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<extra_id_5>Our planet is home to about seven billion people. Since the 1990s, population experts have predicted the number would grow to nine billion before it begins to slow down and possibly decrease. But a new report predicts the world's population is likely to increase to almost 11 billion by 2100. Based on the most modern statistical tools, the new report makes use of government records and considers expert predictions, including death rates, birthrates and international migration, or people moving across borders. The report says during the rest of this century, Africa's population will grow from about 3.5 billion to 5.1 billion over the next 85 years John is director of the United Nations Population Division. He says that in the past, researchers thought population growth in Africa would be similar to that of other areas. They expected slower growth rates as birth control use became more widespread. But he says those ideas were wrong. "The level of contraception use has continued to increase but slowly -- more slowly than expected, and birthrate therefore has been falling less rapidly than expected, and the population therefore continues to grow somewhat more rapidly than we expected.The new findings are based on a joint research project of the United Nations and the University of Washington. The researchers believe the population of Asia will reach five billion by 2050. That is up from the current 4.4 billion. And then begin to decline. The researchers also believe that North America, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean area will have a total population of below one billion. John says the pressure of feeding the rising population is likely to be less than that might be expected. "The relatively good news is that the world has been winning the race between population growth and food production. If you look back historically over the last 50 years, certainly for the world as a whole and for many, most individual countries and regions, the increase in food production has outpaced the increase of population.||" Which area will experience the largest increase in population at the end of the century?
<extra_id_0>Asia.
<extra_id_1>Africa.
<extra_id_2>Europe.
<extra_id_3>North America.
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<extra_id_5>That day It's 4 am,and Danilo C.Dequina is already awake. Holding a flashlight and a bucket, he is walking in the pre-dawn darkness along the shore of Old Poblacion Beach in the town of Maitum,Sarangani,in the far south of the Philippines. A few minutes later,he spots a patch of sand that appears to have been disturbed by a turtle. Dequina studies the area carefully,figuring out where the eggs have been buried, and then starts digging slowly. After clearing away several centimeters of sand, he uncovers a large group of eggs,roughly the size of ping-pong balls. He picks them up and puts them in the bucket. Dequina carries the eggs to his hatchery , some 50 meters away from the seashore. The hatchery is really just a sandy patch of land under the coconut trees enclosed by a black fine-mesh fence. It is here that he buries the turtle eggs he has collected. Today,Dequina scoops out a hole,puts the eggs in it,and covers them with sand. After 45 to 70 days, the eggs will hatch. Dequina will then carty the hatchlings to the shore,and release them into the sea. He admits to feeling sorrow as he sets the hatchlings free most are hunted down by natural predators,and just one percent survive to adulthood. According to the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), eight species of sea turtles face extinction,including four that come to the shores of Sarangani to lay their eggs --the Hawksbill,Olive Ridley,Loggerhead and Green Turtles. After learning about their _ , Dequina attended a DENR training session on turtle conservation and decided to take action. He helped the local government to set up the Pawikan Nesting Sanctuary next to his house in 2003. The hatchery drew the attention of the locals. "They started to change their attitudes towards sea turtles,"52-year-old Dequina says. "If they see turtle eggs,they will either bring them to me or inform me of the nesting places." Over the past seven years,more than 3,000 hatch- lings have been released to the ocean. What do we learn from the passage?
<extra_id_0>Dequina feels sad when he releases hatchlings.
<extra_id_1>Dequina has worked for the hatchery for six years.
<extra_id_2>The hatchery is far from Dequina ' shouse.
<extra_id_3>The hatchery mainly protects injured turtles.
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<extra_id_5>Today, the Eiffel Tower, which serves an important role in television and radio broadcasts, is considered an architectural wonder. It attracts more visitors than any other paid tourist attraction in the world. The Eiffel Tower was designed by the French engineer and bridge builder Alexandre Gustave Eiffel for the Paris Exposition of 1889. The tower is 300 m high and consists of an open iron framework making it the highest manmade structure in the world at the time. It was almost not built. After being awarded the contract to build the tower, Eiffel discovered that the Exposition Committee would only provide about a quarter of the money needed to construct it. Eiffel himself would have to finance the balance. He thought of a deal that would make him a very rich man. He agreed to independently find the people to fund his tower but he wanted to be the only one to control of the tower and he wanted the profits for twenty years. They agreed. To everyone's surprise, including Eiffel, the tower was paid off in the first year. The deal that Eiffel came up with was probably what saved the tower from destruction. A Committee of Three Hundred was formed and they demanded an end to its building. Many members of the committee said, "They have only put up the framework of this monument, It has no skin." Many sculptors and architects protested , in the name of threatened French art and history, about the useless Eiffel Tower, in the heart of their capital. It is built of iron, which is an inferior material, and a single beam of it is unable to support large stresses. That is why the tower appears over-engineered by today's standards. Though, from this very weakness, its simple beauty can be found. If you look at the tower, the structure of it sort of copies the biological cellular structure of a plant. What was the Eiffel Tower originally designed for?
<extra_id_0>Television and radio broadcasting industries.
<extra_id_1>A Paris Exposition.
<extra_id_2>Promoting the tourism industry.
<extra_id_3>Displaying a special framework structure.
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<extra_id_5>Most artists have a favorite material they like to work with.For 28-year-old Kristen Alice, it happens to be garbage.The eco-friendly designer uses her incredible talent to transform garbage like empty drink bottles and candy wrappers into charming dresses that sell for thousands of dollars. Kristen says the idea came to her after she saw how much vaster she and her three college roommates generated on a daily basis.The Fine Arts student began to dream about transforming the deserted bags and packages into beautiful garments. Her first dress' made from plastic bags and rolled magazines was strange, fun and even charming.However, she only made it to test her creativity. The young designer did not consider starting a commercial venture until she spent a week working at Couture Fashion Week in New York City.There she observed the excitement generated by new and vintage looks and decided to see if her unusual idea would result in as much enthusiasm.She began by creating a line of 12 garbage-inspired dresses.They were a huge success. Today her company that has offices in Palm Beach, Florida and New York City, produces a wide variety of dresses ranging from cocktail dresses to ball gowns .Kristen, of course, doesn't search garbage cans for her material anymore.Instead, she seeks it from companies that have produced more than they need and are planning to throw away the extras. However, if you think the garbage-inspired dresses come cheap, think again.The price for ready-made creations retails from $500 to $1,500.Though that may appear expensive, the designer says she has no shortage of customers.In fact she now even has garbage-inspired clothing for men that includes jackets, ties, trousers and even board shorts! While most of the clothes are strong enough to resist multiple wears, whether they can be cleaned is a little unclear: Kristen decided to start a commercial venture because _ .
<extra_id_0>she just wanted to test her creativity.
<extra_id_1>she was inspired by the enthusiasm caused by new and vintage dresses.
<extra_id_2>she was driven by the huge profits brought by new fashion.
<extra_id_3>she found there were no unique-looking but affordable clothes in New York.
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<extra_id_5>Let us say there is something you don't know how to do. In the past if you were determined to learn, you might have called friends or s, taken a night class or walked down to the local library for a research term. But now a host of websites are springing up to provide free practical advice on these subjects and actually anything else you can think of. In one sense, these" how - to" sites represent a part of the growing world of online learning. These FAQs(Frequent Answers and Questions), many of which still circulate(go round continuously), took a special subject and explained it to complete _ . But, "how - to" sites take the FAQ idea in a somewhat different direction by addressing subjects that aren't necessarily associated with discussion forums .These sites take the style of a written tutorial and a tone of friendly advice. Possibly the biggest and best known of these sites is learn 2.com(www. learn2. com)It offers nearly 1, 000 free tutorials and adds new ones frequently for a job interview. At ehow. com(www. ehow.)you can learn how to train for your first marathon, how to buy a vacation home, or how to make a movie in eight steps. If you have no tent when you decide to go camping, you may _ .
<extra_id_0>visit www.learn2. com
<extra_id_1>visit www. ehow. com
<extra_id_2>visit some site else
<extra_id_3>go to the tourist company
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<extra_id_5>"Can I learn to play the violin.Daddy?"Ann asks her father. "That sounds good.But how long can you learn?" "A month," Ann says."After a month,I can play for you.If I don't play well,I won't play it." "All right." her father says. He soon finds a violin teacher and Ann starts her lessons.The fee isn't cheap,but her father doesn't say anything. A month passes.The time comes for Ann to play for her father. She says to her father, "I want to play for you,Daddy." "OK,Ann,"her father says."Start" She starts to play.She doesn't play well.Her father has a friend with him,and the friend can't stand it. When Ann stops,her father says, "Great! Ann, you can have more lessons." Ann runs out of the room.Her father's friend says to him, "I don't think your daughter plays well." "Well,you're right."her father says."But she's very happy, right?" Ann thinks playing the violin is _ , so she wants to learn it.
<extra_id_0>tired
<extra_id_1>dangerous
<extra_id_2>boring
<extra_id_3>interesting
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<extra_id_5>What are the biggest problems that society will have to deal with in the new age? There are diseases like AIDS and cancer. There's climate change, of course. And what about producing enough cheap food and energy for the world's growing population? Who's going to solve all these terrible problems? Yes, politicians and world leaders will have a big part to play. Yes, businesses will need to create the economic wealth to pay for some of these things. But who's going to make a much greater difference to something like AIDS or climate change? It's going to be a scientist. It is the scientist who can turn some new bit of science into a new technology to solve these problems. If you like thinking about the world around you, why not become a scientist? It doesn't mean you have to wear a white coat and plastic glasses and spend all your time in a lab as most people often imagine! Scientists do all kinds of amazing things that are actually interesting! Military scientists develop not only new weapons but new military technologies that could help make wars out of date. Forensic scientists work with the police to find quite small clues to catch criminals. Scientists work in schools and colleges as the teachers and professors who will train tomorrow's scientists. Don't think a scientist is far away! Maybe you like cooking? You could be a food technologist helping to keep fruit and vegetables fresher for longer. Perhaps sport is your thing? Do you know that most top athletes work with sports scientists in order to improve their performance? You could even be the science writer who gets to spend the life studying the latest advances and sharing them with the world. Looking for something to do for the rest of your life? My advice? Take a long and hard look at science. It is interesting and ever. Most people think the life of scientists is _ .
<extra_id_0>amazing
<extra_id_1>boring
<extra_id_2>colorful
<extra_id_3>unreal
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<extra_id_5>Dear David, I'm glad you would like to share your feelings with me. It's hardly surprising that your feelings of not being "grown up" have come on strongly at this point in your life, just before you're about to become a father. You are asking: will I make a good father? How will I deal with? Should I have brought another little person into the world? Can I provide for it? Heeelp! I think nearly every sensitive about-to-be-parent must have these occasional feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy before the birth and it would be most unusual if you didn't share them. It's difficult, honestly, to feel grown-up unless you have something less grown-up to relate to. The boss with a hen-pecking wife may feel like a seven-year-old when he's at home. But as he walks through the office door, and knows he's going to be surrounded by staff looking to him for advice, he grows into a fully mature man. And I think it's a mistake to imagine that we all feel, as we age, a kind of progression of states, from the baby to the adult. Most people feel, on Tuesday, about three years old, and on a Wednesday, around 80. I remember feeling very grown-up at eight, a time when I was weighed down with responsibility. These days, much older, I can, in the company of people I feel at ease with, feel like a young girl. There's a common remark that "all men are little boys", but it's not true. It's more true that men often behave like little boys. But nearly all people, at some moments in their lives, are able of great maturity. Once your baby arrives, you'll soon feel less childlike, or rather, less often. When your child tries to put its fingers into the electric plug, the adult in you will rise up to prevent it. You'll see you have very little in common with a needy child, particularly if it's looking to you for comfort and support. Comfort yourself, David, with two truths. One is that your friends laugh when they talk about this subject because they, like you, feel frightened. And remember that people who haven't grown up don't go around talking about the fact that they don't feel grown-up. Hope my advice will be helpful and good luck to you and your little one. Sincerely Yours, Miss Advice Miss Advice holds the view that _ .
<extra_id_0>all men always behave like little boys
<extra_id_1>men with a baby feel more grown-up
<extra_id_2>people tend to need comfort and support
<extra_id_3>people enjoy talking about their immaturity
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<extra_id_5>San Francisco has its cable cars. Seattle has its Space Needle. And, Longview has its squirrel bridge. The bridge, which has attracted international attention, is now a local landmark. The Nutty Narrows Bridge was built in 1963 by a local builder, Amos Peters, to give squirrels a way to cross the busy road without getting flattened by passing cars. The original bridge was built over Olympia Way on the west edge of the library grounds. Before the bridge was built, squirrels had to avoid traffic to and from the Park Plaza office building where office staff put out a nutty feast for the squirrels. Many times, Peters and others who worked in and near Park Plaza witnessed squirrels being run over. One day Peters found a dead squirrel with a nut still in its mouth, and that day's coffee break discussion turned into squirrel safety. The group of businessmen cooked up the squirrel bridge idea and formed a committee to ask the blessing of the City Council .The Council approved, and Councilwoman Bess LaRiviere named the bridge "Nutty Narrows." After architects designed the bridge, Amos Peters and Bill Hutch started Construction, They built the 60-foot bridge from aluminum and lengths of fire hose . It cost 1,000. It didn't take long before reports of squirrels using the bridge started. Squirrels were even seen guiding their young and teaching them the ropes. The story was picked up by the media, and Nutty Narrows became know in newspapers all over the world. In 1983, after 20 years of use, Peters took down the worn-out bridge. Repairs were made and crosspieces were replaced. The faded sign was repainted and in July 1983, hundreds of animal lovers attended the completion ceremony of the new bridge. Peters died in 1984, and a ten-foot wooden squirrel sculpture was placed near the bridge in memory of its builder and his devotion to the project. What happened over the coffee break discussion?
<extra_id_0>The committee got the Council's blessing.
<extra_id_1>The squirrel bridge idea was born
<extra_id_2>A councilwoman named the bridge
<extra_id_3>A squirrel was found dead.
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<extra_id_5>What if you could fly like a bird just by thinking happy thoughts? Or you could disappear to a faraway land, never grow old and fight pirates every day? For Peter Pan and his friends, the Lost Boys, these dreams come true. More than 100 years after this playful boy was "born", Peter Pan and his friends are to continue their adventure in a sequel to J.M. Barrie's original novel. "Peter Pan in Scarlet" ,written by British author Geraldine McCaughrean, was published earlier this month. The sequel brings all the original characters back. Peter Pan's friends, the Lost Boys, are now grown up and live in the real world. What's more, at the end of the first book, Peter Pan thinks he has killed his enemy, Captain Hook. But ,new readers discover he is not so dead at all. For those who are unfamiliar with the original story, Peter Pan lives in faraway Neverland with a group of orphans. But they are eager for a real mother and Peter Pan flies to London with a fairy , Tinkerbell, to find one. They visit a young girl, Wendy, who loves to read stories, and bring her and her two brothers back to Neverland to live with them. In Neverland, children never have to grow up, and there are no parents to tell them what to do. Many teenagers dream of a world where they don't have to grow old and take responsibility. But, the author explains such a world is not the paradise when it first appears: adventures can be scary and often dangerous, and, though we all sometimes dream of running away, we all need someone to love and look after us too. The place Peter Pan and his friend stay is named Neverland probably because _ .
<extra_id_0>they never have to grow up
<extra_id_1>they don't have parents
<extra_id_2>they never have troubles
<extra_id_3>they never need to worry
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<extra_id_5>People are switching from coal to wind to
<extra_id_0>do nothing at all
<extra_id_1>heat and cool Mars
<extra_id_2>sing songs to birds
<extra_id_3>producing heat for dwellings
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<extra_id_5>School education is very important and useful. The students both learn knowledge and get educated. Yet, no one can learn everything from school. Scientists, such as Edison, Newton, Galileo and Einstein, didn't learn everything from school. They learnt a lot of knowledge outside school or practiced a lot themselves. A teacher, though he knows a lot, can't teach his students everything. The teacher's job is to teach his students how to learn, how to read and how to think. A good teacher with rich experience in teaching can teach his students the methods (="ways)" of study. Through these methods students are able to learn and get a lot of things by themselves. Usually it's very easy for students to memorize some knowledge, but it is difficult to use it to solve problems. If a teacher really teaches students the ability of how to use knowledge, it means the teacher has learned lots of knowledge by himself(or herself). The success in learning shows he or she knows how how how to study. (,10) Which of the following is the best title?
