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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 fire started _ .
<extra_id_0>on London Bridge
<extra_id_1>in a baker's house
<extra_id_2>because the lane was too narrow to allow people to come to help
<extra_id_3>because people could not get enough water to put it out
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<extra_id_5>Which of the following describes how a microwave oven heats food?
<extra_id_0>The oven's interior reflects heat onto the food.
<extra_id_1>The oven's interior, like a lens, focuses heat onto the food.
<extra_id_2>Water molecules in the food reflect energy from microwave radiation.
<extra_id_3>Water molecules in the food absorb the energy of microwave radiation.
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<extra_id_5>There are seven days in a week. They are Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Most children go to school from Monday to Friday. Most people don't work on Saturday afternoon or Sunday, and most shops are closed in England on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. (But in China shops are open every day). Sunday is a holiday. Some people go to church on this day. The time from Friday evening to Monday morning is the weekend. It is the time for rest . We can't work all the time. We have to rest from time to time. Most children don't go to school on _ .
<extra_id_0>Saturday
<extra_id_1>Monday
<extra_id_2>Wednesday
<extra_id_3>Friday
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<extra_id_5>Harry is eight years old. He goes to school near his home. He always goes there and comes home on foot. One day he came home from school late. His mother saw him and asked him, "Why were you late, Harry?" "My teacher was very angry and asked you to go to her office tomorrow." "To her office? Why?" his mother asked. "Because she asked a question in the class." said Harry. "Nobody could answer it, but I could. " "You are so clever, my son. " his mother said with a smile." What is her question?". Her question is "Who put the tomato on my chair and made my trousers dirty?" said Harry. _ can answer the teacher's question in class.
<extra_id_0>Nobody
<extra_id_1>Harry
<extra_id_2>Many students
<extra_id_3>Some students
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<extra_id_5>Many Western people are not used to sitting on the floor any more. In Japan, however, sitting upright on the floor is common in different situations. For example, meals are traditionally had when people sit on the tatami floor around a low table. Also during the tea ceremony and other traditional events, one sits on the floor. The formal way of sitting for both men and women is kneeling upright. People who are not used to sitting in this style may feel uncomfortable after a few minutes, and their legs may go numb. However, foreigners are not usually expected to be able to sit in this style for a long time, and an increasing number of Japanese people themselves aren't able to do so, owing to a more westernized lifestyle. In other situations, men usually sit cross-legged, while women sit on their knees laying both legs to one side. The former sitting style is considered wholly male, while the latter is considered completely female. The most important guest sits on the honored seat which is set farthest from the entrance. If there is a tokonoma in the room, the guest should be seated in front of it. The host or the least important person is supposed to sit next to the entrance. Of course, there are other things to be considered in each particular case. Which of the following situations is NOT mentioned in the passage?
<extra_id_0>When traditional events are held.
<extra_id_1>When a tea ceremony is held.
<extra_id_2>When men and women meet.
<extra_id_3>When meals are traditionally had.
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<extra_id_5>World Expo 2010 Shanghai China is to be staged in Shanghai from May 1 to October 31, 2010. If you plan to visit the Shanghai Expo this summer, China Pavilion is a must - see area for you. China Pavilion, which is called Oriental Crown, is located at the center of the Expo site. Standing 63 meters tall, the China Pavilion takes the shape of an emperor's crown, with the upper layers larger than the lower ones. Covering 160,000 square meters in floor space, the pavilion is made up of a national hall and a regional( ) hall. Buildings on the China Pavilion began on Dec. 18, 2007. The design of the China Pavilion was picked from a total of 344 designs put forward by Chinese from around the world. The pavilion has both traditional and modern features, which helps develop the theme of the 2010 Expo; "Better City, Better Life. For example, it is red in appearance, which covers the traditional Chinese culture, and it is green indoors, with the use of energy - saving techniques. The Shanghai World Expo is expected to attract 70 million visitors from across the globe. It is estimated that 400,000 people will visit the Expo and its 140 pavilions every day during the period, but the China Pavilion is only able to receive about one tenth of the total. How to hold so many people in the pavilion remains a tough task. Luckily, the China Pavilion is built as a permanent landmark. During the Expo, the main structure( ) will be used for an exhibition based on the theme of " Chinese wisdom in urban development" by explaining the values of harmony( ), nature and spirit. The three - story pavilion has three sections. The top floor's "Footprint of the East" will show some of the changes in Chinese cities. There, you can see a film which shows how Chinese cities have changed, especially in the past 30 years. According to Lu Chuan, director of the film, the scenery is like something from Lord of the Rings. On the second floor, "Journey of Wisdom" will explain China's four great inventions. And the ground's " Blossoming" City will display scenes from cities of the future. The China Pavilion can receive _ visitors at most per day.
<extra_id_0>20,000
<extra_id_1>40,000
<extra_id_2>100,000
<extra_id_3>400,000
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<extra_id_5>"This is the third time that you have been late , Julia . Why?"Mr. Malone stopped Julia as she walked by his desk. Julia explained , "I'm sorry . I was cleaning the tables in the science room . Someone spilled the chemical , so cleaning took me longer than usual . " Mr. Malone replied . "I've talked to you about your lateness . I am afraid you won't be able to go with us in the field trip .""But..." Julia cried . Mr. Malone stopped her . "Unless your parent comes in to discuss this with headmaster and me , you won't be attending . " After dinner , Julia found the courage to talk to her dad . She told about the messy science tables and how her science teacher would deduct points from their daily grades if they did not clean up . Her friends' next class was on the opposite side of the building . Since her class was nearby , Julia volunteered to help clean up so that her friends would not be late . Then she explained how this would prevent her from attending the school trip . Her dad watched her for several seconds . Finally , he simply said , "I'll be there right after school ." The next day after school , Julia walked to the office . Her father and Mr. Malone were already there . Mrs. Thompson , the headmaster , spoke , "Julia , why were you cleaning the science tables alone ?" Julia answered slowly ,"I guess no one wants to clean up , and I don't want my friends to get into trouble . ""But you got yourself in trouble . "Mrs. Thompson said . Julia nodded . Julia's dad continued , "You're still responsible for breaking the rules ; even if it was for a good reason . Do you have any ideas for a punishment ? " Julia shook her head hopelessly . "Normally , your lateness would prevent you from attending some school activities . However , I have considered the reason and will allow you to go on the trip . "Mrs. Thompson said . Julia jumped out of her seat , repeating , "Thank you , thank you , thank you ! ""Don't be too excited . You'll have a one-day detention for each lateness . "Mrs. Thompson warned , "I hope you won't be late again . " "No , madam , I won't ." Julia replied , smiling from ear to ear . Julia helped clean up the science tables so that _ .
<extra_id_0>her friends would get points
<extra_id_1>she would not be punished
<extra_id_2>she would be praised by teachers
<extra_id_3>her friends would not be late
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<extra_id_5>Do lobsters, crabs and other crustaceans feel pain? We certainly act as if they don't.Most chefs cook lobsters and crabs alive, usually by dumping them in boiling water.Along with melted butter.That's the appeal of crustaceans-there's no fresher food.We may feel a bit of guilt, or maybe just discomfort, when we hear the creatures rattling around the inside of the pot as the water boils.But that feeling usually _ for lobster lovers by the time we crack open a claw and dig out the delicious meat.We wouldn't dream of doing the same thing to a live chicken or pig which are dead well before die cooking process begins, but those crustaceans are different.They don't even feel pain.Right? Actually, they just might.That's the conclusion of a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology.Robert Elwood and Barry Magee of Queen's University in Belfast examined the reaction of common shore crabs to small electrical shocks. Ninety crabs were placed in a brightly lit area and were given the choice of moving to one of two dark shelters.(Shore crabs like to hide in dark, tight spaces.) Once they'd made their choice, the crabs in one of the shelters were exposed to an electric shock.After a rest period, the crabs were returned to the lit tank.Most of the crabs went back into the dark shelters, and then the same crabs were given another electric shock.When they were placed back into the lit tank for the third time, the majority of the shocked crabs instead went to the other dark shelter, avoiding the one where they had repeatedly been shocked. As Elwood put it, the crabs' choice indicated they wanted to escape the shocks: Having experienced two rounds of shocks, the crabs learned to avoid the shelter where they received the shock. They were willing to give up their hideaway in order to avoid the source of their probable pain. In the experiment, the shore crabs _ .
<extra_id_0>were placed into two dark shelters
<extra_id_1>were given electric shocks in the lit tank
<extra_id_2>were able to choose which shelter to go to
<extra_id_3>were put into the lit tank twice
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<extra_id_5>Last year I travelled to Paris by plane. I was very excited because I knew I would meet a lot of interesting people and see some amazing things there. On the night before I left, I was so excited that I couldn't sleep at all. When I sat on the plane the next day, I felt very tired. I wanted to have a good sleep during the 9-hour flight. Unluckily, there was a baby sitting next to me. It cried and screamed during the whole trip. How could I fall asleep with all of that noise? When I arrived in Paris at last, it was already 8 o'clock in the evening. I felt even more tired. After getting off the plane, I went to my hotel at once. I paid no attention to the beautiful evening scenery of Paris. I just wanted to have a good rest in my room. When I lay down on the comfortable bed, I fell asleep very quickly. A sudden noise woke me up at midnight. I didn't know what happened, so I turned on the light. What did I see? You wouldn't believe it! I saw two mice playing on the floor! What a terrible trip! What did the writer see in the hotel room at midnight?
<extra_id_0>A mouse.
<extra_id_1>A cat.
<extra_id_2>Two cats.
<extra_id_3>Two mice.
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<extra_id_5>Getting in touch with nature can help keep people fit, reducing the burden of sickness on the health service, conservation experts say. Natural England is starting a campaign to get people to spend more time outside among the country's wildlife and natural environment. The aim of the campaign is to get people to have more contact with nature by promoting green spaces and encouraging health professionals to incorporate (......) the thought into the advice and care plans that they give to patients. Being close to nature can cut stress and increase physical activity. Dr. William Bird from Natural England said: "Increasing evidence suggests that both physical and mental health are improved through contact with nature. Yet people are having less contact with nature than at any time in the past. This has to change. Children with attention disorders have been shown to improve when they have contact with nature. People recovering from operations have been shown to need fewer painkillers if they look out at green fields." He also said people were more likely to keep up with their regular exercise in natural settings, rather than in a gym or leisure centre. Natural England is working with the BBC and more than 300 partners to promote its campaign, which will be the first of four campaigns to get people more involved in nature. Liz Cleaver, from the BBC, said: "These campaigns now provide the public with the opportunity to get outside and to get actively involved in nature close to where they live. That's great for wildlife --but it's also fantastic for everyone's health and well-being." The campaign has also received support from the government. Dr. Fiona Adshead, England's deputy chief medical officer, said: "I welcome Natural England's commitment to encourage and enable people to make use of the country's outdoor space for physical activity." What is the best title for the text?
<extra_id_0>Being in Contact with Nature Is Good for Health
<extra_id_1>How to Protect Wild Animals in the UK
<extra_id_2>An Introduction to Natural England
<extra_id_3>A Campaign that Helps People Get Closer to Nature
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<extra_id_5>Scientists study the ocean in many different ways. Although many marine scientists focus on animals in the ocean, others seek to gain a better understanding of the ocean's chemical and physical components . Scientists are learning a great deal about the natural and human-caused processes that shape the ocean and its many life forms. Much of the present research focuses on how human activity influences the ocean. Clean water is a limited resource, and ocean pollution does harm to plant and animal health. Some scientists are now studying ocean water to find out just how contaminated it is. Scientists are also working on new methods to estimate the presence of poisons in the ocean, which will help them develop better techniques for cleaning up the water. Others look at how sea living things get used to poisons because poisonous sea life has an effect on humans too. For example, some seafood is poisoned, which may cause a threat to humans who eat it. Another type of marine scientist tries to learn more about the history of the ocean. Understanding the ocean's past tells scientists more about its patterns and cycles today and in the future. The ocean's past, which is recorded by deposits in the ocean floor, helps scientists understand such important matters as global climate change and other environmental differences. The more researchers learn about the history of the ocean and its relation to climatic and environmental changes, the more likely that they will one day understand what causes such changes. Other scientists are concerned with understanding how ocean systems work. The word systems refers to all the conditions and elements that are continually changing the ocean. Understanding these systems is necessary to protect the ocean and ensure the safety of its life forms. The cycles of ocean life also have an enormous effect on human life; for example, studying coastal waters is important because they provide much of the fish that humans eat. Marine geologists are earth scientists who work along the ocean floor. The Ocean Drilling Program, a 20-nation effort, drills the ocean floor and removes material for study. Among other achievements, this program has found evidence of a giant meteorite impact ,which supports the theory that dinosaurs died out after the earth suffered a climate change caused by a crash with a large meteor. Other marine geologists focus on more recent events, such as the destruction of shorelines. According to the passage, we can know that one focus of marine geology is _ .
<extra_id_0>the destruction of the ocean plants
<extra_id_1>the form of the ocean floor
<extra_id_2>the development of ocean living things
<extra_id_3>the history of the ocean
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<extra_id_5>A famous American John Muir said in 1898: "The Grand Canyon... as unearthly in the color and grandeur of its architecture as if you had found it after death on some other star." Like Muir, those of us who stand along the rim are prompted to wonder about the unearthliness and the forces that created and are still changing this place. After more than 100 years of studies, many things are still mysterious. Today visitors come by the thousands -- the great and simple of the earth -- all in a spirit of wonder. Travelers come from every state of the Union, from every country in Europe and Asia. From the depths of the canyon comes welling silence. Seldom can you hear the roar of the river, for all sounds are swallowed in this gulf of space. "It makes one want to murmur." A woman once whispered to her companion. This silence is not the silence of death; rather, it is a presence. It is like a great piece of music. But music made of man works up to a climax and stops. Now, visitors to the South Rim alone may number 18,000 in a single day. Some of that number will travel by mule train down Bright Angel Trail to the canyon's floor, cross the raging river by a suspension bridge and walk to the North Rim. Though the two rims face each other across only 12 miles, it is a journey of 214 miles by car from one to the other. Nor can you visit the North Rim except in summer; some 1,200 feet higher than the South Rim, it is snow covered much of the year except in July and August. But there is no day that you may not visit the South Rim and find the sun warm on your face and the air perfumed with the incense of smoke from an Indian hearth . No wonder an American writer and journalist said, "I came here an atheist , and departed a devout believer." If you want to visit the North Rim from the South Rim, which of the following won't be the way of traveling for you?
<extra_id_0>By train.
<extra_id_1>By animal.
<extra_id_2>By car.
<extra_id_3>On foot.
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<extra_id_5>Below is a web page from Google. The completer results archive of summer and winter Olympic games, with winners lists, statistics, national anthems and flags of all contries since 1896. www. olympic. it/english/home-16k Beijing steel plants to run at the lowest level of cost during 2008 Olympics [2007-03-11] Beijing able to treat 90 pct of waste water [2007-02-05] *Air quality in Beijing has improved over the past six years [2007-02-01]*Green Olympics dream coming true ... en. Beijing2008.com/80/67/column211716780.shtml-52k Beijing announced the 2008 Olympic Games torch relay route and set off the Olympic Games torch on Thursday. ... Green Olympics is one of the three concepts of the Beijing Games. ... english.china.com/zh _ cn/news/sports/110592227/14069663.html-26k Environmental Symbol of Beijing Olympics --'Green Olympics', officially announced on Saturday, 24 September 2005. The symbol, created using a calligraphic art form, is composed of human and tree-like shapes, ... my.opera.com/green _ head/blog/show.dml/92155-18k On behalf of BOCOC, Wang Wei, executive vice president of BOCOC, gave a presentation about Green Olympics, introduced the environment protection work of BMC and BOCOC, and answered several questions such as protection of cultural relics ... en.beijing2008.com/84/91/article211929184.shtml-36k Who was the founder of the Modern Olympics? In which cities were the modern Olympic Games due to be held/ scheduled during the 'war years', i.e., 1916, 1940, and 1944? ... In which three years of the Modern Olympic Games were ... More questions ... www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/sports/ olympic _ games.html-12k ... aimed at young researchers engaged in scholarly research on the Olympic Movement, its history and values, and the impact of the ...[ Full story] SPORT ACCORD[2005-01-23]... www.olympic.org/ As put forward in the various official texts, the Olympic symbols of ancient Olympia, the Olympic flame and the Marathon race are bridges between the ancient and the modern Olympic Games, ... www.c2008.org/rendanews/knowledge _ detail.asp?id=911-106k When was the environmental symbol of Beijing Olympics made public?
