instruction
stringlengths 104
6.76k
| output
stringclasses 4
values |
|---|---|
<extra_id_5>Is it okay to keep exercising when you have a cold? What about the flu? With winter viruses going around, it's important to know how to alter your training if you do catch a germ or two. "The guidelines are pretty easy," says Dr Lorenzo Masci from the Alphington Sports Medicine Clinic. "Anything above the neck --- so if you've got a cold for example, a runny nose or a sore throat --- then you should probably cut down your exercise by half and do 50 percent of what you normally do." "If you've got anything below the neck, like muscle pain, joint pain or fever, you shouldn't really exercise at all until those general symptoms settle down," Lorenzo says. He points out that a cough would also fall into this more serious category. "For example, if anyone comes in with a fever and a runny nose, I'd tell them to stop exercising until the fever and the muscle ache settles. Then they can start their training again at 50 percent once all those symptoms settle, even if they've got a bit of a runny nose or a sore throat." "The reason we tell people to stop exercising is because if you exercise when you're unwell it can make the illness worse and prolong it." There is a second reason Lorenzo advises his patients to stop exercising when they have "below the neck" symptoms. In the event you have an illness which affects your heart, exercise can sometimes actually lead to death. Lorenzo advises to take zinc and vitamin C as a way of preventing colds. But he admits that this is controversial --- some studies have shown that these supplements can improve immune function while other studies have cast doubt on the issue. The good news is that if you exercise regularly, you're likely to improve your immune function. "If you exercise too much, it can predispose you to coughs and sniffles," he points out. This is often the case for excellent athletes who train every day, such as triathletes . "But what we do know is that if you exercise at a moderate level, your immune system improves such that you're probably at a lower risk of developing coughs and colds." How should people do exercises with a fever or a cough?
<extra_id_0>They should probably reduce their training time by 50%.
<extra_id_1>They should stop exercising until they recover.
<extra_id_2>They should start exercising at 50% after their runny nose settles.
<extra_id_3>They should do half of what they normally do.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Do you know why different animals or pests have their special colors? Colors in them seem to be mainly used to protect themselves. Some birds like eating locusts , but birds cannot easily catch them. Why? It is because locusts change their colors with the change of the colors of crops. When crops are green, locusts look green. But as the harvest time comes, locusts change into the same brown color as crops have. Some other pests whose colors are different form plants are easily found and eaten by others. So they have to hide themselves for lives and appear only at night. If you study the animals' life, you'll find the main use of colors is to protect themselves. Bears, lions and other animals move quietly through forests. They cannot be easily seen by hunters because their colors are much like the trees. Colors are useful not only on the land, but also in the sea. A kind of fish in the sea can give out a kind of black liquid when the fish face danger. The liquid spreads over quickly, so they cannot be found by their enemies and can quickly swim away. That is why they live safely though they are not strong at all. Those pests with different colors from plants have to _ to keep out of danger.
<extra_id_0>change their colors
<extra_id_1>hide in the day time and appear at night
<extra_id_2>move quietly
<extra_id_3>hide at night and appear in the day time
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Lots of kids hate school, a new study found. Usually this kind of feeling doesn't last long. School is a fact of life and getting a good education can help you build the kind of future life you want. So let's talk about school and what to do when you don't like it. The first step is to find out why. You might not like school because you don't have enough friends, or maybe you don't get along with your teachers. Sometimes it's a big problem with your classes and school work. You may be getting further and further behind, and it may seem like you'll never catch up. When you know why you don't like school, you can start taking steps to make things better. It's a good idea to talk to someone about your problems with school. Your mom, dad, or teachers will be able to help you. Another good idea is to write down your feelings about school in a notebook. It's a great way to let out emotion . Remember, you don't have to share what you've written with others. And here are some ways to give you the best first day of school. The night before school starts, you can do something quiet and peaceful to calm yourself down, like reading a book with your parents, taking a walk or taking a photo of your smiling face. By doing these, you will have a nice day at school. If a student wants to like school again, what's the first step?
<extra_id_0>To get along with teachers.
<extra_id_1>To catch up with others.
<extra_id_2>To find out the reasons.
