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<extra_id_5>A man had a little dog, and he was very fond of it. He would pat its head, and take it on his knee, and talk to it. Then he would give it little bits of food from his own plate. A donkey looked in at the window and saw the man and the dog. "Why does he not make a pet of me?" said the donkey. "It is not fair. I work hard, and the dog only wags its tail, and barks, and jumps on its master's knee. It is not fair." Then the donkey said to himself, "If I do what the dog does, he may make a pet of me." So the donkey ran into the room. It brayed as loudly as it could. It wagged its tail so hard that it knocked over a jar on the table. Then it tried to jump on to its master's knee. The master thought the donkey was mad, and he shouted, "Help! Help!" Men came running in with sticks, and they beat the donkey till it ran out of the house, and they drove it back to the field. "I only did what the dog does," said the donkey," and yet they make a pet of the dog, and they beat me with sticks. It is not fair." Which is not the reason why the man treated the dog well?
<extra_id_0>It barked
<extra_id_1>It worked hard.
<extra_id_2>It jumped on the master's knee
<extra_id_3>It wagged its tail
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<extra_id_5>Art is visible. However, everything one sees is filtered through certain conditions, some of them historical, and others, natural. The historical conditions include the material which is used --oil, color1s, and the canvas; second, a certain style. There can be a general style, for example, the style of Impressionism, or a particular style, for example, the individual ways in which two painters, both impressionists, paint. The natural conditions include certain unchanging psychological laws of sight, for instance, the effects of color1s or optical illusions. The conditions of art are nothing but a particular way of interpreting reality. To understand this, one can examine the difference between the classical Greek and the classical Egyptian styles. For the Greeks, the reality of the visible was given by the perspective and the situation in which the object appears; for that reason they presented a person in his individual movements. For the Egyptians, however, this was only the appearance of a brief moment, which, according to their beliefs, was not real. Therefore, the Egyptians searched for the permanent essence and the typical character in their depiction of an object. For the Egyptians, Greek art was an illusion; for the Greeks, on the other hand, Egyptian art was unrealistic constructivism. The way in which reality appears in art must not be regarded on its own. It is affected by many other systems of recognizing reality, including the political, religious, economic, intellectual, and social -- in short, all the phenomena of human life. Moreover, art is always of a certain epoch ,with its particular conception of reality. Thus, when discussing, for example, the art of ancient myth, of medieval Christianity, or that of the technological age, one must be aware that myth, Christianity, or technology was the most outstanding feature of the epoch. It is paradoxical to understand art as some kind of copy of the fields of experience connected with it. So, for example, it is meaningless for the work of art to be compared with the landscape, which served the artist as his model. Even if the artist had tried to make what he painted as similar as possible to the model he used, the landscape which he saw is only the matter from which something completely different emerges since he has submitted his view to the conditions of art: namely to the material used (color1s, canvas, etc.), to his style, and even to the fact that he paints on a flat surface. Thus one must contemplate a work of art by itself. Even if it is connected to other fields of experience it nevertheless displays something unique which appears in that piece of art and there alone. What is mentioned as one of the conditions through which art is seen?
<extra_id_0>Impressionism.
<extra_id_1>Optical illusions.
<extra_id_2>Nature.
<extra_id_3>Perspective.
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<extra_id_5>Pepys and his wife had asked some friends to dinner on Sunday, September 2nd, 1666. The servants were up very late on the Saturday evening, getting everything ready for the next day, and while they were busy they saw the glow of a fire start in the sky. By 3 o'clock on the Sunday morning, the glow had become so bright that one of the servants, Jane, woke her master to see it. Pepys went to the window to watch it. It seemed fairly far away, so after a time he went back to bed. When he got up in the morning, it looked as though the fire was dying down, though he could still see some flames. So he set to work to tidy his room and put his things back where he wanted them after the servants had cleaned everything. While he was doing this, Jane came in to say that she had heard that the fire was a bad one: three hundred houses had been burned down in the night and the fire was still burning. Pepys went out to see for himself. He went to the Tower of London and climbed up on a high part of the building so that he could see what was happening. From there, Pepys could see that it was, indeed, a bad fire and that even the houses on London Bridge were burning. Someone told him that the fire had started in a baker's house in Pudding Lane, and then the flames had quickly spread to the other houses in the narrow lane. So began the Great Fire of London, a fire that lasted nearly five days, damaged most of the old city and ended, so it is said, at Pie Corner. The servants were up very late because _ .
<extra_id_0>they were chatting
<extra_id_1>they were having a party
<extra_id_2>they were preparing for a dinner
<extra_id_3>they were watching a fire
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<extra_id_5>He felt faint again now but he held on the great fish all the strain that he could. I moved him, he thought. Maybe this time I can get him over. Pull, hands, he thought. Hold up, legs. Last for me, head. Last for me. You never went. This time I'll pull him over. But when he put all of his effort on, starting it well out before the fish came alongside and pulling with all his strength, the fish pulled part way over and then righted himself and swam away. "Fish," the old man said. "Fish, you are going to have to die anyway. Do you have to kill me too?" That way nothing is accomplished, he thought. His mouth was too dry to speak but he could not reach for the water now. I must get him alongside this time, he thought. I am not good for many more turns. Yes, you are, he told himself. You're good for ever. On the next turn, he nearly had him. But again the fish righted himself and swam slowly away. You are killing me, fish, the old man thought. But you have a right to. Never have I seen a greater, or more beautiful, or a calmer or more noble thing than you, brother. Come on and kill me. I do not care who kills who. Now you are getting confused in the head, he thought. You must keep your head clear. Keep your head clear and know how to suffer like a man. Or a fish, he thought. "Clear up, head," he said in a voice he could hardly hear. "Clear up." Twice more it was the same on the turns. I do not know, the old man thought. He had been on the point of feeling himself go each time. I do not know. But I will try it once more. He tried it once more and he felt himself going when he turned the fish. The fish righted himself and swam off again slowly with the great tail weaving in the air. I'll try it again, the old man promised, although his hands were mushy now and he could only see well in flashes. He tried it again and it was the same. So he thought, and he felt himself going before he started; I will try it once again. He took all his pain and what was left of his strength and his long gone pride and he put it against the fish's agony and the fish came over onto his side and swam gently on his side, his bill almost touching the planking of the skiff and started to pass the boat, long, deep, wide, silver and barred with purple and interminable in the water. The old man dropped the line and put his foot on it and lifted the harpoon as high as he could and drove it down with all his strength, and more strength he had just summoned, into the fish's side just behind the great chest fin that rose high in the air to the altitude of the man's chest. He felt the iron go in and he leaned on it and drove it further and then pushed all his weight after it. Then the fish came alive, with his death in him, and rose high out of the water showing all his great length and width and all his power and his beauty. He seemed to hang in the air above the old man in the skiff. Then he fell into the water with a crash that sent spray over the old man and over all of the skiff. In what way did the old man make it?
<extra_id_0>By keeping his head clear up.
<extra_id_1>By pulling the fish to his boat.
<extra_id_2>By stopping the fish making turns.
<extra_id_3>By getting the fish over and hitting it with his harpoon.
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<extra_id_5>According to Hunan Daily, in Yongxing County of Hunan Province, retired teacher Chen and his wife are living in a natural cave , and they quite enjoy such life. [:Zxxk.Com] Chen's cave is 20 meters wide and 8 meters deep. Lichens can be seen everywhere in it. Chen says that the place is free of pollution. Because of being poor, they moved into the cave, Chen said. In 1975, the houses of his families and his neighbors were all burned to the ground in the fire. Chen was then already married and badly needed a house to live in. But he had no money to build a house, so he had to live in his relatives' houses as long as 5 years. In 1980, he happened to discover this cave, immediately he and his family members decided to live in there. Chen thought the cave could be a temporary living place, but it never occurred to him that it could be his home in the next 28 years. Chen recalled that the first couple of days were the most difficult period, "I put up some wooden boards for a gate, but they were all blown away by wind that same night." Chen has two sons and a daughter, and they all left the cave after they got married. Now Chen's old friends once in a while visit him in his cave drinking and playing Chinese chess. For Chen, the most enjoyable thing is to raise bees and grow kinds of plants. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>All of Chen's children are studying in the university.
<extra_id_1>Chen's friends hardly come to the cave to see him.
<extra_id_2>Chen and his children still live together in the cave.
<extra_id_3>Chen found the cave quite by accident.
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<extra_id_5>BERLIN-With the crisis in Japan raising fears about nuclear power, Germany and Switzerland said on Monday that they would reassess the safety of their own reactors. Doris Leuthard, the Swiss energy minister, said Switzerland would put off plans to build nuclear plants. She said no new ones would be permitted until experts had reviewed safety standards. Germany will put off "the recently decided extension of the running time of Cerman nuclear plants," Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters. "This moratorium will run for three months and it will allow for a thorough exanunation of the safety standards of the country's 17 nuclear power plants. The European Union called for a meeting on Tuesday of nuclear safety authorities to assess Europe's preparedness. Germany's foreign minister, Cuido Westerwelle, called for a new risk analysis of the counitry' snuclear plants, particularly regarding their cooling systems. He is the leader of the Free Democratic Party, which strongly supports nuclear power. A previous government,led by the Social Democrats, passed a law in 2001 to close all the country's nuclear plants by 2021. But Mrs. Merkel' s government changed that decision last year to extend the lives of the plants by an average of 12 years. In Switzerland, Doris Leuthard said she had already asked to analyze the exact cause of the problems in Japan and draw up new or tougher safety standards "particularly in terms of seismic( )safety and cooling." In Russia, the Prime Minister said his govemment would "draw conclusions from what's going on in Japan." Where can you most likely read this passage?
<extra_id_0>In a diary.
<extra_id_1>In a magazine.
<extra_id_2>In a science report.
<extra_id_3>ln a newspaper.
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<extra_id_5>Which element makes up most of the air we breathe.
<extra_id_0>carbon
<extra_id_1>nitrogen
<extra_id_2>oxygen
<extra_id_3>argon
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<extra_id_5>My name is Bill. I'm an American boy. I'm twelve. I'm a student in a middle school. I'm in Class1, Grade 7. Li Lei is my friend. We're in different classes. He is eleven. Here is a photo of his family. Let's look at it. His father, the one behind the tree, is a policeman. His mother, the one on the bike, is a Chinese teacher. He has two sisters. They are twins. They have a cat. Its name is Mimi. Look! It's on the floor under the table. The twins are middle school students, too. They look after me at school. We are good friends. Li Lei's mother is _ in the photo.
<extra_id_0>behind the tree
<extra_id_1>under the table
<extra_id_2>on the bike
<extra_id_3>in the table
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<extra_id_5>Empty Deserts In the 19th century Americans from the eastern states moved out west to settle in the rich new lands along the Pacific coast. The most difficult part of their trip was crossing the "Great American Desert in the western part of theprefix = st1 /United Statesby horse and wagon. The western desert can be very dangerous. There is little water and there are few trees. But the desert also has scenery of great beauty. Tall towers of red and yellow stone rise sharply from the flat sandy valley floor. The scene has been photographed many times and appears in movies and in TV. In Arizona, man made dams across the Colorado River have made two large lakes in the middle of the dry desert country. At Lake Powell, the red stone arch of Rainbow Bridge rises high above the blue lake. There are few roads. Many areas ofLakePowell's shore can only be reached by boat or on foot. But hikers in this empty desert land sometimes find very old native American pictures, painted on the rocks. In Death Valley,California, the summer temperature rises to 130 degrees. There is less than two inches of rain each year. Death Valley is the lowest place in America---- 925 meters below sea level. In the 1800s, many travelers died when they tried to cross this waterless valley in the terrible heat. Although the desert is dry and seems empty, there is plenty of life if you look closely. Small insects, snakes and rats have learned how to live in the desert heat. They live under ground and come out at night, when it is cool. Plants such as cacti need very little water. When it does rain in the desert (sometimes only once or twice a year), plants grow quickly, and flowers open in a single day. For a short time, the desert is covered with brilliant color1s. In the 1800s many travelers died in Death Valley because of _ .
<extra_id_0>illness
<extra_id_1>high temperature
<extra_id_2>cold weather
<extra_id_3>poisonous water
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<extra_id_5>A woman whose sports car was stolen with her dog in it put up notices all over the area that made it clear getting back her pet was more important than her car. "Whoever did this can keep my car. Please let Benjerman come home," the notice said. It is not known whether the thief showed any pity, but almost 30 hours after the 1 pm theft Friday, Kimberly Atkins of Dover and Benjerman, a 12-year-old black retriever , were reunited after police located them in Barrington. "He's hungry, he's dirty, but he's very happy to be home," Atkins said. The car was found at about 5 pm Saturday off Route 125 in a swampy area frequented by off-the-road cars and dirt bikes. However, the police couldn't control Benjerman, and they had to call Atkins to come and get him. Atkins said the thief cared for Benjerman a little by providing him with some dry cat food. She believed Benjerman ended up drinking some muddy water in the area. She said they have been together for nearly 11 years after she took him back from a society shelter in Dallas, Texas. Before Benjelman was found, Atkins and several friends put up notices all over the city and in Somersworth. They also contacted animal shelters,throughout southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The notice stated there was a reward, and also that the dog needed medication. Any caller could remain anonymous . Atkins had parked the car outside a hardware store with the keys inside and gone in to rent a carpet cleaner. "It was l0 minutes and I came out and my car was gone along with Benjerman in broad daylight," Atkins said. The car thief threw Atkins' wallet and other personal items out of the car before escaping from the scene. We can infer from the passage _ .
<extra_id_0>the dog was treated extremely badly by the thief
<extra_id_1>car stolen accidents happen frequently nowadays
<extra_id_2>the dog was found because of the reward
<extra_id_3>the thief stole the car easily
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<extra_id_5>Today Chinese people can enjoy longer and more holidays, such as the two"Gold Week Holidays" -- the Spring Festival, National Day and Mid-autumn Festival and so on. They have more time to travel. Rising incomes also make it possible for ordinary Chinese people to travel abroad . Zhang Haitao, a middle school student in Shanghai will go to Japan with his parents during the Spring Festival. "Overseas touring has always been a dream of mine ,"Zhang Haitao said. " How will you go to Japan, by air or by ship?" I asked him. "By ship. Traveling by ship is more enjoyable than a rushed trip by air.""But a plane is much faster than a ship. ""Yes. but you can't see much during the flight while a sea trip will make you happier, because you can see waves, islands and even big fish." "Will you travel at your own expense ?" "Certainly. Though my father's job is to recycle rubbish, I'm very proud of him. He has saved lots of money in the last three years. What's more, he has made a contribution to protecting our environment." Zhao Haitao is proud of his father because his father _ .
<extra_id_0>only helps him make his dream come true
<extra_id_1>gave him so much money
<extra_id_2>did a great job to our environment
<extra_id_3>is hardworking
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<extra_id_5>Imagine you are doing this reading in this text on the computer; what else are you doing? Maybe you're eating a sandwich or drinking a cup of Starbucks. Should you eat while reading? There aren't many believable numbers, but we do know the number of people who eat while sitting in front of some type of screen is growing. A recent study found that 33 percent of families always have the TV on during meal times and another 27 percent people have it on at least half the time. Another 10 percent may be texting, emailing or talking on a cell phone while eating. Any type of these behaviors is bad, considering the following evidence: A Canadian study found that children who watch more than three hours of cartoons a day are 50 percent more likely to be fat than children who watch fewer than two hours. The researchers concluded that more than 60 percent of overweight incidents can be connected with screen watching too much. A three-week study found that adults who usually play with smartphones less burned 119 more calories per day. One Chicago researcher found that people eat more potato chips while reading online than when they have the laptop turned off. There has been very little investigation into eating with your eyes staring at a screen or reading a book, but it is likely that his mindless eating is related to weight gain. Simply speaking, your brain has no idea what is going on with your mouth because it is occupied by other things. You don't notice how full your stomach is, and you often don't even notice the taste or the act of chewing and swallowing, as a result of which, developing an adapted dietary habit is a must. What can be the best title of this passage?
<extra_id_0>How Should You Lose Weight?
<extra_id_1>Should You Do Other Things While Eating?