<extra_id_0>A real job for teachers
<extra_id_1>Study in and outside school
<extra_id_2>Practice-the only way of learning
<extra_id_3>How to learn language
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<extra_id_5>US military is attempting to develop a new style "insect robot" to replace the human soldier to go wherever he can't. The greatest trouble this project has fallen across is how to enable the robot to fly freely like an insect, said an official of the Pentagon . The Pentagon is seeking for the cooperation with scientists in hope of developing a new technique by which people can control the insect's flight direction and pass on the information its eyes or other organs catch through the equipment set in its body, the official said. It is thus designed that a tiny controlling chip will be equipped in an insect's body when it is in chrysalis . As the insect grows, the cut made when fixing in the chip will be recovered. The chip will exist in forever. Scientists believe this won't influence the insect, sound growth or the functions of internal organs. The _ target of the project is to set up a global system, in which the insect robots will be stationed in all parts of the world and stick to their posts till a new instruction is received. At that time the military can receive from all over the world clear image information within about 5 meters of the insects and that of a special target within 100 meters. Years ago, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency of US DOD spent $3,000,000 carrying out a plan for training bees to detect landmines. But, no new progress has so far been made. "According to the scientists, there is still enormous difficulty in technology in turning it into reality, such as the insects reproduction , their adaptation to the surroundings and temperature and so on. However, this project is really challenging. If successful, it is equal to making countless small drone ,"said the official of DOD. Of the following technical problems, which is the one the scientists can't solve so far?
<extra_id_0>They can't keep sound growth of the insects.
<extra_id_1>They can't ensure the insects to produce their young.
<extra_id_2>They can't fix a chip in an insect.
<extra_id_3>They can't make sure the internal organs function well.
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<extra_id_5>How to make friends Choosing friends Before you make friends,you have to decide who you want to be your friends.Most people like to have friends who like to do the same kind of things as they do.That doesn't mean you have to be exactly like each other,just that you enjoy some of the same things.Think about your favorite things to do and try to talk to your classmates at lunch or rest about your hobbies.You are sure to find at least one person who's excited about the same things that excite and interest you,too. Making friends *The quickest way to make a friend is to smile.When you smile,people think you are friendly and easy to talk to.It may not be easy at first to smile.But you can practice smiling in front of a mirror.When you look at yourself in the mirror,think if you'd rather talk to your smiling face or your usual scared or angry face. *One easy way to start a conversation with someone is to say something nice about them.Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you.Doesn't it make you want to talk to him? *Ask your new friends questions about themselves.It's the only way to get to know what they're like and it's the only way they'll know that you are interested in them. *Make sure you have something to add to the conversation,too.When someone asks you a question,do have an answer for them.There is nothing that will stop a conversation quicker than a shrug for an answer. Activities After you've made a friend who shares the same interests with you,it's always fun to plan activities together that you'll both enjoy.Inviting a friend to your house after school is a great way to make your friendship closer. If you know a game your friend likes to play,you can plan to do that together.When you play a computer game,one person is always left sitting with nothing to do but watch.Not fun. To make your friendship last long,you shouldn't _ .
<extra_id_0>do something that interests both of you together
<extra_id_1>invite your friend to your house at weekends
<extra_id_2>be always doing something by yourself with your friend left doing nothing
<extra_id_3>play basketball together in your free time
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<extra_id_5>Bicycles for rent could become as common as newspaper stands and mail boxes on prefix = st1 /Germany's street corners if a scheme launched by Deutsche Bahn is successful. The German rail operator has launched a bicycle-hire scheme designed for simple one-way trips. "It's a new concept,"said Andreas Knie, head of the project. Users must first register with Call-A-Bike at a cost of 15 euros(US$14.7). With a simple phone call, they can hire one of the many bikes parked outside stations, at a cost of 3 to 5 cents per minute. At the end of their journey, they ring a computer and tell it where the bike is parked. The bikes are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No one will be breaking speed records with Call-A-Bike bicycles. They weigh in at 25 kilograms, at least double the weight of a normal bicycle, though they do have eight gears . "They are pretty heavy, but we don't want people taking them on the train or into the subway," Knie said. They are also designed with parts that do not fit a normal bicycle. Even the screws are irregular and the bike looks so odd that thieves would stand out. Vandalism and theft have led to the downfall of previous schemes which date back toAmsterdam's 1966"White Bike"scheme. In that short-lived experiment, anti-establishment groups painted bikes white and left them around the Dutch capital. However, many were taken permanently and repainted, while the police took away others on the basis that ownerless bikes were street rubbish. Copenhagen, Vienna and Helsinki also have free bike schemes, in which users deposit a coin in Copenhagen's case 20 crowns(US$2.50)--to free a bike from a rack. "The advantage these schemes have is ease of use. But because they're so cheap, people tend to hold on to the bikes and then there are none on the streets,"the person in charge said. Oslo is also planning a bike-hire system where users will pay a symbolic fee of 50 Norwegian crowns(US$6.50)for unlimited use in the city for a year. Users will buy an electronic identity card as a key that will register when the bike is parked or taken from a rack. Which do you think is the best title?
<extra_id_0>Free Bicycles for Europeans.
<extra_id_1>Tough Transporters.
<extra_id_2>Customer is King.
<extra_id_3>Unpractical Scheme.
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<extra_id_5>In Jane Austin's time, unmarried girls were always closely guarded, and hardly allowed to be alone with a young man; and during the Victorian period (just the period after Jane Austin) exposure of the body in particular was thought to be most immoral, Victorian ladies wore dresses reaching down to their feet, long in the sleeve and high at the neck. Since then, ways of dressing as well as times have changed. Girls were no longer guarded, and they can do more or less what they like. And yet among all these astonishing changes, one thing has remained much the same for most people, and that is the same of becoming a mother before being married. If this does happen, there often comes a quick marriage with the responsible man. If this is impossible, the affair may bring considerable shame to the girl's parents as well as to herself. It is now quite normal for a girl, once past the age of about fifteen, to go out with a boyfriend, and although her parents will probably insist that she come home at a certain time, beyond this they depend on her or look after herself. Kisses between young men and women are now considered to be perfectly normal, but although times have changed so much, most people still believe that a woman should not become a mother before being married. The main idea of this article is that _ .
<extra_id_0>a girl should not become a mother before being married.
<extra_id_1>girls are no longer closely guarded.
<extra_id_2>ways of dressing have changed with the time.
<extra_id_3>exposure of the body has been thought to be immoral
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<extra_id_5>Who can hear sounds?
<extra_id_0>boulders
<extra_id_1>giraffes
<extra_id_2>rocks
<extra_id_3>stone statues
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<extra_id_5>Fiji is a beautiful country which consists of many islands. It's located in the South Pacific and it's famous for its beautiful scenery. Here are some family resorts for you. Shangri-La's Fijian Resort &Spa, Yanuca Island (4.5stars) Hitting the top spot once again is the worthy Shangri-La's Fijian Resort and Spa, Situated on its own private island, the resort is an easy 45 minutes by road from the airport. Idyllic island landscapes of tropical gardens and white sand beaches, with swimming right off shore, wait for the visitors. Kids stay and eat free, making the Shangri-la an affordable tropical stay. www. shangri-la.com The Naviti Resort, Coral Coast(4 stars) Located on the famous Coral Coast, this resort is popular with Australian families looking for value and quality. Kids rule at the Rugg Rats Club while there are also specialized teenager activities that will keep them busy both on resort grounds and beyond. Meanwhile, the whole family will enjoy outstanding facilities including 9-hole golf course, swim-up bar, fully equipped gym and giant chess board. www.warwicknaviti.com Mana Island Resort&Spa, Mana Island (4 stars) Learning about Fijian culture is a big part of the Vonu kids' Club at Mana Island, with activities including palm weaving, local games and shell collecting which are all part of the fun. Add to these two pools, a large playground, plenty of water sports. www.manafiji.com Sheraton Denarau Villas (5 stars) Sheraton Denarau Villas are specially designed to suit families, with dining areas, kitchen and laundry facilities plus the convenience of full hotel facilities. These are family-friendly activities on offer including fish feeding, Iawn bowls, boating and a special children's program. www. sheraton.com/denarauvillasoffers If you want to learn more information about family-friendly activities, please visit _ .
<extra_id_0>_
<extra_id_1>www.warwicknaviti.com
<extra_id_2>www.manafiji.com
<extra_id_3>_
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<extra_id_5>The fact that blind people can see things using parts of their bodies apart from their eyes may help us to understand our feelings about color.If they can sense color differences, then perhaps we, too, are affected by color without knowing it.Salesmen have discovered by experience over a long period of time that sugar sells badly in green wrappings, that blue foods are considered not agreeable to the taste, and that cosmetics should never be packed in brown.These discoveries have grown into a whole subject of color psychology. Some of our preferences are clearly psychological.Dark blue is the color of the night sky and therefore connected with calm, while yellow is a day color connected with energy and encouragement.Experiments have shown that colors, partly because they are connected with psychology, also have a direct effect on people's mind.People in bright red surroundings show an increase in breathing speed, heartbeat and blood pressure.Red is exciting.Pure blue has exactly the opposite effect; it is a calming color.Being exciting, red was chosen as the signal for danger, but a closer study shows that a bright yellow can produce a more basic state of alarm, so fire engines in some advanced areas are now rushing around in bright yellow colors that stop buses, trucks and cars. If someone is in an angry mood, which color is better for him to become quiet?
<extra_id_0>Red.
<extra_id_1>Dark blue.
<extra_id_2>Brown.
<extra_id_3>Bright yellow
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<extra_id_5>Dec. 24, 1848 Dear Johnston, Your request for eighty dollars, I do not think it best to satisfy now. At the various times when I have helped you a little, you have said to me, "We can get along very well again," but in a very short time I find you in the same difficulty again. Now this can only happen by some fault in your behavior. What that fault is, I think I know. You are not lazy, and still you are an idler . I doubt whether since I saw you, you have done a good whole day's work, in any other day. You do not very much dislike to work, and still you do not work much, merely because it does not seem to you that you could get much for it. This habit of uselessly wasting time is the whole difficulty; it is vastly important to you, and still more so to your children, that you should break this habit. It is more important to them, because they have longer to live, and can keep out of an idle habit before they are in it, easier than they can get out after they are in. You are now in need of some ready money; and what I suggest is, that you shall go to work hard, for somebody who will give you money for it. Let father and your boys take charge of your things at home-prepare for a crop, and make the crop, and you go to work for the best money wages, or to pay back any debt you owe. And to secure you a fair reward for your labor, I now promise you that for every dollar you will, between this and the first of May, get for your own labor, I will then give you one other dollar. By this, if you hire yourself at ten dollars a month, from me you will get ten more, making twenty dollars a month for your work. Now if you will do this, you will soon be out of debt, and what is better, you will have a habit that will keep you from getting in debt again. But if I should now clear you out, next year you will be just as deep in as ever. You say you would almost give your place in Heaven for $ 70 or $80. Then you value your place in Heaven cheaply, for I am sure you can with the offer I make you get the seventy or eighty dollars for four or five months' work. You say if I furnish you the money you will deed me the land, and if you don't pay the money back, you will deliver possession-Nonsense! If you can't now live with the land, how will you then live without it? You have always been kind to me, and I do not now mean to be unkind to you. On the contrary, if you will but follow my advice, you will find it worth more than eight time eighty dollars to you. Affectionately Your brother A. Lincoln If Johnston got one dollar for his work, Lincoln promised to _ .
<extra_id_0>reward him with labor
<extra_id_1>pay off his debt
<extra_id_2>hire him at 10 dollars a month
<extra_id_3>give him another dollar
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<extra_id_5>Many of today's parents fondly remember childhood days spent playing outdoors. When children make mud pies and observe ants, it may seem like just fun and games, but the truth is the outdoor play is an important part of growing up healthily. The National Association for the Education of Young Children reports that outdoor play reduces (make...less) stress and restlessness in children and improves their attention. Outdoor play is the perfect way to fight against the childhood's obesity(being fat).Research shows that children who play outdoors are more fit and thin, according to the National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play. Children who spend time outside on a regular basis also have healthier immune systems. And playing outdoors is a good way to get enough vitamin D. Playing outside enables children to relax , reduces tension and helps them solve problems. When children play outdoors, they learn to share and cooperate (work together) with one another. Kids who feel confident outdoors are likely to become able clever adults. The outdoors is a giant laboratory for learning that improves creative thinking and problem solving. Researchers have found that children learn best when their body, mind and spirit are involved , and this appears in outdoor play. Outside activities develop all five senses, which create a powerful learning environment. The outdoors also lets children have the chance to explore , experiment, form questions and create their own ideas about how the world works. Although there are the many advantages of outdoor play, time spent outside has been reduced for many of today's children. Kids today spend much more time in front of electronic media than children a generation ago. The lack of outdoor play is tied to the childhood widespread obesity. And experts predict that the situation is so serious that this generation will have much trouble when they grow up. To get kids involved with the outdoors, encourage them to collect rocks, fly kites, climb trees, garden, camp, swim, go fishing, watch birds and butterflies or play games with other children. According to the article, most children face the problem of _ .
<extra_id_0>telling the truth
<extra_id_1>lacking learning environment
<extra_id_2>being too fat
<extra_id_3>solving problems quickly
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<extra_id_5>How are you and your family going to celebrate Earth Day? It's great day to get outside and ride a bike, but there are other ways you could spend the day. Here are four books. You can learn more about the earth and the animals that make the world a special place to live. The Busy Beaver, by Nicholas Oldland Beaver is very busy, and he doesn't always think carefully. As a result, he makes a mess of the forest and ends up in hospital. Finally, he realizes how careless he's been and decides to make things right when he returns to the forest. Lessons from Mother Earth, by Elaine Mcleod Five-year-old Tess is visiting her grandmother and, for the first time, she visits the garden. Along the way, Tess's grandmother tells her the rules of the garden, "You must always take good care of our garden. Never throw rubbish around. There is plenty for everyone to share if we don't destroy the earth." The story is beautifully told as a caring conversation between a child and her grandmother. Luz See the Light, by Claudia Davila When Luz's community experiences a series of black-outs , she quickly comes to understand the need to save energy and find other ways of doing things . With the help of her friends and neighbors, she creates a community garden and park that everyone can use. The book attracts many young readers. The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss A young boy learns of the role of the Lorax as protector of the trees, and how his home became polluted. The book contains memorable of forestry conservation . We can learn from the passages that Beaver _ .
<extra_id_0>always plans things carefully
<extra_id_1>never takes care of the forest
<extra_id_2>decides to leave the forest forever
<extra_id_3>gets hurt because of his carelessness
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<extra_id_5>For centuries, the body's blood has been linked closely with the emotions.People who show no human emotions or feelings, are said to be cold-blooded killer.For example, the police are searching for a cold-blooded killer.He seems to kill for no reason, and no emotion, as if taking someone's life as nothing. Cold can affect other parts of the body.The expression "get cold feet" has nothing to do with cold or your feet.The expression means being afraid to do something you have decided to do.For example, you agree to be president of an organization.But then you learn that all the other officers have resigned, and all the work of the organizations will be your responsibility.You are likely to get cold feet about being president when you understand the situation. The expression "give someone the cold shoulder" probably comes from the physical act of turning your back toward someone, instead of speaking to him face to face.You may give a cold shoulder to a friend who has not kept a promise he made to you.Or, to someone who has lied about you to others. A cold fish is not a fish.It is a person.But it is a person who is unfriendly, unemotional and shows no love or warmth.A cold fish does not offer much of himself to anyone.Someone who is a cold fish could be cold-hearted.Now a cold-hearted person is someone who has no sympathy.Several popular songs in recent years were about cold-hearted men or cold-hearted women who, without feelings, broke the hearts of their lovers. "Out in the cold" means not getting something that everybody else got.A person might say that everybody but him got a pay raise----he was left out in the cold.And it is not a pleasant place to be. The topic of this passage is about _ .