<extra_id_0>On January 23, 2005.
<extra_id_1>On September 24, 2005.
<extra_id_2>On February 5, 2007.
<extra_id_3>On March 11, 2007.
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<extra_id_5>The malls were filled with people seeking gifts for their loved ones. Some of the malls remained open around the clock, partly to satisfy our needs to buy gifts. Behind the materialistic aspect of shopping for gifts lies the idea of caring, being attentive to the desires of special people in our lives. However, to use a well-worn play on words: it is our presence, not our presents, that truly counts. Many of us, unfortunately, can be so inattentive, even in the presence of our loved ones, that we might as well not be there at all. Attention is one of the greatest gifts we can give each other. Companies around the globe spend billions every year on advertising to catch our attention for just a short moment at a time. Whole industries - media, entertainment, education - rely on the precious gift of our attention for their continued existence. A baby lacking attention for a long time is likely to he psychologically unhealthy. In earlier times, both diet and attention could be left unregulated without major cause for concern. There were natural checks and balances: limited availability of food meant few got fat, for example. Similarly, in bygone times we might have spent a few hours communicating with the village storyteller, today, watching an entire TV series, while speaking to nobody, is common. In traditional societies, with smaller population, everyone would get a fair deal of attention. On many issues we might go to see Grandma or Grandpa; now we have Google and Wikipedia. "She just wants attention." people tend to think little of those doing things simply for attention. But the truth is that human beings need attention, and giving attention to each other is, to a large extent, what human civilization is based upon. This perhaps explains the runaway success of social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. While we use such sites for "micro blogging", "idea voicing" and "status updates" - the reality is that we are often doing no more or less than fulfilling our basic human drive for attention exchange. I friend you, you friend me, I retweet you, you retweet me. The charming case with which we can now get and give attention is why many people appear overly attached to their smartphones. It is also a vicious circle. As ever more people are busy exchanging attention online, there is increasingly less attention to be paid in the real world, which forces more people to seek their attention exchange online, or else risk attention-starvation. The very nature of attention exchange is being rapidly transformed, and there is a danger that some of us will develop unhealthy practices. Just as eating red meat every day is a bad idea, so it is with too much attention exchange. The biological consequences of our technological advancement in food production are highly visible; heart disease, diabetes and obesity. The consequences of our transformed attention exchanges will be psychological and social, and so may take longer to identify, but they will be equally damaging. Face-to-face attention is becoming rarer, and therefore more valuable. In a sense it is priceless. And it is a gift that can be given all-year-round. Attention exchange was not a major concern in traditional societies because of _ .
<extra_id_0>limited availability of food
<extra_id_1>natural checks and balances
<extra_id_2>a much smaller population
<extra_id_3>the guidance from old people
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<extra_id_5>Rico is a dog who lives in Germany . His owners trained him from a young age to find his toys. When they say the name of a certain toy, Rico can find it. In fact, he seems to know the names of 200 toys! Some researchers in Germany wanted to test Rico. They put his toys in a room and then told him to go in the room and find a certain toy. Since nobody was in the room with Rico, he had no help from anyone finding the right toy. The researchers did this test forty times. Rico found the right toy thirty-seven times! Then the researchers tried something else. They put seven of Rico's toys in the room together with one new toy that Rico had never seen before. Then they told Rico to go into the room and get the new toy. This new toy had a name Rico had never heard before. Rico found the right toy seven out of ten times! Researchers cannot really say that Rico knows words or language. However, these tests seem to show that Rico can think about what he hears and think about what he knows. In fact, Rico seems to think and remember things as well as a three-year-old child. From these tests, animal researchers know one thing for sure. Rico has given them a lot to think about. From the passage we know that Rico is good at _ .
<extra_id_0>catching toys
<extra_id_1>counting toys
<extra_id_2>finding toys
<extra_id_3>putting toys in order
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<extra_id_5>Inland waters may be grouped into two general classes: standing waters and flowing waters. As is often the case, the boundary between these two classes is not sharp and clear. A pond is an example of standing water. But most ponds are fed by springs or brooks and most have an outlet. Thus some current of changing water flows through them. On the other hand, a river is an example of flowing water. In some places, however, a river may have such a slow current that it is very difficult to detect. Standing inland waters differ in size, in age, and in many _ environmental characteristics. They range in size from roadside puddles to the Caspian Sea. Puddles may last for only a few days or weeks; ponds, for a few hundred to a thousand years. In general, lakes are older, though the waters of some tropical "lakes" disappear completely during each dry season. Standing waters vary from very shallow to very deep, from clear to muddy, from fresh to salty. In flowing waters we roughly distinguish between brooks, creeks, and rivers. The size and age of flowing waters are unimportant. Speed of flow, clearness, oxygen content, and other chemical characteristics are used by scientists in studying flowing-water ecosystems. According to the passage, which of the following characteristics of flowing waters is unimportant?
<extra_id_0>Clarity.
<extra_id_1>Size.
<extra_id_2>Speed of flow.
<extra_id_3>Oxygen content.
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<extra_id_5>Weather changes when the temperature and the amount of water in the atmosphere change. We can see and feel water coming from the atmosphere when we have rain. But the water must somehow get back to the atmosphere. Meteorologists call this the water cycle. There are many stages in the water cycle. Rain falls when water vapour in clouds condenses . Drops of water form and fall to the ground. The water soaks into the ground and feeds streams and rivers. A lot of rain falls into the sea. The heat of the sun evaporates some of the water in the ground and in the rivers, lakes, and the sea. It changes the liquid water into water vapour. The vapour rises onto the air. Water vapour is normally invisible. On a very damp or humid day, however, you can sometimes see water vapour rising from a puddle or pond in a mist above the water. Water vapour also gets into the air from living things. Trees and other plants take in water through their roots and give off water vapour from their leaves. People and land animals drink water and breathe out water vapour. In all these ways the water returns to the air. There it gathers to form clouds and condenses to form rain. The rain falls to earth, and the cycle starts again. It continues even if snow or hail fall instead because both eventually melt to form water. The amount of water vapour in the air depends on the temperature. The air is more moist in the tropics than in the cold polar regions. From the passage we get to know _ .
<extra_id_0>there is more water vapour in the air in the tropics than in cold polar regions
<extra_id_1>there is more water vapour in the air in cold polar region than in the tropics
<extra_id_2>it gets more rain in the tropics than in cold polar regions because there is less vapour
<extra_id_3>the amount of water vapour in the air depends on how often it rains
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<extra_id_5>A towering South American plant that is believed to kill animals with its spikes and use their rotting bodies as fertilizer is about to bloom in England. A rare Puya chilensis was planted at a greenhouse in Surrey, a county in the southeast of England about 15 years ago. However, despite its frightening description, the tall, spiked plant is considered a threatened species. The Royal Horticultural Society has been feeding the plant a diet of liquid fertilizer. "In its natural habitat in the Andes it uses its razor sharp spikes to _ and trap sheep and other animals, which slowly starve to death and rot at the base of the plant, providing it with a bag of fertilizer," reads a description on the RHS website, which adds that the plant gives off a "gruesome scent." But does the plant actually trap and eat sheep? Other sources have simply said it is "believed" that the plant traps small animals with its spikes. After the animals die of starvation, the plant is "believed" to then use their rotting bodies as fertilizer to feed itself. "I'm really pleased that we've finally persuaded our Puya chilensis into producing flower," horticulturalist Cara Smith said in a press release on the RHS site. Regardless of whether it actually traps sheep, the plant does have sharp spikes that can grow up to 12 feet high and 5 feet wide. However, it's not all death and danger for this plant. Its flowery blooms reportedly provide nectar for bees and birds. The Puya chilensis blooms annually in its native land of Chile, but this is the first time it has done so after more than a decade of cultivation efforts from the RHS. "We keep it well fed with liquid fertilizer as feeding it on its natural diet might prove a bit problematic," Smith said. "It's growing in the dry section of our glasshouse with its deadly spines well out of reach of both children and sheep alike." We can infer from the passage that _ .
<extra_id_0>it's dangerous to feed the plant
<extra_id_1>it's certain that the plant kills sheep
<extra_id_2>it's difficult for the plant to bloom in England
<extra_id_3>it's rare for the plant to bloom in South American
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<extra_id_5>You went to the butcher's for meat, the pharmacy for aspirin, and the grocery store for food. But when I spent the summer with my Grandmother in Warwick, N.Y., she sent me down to the general store with a list. How could I hope to find anything on the packed, messy shelves around me? I walked up to the counter. Behind it was a lady like no one I'd ever seen. Fake-jewel-encrusted glasses teetered on the tip of her nose, gray hair was piled on her head. "Excuse me," I said. She looked up. "You're that Clements kid," she said. "I'm Miss Bee. Come closer and let me get a look at you." She pushed her glasses up her nose. "I want to be able to describe you to the sheriff if something goes missing from the store." "I'm not a thief!" I was shocked. I was seven years old, too young to be a thief! "From what I can see you're not much of anything. But I can tell you've got potential." She went back to reading her newspaper. "I need to get these." I said, holding up my list. "So? Go get them." Miss Bee pointed to a sign on the screen door. "There's no one here except you and me and I'm not your servant, so I suggest you get yourself a basket from that pile over there and start filling. If you're lucky you'll be home by sundown." Sundown was five hours away. I wasn't sure I would make it. I scanned the nearest shelf for the first item on my list: pork and beans. It took me three wall-to-wall searches before I found a can nestled between boxes of cereal and bread. Next up was toilet paper, found under the daily newspaper. Band-Aids --where had I seen them? Oh, ye next to the face cream. The store was a puzzle, but it held some surprises too. I found a new Superman comic tucked behind the peanut butter. I visited Miss Bee a couple of times a week that summer. Sometimes she short-changed me. Other times she overcharged. Or sold me an old newspaper instead of one that was current. Going to the store was more like going into battle. I left my Grandma's house armed with my list--memorized to the letter--and marched into Miss Bee's like General Patton marching into North Africa. "That can of beans is only twenty-nine cents!" I corrected her one afternoon. I had watched the numbers change on the cash register closely, and Miss Bee had added 35 cents. She didn't seem embarrassed that I had caught her overcharging. She just looked at me over her glasses and fixed the price. Not that she ever let me declare victory. All summer long she found ways to trip me up. No sooner had I learned how to pronounce bicarbonate of soda and memorized its location on the shelf than Miss Bee rearranged the shelves and made me hunt for it all over again. By summer's end the shopping trip that had once taken me an hour was done in 15 minutes. The morning I was to return to Brooklyn, I stopped in to get a packet of gum. "All right, Miss Potential," she said. "What did you learn this summer?" That you're a meany! I pressed my lips together. To my amazement, Miss Bee laughed. "I know what you think of me," she said. "Well, here's a news flash: I don't care! Each of us is put on this earth for a reason. I believe my job is to teach every child I meet ten life lessons to help them. Think what you will, Miss Potential, but when you get older you'll be glad our paths crossed!" Glad I met Miss Bee? Ha! The idea was absurd. Until one day my daughter came to me with homework troubles. "It's too hard," she said. "Could you finish my math problems for me?" "If I do it for you how will you ever learn to do it yourself?" I said. Suddenly, I was back at that general store where I had learned the hard way to tally up my bill along with the cashier. Had I ever been overcharged since? As my daughter went back to her homework, I wondered: Had Miss Bee really taught me something all those years ago? I took out some scrap paper and started writing. Why did the writer spend a long time doing her first shopping in the general store?
<extra_id_0>She was too young to remember all the items on the list.
<extra_id_1>Miss Bee thought she was a thief and did not treat her kindly.
<extra_id_2>Her grandmother asked her to buy too many things.
<extra_id_3>The store was in disorder and she was not familiar with the shop.
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<extra_id_5>The publication of "Harry Potterandthe Half-Blood Prince" gladdens booksellers across China. The British and American editions were No. 1 and No. 3 respectively on the sales chart of the Beijing Xidan Book Building last week. The book's poster is highlighted and news about the book can often be heard on the radio. Why is the book so attractive to children? With curious mood, the author got a copy of "Harry Potter". Originally, I wanted to glance over it and made some criticisms. But, out of expectation, the author has been deeply attracted by the magic world. On the other hand, one cannot help asking: _ Harry Potter"? The Chinese nation has a history of 5, 000 years, which cannot be regarded as short and its culture as not profound. With a vast market of youngsters, China did publish many books popular among children. However, why are the present works not as good as those imported? There come two major reasons: Firstly, quite a number of children's books are of strong sense of teaching, and lack interest and entertainment. Children often have a feeling of being "educated". No wonder they don't like them. Secondly, children's reading materials involving "idiom stories" and "Chinese talents' stories", though always in different covers, are usually much the same or plagiarized . One knows the ending as early as in the beginning. In final analysis, the authors of the books seldom take children's requirements into consideration. As a matter of fact, each child has his own wonderful imagination. They long to understand the world and nature. Similarly they have their own choices. They dislike similar stories, even if the stories are excellent. First-class reading for children should be very interesting, which contains knowledge and the essence of national culture, which are presented in children's language. Market is a touchstone for products. The theory also holds true for cultural products. It is hoped that the authors of children's books can learn something from the good market of "Harry Potter" and write out more and better books loved by children. The reason why the imported book is so popular is that _ .
<extra_id_0>it has no sense of teaching
<extra_id_1>it opens a wonderful world for children to explore
<extra_id_2>it is only written in children's language
<extra_id_3>it is advertised more on TV or poster.
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<extra_id_5>Liverpool Discover the best music, sport, culture ... in the UK Liverpool MUSIC The Beatles Story The world-famous 1960s music group came from Liverpool. Find out about The Beatles at the Beatles Story. Open every day except Dec. 25th and 26th. Adult:PS15.95 Child:PS7.00 Child under five: Free Liverpool SPORT Liverpool FC This city loves football. Visit Anfield football stadium, home of Liverpool FC, Liverpool's favorite football club, and take a tour. Closed on weekends. Adult:PS15.00 Child:PS9.00 Child under five: Free Liverpool MUSEUM The Museum of Liverpool Learn all about the history and culture of Liverpool. Open daily 10:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m. Free! Liverpool SHOPPING Liverpool ONE Find the best shopping in the center of Liverpool at Liverpool ONE, a big shopping center. Opened in 2008. More than 160 shops, restaurants and cinemas. , We might read the material _ .
<extra_id_0>in a geography textbook
<extra_id_1>in an English dictionary
<extra_id_2>in a travel magazine
<extra_id_3>in a storybook
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<extra_id_5>A blog can be a very effective way of spreading the words about yourself, and your other writing. It can _ your knowledge, and create an ongoing relationship with your readers. A good blog is more than just a marketing tool; it's also an expression of your personality. An obvious starting point is to post samples of your work that not only show off your skills and writing ability but also leave people wanting more. Post elections from the most exciting parts of your stories but end them just as the action reaches its peak. If you write nonfiction , show people what they could achieve, and give them a few steps to get them started. Give tips, information and advice about the subjects you cover. For example, something about struggling with difficulty and many other issues like this. Your writing tips can also be included, as well as interesting, strange or funny things you discovered during your research. Whenever you contact an expert, ask if he or she has any interesting stories you could use. You many also give background information about your stories and locations Give details of coming posts on your blog, so people can watch out for you, or come and meet you. Personal news will help people feel better connected to you Include photos of objects and locations in your writing, famous people you meet, the views from your window, and your favorite things - with a note about where they came from and what they mean to you. Look out for things that will help your readers get to know you better, know the subject better, or anything else you think they might find useful, inspiring or entertaining. If you only occasionally post things on your blog, people have a tendency to forget you. As a writer you shouldn't ever run out of interesting materials to fill your blog with --and your readers will love you for it. What does the author suggest for keeping a blog?
<extra_id_0>Posting things on your blog once in a while.
<extra_id_1>Adding new stories to it every day.
<extra_id_2>Filling it with attractive things frequently.
