend to calculate whether it's appropriate to laugh and under those restraints they eventually forget how," he said. "Laughing is like a restart function on a computer. Laughing freely is very important in the course of human development," he said. Kimura, who believes in "a change from a century of wars to a century of humor and tolerance," has studied the science of laughter for decades in Osaka. In his theory, human laughter is produced in four emotional stages. "I believe there is a circuit in the human brain that creates laughter," Kimura said confidently. To measure laughter, he attaches sensors on the skin of a tested people's stomach, particularly the diaphragm , and detects muscle movements. "I have a theory that humor detected in the brain gets directly released through the movement of diaphragm," he said. By checking the movement of the diaphragm and other parts of the body, it will be possible to see if a person is only pretending to laugh while also telling different types of laughter, Kimura said. Kimura wants to make the measuring device as small as a mobile phone and possibly market it as a health and amusement device. Kimura said he planned to present his findings this summer to the US-based International Society for Humor Studies, adding that he looked forward to looking at differences in laughter internationally. According to the passage, Professor Yoji Kimura _ . A. thinks banning weapon can end wars in the world B. has put his machine calculating laughter into market C. has been studying laughing for many years D. is an expert in people's health problem Answer: C "Hey, do you know what? Today is May Day!" my sister announced. "Do you remember the May Day baskets we used to make with colored paper and paste?" I recalled that my sisters and I would run around our neighborhood delivering the baskets brimming with spring flowers. We would place them on a doorstep, knock on the door, then run away. It was delightful to look around a bush and watch our friends open their doors and pick up the colorful gift,wondering who had left it out for them. I clearly remember the May Day of the year that I was in fifth grade. That year I was faced with a challenge involving one of my dearest friends. She lived right across the road from our family, and we had walked together to school nearly every day since first grade. Her interests were starting to change from the interests that we had shared together. A new family had recently moved into our small town,and Pam was spending more and more time at their house. When my mother asked me if I was going to take a May Day basket to Pam's house, I responded angrily, "Absolutely not!" My mom told me that I would have many other friends throughout my lifetime. "But Pam was my very best friend ever," I cried. Mom wiped away my tears and told me that circumstances change and people change. She explained that one of the greatest things friends can do is to give each other a chance to grow, to change and to develop into what we want to be. And sometimes that would mean that friends would choose to spend time with other people. I could express my forgiveness by giving her a May Day basket. It was a hard decision, but I made an extra special basket of flowers with lots of yellow because that was Pam's favorite color. I asked my two sisters to help me deliver my basket of forgiveness. As we watched from our hiding place, Pam picked up the flowers, and said loudly enough for us to hear, "Thank you, Susie, I hoped you wouldn't forget me!". According to the passage what did Susie and her sisters do on May Day? A. They gave their friends a basket of flowers secretly. B. They sold baskets of spring flowers in neighborhood. C. They hang a basket of flowers on their friends' doors. D. They ran around the neighborhood to pick flowers. Answer: A
I received pictures of my daughter floating on a lake in California. Right there under the sun during the hottest time of the day, she has only her swimsuit to cover her. When I showed it to my students, it was as if I had shown them scenes from a horror movie. "But she will get dark," they said. "That's what she wants," I told them. "We think darker skin is beautiful." They looked at me in disbelief. It was as if I came from the moon. For years, American girls spend their summer trying to get as tanned as possible. In China, on the other hand, girls use umbrellas all year round. What in the world is going on? The pale skin we think looks unattractive is what Asian women want. Both groups want to meet their culture's standard of beauty. In the US, if you can afford to go on vacation in the summer, you head for a river, a lake or a beach, where you try to get as much sun as possible. If you are rich you take a winter vacation in some sunny spot. Your winter tan shows your wealth. In China, once upon a time, the few wealthy were the ones who didn't have to work out in the hot sun. So the whiter the skin, the richer the woman. The folk opera performers who play these ladies wore lots of white makeup . The tradition survives to this day. So it comes naturally that none of my students wishes to follow the Western ways in this regard. But now I am noticing that a new business - the tanning booth - started up in China. I admire those brave enough to define(...)their own idea of beauty, but I do wonder what their grandmothers would have to say to them about it! The students were shocked at the picture the writer showed them because _ . A. they thought it shameful for a girl only to wear a swimsuit B. the writer's daughter was wearing very little while out in the sun C. it is dangerous for a girl to be out on a lake alone D. with the powerful sunlight the writer's daughter would have got a suntan Answer: D The day was like any other day in his life, Tom walked past the shop on the street corner. He stopped to look at the front row of shoes, and he felt happy to see that the pair of shoes he wanted very much was still there. Looking down, he felt sorry for himself. He really wanted to have them for his birthday. He sadly walked away and thought how to tell his mother about it. He knew she would give him anything he liked if she could. But he also knew very well she had little money. He decided not to go home at once, as he looked worried and his mother would notice it. So he went to the park and sat on the grass. Then he saw a boy in a wheel chair . He noticed that the boy moved the wheel with his hands. Tom looked at him carefully and was surprised to see the boy have no feet. He looked at his own feet. "It's much better to be without shoes than without feet, "he thought. There was no reason for him to feel so sorry and sad. He went away and smiled, thinking he was happier Tom went into the park because he _ . A. was thinking how to tell his mother about it B. wanted to see the boy C. didn't want to make his mother worried D. he felt sad Answer: C Next Stop: Planet Mars Fly me to the moon? That's not far enough. On September 14, 2011, NASA released designs for a superrocket, the Space Launch System (SLS). This time the final destination will be Mars. The SLS is a huge, liquid-fuelled rocket. If it is fully developed, it will be the most powerful rocket ever built. Its lift capability will be much bigger than that of the space shuttle of Saturn 5, the rocket that sent the Apollo missions to the moon. NASA is planning to launch its first unmanned test flight in 2017. It is hoped that the first crew will fly in 2021 and astronauts will make it to a nearby asteroid in 2025. NASA hopes to send the rocket and astronauts to Mars from the asteroid by the 2030s, according to the Associated Press (AP). NASA used liquid rockets to send Apollo, Gemini and Mercury into space, but later changed to solid rockets boosters because they were cheaper. Tragically, however, a booster flaw caused the space shuttle Challenger to crash in 1986. The new project plans to return to liquid fuel. According to AP, the rockets will at first be able to carry 77 to 110 tons of payload . Eventually they will be able to carry 143 tons into space, maybe even as many as 165 tons, NASA officials said. By comparison, the Saturn 5 booster could lift 130 tons and the space shuttle just 27 tons. However, unlike reusable shuttles, these powerful rockets are mostly one use only. New ones have to be built for every launch. This will be very costly. NASA estimates that it will cost about $3 billion (19 billion yuan) per year, or $18 billion until the first test flight in 2017. NASA hopes to make money by allowing private companies to send astronauts to the International Space Station like giant taxi services, so that the program can be "sustainable". "This is perhaps the biggest thing for space exploration in decades," said Senator Bill Nelson, a former astronaut. "The goal is to fly humans safely beyond low-Earth orbit and deep into outer space where we cannot only survive, but one day also live." NASA plans to use liquid fuel in the new project because _ than solid rockets boosters. A. it is less costly B. it is much safer C. it can last longer D. it is more environmentally friendly Answer: B My name is Kitty. I have a very big and nice room and I have a great school things collection. My brother's room is near my room. He is Mike. And he has a big sports collection. I have twenty erasers, ten pencils, nine rulers and eight pens in my schoolbag. My brother has two baseballs, four soccer balls and five basketballs under his bed. Where is Mike's sports collection? A. Under his bed. B. Under Kitty's bed. C. In his schoolbag. D. In Kitty's schoolbag. Answer: A Robert Frost was at heart a mean-spirited human being, not the kind of man one would expect to write poetry. He was born in San Francisco. Frost entered Dartmouth University in 1893, but dropped out, and switched to Harvard, which he attended for two years. He started a brief teaching career, where he was inspired to become a poet by some of his students' work. Frost stopped teaching and became a farmer. During this time he wrote numerous poems, and a couple of short stories. While he was a farmer he started to think seriously about becoming a famous poet. In almost all of his poems, Frost wrote in the first person. The first widely-read poem that he published was called My Butterfly. At first his audience was very small, but with his Collected Poems he became famous. Robert Frost received almost all the awards that there were for poetry. His poetry describes the forces of nature, and the violence and deep emotional needs of human beings, which reflect the experiences of his childhood. Robert Frost will always be known as one of the best poets in history. His way of putting emotion and violence into words is remarkable . His talent for poetry is natural-born and he had discovered this when he started to farm. Even though he treated his wife and children terribly, he still became one of the best-known poets of his and our day. According to the passage, Robert Frost was famous for _ . A. his teaching career B. his life experiences C. showing strong feeling in his poems D. his interest in poems Answer: C
Daniel comes from Sydney. He is now staying in Beijing with his family. He usually gets up at about 6:30 am and has breakfast at 7:00 am. Then he leaves home at 7:15 am. He gets to school at 7:45 am. His first class begins at 8:00 am. There are four lessons in the morning. Morning classes are over at 11:50 am, and he has lunch 10 minutes later. Afternoon classes begin at 1:30 pm. There are two lessons in the afternoon. They are over at 3:10 pm. Daniel usually stays at school for another hour to play soccer, and then goes home. How many classes do they have a day? Answer: Six. Back in the early 1900s, American physician Byron Robinson wrote a book proposing an interesting theory: humans actually have two brains --- one in our heads and the other in our stomachs, and the two "communicate" all the time. Interestingly, in Chinese culture, thoughts are also related to the belly in phrases and idioms like fugao (, a draft), manfu jinglun (, a bellyful of ideas), and yiduzi weiqu (, a bellyful of complaints). This may sound a little ridiculous at first. But try to think of a time when you were extremely nervous. Chances are that you also felt uncomfortable in your stomach, didn't you? This is probably why people use the idiom "butterflies in one's stomach" to refer to being nervous. Now scientists from Canada and the US have found that our guts , if not as bright as our actual brains, are much more than just where we digest the food we eat. They also affect our emotions and even behavior, all thanks to the bacteria in them, reported Scientific American. In the study, scientists fed timid mice stomach bacteria from mice that were more active and daring. After eating the bacteria, the timid mice grew more energetic and fearless. Sure enough, when _ mice got the bacteria from timid ones, they became more anxious. The mice's behavior also changed when scientists disturbed the bacteria in their guts by changing their diets and feeding them antibiotics . "If something goes wrong in the gut, that change is reflected in the brain," Emeran Mayer, a professor at University of California, Los Angeles, told The Huffington Post. The brain-and-gut connection also