<extra_id_0>the relationship between cold and our body
<extra_id_1>some expressions about friendship
<extra_id_2>some expressions connected with cold
<extra_id_3>how cold weather comes into being
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<extra_id_5>It was only a few weeks after my surgery, and I went to Dr. Belt's office for a checkup. It was just after my first chemotherapy treatment. My scar was still very tender. My arm was numb underneath. As usual, I was taken to an examination room to have my blood drawn, again --a terrifying process for me, since I'm so frightened of needles. I lay down on the examining table. Ramona entered the room. Her warm smile was familiar, and stood out in contrast to my fears. She knew about my fear of needles, and she kindly hid the equipment under a magazine. As we opened the blouse, the fresh scar on my chest could be seen. She said, "How is your scar healing?" I said, "I think pretty well. I wash around it gently each day." The memory of the shower water hitting my numb chest flashed across my face. She gently reached over and ran her hand across the scar, examining the smoothness of the healing skin and looking for any irregularities. I began to cry gently and quietly. She brought her warm eyes to mine and said, "You haven't touched it yet, have you?" And I said, "No." So this wonderful, warm woman laid the hand on my chest and she gently held it there. For a long time, I continued to cry quietly. In soft tones she said, "This is part of your body. This is you. It's okay to touch it." But I couldn't. So she touched it for me. The scar. The healing wound. And beneath it, she touched my heart. Then Ramona said, "I'll hold your hand while you touch it." So she placed her hand next to mine, and we both were quiet. That was the gift that Ramona gave me. Ramona hid the equipment under a magazine to _ .
<extra_id_0>cheer me up
<extra_id_1>rid my fear
<extra_id_2>make me amused
<extra_id_3>tease me
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<extra_id_5>A city without cars would be very strange, right? But Venice is such a city. Venice is in the northeast of Italy. It wasn't built on land, like Beijing or Shanghai, but on more than 110 islands. Seawater is everywhere around the city. Even so, travel isn't difficult. The waterways have always been the best ways to get around. There are 117 waterways and more than 400 bridges that can guide you where you want to go.People in Venice move from place to place by boat. They like to enjoy the scenery and cool summer nights while taking boat trips. They can talk to other people as they go along. Venice grew out of small islands in saltwater lakes when some Italians escaped from a war more than 1,500 years ago, and built homes there. Water makes the city special, but it is also a big problem. Once, people used too much underground water. This made the city get lower little by little. Now the city has gone down by 23 centimeters. Another problem is the rising seawater. The temperature has risen over the years. This has made the ice of the Arctic Ocean melt . Every year, high waters hit the city in autumn and winter. When a lot of water comes, more than half of the city is underwater. Scientists are trying different ways to stop the city from getting even lower. ,. Why is Venice still getting lower and lower?
<extra_id_0>Because too many people live there.
<extra_id_1>Because the rising temperature has made the ice melt.
<extra_id_2>Because lots of bridges have been built.
<extra_id_3>Because the underground water is rising.
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<extra_id_5>In many countries, unusual names for children are becoming more popular, especially when more and more stars give their children special names. In Britain, you can call a child almost anything you like except dirty words. Some parents choose names which come from popular culture. Because of the film the Lord of the Rings , six boys were named Gandalf. Names about sport are very common, too. Since 1984, 36 children have been called Arsenal after the football team. Other parents like to make up names, or combine two names to make a special one. A mother in Britain invented the name Tiaamii for her daughter. She combined the names Thea and Amy (the two grandmothers). In China, there are some rules about names --- you can't use foreign letters or symbols in a Chinese name. For example, parents are not allowed to name their baby @. In New Zealand, a name beginning with a number is not allowed. Other countries have stricter rules about calling children. For example, Japan, Denmark, Spain, Germany and Argentina have a list of names. Parents must choose the names in the lists for their children. In Britain, some old-fashioned names have become popular again, such as Maisie or Ella for a girl, and Alfie or Noah for a boy. But the most popular names are not the strange ones. The top names are very traditional--Jack and Thomas for boys, or Grace and Jessica f6r girls. ,,. (5,2,l0) In Britain, people can't use _ words in their children's names.
<extra_id_0>strange
<extra_id_1>popular
<extra_id_2>old-fashioned
<extra_id_3>dirty
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<extra_id_5>Oceanography has been defined as "The application of all sciences to the study of the sea". Before the nineteenth century scientists with an interest in the sea were few and far between. Certainly Newton considered some theoretical aspects of it in his writings, but he was reluctant to go to sea to further his work. For most people the sea was remote, and with the exception of early intercontinental travelers or others who earned a living from the sea, there was little reason to ask many questions about it, let alone to ask what lay beneath the surface. The first time that the question "What is at the bottom of the oceans?" had to be answered with any commercial consequence was when the laying of a telegraph cable from Europe to America was proposed. The engineer had to know the depth profile of the route to estimate the length of cable that had to be manufactured. It was to Maury of the US Navy that the Atlantic Telegraph Company turned, in l853, for information on this matter. In the 1840s, Maury had been responsible for encouraging voyages during which soundings were taken to investigate the depths of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Later, some of his findings aroused much popular interest in his book The Physical Geography of the Sea. The cable was laid, but not until 1866 was the connection made permanent and reliable. At the early attempts, the cable failed and when it was taken out for repairs it was found to be covered in living growths, a fact which defied contemporary scientific opinion that there was no life in the deeper parts of the sea. Within a few years oceanography was under way. In 1872 Thomson led a scientific expedition, which lasted for four years and brought home thousands of samples from the sea. Their classification and analysis occupied scientists for years and led to a five-volume report, the last volume being published in l895. The proposal to lay a telegraph cable from Europe to America made oceanographic studies take on _ .
<extra_id_0>a business aspect
<extra_id_1>a military aspect
<extra_id_2>an academic aspect
<extra_id_3>an international aspect
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<extra_id_5>It was 8:40 in the evening and I was at Starbucks -- Plaza Singapura,the place we are going to meet.I was 20 minutes before meeting time.It is not polite to be late for a date for the first time anyway.I waited,looking at the people coming and going.I was daydreaming about today's soccer match I played and started thinking about life and soccer.Life is like soccer.You never know when you are going to get hit by the ball in your face.You have to live! As I was trying to relax myself,I felt her appearance -- the smell,I can never forget.I looked up and saw her smiling and making her way towards me.She was pretty-looking and she was in fashion .I stood there watching her coming.A bright color T-shirt with a beautiful skirt.Wow,I really love girls wearing skirts.It makes them look more attractive and natural. "Sorry I am late." "No,it's OK.I am just early myself." "So what film are we going to see?" "It's OK,we will check it out later,and anyway what matters most is whom I am going to see it with,not the show." What can you know from "You never know when you are going to get hit by the ball in your face"?
<extra_id_0>He was worried about his date.
<extra_id_1>Soccer is a difficult game.
<extra_id_2>He was afraid to be hit in the face.
<extra_id_3>He lost a soccer match.
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<extra_id_5>Primary Source Holiday Shopping Night at Ten Thousand Villages * Shop for your holiday gifts and give back to Primary Source at Ten Thousand Villages on Friday, December 4! 15% of all sales from 3:00 p. m.--7:00 p. m. that day will be donated to Primary Source. Join us for light refreshments and enjoy beautiful handmade gifts from artisans around the world. All are welcome! Primary Source's Holiday Shopping Night Friday, December 4, 2014 3:00 p. m.--7:00 p. m. Ten Thousand Villages 226 Harvard Street, Brookline, Massachusetts (Coolidge Corner) Download our _ and tell your friends! Ten Thousand Villages provides vital, fair income for the people from developing countries by marketing their handicrafts and telling their stories in North America. Learn more and preview toys, home decor, jewelry, and other gifts online. * Can't join us on Dec. 4? At GoodShop, 30% of your spending will be given to Primary Source. The next time you're ready to make an online purchase , visit www. goodshop. com and enter "Primary Source" in the space provided. Click "verify" and choose from more than seven hundred popular stores and sites, from Apple to Zappos. GoodShop is free and easy to use, and each purchase you make will help Primary Source provide global education materials for schools all over New England. If you pay $10 for a gift at GoodShop, _ in the end.
<extra_id_0>7 dollars will go to GoodShop
<extra_id_1>3 dollars will go to GoodShop
<extra_id_2>7 dollars will go to Primary Source
<extra_id_3>10 dollars will go to schools in new England
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<extra_id_5>Spiderman is one of the most famous comic book heroes of all time.He was created by Stan Lee in 1963 and was first introduced to the world in the pages of Marvel comic books. Spiderman's story is the story of Peter Parker,a child who lost his parents and lives with his aunt and uncle.Peter is a shy,quiet boy wearing glasses and has few friends.One day,on a high school class trip to a science lab,he gets bitten by a special spider.Soon Peter realizes he has amazing powers:he is as strong and quick as a spider and also has a type of sixth sense.He no longer needs his glasses and he can use his super power to fly through the city streets! Remembering something his Uncle Ben has told him,that"with great power,there must also come great responsibility ,"Peter decides to use his powers to fight enemies who do cruel things to people.And so,Spiderman is born. Life is not easy for Peter even though he is a superhero.He is in love with Mary Jane but cannot tell her about his amazing powers.Besides,his best friend Harry hates Spiderman! Peter is also short of money and time.He has to sell photos of Spiderman(himself!)to a newspaper and he keeps losing his other jobs because he's so busy saving people! Yet he has to fight different kinds of cruel enemies. In what areas does Peter have problems that are similar to normal people?
<extra_id_0>Money,time,studying,reading.
<extra_id_1>Money,work,time,relationships.
<extra_id_2>Relationships,sport,money,work.
<extra_id_3>Money,work,time,sleep.
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<extra_id_5>If you live in a big city, there are many thing to drive you crazy on your daily route, and it's not just overcrowded subway trains. Vicky Zhao is a mainlander working in Hong Kong. For her, one thing she can't put up with is people standing on the wrong side of the escalator in subway stations. "Escalators help us move faster and save time. It isn't a place to rest," the 24-year-old says. "I often see tourists block the way with their suitcases or chatting on the escalators during rush hours. _ annoys me to no end." Admitting she is not the patient type, Zhao says things are much better in Hong Kong than in cities on the mainland where "stand right, walk left" signs are often ignored. The logic behind the "stand right, walk left" escalator etiquette seems obvious. Even though you may want to catch your breath while you're transported up or down, you should still consider others and leave enough space for people in a hurry, so that they can run and catch the train. Many cities' escalators, including London's and Beijing's, use the "stand right, walk left" system to speed up the flow of people. (Australia is an exception and you should stand on the left side instead.) But some cities discourage people from moving on escalators out of safety reasons. In Hong Kong's subway stations there are regular announcements asking people to "stand still" on escalators. Even so, most people in thisfast-paced cityobserve the "stand right, walk left" etiquette. But the people who stand on escalators defend themselves by telling the walkers not to be so impatient. The BBC quotes one stander as saying: "If the person is in such a rush, why not just take the stairs? Even when the escalator is packed and there's nowhere to move, I see these same people complaining about not being able to pass." Whatever the escalator etiquette is in the place you live or visit, do what most people are doing and always be mindful of others: leave enough space between each other, don't stay at the end of the escalator, and if someone is blocking your way, a simple "excuse me" is enough. Which of the following statements is the writer's opinion?
<extra_id_0>People should stand right no matter where they are.
<extra_id_1>People should do as the Romans do and consider others.
<extra_id_2>People should do as they like on the escalators.
<extra_id_3>People should be seriously criticized when they block the way.
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<extra_id_5>A clinic in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, works to support the health of people and forests. Kinari Webb is an American doctor who helped start the non-profit group that operates the clinic. The group is known as ASRI. Dr. Webb says most communities value the local forests, but illegal logging was often their only way to earn money to pay for health care. "Villagers know that if they protect the forest, that's good for their long-term well-being. But if they have no money to see a doctor, they have to do illegal logging," said Dr. Webb. The clinic is in Sukadana, a village outside Gunung Palung National Park. Each month someone from ASRI visits the surrounding villages to see if they are actively logging or burning land within the park. Communities that do not take part in illegal logging pay about 40 percent less for health care than those that do. Also, the clinic uses a barter system. Patients can pay with things like handmade baskets, labor exchanges, young trees or fruit they grow. Patients learn about environmental conservation as they wait to register at the clinic. Many of the 70 staff members also help communities learn about organic farming and other ways to earn money. In May, ASRI started a program to identify forest "guardians". These guardians work with the community to try to prevent illegal logging. One of the guardians says he entered the program because ASRI helped his son recover from tuberculosis . The clinic is small, but very busy. However, people did not trust the clinic at first. They wanted to go to the only hospital in the area. Yet its resources are limited and villagers often have to travel more than two hours to get there. Now, people happily share stories about the clinic. Amelia's mother is one of them. She started going there when her daughter was eight months old. She says the treatment is good. Dr. Webb smiled when she heard that. Dr. Webb said: "Health care is an incredible key. And everyone everywhere around knows that we really care and that we are helping save their lives." We can infer that _ .
<extra_id_0>only a few people went to the clinic at the beginning
<extra_id_1>the clinic is well equipped
<extra_id_2>Amelia's mother is not satisfied with the medical service
<extra_id_3>the only hospital in the area is of poor service
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<extra_id_5>Few Americans remain in one position or one place for a lifetime. They move from town to city to suburb, from high school to college in a different state, from a job in one region to a better job elsewhere, from the home where they raise their children to the home where they plan to live in retirement . With each move they are forever making new friends, who become part of their new life at that time. For many of them summer is a special time for forming new friendships. Today millions of Americans vacation abroad, and they go not only to see new sights but also with the hope of meeting new people. No one really expects a vacation trip to produce a close friend, but the beginning of a friendship is possible. The word "friend " can be applied to a wide range of relationships ---- to someone one has known for a few weeks in a new place, to a fellow worker, to a childhood playmate, to a man or woman, to a trusted confidant . From the passage it can be seen that a "friend" can be _ .
<extra_id_0>a fellow worker
<extra_id_1>a football teammate
<extra_id_2>a boy or a girl
<extra_id_3>all of the above
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<extra_id_5>We all need to exercise. Doctors say it is good for us. It makes your heart and body strong. It also gives you more energy. And you will feel better yourself. It's best to exercise twice a week. Twenty minutes each time is enough. There are many ways to exercise. You can walk, run, play sports, or swim. Many people go to special places to exercise. They are called "fitness centers". These places have a lot of equitment. Some people buy equitment for their homes. But it is very expensive. Exercising can be fun. Friends can exercise together at fithess center. Or they can play sports together, how do you exercise? We should exercise _ .
<extra_id_0>every day
<extra_id_1>20 minutes a week.
<extra_id_2>twice a week
<extra_id_3>two times a month
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<extra_id_5>One day, around Christmas time, fishermen off the west coast of Peru started on their traditional fishing trip. Much to their surprise, there were no fish! They knew immediately what had happened. Tales from years gone by had told them this was the result of El Nino which sometimes stop fishing for many months! El Nino is a warm _ that comes and goes along the west coast of South America. It got its name from fishermen in Peru more than a century ago. Every few years, they noticed a sudden warming in the normally cool Pacific water where they fished. Because this warming often came about around Christmas, they called it El Nino, which is Spanish for the "Christ Child". Generally, El Nino occurs every three to seven years and lasts only a few weeks to a month or more. El Nino warms the water it flows through. Because the fish and sea birds need cold water to live, many of them die when El Nino comes through. El Nino also causes both floods and droughts. It is believed that El Nino may have caused the 1993 Mississippi and 1995 California floods. And at the same time, it may have caused droughts in South America, Africa and Australia. El Nino has occurred thirteen times within the last fifty years, bringing natural disasters to many countries such as Indonesia and Peru. However, El Nino does not often trouble China. During this period China was badly hit by El Nino only once. In 1998, North China had a terrible drought, while South China was troubled by floods. According to the passage, which of the following is TRUE about El Nino?
<extra_id_0>It happens in November and December.