<extra_id_3>Loving it as your life.
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<extra_id_5>Most students try to learn English grammar using grammar textbooks. They study grammar rules and take grammar tests. They use an analytical approach, attempting to memorize, and then apply, a great number of rules. However, research has proved this method inefficient and ineffective. The truth is, the human brain simply cannot consciously remember process and use hundreds of or thousands of grammar rules. Real speech is too fast. Native speakers do not learn grammar in this way, but rather intuitively and unconsciously. They learn in a complete way, not by attempting to memorize individual grammar rules. As a result, native speakers use correct grammar fluently and easily. Fortunately, it is possible for English learners to learn grammar this way. Language teacher Blaine Ray has developed a unique "intuitive" approach to teach English grammar. Her system uses "point of view" stories to teach the patterns of English grammar, allowing students unconsciously to acquire correct grammar without ever studying grammar rules. In this system, the teacher first tells a simple story from one point of view. It may be told about the past, then repeated, but beginning with "since he was a child"; then repeated again, but this time about the future. Listening to these stories allows students intuitively and effortlessly to learn English grammar and makes them be able to use it correctly when they speak. Point of View Stories is a creative new way to study English grammar, and offers hope to millions of frustrated English learners. Which of the following ways is approved by the author?
<extra_id_0>Remembering grammar rules.
<extra_id_1>Taking grammar tests.
<extra_id_2>Analyzing grammatical structure.
<extra_id_3>Applying language to situations.
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<extra_id_5>The common cold is the world's most widespread illness, which is a serious infection that man receives. The most widespread mistake of all is that colds are caused by cold. They are not. They are caused by viruses passing on from person to person. You catch a cold by touching directly or indirectly, with someone who already has one. If cold causes colds, it would be reasonable to expect the Eskimos to suffer from them forever. But they do not. And in separate Arctic areas, explorers have reported being free from colds until touching again with infected people from the outside world by way of packages and mail dropped from airplanes. During the First World War, soldiers who spent long periods in the trenches, cold and wet, seldom caught colds. In the Second World War, prisoners at Auschwitz concentration camp, bare and starved, were astonished to find that they seldom had colds. At the Common Cold Research Unit in England, volunteers took part in experiments in which they gave themselves to the discomforts of being cold and wet for a long time. After taking hot baths, they put on bathing suits, allowed themselves to be with cold water, and then stood about dripping wet in a room. Some wore wet socks all day while others exercised in the rain until close to exhaustion. Not one of the volunteers came down with a cold unless a cold virus was actually dropped in his nose. If then, cold and wet have nothing to do with catching colds, why are they more frequent in winter? Despite the most hard research, no one has yet found out the answer. One explanation offered by scientists is that people tend to stay together indoors more in cold weather than at other times, and that makes it easier for cold viruses to be passed on. No one has yet found a cure for the cold. There are drugs and pain-killers such as aspirin, but all that they do is to reduce the symptoms. Arctic explorers may catch colds when _ .
<extra_id_0>they are working in the separate Arctic areas
<extra_id_1>they are writing reports in terribly cold weather
<extra_id_2>they are free from work in the isolated Arctic regions
<extra_id_3>they are coming into touch again with the outside world
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<extra_id_5>Roger Rolls was the first black governor in the history of New York State, USA. He was born in one of New York's notorious slums. The children born here rarely did decent work after they grew up. However, Roger Rolls was an exception, for he was not only admitted to the university, but also he became a governor. At his inaugural press conference, a reporter asked him, "What made you become the governor?" Faced with more than 300 journalists, Rolls did not mention his struggle but only spoke of his primary school schoolmaster---Pierre Paul. In 1961, Pierre Paul was engaged as the director and principle of Nobita Primary School. When he entered this school, he found the children here didn't cooperate with the teachers. Pierre thought up many ways to guide them, but none was effective. Later, he found these children were very superstitious , so when he gave lectures, he added a program of palm reading as a means of fortune-telling, with which he encouraged the students. When Rolls Jumped from the hathpace and walked to the platform with his small hands stretched out, Pierre Paul said, "As soon as I see your slender little fingers, I know you will be the governor of New York State in future." At that moment, Rolls was shocked because only his grandmother inspired him once, saying that he could become the governor of New York State, so he remembered that remark and believed him. From that day on, the "New York State Governor" was like a banner that constantly inspired him to study energetically and make progress. Rolls no longer stained his clothes with mud, nor did he speak in foul language. He began to straighten his back when he was walking. In the next more than 40 years, he demanded himself according to the identity of a governor. At the age of 51, he finally became the governor of New York State. Put up a banner of faith for yourself and you will have the drive to struggle and the vitality of life. We know from Para. 2 that _ .
<extra_id_0>Pierre Paul was expert at palm reading
<extra_id_1>Nobita primary School was a key school in 1961
<extra_id_2>Pierre Paul had a unique way of guiding his students
<extra_id_3>at first students in Pierre Paul's primary school obeyed school rules well
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<extra_id_5>Kieron Williamson, a seven-year-old British boy, is being recognized as an art genius after selling 16 paintings for 18,000 pounds in just 14 minutes. This boy has artistic skills that would be the envy of any serious painter and drawn comparisons to Pablo Picasso, a child prodigy who became one of the most recognized artists of the 20th century. It all began on a family holiday to Cornwall on the southwest English coast when Kieron was five. Inspired by the view, he asked his parents for his first sketch-pad .From that moment on, he became deeply interested. While supportive, Kieron's parents are careful not to push their son. He only paints when and what he wants. He has a waiting list of hundreds and requests for his work have been flooding in. His father said a sale of Kieron's works held in November even drew a buyer from Japan. "We had people driving down that night, there were people on the door waiting to come in the morning who had been standing outside, the phones were going mad as soon as the door opened at nine o'clock and within 14 minutes all the 16 pictures had gone," he said. All this talent, money and high praise could so easily go to a young boy's head, but Kieron said his friends keep him grounded. "Some of them want to be as good as me and some of them think... Umn, 'you are not too special'," he said. Kieron's favorite painter is British artist Edward Seago and he has spent some of his earnings buying a work by his hero. The rest is being invested by his parents until he reaches 25. Kieron's parents and his younger sister Billi-Jo don't see him as anything other than a normal seven-year-old who likes to tear around the house and who's mad about football. But for now, with so much still to learn, there's only one thing he wants to be when he grows up. He said, "I think I'll definitely be an artist." In Kieron Williamson's friends' opinion, he_.
<extra_id_0>is famous but a little proud
<extra_id_1>isn't very special from other children
<extra_id_2>isn't worth praising at all
<extra_id_3>is hard to get along with
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<extra_id_5>Height is just one of the thousands of features your genes decide. In fact, because you have two parents, your genes provide you a height that usually lands somewhere between the height of each parent. If both your parents are tall, then most probably you will be tall, too, but if you have questions about how tall you're going to be, ask your doctor if he or she can help you find it out. But genes don't decide everything. For example, eating an unhealthy diet can keep you from growing to your ideal height. Getting plenty of sleep and enough exercise will help you grow to the expected height. No doubt you're wondering how fast you should grow. It depends. There's no perfect or right answer. Generally speaking, kids grow about 2 inches (6 centimeters) a year between age 3 and the time when they start puberty (when your body starts changing and becoming more grown up). Your doctor will know how your growth has been going over the years. Two centimeters here and 2 inches there are not nearly as important as the height you're at now, how you've been growing up to this point, and what other changes your body may be going through. Don't be scared if you seem to have grown a lot in a very short time. Everyone has a growth spurt during puberty. The age for starting puberty is about 10 for girls and about 11 for boys. But it can be earlier or later ---between 7 and 13 for girls and 9 and 15 for boys. You'll usually begin to notice that you're growing faster about a year or so after your body starts to show the first changes of puberty. After reading this passage, we can explain _ .
<extra_id_0>how good it is to be a doctor
<extra_id_1>how much sleep time we need
<extra_id_2>why genes can't decide everything
<extra_id_3>what healthy diet is
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<extra_id_5>We live in the computer age. People use computers to do much of their work, such as playing games, listening to music, shopping and so on. But few people know how to take care of them. Please remember the following when you use your computer: 1.Keep your computer in a dry cool room. Too much heat is bad for computers. 2. Do not smoke near your computer. Smoking is also bad for them. 3. Do not drink or eat near computers. A little water and pieces of food in the keyboard are also bad for a computer. 4. Keep your screen clean and do not have it too bright. They are bad for your eyes. Make sure the screen is not too far or too near your eyes when you use a computer. What can people do with computers?
<extra_id_0>playing games.
<extra_id_1>listening to music.
<extra_id_2>shopping.
<extra_id_3>all of them above.
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<extra_id_5>Believing overweight among school children is the result of bake sales, the Education Department of New York declared that bake sales will be banned all through the states, as a part of their new "wellness"policy. The ban gives a harder time to schools tying to earn money,because of budget difficulties. Bake sales have proven to be highly profitable toward schools with young people because the start-up costs are very small. Allie,a Roslyn High School freshman , agrees that bake sales are needed for school supplies."l think it's wrong for schools to ban bake sales because a lot of schools need the money to be raised. Our school could really use the money for new uniforms."Allie also commented on the bake sales apparent cause of child overweight. "I feel that it is the student's choice to eat the baked goods. lf they want it, let them have it."Jessica,another Roslyn High School freshman, had a different opinion."I feel that children can not always stay away from items such as cupcakes. It might be better if the amount of bake sales were limited, and only allowed students to buy one item." New York Education advisors are having trouble coming up with substitute product for students to sell. A plan of advertising healthier foods has come into play. However the department needs to consider if students will go for items like vegetables. Allie and Jessica don't think so."Students might not like the healthier foods. This way, the schools are gaining less money."Allie shares. Another plan to think about is the idea of not selling food products altogether. Alternate programs are being conducted throughout New York schools,such as walk-a-thons, as a healthy way for students to earn money for their schools. According to Jessica, the cupcakes _
<extra_id_0>Don't belong to the bake sales
<extra_id_1>Should't be banned at school
<extra_id_2>Mustn't be sold at schools
<extra_id_3>can be fully replaced by vegetables
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<extra_id_5>Mr. Smith has two cats. One is big and the other is small. He likes them very much. One day his good friend Mr. White comes to see him. He is very surprised .He finds there are two holes in the door, a big hole and a small hole. He says, "My dear friend, why are there two holes in your door?" "To let them in and out." Mr. Black answers. "But why are there two holes?" his friend asks, "How can the big cat go through the small hole?" According to this passage. _ is not necessary .
<extra_id_0>The big hole
<extra_id_1>The small hole
<extra_id_2>The big door.
<extra_id_3>The small door.
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<extra_id_5>In which pair of elements are both metalloids?
<extra_id_0>Sn and Sb
<extra_id_1>Sb and Te
<extra_id_2>Te and I
<extra_id_3>I and Xe
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<extra_id_5>A doorbell contains a simple electromagnet. Which change would most likely increase the strength of an electromagnet?
<extra_id_0>longer wires
<extra_id_1>fewer wire coils
<extra_id_2>an aluminum core
<extra_id_3>a larger power source
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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. Why did the Egyptians search for the permanent essence of an object?
<extra_id_0>Egyptian art was thought to be unrealistic constructivism.
<extra_id_1>They should present a person in his individual movements.
<extra_id_2>The reality of the visible was only the presence of an instant.
<extra_id_3>The appearance of the object features largely in the reality.
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<extra_id_5>Wind is the great maker of waves. There are exceptions , such as the tidal waves sometimes caused by earthquakes under the sea. But the waves most of us know are caused by winds blowing over the sea . Now let's learn some physical things about it. A wave has height, from low point to high point . It has length --the distance from this high point to that of the following wave. The period of the wave means the time it takes for succeeding high points to pass a fixed point. None of these things stays the same--for all depend upon the wind, upon the depth of the water and many other matters. The water that makes up a wave does not advance with it across the sea. Each drop of water turns around in a little circle with the passing of the wave, but returns very nearly to its original position . And it is lucky that this is so. For if the huge groups of water that make up a wave really moved across the sea, sailing would be impossible. If we want to find the speed of a wave, we may use the following way : Speed =" wavelength" x frequency . Here, wavelength is the distance between two high points , frequency means the number of cycles per second Where can we find this passage?
<extra_id_0>music magazine
<extra_id_1>fashion magazine
<extra_id_2>scientist magazine
<extra_id_3>sports magazine
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<extra_id_5>Some British and American people like to invite friends for a meal at home. But you should not be upset if your English friends don't invite you home. It doesn't mean they don't like you! Dinner parties usually start between 7 and 8 p.m., and end at about 11. Ask your hosts what time you should arrive. It's polite to bring flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine as a gift. Usually the evening starts with drinks and snacks . Do you want to be more polite? Say how much you like the room, or the picture on the wall. But remember--it is not polite to ask how much things cost. In many families, the husband sits at one end of the table and the wife sits at the other end. They eat with their guests. You'll probably start the meal with soup or something small, then you'll have meat or fish with vegetables, and then dessert, followed by coffee. It's polite to finish everything on your plate and to take more if you want it. Did you enjoy the evening? Call your hosts the next day, or write them a short thank you letter. British and American people like to say " Thank you, thank you, thank you." all the time! If you are going to attend a dinner party, _ .
<extra_id_0>you'd better bring a certain present with you
<extra_id_1>you must leave home for it at 7 p.m.
<extra_id_2>you should ask your host when you should leave
<extra_id_3>you must arrive at it before 8 p.m.
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<extra_id_5>The art of public speaking began in ancient Greece over 2,000 years ago. Now, twitter, e-mail, blogs and QQ chat offer approaches to communication-- but none can replace the role of a great speech. The spoken word can handle various important functions: persuading or inspiring, informing, paying tribute , entertaining, or simply introducing someone. Persuading is used in dealing with or _ different points of view. When the leaders met in Copenhagen in December, 2009, persuasive words from activities encouraged them to take former action. Inspirational speeches deal with emotions. They focus on topics and matters that are close to people' s hearts. Last year, during the fighting in Iraq, generals used inspiring speeches to prepare the troops for battle. Some speeches spread knowledge and deepen understanding. When the H1N1 flu was announced, the disease scared many people. Informtive speechs from World Health Organization (WTO) officials helped people to keep their panic under control so they could take necessary preventive measures. Sad events are never easy to deal with but a speech that pays tribute to the loss of a loved one and gives praise for their contribution can be comforting. Madonna's speech about Michael Jackson after his death showed the fact that he will continue to live on through his music. It's not only in world forums where public speaking plays an important role. It can also be helpful in the course of our own life. You may be asked to do a presentation at college or work to inform others about an area of great importance. On a more personal level, a friend may be upset and need comforting. Or you might be asked to introduce a speaker at a family gathering or to speak at a wedding, where your language will be needed to move people or make them laugh. Great speaking ability is not something we're born with. Even Barack Obama works hard to perfect every speech. What would be the best title for the passage?
<extra_id_0>Tips of great speeches
<extra_id_1>The history of the speech
<extra_id_2>Functions of the speech
<extra_id_3>The language of the speech
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<extra_id_5>Football The game is played by two teams. There must be eleven players in each team. The field must be about 100m long and 73m wide. There are two goals , 7.32m long and 2.44m high. To score a goal, a player must put the ball into the other team's goal. They may use their feet, heads or other parts of the body, but they must not touch the ball with their hands. Only one on each team, the goal-keeper , may use his hands. Volleyball This is played on a court 18m long and 9m wide. The net is 2.44m high for men and 2.24m high for women. There are two teams and there are usually six players in each team. The players try to make the ball hit the ground on the other side of the net. They may use their hands, fists or arms, but they must not catch the ball or hold it while(---) playing. Basketball The court must be 26m long and 14m wide. There can be ten players in a team but not more than five players in each team may play at one time. The players must not change until the referee allows them to leave the court. To score a point a player must throw the ball into the other team's basket. Players may throw the ball, but they must not carry it. A player must not touch another player. After 20minutes' play there must be a rest period for ten minutes. Then there is another period of 20 minutes before the game ends. The volleyball players can only _ while playing.