works in the opposite way. Scientists studied children with autism --- a mental illness that makes people unable to socialize with others --- and found that they also have a lot of stomach problems. They have fewer types of stomach bacteria and lower totals of a few key bacteria than healthy children. This research raises the possibility that scientists could treat patients with brain problems simply by feeding them the right food, which would be much more efficient than providing psychological therapy . According to CBC News, you can get "good" bacteria that lift your spirits from food like yogurt while "bad" bacteria are usually in high fat and high sugar foods. What is the author's attitude toward Byron Robinson's theory of two human brains? Answer: Positive. In the human body, cellular respiration breaks down sugar molecules after they enter the cell. What results from this process? Answer: release of energy A man from a big city with a new cart and a beautiful pair of horses was driving along a country road . He did not give much attention to where he was going. Very soon he knew he lost his way, but he kept on driving hoping he would meet someone or find his way back. It was a long way. For many hours he kept on driving. When it was almost dark he saw a farmer who was working in a field. He stopped and shouted, "Hello, farmer!" "Hello, yourself!" the farmer answered, still working. "Where does this road go?" "I have never seen it go anywhere. It always stays where it is." said the farmer, without stopping his work. "How far is it to the next town?" said the stranger, with a little louder voice. "I don't know. I've never measured it ." Answered the farmer. By the time the city man was getting angry. "What do you know? You're the biggest fool I've seen." The farmer stopped and turned and looked for a while at the man. Then he said, "Maybe I do not know much, perhaps I'm a fool. But at least I'm not lost." . "I'm not lost" means " _ ". Answer: I haven't lost my way. Put an ice cube from your fridge into a glass of water. You have a piece of string 10 centimeters long. The problem is to take out that piece of ice with the help of the string. But you must not touch the ice with your fingers. You may ask your friends to try to do that when you are having dinner together. There is a saltcellar on the table. You must use salt when you carry out this experiment. First you put the string across the piece of ice. Then put some salt on the ice. Salt makes ice melt . The ice round the string will begin to melt. But when it melts, it will lose heat. The cold ice cube will make the salt water freeze again. After a minute or two you may raise the piece of string and with it you will raise your piece of ice! This experiment can be very useful to you. If, for example, there is ice near the door of your house, you must use very much salt to melt all the ice. If you don't put enough salt, the water will freeze again. We can learn something about _ from the passage. Answer: chemistry
Canada, the world's second-largest country, has a massive Atlantic coastline . So, the best way to experience it is by car. One week Cross over to Wolfville and the Bay of Fundy via HWY 12. Spend a day criss-crossing the country roads and grassy hills of Cape Blomidon to catch some of the most impressive views of the Fundy tides . The next day, drive east, stopping at wineries and shopping for unique jams and other local foods at Tangled Garden, where you can also cool down with a herb-flavored ice cream. Drive through the rural roads and maybe get lost on the way to Maitland to sign up for a day of white-water rafting, which can be relaxing and one of the most exciting experiences in your life. On the last day, head back to Halifax via east coast Martinique Beach, one of the longest beaches in Nova Scotia, a beautiful place for stretching legs and bird watching. Two weeks With more time, you can go directly up to Cape Breton, along the circuitous roads of the "Cabot Trail", over high sea vista points, where you have to watch for moose on the road. Those with more time can go to Newfoundland and continue on the "Viking Trail" that links the Gros Morne National Park with Leif Eriksson's historic Viking settlement. When to go Outside of June to October the coast will be extremely cold and most businesses will be shut. Where to stay * Lennox Inn 1791 (Lunenburg): Canada's oldest continually operating hotel. * The Olde Lantern Inn & Vineyard (Grand Pre): in the heart of winery and Fundy tide country. Where to eat * Fleur de Sel (Lunenburg): widely considered this coast's finest restaurant. * Hall's Lobster Pound (Hall's Harbour): pick your lobster, get it boiled and enjoy it on a park bench. We can infer from the passage that _ . white-water rafting is quite exciting Mobile phone has become a problem for high schools. Some high-school students in Australia are not allowed to carry mobile phones during school hours. Mobile phone used among children has become a problem for the school. Several children have got mobile phones as Christmas presents, and more students will want them. Marry Brown, a headmaster, said that mobile phone was a distraction to students during school hours and it also gave teachers so much trouble in their classrooms. Teachers were also saying that sometimes students might use phone messages to _ during exams. She said some schools had tried to ban mobile phones. Some parents felt unhappy because they couldn't get in touch with their children. Many teachers said students should not have mobile phones at school. But there was a good reason that they could leave their phones at school offices. They also said they were easily lost and were a distraction for studies. The passage tells us that _ . students shouldn't have mobile phones at school except for some special reasons Many years ago, my dad was diagnosed with a serious heart condition. He was unable to work a steady job. He would be fine for a while, but would then fall suddenly ill and have 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 all. 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 ill. Some time later after my dad had recovered and returned to work, in came the little girl who had been paralyzed, but 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 doctors, and my dad - who died just a few months after the little girl gave him the picture - loved every single child in that hospital. The author's father worked at the local hospital to _ . keep himself occupied and happy Moreno, Stanley, and 23 other students from Westfield State College were on vacation in Acapulco, Mexico. This was the last night in the hotel. It was 4 am, Moreno and Stanley came back from a party. Just as Stanley went to sleep, he heard loud noise outside. From the balcony of their fourth-floor room, Moreno and Stanley saw black smoke out of one window and heard people shouting. Moreno ran out into the corridor and began knocking on doors and shouting, "Fire!" After that, he went upstairs in a hurry to tell other people. At the same time, Stanley was downstairs helping people get through the smoke-filled room. There he joined forces with Nalewanski, a 21-year-old boy who had a room on the second floor. "Let's go," Nalewanski said. He and Stanley wet their shirts in the bathroom and put them around their mouths and noses so they could breathe. Then they ran up the stairs. On the fourth floor they found Moreno feeling terrible (Moreno had made it up to the eighth floor before turning back). But after making sure he could get back down on his own, they continued upstairs, knocking on the doors on every floor. In the end, no one was seriously hurt. Moreno said, "There were hundreds of people in the hotel. It was our duty to help them." Which floor does Stanley live on? The fourth floor. Leeds Castle is in Kent, England. 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Maidstone. It is built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len to the cast of the village of Leeds. It has been open to the public since 1976. Opening time: April to September. 10:00--18:00 October to March: 10:00~17:00 Tickets:Tickets are valid for one year from date of purchase giving free repeat visits to the Castle, grounds and attractions. Excludes special ticketed events and Christmas Day. Adult tickets: PS24 single Child tickets: PS16 single (4~15 years old) Kid ticket: free (under 4) Transportation: Coach or express: National Express from London to Leeds Castle directly Train: Any train from southern cities to Bearsted. transfer by Spot Travel to Leeds Castle. 15 minutes' ride, goes by each hour. The Upstairs Tour: Thursday 21st April, 11:30am See the State bedrooms, not normally on show to the public. Hear about the guests of the roaring 1920s. see the bedroom where Edward and Simpson stayed and where Pavarotti was accommodated during his visit. Price: PS5 per person. A valid entrance ticket is required per person Embroidery Taster Workshop: Sunday 5th June, 10:30am Learn the basics with expert supervision from members of the Embroiderers Association and sew your own small piece of embroidery to lake home and frame to turn into a cushion or handmade greeting card. Price: PS20 per person. A valid entrance ticket is required per person. Includes refreshments and all materials. How much should an adult with a child pay to enter Leeds Castle? PS40.
With the passing of Steve Jobs, the tech industry has lost one of its most respected heroes. So where will the industry turn for inspiration, now that Jobs is gone? New Apple CEO, Tim Cook, will keep the business going, but he is unlikely to inspire the same kind of devotion as Jobs. Facebook owner, Mark Zuckerberg, has star power, but he and his company are still too young and untested. At Google, Larry Page is too awkward, and Eric Schmidt too clever, and a lot of the company's recent products are unfinished. But there's one tech leader who just might fill the gap: Amazon's Jeff Bezos. Bezos runs his business the same way as Steve Jobs ran his, with a focus on long-term value over short-term profits and a willingness to invest in seemingly unrelated new areas. Steve Jobs converted Apple from personal computers into music with the iPod, and then into cellphones with the iPhone. It worked, and made Apple into the biggest and richest tech company in the world. Jeff Bezos is doing the same thing at Amazon. In 2006, Amazon noticed it had a lot of spare capacity in its data centers. So it started renting out some of that capacity to some companies. Now, hundreds of newly-established Internet companies, including big names like Foursquare and Yelp, run their businesses on Amazon Web Services. Somehow, an outline bookseller became the most important provider of "cloud computing". In 2007, Amazon introduced its e-reader, the Kindle. The product developed slowly for a couple of years, and then started to take off in 2010 with the third generation. It sells for US$199, which is hundreds of dollars less than Apple's iPad, but it has similar functions to the iPad. No wonder Amazon has to build millions more than it expected to meet demand. What do Jeff Bezos and Steve Jobs have in common? Answer: If you talk about a dog's life, go to Beijing to see the pampered dogs. Dogs clipped, dressed up, washed and dried. Here, it's the owners who go to obedience school, and these people pay almost a thousand US dollars a month to learn how to properly care for their pets. Dogs are hot in Beijing, a symbol of a new middle-class family. Dogs or pets can take the place of children, even husbands. Qin Lu, 23-year-old dog owner, certainly thinks her dog makes some more loyal partner. She's spending 1,300 yuan, that's almost 200 US dollars a month, sending her dog to the training school. Think about it, almost half her monthly salary as a secretary. Personally, if I have a dog, I want to give it the very best of everything. Otherwise, I wouldn't have a dog. Before we get too sentimental, though, other dogs in China have a far more grisly fate, many still destined for the dinner table, dog meat, a popular delicacy . But appetites are changing. What was once for the eating is now for the treating. Beijing alone is home to more than a million dogs. Owners spend an average 25 dollars a month on pets. Do the math. Dogs are big business. Ning Wei who runs this obedience school on the outskirts of Beijing said. "It has been open for almost three years. There are many dogs. And now we are opening another branch." As their owners embrace everything western, so too, are the dogs. Ning Wei's specializing in producing a new breed of bilingual puppies. Yes, dogs that understand Chinese and now English. "I'm going to do a test now to see if it understands both English and Chinese effectively, if its Chinese is better than my English, and if its English is better than my Chinese." What can we know about Ning Wei from the passage? Answer: As teenagers, you have many dreams. These dreams can be very big, such as winning the Nobel Prize, or they can be small. You may just want to become one of the ten best students in your class. Once you find a dream, what do you do with it? Do you ever try to make your dream real? Follow Your Heart by Australian writer Andrew Matthews tells us that making our