<extra_id_1>It was named by some Spanish fishermen.
<extra_id_2>It only happens in South America.
<extra_id_3>It lasts a few weeks or more.
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<extra_id_5>Which of the following best describes the purpose of cellular respiration?
<extra_id_0>to provide energy for cell activities
<extra_id_1>to produce sugar for storage in cells
<extra_id_2>to release oxygen for breathing
<extra_id_3>to supply carbon dioxide for photosynthesis
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<extra_id_5>What if we could replace oil with a fuel which produced no pollution and which everybody had equal access to? The good news is that we can. In fact, we are swimming in it--- literally. Hydrogen is one of the building blocks of the universe. Our own sun is basically a big, dense cloud of the stuff. And hydrogen can be used to create electricity for power, heat and light. The problem is that hydrogen is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It does not exist as a material on its own, but is always part of something else. So it has to be separated before it can be used. Most commercial hydrogen in use now is created from natural gas. As oil will start to run out in around the year 2030, it makes sense to produce as much hydrogen as possible as soon as we can. But natural gas supplies will also begin to run out soon after. Another source is needed. Researchers are now using electricity to make water into hydrogen. Companies are working on the problem in their own areas. The first commercial hydrogen "fuel cells" for computers and mobile phones have already come on to the market. Auto companies have also invested over US $2 billion in the production of hydrogen fuelled cars. The nations of a hydrogen fuelled planet would not fight over energy recourses. There would be a great reduction in pollution. The only by-product of creating hydrogen is pure drinking water--- something that is very scarce in many parts of the world. But that is not where the good news ends. Once the costs of producing hydrogen have been brought down, it will possibly provide power for a third of the Earth's population that has no electricity. And electricity creates wealth. In South Africa over the last decade there has been a large programme of electrification. Thanks to the programme, people do not have to spend their days looking firewood to burn for heat. And with electric light, they can work long into the night. Some scientists see radical changes in the way the human race co-operates. Hydrogen creates electricity, and is also created by _ . With dual use fuel cells, everyone who consumes energy could also produce it. Late at night, a man drives home in London and connects his car into the "world-wide hydrogen web," which it supplies with electricity. A few hours later, a man in Beijing uses that electricity to power the hydrogen cell in his car. Hydrogen could be the first democratic energy source. Like all dreams of the future, it seems very far away. But the threat of war and terrorism in the Middle East has made governments and businesses more aware of the need to end oil dependency and spend more time and money on hydrogen resource. So maybe the threat of war is not a completely bad thing for the future of the human race. What is the problem with using hydrogen as energy?
<extra_id_0>It has by-products.
<extra_id_1>It has to be separated from other materials.
<extra_id_2>It will make energy too cheap.
<extra_id_3>It is too far away from us.
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<extra_id_5>Even though orbiters have eyed it from space and landers have rumbled across its surface, Mars still has more secrets to reveal. Two findings emerged this week: the possibility of an active glacier far from the planet's poles and evidence that sulfur--rather than carbon--was the element driving the planet's warmer climate long ago. Both discoveries could force some rethinking about Martian evolution and dynamics--and maybe even provide insights about Earth's past. The glacier discovery was announced Wednesday by the European Space Agency (ESA). A high-resolution stereo camera aboard ESA's Mars Express spacecraft spotted the feature in a region called Deuteronilus Mensae, located in the mid-north latitudes of the planet. The Mars Express science team drew the preliminary conclusion that the material in the feature is water ice and that it accumulated as recently as 10,000 years ago, probably from an underground source. Other deposits of water ice have been mapped at the martian poles, but they're much bigger and are millions of years old. The find is a surprise because the prevailing view is that any water reaching the martian surface from underground quickly evaporates and eventually drifts into space. Yet all of the physical characteristics of the feature are "consistent with that of a glacier," says geologist and team member Ronald Greeley of Arizona State University in prefix = st1 /Tempe. Meanwhile, in the 21 December issue of Science, a team from HarvardUniversityand the Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a possible solution for the curious absence of carbon-based minerals on Mars. A buildup of carbon dioxide in the ancient martian atmosphere supposedly produced enough of a greenhouse effect to allow liquid water to flow for a time on the surface. The problem is that such a process should have deposited ample carbon-containing minerals on the planet's surface--something that hasn't been found. So the researchers have come up with a new explanation: Large amounts of sulfur dioxide(SO2) in the atmosphere, the result of early volcanic activity, captured enough heat to allow water to flow. This would explain the plentiful distribution of sulfates among martian minerals. The main cause of the warm climate on Mars is _ .
<extra_id_0>water ice
<extra_id_1>carbon
<extra_id_2>sulfur
<extra_id_3>active glacier
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<extra_id_5>As the population of zebra decreases
<extra_id_0>competition among African wild dogs increases
<extra_id_1>predators learn to swim
<extra_id_2>prey communities get larger
<extra_id_3>prey will be more visible
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<extra_id_5>We're always looking for well-written reviews of books, music, movies, television shows, websites, video games and other products. When writing a review, concentrate on exactly what you liked or didn't like. Give examples of strengths and weaknesses, be descriptive and provide background information on an author, director, actor or musician, if possible. Find professional reviews in magazines or newspapers and see how reviewers deal with their topic, but be sure to express your own voice in your review. Grammar Hint for Reviews: When describing a book, movie, album or anything else, use the present tense. Book Reviews Discuss an author's technique, strengths and weaknesses instead of focusing on the plot. Does the story flow? Is there a strong sense of character and place? Did you stay up until dawn to finish it? Is it good reading for teenagers? What influence did it have on you and why? If you've read other books by the same author, discuss how this book compares. Movie Reviews Think of the major Oscar categories and consider the performances, music, lighting and setting, etc. Do these work together? Did some hold up while others didn't? If the movie is based on a book, discuss whether one is better than the other and why. If the movie is a remake, compare the film to its original. Remember that a well-written movie review should discuss strengths and weaknesses. Some readers may not have seen a movie yet, so don't give away an exciting scene or the ending! College Reviews Begin by providing an overview of the college, including location, size and a description of the campus and/or dorm life. Think about all aspects of your college visit. What academic, athletic and after-class programs are available? What are the students like? What makes the college different from others? Every school has strengths and weaknesses. Be objective. Consider what the school has to offer and who might enjoy or benefit the most from attending there. Which aspects should be included in all three reviews?
<extra_id_0>Strengths and weaknesses.
<extra_id_1>Plot and character.
<extra_id_2>Programs and scenes.
<extra_id_3>Location and description.
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<extra_id_5>When the Mountain held the Hound's face to the fire, it caused
<extra_id_0>joy
<extra_id_1>children
<extra_id_2>beautiful skin
<extra_id_3>scars
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<extra_id_5>People who traveled in the past had to put up with many discomforts which we do not have nowadays, and of course they traveled far more slowly. Roads were bad indeed and you often found you could not get along at all because of the mud. In dry weather many places were thick in dust and when it was stormy, trees might fall across the road and it was nobody's business to clear _ away. Ordinary people traveled on foot or on horseback, but everyone who could afford it kept a private coach. There were public coaches too. called "stage coaches" because long journeys took several days and were done in stages, with stops over night at inns. Some stage, coaches ran only in the summer months. Others all the year around. They were very slow and crowded and passengers often became in on the way because of the swaying . Break downs were frequent, since many roads were not smooth. So a coach might very easily turn right over. Early in the century coach and wagon builders were encouraged to put very wide wheels on their vehicles. So that these might level the roads a little. But many people complained of this since it slowed travel down a good deal. Most travelers during the 18th century wrote bitterly about the state of the roads. One visitor to Sussex took six hours to travel nine miles in his coach; another wrote to a friend that on time of his journeys "almost every mile was marked by the overturn of a carriage". The sentence "almost every mile was marked by the overturn of a carriage" suggests that _ .
<extra_id_0>the coaches were of poor quality
<extra_id_1>the writers liked to describe the road bitterly
<extra_id_2>the road condition was really poor
<extra_id_3>travelling about in the past was extremely slow
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<extra_id_5>Here is a poster on a middle school web site. Read the web-site poster. Going, Going, Gone! The Haynes Middle School Parent-Teacher organization Invites you to attend our latest fund-raiser, The Fourth Annual Haynes School Auction ! Saturday, May 10 6:00 p.m.-11: p.m. in the school hall 6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. :All items for auction are previewed. 6:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m. : Silent auction begins. 7:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. : Highest bidders from silent auction are determined. 7:30 p.m.-11:00 p.m. : Main auction begins. Items up for bid in the silent auction range in value from $ 5.00 to $ 30.00. Items up for bid in the main auction include the following: l Airline tickets to a place of your choice l Weekend getaways at first-class hotels l Season tickets to the Chicago Bears football game l $ 50 gift tickets to local gift shops, restaurants, and salons Don't miss the boat! Book your tickets today. Last year, tickets sold out in five days! Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. $ 15.00 per person All the money from the auction will be given to the prefix = st1 /HaynesSchoolcomputer lab. The more items that are given or bought for auction, _ .
<extra_id_0>the less money that will be charged for the tickets to the auction
<extra_id_1>the more money that can be raised to support the computer lab
<extra_id_2>the faster the ticket will be sold to the auction
<extra_id_3>the higher the value that will be placed on the items in the silent auction
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<extra_id_5>My friend Jim and I finally decided to spend our 14 days off in the eastern country.We were arranged to stay with a local family, which made it possible for us to share a real life experience with the locals and in return bring ourselves a richer experience of the native culture and tradition. In the company of one of our well-informed local tour leaders, we started one of the trips to the nearby town . As we were passing elephants, we stopped , confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by a small rope tied to their front legs . No chains, no cages. It was obvious that these elephants could, at any time, break away from the ropes they were tied to but for some reason, they did not . My friend went up to the trainer and asked why these beautiful animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. "Well,"he said , "When they were young and much smaller we used the same size rope to tie them and at that age, it was enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are accustomed to believing that they can not break away. They believe that the rope can hold them, so they never try to break free. We were amazed . These animals could at any time break away from their ropes but just because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right where they were. Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we can not do something , simply because we failed at it once before ? How many of us are being held by outdated belief that no longer serves us ? How many of us have avoided trying something new because of a limited belief? Worse still , how many of us are being held back by someone else's limiting beliefs? Your attempt may fail but never fail to make an attempt. What amazed them was to see _ .
<extra_id_0>the trainer playing skillfully with the huge animals
<extra_id_1>the trainer attracting the visitors's attention in such a way
<extra_id_2>the huge elephants tied only by a small rope
<extra_id_3>the elephants being trained with small ropes
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<extra_id_5>Having one of those days - or weeks - when everything seems to annoy you? Even if you do nothing about it, your bad mood will probably go away after some time. But with a little effort, you can forget it much faster - often within a day or two. *Walk it off Exercise is the most popular bad-mood buster. A person who's in a bad mood has low energy and high tension. Taking a fast ten-minute walk, or doing some quick exercises can do wonders towards changing that bad mood. *Tune it out Listening to your favorite music for a while can also make tension go away quickly, because music starts associations with past positive experiences we've had. *Give yourself a pep talk Stop and listen to what's on your mind. Bad moods are often started by too many negative thoughts. Write them all down on paper, the pessimistic messages you've been giving yourself and then give optimistic answers. ( "I still don't have a job." Vs "I have two interviews next week.") *Reduce your stress Relaxation techniques are wonderful mood-lifters. These include deep breathing, stretching and visualizing, all of which sound complicated but aren't. One easy way to visualize: close your eyes and picture a favorite place, such as the beach. Another simple way to be against distress is to make a to-do list. One reason for being in a bad mood is feeling you have no options. By taking control over certain areas, you realize you're not helpless. You can make changes in your mood and life. *Avoid things that won't improve your mood. TV may not help much: You need to increase your energy level and stimulate your mind - something that the TV show "Neighbors" won't do. And before you reach for that piece of cake and coffee, think about how mood and food are linked. Sugar and caffeine contribute to depressed moods. A better choice? Research shows that carbohydrates, such as potatoes and pasta ,produce a calming effect in people who have a desire for them. Which would be the best title for this passage?
<extra_id_0>Energy Level and Stress
<extra_id_1>How to Beat a Bad Mood
<extra_id_2>Bad Mood and Our Life
<extra_id_3>How to Control Your Feeling.
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<extra_id_5>What is a museum? A museum is a good place to keep old and beautiful things. A museum may be a place to learn about science and a place to find out about art or people or animals. What is inside a museum? Some museums have old cars and airplanes. Many museums have pictures and statues . Others have rocks and old bones. One museum even has a real old street inside. It has shops and people's statues doing business. It looks so real that one might feel that he was back to the old time. Many cities have museums. Some very small towns have museums, too. Indianapolis has a children's museum. Children do not have to pay to get in. Children often go to the museum. They like to look at the dinosaur bones. They see a white bear ten feet tall. On Saturdays, Indianapolis children can hear talks about animals and trees. They see movies. They take hikes. They even learn to make things there. The main idea of the passage is that _ .
<extra_id_0>old cars and airplanes are kept in museums
<extra_id_1>animals and trees are found in museums
<extra_id_2>there are all kinds of museums
<extra_id_3>children like museums
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<extra_id_5>Dear Sir, I recently found your website of Chinese Culture a very good source. I am a professor teaching at Soochow University in Taipei Taiwan, and I would plan to quite often use some articles on your website for my course of Introduction to Chinese Culture. Therefore, I'd like to inform you of my use for educational purposes and hopefully to have your permission. Meanwhile, I do wish I could have more materials from your service. Much grateful to you. Yours sincerely, Byron Gong Dear Mr. Byron Gong, It is a pleasure to know that our website has been of help for you to introduce Chinese culture in your class. Sharing the same mission in promoting Chinese culture, we are glad to grant you the permission in using the sources of our website for your educational purposes, under the condition that all the sources are credited. However, if the pictures or articles are to be used for publications, you can mail us and further discuss on that. We are happy to provide you some further material, but we would like to know what kind of information would be of interest to you. Thank you again for attention to our website. Any suggestion is welcome, and we would very appreciate your help if you could tell us what contents in our website are of most interest and significance to you and what parts should be given more attention. Sincerely yours, Chinaculture.org What is Mr.Byron Gong doing?
<extra_id_0>He is working for Soochow University in Taipei Taiwan as a cleaner.
<extra_id_1>He has nothing to do with Soochow University.
<extra_id_2>He is a professor teaching at Soochow University.
<extra_id_3>He is searching for some scholars.
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<extra_id_5>Many people love going on a trip by plane , but an airport is usually far from the city . You have to arrive there and wait for hours for the plane to take off and it is often late . You can't open the window .You can't choose the food .Planes are fast ,but it takes hours to get out of the airport and into the city . I like travelling by train .I think trains are safe . Train stations are usually in cities . when you are late for a train , you can catch another one . You can walk around in the train and open the windows . You can see many interesing things on your way . I know it takes a little more time . I also like cars . You can start your trip when you want to . and you don't need to get to a station . You can carry many things with you too . But sometimes there are many cars on the road . which sentence about the writer is TRUE?
<extra_id_0>He likes taking a plane because it takes a lot of time to go to the city .
<extra_id_1>He likes taking a train because train stations are usually in cities .
<extra_id_2>He likes taking a bus because he can drive it .
<extra_id_3>He likes taking a plane because it is fast .
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<extra_id_5>My father was Chief engineer of merchant ship, which was sunk in Word War II. The book Night of the U-boats told the story. Memories In September, 1940, my mother, sister and I went to Swansea, where my father's ship was getting ready to sail. We brought him a family photograph to be kept with him at all times and keep him safe. Then I remember my mother lying face down, sobbing. She had heard from a friend that the ship had been sunk by a torpedo . I can remember the arrival of the telegram , which in those days always brought had news. My grandmother opened it. It read, "Safe, Love Ted." My most vivid memory is being woken and brought down to sit on my father's knee, his arm in a bandage. He was judged unfit to return to sea and took a shore job in Glasgow for the rest of the war. For as long as I can remember, he had a weak heart. Mother said _ was caused by the torpedoes. He said it was because of the cigarettes. Whichever, he died suddenly in his early 50s. Ten years later I read Night of the U-boats and was able to complete the story. Torpedo One torpedo struck the ship. Father was in the engine room, where the third engineer was killed. He shut down the engines to slow the ship making it easier for it to be abandoned. By the time he got on deck he was alone. Every lifeboat was gone except one which had stuck fast. When he tried to cut it free, it swung against the ship, injuring his hand and arm. He had no choice but to jump -- still with the photograph in his pocket. Three days later, he and other survivors were safe in Glasgow. All 23 with him signed the back of the photograph. A Toast In my room is the book and the photograph. Often, glass in hand, I have wondered how I would have dealt with an explosion, a sinking ship, a jump into a vast ocean and a wait for rescue? Lest we forget, I have some more whisky and toast the heroes of the war. What is the massage mainly about?