<extra_id_2>Healthy and Unhealthy Eating Habits
<extra_id_3>TV and Eating
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<extra_id_5>I'd like to share my unforgettable experience with you. Believe it or not, it was a real happening. We were on tour a few summers ago, driving through Chicago, when right outside of the city, we got pulled over. A middle-aged policeman came up to the car and was really being troublesome at first. Lecturing us, he said, "You were speeding. Where are you going in such a hurry?" Our guitarist, Tim, told him that we were on our way to Wisconsin to play a show. His way towards us totally changed. He asked, "Oh, so you boys are in a band?" We told him that we were. He then asked all the usual band questions about the type of music we played, and how long we had been at it. Suddenly, he stopped and said, "Tim, you want to get out of this ticket, don't you?" Tim said, "Yes." So the officer asked him to step out of the car. The rest of us, inside the car, didn't know what to think as we watched the policeman talk to Tim. Next thing we knew, the policeman was putting Tim in the back of the police car he had parked in front of us. With that, he threw the car into reverse , stopping a few feet behind our car. Now we suddenly felt frightened. We didn't know if we were all going to prison, or if the policeman was going to sell Tim on the black market or something. All of a sudden, the policeman's voice came over his loudspeaker. He said, "Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time ever, we have Tim here singing on Route 90." The policeman had told Tim that the only way he was getting out of the ticket was if he sang part of one of our songs over the loudspeaker in the police car. Seconds later, Tim started screaming into the receiver. The policeman enjoyed the performance , and sent us on our way without a ticket. The policeman stopped the boys to _ .
<extra_id_0>put them into prison
<extra_id_1>give them a ticket
<extra_id_2>enjoy their performance
<extra_id_3>ask some band questions
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<extra_id_5>After lots of hype, the new iPhone 3GS has arrived, boasting an improved camera, better battery life, and speedier performance. But is it a must? The iPhone 3GS is available in two versions: 16GB and 32GB. The 16GB version costs $199, while the 32GB version costs $299. From the outside, the iPhone 3GS looks exactly like the iPhone 3G. Like the iPhone 3G, the new model comes in black and white versions, and sports a 3.5-inch touch screen. Most of the changes to the iPhone 3GS have been made on the inside. Apple says that battery life is better, but the biggest boost is in the iPhone's speed: The iPhone 3GS runs twice as fast as the iPhone 3G. Instead of a lot of software installed on it, the iPhone 3GS comes with the most recent version of the iPhone Software --version 3.0- installed, but it does come with easy access to Apple's App Store. The speedier performance of the iPhone 3GS extends to surfing the Web, too. You can see entire Web pages, and can zoom in and out with ease. The notable new messaging feature on the iPhone 3GS is support for MMS. You can send pictures and videos by SMS, rather than having to send them via e-mail. Other new and very-handy e-mail features include the ability to search through your e-mail messages and contacts, as well as the option to use a landscape-oriented keyboard when composing messages. The camera has been upgraded from 2 megapixels to 3 megapxiels, and adds auto-focus. If you already own an iPhone 3G, the iPhone 3GS may not be worth the additional cost, since you can get many of its cool features for free with the iPhone 3.0 software upgrade. But if you've been using an older iPhone or smart phone, or are new to the smart phone world, the iPhone 3GS will amaze you with its speed and plentiful features. What is the best title of the text?
<extra_id_0>3GS is a must nowadays.
<extra_id_1>3GS is the best choice nowadays.
<extra_id_2>Is 3GS a must nowadays?
<extra_id_3>Is 3GS worth your money?
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<extra_id_5>Join in the holiday fun at the Powerhouse this month linked to our new exhibition, Evolution & Revolution: Chinese dress1700s to now. DON'T FORGET our other special event, the Club Med Circus School which is part of the Circus !150years of circus in Australia exhibition experience! *Chinese Folk Dancing: Colorful Chinese dance and musical performances by The Chinese Folk Dancing School of Sydney. Dances include: the Golden stick dance and the Chinese drum dance. A feature will be the Qin dynasty Emperor's count dance .Also included is a show of face painting for Beijing opera performances. Sunday 29 June and Wednesday 2 July in the Turbine Hall, at 11.30 am & 1.30 pm. *Australian Chinese Children's Arts Theatre: W ell-known children's play experts from Shanghai lead this dynamic youth group. Performances include Chinese fairy tales and plays. Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 July in the Turbine Hall, at 11.30 am & 1.30 pm. *Chinese Youth League: A traditional performing arts group featuring performance highlights such as the Red scarf and Spring flower dances ,and a musician playing Er Hu. Sunday 6 to Tuesday 8 July in the Turbine Hall,11.30 am to 1.30 pm. *Kids Activity: Make a Paper Horse :Young children make a paper horse cut-out.(The horse is a frequent theme in Chinese painting, including a kind of advancement.)Suitable for ages 8~12 years. Saturday 28 June to Tuesday 8 July in the Turbine Hall,12.00 pm to 1.00 pm. *Club Med Circus School: Learn circus skills, including the trapeze, trampolining and magic.Note only for children over 5.There are 40 places available in each 1 hour session and these must be booked at the front desk,level 4,on the day. Tuesday 1 to Saturday 5 Julyat 11.30 am & 1.00 pm. Enjoy unlimited free visits and many other benefits by becoming a Family member of the Powerhouse.Our family memberships cover two adults and all children under the age of 16 years at the one address. Members receive Powerline,our monthly magazine,discounts in the shops and the restaurants,as well as free admission to the Museum.All this for as little as $50.00 a year!Call(02)9217 0600 for more details. What is required if you want to enjoy free visits to the Museum?
<extra_id_0>Calling(02)9217 0600.
<extra_id_1>Gaining family membership.
<extra_id_2>Coming for the holiday fun.
<extra_id_3>Paying Powerline $50.00 a year.
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<extra_id_5>Audrey Hepburn is one of Hollywood's all-time greatest actress. She is famous not only in the USA, but also in other parts of the world. Hepburn was born in Belgium on May 4, 1929. She began taking ballet lessons at a very young age. She loved dancing and her dream was to become a successful ballet dancer. She had put most of her effort into ballet training before she entered the film industry. In 1951, Hepburn was chosen to play the lead role of a young princess in the Hollywood film Roman Holiday. It was a big success and Hepburn became famous immediately. She won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in this film. During her life time, Hepburn earned four more Oscar nominations . Some well-known films that she acted in include Funny Face, Breakfast at Tiffany and My Fair Lady. Hepburn also devoted much of her time to charity . She spent the last few years of her life working closely with UNICEF to help poor children in different parts of the world. She was honoured with a number of awards because of her efforts in helping them. Hepburn was honoured with a number of awards because she _ .
<extra_id_0>acted in many films
<extra_id_1>was good at ballet
<extra_id_2>gave everything to others
<extra_id_3>did her best to help poor children
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<extra_id_5>Today is our Open Day. Our parents come and see our school on this day. Our school is very big and beautiful.There are five buildings in our school. Look! The office building is on your right. Our teachers work in it. Behind the building, there are two classroom buildings and a school library. In the library there are all kinds of books. Our big playground is on the left of these buildings with lots of trees around it. Every day, many students play football, basketball and tennis. We have a good time on the playground after school. We also have a school hall behind the playground next to the library. We meet our parents and have parties in the school hall. Today, after school, we have a welcome party for our parents. I think our parents will like our school, too. There are _ buildings in our school.
<extra_id_0>3
<extra_id_1>4
<extra_id_2>5
<extra_id_3>6
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<extra_id_5>Many independent Chinese women like to earn their own bread, even if their husbands are already bringing home the bacon. But a recent survey suggests that such women find more joy from relationships, rather than successful careers. About 73 percent of the 7,000 women surveyed in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou said they would choose to work even if their husbands earned enough for the family. The survey also found that 77 percent define happiness as "enjoying a relationship". But striking a balance between career and family can bring challenges to the woman's career advancement. "In my company, women usually have an equal or even a higher starting salary than men," said Li Hua, general manager of Beijing Chuangjiashe Book Circulation Company. "However, as they begin to climb up the career ladder, women often meet problems along the way, while men can climb the ladder more easily." Both physical and emotional differences can prevent some women from taking tough positions, Li said. But family life is often the main difficulty for Chinese career women. Despite these challenges, however, some experts believe it's reasonable for some women to want to be breadwinners. "In this way, the roles of a family are decided by the parents' abilities rather than their gender ," said Gu Donghui, a sociology professor at Fudan University. Gu says women should have the freedom to decide if they want to stay at home or work to support the family. "Everyone has a different interpretation of what it means to find self-worth". Wang Haibin, an economic expert from Renmin University shares that view: "Traditionally, we tend to regard the family as the cell unit of society. Some members have always been expected to make sacrifices for it. But, it really doesn't matter who earns more. Economic independence and personal choice is essential for both sexes in the family." Some women want to be breadwinners probably because _ .
<extra_id_0>their families are poor
<extra_id_1>they have a lot of children
<extra_id_2>their husbands do not work
<extra_id_3>they want to show their self-worth
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<extra_id_5>My favourite shop is called' Model World'. It is on the second floor of Happy Plaza, near to Pizza Club. It is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day. Model World' sells all kinds of models. It has model soldiers, cars, boats, airplanes, space shuttles and even dinosaurs. It has models for young children and models for adults . Some models have just about twenty pieces, and others have over 2,000 pieces. You can also buy paints and glue and other things there. The staff at ' Model World' is very nice. They are very interested in making models. They will give you advice, and answer all of your questions. The prices are not low but they are not high. My best buy was a model of a helicopter. It cost $ 30 but it had over 400 pieces. It was really fun to make. If you are interested in models, you should visit this shop. At least how many pieces are needed to make a model?
<extra_id_0>About 20.
<extra_id_1>About 30.
<extra_id_2>Over 400.
<extra_id_3>Over 2,000.
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<extra_id_5>Deciding which English-speaking country to study in wasn't difficult for Ann; She had always wanted to visit America. "I wanted to study in an English-language country and I always wanted to visit America because it always seemed to me a very beautiful and friendly country." Ann is more than happy with the quality of the education she is receiving in America, particularly with the subjects and strong academic support." I am very happy with the quality of education I am receiving. All my subjects are useful and connected. I am happy with help I receive from the lecturers and tutors." Also of particular satisfaction for Ann is the practical element of her American course. "I find it very important and useful. The theory is a good thing to know but nothing gives you more skills and knowledge than practical work." Where her future employment is concerned, Ann is very confident her American qualification will be of great help. " _ " Ann is also really enjoying life in America; She is making friends and taking time out to enjoy herself. "People are very friendly and helpful. University is a good place to find new friends from America and from overseas. It is a friendly environment with lots of things to do, not only studying. And of course there are the beaches, not to mention the beautiful weather." What makes Ann particularly satisfied in America?
<extra_id_0>The comfortable climate and easy lifestyle.
<extra_id_1>The help from her host families and teachers.
<extra_id_2>The American courses have more practical elements.
<extra_id_3>The friends here are mostly from English-speaking countries.
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<extra_id_5>It was a winter morning, just a couple of weeks before Christmas 2005. While most people were warming up their cars, Trevor, my husband, had to get up early to ride his bike four kilometers away from home to work. On arrival, he parked his bike outside the back door as he usually does. After putting in 10 hours of work, he returned to find his bike gone. The bike, a black Kona 18 speed, was our only transport. Trevor used it to get to work, putting in 60-hour weeks to support his young family. And the bike was also used to get groceries ,saving us from having to walk long distances from where we live. I was so sad that someone would steal our bike that I wrote to the newspaper and told them our story. Shortly after that, several people in our city offered to help. One wonderful stranger even bought a bike, then called my husband to pick it up. Once again my husband had a way to get to and from his job. It really is an honor that a complete stranger would go out of their way for someone they have never met before. People say that a smile can be passed from one person to another, but acts of kindness from strangers are even more so. This experience has had a spreading effect in our lives because it made our confidence in humanity stronger as a whole. And it has also influenced us to be more mindful of ways we can share with others. No matter how big or how small, an act of kindness shows that someone cares. And the results can be continuing for ever. What do the couple learn from their experience?
<extra_id_0>Strangers are usually of little help.
<extra_id_1>One should take care of their bike.
<extra_id_2>News reports make people famous.
<extra_id_3>An act of kindness can mean a lot.
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<extra_id_5>If the world were a village of 1,000 people, it would include: * 584 Asians * 124 Africans * 95 Eastern and Western Europeans * 84 Latin Americans * 55 former Soviets (including Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, and other national groups) * 52 North Americans * 6 Australians and New Zealanders The people of the village would speak: * 165 Mandarin * 86 English * 83 Hindu/Urdu * 64 Spanish * 58 Russian * 37 Arabic The above list covers the mother tongues of only half the village. One-third of the people in the village are children, and only 60 are over the age of 65. Just under half of the married women in the village have access to modem equipments. This year 28 babies will be born. Ten people will die, 3 of them for lack of food, 1 from cancer. Two of the deaths will be of babies born within the year. With the 28 births and 10 deaths, the population of the village next year will be 1,018. In this village of 1,000 persons, 200 people receive 75 percent of the income; another 200 receive only 2 percent of the income. About one-third _ clean, safe drinking water. Of the 670 adults in the village, half can not read nor write. The village has a total yearly budget , public and private, of over $3 million--$ 3 ,000 per person if it is distributed evenly. Of the total $3 million: $ 181,000 goes to weapons and warfare $ 159,000 to education $ 132,000 to health care These weapons are under the control of just 100 of the people. The other 900 are watching them with deep anxiety, wondering whether they can learn to get along together. Which of the following is true about Mandarin according to the text?
<extra_id_0>Nearly one-third of Asian people speak Mandarin in the village.
<extra_id_1>About 8.25 per cent of the people speak Mandarin in the village.
<extra_id_2>About 16. 5 per cent of the people speak Mandarin in the village.
<extra_id_3>Nearly all the Mandarin-speaking people are from Asia in the village.
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<extra_id_5>Weather Report (8:00 a.m. December 17--8:00 a.m. December 18) Influenced by a cold front northern Xinjiang, the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the northern and eastern parts of Heilongjiang are expected to experience light snow today. Drizzle is forecast for most areas of Sichuan and western coastal areas of South China. Northerly winds of force 4-6 are expected to affect western and southwestern Inner Mongolia, and most parts of Northeast China while northerly winds of force 5-7 will sweep across the Bohai Sea, the northern parts of the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, the Taiwan Straits, and the central and northern parts of the South China Sea. Weather forecast for major Chinese cities On December 17, the East China Sea will be swept by _ .
<extra_id_0>a cold front
<extra_id_1>light snow
<extra_id_2>northerly winds of force 4-6
<extra_id_3>northerly winds of force 5-7
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<extra_id_5>Doctor Mason has held a clinic for ten years. He is an expert doctor. He usually gets up at 7:00 a.m. and commutes to work by subway. It's always very crowded with people and he tries to keep his distance from them. In the winter he notices the stress on the faces of the commuters and knows that some of these people will come to him for advice. He always solves their problems and returns to the comfort of his home a satisfied man. Martin is a gifted artist. He knows that he has an unusual occupation , but he actually treats it as a disciplined career. He gets up at the same time every day and works for nine hours with a break for lunch. His new project uses metal but his designs use pencil and paper. In nine months' time, his work will be on display outside the local library, and he will be very proud of it. What does Doctor Mason often do when he's in a subway which is crowded with people?
<extra_id_0>He tries to take the next one.
<extra_id_1>He gives up and tries to take a taxi.
<extra_id_2>He tries to keep his distance from the tube.
<extra_id_3>He tries to keep his distance from the people.
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<extra_id_5>Gifts.com provides more than just ideas. Sure, our unique and unforgettable gift suggestions are a big part of why people love us, but we also offer endless ideas and tools to make every day a reason to celebrate. Here are our Great Christmas Gift Ideas: Christmas Gifts for Parents You love your parents like no one else, and you want to give them something special for Christmas. But what would make their holiday bright?Finding them the perfect Christmas gift will be easy this year, with all our top picks in one place. Christmas Gifts for parents Under $45. Holiday Gift Baskets The gift basket is a great way to give a gift to a group. Our gift basket ideas come from all the top stores online, so you can easily find everything from fruit gift baskets to wine gift baskets in one place. Gift Baskets Under $50. Ideas for Teens Trying to find the right gift for a teen? Teens can be a challenge. What do they want? What could they use? They are all unique, but we think we've got something for them, even though they are a special group that are hard to deal with. Top Picks for Teens Under $20. The secret Santa Exchange The secret Santa is a great way to exchange gifts in the office, when it's often impossible to give everyone a present. We've got an office guide right here to help you find proper gifts for the workplace. And then there's always the gift basket, with things that are sure to please everyone in the office. Business Gifts Under $25. What makes Gifts.com popular?