dreams real is life's biggest _ You may think you're not very good at some school subjects, or that it is impossible for you to become a writer. These kinds of thoughts stop you from getting your dream, the book says. In fact, everyone can make his dream come true. The first thing you must do is to remember what your dream is. Don't let it leave your heart. Keep telling yourself what you want. Do this step by step and your dream will come true faster because a big dream is, in fact, many small dreams. You must also never give up your dream. There will be difficulties on the road to your dreams. But the biggest difficulty comes from yourself. You need to decide what is the most important. Studying instead of watching TV will lead to better exam results, while saving five yuan instead of buying an ice cream means you can buy a new book. As you get closer to your dream, it may change a little. This is good as you have the chance to learn more skills and find new interests. ,,. (5,2,10) What is the best title for the text? Answer: Henry Ford grew up on an un-electrified farm, and as a young man he followed Edison's career as the inventor became a national role model.Ford took a job at the Edison Illuminating Company working his way up to chief engineer. In 1896 Ford was thirty-three and, though still working for Edison Co.,he had created his first experimental automobile the Ford Quadricycle2 during his off-time. At an Edison company party in New York, Ford had his first chance to meet his hero Edison and was able to explain his new automobile to the great inventor. _ Young man, that's the thing! You have it! Your car is self-contained and carries its own power plant." Edison himself had been working on the idea, but had only been considering electricity as the power source, so the idea of a gas engine was a somewhat new one. The words comforted Ford greatly, who immediately set out building a second car which was to become the Model-T.6.The two men became f'ast friends and would go on camping trips together.When Edison later became limited to a wheelchair, Ford brought an extra one to his house so they could race.At the 50th anniversary of the invention of light-bulb, Ford honored Edison.When Edison spoke, he ended his speech directed at Ford:" As to Henry Ford, words fail to express my feelings.I can only say that he is my friend." Therefore it is no surprise that Ford wanted something to remember Edison by after he passed away in 1931. Once, Ford asked Thomas Edison's son Charles to sit by the dying inventor's bedside and hold a test tube next to his father's mouth to catch his final breath. Ford was a man with many strange behaviors( as was Edison)including some interest in reanimation and spiritualism and some say that he was attempting to catch Edison's soul as it escaped his body in hopes of later bringing the inventor back to life. The test tube itself didn't turn up until 1950 when it was listed in the Ford possessions after Clara Ford's passing away, and then lost again until 1978 when it was discovered in an exhibit Entitled "Henry Ford-A Personal History" in the Henry Ford Museum.It would then be discovered that the tube was labeled "Edison's Last Breath". There is a further mystery of this "last breath" test tube. It would seem as if Edison had quite a last breath indeed, as the Edison Estate holds a collection of 42 test tubes all supposedly containing Edison's last breath. Regardless of the excitement over the last breath, the test tube is quite touching in its meaning.Although both men were known for all sorts of poor behavior towards .their loved ones and mistreatment of employees, between them at least, there was clearly a deep respect and admiration. The 61ast breath' test tube" can probably be regarded as _ . Answer: Chinese tourists prefer hotels and restaurants that offer free Wi-Fi when traveling abroad. Most Chinese tourists instantly update their social networks using their mobile phones. They send photos and short videos to friends and family when traveling abroad. About 10 percent of outbound Chinese tourists get expensive marring charges by using 3G-powered smart phones. About 90 percent of Chinese travelers consider Wi-Fi _ when traveling abroad They often use phone apps to create travel routes and book hotels, which requires large data flows that can be expensive without Wi-Fi But free Wi-Fi is not always available, even in regions with advanced telecnrnmunications,such as the United States and Europe. Portable Wi-Fi costs 15 -50 yuan a day,depending on the country. Ifs cheaper in South Korea,Japan and Thailand. The Wi-Fi services increase rapidly thanks to reasonable pricing and smooth surfing Thus, a growing number of travel agencies begin to offer increasingly diverse Wi-Fi services. A travel website Ctrip leases Wi-Fi transmitters that offer unlimited data for about 20 yuan a day on average in more than 100 countries. It plans to make mobile Wi-Fi an important part of its business model. Another travel website Tumiu also launched a Wi-Fi phone service in 2013. More than 100, 000 people used the service in 2014. More than 100 million Chinese went abroad last year, and the 10 percent who used Wi-Fi services spent an average of 150 youn, and it's expected to grow largely. But the business may become out of date in five to eight years, for more locations am offering free Wi-Fi. 1n the meantime, it is reported that more for-profit models should be introduced and offer more services for outbound travelers in the future Why do Chinese travelers prefer hotels and restaurants with free Wi-Fi when traveling abroad? Answer:
Mr Smith is a teacher. He is near-sighted . But he doesn't wear glasses. One day, he is walking in a street. He is thinking something. Suddenly a strong wind blows his cap off his head. My Smith runs after it. He wants to catch it but he can't. At this time, an old woman from a door of the house says to him. " Hi! What are you doing, sir?" "Running after my cap." "Your cap? Aha......that's my black cat. "She says. "Your cat? Sorry, but where is my cap?" Who has the cat? A. The old woman B. Mr Smith C. We don't know D. Nobody Answer: A. The old woman I am the mother of a five-year-old girl now, but I'll never forget some of the best lessons my mother taught me. Lesson 1---Always be there for your child I can't tell you the last time my parents missed a big event in my life; it never happened. Whether it was a play, or even just a practice---my parents were always there for me. As an only child, they _ everything in my life. Lesson2---Hide in the bathroom For years I wondered why my mother had made the bathroom her own personal library and would stay there forever. Now I know it's the only place for her to have at least two minutes of peace and quiet. Well, I try to, but that's quite difficult with two cats, a dog, a kid, a husband and only one bathroom. Lesson3---Get involved I was lucky in having parents who let me do anything they think was good. Now today, I am fond of being active and involved. Whether it is a sports game or a volunteering group, or just playing with my daughter, I love to be involved. Lesson4---It's OK to fail My parents weren't perfect and that was OK. I know I'm not perfect and I hope my daughter knows that's OK. Families love one another no matter what happens. If you fail, you learn from the mistakes and keep right on going. Parents are so important to a child's growth and development and I'm so glad that I had great parents to follow. When her kid knew it was OK that she wasn't perfect, the kid _ . A. thought being bad was nothing B. would love her more than others C. tried her best to do better than she D. would have a good mind if she failed Answer: D. would have a good mind if she failed SHANGHAI, June 7(AP)--A 16-year-old girl's suicide after she was barred from a key exam draw attention to increasing worries over academic pressures, as millions of Chinese students began annual college entrance tests on Wednesday. The three-day exam, viewed as important to future career and financial success, has a record 9.5 million high school students across prefix = st1 /Chinacompeting for just 2.6 million university places. For kids and parents alike, it's a difficulty that experts say causes extreme emotional distress. "Pressure from study and exams is a top reason for psychological problems among Chinese youth," said Jin Wuguan, director of the Youth Psychological Counseling Center at Shanghai'sRuijinHospital. In China's increasingly success oriented, pressure-cooker cities, academic stress is seen as a rising cause of youth suicides and even murders of parents by children who are driven crazy by intolerable pressure to perform. According to her family and newspaper accounts, 16-year-old Wu Wenwen drowned herself after she was stopped at the exam room door because her hair wasn't tied back as her school required. Returning in tied hair, she was then told the end-of-term exam had already started and she was too late to take it. In tears, Wu called her mother, and then disappeared. Her body was found the same night in a nearby lake. China doesn't keep comprehensive statistics on student suicides, but Jin said health care professionals see the problem worsening, even among elementary students. Most Chinese schools still lack advisers and teachers receive little training in spotting symptoms of emotional distress, Jin said. Parents are little help, often piling on pressure while ignoring their children's emotional development, he said. "It's a basic unwillingness or inability to recognize and deal with with emotional problems," Jin said. Wang Yufeng, of Peking University's Institute of Mental, estimates the rate of emotional disorders such as depression among Chinese students under age 17 at up to 32 percent , a total of 30 million students. Others say that figure may be as high as 50 percent. A survey last year by the government's China Youth and ChildrenResearchCentershowed 57.6 percent of students felt highly distressed by academic pressures. We can learn from the passage that _ . A. the problem of student suicides is getting worse according to a research on the accurate statistics B. teachers have enough ability to sense the emotional distress of students C. parents place neither pressure nor care on their children D. both teachers and parents should learn more to deal with the problem of student suicides. Answer: D. both teachers and parents should learn more to deal with the problem of student suicides. Once upon a time, there was an island inhabited by: Happiness, Sadness, Knowledge, and all the rest of it, including Love. One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all constructed boats and left. Except for Love. Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to hold out until the last possible moment. When the island had almost sunk, Love decided to ask for help. Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?" Richness answered, "No, I can't. There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place here for you." Love decided to ask Vanity who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel. "Vanity, please help me!" "I can't help you, Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered. Sadness was close by so Love asked, "Sadness, let me go with you." "Oh . . . Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!" Happiness passed by Love, too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her. Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come, Love, I will take you." It was an elder. So blessed and overjoyed, Love even forgot to ask the elder where they were going. When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way. It can be inferred from the passage that the elder probably refers to _ . A. Cleverness B. Time C. Knowledge D. Beauty Answer: B. Time St James's Palace has announced that while Miss Middleton will wear a wedding ring. Prince William has chosen not to. Rings are typically exchanged by couples during their wedding to represent commitment to each other. Does it matter if husbands don't wear a wedding ring? Prince William's father wears one, his grandfather doesn't and their decisions weren't seen as strange. But reactions to Prince William's decision show that wedding rings for husbands are now the norm. One young man, who spoke to the BBC, thinks William is setting a bad example, saying: "I think it's disgraceful . It's a tradition. You have to wear a ring really. And for someone of the royal family to do that, it's not right. " Broadly speaking, modem husbands tend to wear their wedding rings as a symbol of loyalty and faithfulness. So not wearing one can seem unusual or even dishonest to some, although men haven't always worn them. The wearing of wedding rings has been the done thing for centuries among wives but only became common practice among husbands during World War II. Men fighting overseas usually wore them as a reminder of wives and families back home. Wearing rings is a safety issue for men in certain manual jobs. But how does William explain his decision? A royal officer has said he "isn't one for jewelry". What is the author's attitude towards Prince William's decision? A. Subjective. B. Objective. C. Approving. D. Disappointed. Answer: B. Objective.