<extra_id_3>To make more friends.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Compulsive shoppers may have a new psychological excuse to blame for their wild shopping. Psychologists at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand are studying the "shop-till-you-drop" habit as a behavioral disorder similar to compulsive eating. Compulsive shoppers frequently buy more than they can afford or more than they need, and it causes them distress . "It becomes a problem when you are out of control," psychology lecturer Neville Blampied said. "When you are feeling bad and blue, what do you do? Some people eat chocolate cake and ice cream. Some people take the credit card and go out to the shop." Bank managers understand the problem because they have to deal with people who have to be persuaded to stop using their cards drawing money. Compulsive shopping was first discovered in 1915, although it was then known as monomania. Few studies have been done on the problem. An advertisement in a Christchurch paper, calling for people to take part in an experimental treatment program designed by Mr. Wilson, attracted 10 replies. But the problem, said Mr. Wilson, is "clearly not rare". He thinks that compulsive shopping should be treated with drugs. "As psychologists we are interested in non-drug treatments for behavioral difficulties," Mr. Wilson said. Compulsive eaters or shoppers get a kick from their habit. "Both activities provide an immediate kind of kick and you feel a bit better," he said. "You have long-term problems, but human beings are extremely good at not seeing long-term problems and are very sensitive to short-term benefits," he said. The aim of the treatment was to help people find better ways of managing their emotions. The program, consisting of 10 one-hour weekly lessons and two follow-up treatments, is loosely based on teaching stress management. "You often have to start to get people to correctly recognize their emotions. Not being able to know what you really feel weakens your ability to solve the problems connected with what's making you feel that way," Mr. Wilson said. The compulsive shoppers will go shopping when _ .
<extra_id_0>they have lots of money
<extra_id_1>they are taking drugs
<extra_id_2>they are feeling sad
<extra_id_3>they win a prize
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>All across California, honeybees are flying away from their hives and dying. Empty hives are causing a lot of worry about some important food crops. Bees give us a lot more than delicious honey. They are pollinators --they enable plants to produce the fruits and nuts we enjoy by carrying pollen from one plant or flower to the next. The wind pollinates oats, corn, and wheat, but many other plants (like apple and cherry trees and melon vines) depend on insects, bats, and birds. In the U.S., millions and millions of bees kept by human beekeepers fly around doing a lot of this important work for food crops. "Bees are worth protecting because their work adds so much to our diet," says Dr. Jeff Pettis of the Bee Research Laboratory. California's almond crop alone depends on about half the bees in the country. But now the almond crop and many others could be in trouble with so many bees dying. Researchers at government and university labs all over the country are trying to figure out why so many bees are dying. However, bees are hard to study. Most die away from the hive, so researchers don't have dead bodies to examine. And when researchers return to a hive after two weeks, about half the bees they studied on their first visit will be dead, replaced by new ones in the natural life cycle of bees. "It isn't like studying a large animal like a cow that doesn't move around much and is easy to find out in the cow field," says Pettis. Researchers have some ideas about what could be affecting bee health. They could be sick from poisons widely used to kill insects, or they might not be getting enough good food to stay strong. Also, tiny insects called mites feed on bees. "A virus or bacteria could also be doing the killing." explains Pettis. What could cause so many bees to die?
<extra_id_0>Poisons to kill birds.
<extra_id_1>Eating too much.
<extra_id_2>Large insects.
<extra_id_3>Some virus.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>I usually doubt about any research that concludes that people are either happier or unhappier or more or less certain of themselves than they were 50 years ago.While any of these statements might be true, they are practically impossible to prove scientifically. Still, 1 was struck by a report which concluded that today's children are significantly more anxious than children in the 1950s. In fact, the analysis showed, normal children between 9 and 17 have a higher level of anxiety today than children who were treated for mental illness 50 years ago. Why are America's kids so stressed? The report cites two main causes: increasing physical isolation brought on by high divorce rates and less involvement in community, and a growing perception that the world is a more dangerous place. Given that _ , adults can still do plenty to help the next generation to cope. At the top of the list,nurturing is a better appreciation of the limits of individualism. No child is an island. Strengthening social ties helps build communities and protect individuals against stress. To help kids build stronger connections with others, you can pull the plug on TVs and computers. Your family will thank you later.They will then have more time for face-to-face relationships, and they will get more sleep. Limit the amount of virtual violence your children are exposed to. It's not just video games and movies; children see a lot of murder and crime on the local news. Keep your expectations for your children reasonable. Many highly successful people never attended Harvard or Yale. Make exercise part of your daily routine. It will help you deal with your own anxieties and provide a good model for your kids. Sometimes anxiety is unavoidable,but it doesn't have to ruin your life. What conclusion can be drawn from the passage?