<extra_id_0>It gives people a good reason to celebrate
<extra_id_1>Its endless new gifts.
<extra_id_2>It is organized according to personal taste.
<extra_id_3>Its special gift ideas. .
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<extra_id_5>The choice between having a career or making time for love is an extremely personal and individual decision. There are many factors which can affect your choice. Careers and love fulfill us in different but important ways. Having a solid career gives us a sense of accomplishment and self worth. Then there are those who measure their success in terms of having a pleasant and rewarding home life. So what happens if you cannot or do not wish to make room in your life for both? Consider these factors when pondering which is more important for you. 1. Your Career May be More Important When You are Young Many people these days focus on careers first and family later. The reasoning is that, while you are young and unencumbered , you have the time and energy to fully devote yourself to a career. If you have lofty career ambitions while you are young, it may indeed be the time to start making progress towards those goals. Once you get married and begin to build a family, much of your time and energy-by necessity-becomes devoted to your family. This is as it should be. You should not start a family unless you are willing to devote time and attention to your loved ones. 2. Falling in Love can be Better When You are Older More and more people these days are choosing to wait when it comes to making decisions about family. It is not unusual for people to delay marriage until their late 30's or even their early 40's. Delaying family decisions allows you to be better prepared for those obligations, and creates a better likelihood that you are in touch with your most important goals and values. You have had the opportunity to completely grow up, greatly reducing the chances of feeling like you are "missing out." You have had the chance to purge the foolishness of youth from your system and are now confident with the wisdom of maturity. 3. Choosing Both If you can find a work life balance that allows you to experience the joys of love and maintain a successful career, you will have a truly happy and rewarding life. A loving family at home can help you celebrate all of your successes, and bolster your confidence through your failures. There are many people out there reaping the tremendous rewards that come with including love and work in their lives, and finding the balance that allows for both. The truly healthy and well balanced person will recognize the benefits of having both. He or she will take steps to achieve the work life balance necessary to assure the continuation of career growth while nurturing and maintaining the health of personal relationships. It is only when we can maintain this delicate balance that we are living life to its greatest potential. Why is career more important when people are young _ ?
<extra_id_0>Because family life is not important
<extra_id_1>Because they can devote time and energy to their careers
<extra_id_2>Because they don't want to devote time and attention to their loved ones
<extra_id_3>Because they have no time for building a family
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<extra_id_5>If you want to be a success, study at the University of Waikato is right for you. The university is internationally recognized for its excellence and achievements. It will help you develop advanced research skills. As a university student you can get first-class research facilities with trained teachers to help, support and advise you in your study. We pride ourselves on our high standards, our research success and our international recognition. For further information: inf@waikato.ac.nz. Degree We offer a wide choice of bachelor's degrees for international students, which includes: Arts, Communication Studies, Social Sciences, etc. Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education are only for New Zealand citizens, for further information: deg@waikato.ac.nz. Tuition Fees Tuition fees are different from department to department, generally from $5,000 to $6,000 a year. For further information: tui@waikato.ac.nz. Accommodation You can have a room in a 4-bedroom flat, which will cost about $100 a month with other regular living costs of about $150 a month for one person. For further information: acc@waikato. ac.nz Health The Student Health Service provides excellent medical services for students. The Medical Centre is open five days a week, including student holidays with four doctors and nurses to meet your medical needs. For further information: heal@waikato.ac.nz. Sports The Centre is a great place to have sports activities. Trained exercise teachers can help you work out a training plan and keep you active. The sports hall has volleyball, basketball and indoor football courts and a swimming pool as well. There are also a large number of sports clubs at Waikato. For further information: sport@ waikato.ac.nz According to the text, what will you do if you are ill during Christmas holidays?
<extra_id_0>Go to a hospital nearby.
<extra_id_1>Buy some medicine in a drug store.
<extra_id_2>See a doctor at the school medical centre.
<extra_id_3>Try to get help from your classmates.
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<extra_id_5>"My dear lady," says Holmes. "You're shaking. Are you cold? Do you want a cup of hot tea?" "I'm not cold," the woman replies, "I fear for my life!" "We are here to help you. Don't worry about anything. I don't know you. But I know many things about you. For example, I know how you travel. You came to London by train. You also ride to the train station on a horse-drawn wagon ."[:] "Why, yes. You're right. But how do you know these things?" "I see a return ticket in your glove. I see fresh mud on the left arm of your dress. Now tell us your problem." "My name is Helen Stoner," she states, "My mother and father are dead. I am living with my stepfather , Dr Grimesby Roylott. He comes from a rich family. But they are no longer rich. They have nothing except a small piece of land and a big old house. We are living in the house. Dr Roylott is using my mother's money for expenses . Part of it was for my sister and me. It was for our marriages." Holmes is sitting in his chair. His eyes are closed. He is listening carefully to Helen's story. He hears every detail. Helen continues. "My stepfather has no friends. He fights with everyone. He is strong and gets angry quickly. Everyone is afraid of him." "He has no friends at all?" asks Holmes. "No. He talks to no one except the gypsies . They are poor people who travel from place to place. A band of gypsies is staying on our land right now." "Are you and your sister afraid of the gypsies?" "My dear Mr Holmes. You are making me so sad. My sister is dead. That is why I am standing here in this room." What is Holmes doing while Helen is telling her story?
<extra_id_0>Walking slowly.
<extra_id_1>Listening carefully.
<extra_id_2>Standing sadly.
<extra_id_3>Writing quickly.
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<extra_id_5>"Hi, Jenny!" "Hi, Brian! What class do you have next?" "I have art next," says Brian. "It's my favourite. I draw six pictures every week." "You are a good painter ," says Jenny. "I see some of your pictures. They are beautiful. I like art too, but I am not good at it. I am not going to be a painter when I am older!" "I tell you, Jenny," says Brian. "Art is interesting for everyone. You don't need to be good at it." "You are right, Brian," says Jenny. "And I like our art teacher. He teaches us a lot. I am much better at art this year. "Yes. Mr. Smith is good. He looks like a great painter too, with his long hair and big beard ." "When do you have art lesson, Jenny?" asks Brian. Jenny looks at her timetable. "I have art tomorrow morning," she says. "What class are you going to now?" asks Brian. "I'm going to music class. It's one of my favourites! We are learning a new song this week. I love to sing. What's the time, please?" Brian looks at his watch. "Oh, no! It's 2:13! There are only two minutes!" "Hurry, Brian!" says Jenny. "We don't want to be late for class! See you later." "Okay. I am going to art class. See you after school!" Where are Brian and Jenny now?
<extra_id_0>At the bus stop.
<extra_id_1>At school.
<extra_id_2>At home.
<extra_id_3>At the drawing club.
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<extra_id_5>I teach geography at UNLV three times per week. Last Monday, at the beginning of class, I cheerfully asked my students how their weekend had been. One young man said that his weekend had not been so good. He had his wisdom teeth removed. The young man then asked me why I always seemed to be so cheerful. "I choose to be cheerful." I said. Then I told them a story. In addition to teaching here at UNLV, I also teach out at the community college in Henderson, 17 miles down the freeway from where I live. One day I drove those 17 miles to Henderson. I exited the freeway and turned onto College Drive. I only had to drive another quarter mile down the road to the college. But just then my car died and wouldn't start again. So I left my car there and marched down the road to the college. As soon as I got there I called AAA and arranged for a tow truck to meet me at my car after class. The secretary in the office asked me what had happened. "This is my lucky day." I replied, smiling. "Your car breaks down and today is your lucky day?" She was puzzled. "What do you mean?" "My car could have broken down anywhere along the freeway but it didn't." I replied, "Instead, it broke down in the perfect place: off the freeway, within walking distance from here. I'm still able to teach my class, and I've been able to arrange for the tow truck to meet me after class." The secretary's eyes opened wide, and then she smiled. I smiled back and headed for class. So ended my story. I scanned the sixty faces in my class at UNLV. Despite the early hour, no one seemed to be asleep. Somehow, my story had touched them. Or maybe _ In fact, it had all started with a student's observation that I was cheerful. An Indian wise man once said, "Who you are speaks louder to me than anything you can say." I suppose it must be so. By saying "it wasn't the story at all", the author means that _ .
<extra_id_0>His story is not convincing
<extra_id_1>He shouldn't have told the story
<extra_id_2>His attitude to life has inspired the students
<extra_id_3>His story is not as interesting as expected
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<extra_id_5>The Ocean Institute welcomes people to the City of Dana Point's Festival of Whales celebration on both weekends.The event celebrates the migration of the whales off our coast.Respected ocean scientists of the ocean Institute introduce visitors to the world of whales.The speakers are arranged as the following. Saturday,March 5,12:30 pm Dr Gwen Goodmanlowe from Califomia State University is a full-time lecturer in the Department of Biology,and advises students working on degrees in marine biology.She received her doctorate in zoology from the University of Hawaii-Honolulu. Sunday,March 6,12:30 pm Matt Leslie,from Scripps Institute of Oceanography,has studied whales off the coast of Australia.Some of his current research projects include population structure analysis of whales using performance testing.He will lecture on guides for treatment of marine animals. Saturday,March 12,12:30 pm Dr Merkens,from Scripps Institute of Oceanography,will present her latest research on how sound or music can be used as a means to identify characteristics of whales and to find out how whales communicate with one another in the environment. Sunday,March 13, 2 pm Robert L. Pitman is a marine ecologist working for the National Marine Fishing Service.He began his career 35 years ago,studying seabirds and whales,and spends much of his time at sea on vessels at locations all over the world.His main interest is the ecology of the Antarctic killer whale. The Festival will allow visitors to know about new discoveries in marine animal research and to explore a variety of information on whales.Visitors will have the opportunity to listen to underwater whale sounds,and enjoy hands-on activities.Guests will tour the tall ship Pilgrim. Cost:$6.50 adults,$4.50 children(ages 4-12).For more information, please visit www.ocean-institute.org or call(949) 496-2274. What do we know from the passage?
<extra_id_0>A large number of scientists will attend the Festival of Whales celebration.
<extra_id_1>The Festival of Whales celebration will be held from March 5 to March 13.
<extra_id_2>The Ocean Institute will hold the City of Dana Point's Festival of Whales.
<extra_id_3>Four ocean scientists will tell visitors some information about whales.
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<extra_id_5>Camilla Chomp was a strange little girl. She liked to spend her time alone eating chocolate. Her parents were worried, so they took all the chocolate away. Camilla left her house to look for some chocolate. She found a small house full of bottles. Among the bottles, a blue bottle caught Camilla's eyes. It was full of chocolate. In the bottle there was also a card with the words "Change tears into chocolate." Camilla was very excited. She ran out of the house with the bottle to look for someone crying. First, she met a little boy crying hard and collected his tears. The tears were quickly changed into chocolate. While Camilla was collecting the tears, she comforted the boy. Finally, the boy stopped crying and they had a good time together. Later, Camilla met a woman and an old man crying. The woman had broken some bowls. And the old man's dog had just died. Camilla collected their tears and made them happy again. Soon, Camilla knew that making people happy was much more important than finding chocolate. So she stopped collecting tears and began to help sad people. As a result, she had many friends and had a happy life. What caught Camilla's eyes?
<extra_id_0>A nice card.
<extra_id_1>A black dog.
<extra_id_2>A red cup.
<extra_id_3>A blue bottle.
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<extra_id_5>While you may think that being smart and talented would logically make someone successful in running a business, unfortunately, this is often not the case. This problem starts back in school when the stressful "group projects" are first assigned .The smartest don't want to risk their grade in the class by dividing the work equally and hoping that an average student does his part well. They just take over and do the whole project themselves. And thus begins the smart-people work cycle. The smartest people do just about everything better than most everyone else until it comes to running a business. They are not better. A smart person who can't stand someone else doing a job badly does everything himself. Then, he is stuck with the one-man band "job-business" and ends up not being able to grow. However, it is quite interesting and strange that some "slackers" ( a person who is lazy and avoids work) are better suited to be a business leader than the "smart" people. Smart and talented people often have a gift for the unusual, complicated or different. They don't like to follow the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid), which is required to make a business succeed. Maybe you think the global presence of McDonald's complex, but in reality, in the company, every single task is broken down into easy-to-follow steps and everything has been standardized. These successful companies have just a few smart enough people to run the majority of the tasks in a way that can't be screwed up by their average employees. So, being smart or talented isn't going to help you unless you can use those smarts to figure out a way to simplify those tasks that will make a business successful. Another issue with the smart people starting businesses is that they often have the most to lose. The smarter you are, the more options you have available to you. You will be able to make a lot of money in various fields and have room in your career to become promoted. This means that when you start a business, you have a lot more to risk than those who are not equally smart. This is often referred to as the _ dilemma. So, don't be surprised when the person "MOST Likely to Succeed" from high school ends up as an employee and it is one average student that finds success in his or her own business. What is the best title for the passage?
<extra_id_0>Potentials for Success
<extra_id_1>Bases for Business
<extra_id_2>The Ordinary Achieve Bigger Success?
<extra_id_3>Talent Means Successful Business?
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<extra_id_5>Over a period of years in direct heat and sunlight, a large boulder may be
<extra_id_0>frozen
<extra_id_1>catapulted
<extra_id_2>ravaged
<extra_id_3>rotted
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<extra_id_5>The cat woke up from its nap under the couch. Poking his head out from under the couch, there were no dogs there. He walked out from under the couch and stretched out his paws along the hard wood floor. Far outside there was some barking from the dogs, but he was safe from them for now. The smell of tuna was in the air and the cat followed the scent to the kitchen. A woman was making a tuna sandwich for her two kids. When she finished, she put the tuna can on to the floor. The cat slowly walked up to the can and saw some juice inside. He licked up the yummy tuna juice and was sad when it was all gone. The woman brought the tuna sandwiches over to her sons at the table, then she opened the back door to let the dogs in. The cat's fur stood on end as the dogs came running after him. He ran away into the other and back to under the couch where it was safe. Where was the cat sleeping?
<extra_id_0>In the kitchen
<extra_id_1>Outside
<extra_id_2>On the table
<extra_id_3>Under the couch
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<extra_id_5>Tuesdays during the summer tickets are buy one get one free at the city zoo. Jason loves animals, so his dad takes him to the zoo every Tuesday in the summer. This Tuesday Jason's dad is feeling sick so his mommy has to take him to the zoo. There is also a new animal that Jason can't wait to see; a rattle snake. Tuesday morning Jason's mommy wakes him up, and they get in the car to drive to the zoo. On the car ride Jason's favorite song "The Wheels on the Bus" plays on the radio. Jason's mommy turns the radio louder and they sing the song together. When they get to the zoo they go straight to the rattle snake cage, but when they get there they don't see any rattle snakes. They look around for a little bit, and all they see are some eggs. A man who works at the zoo tells them that the rattle snake must be sleeping and that it hides when it sleeps. Jason is sad because he might not get to see the rattle snake today. They walk away from the rattle snake cage and Jason's mommy buys Jason an ice cream cone to cheer him up. After walking around the zoo and seeing other animals like a bear and a monkey, Jason wants to check the rattle snake cage one more time. They get to the cage and to Jason's surprise the rattle snake is awake and moving around. Not only does he get to see the snake, but a baby is being born from one of the eggs too. Jason is very happy and excited about what he saw in the rattle snake cage and can't wait to get home and tell his dad. What does Jason want to tell his dad about when he gets home?
<extra_id_0>Singing his favorite song on the way to the zoo.
<extra_id_1>The man who worked at the zoo.
<extra_id_2>The ice cream cone that he ate at the zoo.
<extra_id_3>The baby rattle snake.