Question: Which of the following is a renewable resource? A. coal B. minerals C. petroleum D. sunlight Answer: D. sunlight Question: Winter Sale! Winter is coming. So we are having a big and end-of-autumn sale. Look at the prices! A blouse :$5 A coat:$20 A silk skirt: $28 A pair of trainers :$30 A pair of jeans:$30 Will you come to Reborn Fashion Shop on the 2nd floor of New Century Shopping Mall from Friday to Sunday? Cash Back! Spend twenty dollars in our shop, we will give you five dollars back. Spend 40 dollars, and you will get 10 dollars back. Remember: only at weekends You are welcome to Happy Times Doll Shop on the first floor of New Century Shopping Mall. Closing Down Sale! Come to our shop next Monday. There is a discount on every kind of chocolate. And we will give you a big box of sweets for free if you spend more than 20 dollars in our shop. So come to Sweetheart Chocolate Shop on the first floor of New Century Shopping Mall. If you spend 20 dollars in Happy Times Doll Shop, how much money will you get back? A. 5 dollars. B. 15 dollars. C. 20 dollars. D. 40 dollars. Answer: A. 5 dollars. Question: What's this? It's P. What color is it? It's green. What's this and what color is it? It's E. It's yellow. What's this? It's N. It's red. What's this? It's a pen. Spell it,please. P--E---N. I have a blue pen. This my ruler. It's yellow. My jacket is black and my quilt is green. It's nice. My _ is blue and my _ is black. A. jacket ; ruler B. pen; ruler C. pen; jacket D. ruler; pen Answer: C. pen; jacket Question: In today's class, we'll learn how to send birthday e-cards to friends anywhere in the world without leaving our classroom. I'll show it to you on 123 Greetings, which is one of the most popular e-card websites. Step 1: Surf the Internet and go to 123 Greetings. Click "Happy Birthday" Step 2: Make your e-card. After clicking the card you want, you'll see a menu. Step 3: Add your text in the box. Step 4: Enter your e-mail address. Then enter your friend's e-mail address. Step 5: Click "Send", and your birthday e-card is on its way. How many steps are there to send birthday e-cards? A. Two B. Three C. Five D. Six Answer: C. Five Question: When we talk about music, we can think of different kinds of it. Some people like pop music very much, but it often comes and goes so quickly. It shows our deep feelings of love, hate, joy and sadness in daily life, so it is quite popular among young people. However, classical music is not so lucky among young people though it's the symbol of high music level. We know that classical music is serious music, so some people can't understand its real meaning. That's why it's not popular among youngsters. In fact, folk music is different from other music forms.It's more traditional than entertainment . In American history, fork music began to show up when people needed it most.The earliest folk songs were those like "Down by the Riverside", "We Shall over come" etc. Yhese are songs about hard life, but they are also full of hopes. Anyway , anybody can understand folk music and it also welcomes everyone to join. ,. . What kind of music is not popular among young people? A. Classical music B. Country music C. Pop music D. Folk music Answer: A. Classical music
Several Holiday Houses in Sicily and Its Islands Baglio Fontana, Buseto Paiizzoio, Trapani,Sicily Grapes have been harvested at this traditional family farm since the early 18ih century. Old photos of the family cover the walls of tlie sitting room. A farm museum exhibits ancient tools and you can have a taste of wine in the country restaurant. All the rooms combine modem comforts with original features. You can also swim in the pool. Doubles from EUR 100 per night,+39 0923 855000 Club Levante,Pantelleria Reaching Pantelleria by plane is striking; by boat from Trapani it is thrilling. It's a surprisingly stylish place for nature-lovers seeking privacy and peace, and is run by warmhearted Matteo and his father. There's a small restaurant. Bedrooms are elegant, a couple of which have a sea view from the bed. Doubles from EUR 130 per night,+39 0923 915246 Giardinl di Pantelleria, Pantelleria Come for an adventurous week of walking, boating and hot-springing in an ancient, dramatic landscape. Five thousand years ago, Pantelleria was mined for volcanic glass to make spears and knives, and our ancestors left some fascinating tombs. Local Arabs built circular shelters for their traditional stone houses with two-metre-tliick rock walls. From EUR400 a week for an apartment sleeping two, +39 340 6156112 Villa Punta San Nicola, Favignana Favignana is not very famous. It's just a hatitat for those Italians who are familiar with the area. This trio of single-storey sandstone houses are owned and were designed by a former fashion photographer. They are half buUl into the rocks and simply but stylishly furnished. There's a beautiful rocky beach just a few steps away. Apartmenis sleeping 2 from EUR 650 c week, + 39 335 337054 What is an advantage of Giardini di Pantelleria? A Quiet environment. B Convenient transport. C Cheap rooms. D Free visits to ancient tombs. Answer: C Archie is a boy with dreams. His dreams are never boring. He thinks of them all day. He always thinks out exciting ways to play. One day, he made a _ . That was one of his dreams. He got his friends in it and that made his friends happy. It really ran fast. Later, he dreamed of a big and nice park. But when he told his friends about it, his friends didn't believe in him. They said it was difficult. But Archie still thought of it. He believed in himself, so he started it. At last, Archie succeeded. His park was fun and many people liked it. What did Archie's friends say about his dream park? A It was interesting. B It was exciting. C It was relaxing. D It was difficult. Answer: D Which of the following is found farthest from the center of an atom? A nucleus B proton C neutron D electron Answer: D One in every five young people has a sleep problem, so you're not alone; Getting enough sleep has become as important as eating vegetables and exercising regularly. It's very important for your body. Most young people only get seven hours of sleep each night, when they actually need nine hours. And making up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping in on weekends doesn't really work. In fact, sleeping late on weekends may actually do you more harm than good, if you have sleep problems. What happens if you don't get enough sleep? If your sleep problem continues for a few nights, you could suffer serious problems. Lack of sleep can affect learning and memory. Worse , if your sleep difficulties last a long time , that could lead to anxiety or depression . Therefore, you've got to have some healthy sleep habits. Below are some suggestions: * GO TO BED AT THE SAME TIME--including weekends , if possible . * WAKE UP AROUND THE SAME TIME EVERY MORNING . When you sleep late just one morning during the week, it may disturb your body clock. This will make it hard for you to sleep that night. * DO SMOETHING REALXING before going to bed . * EXERCISE DURING THE DAY . Don't exercise right before going to bed. * AVOID DRINKING ALCOHOL. Alcohol makes you excited. This prevents you from falling asleep or wakes you up during the night. * DON'T SMOKE . Smoking is always bad for the body. Smoking before bedtime keeps you awake. If trying these tips over a couple of weeks does not help you, speak to your doctor. Do not take any sleeping pills without first asking your doctor. Many have strong side effects. Which is not mentioned in order to develop good sleeping habits in the passage? A Eating vegetables B Excising C Smoking D Drinking alcohol Answer: A Famous Places around the World Mexico The best time to visit Mexico is spring. The weather in Mexico is hot and wet for most of the year, except in Mexico city. It can get very stormy at the end of August. And you should keep in mind that hurricane seas on lasts from June to November. South A frica South Africa has a pleasant climate, with lovely warm sunny days for most of the year. The summer is from November to February, and the weather is really hot at this time. In August, it's winter and the weather is usually warm, except at night. Greece The best time to visit Greece is April to June. If you just want to sit on a beach and see the sunshine every day, then August is the perfect month. But, be careful! Temperatures are really high. In the southeast of Greece, it might be 30--35 centigrade. Australia It's winter in Australia in July and August. The hottest months are from November to March. The best time to go is September or October. It's warm enough to swim in the sea. It's cool enough to tour around, and it's not too rainy. If you prefer it colder, go in August. The best time to visit Mexico is _ . A spring B summer C autumn D winter Answer: A
Have you ever wished you could solve complex math problems without thinking? What about learning to play the piano in just three days? Or mastering several foreign languages within a month? Eddie Morra, the main character in the movieLimitlesscan do all these things. But he isn't Superman or Harry Potter. Eddie has taken pills called NZT. ThrillerLimitless came out in China on October 13. In the movie, Eddie is faced with "writer's block". He hasn't written a single word of a novel, and his deadline has passed. And there's more bad news: his girlfriend breaks up with him. By chance, Eddie runs into a relative who is a drug dealer. He gives Eddie some pills called NZT that allow people to make use of 100 percent of their brains. With the magic pills, Eddie's life changes completely. He can recall everything he has ever read, seen or heard. He gains a sixth sense that allows him to predict future events. He even becomes a kungfu master by simply memorizing actions in Bruce Lee's movie. Before long he has finished his novel, won back his girlfriend and stepped into the financial world. He becomes rich incredibly quickly and is soon employed by a powerful Wall Street company. However, bad side effects are just around the corner. The effects of the pill last for only one or two days, and Eddie has to find more supplies of the pills. Meanwhile, the pills start to have other effects on him. Eddies' mind loses the ability to control the actions of his body. What does destiny hold for him? Will he be able to go back to his normal life? "Eddie's fate turns out to be a barbed joke... a sharp-eyed comic fable for an age of greed and speed." writes A. O. Scott, a movie critic with the New York Times. The drug isn't real-----yet, some researchers say such memory-enhancing drugs might not be far off. Would you take such a pill despite its side effects? Is the ability to remember everything a blessing or a curse? What is writer's purpose of writing the passage? A. To give us the information of a new movie. B. To inform us of a new research on a new drug. C. To suggest a good way to improve memory. D. To tell us something about a new drug to enhance our memory. Answer: A The traditional holiday is the most important to Chinese both home and abroad. United Kingdom Celebrations for Spring Festival in the UK started in 1980, with the first evening party held in 2002. Every new year, people get together and have a lot of activities. They sing songs, dance to music, share photos with friends or enjoy films in a cinema. United States Spring Festival has become a key time for Chinese living or working in the US. They join in a large evening party to welcome the traditional new year. It is a good chance for people to build a circle of friends and feel that they are not alone because they share the same culture and values. Australia The Chinese new year will be welcomed with three weeks of celebrations across Australia. Many people come to Sydney's Chinatown or Little Bourke in Melbourne. They enjoy fireworks, lion dances, dragon boat races and many other traditional activities. The celebrations are also a bridge towards better understanding between Chinese and non-Chinese. Singapore The family dinner on new year's eve is an important tradition for Chinese whether they were born in Singapore or moved there from China. They place traditional food on a table as an act of remembering their past. Then the whole family enjoy their dinner together. They usually hold it at home because having it in a restaurant takes away the meaning of the tradition. Celebrations for Spring Festival in the UK started in . A. 1890 B. 1980 C. 2000 D. 2002 Answer: B Good Genes Mean Long Life Scientists have discovered that living to the age of 100 may have nothing to do with the lifestyle you lead and everything to do with the type of genes you have. For the lucky carriers of "Methuselah" genes, worries over smoking, eating unhealthily and not getting enough exercise may not be as necessary as to those of us without the special gene pattern . The "Methuselah" genes could give extra protection against the diseases of old age such as cancer and heart disease. They could also protect people against the effects of the unhealthy lifestyles that we believe will lead us to an early death, scientists say. However, the genes are very rare. The genes include ADIPOQ, which is found in about 10 percent of young people but in nearly 30 percent of people living past 100. They also include the CETP and the ApoC3 genes, which are found in 10 percent of young people, but in about 20 percent of people over 100 years old. Some of those genes were discovered by a research group at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, led by Professor Nir Barzilai. The team studied the genes of over 500 people over 100 years old, and their children. The studies show that tiny mutations in the make-up of some genes can greatly increase a person's lifespan . Barzilai told a Royal Society conference that the discovery of such genes gave scientists clear targets for developing drugs that could prevent age-related diseases, allow people to live longer and stay healthy. David Gems, a researcher at University College London, believes that drugs to slow ageing will become widespread. "If we know which genes control longevity then we can ... target them with drugs. That makes it possible to slow down ageing," he told The Times. "Much of the pain and suffering in the world are caused by ageing. If we can find a way to reduce that, then we are obliged to take it." Which of the following statements is TRUE of the research led by Professor Nir Barzilai? A. The team studied the genes of over 100 people over 100 years of age. B. The researchers found that mutations in certain genes lead to longer life. C. The researchers found ways to develop drugs that could cure age-related diseases. D. The study suggested that most people have genes that could lengthen their lives. Answer: B The iPhone has become one of the most popular mobile phones in the United States. An 18-year-o1d student in California has used his knowledge of the device to create his own business,gaining national recognition for his work. Vincent Quigg is the CEO of TechWorld. His company is kind of like a hospital for iPhones,specializing in customizing and repairing iPhones. Vincent Quigg launched TechWorld while in high school. "My mom became single a couple of years ago and I had to grow up. And in order to keep my lifestyle, I had to find different ways to keep my phone, keep a car, transportation and all that stuff. So I had to find ways to be entrepreneurial." An organization cal1ed the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship. or NFTE, helped the young man get