<extra_id_0>Anxiety, though always unavoidable, can be coped with.
<extra_id_1>Children's anxiety has been enormously exaggerated .
<extra_id_2>Children's anxiety can be removed with more parental care.
<extra_id_3>Anxiety, if properly controlled, may help children become mature.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Do you get angry when your friends sing loudly while you are trying to work, or when your best friend does not wait for you after school? If you do, you need to take control of your feelings and stop getting angry so easily. Getting angry with people can cause you to lose friends. Gray Gerber, an American high school teacher, has written My Feelings Are Like Wild Animals to help you control your feelings. It tells teens how to stay cool when bad things happen to them. The book says that getting angry only makes problems worse. It can never make them better. Getting angry is not a natural way to act, the book says. It is just a bad habit, like smoking. The book says you can control your anger easily. All you have to do is tell yourself not to be angry. When a baby falls over, he only cries if people are watching him. Like a baby, you should only get angry if you are sure it is the right thing to do. The book gives many tips to help you if you get angry easily. Here are our tips: (1)Keep a record. Every time you get angry, write down why you are angry. (2)Ask your friends to stop talking to you when you get angry. This will teach you not to be angry. (3)Do something different. When you get angry, walk away from the problem and go somewhere else. Try to laugh. According to Gray Gerber, when bad things happen, _ .
<extra_id_0>you'd better leave
<extra_id_1>you'd better stay in a cold place
<extra_id_2>you'd better calm yourself
<extra_id_3>you'd better shout
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>The ruins of Moore, Oklahoma, a town destructed for the fourth time in 14 years by a major tornado , are a reminder that current building codes can't do much to prevent property destruction and loss of life, especially when a powerful tornado cuts through town. But the total death number can be reduced when people take shelter in underground storm bunkers and hardened safe rooms. The tornado that carved a path of destruction through Moore took 24 lives. Its winds were clocked at 400 kilometers per hour. With only 15 minutes' warning, residents fled town or took refuge in the firmest corners of their homes. The luckiest were able to climb into shelters or move to safe rooms. In Moore those rooms saved lives. But at two schools destroyed by Monday's tornado, no such shelter was available. Leslie Chapman Henderson is CEO of a non-profit group called the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes. She's an advocate for tornado safe rooms. "The safe room is an interior room of the home that has been reinforced and tested to withstand high wind. In fact, we've already heard of stories of survival of people who were in safe rooms, either above or below ground," she said. Better storm forecasts give people more time to react. But they need someplace safe to go. Buildings can be built to resist strong winds, but not like those in the F-5 tornado that touched down in Moore. Chapman Henderson says even the building codes that do exist are not widely adopted or enforced. As its residents prepare to rebuild, Moore's mayor is pushing for an order to make safe rooms compulsory in all new construction. Similar proposals were made following each of the previous tornado strikes, but none were adopted. What can we infer from the text?
<extra_id_0>Moore has gone through tornado 4 times in total.
<extra_id_1>Chapman Henderson is Moore's mayor.
<extra_id_2>Monday's tornado took 24 lives at two schools.
<extra_id_3>The Moore's proposal might not be approved.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>A state statute requires that all buses which operate as common carriers on the highways of the state shall be equipped with seat belts for passengers. Transport Lines, an interstate carrier, challenges the validity of the statute and the right of the state to make the requirement. What is the best basis for a constitutional challenge by Transport Lines?
<extra_id_0>Violation of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
<extra_id_1>Violation of the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
<extra_id_2>Unreasonable burden on interstate commerce.