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<extra_id_5>Ask three people to look out the same window at a busy street comer and tell you what they see. Chances are you will receive three different answers. Each person sees the same scene, but each perceives something different about it. Perceiving goes on in our minds. Of the three people who look out the window, one may say that he sees a policeman giving a motorist a ticket. Another may say that he sees a rush-hour traffic jam at the intersection. The third may tell you that he sees a woman trying to cross the street with four children in tow. For perception is the minds' interpretation of what the senses -- in this case our eyes -- tell us. Many psychologists today are working to try to determine just how a person experiences or perceives the world around him. Using a scientific approach, these psychologists set up experiments in which they can control all of the factors. By measuring and charting the results of many experiments, they are trying to find out what makes different people perceive totally different things about the same scene. Psychologists study perception by _ .
<extra_id_0>setting up many experiments
<extra_id_1>asking each other what they see
<extra_id_2>looking out of windows
<extra_id_3>studying people's eyes
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<extra_id_5>Now, it's time for some brief news items. Teens Go Online Some 13 million European children under 18 use the Internet for schoolwork, games and music according to research done by Nielsen's "Net-rating". The study covered Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Experts advised parents to limit the time their kids spend on line and keep them away from chat rooms. Chat to the magic Mum British author J. K. Rowling, mother of magic boy Harry Potter, will do an Internet interview about her new book "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" on June 26. Before the event, children are invited to send their questions about Harry to the website. The book will hit stores in the US and UK on June 21 and will arrive in China in August. School Soldiers Russian school students will have to do basic military training in their final year of school, the government has decided. The lesson will include learning to fire guns, marching drills and how to deal with a chemical, nuclear or biological attack. The activity is seen as part of a drive toward the education of their love for their country. Is it hard for you to get up early and get ready for classes? Some students at Winter Park High School just roll out of bed in their pajamas and go to class in their own bedrooms, Of course, their teachers and classmates do not see them because all their class work is on the computer. The Florida High School, the state's only online school, has 250 students who are taking classes at home by computer. Students in this first online program take classes in algebra , American government, chemistry, computer, economics, and web-page design. They also have to go to regular school to attend other classes. The last news can be given a title " _ ".
<extra_id_0>Get up Late
<extra_id_1>Online School
<extra_id_2>Magical Computers
<extra_id_3>No Teachers
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<extra_id_5>There was once a leprechaun named Tony who spent his days at the end of a rainbow guarding his golden bowl of cereal. Tony was one of the toughest leprechauns in all the land, so no one dared to mess with him or try to take his bowl. That is, until an angel named Jess fell from Heaven. Jess had broken her wing, so she had no choice but stay on Earth, and could not return to the sky. So she chose to make the best of it and went to see all of the beautiful and interesting things on Earth. One day, she came across Tony's rainbow, and was amazed by it. She followed the rainbow to the end, wondering what could be there. Then she saw it: Tony's golden bowl. From the time she saw the bowl, she knew she wanted it. She had heard about how tasty cereal was when she lived in Heaven, but she never tried it for herself. When she went to have some of the cereal, Tony the Leprechaun popped out from behind the rainbow and laughed at her. "Don't you know," he said, "that I'm the toughest leprechaun in all the land? What makes you think you can eat a box of cereal from my golden bowl?" The angel saw that he was right, and she couldn't argue with him. So she left to find something to trade. She came across a seesaw which looked very interesting. She thought that Tony might like it, so she brought the seesaw to his rainbow and said, "I've come bearing a seesaw." When Tony saw the seesaw, he loved it. He didn't argue or laugh at Jess, and traded for his bowl right there. Jess ate from it, and it was delicious. What did Jess trade for the bowl?
<extra_id_0>A ticket to Heaven
<extra_id_1>A box of cereal
<extra_id_2>Her wings
<extra_id_3>A seesaw
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<extra_id_5>Janice spent the weekend at a family party in Moore, Georgia. While she was there, she played with her cousin Justine. The two of them rode tricycles, shared presents, and bought their favorite gum together. Janice's favorite part of the weekend was swimming in the lake with Justine and her dog, Boots. Boots did not like the water at first, but soon was splashing around with them. His favorite thing to do was fetch sticks from the water. They also went on a fast boat around the lake. Justine's favorite thing to do was ride in a tube behind the boat. When they got out, they were soaking wet. They dried off with towels before going to Greg's Country Store for some lemon ice box cake. Boots got so muddy at the lake! When they got back to the cabin, they had to give him a bath. Because they were so active during the day, they fell asleep quickly and slept until the morning. Why did the girls fall asleep quickly?
<extra_id_0>They had eaten cake
<extra_id_1>They woke up early in the morning
<extra_id_2>They rode in the boat
<extra_id_3>They were so active during the day
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<extra_id_5>"Image is everything." An entire industry has been built upon the concept that image is everything, but an appealing image isn't enough when there's no substance behind it. First of all, one should consider how important image is in selling products and services. Advertising agencies have raised the art of creating an image to a state of near perfection. But if the product or service doesn't live up to it, customers will be very dissatisfied. The recent scandal about the Arthur Andersen accounting firm showed that behind that image, it had unfair business practices under the table. Despite the previous positive image, the firm is being accused of criminal actions. Although the image had been nearly perfect, the reality behind the image has led to its downfall. Similarly, personal consultants can build up a very positive public image for politicians and movie stars in the view of the general commons. But once again, history is filled with examples of both that fell from grace like the story of the Hollywood actor giving in to the pressures of fame and fortune. With people, just as with products and services, image is certainly important, but without positive substance behind it, failure is close. To conclude, it's clear that an appealing image is extremely important to success, whether that image is related to selling a product or service or to the "selling" of a person. But image is only half of the equation . What lies behind that image is every bit as important as the image itself -- the person or product must live up to that image or there's little chance for long-term success. Some famous people fall from grace because _ .
<extra_id_0>their images were not well built up
<extra_id_1>they failed to live up to their images
<extra_id_2>they felt much pressure from the public
<extra_id_3>they paid little attention to fame and fortune
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<extra_id_5>Paris is the capital of the European nation of France. It is also one of the most beautiful and most famous cities in the world. Paris is called the City of Light. It is also an international fashion center. What women are wearing in Paris will be worn by women all over the world. Paris is also a famous world center of education. For example, it is where the headquarters of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The Seine River divides the city into two parts. Thirty-two bridges cross this beautiful river. The oldest and perhaps most well-known is the Pont Neuf, which was built in the sixteenth century. The Sorbonne, a famous university, stands on the left bank of the river. There are many other famous places in Paris, such as the famous museum, the Louvre, as well as the Notre Dame. However, the most famous building in this city is Eiffel Tower. Paris is named after a group of people called the Parisii. They built a small village on an island in the middle of the Seine River about two thousand years ago. This island, called the lie de la Cite, is where Notre Dame lies. Today around eight million people live in the Paris area. This article mainly tells us about _ .
<extra_id_0>the buildings in Paris
<extra_id_1>the general situations of Paris
<extra_id_2>the center of the world
<extra_id_3>the famous buildings along the Seine River
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<extra_id_5>I was not quite seventeen when I decided to join the US Marine Corps.My mother tried her best to talk me out of my dream, and then finally signed the papers that would permit me to enter the service. One day, nearly two years after the Philippines became my home, I was summoned to the office of Lieutenant Colonel Boyd.He seemed to be a kind man, but I was pretty sure that he hadn't called me in to pass the time of day. Standing before his desk, I waited nervously as he read through some paperwork.Then he looked up."Why, Private, haven't you written to your mother for more than six months?" I felt weak in my knees.Has it been that long? I thought. "I didn't have anything to say, Sir." Lieutenant Colonel Boyd told me that my mother had contacted the American Red Cross, which in turn communicated with my commanding officer about my failure to write. Then he asked, "Do you see that desk, Private?" "Yes, Sir." "Open the top drawer and you'll find some paper and a pen.Sit down right this minute and find something to say to your mother." "Yes, Sir." When I finished a brief letter, I stood before him again. "Private, I'm ordering you to find something to say to your mother at least once a week.Do you understand?" I did. Some 35 years later, my aged mother's mental condition was deteriorating, and I was forced to place her in a convalescent home .As I went through her belongings, I began inspecting the contents of an old cedar chest.At the bottom, tied with a bright red ribbon, I found a bundle of letters. They were the letters I had been ordered to write from the Philippines.I sat on the floor of her apartment that afternoon reading each one, tears streaming down my cheeks.I now realized how deeply, as a young man, had upset her by my lack of consideration. The lesson I learned may have been too late to help my mother, but it's still done me good.These days I don't need a commanding officer standing over me to write to my loved ones on a regular basis. ...he hadn't called me in to pass the time of day. means that _ .
<extra_id_0>he was too busy to have time to talk with me
<extra_id_1>he must have something serious to talk with me
<extra_id_2>he wanted to know how I passed the time of day
<extra_id_3>he had called me to spend more time with my mother
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<extra_id_5>Riding School: You can start horse--riding at any age.Choose private or group lessons any weekday between 9 a.m.and 8:30 P.m.(3:30 p.m.on Saturdays).There are 10 kilometers of tracks and paths for leisurely rides across farmland and open country.You will need a riding hat. Opening Hours:Monday through Friday:9:00 a.m.--8:30 p.m. Phone:(412)396--6754 Fax :(412)396--6752 Sailing Club: Our Young Sailor's Course leads to the Stage 1 Sailing qualification .You'll learn how to sail safely and the course also covers sailing theory and first aid.Have fun with other course members , afterwards in the clubroom.There are 10 weekly two-hour 1essons (Tuesdays 6 p.m.~8 p.m.). Opening Hours:Tuesdays:6:00 p.m.--8:00 p.m. Phone:(412)396--6644 Fax:(412)396--6644 Diving Centre: Our experienced instructors offer one-month courses in deep-sea diving for beginners.There are two evening lessons a week,in which you learn to breathe underwater and use the equipment safely.You only need swimming costume and towel.Reduced rates for couples. Opening Hours:Monday and Friday:6:30 p.m.--8:30 p.m. Phone:(412)396--6312 Fax:(412)396--6706 Medical Center: The staff of the Medical Center aim to provide convenient and comprehensive medical care to students and staff of the university.The center is well equipped and the staff here are trained to deal with a broad range of medical problems.Both female and male doctors as well as nursing staff are available for consultation .Also,all kinds of medicines are sold here and are cheaper for students than other drugstores. Opening Hours:24 hours from Monday to Sunday Phone:(412)396--6649 Fax:(412)396--6648 Water sports Club: We use a two-kilometer length of river for speedboat racing,and water-skiing,A beginners' course consists of ten 20-minute lessons.You will learn to handle boats safely and confidently,but must be able to swim.The club is in a convenient central position and is open daily from 9 a.m to 4 p.m,with lessons all through the day. Opening Hours:Monday through Friday:9:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m. .Which is NOT the convenience that the Medical Center provides?
<extra_id_0>Well trained staff members.
<extra_id_1>Nursery for newly-born babies
<extra_id_2>Good equipment.
<extra_id_3>Various less expensive medicines.
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<extra_id_5>During the day we work and play; at night we sleep. Our bodies rest while we sleep. In the morning we are ready to work and play again. While we are asleep our bodies grow most. Children usually need more sleep. We can get our lessons better and we feel better too, when we have plenty of rest. Boys and girls need ten hours of sleep every night when they are eight or nine years old. Our bodies need lots of air when we sleep. If we do not get enough fresh air we'll feel tired when we wake up. While in bed we must not cover our heads. If we do, our lungs will not get enough fresh air. If we open our windows at night we can have plenty of fresh air. Cool air is better then warm air. Boys and girls must get enough sleep if they want to grow and be strong. How much sleep should boys and girls of nine years old have every night?
<extra_id_0>Eight hours
<extra_id_1>Nine hours
<extra_id_2>Ten hours
<extra_id_3>Seven hours
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<extra_id_5>The police Tuesday identified the suspect of the Virginia Tech shooting as Cho Seung-Hui, a native of South Korea,who killed 32 people before taking his own life Monday. "He was a 23-year-old South Korean here in the U.S.as a foreign university student." Flinchum said at a press conference held at Blacksburg, Virginia where the university is located. Cho was an undergraduate student in his senior year majoring in English,Flinchum said.He lived on campus at Harper Hall and his residence was established in Centreville,Virginia outside Washington. Meanwhile,Colonel Steve Flaherty,Superintendent of Virginia State Police, said the same gun was used in the two shootings at the university,suggesting there was only one gunman. Previous reports had said there was a possible second gunman still at large . A total of two attacks took place at Virginia Tech Monday.The first attack happened at a dormitory around 7:15 a.m. and left two people dead, while the second attack took place at the campus two hours later. A total of 33 people, including the gunman,were killed in the worst campus shooting rampage in U.S. history. Virginia Tech President Charles Steger said earlier Tuesday that all classes for the rest of the week had been cancelled. Before today,the deadliest campus shooting in the country took place in 1 966 at the University of Texas in Austin,in which 17 people,including the gunman,were killed. Founded in 1872, the state university has more than 25,000 full-time students.The school is best known for its engineering school and its powerful football team. Cho Seung-Hui was a student of Virginia Tech _ .
<extra_id_0>who was on the way of graduation
<extra_id_1>who could only speak broken English
<extra_id_2>who joined in the shooting with others
<extra_id_3>who lived with his family in Virginia
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<extra_id_5>Are you feeling blue? An American study suggests that being surrounded by happy friends and neighbours could have more of an effect on your happiness than money.That is the finding of researchers from Harvard University and the University of California at San Diego. Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler studied the emotional health of more than 4,700 people.They used information from the Framingham Heart Study.That study began sixty years ago in the American community of Framingham.Massachusetts.It was started to learn more about the risks of heart attack and stroke. For the new study,the researchers examined the emotions of the men and women in the Framingham Heart Study.The information was gathered from 1983 to 2003. The researchers found that friends of happy people had a greater chance of being happy themselves.That means that happiness spreads,or has a contagious effect,among people.And,the smaller the physical distance between friends,the larger the effect they had on each other's happiness. Sadness was also contagious among friends,but not as much as happiness.The researchers say social groups did not influence happiness as much as personal situations. However,people removed by as much as three degrees of separation still had an effect on one's happiness.The expression three degrees of separation means the friends of an individual's friends. In fact,persons with three degrees of separation had a greater effect on an individual's happiness than having five thousand dollars.The researchers say the study is historic because it shows that social effects on health can be spread among people. Another finding is that people who work together or are married do not have as much of an effect on happiness levels as friends.The researchers say this is often true among friends of the same sex. From this passage we learn_.
<extra_id_0>it's a hard job to do this study and draw a right conclusion
<extra_id_1>sadness was contagious among friends as much as happiness '
<extra_id_2>colleagues or spouse's happiness have more effect on an individual
<extra_id_3>friends'happiness can influence five degree of separation
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<extra_id_5>In 1943, during the Second World War the body of an English man, William Martin, was discovered off the Spanish coast. The papers he had been carrying were returned to England, where they were carefully examined. They had clearly been changed and that was exactly what the British had hoped would happen, for Martin was a trick designed to fool the Germans. Martin did not exist. The body was that of a sailor who looked as though he had died when his boat sank, but in fact he had been ill and died. Leaving the boat to go down, his parents allowed the dead body to be put into the sea near Spain. It was hoped that the Germans would find it and read the fake papers he carried. The papers said that the British would attack the island of Sardinia, when in fact they planned to attack the island of Sicily. The trick was successful. When the British landed on Sicily, most of the heavy German guns had been moved to defend Sardinia. When the British found out the papers were changed they concluded _ .
<extra_id_0>Martin did exist
<extra_id_1>Martin was a German spy
<extra_id_2>the Germans had read the papers
<extra_id_3>they should attack Sardinia
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<extra_id_5>A lot of management training each year for Circle K Corporation, a national chain of convenience stores. Among the topics we address in our course is the retention of quality employees-a real challenge to managers when you consider the pay scale in the service industry. During these discussions, I ask the participants , "What has caused you to stay long enough to become a manager?" Some time back a new manager took the question and slowly, with her voice almost breaking, said, "It was a $19 baseball glove." Cynthia told the group that she originally took a Circle K clerk job as an interim position while she looked for something better. On her second or third day behind the counter, she received a phone call from her nine-year-old son, Jessie. He needed a baseball glove for Little League. She explained that as a single mother, money was very tight, and her first check would have to go for paying bills. Perhaps she could buy his baseball glove with her second or third check. When Cynthia arrived for work the next morning, Patricia, the store manager, asked her to come to the small room in the back of the store that served as an office. Cynthia wondered if she had done something wrong or left some part of her job incomplete from the day before. She was concerned and confused. Patricia handed her a box. "I overheard you talking to your son yesterday," she said, "and I know that it is hard to explain things to kids. This is a baseball glove for Jessie because he may not understand how important he is, even though you have to pay bills before you can buy gloves. You know we can't pay good people like you as much as we would like to; but we do care, and I want you to know you are important to us." The thoughtfulness, empathy and love of this convenience store manager demonstrates vividly that people remember more how much an employer cares than how much the employer pays. An important lesson for the price of a Little League baseball glove. This passage shows us that to run a business well it is necessary for managers to let their employees know _ .