started. His mother, Carla Quigg: "He quit the class, which made me very disappointed." "It was extremely hard for myself to find a business to start and run with it. But once I had that ' _ 'or what I knew I wanted to go with, it was really easy and extremely fun." At the time, Vincent worked for the electronics store BestBuy. He says people always came into the store with broken electronic devices. He decided that repairing those devices was what he wanted to do. He not only re-registered for the NFTE class, but he also won the organization's national competition for best young entrepreneur.His business has grown through word-of-mouth. Vincent says he now fixes up to l0 phones per week. He earns about $l,500 each month in sales. TechWorld has two other employees. Kacee Wheeler is one of them. He works on the technical side of the business while Vincent Quigg now deals with finances and planning. He says he wants to continue to grow his business. What drove Vincent to start his own business? A. His special family education background. B. The need to keep his former way of 1ife. C. The desire to be the CEO of a company. D. The encouragement from another company. Answer: B The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually and the first woman to win this prize was Baroness Bertha Felicie Sophie von Suttner in 1905. In fact, her work inspired the creation of the Prize. The first American woman to win this prize was Jane Addams, in 1931. However, Addams is best known as the founder of Hull House. Jane Addams was born in I860, into a wealthy family. She was one of a small number of women in her generation to graduate from college. Her dedication to improving the lives of those around her led her to work for social reform and world peace. In the 1880s Jane Addams travelled to Europe. While she was in London, she visited a "settlement house" called Toynbee Hall. Inspired by Toynbee Hall, Addams and her friend, Ellen Gates Starr, opened Hull House in a neighborhood of slums in Chicago in 1899. Hull House provided a day care center for children of working mothers, a community kitchen, and visiting nurses. Addams and her staff gave classes in English literacy, art, and other subjects. Hull House also became a meeting place for clubs and labor unions. Most of the people who worked with Addams in Hull House were well educated, middle-class women. Hull House gave them an opportunity to use their education and it provided a training ground for careers in social work. Before World War I, Addams was probably the most beloved woman in America. In a newspaper poll that asked, "Who among our contemporaries are of the most value to the community?",Jane Addams was rated second, after Thomas Edison. When she opposed America's involvement in World War I, however, newspaper editors called .her a traitor and a fool, but she never changed her mind. Jane Addams was a strong champion of several other causes. Until 1920, American women could not vote. Addams joined in the movement for women's suffrage and was a vice president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association. She was a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and was president of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. Her reputation was gradually restored during the last years of her life. She died of cancer in 1935. Which of the following can be learned from the passage? A. Until 1930,American women could not vote. B. Jane Addams is most famous for her opening of Hull House. C. Most of the people working with Addams in Hull House were lower-class women. D. The first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature was Baroness Berthn Felicie Sophie von Suttner. Answer: B
Question: In order to provide funds for a system of new major airports near the ten largest cities in the United States, Congress levies a tax of $25 on each airline ticket issued in the United States. The tax applies to every airline ticket, even those for travel that does not originate in, terminate at, or pass through any of those ten large cities. As applied to the issuance in the United States of an airline ticket for travel between two cities that will not be served by any of the new airports, this tax is A. constitutional, because Congress has broad discretion in choosing the subjects of its taxation and may impose taxes on subjects that have no relation to the purpose for which those tax funds will be expended. B. constitutional, because an exemption for the issuance of tickets for travel between cities that will not be served by the new airports would deny the purchasers of all other tickets the equal protection of the laws. C. unconstitutional, because the burden of the tax outweighs its benefits for passengers whose travel does not originate in, terminate at, or pass through any of the ten largest cities. D. unconstitutional, because the tax adversely affects the fundamental right to travel. Answer: A. constitutional, because Congress has broad discretion in choosing the subjects of its taxation and may impose taxes on subjects that have no relation to the purpose for which those tax funds will be expended. Question: Book Description This isn't an education children's picture book with plenty of facts to expand young minds. Sara Myers simply explains all about dogs with easy words or phrases. Children will learn about : What dogs are Where they can be found What they eat And much more ! The fantastic photos are sure fire your chid's imagination ,and keep them interested all the way through . Publication Date :September 3,2013 Publisher: Hazed Published Language:English According to the material, the book may be chosen for the reasons EXCEPT A. easy English B. fantastic photos C. plenty facts D. lots of pages Answer: D. lots of pages Question: A doctor was teaching some medical students at a famous hospital. A patient was brought in, and the doctor asked one of his students, "What's wrong with this man?" "I don't know, sir," the student answered. "I need to examine him." "There's no need to examine him," said the doctor. "You should know without asking questions. He has hurt his right knee. Didn't you notice the way he walked? He hurt it by burning it in the fire. You see his trousers leg is burnt away at the knee. This is Monday morning. Yesterday was fine, but on Saturday the roads were wet and muddy. The man's trousers are dirty all over. The man fell down on Saturday night." The doctor then turned to the man, "You had your pay on Saturday and went to a public house and drank too much. You got muddy and wet on the way home. Because you had drunk too much, you fell on the fire and burnt your knee. Is that right? "Yes, sir," said the man. The man hurt his knee _ . A. on Monday B. on Sunday night C. on Saturday night D. yesterday Answer: C. on Saturday night Question: Being able to enjoy eating Mideastern dates in a small town in the USA is possible because A. transporting food became easier, cheaper, and quicker B. transporting food pays better C. transported food tastes great D. fresh food is better than transported food Answer: A. transporting food became easier, cheaper, and quicker Question: A recent trend in Californian restaurants shows new eating habits among those people out to have an interesting dining experience. Appetizers seem to be the name of the games as diners turn away from the more traditional three-course meal in favor of smaller snacks served in various types of restaurants, bars and cafes. In this way, in the course of an evening out, you might go to a restaurant for a tasty dish to eat at one end of town, to a bar with some live music at the other end, then for a coffee, and finally back to the restaurant for a further appetizer. Reasons for this trend are the fact that so many different types of restaurants have been set up recently, each with their own particular type of food and special atmosphere, together with the increased specialty in the type of snacks being offered. Gone are the cheese sticks of the old days, when appetizers were not really taken seriously. Some favorite snacks of the moment are slices of hot pizza, creamy fish-based dishes and crispy cakes and so on. Prices for appetizers are not equal to a full meal; however, their new popularity has meant that they are by no means as cheap as they used to be. Certainly, for that special occasion, a meal in a nice restaurant, complete with the piano performance, is hard to beat. However, if we see this trend for "butterfly eating"---moving around several different places in one evening continues, then all the traditional style restaurants may well have to provide their own appetizer bars as well! How are the eating habits of the Californians changing? A. People are dining out less. B. Californian restaurants are becoming less popular. C. Most people eat less than they used to. D. A full restaurant meal is less popular. Answer: D. A full restaurant meal is less popular.
Orin owned in fee simple Blueacre, a farm of 300 acres. He died and by will duly admitted to probate devised Blueacre to his surviving widow, Wilma, for life with remainder in fee simple to his three children, Cindy, Clara, and Carter. All three children survived Orin. At the time of Orin's death, there existed a mortgage on Blueacre that Orin had given 10 years before to secure a loan for the purchase of the farm. At his death, there remained unpaid $40,000 in principal, payable in installments of $4,000 per year for the next 10 years. In addition, there was due interest at the rate of 10 percent per annum, payable annually with the installment of principal. Wilma took possession and out of a gross income of $50,000 per year realized $25,000 net after paying all expenses and charges except the installment of principal and interest due on the mortgage. Carter and Cindy wanted the three children, including Clara, to each contribute one-third of the amounts needed to pay the mortgage installments. Clara objected, contending that Wilma should pay all of these amounts out of the profits she had made in operation of the farm. When foreclosure of the mortgage seemed imminent, Clara sought legal advice. If Clara obtained sound advice relating to her rights, she was told that Answer: she could not be held personally liable for any amount but that her share in remainder could be lost if the mortgage installments are not paid. School cleaning day Today is Saturday. It is our cleaning day. The pupils of our class are cleaning our classroom. Mary is cleaning the door. She is standing on a chair. Tom and some others are cleaning the windows. Some of us are sweeping the floor. Others are cleaning the desks and chairs. I am taking down the old pictures and putting up some new ones. Our teacher is in the classroom,too. She is helping us to put the desks and chairs in order. The pupils are _ Answer: cleaning the classroom Welcome to the British Museum, the grandest and the most spectacular in the human history.The admission is free and we open every day from 10:00 to 15:30.You can explore 10 departments including: The Department of Africa, Oceania and America. The collection of the Department of Africa, Oceania and America includes around 350,000 objects.The scope of the collection is contemporary and historical.It includes most of Africa, the Pacific and Australia, as well as America.All of the collections were got during the 19 th and 20 th centuries and dates from this time. The Department of Asia. The Department of Asia covers the material and visual cultures of Asia--a vast geographical area of Japan, Korea, China, central Asia, Afghanistan, south Asia and south -east Asia.The collection dates from about 4000 BC to present day.It represents the cultures and ways of life of local people and other minority groups. The Department of Greek and Roman Empires. The Department of Greek and Roman Empires features antiquities .It has one of the most comprehensive collections of antiquities from the Classical world, with over 100,000 objects.These mostly range in date from the beginning of the Greek Bronze Age (about 3200BC) to the time of the Roman emperor Constantine in the fourth century AD. The earliest collection is the collection of _ . Answer: the Department of Asia Have you ever thought about why traveling is important? It may seem obvious, but a good trip introduces you to a "new world". Geography matters: where you are going plays a huge role in how you think. About six months after I moved to China, I got the chance to travel with a group of friends to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. This trip was great fun: I got to swim, cycle and stay in tree houses in the jungle. But more importantly, this trip was meaningful. All of these three countries were bombed by the US military during the conflict with the North Vietnamese, the Vietnam War. As someone with strong anti-war opinions, I wanted to learn how the people of this area remember the war. I was not disappointed. When I was in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, I got the chance to explore the Vietnam War Remnants Museum, which has the largest collection of anti-facts from the Vietnam War. One exhibit is especially memorable. It is full of photos and artwork showing the effects of Agent Orange, a chemical weapon used by the US military against the land and population of Vietnam. The aim of the Agent Orange campaign was to destroy plant life to make it more difficult for North Vietnamese fighters to hide behind trees. But ordinary Vietnamese were hurt the most. I had tears in my eyes as I looked around the exhibit. Ks5u Another time during our trip, my friends and I were arriving in a town in Cambodia on an overnight bus. As we got off the bus, taxi drivers came over offering rides. One of them asked me, "Where are you from, man?" I replied, "America!" And he said, "Ahh...the place where they make the bombs!" He laughed. I didn't. Ks5u Traveling offers perspective . There are few things more important than that. Which of the following is TRUE about Agent Orange according to the article? Answer: The writer felt sad and sorry for what it put local people through. Jean is a young girl who comes from a rich and famous family. She goes to a good university and has almost everything that money can buy. The problem is that Jean's family are so busy that they can hardly find time to be with her. Jean is quite lonely . So she spends a lot of time on her QQ. She likes being anonymous , talking to people who do not know about her famous family and her rich life. She uses the name Linda on QQ and has made a lot of friends. Last year Jean made a very special friend on QQ. His name was David and he lived in San Francisco. David was full of stories and jokes. He and Jean had the same interest in rock music and modern dance. So it always took them hours to talk happily on QQ and sometimes they even forgot their time. Of course, they wanted to know more about each other. David sent a picture of himself. He was a tall, good-looking young man with big, happy smile. As time went by, they became good friends and often sent cards and small things to each other. When Jean's father told her that he was going on a business trip to San Francisco, she asked him to let her go with him. She wanted to give David a surprise for his birthday. She would take him the latest DVD of a rock singer. But when she knocked on David's door in San Francisco, she found that her special friend was a 70-year-old man named Jim! How disappointed Jean was! What are both Jean and "David" interested in? Answer: Rock music and modern dance.