<extra_id_0>catch the ball
<extra_id_1>hold the ball
<extra_id_2>use their hands, fists or arms
<extra_id_3>use their hands
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<extra_id_5>Rhubarb loved everyone and every dog. Whenever someone came to the house, she was always happy. We had an older Samoyed named Willie, and it was important that Rhubarb got along well with him. She wanted to play, but was very respectful of Willie and left him alone when he was tired and needed to rest. Willie was not well and died about a year later, but I believe Rhubarb's interaction helped him keep going for longer than ifhe had been alone. But the interesting thing about Rhubarb was that she never barked. She would sometimes get excited when she saw a mouse and make a little crying sound. One hot night when she was about 4 years old, we went to bed with the windows open and the doors unlocked. At about 3 a.m., I woke up to the sound of Rhubarb barking and growling. I woke Donald and we got out of bed. Rhubarb was coming toward us with her hackles up. We turned on the lights and noticed the door to the kitchen was open. Then we saw the door leading into the house from the garage was also open. We quickly locked all the doors, and we did not get any sleep that night. The next day I called the police to report a break-in. I told them nothing had been taken, but they sent a police officer over to talk with us anyway. While he was here, we found out several local homes had been burglarized over the weekend. Most people had their wallets and purses stolen. My purse was right next to the door, but Rhubarb had scared the robber away before he or she could steal it. When the police officer left, he said we should keep our doors locked and reward Rhubarb with a big steak dinner. Rhubarb lived to be almost 12, but that night was the only time she barked in her entire life. Fortunately, she never saw the need to warn us of any other danger. We loved her like a member of the family and still miss our sweet dog. What made the author feel fortunate?
<extra_id_0>Rhubarb scared the robber away.
<extra_id_1>She had such a family member as Rhubarb.
<extra_id_2>Rhubarb barked once in her entire life.
<extra_id_3>There was no need for Rhubarb to bark.
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<extra_id_5>After a week of storms, the nearby lake now has more
<extra_id_0>fish
<extra_id_1>birds
<extra_id_2>liquid
<extra_id_3>plants
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<extra_id_5>What pattern best describes most migration?
<extra_id_0>west to east
<extra_id_1>north to south
<extra_id_2>east to west
<extra_id_3>south to north
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<extra_id_5>An old lady went to the shop last Sunday. She passed a bank and saw a car near the door. A man got out of it and went into the bank. She looked into the car. The keys were in the lock . The old lady took the keys and followed the man into the bank. The man took a gun out of the pocket and said to the clerk, "Give me all the money." But the old lady didn't see this. She went to the man and put the keys in his hand and said, "Young man, you are foolish. Never leave your keys in your car. Someone is going to steal it. " The man looked at the old lady for a few seconds. Then he looked at the clerk. He took the keys, ran out of the bank, got into his car and drove away quickly without any money. The man got off his car and went into _ .
<extra_id_0>a police station
<extra_id_1>the post office
<extra_id_2>the shop
<extra_id_3>the bank
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<extra_id_5>When her five daughters were young, Helene An always told them that there was strength in unity .To show this, she pick up one chopstick, taking it as one person.Then she easily broke it into two pieces.Next, she tied several chopsticks together, taking them as a family.She showed the girls it was hard to break the tied chopsticks.This lesson about family unity stayed with the daughters as they grew up Helene An and her family own a large restaurant business in California.However, when Helene and her husband Danny left their home in Vietnam in 1975, they didn't have much money.They moved their family to San Francisco.There they joined Danny's mother, Diana, who owned a small Italian sandwich shop.Soon afterwards, Helene and Diana changed the sandwich shop into a small Vietnamese restaurant.The five daughters helped in the restaurant when they were young.However, Helene did not want her daughters to always work in the family business because she thought it was too hard. Eventually the girls all graduated from college and went away to work for themselves, but one by one, the daughters returned to work in the family business.They opened new restaurants in San Francisco and Los Angeles.Even though family members sometimes disagreed with each other, they worked together to make the business successful.Daughter Elisabeth explains, "Our mother taught us that to succeed we must have unity, and to have unity we must have peace.Without the strength of the family, there is no business." With three generations of Ans working together, now the Ans'business makes more than $20 million each year.Although they began with a small restaurant, they had big dreams, and they worked together.Now they are a big success. What can we infer about the An's daughters?
<extra_id_0>They went out to work for themselves before graduation.
<extra_id_1>They all would not like to work in their family business.
<extra_id_2>They were deeply influenced by what Helene taught them.
<extra_id_3>There always were disagreements among family members
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<extra_id_5>We can offer you a place at one of the best universities in Britain. We'll provide you with a choice of 150 first-class courses developed especially to enable you to study in your own time. All of these courses are backed by the Open University's own special study method -- OU Support Open Learning. We'll give you the support of a personal teacher, and the chance to meet your fellow students. You can study for a diploma, a degree or a postgraduate degree. Subjects available include: Computing, Business Management, Technology, Modern Languages, Social Sciences, English Law, Arts, Science, Mathematics, Education and Health & Social Welfare. Whether you want to study to improve your career prospects or for your own personal interest, there's almost certainly a course for you. If you haven't studied for a while, we will help you get started. No previous training or degrees are required. All that is required is a willingness to learn. The OU is great value for money and you can pay monthly. The OU leads the world in the use of new technology for learning, and a number of courses provide source material on CD-ROM. What else can the Open University offer you? The OU is in the top 15% of all UK universities for teaching quality. 25% of all British MBAs come from the OU. Over 30,000 employers have offered chances for their staff to study OU courses. 40,000 OU students study online from their home. There are 9-month courses and diplomas as well as degrees. Send for your free instructions now. Post to: The Open University, PO Box 625, Milton Keynes MK76 AA, U99LX. The purpose of writing this passage is to _ .
<extra_id_0>introduce the best university inBritain
<extra_id_1>let the readers know the OU Support Open Learning
<extra_id_2>describe the new technology for learning in the Open University
<extra_id_3>attract students to the Open University
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<extra_id_5>A global positioning system(GPS)service is aiding the elderly in the Panlong district of Kunming,capital of Southwest China's Yunnan province. The telecommunications service provider,with the support o,f the local govemment,started the GPS tracking service in January to help the elderly,especially those with Alzheimer's disease,a condition that slowly destroys memory. Huang Haiying,an employee with a local telecommunications company,told China Daily that with the GPS devices ,the people who look after the elderly can quickly find their positions either online or by ca l l ing the service center in case ot emergencles. The system is also connected to the police,hospitals,fire services and community service centers to ensure that the elderly get quick and proper help,Huang said. Experts said that this service could improve the quality of life for thousands of elderly people with Alzheimer's,their families and those who look after them. Hundreds of people have already been helped by the service this year,Huang said. Huang said that the system has about 1 0,000 subscribers and she expects that number to grow 1 0 times over the next three years.A user pays 25 yuan($4)each month for the service.A family with an income below the local poverty line can get a 10 yuan subsidy evcry month from the government. The local government has spent more than 2 million yuan to subsidize the service to date. Rao Yuehui,director of the Panlong civil affairs department,said that about 90,000 people,or 15.4 percent of the district'S population,are more than.60 years old. He Xiangqun,an official with the Yunnan provincial civil affairs department,said that this means that the population meets international standards classifying it, as an aging society as defined by the United Nations. It can be inferred from the passage that _ .
<extra_id_0>the life quality of'the elderly in th.e Panlong district is pretty good
<extra_id_1>the government will spend 2 million yuan updating the GPS service
<extra_id_2>the city of Kunming has a population of about 600,000 people
<extra_id_3>about 600,000 people in Panlong are over sixty years 01d
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<extra_id_5>Which of the following is NOT a description of compounds?
<extra_id_0>They can exist in the form of atoms or molecules.
<extra_id_1>They consist of atoms of two or more elements bonded together.
<extra_id_2>They have properties that are different from their component elements.
<extra_id_3>They can be broken down into elements by chemical means but not physical means.
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<extra_id_5>It was midnight in Paris and we were rolling toward Avenue Bosguet. As we came to the Pont Alexandra III, the taxi slowed down, for the traffic light was red against us, and then, without stopping, we sailed through the red in a sudden burst of speed. The same performance was repeated at the Alma Bridge. As I paid the driver, I asked him why he had driven through two red lights. "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, breaking the law and endangering your life that way." I protested. He looked at me, astonished, "Ashamed of myself? I am a law abiding citizen and have no desire to get killed either." He cut me off before I could protest. "No, just listen to me before you complain. What did I do? Went through a red light. Well, did you ever stop to consider what a red light is? What it means?" "Certainly,"I replied. "It's a stop signal and means the traffic is rolling in the opposite direction." "Half-right,"said the driver, "But incomplete. It's only an automatic stop signal. And it does not mean that there is cross traffic. Did you see any cross traffic during our trip? Of course not. I slowed down at the light, looked carefully to the right and to the left. Not another car on the street at this hour. Well, then! What would you have me do? Should I stop like a stupid animal because an automatic, brainless machine turns red every forty seconds? No, sir,"he shouted, "I am a man, not a machine. I have eyes and a brain and judgment, given me by God. Ashamed of myself, you say? I would only be ashamed of myself if I let those blinking lamps do my thinking for me. Good night,sir." At the Alma Bridge, _ .
<extra_id_0>the writer stopped the taxi and aid the driver
<extra_id_1>the taxi went through a red light again
<extra_id_2>there was a performance the writer had already watched
<extra_id_3>the writer began to criticize the driver
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<extra_id_5>Hailey stood in her kitchen. She was looking for ideas of what to make for dinner. She could make pasta, soup, chili, or steak. She opened the refrigerator and took out a cartoon of juice. She sat down at the table and tried to write a list of ingredients she would need. She finally thought she would make chili for dinner. She took a sip of her juice and she saw she had all the ingredients she needed except meat. Hailey saw she was losing daylight. This made her want to take her car to the store in order to buy the meat. It would be faster than walking. She quickly went to the back of the store where she knew the meat was stored and took her find to the cashier. When she made her way back into the lot she ran into her friend, Beth, and invited Beth to come to her house for dinner. When they both returned to her home they cooked dinner together and had a wonderful evening. Why was Hailey standing in her kitchen?
<extra_id_0>She wanted to eat pasta
<extra_id_1>She wanted to make a grocery list
<extra_id_2>She was thinking about what she wanted to make for dinner
<extra_id_3>She was getting her car keys
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<extra_id_5>Reading poems is not exactly an everyday activity for most people. In fact, many people never read a poem once they get out of high school. It is worth reminding ourselves that this has not always been the case in prefix = st1 /America. In the nine-tenth century, a usual American activity was to sit around the fireside in the evening and read poems aloud. It is true that there was no television at the time, nor movie theaters, nor World Wide Web, to provide _ However, poems were a source of pleasure, of self - education, of connection to other people or to the world beyond one ' s own community. Reading them was a social act as well as an individual one, and perhaps even more social than individual. Writing poems to share with friends and relations was, like reading poems by the fireside, another way in which poetry has a place in everyday life. How did things change? Why are most Americans no longer comfortable with poetry , and why do most people today think that a poem has nothing to tell them and that they can do well without poems? There are, I believe, three factors: poets, teachers, and we ourselves. Of these, the least important is the third: the world surrounding the poem has betrayed us more than we have betrayed the poem. Early in the twentieth century, poetry in English headed into directions unfavor-able to reading of poetry. Readers decided that poems were not for the fireside or the easy chair at night, and that they belonged where other difficult-to-read things belonged. Poets failed the reader, so did teachers. They want their students to know something about the skills of a poem, they want their students to see that poems mean something. Yet what usually occurs when teachers push these concerns on their high school students is that young people decide poems are unpleasant crossword puzzles. According to the passage, what is the main cause of the great gap between readers and poetry?
<extra_id_0>Students are becoming less interested in poetry
<extra_id_1>Students are poorly educated in high school
<extra_id_2>TV and the Intemet are more attractive than poetry
<extra_id_3>Poems have become difficult to understand
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<extra_id_5>A person needs to find a way to shore while on a raft. Another person tells the first person which direction to go in order to safely reach land, so the person directing is
<extra_id_0>navigating
<extra_id_1>negating
<extra_id_2>relying
<extra_id_3>destroying
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<extra_id_5>There are a lot of reasons why growing your own food is a good idea. GIY helps reduce carbon dioxide(CO2) emissions . Food in supermarkets travels a long way and that produces a lot of CO2. If you grow as many vegetables as you can at home, you can help save the earth. Vegetables you grow are also good for your health because they have more nutrients than supermarket vegetables and they don't have chemicals. How much money can you save? First of all, seeds are a lot of cheaper than vegetables, and secondly, you can save more by planting the most expensive and the most productive vegetables. You can give your vegetables to fiends and neighbors. It can make you very popular. Don't worry if you don't have much space. To GIY, you don't even need a garden. You can use pots on your balconies . And don't worry if your space doesn't get much sun. You can plant vegetables that don't need a lot of sun to grow. Grow your own vegetables now. You will have both a healthier body and a healthier social life. What do people mostly need if they want to grow their own vegetables?
<extra_id_0>Some seeds.
<extra_id_1>A garden.
<extra_id_2>Some chemicals.
<extra_id_3>A pot.
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<extra_id_5>Dear Mr. Plant, I am an enthusiastic camper and longtime X-Ports customer, but after being offended for the third time at your Sierra Vista location, I am writing to complain about your impolite employees. Several months ago ,I bought a tent that leaked the first time I used it and wanted it replaced . When I took it back, your employees accused me of tearing it myself. I left not only withm1, torn tent, but no refund and no satisfaction. A couple of weeks ago , I bought a sleeping bag that was supposed to sleep two people comfort-ably. It didn't. Your employees refused to give me my money back even though I had the receipt. I was asked to leave the store, again with no satisfaction. To my misfortune, my latest purchase , of a piece of camping equipment at your store proyed to be another disappointment. The propane camp stove I bought didn't work properly. When I returned to exchange it, the rude clerk refused to help me because I did not have my sales receipt. It was an even exchange! He said that I was a problem and even asked if I had seen what products I-could purchase at one of your competitor's stores at comparable prices. Was he accusing me of something? Why would I have brought a receipt for an even exchange? Why would I know the price at other stores? Furthermore, the clerk called security and forced me to leave your store-without my camp stove! How can I go camping now? The tent leaks, the sleeping bag is just wrong, and I don't have a stove to keep warm ! Who is going to refund my money for my stove? Who is going to help me get over the abuse I suffered in your store? You, as the area manager must clear these matters up for me immediately! I am sending copies of this letter to your main office and the Sierra Vista Store. Sincerely , Ima Kumpanee What was Ima' s proposed solution for the problem with the tent?
<extra_id_0>To have it replaced.
<extra_id_1>To have it repaired.
<extra_id_2>To get a refund for it.
<extra_id_3>To get their apology.
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<extra_id_5>An Announcement It was a small town which lay by the coast.Most people there lived by catching fish.The hurricanes often struck the area from July to October.Some of the people died on the sea when their boats were blown over by the high winds.So they paid much attention to the weather forecasts.They were afraid to meet with the hurricanes when they were catching fish on the sea.Each of the families had a radio and people always took them with themselves and listened to them at any time. It was September.A hurricane attacked the town one night.Plenty of trees were pushed over and all the electric and telephone lines were broken.People couldn't watch TV,or call their friends,or go to work.To their anger,they couldn't listen to the weather forecasts the Town Radio Station broadcast.The food and fresh water would soon be short and the patients couldn't be given medical care--no medicine could be carried there.People didn't know what would happen and they looked anxious. On the fourth day they read an announcement on the Town Weekly.It was written,"Recently we have to stop the weather forecast because of the bad weather.We usually get the forecasts from the airport.But the roads are all blocked by the fallen trees and stones.Whether or not we'll be able to broadcast the weather forecast tomorrow depends on the weather!" Read the announcement,the people were _ .
<extra_id_0>encouraged
<extra_id_1>happy
<extra_id_2>excited
<extra_id_3>disappointed
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<extra_id_5>A young man once went to town and bought himself a pair of trousers. When he got home, he found that they were about two inches longer. He went to the kitchen, there his mother and two sisters were doing housework. He said to them, "The new trousers are too long. Could one of you help me to shorter them by two inches?" But they were too busy. They said nothing and were still working. After his mother finished washing all plates, she shortened the trousers by two inches. Then one of his sisters remember his trousers and shortened them by two inches. When the other sister came back home from cinema, she also remembered the new trousers. "I nearly forgot that." She thought. Then she shortened them by two inches. The new trousers were too _ .