<extra_id_0>how much they can get for their job.
<extra_id_1>what good positions they can get later
<extra_id_2>they are very necessary to the business
<extra_id_3>they are nice as well as useful
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<extra_id_5>In November of 2007, NBC Universal launched its first official Green Week. Throughout the week, NBC Universal presented over 150 hours of environmentally themed content through multiple platforms . Now, NBC Universal is proud to present Green Week 2012. With a new theme and message of "Green Your Routine", NBC and NBC.com presents green-themed tips in several of our daytime life, among several other features here on the "Green Your Routine" site. Fashion & Beauty Throw a clothes exchange party! Are you dying for that sweater your friend wore the other day? Well, maybe she'll trade for that old T-shirt you have. Here's a website that helps you organize an exchange party (www.swapstyle.com), or just plan your own! Go natural with organic make-up. Applying unnatural products on your skin wasn't exactly that nature intended. Try switching to a line of organic make-up and cosmetics for a different way to bring out your natural beauty. Home Drop a brick in your toilet tank! Literally! According to the EPA, flushing makes up 30 percent of a household's water use (about three to six gallons per flush). By placing a brick in your toilet tank, you can help to conserve the amount of water used during each flush. Work Print smarter. Printing and copying can be one of the most costly operations in any office. To save on ink and paper costs, print double-sided and try to fit more than one page on a sheet. More printing tips can be found here: lifehacker.com Turn off your computer. Do you leave your computer on over night? If so, you're using up a good amount of electricity. If you can, try turning off your computer and the power strip it's connected to. If you can't, shut off your monitor at least. Transportation Organize a car pool . There are many benefits to carpooling. You save on gas and you get to ride in the HOV lines. Get connected with your neighbors and co-workers to start sharing rides and check out this website for more tips: www.erideshare.com. Lose the car and get a bike. If you live close to where you work, try taking a bike instead of driving. You'll keep in shape and save on gas! Every small step and efforts makes a difference! Be sure to GREEN YOUR ROUTINE! Which of the following statement is TRUE according to the passage?.
<extra_id_0>Never use make-up and cosmetics any more.
<extra_id_1>Putting a brick in the toilet tank can help flash quickly.
<extra_id_2>Printing double-sided can save paper costs.
<extra_id_3>You'll keep fit through carpooling.
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<extra_id_5>When people imagine a classroom, they usually think of older people teaching younger ones. But when it comes to learning about high-technology devices, the opposite can often be true. A training program called the 50 Plus Center in the eastern American city of Columbia, Maryland offers free technology classes to adults over 50. The training program also offers many other kinds of lectures from Qigong and Tai Chi to yoga and Latin jam dance. There are a lot of exercise programs including playing cards and physical exercises where many people just relax and spend some time together. Myra Stafford is 73 years old. She signed up for the class to learn how to use her iPad. She is learning quickly with the help of the young and she enjoys learning from them. She says she is more confident today than she was before. Working with young people makes her feel wonderful because they don't make her feel that she is old or dumb. Eleven-year-old Zhion Perekins is a teacher of the technology class. He says some of the older adults know nothing about high-technology devices and they are very anxious, so patience is very important when working with them. He gains more than just social skills from teaching older residents. He has learned a lot on how to communicate with people. He used to be a shy person, but now he has become outgoing. There is a huge growing population over 60. The training program offers an opportunity for the old people to buy products online using high-technology devices. As senior citizens get more excited about what they want to buy, it is likely that they will go into the market and buy it, so that could lead to an increase in economy. What can we learn about the 50 Plus Center?
<extra_id_0>It teaches the students social skills.
<extra_id_1>There are a variety of activities for students.
<extra_id_2>People have to pay for attending the classes.
<extra_id_3>It is popular with both the young and the old.
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<extra_id_5>Smart home applications can share all kinds of helpful information with homeowners. There appears a new housing platform which can detect the stress on electricity -- and the stress on the heart. "There is a growing population of elderly people, and there are statistics to show that more and more of them are going to live alone in the home," said Johann Siau, a senior lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire in the U.K., who was leading the InterHome project. The system was originally designed to provide remote access to a house so owners could be more energy-efficient. In a small type of the system, set-in controller devices connect securely to the Internet. The owner can then monitor them with a cell phone or computer. User feedback helps the system adapt to routines, saving on electricity. While thinking about responding to user behavior and an increasingly elderly population, the researchers decided to add wristband technology that senses important organs of the body such as body temperature and pulse, Siau said. "If someone were to fall, it would detect the fall and it would immediately start the monitor of the pulse to see if the person has gone into shock ," he said. The wristband communicates with the home system wirelessly. Data from the band can be securely transmitted to the home network and accessed by authorized users. "We're working on trying to reduce it to a level where it could potentially be a wrist-sized product," Siau said. But he warned that the technology presented new challenges. "When you start using that on a larger scale, you have issues of privacy or security," he said. Siau said the InterHome home system isn't intended to invade privacy. "We're thinking about the elderly people who are living alone with no one looking after them," he said. "Hopefully this will be able to decrease some concerns and possibly save a few lives." What challenges will the new technology bring according to Siau?
<extra_id_0>The wristband can be large and expensive.
<extra_id_1>The wristband will get false information of a person.
<extra_id_2>It will not be used in the proper way.
<extra_id_3>It will bring inconvenience to the old people.
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<extra_id_5>I'm a speed reader. Have been since I was a teen. Mother worked for the continuing education department of a university, and they were offering a class on speed reading and needed one more person to fill out the class. I became that one person. The class met for only an hour or two for a few weeks, but when the goal of a class is speed, you don't need to meet for long. The instructor said to make our eyes go across the lines of words as fast as they could and not to be concerned about what the words meant. I read Animal Farm in 10 ten minutes. Cover to cover. The instructor asked what the book was about. I said I didn't know, but if I had to guess I'd say it was about animals on a farm. He looked displeased. I've been speed reading ever since. I can't stop and I can't slow down. Today, for example, I plan on reading Churchill's History of the English Speaking Peoples over lunch. I hope it's more memorable than Animal Farm. As a result of all this speed-reading, I often experience a delay between what I think I read and what something actually says. The other day I passed by a mall with a large sign that said "Auto Theft Sale". I thought how efficient it was for auto thieves to simply sell all the stole cars in a big tent at the mall. A half-mile later it dawned on me that the sign had said "Auto Tent Sale". Every time I drive through a construction zone, I gasp . The sign says: "Hit a Worker $10, 000 (about 62,000 yuan)." It reads like they're offering a reward. Of course, it's not an offer. It's just that my eyes rarely take in the last line that says, "Fine." It's a $10, 000 fine if you hit a worker. Someone really needs to rephrase that one. Speed reading has bitten me on the backside more than once. Especially as a writer. Just ask any of my editors. What left the instructor unsatisfied in the class?
<extra_id_0>It took the author ten minutes to complete Animal Farm.
<extra_id_1>The author read fast but didn't get the main idea of the book.
<extra_id_2>The class was only an hour or two for a few weeks.
<extra_id_3>All the class actually failed to follow his advice.
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<extra_id_5>All 20 children who died in a shooting at a school in Connecticut were aged between six and seven, according to an official list of the dead. The state's chief medical examiner said the gunman used a rifle as his main weapon, and all the victims appeared to have been shot several times. The gunman, named in media reports as Adam Lanza, killed his mother before driving to the school and opening fire. Six adults, all women, were also killed before the gunman shot himself dead. The head teacher at Sandy Hook school in Newtown, Dawn Hochsprung, is listed among the dead, along with adults Rachel DaVino, Anne Marie Murphy, Lauren Russo, Mary Sherlach and Victoria Soto. Eight boys and 12 girls were killed - all but four of them were aged six. The youngest, Noah Pozner, celebrated his birthday only last month. A woman who worked at the school was the only person to be shot and survive. Scores of people have left flowers at a memorial outside the school, and on Saturday evening hundreds attended a candlelight vigil . President Barack Obama is to visit Newtown on Sunday to meet families and speak at an interfaith vigil at the town's high school. After the attack, he urged "meaningful action" against gun crime in the US. "As a country we have been through this too many times," he said in an emotional White House address. Very few victims survived the shooting probably because _ .
<extra_id_0>they were all too young
<extra_id_1>they failed to call the police in time
<extra_id_2>they each were shot several times
<extra_id_3>they were not taken to hospital soon enough
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<extra_id_5>THE first night in Yosemite had been awful. I hadn't been able to sleep and I was stuck in a too small tent with my wife and two kids. "Things haven't worked out," I said to myself. But, like so many other things I complain before my morning coffee, this one was ridiculously off-key. Things weren't bad; they were good. A hundred yards(91 meters) away was Summit Lake, with its wonderful early morning mists shimmering off the water. A couple of miles to the southwest was the base of the Lassen Peak Trail. The base was 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) above sea level, huge snow banks dotting the place even in mid August. It was beautiful. We fired up the camp stove, got out our cold boxes from the heavy metal locker ,fired up some bacon, cut open some bread, and boiled up a cup of coffee. Half an hour later, my 6-year-old daughter and I were in the parking lot of the Lassen Peak Trail, getting ready to hike. We wouldn't make it all the way-- young legs get pretty tired on a steep mountain path, but it didn't matter. We would see great views spread out below us, the volcanic ash that layered on the earth turning the melting snow a mysterious pink as the sun struck it. Later, on the hike, I felt stupid about my morning complaints. Everything had been worthwhile. It gave me enormous satisfaction to see my daughter so excited about the view from the mountain. Yes, camping is uncomfortable. But there's also something wonderful about being so close to nature. Just as importantly, there's something about getting young children out of their increasingly technology-filled comfort zones and forcing them to encounter the non-cyber world around them. We lose something when we spend all our time cocooned inside a carefully constructed modernity, when read about daily affronts to the environment, yet don't fully realize what is at risk, removed as we are from nature. It's a good thing to reconnect every so often with the Great Outdoors. By Sasha Abramsky With the article, the writer tries to send the message that _ .
<extra_id_0>It's great to walk outdoors and get close to nature.
<extra_id_1>It's advisable to be well prepared before going camping
<extra_id_2>Technology causes much harm to human society
<extra_id_3>We should not break the balance of nature
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<extra_id_5>On New Year's Eve At midnight on New Year's Eve, people in Rome, Italy, throw out all the things they no longer want. The streets are filled with old chairs, beds, clothes and dishes. In Madrid, Spain, the new year comes in more quietly. People flock to the main square. Each holds a bag of grapes. As the clock strikes twelve, the people eat the grapes-- one for each stroke. In Tokyo people eat noodles on New Year's Eve. This food is said to bring long life. Early the next morning, some Japanese families climb Mount Fuji. There they watch the first sunrise of the new year. This story is about New Year's Eve in _ .
<extra_id_0>Italy and Spain
<extra_id_1>China and Japan
<extra_id_2>Japan
<extra_id_3>both A and C
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<extra_id_5>They say that soon, we will be able to receive more than 500 television networks on cable or by satellite. Some people think that it's useless to have that many channels. Their usual criticism goes something like this: "I already get more channels on my TV than I have time to watch. No one needs to see that much TV. There's not enough time in the day to watch all that!"They also say that most of what's on television now isn't worth watching in the first place. I think they're missing the point. If the local library wanted to add another 5,000 books, would we say, "That's silly, we'll never have time to read all those books"? The point is that we would have more choices. I don't believe that most people should watch more television. And if we had 500 or even 1,000 channels to choose from, we wouldn't have to spend more time watching TV. We would, however, have more programs to choose from. That means that the quality of our viewing time would be improved. I think the more channels we have, the better. Give me more choices! If they're not worth my time, I'll just hit the "off" button. The purpose of writing this passage is to _ .
<extra_id_0>make a suggestion
<extra_id_1>express an opinion
<extra_id_2>give important information
<extra_id_3>complain about cable television
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>Violin prodigies , I learned, have come in distinct waves from distinct regions. Most of the great performers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries were born and brought up in Russia and Eastern Europe. I asked Isaac Stern, one of the world's greatest violinists the reason for this phenomenon. "It is very clear," he told me. "They were all Jews and Jews at the time were severely oppressed and ill-treated in that part of the world. They were not allowed into the professional fields, but they were allowed to achieve excellence on a concert stage." As a result, every Jewish parent's dream was to have a child in the music school because it was a passport to the West. Another element in the emergence of prodigies, I found, is a society that values excellence in a certain field to nurture talent. Nowadays, the most nurturing societies seem to be in the Far East. "In Japan, a most competitive society, with stronger discipline than ours," says Isaac Stern, children are ready to test their limits every day in many fields, including music. When Western music came to Japan after World War II, that music not only became part of their daily lives, but it became a discipline as well. The Koreans and Chinese as we know are just as highly motivated as the Japanese. That's a good thing, because even prodigies must work hard. Next to hard work, biological inheritance plays an important role in the making of a prodigy. J. S. Bach, for example, was the top of several generations of musicians, and four of his sons had significant careers in music. Which of the following titles best summarizes the main idea of the passage?
<extra_id_0>The Making of Music Prodigies
<extra_id_1>Training of Musicians in the World
<extra_id_2>Music and Society
<extra_id_3>Jewish Contribution to Music
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>On a cold winter Sunday, the little man came up to me as I was about to enter the telephone box and asked me whether I had a match. "I'm sorry,"I said."I don't smoke, so I haven't any. You'd better ask someone else." He looked rather disappointed, hesitated, and then turned away. I watched him walk slowly down the street before I picked up the telephone directory to look up the number I meant to dial. I'm not used to a public call box, so, at my first attempt to get through, the warning pips( ) had stopped before I realized I had to insert a coin. When I was at last able to speak, I was told that the person whom I urgently wanted to give a message to had just gone out. Swearing slightly under my breath, I got out of the box and came face to face with the little man. As he raised his hat again, I could see he was quite bald, and a thin line, resembling a dueling( ) scar, crossed one cheek. "Excuse my troubling you again." he said nervously."May I walk along with you a little way? I must tell you the truth. I need help desperately. " He had an unusually deep voice which suggested a strange combination of shyness and self-confidence. I was conscious of a fairly strong foreign accent and I wondered what country he had actually come from. I said that I had to catch a train in twenty minutes' time, but that he might accompany me to the station. "I'm going to shock you,"he said suddenly, after a moment's silence."Can you lend me five pounds? I have no money at all."I have come across many strange characters during my life and plenty of people have tried to borrow money from me. I have generally managed to avoid lending them any. But, perhaps because of the very directness of his appeal, I somehow had the impression that his need might be desperately urgent. "I'm sorry," I replied,"I'm afraid I can't lend you anything, as I'm not in the habit of carrying much money about with me. Don't you think the police might be the best people to ask for help?" He hesitated,"I dare not go to the police," he said quietly. "If I do go, they will have to send me home. That's what I'm afraid of. I don't know what to do. " He shook his head rather sadly, raised his hat and left me. I caught my train and soon forgot the incident. It was three weeks later that I happened to glance at an old evening paper and caught sight of a small paragraph at the bottom of the front page: "The unidentified body of a short bald man, with a deep scar across one cheek, was recovered from the River Thames yesterday. The police believed he had committed suicide." I then noticed the date: just two and a half weeks before. It was I who might have been the final cause of his terrible tragedy. For days afterwards the cruelty of my refusal made me suffer continual shame and regret. I swore that I would never again refuse any appeal for help. At the beginning of the story, the little man approached the author to _ .