Since long ago,greeting cards have been considered a time-saver.More than 150 years ago,a busy Englishman,Sir Henry,asked a friend to design a card so that he didn't have to labour to write holiday letters to his friends at the end of the year.Those paper cards are now the tradition. _ .That's why the Internet is ready to make a change in holiday greeting customs.Already,those,who are always busy,like sending video greetings by e-mail.So,don't be surprised to find a lively card in your electronic mail box at the end of the year or at any time you should have one. A recent survey by the Shared Greetings Company found 50 percent of all the Internet users will send online cards especially during the holiday seasons."That is a lot easier,and it is lively,"said Carol,a New Yorker,who had stopped at the Shared Greetings Company demonstration online.With her children's help,she sent her first e-card before Thanksgiving Day."It was the first time I had done something like this;it's quite enjoyable,"she said. "I will send online Christmas cards to my friends,"said Marcos,a 22-year-old student."It costs so little and you can even send numbers of greetings at a time."But he added "the e-card also has its limits,and I don't think it is ready to replace the paper card for the more formal or traditional occasions.For some people,I would rather buy paper cards and mail them traditionally.I believe it is more personal and respectful in that way,"he said. Well,for those who are very busy but still prefer to do a lot of greetings to different receivers in the holiday season,the Internet may have another way."Now you can use the Net to decide and send as many as 50 beautiful cards,which allows the buyer to choose the inside saying,as well as the ink colour and typeface,only costing about 30 minutes,"said Julie,vice-president of marketing for an electronic card company-Hallmark Company."And if you are in less of a hurry,you can spend another 30 minutes sitting in your home or office to create a photo card,showing off your kids,your pets or even your new house-anything as your favorite design for your relatives and friends." According to the 22-year-old student,he would probably mail e-cards to everyone except _ . Answer: As he looks up at the Jade Dragon Mountain, Zhang Jinpeng basks in the sunshine on the roof-top of his youth hostel in Lijiang, a popular tourist destination in Yunnan province in Southwest China. He is content and excited at the same time, since the hostel, which he named after his best-seller A Decade of Backpacking, opened earlier this month. Published in 2010, Zhang's book was considered a milestone in Chinese travel writing. It sold more than 600,000 copies and triggered a wave of travel books by other Chinese writers who were born in the late 1970s and 1980s. Different from travel guides and traditional Chinese travel literature that mainly depict landscapes and scenery, these books by young travelers tell stories of their personal growth through traveling. In A Decade of Backpacking, Zhang recounts his travels around the world since 2001, after he graduated from Nan Kai University in Tianjin and decided to see the world. "At the time my book came out, there were few books that catered to young people's longing while traveling." Zhang's book ignited a Chinese craze for travel writing. Featuring different themes, travel writing became a popular genre. But most of the books have one thing in common: The travelers are mostly young people. The Late Gap Year (2009), written by Sun Dongchun, tells the story of a young man who gave up a white-collar job and started a three-month trip for a volunteer program in Southeast Asia. The trip turned into a year-long travel. What's more, he even found his Miss Right and got married by the end of the story. We Always Travel Hand in Hand, published in 2012, was written by a young couple. Their travel romance, complete with beautiful pictures, first went viral on a Chinese micro-blog. Song Zhenshao, counselor at the psychological counseling center of Beijing Normal University, says: "To step out of ordinary life is a deep desire associated with freedom in people's hearts, and the hustle and bustle of city life intensifies the desire." But as more similar travelogues hit the bookshelves, the average sales for new travel books have dropped. "The market for travel writing has become saturated ," says Li Shen, editor of several travel books at the Beijing-based China Civic Press. "We have been very cautious in accepting manuscripts from new travel writers. We don't publish them unless they have a very unique perspective or unusual experiences." Zhang Jinpeng, too, has been changing the direction in his writing. After A Decade of Backpacking, he published Why We Travel in 2012. His next book will be titled Don't Forget the Road Back Home. A Decade of Backpacking was considered a milestone because _ . Answer: It's not a new phenomenon, but have you noticed how many nouns are being used as verbs? We all use them, often without noticing what we're doing. I was arranging to meet someone for dinner last week, and I said "I'll pencil it in my diary", and my friend said "You can ink it in", meaning that it was a firm arrangement not a tentative one! Many of these new verbs are linked to new technology. An obvious example is the word fax. We all got used to sending and receiving faxes, and then soon started talking about faxing something and promising we'd fax it immediately. Then along came email, and we were soon all emailing each other madly. How did we do without it? I can hardly imagine life without my daily emails. Email reminds me, of course, of my computer and its software, which has produced another couple of new verbs. On my computer I can bookmark those pages from the World Wide Web that I think I'll want to look at again, thus saving all the effort of remembering their addresses and calling them up from scratch. I can do the same thing on my PC, but there I don't bookmark; I favorite--coming from "favorite pages", so the verb is derived from an adjective not a noun. Now my children bought me a mobile phone, known simply as a mobile and I had to learn yet more new verbs. I can message someone, that is, I can leave a message for them on their phone. Or I can text them, write a few words suggesting when and where to meet, for example. How long will it be before I can mobile them, that is, phone them using my mobile? I haven't heard that verb yet, but I'm sure I will soon. Perhaps I'll start using it myself! A website address can be easily found if it has been _ . Answer: Name: Off the Beaten Path Cover price: $30.00 Our price: $l9.80 The best-selling Reader's Digest travel book has 40% new content including over 200 new sites, over 200 new full-color photographs, and all-new, up-to-date maps. It spotlights over l, 000 of the United States' most overlooked must-see destinations. Name: Container Gardens by Number Cover price: $l5.95 Our price: $9.49 A unique book contains 50 easy-to-follow container designs. Each design provides a simple numbered planting plan that shows exactly how to create each display, with an instruction of the finished planter and in-depth plant information. The plans are easy to follow and for any type of living space or garden. Name: Best Weekend Projects Cover price: $l7.95 Our price: $l3.96 Choose from 80 unique ideas to create an extraordinary living space. The projects are practical, as well as attractive, and will improve your home and yard and can be made in a weekend. These 80 well-designed projects are presented in a clear, easy-to-follow style that addresses readers in an accessible, user-friendly tone. Name: l80l Home Remedies Cover price: $40.00 Our price: $29.96 Plenty of health complaints can be handled at home. Each and every remedy will be tested by a doctor to make sure it is safe and sound. Dozens of conditions are covered, from headaches, sunburn, bad breath, and blisters to allergies , and hiccups . You can most probably read the passage in a _ . Answer: Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. This is an old English saying. Do you know it before? It says that we must go to bed early and get up early in the morning. Then we should be healthy. We should also be rich (wealthy) and clever (wise). This is true. The body must have enough sleep to be healthy. Children of a young age should have ten hours' sleep every night. Children who don't have enough sleep can't do their work very well. They will not be wise and they may not become wealthy! The body also needs exercise. Walking, running, jumping, swimming and playing games are all exercise. Exercise keeps the body strong. Exercise also keeps the blood moving around inside the body. This is very important. Our blood takes food to all parts of our body. The head also needs blood. Exercise helps us to think better! Exercise makes the _ move quickly and smoothly. Answer:
In 2003, Bethany Hamilton,13, lost her left arm to a shark attack while surfing off Kauai, Hawaii. A new film ,Soul Surfer, is based on the story of how she overcame that to achieve her dream of becoming a professional athlete. Growing up on the "garden isle" of Kauai, Hamilton spent every minute she could riding the waves. She was on the verge of becoming a top competitor in professional surfing. But while she was practicing at an isolated cove ,a four-meter-long tiger shark ripped off her left arm. Though her life was saved, nobody could imagine she would ever get back on a surfboard again. In a true test of her faith and by _ will power, Bethany did get back up on a surfboard only a month after the attack. Six months later, she was competing again. Bethany Hamilton won her first amateur surfing championship just two years after she lost her arm. She also established the "Friends of Bethany," a non---profit foundation dedicated to supporting sharks attack victims. It's a story told in her autobiography, which is the basis for the film that stars teenager Anna Sophia Robb. "I knew Bethany's story, of course, but I thought 'What an incredible role' ,"explains Robb. "I was so fascinated by all of the challenges. What would it be like to have your arm taken and what would go through your head and how would your faith be challenged?" The filmmakers used special effects to digitally remove Robb' s arm .However ,no tricks were necessary for the surfing scenes because Hamilton herself did the breathtaking wave riding. Now 21, Hamilton says she hopes audiences find inspiration in the description of the sport she loves. "Not a lot of people know that much about surfing, so I hope they're educated about it," Hamilton says. "And most of all if people are going through a hard time, they could be encouraged and find inspiration to push through those hard times and see that, in my case ,so much good has come out of it." How does Hamilton hope people will be affected by her story? A she hopes more people will take up surfing. B she hopes people will be inspired and encouraged C She hopes more people will keep off the sharks. D She hopes people will donate something to her charity. Answer: B I once went on a week-long backpacking trip through the mountains. We had a lot of fun and saw a lot of animals. We saw two bears on the first. We also saw one buffalo. During the week we climbed four different mountains. The best day of the trip was the last day. On the last day we heard that one of best things to do was to climb the last mountain at night so that way you could watch the sunrise on top of the mountain. We had to wake up at two in the morning to do the climb. It was very tough to climb a mountain at night. We finally got to the top of the mountain at five in the morning. We watched the sunrise an hour later at six in the morning. It was very beautiful. In fact, at one time because of the rise of the mountain you it was daytime in front of us and nighttime behind us. This was one of the best times in my life. What time did they have to wake up to climb the mountain? A Six in the morning B One in the morning C Two in the morning D Five in the morning Answer: C I created a writing group at my school this year, and it has become a _ with all students who enjoy writing. Now students of the group make rapid progress in their writing. Let me share a few tips that you can use to start your own writing group. Set up separate groups for different ability levels You probably don't want to mix a gifted eighth grader with a second grader who writes very little. In a larger school, you could have a beginner group, a more advanced group, and a publishing group. Members can move to more appropriate groups if they are not comfortable in the current one. Advertise the group in different ways Send advertisements home with students, and put an advertisement on the school website or in the school newsletter. The first meeting should be very open At the first meeting, you should tell the students that this group is all about them. It is not a class, not a grade and not a requirement. Then tell them what some other writing groups do, and ask what they would like to do. Set up a time to meet once or twice a month It is important that students bring their writing with them. The group could go in any direction: criticize each other's work, read your writing aloud, read silently, publish your work in a booklet , play