<extra_id_0>long
<extra_id_1>short
<extra_id_2>big
<extra_id_3>small
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<extra_id_5>I can't think of a better way of appreciating a new culture than by taking part in one of its festivals. You'll find that some festivals are celebrated by an entire country, while others may be known only to a single city or region, but either way festivals play an important role in a certain culture. Just enjoy them! Tomatina -- Bunol, Spain Every last Wednesday in August, the town of Bunol is filled with tons of tomatoes in the world's biggest food flight. Many people wear goggles during this hour of great fun, as the town becomes a red river. Boryeong Mud Festival -- Boryeong, South Korea For two weeks in July, millions gather in Boryeong to experience the grey pools and slides. What began as a way to help sell the region's mineral-rich mud has turned into a festive party with music and fireworks. The mud is usually only available in cosmetic products , but here you can cake yourself in grey as you want. Holi -- India Holi, the Festival of Colors, is a Hindu celebration full of joy and one of India's most important holidays. During the day of the last full moon of the lunar month, usually late February or early March, the air is full of brightly colored powder . The festival is celebrated differently throughout the country, with bonfires and music, but the cheerful spirit is common among Hindu people around the world. International Pillow Fight Day -- Worldwide Tens of thousands of people took part in the 4th annual International Pillow Fight Day on April 2, 2013. From London to Vancouver to many other cities, the festival is held in more than 100 countries. So just bring a soft pillow in early April, and watch feathers fly. We learn from the passage that _ .
<extra_id_0>the town of Bunol in Spain is on a river
<extra_id_1>cosmetic products sell well on Boryeong Mud Festival
<extra_id_2>International Pillow Fight Day has a short history
<extra_id_3>Holi is the greatest festival for Indian people
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<extra_id_5>World's Wonderful Libraries How cool can libraries be in an era of iPads and Kindles More than you think.Only if you know where to go. Central Library The Central Library in Seattle,United States is modern and sophisticated. The building is an impressive work of art, which has has tourists from around the world paying visits and taking tours. The library offers free self-guided cell phone tours, along with group tours. The library holds various art exhibitions, book signings and other events throughout the year. Open: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m-8 p.m, Friday-Saturday 10 a.m-6 p.m, Sunday noon-6 p.m Trinity College Library The Trinity College Library in Dublin is the oldest library in Ireland, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. Not only is the exterior impressive, it boasts the largest single chamber library in the world, also known as the Long Room, which contains more than 200,000 of the library's oldest books. Various exhibitions and tour are available; admission 9(US 12) Open: Monday-Wednesday 9:30 a.m -5 p.m, Tuesday 9:30 a.m -9 p.m, Saturday 9:30 a.m -1 p.m, Sunday closed. Bibliotheca Alexamdrina The Bibliotheca Alexamdrina is the revival of the ancient Royal Library of Alexandria, which was the largest and most influential library in the Greek world. It was built by Alexander the Great some 2, 300 years ago. The new library was reborn in 2002 on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea after 10 years of designing, planning and construction. Along with the standard libraries, there are four museums covering science, Arabic Calligraphy, the history of printing and the Greek art. Open: Saturday-Thursday 9 a.m- 4 p.m. Stuttgart City Library The Stuttgart City Library is controversial. Some say it's innovative, while others say it doesn't match its environment. Nevertheless, the library is one of the most interesting buildings in Germany. The design of the cubic facility was influenced by the ancient Pantheon in Rome. It serves as a multi-story meeting space that draws natural sunlight through the roof. Open: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m--9 p.m What is special about the Bibliotheca Alexandrina?
<extra_id_0>It took 10 years to rebuid
<extra_id_1>It is the most influential library in the world
<extra_id_2>It has four museums covering all sorts of art
<extra_id_3>It used to be an ancient royal British library
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<extra_id_5>In 1812, in a village near Paris, France, a little boy had a terrible accident. He hit himself in the eye with one of his father's sharp tools, and became blind. His name was Louis Braille, and he was only four years old. He was a clever little boy, and he soon learned to "see" without his eyes. He touched things, or smelled them, or tasted them. His family described things to him. Although he couldn't see people's faces, he learned to recognize their voices. After his seventh birthday, Louis went to the little school in the village. But there weren't any books for him. His classmates read his lessons to him and his sisters helped him with his homework. He learned his lessons well, but he couldn't learn to read or write. In 1819, the village priest told Louis Braille's story to the director of a famous school for blind boys. At this school, boys learned math, grammar, geography, history, and music. And they learned to read! Louis went to the school in Paris in February, 1819. He loved his classes and received high grades. He learned to play the piano and to knit hats and sweaters. And he learned to read -- with his fingers! The raised-print letters in the books at school stood up from the surface of the paper. Louis could feel them with his fingers. He was able to recognize some of them easily, but some of them were difficult. The letters had to be very large, and sometimes there were only a few letters on a page. The books were huge and heavy. And they were expensive. There were only fourteen books in the school library! Louis read the three or four books for his class again and again. He tried to think of a better way to make books for blind people. He experimented with new alphabets. After about three years, Louis invented a system of raised dots. The other students thought Louis's system was wonderful. They were able to read it easily, and they learned to write, too. Today, there are thousands of Braille books for blind people. Louis Braille was only fifteen years old when he invented his wonderful system! The main idea of this passage is that _ .
<extra_id_0>Louis was a good student at the school in Paris
<extra_id_1>he learned to "see" with the help of books
<extra_id_2>he invented a system of raised dots to make books easier for blind people to read
<extra_id_3>there are thousands of Braille books for blind people
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<extra_id_5>A man stayed in his house as a flood engulfed his town. Two men in a boat came to his house and offered to take him to safety. "No, thank you," said the man, "God will help me." As the waters rose, the man retreated to the second floor of his house. Now, two men in a motorboat came by and offered to rescue him. Again, the man refused, saying, "No, thank you. God will help me. " As the waters rose still higher, the man retreated again to the rooftop of his house. A plane came by, and someone inside it threw down a rope, urging the man to grab it and be pulled up into the airplane. Once more, the man declined and said, "No, thank you. God will help me. " Just then a powerful voice called out to the man, "You idiot! I sent you a boat, a motorboat and now a plane. What more do you want me to do?" What do you think of the man? He was _ .
<extra_id_0>very strong
<extra_id_1>very silly
<extra_id_2>helpless
<extra_id_3>useless
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<extra_id_5>Homework will not be a concern for pupils attending a pioneering new secondary school in Norfolk. Instead, the 1,100 children will stay longer at school, doing extra study at school as part of the extended school day, which could last until about 5 pm. Rather than setting homework that pupils could struggle with at home, where there may be limited access to computers, they will do that as independent study in the day. When they go home they should enjoy quality family time. That has been really well received by parents who respect the fact that family time will be family time. But the school would still expect youngsters to study at home ahead of important exams. Independent learning at school would ensure equality because kids who get help with homework from parents might rely on others too much. Peter Devonish , a teacher at the school, said, "Having the children at school a bit longer to strengthen their learning is a really good idea, because they can have their time with the family." But he warned. "A disadvantage is that our school is in the countryside, which means it's not so perfect to get children home at that time." Mr. Devonish said they also set pupils project-based homework, such as looking at an energy-efficient house, which allowed them to combine independent study with working with their parents. Craig Morrison, another teacher, said, "A large problem with homework has been that not enough is done with it. With homework, a lot of effort can go into it, so it's about celebrating what children do rather than processing it in terms of marking it and handing it back." Why is the new idea well accepted by some parents?
<extra_id_0>Because it helps kids with their homework.
<extra_id_1>Because kids will be educated well at school.
<extra_id_2>Because kids will enjoy quality family time.
<extra_id_3>Because parents can have more time to rest.
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<extra_id_5>The teacher who did the most to encourage me was, as it happens, my aunt. She was Myrtle C. Manigault, the wife of my mother's brother Bill. She taught me in second grade at all-black Summer School in Camden, New Jersey. During my childhood and youth, Aunt Myrtle encouraged me to develop every aspect of my potential, without regard for what was considered practical or possible for black females. I liked to sing; she listened to my voice and pronounced it good. I couldn't dance; she taught me the basic dancing steps. She took me to the theatre--not just children's theatre, but adult comedies and dramas--and her faith that I could appreciate adult plays was not disappointed. My aunt also took down books from her extensive library and shared them with me. I had books at home, but they were all serious classics. Even as a child I had a strong liking for humour, and I'll never forget the joy of discovering Don Marquis's Archy & Mehitabel through her. Most important, perhaps, Aunt Myrtle provided my first opportunity to write for publication. A writer herself for one of the black newspapers, she suggested my name to the editor as a "youth columnist". My column, begun when I was fourteen, was supposed to cover teenage social activities--and it did--but it also gave me the freedom to write on many other subjects as well as the habit of gathering material, the discipline of meeting deadlines, and, after graduation from college six years later, a solid collection of published material that carried my name and was my passport to a series of writing jobs. Today Aunt Myrtle is still an enthusiastic supporter of her "favourite niece". Like a diamond, she has reflected a bright, multifaceted image of possibilities to every pupil who has crossed her path. Aunt Myrtle recommended the author to a newspaper editor mainly to _ .
<extra_id_0>develop her capabilities for writing
<extra_id_1>give her a chance to collect material
<extra_id_2>involve her in teenage social activities
<extra_id_3>offer her a series of writing jobs
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>We like to think our intelligence is self-made; it happens inside our heads, the product of our inner thoughts alone. But the rise of Google, Wikipedia and other online tools has made many people question the impact of these technologies on our brains. Is typing in "Who has played James Bond in the movies?" the same as our knowledge about the names like Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig? Can we say we know the answer as long as we know how to rapidly get the information on Google? Here the question is about how we define intelligence itself. The answer appears to be interesting, because the evidence from psychological studies suggests that much of our intelligence comes from how we coordinate ourselves with other people and our environment. An influential theory among psychologists is that we're cognitive misers . This is the idea that we are unwilling to do mental work unless we have to. We try to avoid thinking things fully when a short cut is available. If you've ever voted for the presidential candidate with the most honest smile, or chosen a restaurant based on how many people are already sitting in there, then you are a cognitive miser. The theory explains why we'd much rather type a zip code into Google Maps than memorize and recall the location of a place - it's so much easier to do so. Research shows that people don't tend to rely on their memories for things they can easily access. Buildings can somehow disappear from pictures we're looking at, or the people we're talking to can be changed with someone else, and often we won't notice - a phenomenon called "change blindness". This isn't an example of human stupidity - far from it, in fact - this is an example of mental efficiency. The mind relies on the world as a better record than memory. Philosophers have suggested that thinking is really happening in the environment as much as it is happening in our brains. The philosopher Andy Clark called humans "natural born cyborgs ", those naturally capable of absorbing and combining new tools, ideas and abilities. In Clark's view, the route to a solution is not the issue - having the right tools really does mean you know the answers, just as much as already knowing the answer. Rather than being forced to rely on our own resources for everything, we can share our knowledge. Technology keeps track of things for us so we don't have to, while large systems of knowledge serve the needs of society as a whole. I don't know how a computer works, or how to grow vegetables, but that knowledge is out there and I can get to benefit. The internet provides even more potential to share this knowledge. Wikipedia is one of the best examples - an increasingly large database of knowledge from which everyone can benefit. So as well as having a physical environment - like the rooms or buildings we live or work in - we also have a mental environment, which means that when I ask you where your mind is, you shouldn't point toward the centre of your forehead. As research shows, our minds are made up just as much by the people and tools around us as they are by the brain cells inside our skull. According to the text, how do technologies like Google, Wikipedia affect us?
<extra_id_0>They make us much more intelligent.
<extra_id_1>They make us lazier and more stupid.
<extra_id_2>They have little to do with our intelligence.
<extra_id_3>They have a negative effect on our intelligence.
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>While there are no restrictions on the amount of money that you can bring across the border, you must report to both the US and Canadian border services amounts equal to or greater than $10,000. PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS ON PURCHASES AMERICANS RETURNING TO THE US Less than 48 hours: $ 200 US 48 hours or more: $ 800 US duty-free personal exemption. next $ 1,000 US at 3% Including up to 100 cigars and 100 cigarettes. CANADIANS RETURNING TO CANADA Less than 24 hours: $ 50 CAN 48 hours or more: $ 400 CAN Including up to 100 cigars and 200 cigarettes. 7 days or more: $ 750 CAN Including up to 100 cigars and 200 cigarettes. DOCUMENTATION NEEDED FOR BORDER CROSSING LAND OR SEA TO THE US ( INCLUDING FERRIES ) A valid passport or passport card, or a NEXUS card. (A NEXUS card is a Trusted Traveler Program that provides quick travel for pre-approved, low risk travelers through special lanes.) A recent Washington State, New York or BC driver's license. Note: Children 15 years of age and younger require only a birth certificate or copy. (Certified copies are not required but are advised.) AIR TRAVEL TO THE US A valid passport, an Air NEXUS card, or a U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine Document. For an American citizen on a 2-day tour of Canada, how much tax does he have to pay on $ 1,600 US worth of purchases when returning to the US?
<extra_id_0>$ 24 US
<extra_id_1>$ 48 US
<extra_id_2>$52 US
<extra_id_3>$ 200 US
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>America is a mobile society. Friendships between Americans can be close and real, yet disappear soon. They don't feel hurt .If the same two people meet again, even years later, they _ the friendship. This can be quite difficult for us Chinese to understand. Friendships between us develop more slowly but may become lifelong feelings, extending deeply into both families. There is another difficult point for us to understand .Although Americans treat friends warmly in their personal everyday lives, they don't show their politeness to them if it requires a great deal of time. But in China, we are usually generous with our time. We, as hosts, will appear at an airport even in the middle of the night to meet a friend. We may take days off from our work to act as guides to our friends. It is opposite in America .Americans can not manage the time to do a great deal with a visitor outside their daily plans. They will probably expect the visitors to get themselves from the airport to the hotels. And they expect the visitors will phone them from there. Once the visitors arrive at their homes, the welcome will be full, warm and real. For Americans, it is often considered more friendly to invite a friend to their homes than to restaurants, except for business matters. Americans are ready to receive us foreigners at their homes, share their holidays, and their home life .So accept their hospitality at home and enjoy your visit in America ! Which of the following statements is True according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>Americans are always generous with their time.
<extra_id_1>Americans don't feel hurt if their friendships disappear soon .
<extra_id_2>Chinese friendships develop more slowly but will never disappear.
<extra_id_3>Chinese friendships are more sincere than American friendships .
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<extra_id_5>Here is an examination notice. Mrs. Dickson gave it to her students last week. Read it and answer the questions. To the students of Class 3 *Examinations start on June 22 and end on June 23. *The time for each of the subjects is: English June 22 9:30 A.M.- 10:30 A.M. Math June 22 11:00 A.M.- 12:00 A.M. History June 22 2:30 P.M.- 3:30 P.M. PE June 23 8:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. Music June 23 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. *For the PE test, go to the playground. For the music test, go to the Piano Room. All else are written tests. They will be held in classroom 3. *No student can get into the examination room more than 15 minutes after the exam starts. *No food or drink during ANY test. *No dictionaries during the English exam. *Wear sports shoes and clothes for the PE exam. If you have questions, go to the Teachers' Office before the tests. How many written tests will the students get ready for?