<extra_id_0>invite him to watch a football match together
<extra_id_1>ask him to show the direction to railway station
<extra_id_2>inquire where there was a department store
<extra_id_3>request to see if he might use his lighter
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<extra_id_5>What can technology do to make the world better? Three young people are starting new businesses to answer the question. Eighteen-year-old Mach was the youngest person in Poland to receive money from others to develop his company. He started FIVE, a mobile messaging app , for deaf people. The app lets deaf people create their own hand signs to communicate with friends. The app now has more than 10,000 deaf users. And Mach thinks there will be about 150,000 more deaf users next year. Mach says, "I love to create. I will stick to it to the end of my life." William Zhou was born in Beijing and grew up in Canada. He strongly wanted to make a change in education. So he created CHALK. It is a group of programs that supports individual teaching and learning. CHALK is now used in 20,000 schools by more than 100,000 users worldwide. Zhou says you have to find something you truly care about. Or you may just end up giving it up. George was born in Tanzania . He learned about renewable energy in Europe and began thinking about using solar energy in Africa. Tanzania is a place with bright sunshine, but more than 90 percent of people have no electricity to use. After graduation, George returned to Tanzania and started his own company, SunSweet Solar. It has found early success in rural areas. George hopes to create jobs and help build his country. He understands the process will take time. "But I think we are on the right way." William Zhou thinks _ .
<extra_id_0>education needs to be changed
<extra_id_1>all the schools should use CHALK
<extra_id_2>people may end up giving up without CHALK
<extra_id_3>he will be a teacher
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>Gavin Joseph, a teenager with Asperger's Syndrome, was beaten up by a group of people for just being different. Asperger's Syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects a person's ability to socialize. But instead of putting them into prison for what they did to him, Gavin offered them a chance to become more tolerant and understanding. On Thursday night, some kids were talking about how "it's weird " that he is always by himself, attending events alone and watching people, and it was "creepy" that he wanted to be friends with people he didn't know. On Friday night, another kid that overheard that conversation decided to take matters into his own hands and become judge and jury, and this is the result of that. He didn't ask questions, didn't get to know Gavin, never met him, and didn't give him a chance to leave. Gavin was called to meet someone, surrounded by people he didn't know, choked, punched , and left lying on the pavement so he would "learn his lesson". Gavin emerged from the attack with a concussion , a fractured nose, a bruised esophagus and some damage to his eyes, but thankfully, none of the injuries resulted in permanent damage. But here's the truly amazing part -- Gavin refused to press charges against the people who did this to him. Instead of wanting to see them punished, he wants to see them educated. Gavin asked that his attackers do community service that is disability-related. According to his mother, Gavin also asked that they watch a 20-minute video statement he taped while their families were present so they could see the damage they did and hear the event from his perspective. "If you are reading this, I hope you talk to your teens," his mother wrote. "Tell them about disabilities you can't see, teach them to be tolerant of people that are different, teach them that if they continuously see someone alone that maybe it is not their choice to be alone, remind them to ask questions first and get to know one another." Gavin is always alone because he_.
<extra_id_0>enjoys being alone
<extra_id_1>is always upsetting
<extra_id_2>suffers from a disease
<extra_id_3>doesn't like his schoolmates
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<extra_id_5>Qi Haoran, a Junior 1 student, was quite busy over the past winter vacation - and not just with homework.Qi, together with 10 other classmates made a volunteer group to call on people to join the Clean Your Plate Campaign (""). The 11 students went to many restaurants and told people the importance of saving food."Excuse me, do you know that 950 million people around the world still haven't got enough to eat? Please don't waste food." They would say this kind of thing hundreds of times every day. The Clean Your Plate Campaign began on the Internet in January.It calls on people to reduce food waste. China in these years had serious problems with wasted food.CCTV reported in January that the food Chinese people waste every year is enough to feed 200 million people for a year. Chinese people are well known for being hospitable and generous .Many even feel that they lose face if their guests have eaten all the food. Luckily, the campaign has got the support of many.In a restaurant in Xinjiang, the owner give the guests who have eaten all that they ordered a sticker .People can enjoy a free meal when they have 10 stickers.More than 750 restaurants in Beijing have begun to offer smaller dishes and encourage their guests to take leftovers home. To reduce food waste is a big task, and it needs time.It's important that everyone does their bit, just like Qi.Did you finish your meals today? ,A, B, C, D. What did the 11 students do in the winter vacation?
<extra_id_0>The helped each other with homework.
<extra_id_1>They opened a restaurant together.
<extra_id_2>They volunteered for a campaign.
<extra_id_3>They collected money from customers in restaurants.
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>British researchers have found that children's IQ predicts their probability of becoming vegetarians as young adults. Recent studies suggest that vegetarianism may be associated with lower cholesterol , reduced risk of overweight and heart disease. "We know from other studies that brighter children tend to behave in a healthier fashion as adults--they're less likely to smoke, less likely to be overweight,less likely to have high blood pressure and more likely to take exercise." lead author Catharine Gale said, "This study provides further evidence that people with a high IQ tend to have a healthier lifestyle." In the study, Gale's team collected data on nearly 8,200 men and women aged 30, whose IQ had been tested when they were 10 years of age. "Children who scored higher on IQ tests at age 10 were more likely than those who got lower scores to report that they were vegetarian at the age of 30."Gale said. The researchers found that 4.5 percent of participants were vegetarians. Of these, 2.5 percent were _ , and 33.6 percent said they were vegetarian but also ate fish or chicken. There was no difference in IQ score between strict vegetarians and those who said they were vegetarian but also ate fish or chicken,the researchers added. One expert said the findings weren't the whole answer,however. "We don't know the beliefs or attitudes of the parents of the children,nor do we know if there was a particular event that led these children to becoming vegetarian in their teens or adulthood." said Lona Sandon, and assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. From the article,we know that _ .
<extra_id_0>brighter children are likely to become vegetarians when they are ten.
<extra_id_1>people with a higher IQ will not be overweight
<extra_id_2>brighter children are likely to have a healthier lifestyle
<extra_id_3>overweight may cause high blood pressure
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>Four different students take turns pushing a large, heavy ball on the school parking lot. What is the best way to determine which student used the most force to push the ball?
<extra_id_0>compare the sizes of the students
<extra_id_1>compare the ages of the students
<extra_id_2>compare the distances that the ball rolled
<extra_id_3>compare the number of times the ball was rolled
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>Shirley Temple Black, who lifted America's spirits as a bright-eyed child movie star during the Great Depression and later became a US diplomat , died at the age of 85 at her home in Woodside, California, on Monday. A family statement said, "We announce with great sadness that diplomat Shirley Temple Black, former Hollywood child star and forever America's little darling peacefully passed away at her Woodside, California, home from natural causes, at the age of 85, on February 10, 2014." She was surrounded by her family and caregivers. "We respect her for a life of remarkable achievements as an actor, as a diplomat, and most importantly as our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and good wife for fifty-five years of much-missed Charles Alden Black, who has passed away." Temple's film career began in 1932 and she found international fame two years later aged in the film Bright Eyes, famous for the song On the Good Ship Lollipop. The youngster was seen with her hair in curls, and the unforgettable performance made her one of the biggest box office draws of the times. She was awarded a Juvenile Academy Award in 1935 and starred in films such as Curly Top and The Littlest Rebel, helping the US deal with the depression of the 1930s. And she was credited with helping save the film company 20th Century Fox from being bankrupt . But after retiring from the entertainment world in her early 20s with a special Oscar under her belt for the movie Stand up and Cheer when she was six, she created a role as an outstanding diplomat, serving as the US ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia. Temple was also a delegate to several international commissions and was involved with the United Nations. She was the first woman to serve as US chief of protocol in the Department of State. According to the family statement we can know that _ .
<extra_id_0>Shirley Black had been ill in bed for a long time
<extra_id_1>Black's family was of five generations before she died
<extra_id_2>no doctors and nurses were allowed in Black's home
<extra_id_3>Shirley Black survived her husband Charles Black
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>Plan on traveling around the USA this summer. If you need help in arranging the trip, or want ideas about where to go and what to do, there are a number of outstanding websites that can make your American dream come true. http://byways. org The National Scenic Byways Program covers l50 memorable roads. Some are natural routes, such as Route l along the California coast. Others focus on history(such as Route 6) or man-made attractions (the Las Vegas Trip). For each, you are provided with a map, told the route's length and how long is allowed, and given detailed suggestions on sights and stop-offs. www. oyster. com This is the best website for reviews of hotels in US cities and resorts. The reviews are impressively thorough--covering locations, rooms, cleanliness, food and so on. Importantly, these are not promotional photos by the hotels, but more honest and revealing ones taken by inspectors. Search facilities are excellent. From the 243 hotels reviewed in the New York, you can narrow down what you are looking for by locations, facilities and styles, or just pick out a selection of the best. www. 101usaholidays. co. uk This is the latest offering that features l01 holiday ideas to the USA. It's an impressively diverse selection, ranging from touring in the footsteps of Martin Luther King to a golfing break in Arizona and a cycling and wine--tasting trip in California's Napa Valley. Narrow down what you are looking for--whether by price, region, theme and who will be traveling--and then just the photos of the relevant holidays remain on view. It's a really clever design. www. mousesavers. com Walt Disney World in California can make dreams come true, but the price is not affordable for the majority of people. So turn to long established Mousesavers. com, dedicated to giving big discounts on tickets, hotels and dining at Walt Disney World. The website also offers general money--saving tips, suggestions for cheap and free stuff and brief coverage of other Florida and California theme parks. Why are the photos of the hotels in US cities and resorts real in WWW. oyster. com?
<extra_id_0>Because they were taken by customers who once lived there.
<extra_id_1>Because there are comments of customers on each photo.
<extra_id_2>Because there are qualifications of the authority.
<extra_id_3>Because they are taken by inspectors of the website.
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<extra_id_5>It is the last day of June today. It is grandma's birthday. Father, mother and I go to see her. My grandma lives with my uncle in a village not too far away. Uncle works there. Early in the morning we buy a birthday cake and some fruit and go to her home by bus. Grandma and uncle are very glad to see us. We give the present to grandma and say, "Happy birthday to you!" She is very happy. Then we sit down to talk. Uncle goes to prepare lunch. The meal is very nice. We all enjoy it very much. At 4 o'clock, we say goodbye and go back home. What do we buy for grandma's birthday?_.
<extra_id_0>Some fish.
<extra_id_1>One birthday cake and vegetables.
<extra_id_2>Vegetables.
<extra_id_3>A birthday cake and some fruit.
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<extra_id_5>It was a sunny winter day. I had gone down the tower when a blind man came toward me. He kept close to the wall, touching it lightly with his arm. I stood still and looked at him walking toward the tower. "What does a blind man want to climb up the tower for?" I wondered, "Not the view certainly, perhaps he wants to jump. "Thinking of this terrible reason, I thought I should follow him. He went up slowly and stopped from time to time. I followed him a few steps behind. When he got to the first corner of the bell tower, I came close to him. "Excuse me," I said as politely as I could, "but I wonder why you came up." "You'd never guess." he said. "Not the view or the fresh air on this winter day?" "No." he said. "Tell me, then." He smiled, "Perhaps climbing up the tower. You have noticed - and yet, not being blind, perhaps you won't - how the sun shines into the tower through the windows here and there, so that one can feel the cool steps suddenly become quite warm, even in winter. But behind the wall there is shade . There is no place so good as this for feeling the difference between light and darkness. Though I'm blind, I also want to feel the happiness brought by the sunlight. In fact, it isn't my first time to be here." He said and seemed as pleased as a child. I had never thought that even a blind man could have his way to enjoy the beautiful life. But we often paid no attention to its value because we never lost it. We went down the tower together and I left him. From then on, I began to treasure what life has given me. What did the writer learn from the blind man?
<extra_id_0>To take exercise
<extra_id_1>To feel happiness
<extra_id_2>To enjoy sunlight
<extra_id_3>To treasure life
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<extra_id_5>Peter Qwen has been making wigs since the 1980s . He has made wigs for the stars of more than seventy movies ,including Tom Hanks in Philadelphia, Johnny Depp in Sleepy Hollow and Nicole Kidman in The Others. One of his biggest jobs so far has designed the hair and makeup for the three Lord o f the Ring movies . He had just six weeks to design and make more than a hundred wigs, each one a different style, color, shape and length. The hair and makeup in a movie are just as important as the costumes or the sets. Over the years, Peter has made actors look older, younger, healthy and sick. For one movie he even made a female actor look like a man! "What people don't realize about wigs is that we are not always making people more beautiful," he says. "Often we are covering up beauty and making them look ordinary." All Peter's wigs are handmade using human hair, so they look as real as possible. This also makes them very expensive -between US $ 4,500 and US $12,500 each! He knows he's done a good job when people don't realize the star of the movie is wearing a wig. So he was pleased when one newspaper said that Nicole Kidman had dyed her hair dark brown for a movie. "It was a wig and no one knew that9" he said. Why are Peter's wigs so expensive?
<extra_id_0>They are made in foreign countries.
<extra_id_1>Peter makes the best wigs.
<extra_id_2>They are only made for rich film makers.
<extra_id_3>They are handmade using human hair.
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<extra_id_5>Eye color is a physical trait. Which statement best explains why a child has a specific eye color?
<extra_id_0>Eye color is a learned trait.
<extra_id_1>Eye color is an inherited trait.
<extra_id_2>Eye color is a trait that changes over time.
<extra_id_3>Eye color is a trait that happens by chance.
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<extra_id_5>People in different places eat different things. In South China people like to eat rice. Sometimes they eat it twice or three times a day. They usually eat it with fish, meat and vegetables. It tastes very delicious. Japanese like to eat rice, too. They also eat a lot of fish. Sometimes they eat raw fish.It sounds strange but smells very fresh. In western countries like Britain, Australia and the USA, the most important food is bread or potatoes. People usually make their bread at home. And they cook potatoes in different ways. In England the most popular food is fish and chips. Sometimes people eat this food at home, in their workplace, in the park or even on the street. People call it "takeaway" food. In China today,there are also much"takeaway"food,and most children like to eat them. Bread is the most important food in _ .
<extra_id_0>Britain
<extra_id_1>Australia and America
<extra_id_2>A and B
<extra_id_3>China
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<extra_id_5>On November 15, Joiner in a signed writing contracted with Galley for an agreed price to personally remodel Galley's kitchen according to specifications provided by Galley, and to start work on December 1. Joiner agreed to provide all materials for the job in addition to all of the labor required. For this question only, assume that on November 26 Joiner without legal excuse repudiated the contract and that Galley, after a reasonable and prolonged effort, could not find anyone to remodel his kitchen for a price approximating the price agreed to by Joiner. If one year later Galley brings an action for specific performance against Joiner, which of the following will provide Joiner with the best defense?
<extra_id_0>An action for equitable relief not brought within a reasonable time is barred by laches.
<extra_id_1>Specific performance is generally not available as a remedy to enforce a contractual duty to perform personal services.
<extra_id_2>Specific performance is generally not available as a remedy in the case of an anticipatory repudiation.
<extra_id_3>Specific performance is not available as a remedy where even nominal damages could have been recovered as a remedy at law.
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<extra_id_5>Birdwatching is becoming more and more popular in many parts of the world. Birdwatchers enjoy looking for and listening to different kinds of birds.To watch birds, all you need is a pair of binoculars, a field guide and love for birds. If you are just starting birdwatching, buy one of the cheaper pairs of binoculars.You can choose better ones when your needs and skills grow.A field guide helps you leam about the birds' appearances, calls and habits before birdwatching. When you are ready, it's best to go to the wild with someone who is more experienced.You can join a birdwatching group to learn about some beginning skills.A local bird club is ideal. Start birdwatching in the morning, when birds are searching for food.Most of the time, you will hear bird calls from all around you, but will not see any birds easily.Look for movement in trees, and bring your binoculars to your eyes. The most important work for a birdwatcher is to identify the birds he/she sees.A bird's shape, size, colour and habits can help a birdwatcher identify it.When you identify a bird, don't forget to take notes about it on your notebook. To find more and different birds, you may wish to plan trips to birds' different living areas: forests, lakes, rivers, wetlands, etc. When watching the birds, you should always keep in mind: respect wildlife and protect its living areas. Which statement is true according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>If we are just starting birdwatching, we can buy one of the most expensive pairs of binoculars.
<extra_id_1>Most of the time, we can hear birds calls from all around us and see birds easily while birdwatching.
<extra_id_2>We can join a birdwatching group to learn about some beginning skills.