<extra_id_0>A group of forgotten heroes
<extra_id_1>A book describing a terrifying battle.
<extra_id_2>A ship engineer's wartime experience.
<extra_id_3>A merchant's memories of a sea rescue.
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<extra_id_5>Which of the following is produced when sugar is digested in an animal cell?
<extra_id_0>carbon dioxide.
<extra_id_1>chlorophyll.
<extra_id_2>oxygen.
<extra_id_3>sunlight.
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<extra_id_5>Happiness is contagious , as researchers reported on Thursday. People with the most social connections -- spouses, friends, neighbors and relatives -- were also the happiest, the data showed. "Each additional happy person makes you happier," Christakis said. "Imagine that I am connected to you and you are connected to others and others are connected to still others. It is this fabric of humanity, like an American patch quilt." Each person sits on a different colored patch. "Imagine that these patches are happy and unhappy patches. Your happiness depends on what is going on in the patch around you," Christakis said. "It is not just happy people connecting with happy people, which they do. Above and beyond, there is this contagious process going on." And happiness is more contagious than unhappiness, they discovered. "If a social contact is happy, it increases the likelihood that you are happy by 15 percent, " Fowler said. "A friend of a friend, or the friend of a spouse or a sibling , if they are happy, increases your chances by 10 percent," he added. A happy third degree friend -- the friend of a friend of a friend -- increases a person's chances of being happy by 6 percent. "But every extra unhappy friend increases the likelihood that you'll be unhappy by 7 percent," Fowler said. The finding is interesting and it is useful, too, Fowler said. "Among other benefits, happiness has been shown to have an important effect on reduced mortality , pain reduction, and improved cardiac function. So better understanding of how happiness spreads can help us learn how to develop a healthier society," he said. The study also fits in with other data suggested in 1984 that having $ 5,000 extra increased a person's chances of becoming happier by about 2 percent. "A happy friend is worth about $ 20,000," Christakis said. What does Christakis mean by saying "A happy friend is worth about $ 20,000"?
<extra_id_0>A happy friend can help you bring in a wealth of $ 20,000.
<extra_id_1>A happy friend is a wealth which is worth about $ 20,000.
<extra_id_2>A happy friend increases your chances of being happy by 2%.
<extra_id_3>A happy friend increases your chances of being happy by 8 %.
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<extra_id_5>Books which give instructions on how to do things are very popular in the United States today. Thousands of these "How to" books are available; in fact, there are about four thousand books with titles that begin with the words "How to". One book may tell you how to earn more money, another may tell you how to save or spend it, and another may explain how to give your money away. Many "How to" books give advice on careers . They tell you how to choose a career and how to succeed at it. If you fail, however, you can buy a book called "How to Turn Failure into Success". If you would like to become very rich, you can buy the book "How to Make a Million". If you never make any money at all, you may need a book called "How to Live on Nothing?" One of the most popular types of books is one that helps you with personal problems. If you want to have a better love of life, you can read "How to Succeed at Love Every Minute of Your Life?". If you are tired of books on happiness, you may prefer a book called "How to Make Yourself miserable?". Many of these books help people use their time better. Some people want books which will give them useful information about sports, hobbies, and travel. Other people use their free time to make repairs and improvements on their homes. They prefer books which give step by step instruction on how to repair things like plumbing and electrical wiring, or on how to redecorate or enlarge a house. Why have "How to" books become so popular? Probably because life has become so complex. Today people have far more free time to use, more choices to make, and more problems to solve. "How to" books help people deal with modem life. These "How to" books are written to _ .
<extra_id_0>tell people to love their life
<extra_id_1>earn money
<extra_id_2>give people some good advice on how to
<extra_id_3>say something about America
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<extra_id_5>Do you like listening to music? Does all of the music bring happiness to you? Do you know some music is noise? What is noise? Noise is a loud or unwanted sound. It is also called noise pollution. Where is noise from? Noise can be caused by many kinds of machines, such as motorcycles, planes, farm tractors and TVs. And, to some people, rock bands are also noise. What happens to people who live near noisy machines or use them over a period of time? Doctors find that noise pollution can influence both our health and behavior. It can cause high stress levels, hearing loss, sleep problems, and other harmful effects. Scientists use a unit of measure called a decibel to measure the loudness of a sound. The sound of a quiet room, for example, measures 35 decibels. Talk measures between 40 to 65 decibels. Sounds from traffic and from some rock bands can measure over 120 decibels. Noise at this high level causes the greatest hearing loss. How do we reduce noise damage? Turn down your music player or wear ear muffs when you are working in a noisy environment. Ear muffs for human can protect against noise pollution. We can infer from the passage that .
<extra_id_0>noise is only from traffic
<extra_id_1>any sound can hurt people
<extra_id_2>noise is a serious problem
<extra_id_3>rock music doesn't belong to noise
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<extra_id_5>Apple Inc co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs, counted among the greatest American CEOs of his generation, died on Wednesday at the age of 56, after a-year-long and highly public battle with cancer. Jobs' death was announced by Apple in a statement late on Wednesday. The Apple.com homepage featured a black-and-white picture of him with the words "Steve Jobs, 1955-2011". A message on the site read, "Apple has lost an imaginary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring leader." "His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts." "Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple." The Silicon Valley hero who gave the world the iPod and the iPhone had resigned as CEO of the world's largest technology corporation in August, handing the position to current chief executive Tim Cook. Two years before the iPhone that forever transformed the way people around the world access and use the Internet, Jobs talked about how a sense of his death was a major driver behind that vision. "Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever got to help me make the big choices in life," Jobs said during a Stanford commencement ceremony in 2005. "Because almost everything-all others' expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure-these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important." "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." What's the main idea of the passage?
<extra_id_0>Steve Jobs changed the world.
<extra_id_1>Steve Jobs died on Wednesday.
<extra_id_2>Who will be the next Steve Jobs?
<extra_id_3>Steve Jobs, the greatest American CEO.
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<extra_id_5>Heat energy may be added to this in order to cook it.
<extra_id_0>velvet socks
<extra_id_1>fish food
<extra_id_2>dish water
<extra_id_3>cupcake batter
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<extra_id_5>A student is designing a model of the solar system and writing a report. She is trying to be as accurate as possible. Which statement should she include in her report?
<extra_id_0>The distance between the Sun and Earth is measured in light years.
<extra_id_1>Jupiter and Uranus are considered to be terrestrial planets.
<extra_id_2>The asteroid belt is located between Jupiter and Saturn.
<extra_id_3>The orbit of Mars is similar to the orbit of Saturn.
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<extra_id_5>Bamboo flooring is a growing trend in home flooring and is also a great improvement to traditional hardwood floors.It is the most environmentally friendly kind of natural flooring that you can select for your home.It is also a renewable resource,is stronger than steel,and does not suffer from problems as a result of temperature changes. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on earth,and only takes five years to grow to adult form.Bamboo is harvested every five years,and starts to re-grow immediately after being harvested.For this reason,bamboo is a kind of grass,not a tree.Bamboo is hollow but very hard and can stand up to 50,000 pounds of pressure per square inch. Bamboo flooring has become very popular with its rich and beautiful golden earth colors.But it is important to shop around for a good-quality bamboo flooring product that contains no formaldehydes ,which is said to be the best kind of bamboo flooring.Many brands use cheaper bamboo that may contain formaldehydes,and this can cause indoor air pollution problems as certain chemical materials in the bamboo slowly release their pollutants into the air. So,why should we turn to bamboo to save the enviroment?In fact,bamboo cannot save the environment directly,but it is an excellent replacement product for much of the hardwood species of trees that are being harvested in rainforests.Once harvested,if these hardwood trees do grow back,it can take up to 200 years!Rainforests are the lungs of our planet and they make a significant contribution to global oxygen production. By selecting bamoo flooring,you can reduce the demand for hardwood materials and help save the environment for future generations.Of course,everyone wants to buy good-quality bamboo flooring.The brands from our shop are very high in quality and have received a lot of public praise. The author wrote this passage in order to _ .
<extra_id_0>explain the importance of bamboo flooring
<extra_id_1>tell us his or her own bamboo flooring brands are good
<extra_id_2>tell people to care more about the environment
<extra_id_3>discuss the history of hardwood flooring
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<extra_id_5>Green tea is believed to have originated in China thousands of years ago, where it was recognized for its health benefits. And scientists continue to probenew uses for it. Some studies suggest it can help protect against cancer. Thanks to the health food craze, green tea sales are currently rising sharply. The Tea Association of the USA reports that green tea sales jumped more than 60 percent in the last decade. And in Canada, government data shows that profits for green tea imports more than quadrupled . Nowadays, green tea seems to be everywhere. In shops, you can buy green tea leaves prepared in a number of ways: fried, powdered or steamed. Despite green tea's healthy reputation, the drink was once considered dangerous. Where did this silly opinion come from? Blame the Victorians, of course, who lived in a period of English history in the 19th century. That's when some of the silliest theories about green tea arose. One 1882 book described strange experiments to show the harm of green tea. Apply some green tea below a frog's stomach, and you could cause paralysis in its legs, the book claimed. And injecting green tea into a dog would cause it to lose control of its legs and tail. The book went so far as to declare that green tea could kill someone. At that time, a green tea panic was sweeping England. Even Charlotte Bronte, a famous English writer, refused to touch the drink, fearing its terrible effects it would have on her nerves. Some of the fear was well reasonable, though. English consumers preferred brighter leaves, over dull olive- color1ed ones. As a result, tea sellers would dye their products, using anything including poisons like "Prussian blue". Even today, mixing green tea with chemicals remains a problem. But those rare instances aren't stopping Westerners from raising their pinky fingers in salute to green tea and all its nutritional advantages. Bottoms up! Charlotte Bronte is mentioned in the passage to show that _ .
<extra_id_0>green tea had harmful effects
<extra_id_1>writers disliked green tea
<extra_id_2>English people feared green tea
<extra_id_3>the experiments were persuasive
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<extra_id_5>DJs(disc jockeys) are the people who play and present music on the radio, or in nightclub. A VJ(video jockey) is a person who introduces music videos on television. VJs were first seen on television in the early 1980s when MTV went on the air. As MTV became popular, and the audience for music videos expanded, a variety of other music video channels started broadcasting. In addition to rock music, there were channels for people who had a lot of interest in alternative kinds of music, such as country music, light music, and R&B(rhythm and blues), and all of these channels needed VJs. By the 1990s, international music video channels like Channel V in Asia and VIVA in Europe had started. The VJs for the new international stations had to be chosen carefully. Although some VJs did shows that focused on small audiences and showed mostly local content, other VJs presented shows for international viewers. These VJs, and the material they presented, needed to be popular in several different cultures. One successful international VJ in Asia is Asha Gill. She is from prefix = st1 /Malaysia, but her parents and grandparents are fromIndia,FranceandEngland. She speaks three languages and has fans across Asia, fromJapanto theUnited Arab Emirates. Another VJ who has made a big hit in Asia is Lili. She is actually a computer- Animated VJ on MTV Asia. An actress wearing special computer equipment makes Lili move like a puppet . The actress also talks for Lili, and her shows can be seen in five languages. When asked what makes a good video jockey, many successful VJs have given similar answers. To be a good VJ you need to know a lot about music, you need to be funny, and you can't be shy. The passage is mainly about _ .
<extra_id_0>how to become a VJ
<extra_id_1>the most popular VJ today
<extra_id_2>the differences between DJs and VJs
<extra_id_3>some general information about VJs
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<extra_id_5>When I was two years old, something happened which I have never forgotten. It was early spring, and there was a light mist over the trees and fields. The other young fellows and I were feeding at the lower end of the field when we heard the distant cry of dogs. The oldest among us lifted his head to listen. "There are the hounds ", he said, and immediately raced off. The rest of us followed him to the top of the field where we could see several fields beyond. Soon the dogs were all racing down the field next to ours, making a loud "yoyoyoyo" sound. After then came men on horses, some in green coats. Suddenly, the dogs became silent and ran around with their noses to the ground. "They've lost the smell of the hare." said the old horse. "Perhaps it will escape." But the dogs began their "yoyoyoyo" again and came at full speed towards our field. Just then a hare, wild with fear, ran towards the trees. The dogs jumped over the stream and ran across the field, followed by the huntsmen. Six or eight jumped their horses over the stream, close behind the dogs. Before the hare could get away, the dogs were upon her with wild cries. We heard a terrible scream, and that was the end of the hare. One of the men picked her up and held her by the leg. She was covered in blood, but all the huntsmen seemed pleased. I was so greatly surprised that at first I did not see what was happening by the stream but when I did look, I saw a sad sight. Two fine horses were down, one in the stream struggling to stand up and the other on the grass with one of his legs broken. One rider, who seemed unhurt, was climbing out of the water, but the other lay quite still. "His neck is broken," said my mother. "I can't understand why men are so fond of this sport. They often hurt themselves and ruin good horses, all for one hare that they could get more easily in other ways. But we are only horses, and don't know why men do these things." They carried the dead rider to our master's house, and then came back to the black horse on the grass. The animal was in great pain and one of his legs was broken. Someone ran to our master's house and came back to the horse with a gun. Soon after there was a loud bang and a terrible cry, and the black horse did not move any more. Which word can be used to describe my true feeling at the scene of the hunting?
<extra_id_0>Sad.
<extra_id_1>Pleased.
<extra_id_2>Angry.
<extra_id_3>Delighted.
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<extra_id_5>Deserts do not stay the same size .Sometimes they grow bigger. Sometimes they get smaller. The world's biggest desert, Sahara, is in Africa. Right now, the Sahara desert is growing fast. Why is the Sahara growing ? In some places , People farm too much. In other places ,animals eat all the grass. or people cut down the trees. This makes the soil weak. Weak soil lets the desert grow. Why is it a problem? people can not grow food in the desert. people can not build houses, hospitals , or schools in the desert . so people must leave their homes .They must live somewhere else. What can people do ? They can plant trees. They can also farm less. These things make soil stronger. maybe the Sahara will stop growing . It's a big problem. Many people must work together to solve it? What do we know about deserts ?
<extra_id_0>Their size never changes
<extra_id_1>They are caused by people
<extra_id_2>They can make trouble for people
<extra_id_3>They are all in Africa.
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<extra_id_5>Noah Webster, born on October 16, 1758 , is known for The American Dictionary of the English Language. He has been called the " Father of American Scholarship and Education. " His " Blue-Backed Speller" books were used to teach spelling and reading to five generations of American children. But how much .do you know about him beyond that? At the age of 16, Noah Webster began attending ,Yale College. Unfortunately, he spent his four years at Yale during the American Revolutionary War, and, because of food shortages, many of his college classes were held in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Later, he served in the army. Having graduated from Yale in 1778, Webster wanted to continue his education in order to earn his law degree. He had to teach school in order to pay for his education. He set up many small schools that didn't survive, but he was a good teacher because instead of forcing his students to learn, like most teachers did, he rewarded them. He earned his law degree in 1781, but did not practice law until 1789. Once he started he found the law was not to his liking. Webster did not have much money. In 1793 , Alexander Hamilton lent him $ 1500 to move to New York City to edit a newspaper. In December, he founded New York ' s first daily newspaper, American Minerva, and edited it for four years. For decades, he published . textbooks, political essays, a report on some diseases, and newspaper articles for his party, He wrote so much that a modern list of his published works required 655 pages .Noah Webster died on May 28, 1843 and was buried in the Grove Street Cemetery. Which of the following best describes Webster's life at Yale?