<extra_id_3>Difficulty of enforcement
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>"The world has never been a better place to live in" says science writer Matt Ridley, "and it will keep on getting better." Read on to see how Ridley makes his case. Right or wrong? You decide. Compared with 50 years ago, when I was just four years old, people now make nearly three times as much money, eat one third more food and expect to live one third longer. In fact, it's hard to find any areas of the world that's worse off now than it was then, even though the world population has more than doubled over that period. One reason we are richer, healthier, taller, cleverer, longer-lived and freer than ever before is that the four most basic human needs--food, clothing, fuel and shelter--have grown much cheaper. Take one example: In 1800, a candle providing one hour's light cost six hours' work. In the 1880s, the same light from a lamp took 15 minutes' work to pay for. In 1950, it was eight seconds. Today, it's half a second. In these terms, we are 43,200 times better off than in1800. In the United States, rivers, lakes, seas and air are getting cleaner all the time. A car today produces less pollution traveling at full speed than a parked car did from leaks in 1970. Although the world population is growing, the rate of increase has been falling for 50 years. Across the world, national birth rates are lower now than in 1960, and in the less developed world, the birth rate has almost halved. According to a research report from the United Nations, population will start falling once it reaches 9.2 billion in 2075. After all, there are already seven billion people on earth, and they are eating better and better. In 1970s, there were 550 billion barrels of oil reserves in the world, and in the 20 years that followed the world used up 600 billion. So by 1990, reserves should have been overused by 50 billion barrels. Instead, it is reported there are 900 billion today. They will last for many years and people will find something in place of oil long before they run out. The more we develop, the more we can develop. The more we invent, the more inventions become possible. For 200 years, pessimists (people who believe that terrible things will happen in future) have had all the headlines--even though _ have far more often been right. There are some reasons for pessimists. No charity ever raised money by saying things are getting better. No journalist ever got the front page writing a story about how terrible things won't happen. Don't be a pessimist--dare to be an optimist! Which of the following is true, according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>Things we used to need were much cheaper than they are today.
<extra_id_1>The pollution today is much more serious than it was long ago.
<extra_id_2>Population problem has nearly made the world stop developing.
<extra_id_3>It's not necessary to be worried about oil reserves in the world.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>After moving to the United States, immigrant groups trying to fit in tend to choose high-calorie, fatty foods in an attempt to appear more American, a new study finds. That's one reason why immigrants approach U.S. levels of obesity within 15 years of moving to America. The researchers also did an experiment that measured whether or not the threat of appearing un-American influenced respondents' food choices.After being questioned about their ability to speak English,75 percent of Asian-Americans identified a typical American food as their favorite. Only 25 percent of Asian-Americans who had not been asked if they spoke English did the same. When their American identity was called into question during a follow-up study, Asian-American participants also tended to choose typical American dishes, such as hamburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches, over more Asian fare. In that experiment, 55 Asian-Americans were asked to choose a meal from a local Asian or American restaurant. Some participants were told that only Americans could participate in the study. Those who chose the more typical American _ ended up consuming an extra 182 calories, including 12 grams of fat and seven grams of saturated fat . "People who feel like they need to prove they belong in a culture will change their habits in an attempt to fit in," said Sapna Cheryan, an author of the study and assistant professor of psychology at the University of Washington. "If immigrants and their children choose unhealthy American foods over healthier traditional foods across their lives, this process of fitting in could lead to poorer health," Cheryan added. Social pressures, the study concluded, are at the heart of the problem. "In American society today, being American is associated with being white. Americans who don't fit this image even if they were born here and speak English feel that pressure to prove that they're American," said Cheryan. According to the survey, _ .
<extra_id_0>Asia-Americans care less about their health.
<extra_id_1>25 percent of Americans like junk food.
<extra_id_2>choosing food is related to Asian-American's situation
<extra_id_3>immigrants are forced to eat junk food.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>What is the sky? Where is it? How high is it? What lies above it? These questions are difficult to answer, aren't they? Is the sky blue? The sky has no colour. We know that there is air around the world. When planes fly, they need air to lift their wings. Planes cannot fly very high because when they go higher, the air gets thinner. If we go up about 1,200 kilometres from the earth, we find there is no air. Perhaps we can answer some of our questions now. The sky is space. In this space there is only the sun, the moon and all the stars. If we go up about 1,200 kilometres from the earth, we find _ .
<extra_id_0>there is more air
<extra_id_1>there is less air
<extra_id_2>there is nothing but air
<extra_id_3>there is no air
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>136 Crestview Circle Dover, Connecticut November 16, 2015 Gander's Furniture Store Stamford, Connecticut, 09876 Dear Sir, I am writing about your November bill, which I am returning with this letter. I am not going to pay this bill. Last month I bought a table and four chairs for $65.50. They were sent to me on October 18. That night one leg of the table broke while my wife was putting our dinner on it. It fell on one of the chair, and that broke, too. Our $ 2.50 steak landed on the floor, and the dog ate it. I spoke to the salesmen who had sold me the table and the chairs. He told me to write you a letter. I wrote you on October 20, saying that I was not going to pay for the furniture. On October 21 some men came and took it back to the store. Please do something about your records. I do not want to receive another bill for the furniture which I returned. Yours truly Albertson Why did Mr. Albertson write the letter to the furniture store?