<extra_id_3>We don't have to take notes about birds when we identify a bird.
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<extra_id_5>She is only 12 years old but lives only with her younger sister. Her parents are far away from home, and she has to take care of her younger sister. She is He Can, a student at Anqing Jianzhen Middle School in Anhui, one of the "stay-at home children" in her town. To make money, these kids' parents go to big cities to find a job. Their children have to stay at home because they have to go to school. He Can's parents left home when she was only four. They only come back for the Spring Festival every year. Because she had to live with different relatives at different times, He Can went to eight different primary schools. "I used to complain," she said. "But later I understood my parents. They have to go away to make a better life for us." He Can said her frequently changing life also has a good side. "When I went to a new school, I had to try to make friends," said He Can, "I became outgoing. Now I'm not afraid of talking to people." He Can said her relatives were kind to her. They taught her how to cook and wash clothes. When she would start junior high school , her parents agreed to rent a house to let her live out with her sister. Every day, He Can gets up at 6:00 am and cooks breakfast. Then He Can does chores and helps her sister take a shower. She usually goes to bed at 9:30 pm. Though busy, He Can is still a top student in her class. She said the secret is never to put things off until tomorrow. " I think my life is OK," she said. "But if possible, I would like my parents to settle down and live with us." Why does He Can live only with her younger sister?
<extra_id_0>Because their parents don't like them.
<extra_id_1>Because their parents have to work in a big city.
<extra_id_2>Because they enjoy living by themselves.
<extra_id_3>Because their schools are too far away from their home.
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<extra_id_5>Gallows humor may seem like a mistake, or at least in poor taste. But psychologists say that gallows humor can be an important way to relieve stress."Humor makes you feel in control and it can give you that feeling that everything is okay even when it's not,"says James M.Jones, a psychology professor at the University of Delaware. Psychologists say that just because you're laughing doesn't mean you're wasting time. Occasional tease among colleagues, particularly if it is associated with the job, can inspire creativity, departmental cohesiveness and performance. "There are a lot of stresses out there,"says Ed Dunkelblau, a psychologist in Chicago."Gallows humor is a way of making difficult things a little less difficult." This is as long as the humor is used for the right purpose. The main point of it should be inspiring people--not laughing at them. "Anything that would lift morale in terms of the company would be good humor,"says Thierry Guedj, a professor. You want to give your employees and co-workers a sense of belonging, so don't make observations that are aggressive. Most obviously, Dr. Guedj says, don't make comments about people's physical appearance or faith. If you have any doubt about its appropriateness, don't go through with it. Or you can take aim at the person that you know won't be offended : yourself. "If there's going to be a joke or story, it should be you,"Mr Dunkelblau says. "People with the ability to laugh at themselves can give other people permission to laugh at themselves, too,"Mr Jones says."And if you can laugh at yourself, you feel better about yourself." What is Ed Dunkelblau's attitude towards gallows humor?
<extra_id_0>Negative.
<extra_id_1>Positive.
<extra_id_2>Neutral.
<extra_id_3>Uncertain.
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<extra_id_5>There are lots of animals on the earth. What is the biggest animal of all? The whale is. A blue whale weighs more than a hundred tons. Whales live in the sea, but they are not fish. They are mammals and must have air to breathe. The babies drink milk from the mother's body. Every spring, groups of whales swim hundreds of kilometers to warm places. Each group goes to the same place every year. The mothers take very good care of their babies. Whales are a gentle kind of giant. They always live together and help each other. They "talk" to each other in the water with a high noise that sounds like singing. Yet people kill over a hundred whales a day. They kill them to make many things. The whale dies very slowly and in great pain. Some ships kill every whale they can find, even mother whales and babies. If things go on like this, there will be no young whales to grow up and no mother whales to have more young. _ are the biggest animals on the earth.
<extra_id_0>Elephants
<extra_id_1>Lions
<extra_id_2>Whales
<extra_id_3>I don't know
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<extra_id_5>Japanese students work very hard but many are unhappy. They have heavy pressures from their parents. Most students are always told by their parents to study harder and harder so that they can have a wonderful life when they grow up .Though this may be a good idea for those very bright students, it can have terrible results for many students who aren't gifted enough. Many of them have tried very hard at study but fail in the exams and make their parents lose heart. Some students feel that they are hated by everyone else and they don't want to go to school any longer .They become _ It is surprising that though most Japanese are worried about their children, they do not help them in any way .Many parents feel that they are not able to help their children and that it is the teachers' work to help their children .To make matters worse, a lot of parents send their children to those schools opening in the evening and on weekends. They only help the students to pass the exams and never teach them the very real sense of the world. Many Japanese schools usually has rules about everything from the student' clothes to things in their school bags. Child psychologists now think that such strict rules are harmful to the feeling of the students. Almost 40% of the students said that no one had taught them how to get on with others , how to tell right from wrong and how to show love and care for others, even for their parents. ,. Many Japanese schools usually have _ rules.
<extra_id_0>few
<extra_id_1>a few
<extra_id_2>a lot of
<extra_id_3>lot of
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<extra_id_5>Do you know how to be a healthy kid? Here are some rules you should follow. First, eat different food, especially fruits and vegetables. You may have a favorite food, but you'd better eat something different. If you eat diff You can't watch TV for more than two hours a day errant food, you will probably get more nutrients your body needs. Second, drink water and milk as often as possible. When you are really thirsty, cold water is the No. 1 choice. Milk is a great drink that can give you more calcium your body needs to grow strong bones. Third, listen to your body. How do you feel when you are ill? When you're eating, notice how your body feels and when your stomach feels comfortably full. Eating too much will not make you feel comfortable and make you feel fat. Fourth, limit screen time. Screen time is the time you watch TV, DVDs and videos, or using computers. It is good to take more exercise such as basketball, bike riding and swimming. You can't watch TV for more than two hours a day. Fifth, be active. One thing you'd like to do, as a kid, is to find out which activity you like best. Find ways to be active every day. According to the passage, which of the following sentences is not true?
<extra_id_0>When you are eating, you have to notice how your body feels
<extra_id_1>You can eat your favorite food, but you'd better eat something different
<extra_id_2>You can watch TV for a long time.
<extra_id_3>We should try to live in an active way in our life.
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<extra_id_5>"Tear' em apart!" "Kill the fool!" "Murder the referee !" These are common remarks one may hear at various sporting events. At the time they are made, they may seem innocent enough. But let's not kid ourselves. They have been known to influence behavior in such a way as to lead to real bloodshed. Volumes have been written about the way words affect us. It has been shown that words having certain connotations may cause us to react in ways quite foreign to what we consider to be our usual humanistic behavior. I see the term "opponent" as one of those words. Perhaps the time has come to delete it from sports terms. The dictionary meaning of the term "opponent" is "adversary" "enemy"; "one who opposes your interests." Thus, when a player meets an opponent, he or she may tend to treat that opponent as an enemy. At such times, winning may dominate one's intellect, and every action, no matter how gross, may be considered justifiable. I recall an incident in a handball game when a referee refused a player's request for a time out for a glove change because he did not consider them wet enough. The player proceeded to rub his gloves across his wet T-shirt and then exclaimed. "Are they wet enough now?" In the heat of battle, players have been observed to throw themselves across the court without considering the consequences that such a move might have on anyone in their way. I have also witnessed a player reacting to his opponent's international and illegal blocking by deliberately hitting him with the ball as hard as he could during the course of play. Off the court, they are good friends. Does that make any sense? It certainly gives proof of a court attitude which departs from normal behavior. Therefore, I believe it is time we elevated the game to the level where it belongs there by setting an example to the rest of the sporting world. Replacing the term "opponent" with "associate" could be an ideal way to start. The dictionary meaning of the term "associate" is "colleague"; "friend"; "companion." Reflect a moment! You may soon see and possibly feel the difference in your reaction to the term "associate" rather than "opponent." Harsh words are spoken during games because the players _ .
<extra_id_0>are too eager to win
<extra_id_1>are usually short-tempered and easily offended
<extra_id_2>cannot afford to be polite in fierce competition
<extra_id_3>treat their rivals as enemies
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<extra_id_5>Wait for it...that sigh of relief you hearing is wives, girlfriends and partners across London celebrating the end of Movember. This year's annual moustache-growing campaign in London will surpass 2014 fundraising numbers. Last year, London men grew enough facial hair to raise S 200,000. As of Thursday, 2015 fundraising sat at $250.000, with additional money still expected to roll in. "Well, I think London is a pretty charitable community," said Lincoln McCardle, president of the London chapter. "Whether it is a food drive or Movember, we always step up and either meet or surpass the goal." As a result of last year's success, London was awarded a wrap-up gala , which took place Thursday night at Jim Bob Ray's on Richmond Street. "Up until now, the galas have been happening in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary," said McCandle. "We wanted to have a gala. I told the guys in head office in Toronto, to pick a number - not to tell me - but if we hit it, I want a gala in London. And we did. It is a chance to thank the people who registered, hand out a few awards and have some fun. " This year, 60 percent of the money collected in Canada will still go to prostrate cancer research with the remaining 40 percent being directed towards men's mental health. For men looking for a professional to take off their month-long growth, there are a number of "shave-off" events around the city Friday. One will be at David E. White at the corner of Richmond Street and Queens Avenue. For a $20 donation, your prized moustache will be professionally removed. Organizers are hoping to set a Guinness World Record for the most number of shaves given in a day. Started in Australia in 2003, the craze found its way to Canadian men by 2007, and in the last couple of years, Canada has collected more, setting the pace in terms of fundraising. Money raised has traditionally gone toward prostate-cancer research, which is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men, according to Health Canada. What can we learn about the people in London?
<extra_id_0>They are wealthy.
<extra_id_1>They are creative.
<extra_id_2>They are indifferent.
<extra_id_3>They are warm-hearted.
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<extra_id_5>If it's been twelve weeks since you put on shorts, and you notice today the hours of light and dark are just about equal, how long will it be until Winter?
<extra_id_0>just over a year
<extra_id_1>around thirteen weeks or so
<extra_id_2>when G.R.R. Martin says it's here
<extra_id_3>when the groundhog sees its shadow
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<extra_id_5>This August, we'll welcome guests from all over the world. Some of them follow their own special cultural traditions. It's important for us to know about them. *In many countries, such as Thailand, India and Malaysia, people believe that the left hand is unclean. So, it's not proper to use one's left hand to hold food, touch others or pass objects, Doing so may _ certain guests. *Some Westerners may be offended if you touch them or their personal things-even by accident. If this happens, say sorry politely. *Some elderly Westerners may be offended if you try to help them without their agreement. *People think numbers can be lucky or unlucky. Some Westerners avoid the number 13 because they believe it is unlucky. *Muslims do not eat pork, and words like pigs are not considered proper. *People from Brazil, Italy and Pakistan do not give handkerchiefs as gifts. They believe a handkerchief is closely connected with unhappy feelings. *Wine is not sent as a gift in many parts of western and middle Asia, where most Muslims live. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>People from Pakistan like to send handkerchiefs as gifts.
<extra_id_1>All the elderly people in the west like being helped by others.
<extra_id_2>The number 13 is thought to be unlucky by some Westerners.
<extra_id_3>Westerners do not mind their personal things being touched.
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<extra_id_5>Tigers are among the most admired and most feared animals in the world . When we think of a tiger, we think of danger. We think of the big teeth and large feet of it. We also think of beauty. The tiger is a hunter that hunts alone. In fact , tigers are probably better than any other land mammal at catching large animals without help. Even so, the life of this big-game hunter isn't easy. Finding food can be difficult, especially for a tiger that is old or weak. Most of the animals it tries to attack get away. A tiger sometimes goes weeks without eating. When that happens, it may hunt animals that can be dangerous even for a tiger. When they are in a bad situation, some tigers may even attack humans. But in fact, tigers kill very few people each year. Most tigers run away when they see people. What tigers have done to people can't compare to what people have done to tigers. Over the last 200 years, we have almost killed tigers in the wild . Today, the tiger is one of the most endangered animals on Earth. A tiger may live 20 years or more, if it is not disturbed by humans. Female tigers usually live longer than male tigers, because the males live more dangerously. It isn't easy for people to tell a male from a female unless the female happens to be with her babies.Only females take care of the young. The big difference between males and females is size. Male tigers are much bigger. Tigers are big eaters. In a single year, one tiger must eat about 70 deer or other large animals. That is one reason why tigers hunt alone. If they lived in big groups, they could never find enough animals to feed them all. According to the passage, why do tigers hunt alone?
<extra_id_0>They can run faster hunting alone.
<extra_id_1>They can't get along well with other tigers.
<extra_id_2>They can hide themselves easily in this way.
<extra_id_3>They can't find enough animals to share with other tigers.
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<extra_id_5>Among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the oldest one is the Great Pyramid of Giza. There are three large pyramids at Giza, outside the modern capital of Egypt, Cairo. The largest and most famous one is called the Great Pyramid. The workers built it as a tomb for the Pharaoh Khufu . It took more than twenty years to build the Great Pyramid. When it was built, the pyramid was about 146.5 metres high. Over the years it has lost about eight metres off its top. The pyramid is made of large stone blocks -- 2,300,000 of them! Each of these blocks weighs over 2,000 kilograms. The ancient Egyptians did not have any modern machines. How did they build the pyramid? The pyramid shows that the ancient people were _ and had great skills. People once thought that the Egyptians made slaves do all the work on the Great Pyramid. But in fact, they used farmers. According to the passage, the height of the Great Pyramid may be _ metres now.
<extra_id_0>146.5
<extra_id_1>138. 5
<extra_id_2>154.5
<extra_id_3>156. 5
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<extra_id_5>Have you seen a yellow-and-black salamander ? How about a scarlet frog? Scientists haven't spotted either species in more than 20 years. What happened to them? Are the creatures still out there, or are they extinct? Those are questions that scientists hope to answer. They recently set out around the world in search of those and other long-missing amphibians. An amphibian is an animal that spends part of its life in water and part on land. Frog, toads , and salamanders are amphibians. The experts are looking for about 100 species. They are searching at least 14 countries on five continents. They will look for the salamander in North America. They hope to find the scarlet frog in South America. They're also looking for species in Africa, Asia and Australia. Scientists are hopeful that they'll find the amphibians--and soon! If the creatures are out there, they may need help. Many amphibians are endangered. The animals face many dangers including pollution and diseases. People cut down the forests where they live. "If researchers can find the missing creatures, they might be able to figure out how to save them," explains expert Robin Moore. He began searching for the amphibians earlier this month. "This search will tell us a lot about how amphibians are doing," Moore told WR News. "I don't know what we will find, but that makes the search even more exciting." Lost in the Wild Scientists' hunt for missing amphibians is under way. Read about some of the species they hope to find. Turkestanian salamander This salamander is a mystery to scientists. Experts found a few of them more than 100 years ago, but none have been seen ever since. Gastric brooding frog Experts first discovered this frog in 1914 in eastern Australia. It may be extinct because of disease and habitat loss. Rio Pescado stubfoot toad Last sighting: 1995, in South America Scientists hope to find this spotted toad in rivers and rainforests in Ecuador. The animal faces threats including pollution and disease. Which of the following animals hasn't been seen for over a century?
<extra_id_0>Rio Pescado stubfoot toad.
<extra_id_1>Gastric brooding frog.
<extra_id_2>Turkestanian salamander.
<extra_id_3>Scarlet frog.
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<extra_id_5>MEGADIM, Israel (AP)-The worst forest fire in Israel's history on Thursday destroyed one of the country's few forested areas, killing at least 36 guards on their way to rescue prisoners there, destroying homes and forcing the evacuation of thousands. The fire ran through the Carmel forest in Israel's Galilee, reaching the coastal city of Haifa, jumping from place to place in the forest. The fire broke out around midday and quickly spread and was still burning out of control as midnight approached. Investigators supposed that the fire could have been set accidentally, or it might have been a criminal act, but pretty much ruled out some sort of attack by a Palestinian group. "This is a huge disaster," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. "The government is using all means to control the fire." He said some countries such as Cyprus, Italy, Russia and Greece agreed to provide backup. Most of the dead were Prison Service guards racing through the fire toward a prison to evacuate the prisoners, most of them Palestinians. A tree fell across the road, blocking their bus. Some guards were burned alive inside, while others died as they tried to escape. Fourteen bodies were found near the burnt bus 10 hours after the fire started. The fire heavily damaged one of Israel's few large forests, made up of natural growth and planted areas, a favorite place for camping and a home for dozens of species of wildlife. Forestry workers tried to evacuate animals from the fire. The forest recovered slowly from a fire in 1989, but experts said Thursday's big fire was many times worse. Some Prison Service guards died when they tried to _ .