<extra_id_0>Tough.
<extra_id_1>Smooth.
<extra_id_2>Normal.
<extra_id_3>Tiring.
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<extra_id_5>A new study suggests that the way to weight loss may be clear.A couple of glasses of water before meals help dieters lose about 5 pounds more than those who do not drink water.While drinking water before a meal may fill a person up,the contents of their meal are important as well.Should a person be eating a low-fat diet or a lowcarbohydrate diet? Or does it matter at all? Recent research suggests that one diet isn't any better than the other.A few weeks before the water study,another concluded that lowfat and lowcarbohydrate diets tied in weight loss.While the lowcarbohydrate dieters did show a slight increase in good cholesterol and a reduction in blood pressure,there was not much difference in the dieters'weight loss.The point here is that the person had to stick to the diet.What helps a person see a diet through? It could be body type. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association,as reported byTimemagazine,found that body shape is the key to which diet a person will be able to stick with.Apples are people who carry most of their weight above the belt,while pears carry their weight around their hips .Apple types were more likely to be highinsulin secretors who respond more strongly to carbohydrates in their bodies.They lost the most weight on a lowcarbohydrate diet.Pears were lowinsulin secretors who lost the same amount of weight on both diets.Unstable insulin levels can create stronger hunger senses,causing the apple types to go off their diet plans. All of these studies again come down to choosing the diet that helps you eat less.The bodytype diet does make some sense as men are more likely to be apple types,with larger stomachs,and tend to do well on higherprotein diets,while women,who tend to carry weight around their hips,find themselves drawn to the lowfat diets.The reality is if a diet is failing you try another one.A plan you can't,or won't,stick to will never work,no matter what the research says. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>Women on highprotein diets usually do well in weight loss.
<extra_id_1>Men on highcarbohydrate diets usually do well in weight loss.
<extra_id_2>Men usually like eating apples while women mostly enjoy pears.
<extra_id_3>Whether a person can stick with a diet depends largely on his or her body shape.
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<extra_id_5>Some people would have you believe that being fat is the worst thing you can be. They think that if a person is fat they have no life, no love, no reason to want to look good in their clothes. The sad thing is that many people who are fat do feel the same loathing toward themselves and others who are overweight or obese. I know what I'm talking about because I have been there. I have been that fat girl who wore big T-shirts to cover my "sins". Forget style. Forget fashion sense. I absolutely had none. I didn't even bother getting haircuts for years, just wore my hair long and straight, pulled back in a ponytail, I have to wonder if the reason the fashion industry has ignored plus sized women and children for so long is because plus sized people, feeling they couldn't possibly look great, didn't bother shopping for new clothes, and therefore no profit was to be found by producing those sizes. For me, the change that improved my outer look actually started with my outlook on life. I started by being grateful for all I do have, like great health, a stable family, a steady income, freedom, a decent home, the ability to see the trees turn orange in the fall, to hear my grandson humming in the back seat, to remember the great times I've had in my life. I started to focus on all the positive aspects of the life I already had. I actually started to feel the beauty of the Universe all around me and to realize that I am part of that perfection. The self loathing stopped. I noticed all the people in my life who loved me in spite of my size. I got off the pity pot and smiled at myself. I acknowledged my shame and embarrassment and moved through that too. According to the author, the fashion industry _ .
<extra_id_0>makes a lot of money by making clothes for fat people
<extra_id_1>does not bother to make clothes for fat people
<extra_id_2>targets on fat people mainly for the purpose of making profit
<extra_id_3>looking down upon fat people too
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<extra_id_5>A famous doctor once received a little child who was badly ill. Thanks to his skill and care, his young patient got well and was soon able to get up and run about again. The child's mother was very much obliged to the doctor, and she called on him to thank him for what he had done for her child. "Doctor," she said, "you have saved my little son. I don't know how to thank you enough. I feel that money alone cannot repay you, so I have made this little purse with my own hands, as a sign of my gratitude. I hope you will accept it." The doctor stood up and said coldly, "Madam, a little present like that is very nice between friends, but a doctor needs to be paid properly for what he has done." The lady was so surprised and hurt so much that she could not reply for a moment. Then she said quietly, "Perhaps you will tell me how much your fee is?" "Fifty pounds", he answered. The lady opened the little purse and took out four fifty-pound bank notes. She handed one of them to the doctor, and put the other three back into the purse. She put the purse into her handbag and, saying good bye to the doctor, went out of the room. What the doctor said _ the lady.
<extra_id_0>worried
<extra_id_1>interested
<extra_id_2>frightened
<extra_id_3>hurt
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<extra_id_5>You are what you eat and fats are a main food for Asia's fast-food generation. Dr.Chwang, director of the Department of Food Nutrition, says children are consuming more meat and soft drinks. That is a thorough departure from the traditional diet of vegetables and rice and little meat." They like big pieces of fried meat with a soft drink. So although they may eat the same volume of food, their calorie intake has increased. Now that 40 to 45 percent of their calories come from fat," says Chwang. Although on the whole Asians tend to thinness, culture--namely Asians' hospitality--is a reason for the fatness of today's generation, according to Chwang. "Asian people love food," she says." Eating and drinking are important social and family functions." In the past, however, big meals were only hosted on special occasions, as people were more careful with money. In today's climate of wealth and remarkable consumption,10-course meals are no longer reserved for significant occasions. "In the past, people had four or more children--now, they have one or two, so they tend to spoil them," says Chwang. "The earliest way is to give them quality food. Parents think feeding them well is showing their love. They feel bad when their children look thin." When describing the physical condition of most overweight Asian children, Chwang says: "there is a clear relation between fatness and indoor play. Children get fat because they don't move, and eventually, they don't want to move because they are fat." Thanks to technology, a growing army of children prefer video games to old outdoor sports. "What do children do when watching TV or sitting in front of the computer playing video games? They eat chocolate and drink Coke," says Chwang. Some parents feel bad when their children look thin, because _ .
<extra_id_0>their children don't love eating and drinking
<extra_id_1>the children don't have a good physical condition
<extra_id_2>they feel that they don't take good care of their children
<extra_id_3>they feel that they are not wealthy enough to afford "quality food"
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<extra_id_5>Winners Club You choose to be a winner! The Winners Club is a bank account specially designed for teenagers.It has been made to help you better manage your money. The Winners Club is a transaction account where you receive a key-card so you can get to your money 24/7--that' s 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! It' s a club with impressive features for teenagers: * No account keeping fees! You' re no millionaire so we don' t expect you to pay large fees. In fact, there are no account keeping or transaction fees! * Excellent interest rates! You want your money to grow. The Winners Club has a good rate of interest which gets even better if you make at least two deposits without taking them out in a month. * Convenient Teenagers are busy--we get that. You may never need to come to a bank at all. With the Winners Club you can choose to use handy tellers and to bank from home using the phone and the Internet...You can have money directly deposited into your Winners Club account. This could be your pocket money or your pay from your part-time job! * Mega magazine included Along with your regular report, you will receive a FREE magazine full of good ideas to make even more of your money. There are also fantastic offers and competitions only for Winners Club members. The Winners Club is a great choice for teenagers. And it is so easy to join. Simply fill in an application form. You will have to get permission from your parent or guardian(so we can organize that cool key-card)but it is easy. We can' t wait to hear from you. It' s the best way to choose to be a winner! The Winners Club provides magazines which _ .
<extra_id_0>encourage spending
<extra_id_1>are free to all teenagers
<extra_id_2>are full of adventure stories
<extra_id_3>help to make more of your money
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<extra_id_5>Washington: A research conducted at the University of Maryland looks at the numerous complex reasons as to why young children decide to include or exclude other kids from their group of friends. It suggests that the kids' decision-making process is much more complex than previously believed. "They take into account group information, ranging from cliques and networks, when deciding what makes a group work well. Sometimes kids are excluded because they lack social skills, but a lot of time it has nothing to do with that. Instead it has to do with what we refer to as 'group membership' such as gender, race, nation, and culture," says Professor Melanie Killen, the Associate Director of the Centre for Children Relationships and Culture at Maryland, who led the 4-year project. Reporting their findings in the journal, the researcher said whatever was the reason, individuals who experienced long-term exclusion from the group of friends suffered from depression, anxiety and loneliness. The study looked at two models to define how children make decisions regarding acceptance of other kids in their group -- the individual social _ model and the inter-group social cognition model. While the former says that children's rejection occurs due to social deficits like shyness, wariness or fearfulness, the latter says that it happens because of group dynamics, prejudice and exclusion. It was also found that the age of children was also a factor that influenced their decisions regarding other kids' acceptance as friends. "With age, kids become more aware of group dynamics, conventions, customs, and rituals. With this comes a greater concern about group functioning, which can lead to exclusion which can be negative from a social justice viewpoint," says Killen. The researcher believes that her study may have many benefits, as it could provide insights into how to help when children are rejected by their peers. While making friends, children exclude those of social deficit model to _ .
<extra_id_0>keep their groups purer
<extra_id_1>make their groups more socially powerful
<extra_id_2>refuse other customs and cultures
<extra_id_3>prove their groups to be strict
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<extra_id_5>It is not just humans that get stuck in their ways. Scientists have discovered that old bees have trouble finding their way to new hives as their learning behavior becomes increasingly inflexible. Bees are typically impressive navigators, able to wind their way home through complex landscapes after visits to flowers far removed from their nests. But researchers from Arizona State University and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences found that aging damages the bees' ability to extinguish the memory of an unsuitable nest site even after the group has settled in a new home. To test how old bees adapt to a changed home location, researchers trained bees to a new nest box while their former nest was closed off. Groups composed of mature and old bees were given several days in which to learn the new home location and to extinguish the bees' memory of their unusable former nest box. The scientists then tore down the bees' new home and forced groups of mixed-age bees to choose between three alternative nest locations, including the former nest box. Old bees began flying toward the former nest site, despite the experience that should have told them that it was unusable. "Although many old bees fail in learning tasks, we also discovered that a few still perform with excellence," explains Daniel Minch, lead author of the study and a senior life sciences researcher in Norway. The scientists believe that their findings with bees offer a new means to model and understand the variability found in brain function between individuals, where some individuals' memories remain complete, while others' learning behavior becomes inflexible with age. What is the possible similarity between bees and humans according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>The Aged Bees and humans always lose their ways
<extra_id_1>Not all aged Bees and humans have difficulty finding their way to new home.
<extra_id_2>Most aged bees and humans have trouble learning new knowledge.
<extra_id_3>Bees and humans become inflexible with age in learning behavior
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<extra_id_5>Transformers: Dark of the Moon Theatrical Release Date: July 1, 2011 Studio: Paramount Pictures Director: Michael Bay Genre : Action--Adventure--Sequel-- Sci-Fi-- 3D The Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, are back in action, taking on the evil Deceptions. The Autobots and Deceptions become involved in a dangerous space race. The Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft on the Moon and must race against the Deceptions to find its secrets, which could turn the tide in the Transformers' final battle. Shockwave, a longtime "Transformers" character, rules Cybertron while the Autobots and Deceptions battle it out on Earth. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II Theatrical Release Date: July 15, 2011 Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Director: David Yates Genre: Action--Adventure--Sequel--Fantasy--3D In part II, the battle between the good and evil forces of the Wizarding world evolves into an all-out war. This final adventure continues Harry, Ron, and Hermione's attempt to find and destroy Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. Harry Potter is called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice to bring an end to his nemesis. Winnie the Pooh Theatrical Release Date: July 15, 2011 Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Director: Don Hall, Stephen J. Anderson Genre: Sequel--Family Animation Winnie the Pooh is a 2011 American traditionally animated feature film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Based upon the characters of the children's books Winnie-the-Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne and Return to the Hundred Acre Wood by David Benedictus, the film features two previously unadapted stories from the original books. In the movie, Owl sends the whole gang to save Christopher Robin from an imaginary bad character, and it turns out to be a very busy day for Winnie the Pooh who simply set out to find some honey. Who might be most interested in the Movie Express of Winnie the Pooh?
<extra_id_0>Would-be parents.
<extra_id_1>Families with children.
<extra_id_2>Writers of children's books.
<extra_id_3>Honey lovers.
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<extra_id_5>Helen is preparing a presentation about objects in the solar system. She includes facts about the order of the planets and their distances from the Sun. Which statement could she include in an accurate presentation?
<extra_id_0>Mars is closer to the Sun than Earth.
<extra_id_1>Neptune is one light-year from the Sun.
<extra_id_2>Jupiter is farther from the Sun than Uranus.
<extra_id_3>Earth is one astronomical unit from the Sun.
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<extra_id_5>Item 78431 The Video Camera Pen $129.95; Available for Immediate Shipment; Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484 This is the pen that has a built-in video camera, capturing (,) videos or still images with a click of its button.Ideal for use while secured in a pocket, it can capture up to five hours of video. Its battery provides up to two hours of power before requiring a recharge. Item 78098 The Wristwatch Camcorder $149.95; Available for 3-day shipment; Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484 This is the men's watch with an unnoticeable camera located at the two-o'clock position, yet the watch's hands never make it covered.So you'll be always ready to capture a famous person or a pet's ridiculous actions. The camera's rechargeable battery provides up to two hours of use from a four-hour charge. Item 77918 The only 55 Inch Widescreen Personal Movie Theater $249.95; Available for Immediate Shipment; Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484 This is the only personal media viewer that provides a private viewing experience just like watching a widescreen 55 inch television from 10 meters away.It connects to a video iPod, iPhone, portable DVD player with two AA batteries providing up to six hours of continuous operation. Item 77281 The Digital Phone Album Watch $99.95 Available for Immediate Shipment; Order by Phone: 1-800-321-1484 This is the watch that vividly displays 120 of your favorite digital photographs.You can download digital photographs to the watch.The watch can be viewed in the Photo Album mode or digital mode (time and date view).A six-hour charge provides up to 10 days of use What's the purpose of this passage?
<extra_id_0>To advertise some goods.
<extra_id_1>To show how fashionable the items are.
<extra_id_2>To teach how to operate the items.
<extra_id_3>To compare some goods.
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<extra_id_5>I know that for many of you, today is the first day of school. Some of you are probably wishing it were still summer and you could have stayed in bed just a little bit longer this morning. But I'm here because I want to talk with you about your education and what's expected of all of you in this new school year. Every single one of you has something that you're good at. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That's the opportunity an education can provide. Maybe you could be a great writer, but you might not know it until you write that English paper that's assigned to you. Maybe you could be an inventor, but you might not know it until you do your project for your science class. I know it's not always easy to do well in school. I know a lot of you have challenges in your lives right now that can make it hard to focus on your schoolwork. But the circumstances of your life---what you look like, where you come form, how much money you have---none of these is an excuses for neglecting your homework or having a bad attitude in school. I know that sometimes you get that sense form TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work---that your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star. Chances are you're not going to be any of those things. The truth is, being successful is hard. You won't lose every subject that you study. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right at this minute. And you won't necessarily succeed in everything the first time you try. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who have had the most failure. J. K. Rowling's first Harry potter book was rejected 12 times before it was finally published. So I expect all of you to get serious this year. I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. What is the purpose of the author in writing this passage?
<extra_id_0>To tell students to be successful is hard.
<extra_id_1>To inspire students to have a proper attitude to education.
<extra_id_2>To ask students to do their projects for science class.
<extra_id_3>To encourage students to become a reality TV star.
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<extra_id_5>Where are the most reactive nonmetals located on the periodic table?