<extra_id_0>Two
<extra_id_1>Three
<extra_id_2>Four
<extra_id_3>Five
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<extra_id_5>A child smacks another child, causing hurt, which causes the smacked child to
<extra_id_0>play
<extra_id_1>eat
<extra_id_2>rejoice
<extra_id_3>sob
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>Before you leave for the airport Ensure that you have your passports (and any necessary visas), tickets and money in your hand luggage. If packing medicines, ensure that they are in their original packaging as this will avoid delays or prevent them from being taken away at customs. Do not wrap presents as they may have to be unwrapped by security staff or customs. The Department of Health has devoted a section of their site to health advice for traveling abroad. Getting to the airport Always allow plenty of time to reach the airport. You should arrive there 2 hours before the take-off for international flights and one hour before the take-off for domestic flights. If you are driving to the airport, ensure that you have booked airport parking in advance. If you are being driven by a friend who wants to see you off, ensure that he / she knows where the short stay parking is located. If taking a taxi, ensure that the firm you intend to use has taxis available at the time you wish to travel. At the airport Be aware that increased security has considerably lengthened the time it takes to go through check in and security. Make sure you keep your baggage with you at all times and alert any member of airport staff to any unattended package. Never look after baggage belonging to other people or carry anything onto the aircraft for someone else. Keep a close eye on the display boards announcing which gate flights depart from. In the air If on a long flight, move your feet around, or get up and walk around regularly if you can. Avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water or other non-alcoholic drinks. Don't eat too heavily before or during a long flight as this will help to avoid indigestion and hypertension . To reduce jet lag , have some extra sleep before the trip, get some sleep during the flight and try to make mealtimes the same as the time of meals at your destination. During the flight you should follow the following advice EXCEPT _ .
<extra_id_0>always to sit on a long flight
<extra_id_1>to drink enough water to avoid dehydration
<extra_id_2>not to eat too much so as to avoid indigestion and hypertension
<extra_id_3>to make mealtimes the same as the time of meals at your destination
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<extra_id_5>Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. This is an old English saying. It means that we should go to bed early at night and get up early in the morning. If we do, we shall be healthy. We shall also be rich and clever. Is this true? Perhaps it is. The body must have enough sleep. Children of your age need ten hours' sleep every night. If you do not go to bed early, you can not have enough sleep. Then you can not think properly and you can not do your work properly. You will not be wise and you may not become wealthy! Some people go to bed late at night and get up late in the morning. This is not good for them. We should sleep at night when it is dark. The dark helps us to sleep well. When the daylight comes, we should get up. This is the time for exercise. If the body is not used, it will become weak. Exercise keeps it strong. Exercise helps the blood to move around inside the body. This is very important. Blood takes nutrition to all parts of our bodies. The brains in our heads also need blood. We think with our brains. If we keep our bodies healthy, and take exercise, we can think better! Our bodies also need air to breathe. Without air we will die. Get up early in the morning and we can have plenty of clean, fresh air. That will keep us healthy and happy. The word"properly"means" _ ".
<extra_id_0>correctly
<extra_id_1>carefully
<extra_id_2>quickly
<extra_id_3>easily
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<extra_id_5>There are many commonly held beliefs about eye glasses and eyesight that are not proven facts. For instance, some people believe that wearing glasses too soon weakens the eyes. But there is no evidence to show that the structure of eyes is changed by wearing glasses at a young age. Wearing the wrong glasses, however, can prove harmful. Studies show that for adults there is no danger, but children can develop loss of vision if they have glasses inappropriate for their eyes. We have all heard some of the common myths about how eyesight gets bad. Most people believe that reading in dim light causes poor eyesight, but that is untrue. Too little light makes the eyes work harder, so they do get tired and strained. Eyestrain also results from reading a lot, reading in bed, and watching too much television. However, although eyestrain may cause some pain or headaches, it does not permanently damage eyesight. Another myth about eyes is that they can be replaced, or transferred from one person to another. They are close to one million nerve fibers that connect the eyeball to the brain, so it is impossible to attach them all in a new person. Only certain parts of the eye can be replaced. But if we keep clearing up the myths and learning more about the eyes, some day a full transplant may be possible. If a child wears appropriate glasses, _ .
<extra_id_0>the structure of his eyes will keep the same as before
<extra_id_1>it is harmful
<extra_id_2>the structure of his eyes will be changed
<extra_id_3>he will lose sight
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<extra_id_5>If you don't use a dictionary. What should you do instead? The first thing you can do is trying to guess what the word means. Often the surrounding context gives a very clear idea of the meaning of the word. Even if you can't work out the meaning exactly, you may be able to get a vague idea, enough to enable you to continue reading. Sometimes It is impossible to guess the meaning of a word from the context and then you will have to decide whether the word is important enough to make it worthwhile stopping and looking it up in a dictionary or whether you can just pass it by. Many times in your reading, you will come across words which you don't know, but which do not prevent you from understanding all the main points of the text. You can made your dictionary use much more efficient if you only look up the words which are necessary to understand the text. and this means that you must develop the skill to decide whether the words are worth looking up. The passage mainly tells us in our reading what we would do _ .
<extra_id_0>without knowledge of English
<extra_id_1>when we look up words in a dictionary
<extra_id_2>when we are guessing new words
<extra_id_3>without using a dictionary
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<extra_id_5>What's your opinion about gun control in the US? Figures tell a different story: Countries that allow their citizens to carry guns seem to have more killings than those that do not allow them. It's easy to kill with a gun. The media is filled with violence. People, especially young people, watch television. Having a gun does not cause someone to kill. The problem is within that person's mind. Controlling guns will not control killing. Changing the mindset will, however. --- Bobby Walker, U.S. Guns are deadly to all others who are near or know someone who has one. People don't understand the danger it holds, and don't realize what will happen just by cleaning it of if a younger child gets a hold of it. This weapon is dangerous and we don't need teens, kids, anyone to have them. Society can get along without guns. ---Ann Miller, U.S I have a very large farm near Austin, Texas, USA. Because it is far from the city, I need to protect my property and cattle from thieves and wild dogs. The wildlife, such as coyotes and puma , can feed on deer, mice, rabbits--they don't bother me and I don't bother them. I lost 45 animals to thieves that cut a fence. This will never happen again. You ask if I would shoot--of course--that's why I carry a gun. --- Texas Rancher, U.S Some people think guns are very bad because they lead to violence. In my opinion, when people kill themselves or others, they do not have any feelings because they do not know anything about love, sympathy , and promise. The only way those persons can get these feelings is when they keep close to family, friends and people who matter to them. Now, having a gun is not a problem: the problem is what the people feel when they use one. ---Connie Faille, Colombia Who is in support of controlling guns?
<extra_id_0>Bobby Walker
<extra_id_1>Ann Miller
<extra_id_2>Texas Rancher
<extra_id_3>Connie Faille
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>Girls who get enough dairy products in their diets may weigh less than other teens with the same age. Girls who consumed more dairy products were found to have slimmer middles than girls of the same age and race who ate the same number of calories and got the same amount of exercise. Girls who drank more soda, but also ate the same total calories, tended to be heavier. The newly reported study included 323 white and Asian girls between the ages of 9 and 14. A number of studies, mostly in adults, have shown that calcium may be key in maintaining normal body weight and fat stores. One reason may be the nutrient's effects on hormones that help store calories as fat. In the new study, reported in the Journal of Nutrition, calcium from dairy sources, but not non-dairy foods, was related to lower weight and less abdominal fat--the link was particularly strong among girls of Asian decent , who made up 47 percent of the study group. This suggests that "the dairy ingredient of the calcium intake is the key factor," write the study authors, led by Dr. Rachel Novotny of the University of Hawaii in prefix = st1 /Honolulu. It's possible, they explain, that other nutrients in milk play an important role in weight balance. For reasons that are unclear, the effect on body fat was stronger for Asian girls than for white girls, according to Novotny and her colleagues. They _ that ethnic differences in which dairy products are usually consumed, or in eating habits-having small amounts of dairy throughout the day, for instance, rather than a single large serving--may help explain the finding. According to the researchers, soda may increase pounds by adding calories to kid's diets, or by replacing milk. Milk, they note, has a range of nutrients, including protein and fat, which means it is metabolized ly slowly. Soda contains only sugar, which is quickly metabolized, easily causing hunger. According to this passage, dairy products_.
<extra_id_0>always prevent girls from becoming fat
<extra_id_1>can lower body fat in girls
<extra_id_2>are most favored by girls of Asian descent
<extra_id_3>contain more calcium than non-dairy foods
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<extra_id_5>The Sweetest Sight I was in the most beautiful city in the world, yet I only wanted home. It was an amazing week for my husband and me--the trip of a lifetime. Months ago, when my husband told me that he would have a meeting in London, I told him my wish to go to Europe together with him. Then we asked his mother to look after our two children and started off. During the week's time, we visited London and Paris--as much as we could, Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower and so on. All these were beautiful places we expected to see before. We really had a fantastic time. On our last night in Paris, after we enjoyed the night sight of the Eiffel Tower, my husband called home. His mother answered the phone. In a second, my husband's face fell and looked so worried. I could feel there was something bad. "What's wrong?" I asked. He didn't answer and went on to listen. A few minutes later, he said sadly to me that Tony, our seven-year-old son, fell down from his bike and broke his leg. He must be sent to hospital at once. At that moment, Paris suddenly lost its charm . "I don't want to be here! I shouldn't be here! I should be home with my kids!" We hurried back to our hotel and then to the airport... Finally, we got home. We rushed into our children's bedroom. Seeing our two children, I suddenly understood the truth: There is no sweeter sight in the world than our children's faces that greet us at home. Who went to the Europe countries?
<extra_id_0>The writer.
<extra_id_1>Her husband.
<extra_id_2>All her family members.
<extra_id_3>The writer and her husband.
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<extra_id_5>My friend Fowkes, tells a story of a class he took in 1930s, when books were short and expensive. On the first day the professor marched up to the blackboard, looked through his notes, cleared his throat, and began. Fowkes was the only student in the course. Once Fowkes fell ill and missed a class. When he returned, to Fowkes' s astonishment, the professor began to deliver not the next lecture in the sequence but the one after. Had he lectured to an empty hall in the absence of his only student? It was perfectly possible. Today, professors continue to lecture and students to listen much as they did. It' s time for us to abandon the lecture system and turn to methods that really work. Attending lectures is passive learning ,at least for inexperienced listeners. Active learning, in which students write essays or perform experiments and then have their work evaluated by an instructor, is far more beneficial for those who have not yet fully learned how to learn. Most students learn best by engaging in debate. They need small discussion classes that demand a joint effort of teacher and students rather than classes in which one person, however learned, expresses his or her own ideas. The lecture system harms professors as well. It reduces feedback to a minimum, so that the lecturer can neither judge how well students understand the material nor benefit from their questions or comments. Questions that require the speaker to clarify unclear points and comments that challenge inadequately constructed arguments are indispensable to scholarship. Without them, the liveliest mind becomes dull. If lectures make so little sense, why have they been allowed to continue? The truth is that lectures are easier on everyone than debates. Lectures give some students an opportunity to sit back and let the professor run the show. In a classroom where everyone contributes, students are less able to hide and professors have less room to show off how smart they are. Worse still, the lectures too frequently come at the wrong end of the students' educational careers -- during the first two years, when they most need close, even individual, instruction. If lecture classes were restricted to junior and senior undergraduates and to graduate students, who are more academically independent and more capable of working on their own, they would be far less destructive of students' interests and enthusiasms. After all ,students must learn to listen before they can listen to learn. What can we learn about the current lecture system?
<extra_id_0>Students take passive part in small discussion classes.
<extra_id_1>The professors need more room to present their talents.
<extra_id_2>Lectures are mainly intended for junior and senior students.
<extra_id_3>It is far from beneficial for those academically inexperienced students.
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<extra_id_5>As a young child, I was quiet and shy. I was also sick for a long time. My parents worked, and I spent a lot of time at my grandparent's home. While my grandmother cleaned the house and cooked, my grandfather played with me. I was six when my grandfather died. A few months before he died, he gave me a beautiful blue and white blanket . I loved the blanket very much because it made me think of my grandfather. But after a few years, the blanket didn't look very good. It had holes and was dirty. I didn't want to throw the blanket away, so my mother made the blanket into a book bag. I was proud of the book bag, and I used it to carry my books to school every day for a few years. Then the book bag was broken. I begged my mother to make something out of it. She made it into a pencil-box. After a few months, the pencil-box was broken, too. By then I could sew , and I made the pencil-box into a small wallet. I used it for three years, but one day I lost it. I felt sad. My friends and family said, "Forget about it, Paul. You can't make something out of nothing." I thought about it for a while. I decided my friends and family were wrong. There was a way to make something out of nothing. I wrote down the story of my grandfather's blanket. From the story, we know that_.
<extra_id_0>Paul's grandfather gave him a blanket
<extra_id_1>the blanket made Paul think of his mother
<extra_id_2>a few years later the blanket was still new
<extra_id_3>Paul's grandfather died when Paul was ten
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<extra_id_5>In England, Christmas is the most important holiday in the year. Two important things, apart from its religious significance, help to set this holiday apart from all others: the custom of giving presents and the habit of spending it with the family. In the present highly commercialized age we are reminded of Christmas many weeks before the event. In the shops the special Christmas displays appear and outside them the special Christmas decorations. In the shopping centers of very large towns decorations are put up in the streets. In London thousands of people crowded into the centre of the town to see the decorations. The advertisements in all the newspapers remind us every day that there are "Only X more shopping days to Christmas". The Post Office vans are covered with brightly color1ed pictures advising us to "Post Early for Christmas", for hundred of millions of Christmas cards and millions of parcels are sent every year. Everywhere one turns, one is made aware that Christmas, which comes "but once a year", is coming once again. Many people feel sorrow about what they consider the over-commercialization of a sacred holiday, but, underneath all the business activities, a great deal of Christmas spirit is to be found. The custom of giving presents to one's family and friends is a very pleasant one so long as one remembers that it is the spirit behind the present which matters most and not the present itself. And how good it is at Christmas to return to the family home and meet parents, grandparents and as many aunts, uncles and cousins as can be expected to meet. Without the modern means of transport, however, many families would have the Christmas reunion. The writer thinks that _ .
<extra_id_0>people can feel the existence of Christmas spirit anyhow
<extra_id_1>our society is over-commercialized
<extra_id_2>there are too many business activities before Christmas
<extra_id_3>there are too many displays and decorations in shops and streets
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<extra_id_5>SHANGHAI, June 7(AP)--A 16-year-old girl's suicide after she was barred from a key exam draw attention to increasing worries over academic pressures, as millions of Chinese students began annual college entrance tests on Wednesday. The three-day exam, viewed as important to future career and financial success, has a record 9.5 million high school students across prefix = st1 /Chinacompeting for just 2.6 million university places. For kids and parents alike, it's a difficulty that experts say causes extreme emotional distress. "Pressure from study and exams is a top reason for psychological problems among Chinese youth," said Jin Wuguan, director of the Youth Psychological Counseling Center at Shanghai'sRuijinHospital. In China's increasingly success oriented, pressure-cooker cities, academic stress is seen as a rising cause of youth suicides and even murders of parents by children who are driven crazy by intolerable pressure to perform. According to her family and newspaper accounts, 16-year-old Wu Wenwen drowned herself after she was stopped at the exam room door because her hair wasn't tied back as her school required. Returning in tied hair, she was then told the end-of-term exam had already started and she was too late to take it. In tears, Wu called her mother, and then disappeared. Her body was found the same night in a nearby lake. China doesn't keep comprehensive statistics on student suicides, but Jin said health care professionals see the problem worsening, even among elementary students. Most Chinese schools still lack advisers and teachers receive little training in spotting symptoms of emotional distress, Jin said. Parents are little help, often piling on pressure while ignoring their children's emotional development, he said. "It's a basic unwillingness or inability to recognize and deal with with emotional problems," Jin said. Wang Yufeng, of Peking University's Institute of Mental, estimates the rate of emotional disorders such as depression among Chinese students under age 17 at up to 32 percent , a total of 30 million students. Others say that figure may be as high as 50 percent. A survey last year by the government's China Youth and ChildrenResearchCentershowed 57.6 percent of students felt highly distressed by academic pressures. The 16-year-old girl committed suicide because _ .