<extra_id_0>control the running prisoners
<extra_id_1>put out the fierce forest fire
<extra_id_2>get away from the burning bus
<extra_id_3>save the guards trapped in the fire .
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<extra_id_5>If you want to find out a piece of information about anything , the best place to search for it is Wikepedia. This online encyclopedia is written by thousands of people around the world. Anyone can add or change the information if he or she finds it not correct or not well written. In this way, people who know a lot about a certain subject can write about it even if they are not university professors. What is more, Wikepedia includes articles written in about 235 languages. This fact makes it one of the few websites on the Internet that are truly international. It was started in 2001 by Larry Sanger and Jimmy Wales, as a free online English-language encyclopedia project. By April 2008, over 10 million articles had been put on Wikipedia. A quarter of the articles are in English. Wikipedia is also a place where people can find the latest news. However, Wikipedia has its own problems. There have been many complaints that some of the information on Wikipedia is not accurate and some important subjects are not included. This has led to arguments between the writers of articles. The people running Wikipedia say that the accuracy of the information is improving and that it is one of the top 20 visited websites on the Internet. So, if you are looking for some information, why not try Wikipedia? Besides information about different subjects, people can also _ on Wikipedia.
<extra_id_0>watch interesting movies
<extra_id_1>send e-mail to friends
<extra_id_2>read about the latest news
<extra_id_3>play exciting games
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<extra_id_5>Sorry to say, our brains naturally start slowing down at the cruelly young age of 30. it used to be thought that this couldn't be helped, but new studies show that people of any age can train their brains to work faster . "Your brain is a learning machine," says prefix = st1 /UniversityofCaliforniascientist Dr. Micha3el Merzenich. Given the right tools, we can train our brains to act like they did when we were younger. All that's required is the practice designed just for the purpose: a few exercises for the mind. Merzenich has developed a computer-based training method to speed up the process in which the brain deals with information (positence. com). Since much of the data we receive comes through speech, the Brain Fitness Program works with language and hearing to better speed and accuracy . Over the course of training, the program starts asking you to distinguish sounds (between "dog" and "dog", for example) at an increasingly faster speed. It's a bit like tennis instructor, says Merzenich, hitting balls at you faster and faster to keep you challenged . You may start out slow, but before long you're pretty quick. The biggest finding in brain research in the last ten years is that _ If you ask your brain to learn, it will learn. And it may even speed up while in the process. To keep your brain young and plastic you can do one of a million new activities that challenge and excite you: playing table tennis or bridge, doing crossword puzzles, learning a language...."When it comes to preventing ageing, you really do 'use it or lose it", says Barbara Sahakian, professor at CambridgeUniversity. Which of the following agrees with the writer's idea?
<extra_id_0>The training methods work better for the old.
<extra_id_1>People should use the brain to stop it from ageing
<extra_id_2>The training of the brain should start at an early age.
<extra_id_3>It's necessary to take part in as many activities as possible.
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<extra_id_5>"The Chinese Dream" is a hot topic of this year. Many Chinese young people are inspired by the Chinese Dream. Everyone has their own dreams. They give us courage and confidence to keep us going through difficulties. Here are some advice on how to realize our beautiful dreams. Never giving up is the key to make our dreams come true. We may fail from time to time, but we can learn from failure, correct our mistakes and try again until we achieve our goals. Our life is like a long journey which is not all roses. _ sometimes has wind and rain. We believe rainbows will appear after storms. Cooperation is also necessary. Everyone likes a person who is good at cooperating with others. Besides, in our society most problems can't be solved by one person alone. Cooperation is becoming one of the most important ways for people living in the developing society. At the same time, we should learn to examine our abilities because it helps us know our advantages and disadvantages as well as get a full control of ourselves. Then we may be confident enough to face challenges. Follow the suggestions above, and our dreams are sure to come true. How many suggestions of making dreams come true are mentioned in this passage?
<extra_id_0>One.
<extra_id_1>Two.
<extra_id_2>Three.
<extra_id_3>Four.
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<extra_id_5>Which human activity has most negatively affected air quality?
<extra_id_0>burning coal
<extra_id_1>growing crops
<extra_id_2>using solar energy cells
<extra_id_3>constructing nuclear power plants
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<extra_id_5>Mobile phones are the latest craze of many people from different parts of the world. Whenever there is a latest phone model being produced by companies such as Apple, Samsung, LG, Sony, etc., the public is all eyes and all ears on what consist of the latest product that is in the market. The public wants to check every detail to find reasons why to buy them. How to choose the best Phone Comparison? There are some categories to consider. Specifications are very important, but if you are not the techie type of person, you can just check on some categories. One of them is the design. Most mobile phones have a set of colours available for different types of customers to choose from. The most popular colours are black and white, and these colours show elegance and sophistication to the users. The shapes of the phones also contribute a lot to the design, and a lot of people prefer the shapes of Samsung and LG phones nowadays. Another important feature to consider is the value of the phone. If its price in the market is quite high compared to other phones, then you have to expect better specifications on them. If the specifications don't have much difference with those of the others, then you can weigh the value of the item. Furthermore, customers need to check the battery life of the mobile phone they intend to buy. For people who always travel or out of their house most of the time, they need to select a phone that has a longer battery life. This information can be found as well on the specifications of the phone. You need to check on how long you can use your phone for a day so that you won't need to charge it every now and then and so that you can save electricity as well. You are supposed to buy a phone with _ , if you always travel.
<extra_id_0>a hard cover
<extra_id_1>a bright colour
<extra_id_2>a longer battery life
<extra_id_3>a creative design
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<extra_id_5>I have some boxes. One is small . It's blue . One is full of books .It's red. The third is new. There is nothing in it . There are some old bottles in a big blue box. Today, I want to put the red box in the car, but I can't carry it. My mother helps me. And she can put the box in the car. The _ box is empty.
<extra_id_0>red
<extra_id_1>small
<extra_id_2>new
<extra_id_3>blue
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<extra_id_5>In Mexico, girls mark their fifteenth birthday with a celebration called Quinceanera. In the morning, the birthday girl goes to the church with her family and her best friends. She wears a beautiful dress. Later in the day, there is a huge party, with a big cake that matches the girl's dress, and a night filled with music and dancing. Becoming an adult is a very important life change, and Japan has a special holiday to celebrate this. The second Sunday in January is Coming-of-Age Day. On that day, everyone who had their twentieth birthday in the last year goes to their Town Hall for a special activity. Everyone dresses up, and many women wear beautiful dresses. The mayor makes a speech and gives presents to all the new adults. Some kids are afraid to start school, but six-year-olds in Germany can't wait. For them, Schulanfang is a big holiday. To celebrate a child's first day of school, parents or friends give the child a Zuckertuete, a big color box filled with candy and little presents. People take pictures of the kids holding their Zuckertuete, and there is a school party later for the parents with cake and coffee. Schulanfang is celebrated when German children _ .
<extra_id_0>start school
<extra_id_1>reach the age of 15
<extra_id_2>grow into adults
<extra_id_3>are born
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<extra_id_5>After sunset on our last day at the farm I walked out into the desert. In this, the first pleasant moment for a walk after long hot hours, I thought I was the only thing out of doors. Suddenly I stopped. Before me a rattlesnake lay fixed, its head not yet drawn back to strike but only turned a little to watch what I would do. Many snakes will run away at the sight of a man but this rattlesnake felt no necessity to get out of any-body's way. He held his ground in calm watch-fullness waiting for me to show my intentions. My first aim was to take no notice of him; I had never killed an animal if I was not forced to kill. But I remembered that there were children, dogs and horses at the farm as well as men and women with thin clothes on; my duty was to kill the snake. I went back to the farm and returned with a stick. The rattlesnake had not moved; he lay like a wire but more quickly than I could stride he shot into a bush and set up his rattling, warning me by this that I had made an unreasonable attack and attempted to take his life and that if I insisted he would have no choice but to take mine if he could. For a moment I listened to this terrifying sound and then I struck into the bush with my stick and, chop-ping about, dragged him out of the bush with his back broken. He struck once more at the stick but a moment later his neck was broken and he was soon dead although when I picked him up by the tail his mouth opened, proving that a dead snake may still bite. There was blood in his mouth and poison was dropping; it was not only a dis-gusting sight but a pitiful one too. I dropped the body into a green bush and, as I did so, I saw him in my imagination, crawling over the sands as he might have done if I had let him go. At the sight of the author, the rattlesnake_.
<extra_id_0>shot into a bush
<extra_id_1>lay motionless but got ready to meet danger
<extra_id_2>drew itself up to strike
<extra_id_3>took no notice of his presence
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<extra_id_5>You have been working hard to learn English. Do you know American kids are trying to learn Chinese? More than 60,000 American students now study Chinese. "Because of China's fast development, Chinese has become more useful, and more and more Americans begin to learn it, " said Scott McGinnis, a Washington language expert . For example, in 1999, only three schools in Chicago had Chinese lessons. This year more than 30 schools there have Chinese during school days. Last year China gave them 3,000 textbooks because they had done a good job. Although Chinese is becoming more and more popular, it is one of the most difficult languages to learn. Usually, an English speaker takes about 1,320 hours to become good at Chinese. He needs only 480 hours for French, Spanish or Italian. From the last two sentences we know that _ .
<extra_id_0>Chinese is easier to learn than French, Spanish or Italian
<extra_id_1>Chinese is more difficult to learn than French, Spanish or Italian
<extra_id_2>English speakers like to learn French, Spanish or Italian more than Chinese
<extra_id_3>English speakers like to learn Chinese more than French, Spanish or Italian
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<extra_id_5>If you've ever seen a James Bond movie, you'll know that the hero gets around in a smart Aston Martin car. Even if you know that you could never afford such an expensive vehicle, you don't forget the name, or the car. Why? You have been affected by product placement. Companies pay a film to place their products in the movie. Product placement took off in the West in the 1980s and is now catching on in China. Two Hunan Satellite TV dramas are recent examples: Ugly Wudi and Let's Go Watch the Meteor Shower (<<>> ). Shampoo, mobile phones, cars and fitness centers -- anything can be product-placed. Advertisers value the mass appeal of the movies, knowing that a successful film can showcase their goods to hundreds of thousands of viewers. But when product placement takes over, art can only take a back seat. Cai Zhiyong has been product-placing for years. The Beijing-based advertiser admits there is a conflict between art and business. He explains the way one ad works. In If You are the One (<<>> ), the actress Shu Qi plays a flight attendant. The movie contains product placement for airline companies. Cash-strapped filmmakers often can't pay so much attention to the quality of their work because they need money from advertisers. In the original story for Meteor Shower, the heroine's mother owned an ice cream shop. But no ice cream company wanted to sponsor the film. For this reason, the story was changed. In the film the man drinks 20 cups of milk tea instead of eating ice cream. So you may see the power of business over the movies, since the script was perhaps written so that a product could be placed---whether it was ice cream or milk tea. Product placement can have a bad effect on the _ of a movie.
<extra_id_0>atmosphere
<extra_id_1>mass appeal
<extra_id_2>box-office success
<extra_id_3>artistic value
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<extra_id_5>High childcare costs are putting British mothers off going out to work. It really is that simple. Eurostat figures show that 66 per cent of mothers in the UK work, less than France (72 per cent), Denmark (86 per cent), the Netherlands (78 per cent) or Germany (69 per cent). This not only damages Britain's economic prosperity--it limits women's careers and squeezes family incomes. It would be fine if this is the choice parents want to make, but it isn't. Half of those surveyed want to go to work and the expense of childcare is one of the key reasons they couldn't. Despite claims made by Labour about childcare, a forthcoming report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) confirms the true legacy of their time in government. They left behind a childcare system with high costs to parents, variable quality and patchy coverage, despite soaring government spending. British parents now face the highest childcare bills in the world after Switzerland. In the Eighties and Nineties under Mrs Thatcher and John Major, the picture was very different. Mothers in England were more likely to go out to work than their Dutch or German counterparts. But the position has reversed, despite a huge rise in public spending. So why does the British Government spend more on childcare than France or Germany, even though the costs given to parents are sky-high? As always, under the previous government, money was frittered away without adequate focus on improving quality. Instead of clear and transparent funding, four separate funding streams were created, skewing the market and confusing parents and providers alike. The majority of the money was given away in cash benefits; so much of it did not get through to the front line. The IPPR report points out that continental systems, in countries such as Germany, France, Denmark and the Netherlands, manage to deliver better value for money. What all of these systems have in common is a focus on quality, with greater flexibility and autonomy given to local providers. They also see a much higher proportion of government money getting to the front line. We can learn from the passage that _ .
<extra_id_0>in the Eighties and Nineties, mothers in the UK were likely to work
<extra_id_1>there is a prejudice against mothers in the UK employment market
<extra_id_2>most of the mothers surveyed in the UK don't want to work
<extra_id_3>the percentage of mothers who work in the UK is the lowest in the world
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>Dan was an alcoholic who frequently experienced auditory hallucinations that commanded him to engage in bizarre and sometimes violent behavior. He generally obeyed these commands. The hallucinations appeared more frequently when he was intoxicated, but he sometimes experienced them when he had not been drinking. After Dan had been drinking continuously for a three-day period, an elderly woman began to reproach him about his drunken condition, slapping him on the face and shoulders as she did so. Dan believed that he was being unmercifully attacked and heard the hallucinatory voice telling him to strangle his assailant. He did so, and the woman died. If Dan is charged with second-degree murder, Dan's best chance of acquittal would be to rely on a defense of
<extra_id_0>intoxication.
<extra_id_1>lack of malice aforethought.
<extra_id_2>self-defense.
<extra_id_3>insanity
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>I live on the twelfth floor of a building. One afternoon I am coming home from a friend's house. It is just after four o'clock. I get quickly into the lift and press Button 12. The lift starts to go up, but very slowly. And then, half way up, it suddenly stops between two floors. I couldn't understand it. I press an all the buttons from 1 to 14. I call for help very loudly. But nobody answers. Then suddenly the lights go out, and I am alone in the dark. I start to cry and beat the walls of the lift. I cry and cry until I have no voice left. Then, I feel hopeless, and press all the buttons with my open hands. And all at the same time, there is a bell far away. It rings and rings. It is the fire alarm . I think the whole building is on fire. I say to the God quietly, "Just get me out of here. I'll never be bad again." Just then, I realize the lift is moving very slowly. On the ground floor it stops, and the door opens. A man is standing there. "How long have you been there? It is good that you press the alarm bell. But haven't you learned to read at your school? " He points at a small piece of paper on the wall beside the lift. It says: "Attention : This lift will be stopped for repairs between 4 pm and 5 pm on Thursday, March 13." As the situation goes on, the writer becomes _ .
<extra_id_0>more and more scared
<extra_id_1>calmer and calmer
<extra_id_2>more and more bored
<extra_id_3>clearer and clearer
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>Furrow leased in writing a 100-acre farm from Quark for five years at $2,000 per year, with an option to purchase "five acres of the land for $10,000 cash" at the end of the lease term. Before the lease was executed, Quark orally promised to have a five-acre parcel surveyed before the end of the lease term. Furrow took possession of the farm and paid the rent for five years. During the fifth year, having decided that he would exercise the purchase option, Furrow planted several fruit trees and built a large grain silo on the property. At the end of the term, Furrow tendered Quark $10,000 and demanded a conveyance, but Quark repudiated the option agreement and retook possession of the farm. He had never had the five-acre parcel surveyed.In an action by Furrow against Quark for specific performance of the option agreement, which of the following is Quark's best defense?
<extra_id_0>The option part of the agreement is unenforceable because it lacked a separate consideration.
<extra_id_1>The description of the property to be sold in the parties' written agreement is too indefinite to permit the remedy sought.
<extra_id_2>Quark's failure to have the five-acre parcel surveyed was failure of a condition precedent to his own duty of performance.
<extra_id_3>The option part of the agreement is unenforceable under the parol evidence rule.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_1>
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