<extra_id_0>the uppermost complete row of the table
<extra_id_1>the rows at the bottom of the table connecting two sections
<extra_id_2>the column at the far left side of the table
<extra_id_3>the second column from the right side of the table
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<extra_id_5>Passwords are no safeguards Typing your password or credit card number into a computer is a moment's work. But if you think your personal details disappear as soon as you hit the Return key, think again: they can sit on the computer's hard disk for years waiting for a hacker to take them. As people spend more time on the web and hackers become more experienced, the dangers of storing personal information on computers are growing by the day, security experts say. There are some safe-guards, such as never allowing your computer to store your passwords. But even that in no guarantee of security. When you type in a password, it is stored in random access memory (RAM), where it is held temporarily until other data overwrites it or the computer is switched off. But every so often , the computer copies the contents of its RAM onto hard disk, where it is easy to prey for a hacker, who can read it directly or design a worm to e-mail it back. The longer sensitive data stays in RAM, the more likely it is to be copied onto the disk, where it stays until it is overwritten-which might not happen for years. Tal Garfinkel and colleagues from Stanford University have created a software tool which simulates the workings of a complete computer system. Within the simulation, sensitive data can be tagged and then tracked as it passes through the system. Next, Garfinkel and his team simulated computers running common software that regularly handles passwords or secret personal information, such as Internet Explorer, the Windows login script and Apache server software. In a paper to be presented, they conclude that the programs took no measures to limit the length of time the information is kept. Some of the tested software even copied the sensitive information, obviously without restraint . Garfinkel and his colleagues created a software tool to _ .
<extra_id_0>find out how hackers steal personal information
<extra_id_1>protect personal information from being stolen
<extra_id_2>see how a complete computer system works
<extra_id_3>tag and track sensitive data on the computer
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<extra_id_5>Brenda Linson never goes anywhere without an empty spectacles case. It is as vital to her as her purse. Yet, she doesn't wear glasses. The reason she cannot do without it is that she cannot read and she cannot write. If ever she gets into any situation where she might be expected to do either of these things, she fishes around in her bag for the spectacles case, finds it's empty, and asks the person concerned to do the reading for her. Until a few months ago hardly anybody knew about her problem. Her husband didn't know and her children didn't know. The children still don't. She had many tactics for hiding her difficult--for example, never lingering near a phone at work, in case she had to answer it and might be required to write something down. It has never occurred to the children that their mother cannot read. She doesn't read them stories, but then their father doesn't either, so they find nothing surprising in the fact. Similarly they just accept that Dad is the one who writes the sick notes and reads the school reports. Now that the elder boy Tom is quite a proficient reader, Brenda can skillfully get him to read any notes brought home from school simply by asking,"What's that all about, then?" Brenda's husband never guessed the truth in ten years of marriage. For one thing, he insists on handling all domestic correspondence and bills himself. A salesman for a large company, he travels a great deal and so is not around so much to spot the truth. While he's away Brenda cores with any situations by explaining that she cannot do anything until she's discussed it with her husband. Brenda was very successful in her job until recently. For the last five years she had worked as waitress at an expensive restaurant, and had eventually been promoted to head waitress. She kept the thing a secret there too, and got over the practical difficulties somehow. Brenda's children have never found out about her problem as _ .
<extra_id_0>she isn't often at home.
<extra_id_1>they are too young to guess the truth.
<extra_id_2>they find it normal to ask their father for everything.
<extra_id_3>they think it natural that short-sighted people like their mother don't do much reading or writing.
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<extra_id_5>Mr Swales wanted to find out what his students' parents did. He had just called Jodie when some girls burst out laughing. Shirley shouted, "Jodie's Daddy is a Garbage man !" Everybody in the class laughed out loud, except Jodie. She felt her face turn red. "Silence!" Mr Swales said, "Being a garbage men is a difficult and useful job. We should all be grateful to Jodie's father." Jodie's father came to walk her home from school as usual, but she didn't run up to him the way she always did. When they got back home, Jodie went to her room and cried for a long time. Her father came into her room, "What happened, Jodie? Why are you so sad?" Jodie told her father what had happened and looked at him. He didn't seem angry or hurt. "Well," he said, "they are right. Being a garbage man is a dirty job. Tomorrow's Saturday. Come to work with me, Jodie." The place really smell too good. Jodie wrinkled her nose. "Don't worry, kid. In five minutes you won't smell a thing." said her father. Everybody there was working hard, and they seemed to have a good time. Jodie's father handed her a pair of gloves and told her to get the little plastic bags and throw them into the truck. It was fun, but also hard work. Jodie's arms soon got tired. At last, no more garbage was left and Jodie felt very happy. "Garbage is disgusting , but when we clear it away, everything's nice and clean. You can make yourself happy only by making others happy. That's why I like being a garbage man so much." Jodie gave her dirty, smelly garbage man daddy a big kiss, She said, "When I grow up, I will be a garbage girl!" Now whenever someone asks Jodie what her daddy does, she says, "He's a garbage man! Everybody makes garbage, but my daddy takes it away!" Why did Jodie's father take her to his workplace?
<extra_id_0>To make Jodie calm down.
<extra_id_1>To show how dirty his job was.
<extra_id_2>To help Jodie learn about his job.
<extra_id_3>To keep Jodie away from her classmates.
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<extra_id_5>Almost every Chinese person can recite the two lines of the famous poem, " _ ". But sadly, many of us don't actually get the real meaning of these lines: Don't waste food. A CCTV program reported that the food Chinese people throw away every year is enough to feed 200 million people for a year. Do we have too much food? Absolutely not. According to the UN World Food Program, there were 925 million hungry people around the world in 2011, especially in developing countries. Six million children die of hunger every year. Chinese people are well-known for being friendly and generous. Many even feel that they lose face if their guests have eaten all the food on the table. Luckily, a number of people have realized the importance of saving food. What should we do in our daily lives to waste less food? 1. Don't order too much in a restaurant. Only order as much as you want to eat. If you cannot eat all the food you ordered, take the rest of it home. 2. Don't leave any food in your bowls while having meals. 3. Keep an eye on what food you have at home. Don't buy too much, especially for vegetables and fruit. What's the main idea of this passage?
<extra_id_0>Don't waste food.
<extra_id_1>Chinese people are friendly and generous.
<extra_id_2>We can't die of hunger.
<extra_id_3>Every grain is grown by farmers.
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<extra_id_5>Vanessa Brown, a senior lecturer of art at Nottingham University, explores the cultural and psychological relation between sunglasses and our modern idea of "cool." Her research has uncovered about why most of us look better in shades. Because they really make your misshapen face look better. Put on a pair of sunglasses, and an instant beauty as a result of balance! The dark lenses cover up any unbalanced oddities around your eyes, and research on facial attractiveness shows a clear link between balance and our sense of beauty. Because of mystery. Many of the quick judgments we form about people come from looking in the eyes; shade yours, and you're instantly a more attractive presence. Eye contact helps us form judgments about someone's intelligence, confidence, and sincerity and sunglasses keep us literally in the dark about forming those perceptions. And it works both ways, because the wearer of the sunglasses feels more mysterious, too. Because of their historical link with sharpness and attraction. We take their existence for granted today, but sunglasses are relatively modern, Brown said. Sales started to pick up in the 1920s, but they didn't become commonplace until about two decades after that. The way sunglasses were most used prior to their commercialization helps explain their inside coolness, Brown said, because in their early days sunglasses were primarily used during risky water and snow sports, which made them seem "daring and totally modern." Soon after that, Hollywood stars of the 1950s and 1960s started wearing sunglasses to defend themselves from being recognized by the public or bothered by paparazzi , whose flashbulbs would often explode violently, Brown said. Anyhow, movie stars' adoption of them strengthened a sense of romance. Also--and this is more from my own personal research than Brown's--hang-overs. They're really great for hiding hang-overs. Which of the following would Vanessa Brown agree with?
<extra_id_0>Sunglasses deliver mystery to the observers as well as the wearers.
<extra_id_1>Sunglasses were mainly used in risky sports after their commercialization.
<extra_id_2>Sunglasses are relatively modern and they became commonplace in the 1920s.
<extra_id_3>Sunglasses cover up unbalanced oddities on the face to give people a sense of mystery.
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<extra_id_5>Greece is one of the most beautiful countries of the world. Millions of tourists visit this place every year. In Greece the bus is the most convenient and preferred means of travelling. There are intercity buses operated by KTEL that interconnect various cities of Greece, and there are international buses operated by OSE that connect Greece to other European cities. Every tourist must visit Greece at least once in life. This country is really a vacation heaven. It is the perfect blend of history and art with adventure and romance. You can dive into deep blue waters, climb up the mountains or enjoy ancient architecture and history. Buses in Greece are cheap and very comfortable. All bus stations display schedules of buses on every route. Conductors and drivers are very polite and helpful. Travelers never face any trouble locating and boarding buses to their destinations. Tourists can always ask the conductor to inform them about their stop, so that they can get down at the right stop. Everyone here is more than happy to help tourists. Athens, the capital of Greece, has three bus terminals. Buses to different part of Greece leave from different terminals. Air-conditioned express buses also operated between major cities. They are faster and more comfortable than other buses. Tourists can choose guided Greece bus tour. These tours are the perfect way of exploring this great country. Buses in Greece are also a great way of saving _ on the journey. The long-distance bus system is very cheap. Buses save a lot of money to cover long distances, cheaper than taxis or cars. They are also the best means of interacting with local people. You can sit next to a native Greece and get some information about the place. The company KTEL offers bus services _ .
<extra_id_0>to different cities in Greece
<extra_id_1>from Greece to other countries
<extra_id_2>to tourist attractions in Greece
<extra_id_3>from Greece to its bordering countries
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<extra_id_5>A peach pit holds the beginning
<extra_id_0>nutrients
<extra_id_1>high school students
<extra_id_2>water
<extra_id_3>pocket change
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<extra_id_5>It was originally built to defend an empire ,but now parts of the Great Wall of China are crumbling so badly they need someone to hurry to their defense. About 2,000 kilometers, or 30%,of the ancient fortification built in the Ming Dynasty has disappeared due to natural and human damage, according to the Beijing Times. And the situation could worsen, experts are warning as not enough is being done to preserve what remains. "It's a great pity to witness the Great Wall in such terrible situation ," Mei Jingtian, a volunteer who has worked for three decades to safeguard the structure and has founded the Great Wall Protection Association, tells CNN. About 8,000 kilometers of the structure dates from the Ming period between the 14th and 17th centuries and is considered by some to be the original Great Wall.Of this, 2,000 kilometers is made up of naturally occurring earthworks - and so only 6,000 kilometers of actual Ming dynasty wall was ever built. Stretches built in other eras make up a total length estimated up to 21,000 kilometers. Many visitors to china associate the Great Wall with a widely restored stretch of Ming era wall at Badaling near Beijing, but this is far from typical of most of the structure. According to a 2014 survey done by the Great Wall of China Society, only about 8.2% of the Great Wall is in good condition, with74. 1% classified as poorly preserved, "The Great Wall is a vast heritage site - over 20,000 kilometers - thus increasing the difficulty in preservation and restoration," Dong Yaohui, deputy director of the Great Wall of China Society, tells CNN. "Reliance on a very small amount of manpower by the local heritage departments is not enough to guard and protect the site." A recent increase in interest from tourists in visiting wild sections, known as the "Wild Great Wall," has Accelerated its deterioration ,according to the report. The present situation of the Great Wall is not optimistic due to the following reasons EXCEPT _ .
<extra_id_0>natural and human damage
<extra_id_1>limited preservation
<extra_id_2>booming tourists visiting
<extra_id_3>wars between countries
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<extra_id_5>Why are newspapers and TV broadcasts filled with disaster, corruption and incompetence? It may be because we're drawn to depressing stories without realizing, according to psychologists. When you read the news, sometimes it can feel like the only things reported are terrible, depressing events. Why do the media concentrate on the bad things in life, rather than the good? In fact, many people often say that they would prefer good news. The researchers present their experiment as solid evidence of a so called "negativity bias ", psychologists' term for our collective hunger to hear, and remember bad news. It isn't just delight in other people's misfortune, the theory goes, but that we've evolved to react quickly to potential threats. Bad news could be a signal that we need to change what we're doing to avoid danger. As you'd expect from this theory, there's some evidence that people respond quicker to negative words. In lab experiments, flash the word "cancer", "bomb" or "war" up at someone and they can hit a button in response quicker than if that word is "baby", "smile" or "fun". We are also able to recognize negative words faster than positive words, and even tell that a word is going to be unpleasant before we can tell exactly what the word is going to be. There's another interpretation that researchers put on their evidence: we pay attention to bad news, because on the whole, we think the world is more hopeful than it actually is. When it comes to our own lives, most of us believe we're better than average, and that, like the cliches, we expect things to be all right in the end. This pleasant view of the world makes bad news all the more surprising and arresting. It is only against a light background that the dark spots are highlighted. So our attraction to bad news may be more complex than just journalistic prejudice or a hunger springing from the darkness within. What will be read first by most readers according to the theory?
<extra_id_0>Movie star arrested for taking drugs.
<extra_id_1>Movie star went on a campaign for ASL disease.
<extra_id_2>Movie star accepts Ice Bucket Challenge
<extra_id_3>Movie star awarded the third Oscar in three years.
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<extra_id_5>Beijing's historic hutong are in danger of disappearing. That's the warning from residents and historians, who have called on authorities to do more to protect this unique part of the capital's culture. In 2000, Beijing still had 1,300 hutong, according to amateur historian Zhang Wei. But he estimates that since then, at least half of them have disappeared. According to regulations, people can report illegal buildings to urban patrol officers, known as chengguan, and buildings found to be illegal will be demolished by force. However, a China Daily reporter found that it was not an easy task, and lots of additional structures built by their owners were found in hutong. Many owners added a second floor or even more floors to their houses, especially in buildings near main streets, in order to rent more apartments and make more money. Zhang, the historian, said that to better protect the hutong, the government should offer more compensation to residents willing to move away. Guo Dazhi, a photojournalist in Beijing, lived in a hutong for nearly 30 years before moving to eastern Chaoyang district. Guo hopes that the government can solve the problem by moving residents out of hutong with policies such as public renting programs. However, the Beijing Commission of Urban Planning said in a report in July that the relocation of residents from old areas was very expensive.According to the report, allocating 10,000 residents costs 1.5 billion yuan . What made Beijing's historic hutong in danger?
<extra_id_0>The fast development of the city
<extra_id_1>Some people build unlawful construction
<extra_id_2>Population growing
<extra_id_3>Pollution
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<extra_id_5>It was time for Jill to make her famous apple pie, out of the yellow apples that grew on her land. It was not time to pick the red cherries, or the orange oranges or even the green lettuce, but their nice colors made Jill happy. She would eat some of the pies, and give the rest of them away to her friends and family. She went out to her back yard where the apple trees were, and started picking. A few hours later, she had enough to make dozens of pies. She walked into the kitchen with her apples, and was all ready to start baking when she saw she was all out of flour. She would have to go to the store to get some, since you can't make a pie without flour. While she was at the store, she would also buy some cheese, bread, and milk. She did not need these to make pie, but she did need them to make her dinner. At the store Jill ran into her friends Bob and Steve and George, and told them she would make them all pies. After she had finished her shopping, Jill went to the library to get some books, to the car wash to wash her car, and to her mother's house to say hello. She went home after, and made her yummy pies. What color were the apples?
<extra_id_0>Red
<extra_id_1>Orange
<extra_id_2>Green
<extra_id_3>Yellow
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<extra_id_5>My name is Sam. I'm tall. I have a round face and big eyes. I have a good friend. His name is Tom. He is short. He has red hair and big eyes. His favorite actor is Jackie Chan, and he thinks Jackie Chan is strong and cool.Our Chinese teacher is Miss Zhang. She is from Shanghai. She is 25 years old. She has long, black hair. She's Tom's favorite teacher. ,. . (5,2,10) Jackie Chan is a(n) _ .
<extra_id_0>teacher
<extra_id_1>actor
<extra_id_2>student
<extra_id_3>doctor
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<extra_id_5>Shenzhou X and three astronauts were sent up from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Gansu province, into a clear blue sky on Tuesday, bringing the nation one step closer to building its own space station in 2020. Two men, mission commander Nie Haisheng and Zhang Xiaoguang, and China's second female astronaut, Wang Yaping, are expected to stay in space for 15 days. They will teach young people about science and do two _ , between Shenzhou X and the unmanned Tiangong-1 space module, a technically difficult procedure that brings two spaceship together in high-speed orbit . The trip is our country's fifth manned space mission, 10 years after the country's first astronaut, Yang Liwei, went into space in 2003. What will they do in space? They will _ .