<extra_id_0>she did not tied back her hair as required
<extra_id_1>she couldn't get high mark in the exam
<extra_id_2>she had an unpleasant talk with her mother
<extra_id_3>she wasn't allowed to attend the examination
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<extra_id_5>The use of mobile phones over a long period of time can raise the risk for brain tumors , a new Swedish study said on Friday , contradicting (......) the conclusions of other researchers . The Dutch Health Council , in an overview of research from around the world , last year found no evidence radiation from mobile phones and TV towers was harmful . A four-year British survey released in January showed no link between regular . long-term use of cell phones and the most common type of tumor . However , researchers at the Swedish National Institute for Working Life said they looked at the mobile phone use of 905 people between the age of 20 and 80 who had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and found a link " A total 80 of these 905 cases were so-called high users of mobile phones , that is they began early to use mobile and or wireless telephones and used them a lot , " the study said . " The study also shows that the rise in risk is noticeable for tumors on the sided of the head where the phone was said to be used , " it added . Kjell Mild , who led the study , said the figures meant that heavy users of mobile phones , for instance of who make mobile phone calls for 2 , 000 hours or more in their life , had a 240 percent increased risk for a malignant tumor on the side of the head the phone is used . " The way to the risk down is to use handsfree , " he told Reuters . He said his study was the biggest yet to look at long-term users of the wireless phone has been around inprefix = st1 /Swedenin a portable form since 1984 , longer than in many other countries . Which statement is NOT TRUE according to the passage ?
<extra_id_0>Sweden is the earliest country to use mobile phones
<extra_id_1>The mobile phone has been popular since early 1980s in Sweden
<extra_id_2>There is less risk to have tumor by using handsfree .
<extra_id_3>It might be safer by reducing the time of using a mobile phone
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>Joe is a taxi driver. Now, after working for a long time, he is very tired. So he lies down on the chair in his car, and wants to have a sleep. But a man comes up to his car, and asks, "Excuse me, what's the time, please?" Joe is a little unhappy ,but he looks at his watch ,and says, "It's 10:15." The man thanks Joe and goes away. Joe says to himself, "Now I can go back to sleep again." But at 10:20,another man comes up and asks the same question, " Excuse me, sir, what's the time, please?" Joe can't sleep again. He has to tell his man the time. In ten minutes, four people come to his car and ask the time. He is very friendly, but he wants to sleep. So he writes "I don't know the time." on a piece of paper and puts the paper outside the window of his car."Now no one will come and ask me the time." But he is wrong! Look, another man is coming up to his car. He is knocking loudly at the window of Joe's car. Joe wakes up. The man says, "It's 10:50 now, sir!" Joe puts the paper outside his car, because _ .
<extra_id_0>he wants to know the time.
<extra_id_1>he doesn't want people to ask him the time.
<extra_id_2>he knows someone will tell him the time.
<extra_id_3>he has no watch .
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>Penguins are lovely animals. Most people like them. But now as many as 10 of the 17 kinds of penguins are in danger of disappearing. The number of penguins has decreased by ( ) 30% since 1987. Penguins are black and white birds that live in the southern part of the world. They are common in the Antarctic Continent ,New Zealand, Australia and South America. Many live near cold waters . But some live near warm waters in Galapagos Islands. Penguins cannot fly, but they are fine swimmers. The shape of their body helps them to survive. Penguins eat fish and krill . They have short wings that help them to dive up to 900 feet to catch larger fish. They can swim 10-15 kilometers an hour which lets them protect themselves. They also have lots of body oil that helps in keeping them dry in the water. The warming of the earth is the reason for the decrease in the number of penguins. The hotter and hotter air has caused ocean waters to become warmer. Higher water temperature has decreased the fish and krill. Some years later these birds are completely unable toreproduce. And many adult penguins die of hunger. Too much fishing, exploration for oil and oil leaks also make penguins be in danger. Poisonous things in ocean waters are another danger. Penguins also have their enemies, including sharks, seals and sea lions. Which of the following is NOT the reason for the decrease in the number penguins?
<extra_id_0>The warming of the earth.
<extra_id_1>Too much fishing.
<extra_id_2>Natural disasters.
<extra_id_3>Poisonous things in ocean waters.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>"Take your time," Mr. Ballou encouraged."Read, borrow, and keep.Find something you like.What do you read?" "Pick for me, then." I said. He looked up and down at me as though measuring me for a suit.After a moment, he nodded, and handed me a dark red book, fairly thick. "The Last of the Just," I read."By Andre Schwarz-Bart.What's it about?" "You tell me," he said."Next week." I started after supper, sitting outdoors on an uncomfortable kitchen chair Within a few pages, the yard, the summer, disappeared.Translated from French, the language was beautiful, simple, impossible to resist.When the evening light finally failed I moved inside, read all through the night. To this day, thirty years later, I clearly remember the experience.It was my first meeting with world literature, and I was amazed by the strong power a novel contain.I lacked the vocabulary, however, to translate my feelings into words, so the next week, when Mr. Ballou asked,"Well?"I only replied, "It was good." "Keep it, then,"he said."Shall I suggest another?" I nodded, and was presented with Margaret Mead's Coming of Age in Samoa. To make the story short, Mr. Ballou never paid me a cent for helping cut his grass that year or the next, but for fifteen years I taught anthroplogy at Dartmouth College.That summer when I started to read became a turning point in my life which change the course of all that followed. Mr. Ballou offered me books probably because he _ .
<extra_id_0>found that I had no money to buy books
<extra_id_1>intended to sell some books to me
<extra_id_2>wanted to five me something in return for my help
<extra_id_3>wanted me to translate some books for him
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>Hi, I'm Tom.I have a pencil box.It's big and it's purple.It's my good friend.It's from my mom.What's in the pencil box? My ruler is in it.It's blue and red.That is a pencil.It is black and white.It's not my pencil.It's Cindy.She likes black and white.You can see a green pen and an eraser in it, too.The pen isn't mine.I find it in the classroom this morning.It's Tim's.His name is on it.He isn't at school now.Tim's telephone number is 8069--4725.I can call him.The nice eraser is my sister ,Linda's. _ things are in the pencil box.
<extra_id_0>Two
<extra_id_1>Three
<extra_id_2>Four
<extra_id_3>Five
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>Sally Donovan is cooking when a paper plane flies across the kitchen and lands at her feet. She picks it up, unfolds it and finds a child's sketch of a tear-stained face with a speech bubble saying: "I'm sorry I was naughty--I'm a bad person." Sally, 42, draws a big smiley face on the back of the paper with "I love you, Rose, and we're always going to look after you." Then she folds it up and launches the plane back into the living room where her nine-year-old daughter is watching TV with brother Jamie, 13 and dad Rod, 40. Jamie often makes pictures for his parents too--like the one showing a swift river with them on one side and him trapped on the other side. It's one of the many unusual ways that Sally and Rob have learned to communicate emotionally with their abused children in an astonishing eight-year journey of hope, healing and love. Jamie was just four and half--sister Rose one when they were adopted by the Donovans in 2005. The youngsters had been taken from their natural mother and placed in foster care after a series of cruelty and neglect. They were left alone, hungry, and witnessed home violence on a regular basis. Sally and Rob spent three years trying for a baby before deciding to adopt, and were well aware of the youngsters' poor background. But they were still unprepared for raising a child permanently scared by abuse or the lack of support on offer. But now Sally has written a brilliant and heart-touching account of their family struggle in a book called "No Matter What". Sally said: "These kids come to you with a story that what happened to them was their fault--because they are bad and unlovable. To show them they are loveable and none of it was their fault takes a lot of time. They both still say "I'm bad". Jamie is less stuck on it now but whenever life deals him a knock, he will fall back into 'that happened because I am stupid, I'm rubbish, I'm bad'." Sally's book is humorous, heart-touching and so wildly honest that academics, charity bosses, parents and adoptees are praising it as a major contribution to child welfare work. Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>Rose was a baby when adopted by Sally and Rob.
<extra_id_1>Sally has written a book about how to adopt children.
<extra_id_2>Jamie still blames himself for whatever happens to him.
<extra_id_3>There is still a long way to go for helping the children out.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>Emilio and Michi spread the colorful tablecloth on the table. They made room for Drew, who was carrying a dish. "Watch out," Drew warned. "This is pretty hot." A moment later, Kent and Alyssa added another hot dish to the table. "That smells so good!" said Michi. "Are most of the parents here yet? I'm hungry." Kent looked through the doors that led into the hallway. "I think Ms. Milano and Mr.Hasselbach just finished giving _ the garden touring. They should be heading into the cafeteria next." The students of Jefferson Middle School in Saint Louis, US had spent all afternoon preparing for the evening meal. They did their best to transform the lunchroom into a beautiful dining area for their families. As the families found their seats, Ms. Milano asked Drew, Emilio, and Michi to join her at the front of the room. She said, "I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate Drew, Emilio and Michi for their wonderful idea. A year ago, they first came to me with the plan for starting a garden at Jefferson. I wondered whether it would work, but they had thought through everything. Any time I had a question about how we would make this work, they had an answer prepared. As you can see, they were absolutely correct. About three-quarters of the food you will be enjoying came from the school garden. The students prepared the entire meal themselves." Ms. Milano handed Drew, Michi and Emilio a box each. They opened their box as Ms. Milano continued. "As a thank-you to these students for their creative idea and hard work, they have each received a stepping stone for the garden. Their names and date appear on the stones." She turned to them. "Students for years to come will be enjoying the garden that you helped create," she said. "We thought it would be appropriate for them to have a reminder of our garden's founders." They held up their stepping stones and smiled as the crowd clapped. "And now," said Ms Milano, "please help yourself to some of the mouthwatering food our young chefs have prepared. Dinner is served!" According to the text, the food served on the table _
<extra_id_0>was served as a lunch
<extra_id_1>was cooked by the students
<extra_id_2>was prepared to thank the kids
<extra_id_3>was entirely from the school garden
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>How to deal successfully with a child showing outstanding musical ability? It's not always clear how best to develop and encourage his gift. Many parents may even fail to recognize and respond to their children's need until discouragement explodes into uncooperative behavior. And while most schools are equipped to deal with children who are especially able in academic subjects,the musically gifted require special understanding which may not always be available in an ordinary school. Such children may well benefit from the education offered by a specialist music school. The five music schools in Britain aim to provide all environment where gifted children can develop their skills under the guidance of professional musicians. Children here spend about half of a day on musical activities,for example,individual lessons,orchestras,chamber groups,voice training,conducting and theory. They also spend several hours a day practicing in private rooms .The rest of their time is taken up with the subjects:English,maths and basic sciences. What are the disadvantages? An obvious problem is that the fees are high .However, each school will often scholarships and other forms of financial aid. Secondly, not all parents want to send their children to boarding school, especially at an early age .Almost all the directors of the specialist schools express doubts about the wisdom of admitting children as young as seven into such a tense and disciplined environment. They stress,however, that their main aim is to turn out "well-rounded and well--balanced individual." What probably may musically gifted children face in ordinary schools?
<extra_id_0>Their academic work may suffer.
<extra_id_1>Schools lack musical equipment
<extra_id_2>Music is not seen as an important subject
<extra_id_3>Parents and teachers don't work together.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>Mike found a job in a bookstore after he finished middle school. He wouldn't do anything but wanted to get rich. It was a cold morning. It snowed and there was thin ice on the streets. Few people went to buy books and the young man had nothing to do. He hated to read, so he watched the traffic. Suddenly he saw a bag fall off a truck and it landed by the other side of the street. "It is full of expensive things." Mike said to himself. "I have to get it right now, or others will take it away." He went out of the bookstore and ran across the street. A driver saw him and began to whistle , but he didn't hear it and went on running. The man drove to the side, hit a big tree and hurt himself in the accident. Two weeks later, Mike was taken to the court . A judge asked if he heard the whistle when he was running across the street. He said that something was wrong with his ears and he could hear nothing. "But you heard me this time," said the judge. "Oh, I'm sorry. Now I can hear with one ear." "Cover the ear with your hand and listen to me with your deaf one. Well, can you hear me?" "No, I can't , sir." "You told a lie. There is nothing wrong with either of your ears," the judge said. Mike found a job as a _ when he left school.
<extra_id_0>driver
<extra_id_1>judge
<extra_id_2>policeman
<extra_id_3>bookseller
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>Last Friday my friend Deborah asked me if I would like to learn how to make tofu. I couldn't think of any good reason not to be interested in, so I said, "Yes". The next day I met her and another three nice people at the Hodo Soy Beanery Oakland. I enjoyed the trip. I got a lot from the trip. The following is what I learnt. Tofu has a history of 2,000 years. Although the word "tofu" is from Japanese, the food maybe comes from China. There are two main kinds of tofu: soft tofu and firm tofu . In some parts of Asia, people use tofu as a kind of meat. Douhua is one kind of soft tofu. It is a popular breakfast food in China. Because it is very soft, people can't eat it with _ , but with a spoon . People often eat it as a snack and often add spring onions and gravy to it. In Malaysia, people usually eat douhua with white or dark sugar water. ,. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>People began to make tofu 2,000 years ago.
<extra_id_1>Some people use tofu as a kind of meat.
<extra_id_2>Douhua is one kind of firm tofu.
<extra_id_3>Many people eat tofu as a snack.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>Reading for pleasure is declining among primary-age pupils, and increasing numbers of "time poor" parents are dropping the practice of sharing bedtime stories with their children once they start school. Research presented to a conference last week found that, while parents read to preschoolers, this later tails off, and by the final year of primary school only around 2% read to their children every day. Once children can read skillfully, parents tend to step back, and this usually happens at the age of seven or eight. The report also found that 82% of teachers blame the government's "target--driven" education policies for the fact that fewer children are reading for pleasure. They believe that a straitjacket of strictly organized schooling is containing young people's ability to read more widely. Two-thirds of teachers surveyed said they lacked time in the school day to introduce a variety of books and that this was a "major obstacle to being able to develop a level of reading". Teachers also cited as main factors the reduction in the number of school librarians, who could put interesting books before children, and the rise in "screen time", switching children from reading to playing games. The majority of teachers said the curriculum's " emphasis on reading as a skill to be mastered" was increasing the pressure. This was _ by parents who saw reading just as a focus of learning, a skill critical to career advancement in a competitive world. Reading habits and the digital revolution in publishing were key topics of debate at the conference. The theme of the lack of British culture was supported by children's writer Frank Cottrell Boyce, who wrote the scripts( ) for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympics. "We discovered the whole nation had forgotten that they did the industrial revolution," he said. "Books are so central to it; books can be written by anyone. A lot of the pleasure of a book is listening to somebody read it to you. " "We found a real love of reading among teachers, and a strong desire ,to encourage more children to read for pleasure ,"said Rob Cheney," However, the teachers also had an overpowering sense of frustration with their situation." "Touch-screen phone and tablets ( )are naturally attractive to children ," the survey Said ,and predicted a period of awkwardness as everyone else adapts . By 2018, children's television will have adopted the presence of this second screen, and it "will be strange not to have children, at home drawing along on tablets and then having these appearing live in the show ". The hope is "that user-friendly screens could, if material is adapted and downloaded easily, present an opportunity for more ambitious publishing - for example, books children can either read or choose to have read to them; or digital books with moving pictures instead of photos to clarify factual and scientific points. Parental controls that are easy to use would be key, the conference was told, such as "a warning for when devices use the Wi-Fi, especially after bedtimes", to allow parents to shut off access to children in the home. It can be inferred from the article that _ .