creativity games or do an online chat with a published author. It will take a little while to find out what works best for your group Search for creativity exercises and role plays. You might even be able to set up a special section of your school's website just for your writing group. The purpose of this passage is to _ . A introduce how to start up a writing group B offer some advice on how to teach writing C train highlevel students to start up a writing group D compare different tips on starting up a writing group Answer: A If you are an auditory learner, you learn by hearing. You often learn by reading out aloud because you have to hear it or speak it in order to remember it. Here are some things that auditory learners can do to learn better. Sit where you can hear. U se cards to learn new words; read them out aloud. Read stories or material out aloud. Record yourself when you are spelling words and then listen to the recording. Study new material by reading it out aloud. If you are a visual learner, you learn by reading or seeing pictures. You like to see what you are learning. Here are some things that visual learners can do to learn better. Sit near the front of the classroom. Use cards to learn new words. Try to visualize things that you hear or things that are read to you. Write down key words or ideas. Draw pictures to help explain new ideas and then explain the pictures. If you are a tactile learner, you learn by touching and doing. You are a "hands-on" learner who likes to touch, move, build, or draw what you learn. Here are some things that tactile learners can do to learn better. Do lots of hands-on activities like doing art projects , taking walks, or acting out storie s. Use cards and put them in groups to show relationships between them. Follow words with your finger to learn spelling (finger spelling). It's OK to tap a pencil, shake your foot, or hold on to something while learning. ,. Which is the best title of the passage? A How to learn English B Different styles of learning English C Ways of learning new words D Good learning habits Answer: B The journey two divers made some time ago to the deepest point on the earth makes us realize how much of the world still remains to be studied. The two men went down seven miles to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean inside a small steel ball to find out if there are any ocean currents or signs of life. It was necessary to set out early, so that the ball would come to the surface in daylight, and be easily found by the mother ship which would be waiting for it. The divers began preparations early in the morning and soon afterwards, when all was ready, the steel ball disappeared under the surface of the water. The divers felt as if they were going down steps as they passed through warm and cold layers of water. In time the temperature dropped to the freezing point. They kept in touch with the mother ship by telephone telling how they felt. Then, at a depth of 3,000 feet, the telephone stopped working and they were quite cut off from the outside world. All went well until some four hours later at 30,000 feet, the men were frightened by a loud, cracking noise. Even the smallest hole in the ball would have meant instant death. Luckily, though, it was only one of the outer windows that had broken. Soon afterwards, the ball touched the soft ocean floor raising a big cloud of "dust" made up of small dead sea creatures. Here, powerful lights lit up the dark water and the men were surprised to see fish swimming just above them quite untroubled by the great water pressure. But they did not dare to leave the lights on for long, as the heat from them made the water boil. Quite unexpectedly, the telephone began working again and the faint but clear voices of the divers were heard on the mother ship seven miles away. After a stay of thirty minutes the men began their journey up, arriving three hours later, cold and wet through, but none was worse for their experience. The purpose of the divers' journey to the deepest point on the earth was to find _ . A if there are water currents, and life in the great depths B if people can stand the severe cold in the great depths C if there are steps in the great depths D if the telephone works well in the great depths Answer: A
There is a popular belief among parents that schools are no longer interested in spelling. No school I have ever taught in has ever ignored spelling or considered it unimportant as a basic skill. There are, however, different ideas about how to teach it, or how much priority it must be given over general language development and writing ability. The problem is how to encourage a child to express himself freely and confidently in writing without holding him back with the complexities of spelling. If spelling becomes the only focal point of his teacher's interest, clearly a bright child will be likely to "play safe". He will tend to write only words within his spelling range, choosing to avoid adventurous language. That's why teachers often encourage the early use of dictionaries and pay attention to content rather than technical ability. I was once shocked to read on the bottom of a sensitive piece of writing about a personal experience: "This work is terrible! There are far too many spelling errors and your writing is terrible." It may have been a sharp criticism of the pupil's technical abilities in writing, but it was also a sad reflection on the teacher who had omitted to read the essay, which contained some beautiful expressions of the child's deep feelings. The teacher was not wrong to draw attention to the errors, but if his priorities had centered on the child's ideas, an expression of his disappointment with the presentation would have given the pupil more motivation to seek improvement. Teachers encourage the use of dictionaries so that _ . Answer: Argentina in the late nineteenth century was an exciting place.Around 1870,it was experiencing an economic boom,and the capital,Buenos Aires,attracted many people.Farmers,as well as a flood of foreigners from Spain and Italy,came to Buenos Aires seeking jobs.These jobs didn't pay well,and the people felt lonely and disappointed with their new life in the city.As the unhappy newcomers mixed together in the poor parts of the city,the dance known as the tango came into being. At the beginning the tango was a dance of the lower classes.It was danced in the bars and streets.At that time there were many fewer women than men,so if a man didn't want to be left out,his only choice was to dance with another man so that he could attract the attention of the few available women.Gradually,the dance spread into the upper classes of Argentinean society and became more respectable. In Europe at this time,strong interest in dance from around the world was beginning.This interest in international dance was especially evident in Paris.Every kind of dance from ballet to belly dancing could be found on the stages of the Paris theaters.After tango dancers from Argentina arrived in Europe,they began to draw the interest of the public as they performed their exciting dance in cafes.Though not everyone approved of the new dance,saying it was a little too shocking,the dance did find enough supporters to make it popular. The popularity of the tango continued to grow in many other parts of the world.Soldiers who returned to the United States from World War I brought the tango to North America.It reached Japan in 1926,and in 2003 the Argentinean embassy in Seoul hired a local tango dancer to act as a kind of dance ambassador,and promote tango dancing throughout South Korea. The origin of the tango is associated with _ . Answer: US military is attempting to develop a new style "insect robot" to replace the human soldier to go wherever he can't. The greatest trouble this project has fallen across is how to enable the robot to fly freely like an insect, said an official of the Pentagon . The Pentagon is seeking for the cooperation with scientists in hope of developing a new technique by which people can control the insect's flight direction and pass on the information its eyes or other organs catch through the equipment set in its body, the official said. It is thus designed that a tiny controlling chip will be equipped in an insect's body when it is in chrysalis . As the insect grows, the cut made when fixing in the chip will be recovered. The chip will exist in forever. Scientists believe this won't influence the insect, sound growth or the functions of internal organs. The _ target of the project is to set up a global system, in which the insect robots will be stationed in all parts of the world and stick to their posts till a new instruction is received. At that time the military can receive from all over the world clear image information within about 5 meters of the insects and that of a special target within 100 meters. Years ago, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency of US DOD spent $3,000,000 carrying out a plan for training bees to detect landmines. But, no new progress has so far been made. "According to the scientists, there is still enormous difficulty in technology in turning it into reality, such as the insects reproduction , their adaptation to the surroundings and temperature and so on. However, this project is really challenging. If successful, it is equal to making countless small drone ,"said the official of DOD. When the project is completed, US military will _ . Answer: Ma Yan is not really a writer. But this 15-year-old girl has written a book that has moved many people around the world. "Ma Yan's Diary" tells us about Ma's life. She lives in a poor village called Zhangjiashu in Tongxin, Ningxia, and she has no money to go to school. But she is brave and has a strong desire to go to school. Her mother gave her diary to a French reporter, Pierre Haski when he went to Zhangjisshu in 2001. Now, it has been published in France Italy, Germany, Japan and China. Ma is now a Junior Three student at Yuwang Middle School in Tongxin. Before this, she had to leave school twice. When she had to stop going to school the first time, her mum told her there was no money for her to go to school. She worked for 21 days and saved 13 yuan. With this money, she went back to school. The second time, her family told her she had to leave school but her two brothers could stay. "I want to study," Ma wrote in her diary. "Why can boys study but girls can't? It would be wonderful if I could stay at school forever." Ma loves school so much because she wants to have a better life. "My parents work hard in the fields but they are still poor. They have no knowledge. Most girls in my village leave school early and get married young. I don't want that kind of life," Ma said. After her story became known, many French student sent money to her. Ma's dream is the same as ever. She hopes to go to Tsinghua University and become a reporter. "Then , I can find poor kids like me and help them, " she said. Ma Yan wants to study because she wants to _ . Answer: I have a pen pal in Canada. His name is Simon. He lives in Ottawa, Canada. He is twelve years old. He also studies in a middle school. Simon lives in a happy family. His father is a policeman and his mother is a bank clerk . Simon and his parents like exercising. They almost exercise every day. Simon's father is tall. He is good at playing basketball. Simon's mother likes playing volleyball. Simon usually gets up at 6.30 am. He eats his breakfast at home. Then he goes to school. It's kind of far from the school to his home, so he usually has his lunch at school. Usually, Simon does his homework four times a week. Simon likes watching TV. He usually watches TV for about one hour every day. He goes to bed at nine. How long does Simon usually watch TV a week ? Answer:
It was a late Wednesday night when the dreading phone call reached our home. I sat up, somehow terrified, so I could hear the phone call better. To my surprise, I heard my mom burst into tears. "Get the car, Dean! Andrea has been in a car accident." _ We got to the hospital, but were not allowed to see Andrea. The next morning, after wearing masks, we were allowed to go to the ICU to see Andrea. Well, the least I could say was that everything was injured in her body and she lost all of her memories. It was a fatal accident. Over the next two months, I lived more at the hospital than I did at my house. I watched as Andrea worked so hard to gain back everyday motor skills. She never once complained or pitied herself; her determined spirit was shining through. After two weeks in the ICU and two months of the regular hospital treatment, Andrea was able to come home. She missed several months of school, so it was hard for her to catch up. Andrea had tasks to accomplish, and no matter how hard it was, she stuck with them until the job was done. Though busy with dealing with pain and therapy, she always found time to love and play with me. I'll never forget the impact that this incident made on my life. I admire her strong-willed personality and her determined spirit. Today she is perfectly normal, despite the scars and the pins holding her leg in place. I couldn't ask for a better sister, hero, or best friend. What would be the best title for the passage? Answer: Miss Wang asks her students about their future jobs. Let's look at their answers. Bob: I'm going to be a cool spy like James Bond. I know it is difficult and dangerous. I will work hard and I look forward to studying in America one day. Mike: I'm going to be a mathematician , because maths is my favourite subject. I think it's very interesting. Meimei: I'm going to become a singer in the future. I love singing. I hope one day I can become famous. Lisa: I want to be a charitarian . I will make a lot of money and help the poor children in the future. What is Mike's favourite subject? Answer: Each of us would like to be trusted by parents, because we all want to get freedom. Parents are more likely to give us our freedom if they trust us. If you want your parents to trust you more, you have to show them through your actions. Let your parents know what's going on at school and with your friends. If you truly can be trusted, then you have nothing to hide, right? Keep your bedroom door open when you are back. Do not be crazy when they see what you are looking at on the Internet. Invite your friends to your house to meet your parents. When you do something wrong, it can break trust. Broken trust takes a long time to rebuild. It's not easy dealing with your parents when you've broken their trust. But, it can be done. It's not talking about groveling and sweet-talking them into trust. I'm talking about getting them to respect you again. I find it easy to make the mistake of no telling my parents things I've done wrong, hoping they won't find out. There are lots of reasons: I don't want to get into trouble; I don't want them to be disappointed or get mad at me; I don't want to lose their trust; I don't think they will ever find out. And the list goes on and on. But they find out somehow, and then you're in hot water. Of course, even if Mom and Dad never find out, you still know about. Most parents will respect you more for coming to them and telling them yourself. Doing so shows honesty, responsibility and maturity . If you can't tell them face to face, you can try writing a note. Trust can't be built in a day or even a week, but you can gradually do things to help your parents build trust in you. Which of the following is TRUE? Answer: My students often tell me they don't have "enough time" to do all their schoolwork. My reply is often brief -You have as much time as the president. I usually carry on a bit about there being 24 hours per day for everyone, and suggest that "not enough time" is not an acceptable explanation of not getting something done. Once in graduate school, I tried to justify myself to one of my professors by saying that I was working. His answer to me was, " _ . What's important is the quality of your work." Since then I have had time to reflect on the "hard worker" dodge , and I have come to some conclusions - all relevant to the issue of how much time we have. If you look at the matter analytically, you can identify two parts of the problem. There is, of course, the matter of "time", which we can think of as fixed. Then there is the issue of "work" during that time, which can vary in intensity. But, as my professor suggested, it's not diligence but the quality of the product that is important. That led me to a new idea, the quality of work. That concept is perhaps best explained by a sign I once saw on the wall in someone's office - Don't work harder but work smarter! There's a lot of sense in that idea. If you can't get more time, and few of us can, the only solution is to improve the quality of work. That means thinking of ways of getting more out of the same time than we might otherwise get. That should lead us to an analysis of our work habits. Since "work" for students usually means "homework", the expression "work habits" should be read as "learning habits". Then, as a smart student, you will seek to improve those skills that you use in study, chiefly reading and writing. If you learn to read better and write better, there are big benefits that pay off across the board in all your studies. The main purpose of writing the passage is to give _ . Answer: "Please take my penny," said Maggie to old Dan, the fisherman, who sat on a bench repairing his nets. Her brother Andrew drew her back, whispering, "Maggie, he is not a beggar !" But Maggie paid no attention. "Please take it," she said again. Old Dan smiled, and took it. "Thank you, little miss," he said, "It is kindly meant." After that, Maggie went to the beach to gather shells. She never thought how fast the hours were passing until being tired, she sat down on a rock beside a little pool. Soon she was scared by a noise near her, and Dan's large dog Rover jumped down from a rock! He licked her hands and made a loud noise, and then began gently to pull her coat. "Rover wishes me to come away, I see," she said, and she rose from the rock and began to go home. However, that was not so easy as she had expected. She found the places she had gone down easily very difficult to climb up, and as the tide had been coming in for some time. She found some of the stones wet and smooth. What could poor Maggie do? She felt sad and cried, but the waves made a much louder noise than she could make, and perhaps she would have been drowned without good wise Rover. Rover jumped upon a big stone and raised his loud bark until even the waves could not drown it. The fisherman had taken his nets to the top of the cliffs , and was laying them out in the sun when he heard the loud barking of a dog. He felt sure that it was Rover, and Rover in trouble, so, going to the edge of the cliffs, he looked over. There he saw it all--Rover barking for help, and the little child standing beside him. "Bless her! It is the little one that was so kind-spoken to me this morning!" he cried, and he hurried to his sons' home. "Quick, boys, quick!" he said. "Get to the boat, and row fast to the bay . There is a poor child there just waiting to be drowned." The fishermen lost no time, and soon little Maggie and Rover were rowed safely to land! Old Dan was waiting there to lift her out, and give her into her mother's arms. "It was the penny that did it, madam," he said to Mrs. Weston later. "I saw Rover looking at her when she put the penny so kind-like into my hand--just as if he would have said, 'Rover will be your friend now, little girl.' And I am thinking he had been looking after her all the day, for he never came near me after that." Some years later, Rover came to Maggie's home with a little note, in which was written-- "Will Maggie help Rover?--his master is dead." From the end of the story, we can guess that _ . Answer:
"China is expected to complete its first exploration of the moon in 2010 and will found a moon base just as we did on the North and South Poles," Ouyang Ziyuan, head of China's moon exploration program, promised during national science and technology week. After its first man in space, China plans a space laboratory, a lunar orbiter to look for valuable elements and minerals, robot landings on the moon and then the human touchdown. The price of space exploration is enormous. Russia and the US, the only two countries to have achieved manned flight, are struggling to keep their new investment, the international space station. But China, which has a long tradition in physics, mathematics and engineering, finds its doctoral graduates welcomed in the US and Europe for decades. And it has been able to learn from 40 years of pioneering successes and mistakes by the USSR and the USA. Space flight is a gamble and the stakes are high. If successful, China could become a member of the world's most exclusive club, set up a second home on the moon and get a powerful hand at the strategic bargaining table. Two designers from the Shenzhou III project said that 12 astronauts now are undergoing intensive training. One more unmanned space flight is planned before the first manned launch. Experts say that the Shenzhou spacecraft already provides China with a space vehicle capable of mounting a lunar program. Chinese scientists have also predicted that Mars will be the next target after the moon. Which one of the following is NOT right according to this passage? Answer: China's first man has landed the moon in space. Long ago, near the village of Hedley, there lived a strange and playful trickster , known as the Hedley Kow. Sometimes it looked like an ordinary object. Sometimes it looked like a donkey or a goat. One evening, as an old woman went along the path, she saw an old iron pot lying in the ditch. "Fancy that," she said. "Nobody seems to want this old pot. I will take it home and plant pretty flowers in it." When she tried to lift it, she saw that it was full of gold pieces. "Well, now, if that doesn't beat all," she said. "I'm rich! I can buy a fine house and fancy clothes." The pot was heavy, so she tied her shawl around it and began to drag it home. After a while, she stopped to rest. When she looked in the pot, she was amazed to see that it was full of silver pieces! "Oh, my God!" she said. "Aren't I the lucky one! If it were gold, thieves would have been after me. My friends might have been jealous. But I can hide these silver pieces, take out a few at a time, and live like a queen." On she went, pulling the pot after her. She was nearing home now. At her gate, she looked into the pot. What a surprise! The silver had changed into a lump of iron. "Iron," she said. "Well, now! No one will be jealous or want to steal this from me. I can use this iron to prop my door open and let in fresh air and sunlight. Lucky me!" As soon as she said that, the pot began to grow and later it became a goat. Then it jumped up and ran off down the road laughing. "Fancy that!" said the old woman. "I believe I have seen the Hedley Kow! Not many folks can say that, and that's a fact. I'll just sit up by my fire tonight thinking about how lucky I was to see it for myself. I truly must be the luckiest person in the world!" What does "the Hedley Kow" stand for in the eyes of the old woman? Answer: Luck. If you look for a book as a present for a child,you will be spoiled for choice even in a year there is no new Harry Potter. J.K Rowling's wizard is not alone.The past decade has been a harvest for good children's books, which has set off a large quantity of films and an increased sales of classics such as The Lord of the Rings. Yet despite that, reading is increasingly unpopular among children.According to statistics in 1997, 23% said they didn't like reading at all.In 2003, 35% didn't.And around 6% of the children leave primary school each year unable to read properly. Maybe the decline is caused by the increasing availability of computes games.Maybe the books boom has affected only the top of the educational pile.Either way, Chancellor Cordon Brown plans to change things for the bottom of the class.In his pre-budget report, he announced the national project of Reading Recovery to help the children struggling most. Reading Recovery is aimed at six year olds, who receive four months of individual daily half-hour classes with a specially trained teacher.An evaluation this year reported that children on the school made 20 months' progress in just one year, whereas similarly weak readers without special help made just five months' progress ,and so ended the year even further below the level expected for their age. International research tends to find that when British children leave primary school, they read well, but read text often for fun than those elsewhere.Reading for fun matters because children who are keen on reading can report lifelong pleasure and loving books is an excellent indicator of future educational success.According to the OECD, being a regular and enthusiastic reader is of great advantage. Reading for fun is important because book-loving children _ . Answer: are likely to succeed in their education. A student has a ball of clay that sinks when placed in a pan of water. Which property should he change to make the clay float? Answer: shape Do you get angry when your friends sing loudly while you are trying to work, or when your best friend does not wait for you after school? If you do, you need to take control of your feelings and stop getting angry so easily. Getting angry with people can cause you to lose friends. Gray Gerber, an American high school teacher, has written My Feelings Are Like Wild Animals to help you control your feelings. It tells teens how to stay cool when bad things happen to them. The book says that getting angry only makes problems worse. It can never make them better. Getting angry is not a natural way to act, the book says. It is just a bad habit, like smoking. The book says you can control your anger easily. All you have to do is tell yourself not to be angry. When a baby falls over, he only cries if people are watching him. Like a baby, you should only get angry if you are sure it is the right thing to do. The book gives many tips to help you if you get angry easily. Here are our tips: (1)Keep a record. Every time you get angry, write down why you are angry. (2)Ask your friends to stop talking to you when you get angry. This will teach you not to be angry. (3)Do something different. When you get angry, walk away from the problem and go somewhere else. Try to laugh. Getting angry _ . Answer: makes your friends leave

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