<extra_id_0>teach young people about science
<extra_id_1>take some photos
<extra_id_2>do two space dockings
<extra_id_3>Both A and C
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<extra_id_5>Franklin wants to know how fast he runs different distances. He uses a stopwatch to measure the time it takes him to complete a 50-meter, 100-meter, and 200-meter race. How can he calculate his speed for each race?
<extra_id_0>Add the distances and the times.
<extra_id_1>Divide the distances by the times.
<extra_id_2>Multiply the distances by the times.
<extra_id_3>Subtract the distances from the times.
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<extra_id_5>It does not have to be January 1st to give yourself a chance to make the most out of your day -- and your life. Every day is a new day and a fresh start to learn, grow, develop your strengths, heal yourself from past regrets or hurts, and move forward older and wiser. Every day gives you a chance to reinvent yourself, to fine-tune who you are, and build on lessons of what you have learned. It is never too late to change things that are not working in your life and switch gears, instead of thinking in the same old ways, hoping for a different outcome. Be intelligent, be flexible, and keep and open mind to start each day anew! Flexibility is the key! Ask yourself: How do you wake up each day? Do you start your day going already feeling pressured and rushed? Do you go through the morning routine without much thought at all, doing what you "have to do" to start your day? How about starting each new day with a moment to stop, breathe and think of a positive intention for the day. Think not just what you want to DO, but how you want to BE today? Each day is a new beginning and a blank slate. How would you like to create your day? Think of it as a blank canvas -- what would you like to paint on it. What can you create? If you wake up in a negative mindset, you are more likely to paint a dark picture throughout the day, and your canvas will not reflect hope, happiness and joy. If you take each day to think positively, and have a positive intention for how you would like to create your day, how would your life be different? What positive outcome can reflect your positive intention? What can daily positive intentions do for you? Every day you will give yourself the gift of an "attitude of gratitude." Visualizing how you would like your day will help release positive energy from within you and you will attract more positive energy from those around you. Instead of spinning your wheels in an old way of thinking, each day is a chance to reframe and re-look at things in a different way. You can experience each day an awe in the beauty and creation of the world -- and the beauty of you who is in it! You find yourself shifting from an "I can't mindset" to an "I can" mindset. With a focus on positive intentions, you feel more empowered and more like a "victor" than a "victim." You are more mindful of the present, and will be more likely to live fully in the present each moment of each day. After all, the past is a great place to visit, but you don't want to live there! So how about starting each day taking a moment to think of a positive intention for the day? Each morning, write it down and reflect each evening on how you did! Here are examples of Positive Intentions: "Today I would like to replace my feelings of annoyance towards my co-worker to feelings of acceptance." "I am looking forward today to focusing on what I am grateful for in my life, rather than what is missing, and express gratefulness to others." "Today I want to slow my life down and take time to savor the moment, especially with my children".. Using each day to recommit yourself to positive thinking and intention will help you create the life you want and that you deserve! According to the writer, which is the most important?
<extra_id_0>changeable
<extra_id_1>positive
<extra_id_2>forgettable
<extra_id_3>active
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<extra_id_5>Tests can be stressful even for the most prepared students,and,unfortunately,test anxiety can actually have a negative impact on your performance.(Just having that knowledge adds to the stress,doesn't it?)Well,the following tips can help you get through your next test with much greater ease--and likely more success! Get Enough Sleep Getting 6 hours of less can put you into what's called a sleep deficit,or lack of sufficient sleep,which can actually make you less sharp mentally and thus negatively affect your performance on tests,even if you spent those missed hours of sleep studying.So it's very important for you to get all of your studying done so you can get a good night of sleep before your big day. Study Smarter Being organized with your studies can help you keep from pulling all-nighters to get all of your studying in and blowing the test because you're exhausted.How do you study 'smarter'? Make a list of the most important things you need to learn,in order of importance,and hit the items at the top of the list first.That way,if you run out of time,you're mostly covered.Make a list of all the work you have to do,estimate how much time each item will take,and compare that with the amount of hours you have available;this will tell you if you can carefully read or just skim,how many times you can afford to revise papers,and other ways to pace yourself so you can get everything done.If you're pressed for time,it's important to learn to let go of being perfect.Oh,and turn off the TV as much as possible until your tests are behind you. Visualize Success Before you fall asleep each night,it is a great way to visualize yourself taking the tests and doing wonderfully.Detailed visualizations can help you feel like you're really experiencing something,and visualizing yourself doing well is a way to 'practice' success in a way that can actually help you perform better and feel confident.Being confident as you take your exams can keep you from choking because of the stress.Visualizations can also help you to remember facts: you can create detailed scenarios that involve the information you're trying to remember,and this can help cement the facts in your memory. Stay Calm Because stress can impair your memory,it's important to stay calm before and during tests.While that's easier said than done,there are several stress relief techniques that can help you calm down quickly whenever you feel overwhelmed.For example,breathing exercise has been shown by research to reduce test anxiety,and can be extremely effective in helping you relax and reverse your stress response in a variety of situations: just take deep breaths,expanding your belly on the inhale,and let the stress come out with your exhales. To study smarter,you'd better _ .
<extra_id_0>finish the most important things first
<extra_id_1>stay up to prepare for the coming exams
<extra_id_2>try to be perfect in every part of your study
<extra_id_3>divide your available time equally among all work
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<extra_id_5>Here is something about Christmas. Every year just after Christmas the January Sales start. All the shops reduce their prices for two weeks, and they are full of people looking for bargains. My husband and I do not normally go to the sales as we don't like crowds and are short of money as we have to buy lots of Christmas presents. Last year, however, I took my husband with me to the sales at the large shop in the center of London. We both needed some new clothes and were hoping to find a television set. When we got to Oxford Street, it was so crowded that we decided to split up and meet again at the underground station. So I left my husband and started looking around the shops. Unfortunately all the clothes were in very large sizes and so were not suitable for me. But I did buy a television at a very low price, so I felt quite pleased with myself. When I arrived at the station, my husband was not there. So I sat down in a nearby cafe to have a cup of tea. I quickly finished my tea when I saw my husband and went out to meet him. He looked very happy. Then I saw he was carrying a large and heavy cardboard box. "Oh, dear!" I thought. Yes, we had no new clothes but two televisions. We shall not go to the sales again. After their day's shopping, they _ .
<extra_id_0>were happy with their bargains
<extra_id_1>had got everything they wanted
<extra_id_2>got more than they had hoped for
<extra_id_3>had to go back to the sales the next day
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<extra_id_5>The United States Capitol Dome in Washington, DC, is recognized around the world as a symbol of the U.S. Government. Since last November, the dome has been surrounded by metal poles and heavy cloth as part of a repair project. The last major repair work on the U.S. Capitol took place in 1960. Since then, the dome has become weathered and worn. The Architect of the Capitol group reports that the dome has more than 1,000 narrow breaks on its surface and other damage. The dome was completed around 1863. U. S. Senate Historian Don Ritchie says the dome's cast iron frame is at special risk of weathering. "The capitol dome, being cast iron, has been hit by lightning countless times. And so the current construction is to repair the leaks, to fill the cracks, to take off extra layers of paint." Some recent visitors to the Capitol were unhappy about its current appearance. They had hoped to get a picture of the usually shining dome. Joyce said, "It was impressive, and very fantastic, and all white, but when I come here today, it is under construction so my family cannot see it clearly, it is kind of a disappointment." Others were more understanding of the repairs. Rick Jones, another visitor, said, "It's a little inconvenient for us not to see the dome but you have to think about the future and the people will be coming to this place for centuries...and you know ,there just needs to be preventive maintenance . I am not upset with that at all." The project is expected to take more than two years to complete. The dome should be ready for a new president in January 2017. We can learn from the passage that the United States Capitol Dome is _ .
<extra_id_0>widely recognized as a symbol of the U.K. government.
<extra_id_1>surrounded by many repair projects
<extra_id_2>worn by being exposed to the weather
<extra_id_3>well maintained and in excellent condition
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<extra_id_5>China's New Voice Three months ago,Liang Bo was just a student who was studying music in the college. Now he becomes " The Voice of China". The lucky young man is the winner of The Voice of China, the most popular TV show this summer. People think Liang's voice is natural, clear and touching. The 21-year-old boy was born in Changchun, Jilin. Like many other young Chinese, he fell in love with music by playing the guitar. Liang got his first guitar as a birthday gift when he was in middle school. He spent days and nights practicing. " I can't live without my guitar."He said. Many people think Liang Bo is just like famous Chinese rock singers such as Xu Wei, Wang Feng and Zheng Jun. But the young man doesn't want to stand in others' shadow ." I like them, but I'm not going to copy them. I will be who I am." he said. Liang Bo was born _ .
<extra_id_0>in Chongqing
<extra_id_1>in Changchun
<extra_id_2>in 1983
<extra_id_3>in 2012
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<extra_id_5>Air is made up of many gases. Which gas is found in the greatest amount?
<extra_id_0>Nitrogen
<extra_id_1>Oxygen
<extra_id_2>Carbon dioxide
<extra_id_3>Hydrogen
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<extra_id_5>Medical scientists are already putting computer chips directly into the brain to help people who have Parkinson's disease, but in what other ways might computer technology be able to help us? Ray Kurzweil is the author of the successful book The Age Of Intelligent Machines. He is also one of the world's best computer research scientists. He is researching the possibilities. Kurzweil gets computers to recognize voices. An example of this is Ramona, the _ hostess of Kurzweil's website, created by the computer, who is able to understand what you say. Visitors to the website can have their own conversations with her. Ramona also dances and sings. Kurzweil uses this technology to help people with physical problems. One of his ideas is a "seeing machine". This will be "like a friend that could describe what is going on around," he explains. Blind people will use a sensor which will probably be built into a pair of sunglasses. This machine will describe to the person everything it sees. Another idea, which is likely to help deaf people, is the "listening machine". This invention will recognize millions of words and understand any speaker. The listening machine will also be able to translate what it hears into other languages, so even people without hearing problems are likely to be interested in using it. But it is not just about helping people with physical problems. Looking further into future, Kurzweil sees a time when we will be able to store what we hear, see and think in a computer. This technology probably won't be ready for at least 50 years, but when it arrives, it means our minds will be able to live forever. How can the "seeing machine" help blind people?
<extra_id_0>It can help to treat their eyes.
<extra_id_1>It can translate into other languages.
<extra_id_2>It can help them to see the future.
<extra_id_3>It can describe to them what it sees.
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<extra_id_5>I entered high school having read hundreds of books. But I was not a good reader. Merely bookish, I lacked a point of view when I read. Rather, I read in order to get a point of view. I searched books for good expressions and sayings, pieces of information, ideas, themes--anything to enrich my thought and make me feel educated. When one of my teachers suggested to his sleepy tenth-grade English class that a person could not have a "complicated idea" until he had read at least two thousand books, I heard the words without recognizing either its irony or its very complicated truth. I merely determined to make a list of all the books I had ever read. Strict with myself, I included only once a title I might have read several times.(How, after all, could one read a book more than once?)And I included only those books over a hundred pages in length.(Could anything shorter be a book?) There was yet another high school list I made. One day I came across a newspaper article about an English professor at a nearby state college. The article had a list of the "hundred most important books of Western Civilization." "More than anything else in my life," the professor told the reporter with finality(firmly), "these books have made me all that I am." That was the kind of words I couldn't ignore. I kept the list for the several months it took me to read all of the titles. Most books, of course, I hardly understood. While reading Plato's The Republic, for example, I needed to keep looking at the introduction of the book to remind myself what the text was about. However, with the special patience and superstition of a schoolboy, I looked at every word of the text. And by the time I reached the last word, pleased, I persuaded myself that I had read The Republic, and seriously crossed Plato off my list While at high school, the writer _ .
<extra_id_0>had plans for reading
<extra_id_1>learned to educate himself
<extra_id_2>only read books over 100 pages
<extra_id_3>read only one book several times
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<extra_id_5>The opera house in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is one of the most beautiful in the United States. It is small and open, with one roof over the stage where singers perform and another roof over part of the audience. This opera house in the mountain is one of the best in the country, which may seem surprising because performances are only given during seven weeks in summer, and because Santa Fe is a very small city. One reason why the Santa Fe Opera is so good is that it attracts many excellent young singers .They all hope to sing in famous opera houses like Metropolitan in New York someday. And they work hard to become well-known during the summer. The musicians and directors are experts who come from the best orchestras and operas in the country during their vacations. They enjoy working there because they like to live in Santa Fe, which is near both the mountains and the desert. It is very beautiful there in summer. The state government of New Mexico advertises the Santa Fe Opera in newspapers all over the country, and a great many tourists come to New Mexico because of the opera ,Still ,most of the audience does come from Santa Fe and other nearby cities. And all the seats in the theater are sold for every show. There is only one thing that some people do not like about the Santa Fe Opera, and that is the cold weather .Because the theater is open, performances cannot start before it gets dark at nine o'clock in the evening, and then the mountain air becomes very cool. Sometimes people complain about the cold air ,but because the opera is good , these people come back again wearing warm coats. From the passage ,we can learn that _ .
<extra_id_0>the opera house is open without any roofs
<extra_id_1>musicians always work in Fe
<extra_id_2>the government advertises to attract more musicians
<extra_id_3>performances are held in Santa Fe only after it is dark
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<extra_id_5>A good brand agency can create for you a brand identity of your products. Having the best agency to help with your business, no matter how small, can be one of the biggest steps you can take in letting the world know and get familiar with your products and brands. Brand agencies work hand in hand with the company in advertising the brand and its products. The company has to tell the agency how they would like the public to see their products. The agency then talks with the company about the progress of the brand in the market. Working with brand agencies is a two-way street. When the company is happy and satisfied with how the agency has advertised the brand, the trust the company has in the agency grows. Similarly, when the agency does well in its work, the company's brand and products get good ideas from buyers and the market. Regarding the identity of the brand, agencies can help a lot in this aspect. For a brand to have a lasting influence on the buyers, an identity of the brand needs to be formed. If the brand is good, then buyers will feel at ease buying the products of this brand. What's the writer's purpose of writing this text?
<extra_id_0>To explain the meaning of teamwork.
<extra_id_1>To introduce the importance of a brand agency.
<extra_id_2>To tell the roles of the salesmen.
<extra_id_3>To describe how to run the company.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>Grandma was always forgetting things." What's wrong with her?" Anna asked. "We think she's getting old, and she may be ill. We may have to send her to a nursing home so that she can be taken good care of. But we can go to see her and bring her presents, like strawberry ice cream." Mother said. One day, they went to see Grandma at the nursing home. Anna hugged Grandma. "Look," she said, "we've brought you strawberry ice cream!" Grandma didn't say anything. She just took it and began eating. "Do you know who I am?" Anna asked. "You're the girl who brings me ice cream." Grandma said. "Yes, but I'm Anna, your granddaughter. Don't you remember me?" she asked, throwing her arms around the old lady. Grandma smiled, "Remember? Sure. You're the girl who brings me ice cream." Suddenly Anna realized that Grandma would never remember her. "Oh, how I love you, Grandma!" she said. Just then she saw a tear roll down Grandma's cheeks . "Love," she said, "I remember love. n "You see, dear, that's what she wants--love!" Mother said. It's more important to remember love than someone's name. What did Grandma remember?
<extra_id_0>Date.
<extra_id_1>Money.
<extra_id_2>Love.
<extra_id_3>Past
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<extra_id_5>Mrs. Brown lives in a small village. Her husband is dead. She has a son but no daughters. His name is John and he is twenty-five. After John finishes college , he gets work in a big city, New York, and he lives there. It's quite a long way from his mother's home, and she is not happy about it. But John says, "There is no good work for me in this small village, Mother, and I can get a lot of money in New York. Then I can give much to you." One day Mrs. Brown is very angry. She takes a train to her son's house in New York. Then she says to him. "John, why do you never call me?" "But mother," John laughs and says, "You don't have a telephone with you." "No," she says, "I haven't, but you have one." Where does Mrs. Brown live?
<extra_id_0>In a small village
<extra_id_1>In a big city
<extra_id_2>In New York
<extra_id_3>In a town
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