<extra_id_0>children don't like reading because books are not attractive
<extra_id_1>British people enjoyed reading books very much in the past
<extra_id_2>teachers forbid their students to read more books for fun
<extra_id_3>children should enjoy more freedom to use the Wi-Fi at home
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>Who says Americans worship the almighty dollar? It's not true. Having enough free time is more important to most Americans than being rich, according to a new survey. Only 13 percent of more than 2,400 people questioned in the telephone survey ranked being wealthy as most important to them, while 67 percent ranked free time as their top priority , higher than having a successful career, getting married, and having children. "Everyone wants free time to do the things they want to do, young, middle-aged or old," said Richard Morin, of the Pew Social ~ Demographic Trends Project, which conducted the survey. "So our desire to play unites us." The survey also showed that people who were educated in university valued career success over wealth, so did middle-aged people. Not surprisingly, those who didn't have money, ranked wealth very highly. This included minorities, first generation Americans and less educated people. The survey also revealed that a disproportionate number of people under the age of 30 and retired people in the group made $ 20,000 or less a year. But the emphasis on wealth lessens with age, with younger people putting value on it but hardly any seniors. "It just diminishes with time as the reality sets in that you would never be rich," Morin said. "But also, as for old people the reality sets in that you don't have to be rich to lead a very comfortable and fulfilling life. " While wealth was not at the top of people's list of priorities, 43 percent still said it was somewhat important. Who cares least for wealth, according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>Young people
<extra_id_1>First generation Americans
<extra_id_2>Old people
<extra_id_3>Less-educated people
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>Lying in the sun on a rock, the cougar saw Jeb and his son, Tom, before they saw it. Jeb put his bag down quickly and pulled his jacket open with both hands, making himself look big to the cougar. It worked. The cougar hesitated, ready to attack Jeb, but ready to forget the whole thing, too. Jeb let go of his jacket, grasped Tom and held him across his body, making a cross. Now the cougar's enemy looked even bigger, and it rose up, ready to move away, but unfortunately Tom got scared and struggled free of Jeb. "Tom, no!" shouted his father. But Tom broke and ran and that's the last thing you do with a cougar. The second Tom broke free, Jeb threw himself on the cougar, just as it jumped from the rock. They hit each other in mid-air and both fell. The cougar was on Jeb in a flash, forgetting about Tom, which was what Jeb wanted. Cougars are not as big as most people think and a determined man stands a chance, even with just his fists. As the cougar's claws got into his left shoulder, Jeb swung his fist at its eyes and hit hard. The animal howled and put its head back. Jeb followed up with his other fist. Then out of the corner of his eye, Jeb saw Tom. The boy was running back to help his father. "Knife, Tom" shouted Jeb. The boy ran to his father's bag, while Jeb stated shouting as well as hitting, to keep the cougar's attention away from Tom. Tom got the knife and ran over to Jeb. The cougar was moving its head in and out, trying to find a way through the wall Jeb was making out of his arms. Tom swung with the knife, into the cougar's back. It howled horribly and ran off into the mountains. The whole fight had taken about thirty seconds. Which of the following happened first?
<extra_id_0>The cougar jumped from the rock
<extra_id_1>Tom struggled free of his father
<extra_id_2>Jeb asked Tom to get the knife
<extra_id_3>Jeb held Tom across his body
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>An element from the periodic table is used to transfer
<extra_id_0>light
<extra_id_1>sound
<extra_id_2>air
<extra_id_3>voltage
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>Why do our eyes open wide when we feel fear? And why do our eyes become narrow when we express disgust ? According to a new research, it has something to do with survival. In a recently published paper, researchers concluded that expressions of fear and disgust changed the way human eyes gather and focus light. They argued that these changes were the result of evolutionary development and were intended to help humans survive, or at least discover, very different dangers. In order to test their hypothesis ,researchers examined two dozen volunteer college students with standard eye-exam equipment, and asked them to show expressions of fear and dislike. It was found that when the students widened their eyes, more light was admitted and their field of vision was expanded. When they wrinkled their noses in disgust, their eyes narrowed. This had the effect of blocking out more light but focusing on a specific point. Although some scientists have admitted that emotional expressions are intended primarily to communicate information, expressions of fear and disgust seem to perform different visual functions. "Eye widening may help to find a potential danger that requires much attention. And this would agree with the hypothesized function of fear," said researchers. "On the other hand, eye narrowing may help to distinguish and avoid different kinds of dangers, such as disease carriers and dirty foods. And this would agree with the hypothesized function of disgust." These findings supported naturalist Charles Darwin's view that expressions are not necessarily for communication and are not arbitrary ."If our expressions were arbitrary, they would show little cross-cultural relationship." researchers said. "But actually, our expressions probably have some universal functional principles." According to the text,which of the following expresses the correct connection?
<extra_id_0>Fear - eye widening - more light - a coming danger.
<extra_id_1>Fear - eye narrowing - less light - a specific danger.
<extra_id_2>Disgust - eye narrowing - less light - a coming danger.
<extra_id_3>Disgust - eye widening- more light - a specific danger.
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>Bernice Gallego sat down one day this summer, as she does pretty much every day,and began listing items on eBay. She dug into a box and pulled out a baseball card. She stopped for a moment and admired the picture. "Red Stocking B. B. Club of Cincinnatti," the card read, under the reddish brown color photo of ten men with their socks pulled up to their knees. As a collector and seller, it's her job to spot old items that might have value today. It's what Bernice,72, and her husband, Al Gallego, 80, have been doing since 1974 at their California antique store. This card, she figured, was worth selling on eBay. She took a picture, wrote a description and put it up for auction.She put a $10 price tag on it, deciding against $15 because it would have cost her an extra 20 cents. Later that night she got a few odd inquiries---someone wanting to know whether the card was real, someone wanting her to end the caution and sell him the card immediately. The card is actually 139 years old. Sports card collectors call the find "extremely rare" and estimate the card could five, or perhaps, six figures at caution. Just like that, Bernice is the least likely character ever for a rare-baseball card story. "I didn't even know baseball existed that far back," Gallego says, "I don't think that I've ever been to a baseball game." The theory is that the card came out of a storage space they bought a few years back. It is not uncommon in their line of work to buy the entire contents of storage units for around $200. When she met with card trader Rick Mirigian, she found out what the card was-----an 1869 advertisement with a picture of the first professional baseball team, the Cincinnatti Red Stocking. "When I came to meet her and she took it out of a sandwich bag and she was smoking a cigarette, I almost fainted," Mirigian says. " They've uncovered a piece of history that few people will ever be able to imagine. That card is history. It's like unearthing a Mona Lisa or a Picasso." 70. What would be the best title for the passage?
<extra_id_0>A Surprisingly Valuable Discovery
<extra_id_1>The History of the Baseball Card
<extra_id_2>Bernice Gallego---A lucky collector
<extra_id_3>Sports Card Collectors
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>I have a neighbor we call "Happy". I have never seen her angry at anything and never heard her say a harsh word to anyone or about anyone. Happy and her husband Ben, 70, have a huge garden. They spent many happy hours together working on it. Most of the neighbors watched interestingly as Ben doubled the size of their garden. As the cost of food climbed faster than Ben's beans, we all wished we also had such a large garden. As the rest of us spent our dollars at the market, Happy could be seen picking beans in her back yard. Last month, Happy and Ben invited most of the neighborhood over for an "all-day food feast". We were told to bring gloves and arrive very early in the morning. We didn't know what was about to take place. By 9:00 am, there were nine of us in the garden picking tomatoes, beans, okra, and squash. By 10:00 am, there was lots of laughter. We shared a lot of stories. By five o'clock, everyone was a little drunk from the wine and beer. After dinner, we played games. As we were leaving, Happy and Ben handed each of us a shopping bag filled with the bounty of the day, already packaged and frozen. What a delightful gift! Well, the point wasn't so much about the food. The true gift was a day of friends enjoying one another's company . None of it would have happened if it had been for Happy and Ben's garden. Now they have a blog about gardening in case we decided to plant a garden. And I am so proud of my tomato plants! We can infer that Happy and her husband Ben _ .
<extra_id_0>don't like spending time with others
<extra_id_1>sometimes quarrel with each other
<extra_id_2>live on the food they grow in their garden
<extra_id_3>are a generous and warm-hearted couple
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>A new study, conducted by British company Mindlab International, has found that listening to music at work increases accuracy and speed,The Telegraphreported. Perhaps, some parents disagree with this idea, saying, "Switch off the music and concentrate!" Well, if that's the case with your parents, you might now be able to convince them that you have science on your side. The company gave 26 participants a series of different tasks for five days in a row, including spell checking, mathematical word problems, data entry, and abstract reasoning. The participants completed these tasks while listening to music or no music at all. The results showed that while music was playing, 88% of participants produced their most accurate test results and 81% completed their fastest work. David Lewis, chairman of Mindlab International, toldThe Telegraph, "Music is a very powerful management tool if you want to increase not only the efficiency of your workforce but also their emotional state... _ are going to become more positive about the work." However, you may have a list of your favorite songs, but not all kinds of music match all homework. For maths or other subjects involving numbers or attention to detail, you should listen to classical music, the study found. In the study, pop music enabled participants to complete their tasks 58% faster than when listening to no music at all. If you are reviewing your English writing, pop music is the best choice, as it is the best kind for spell checking. It cut mistakes by 14%, compared to listening to no music. After finishing your homework, do you often take time to check your answers? Maybe, some dance music is suitable for you. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?
<extra_id_0>Music helps us to learn
<extra_id_1>We cannot live without music
<extra_id_2>Different music, different lives
<extra_id_3>Music in the classroom
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>My dad was never the kind to offer many words of love or encouragement. But we knew he loved us... he just had his own way of showing it. When I was a teen, we were seasonal campers at a family campground almost an hour outside the city where we lived. Each family had their own campsite with water and electric, and you basically parked your camper there from May through October. Most "Seasonals" visited them every weekend during those months, with the occasional weeklong stay. There were plenty of other kids who camped seasonally each weekend, and they came to be some of my closest friends. Of course, many of them were boys. We kids paired up with our little boyfriends or girlfriends, and we'd hold hands as we'd walk around the campground. We'd play ping-pong, have some snacks, and play songs. Most weekends were pretty similar, but the couples would change. You'd see so-and-so with a different so-and-so than they were with the weekend before. You know how it is when you're a teen -- a three-week relationship is a really long time. So, needless to say, my teen years were spent with quite a few different boys. But every single one of them had something in common... they'd all received The Evil Eye. The Evil Eye was a magical sort of thing. One simple look from my dad, and the boy immediately knew not to _ me. It was as if he could send his warnings through invisible laser beams that shot directly from his eyes to the boys' brains. "You will not put your hands on my daughter... You will not kiss my daughter... You will not even whisper sweet nothings into my daughter's ear." I remember one night in particular, walking with a boy around the campground after dark. We came from one direction, and my dad from the other. The boy and my dad locked eyes for a brief second, then the boy dropped my hand like a hot potato and turned away, giving me a quick, "See ya later." Yes, the Evil Eye. Best way ever to keep wandering teen boy hands away from your daughters. The Evil Eye in the passage implies that _ .
<extra_id_0>Dad gets angry easily
<extra_id_1>Dad's eyes are like evil's
<extra_id_2>Dad's eyes are ugly-looking
<extra_id_3>Dad's eyes are protective to his daughter
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>Before you go to another country, it is a great help if you know the language and some of the customs of the country. When people meet each other for the first time in Britain, they say "How do you do?" and shake hands . Usually they do not shake hands when they just meet or say goodbye. But they shake hands after they haven't met for a long time or when they will be away from each other for a long time. Last year a group of German students went to England for a holiday. Their teacher told them that the English people hardly shake hands. So when they met their English friends at the station, they kept their hands behind their backs. The English students had learned that Germans shake hands as often as possible, so they put their hands in front and got ready to shake hands with them. It made both of them laugh. It is _ if you know the language and some of the customs of the country.
<extra_id_0>not useful
<extra_id_1>not helpful
<extra_id_2>very helpful
<extra_id_3>very bad
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>I have been teaching animal behavior at the Boulder County Prison in Colorado for 10 years. The course is one of the most popular in the prison. Prisoners have to earn the right to attend the course and they work hard to get in. One reason why the course is so popular is that many prisoners find it easier to connect with animals than with people, because animals don't judge them. They trust animals in ways they don't with humans. Yet, they hold a misunderstanding of how animals treat one another. Many admit that their own "animal behavior" is what got them into trouble in the first place. I teach that though there is competition and aggression in the animal kingdom, there is also a lot of cooperation and sympathy. Many of the students want to build healthy relationships, and they find that the class helps them. I use examples of the social behavior of group-living animals such as wolves as a model for developing and maintaining friendships among people who must work together for their own good and also for the good of the group. It's clear that science inspires the students here and it also gives them hope. I know some students have gone back into education after their being set free while others have gone to work for humane societies or contributed time and money to conservation organizations. One went on to receive a master's degree in nature writing. Science and humane education help the prisoners connect with values that they otherwise would not have done. It opens the door to understanding, trust, cooperation and hope. There's a large population of people to whom science could mean a lot, if only they could have access to it. The class helps me, too. I get as much out of it as the students and it has made me a better teacher. The author used wolves as an example to _ .
<extra_id_0>provide the prisoners with more knowledge
<extra_id_1>explain the cruel side of group-living animals
<extra_id_2>help the prisoners realize the importance of teamwork
<extra_id_3>inform the prisoners that animals get people into trouble
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>Born in 1936 in Oak Park, Illinois, the American Richard Bach is the direct descendant of J.S. Bach, the famous composer. He attended Long Beach State College in 1955. As an airplane pilot, Bach got married to his first wife and had six children, but divorced later and then left his family because he didn't believe in marriage. Everything concerning airplane was his field, including an aviation technical writer and flight instructor. Though aviation was his true love, Bach always wanted to write. During his high school years, one of his teachers made him realize his potential. In 1959 he had this idea of a bird learning to pass beyond the walls of limitations--Jonathan Livingston Seagull. In almost all his books he used airplanes as a way to pass the message. In Running from Safety, Bach shares with us his childhood: at age 8, he lost one of his brothers: Bobby. In 1970, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a story about a seagull who flew for the sake of flying rather than merely to catch food, was published by Macmillan Publishers after the manuscript was turned down by many other publishers. The book, which included unique photos of seagulls in flight, became a best-seller. In 1973, the book was turned into a movie. It's said that Bach charged the production with changing the movie without his permission. In fact, those who saw the movie noticed that his name wasn't mentioned. About Richard Bach, we know from the passage that _ .
<extra_id_0>his grandson was a famous composer
<extra_id_1>he stayed with his family all the time
<extra_id_2>he began to study in college at age 19
<extra_id_3>he majored in music in college
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>Years ago, I owned the very best dog in the world. I was a child when we got her. She grew up with me, and was always there when I needed her. She died during one of my college vacations. My heart broke then, and I knew that there would never be another dog like her. However, I was wrong. My next dog came into my life when I was married. My husband traveled for a living. and I was often lonely. This dog taught me to be patient. He always stayed at my side until the children were born, and then he became their guardian , too. When he passed away, my heart broke. I was sure I would never love another dog as much as I loved him. I was wrong again. We got the next one when the children were little. When he played with the children, he made them laugh. These days he spends more time with me since the children aren't around so much. He is, of course, the very best dog in the world. I wonder if that's part of the lesson: To teach us that love has a spirit that returns again and again and never really dies. It's amazing. _ And they fit into our families, our lives, and our hearts-- because they always have been and will be the best dogs in the world. How many dogs are mentioned in the author's life?
<extra_id_0>one
<extra_id_1>two
<extra_id_2>three
<extra_id_3>four
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>Sunday, 31 August We've been in China for a month now. Dad, Mom, Harry and I moved to Tianjin on 25 August. We're not very far from Beijing. Two days ago, we celebrated my 16thbirthday. It was great celebrating in China; the only thing that was strange was the cake--here they're not as sweet as the ones in New York. On Monday school starts--I wonder what it will be like. Monday, 1 September On my first day I was looking around for a locker to put my books in. However, here all the students keep all of their books at their desks--we stay in the same classroom because apparently we don't have to go from class to class--teachers come to us! Today we selected teacher assistants for each subject. Their duties are to collect homework, make announcements, and do other stuff for the teacher and the students. It's kind of a big deal here! Since I am from the US, I was asked to be the English assistant. I felt so proud but quite nervous at the same time because I wasn't sure what I had to do, but I accepted the job anyway. Friday, 3 October Boy, what a week! Now we have nine classes every day, including the morning class, a combination of our American schools' "Homeroom" and "Study Hall". I think Chinese students work too much! I have to do my homework when I get back home. I don't even have time to watch TV or surf the Internet like before. I sometimes miss New York and my school because we didn't have to study so much. We had more time to hang out with our classmates and neighbors; here, besides their usual classes, students are involved in weekend classes in subjects such as English, Chinese and math. I get a lot of attention, being from another country. Everyone wants to practice English with me! A really cute girl even asked me for my phone number on my second day and sent me a text message! I'm making a lot more friends now. I just need a lot of help to improve my Chinese. Some students want to do a language exchange program with me. Nice! The passage is best described by _ .
<extra_id_0>culture shock.
<extra_id_1>multi-culture.
<extra_id_2>unique culture.
<extra_id_3>culture background
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>The cellular membrane surrounds every human cell. The membrane protects the cell and transmits information about the cell's surroundings to organelles inside the cell. What organ system provides a similar function in the human body?
<extra_id_0>endocrine system
<extra_id_1>skeletal system
<extra_id_2>integumentary system
<extra_id_3>lymphatic system
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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