<extra_id_0>He wanted the manager to blame the salesmen for the bad furniture.
<extra_id_1>He had paid for the furniture but was asked to pay again.
<extra_id_2>The furniture he bought was badly made and he wanted to return it.
<extra_id_3>He didn't want to receive a second bill for the furniture he had returned.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Cats are creatures of habit. They like to go to sleep about the same time every day and for a certain length of time. They seem to have a natural clock inside them that tells them when to sleep. Cats increase their regular sleep with occasional cat naps . Some experts feel that humans could also benefit from this habit. Cat naps help to build up energy in the body. They are also a good way to get rid of trouble! Since cats have the same moods as humans, some experts believe that people can improve their moods. People might become happier. A number of famous people have copied cats by taking cat naps during the day. The naps would usually last from 15 to 30 minutes. Winston Churchill took cat naps. So did Presidents Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson. These famous men were known for their energy. They were also able to work long hours, often into the night. Napping was their secret. From this selection we know that cats _ .
<extra_id_0>do not have regular sleep
<extra_id_1>have occasional sleep as well as naps every day
<extra_id_2>take naps to add to their regular sleep
<extra_id_3>take naps when they are not happy
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>One day, a physically-deformed man came to our college and on his back was a notice saying, "Free shoe repairing for college students". Repairing shoes for free? Most of us didn't believe it, and some even thought that it was just a device to the students who would have to pay for shoes once they had been repaired. But the man just smiled and said, "Save your money to buy some books." These words really surprised me and I talked with him, "You need to make a living. Why do you repair shoes for us for free?" He answered, while keeping on working, "I'm an illiterate , but I know how important knowledge is for everyone. So I'd like to serve the students like you. I hope you can do well in your studies. In my opinion, money isn't everything in life." After the chat, I felt he was great compared with me. He, a physically-deformed man who couldn't walk without a wheelchair, still tried his best to devote himself to society. I would like to thank him because he gave me a new direction in my life, and taught me what the true value of life is. ,. What does the writer think of the physically-deformed man?
<extra_id_0>He is hard-working.
<extra_id_1>He is brave.
<extra_id_2>He is great.
<extra_id_3>He is healthy.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>I was at a dance club when I was nineteen. One day my new friend walked with me to my car. It was a very cold night. As we were walking to my car, a man walked up to us. Behind him was a woman pushing _ with a child inside who was about 2 years old. The child had only a jacket on and it wasn'tzipped . The man began to tell us he wanted to borrow some money for the night and that he had a job but no place to live and was waiting for his first paycheck. He confirmed he could get our mailing address and mail the money back to us. The guy I was with reached into his pocket to give this man a $20 bill. As the man was extending his hand out to take the money, I put my hand on my new friend's hand and said, "Can I talk to you for a minute?" I told him some people earned money by begging and that they always cheated those with soft hearts. And if they were truly worried about their child being out in the cold, they would have at least zipped his jacket. My friend looked at me with disapproval and said, "Michael, I know there are some people out there that take advantage of others. I also know some people out there that are one paycheck away from being homeless. If I gave $20 to 10 people and only one of them really needed it and used it for the right thing, it was worth it." I am now thirty-seven years old and have never forgotten what he said to me. I don't even remember his name now. But I do remember that this experience changed my perspective . We can infer the author could learn from the experience that _ .
<extra_id_0>one should be very kind to everyone
<extra_id_1>anybody has a time when he needs help
<extra_id_2>one should do whatever is worthy actively
<extra_id_3>one should keep away from those poor
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Always forgetting your long passwords ? Worried about being hacked ?All these worries will soon become history. Scientists have found that upper-casing your password can help you reduce the chance being hacked. Usually passwords are six letters or more.However,50 percent of people choose a common word or simple key combination for their password. The most used passwords are 123456, abcdef and abc123. In fact, if your passwords are in lower-case ,it will be easily hacked by a hacker. According to a study, it only takes a hacker ten minutes to hack a six-letter password which is in lower-case, but if you make the letter in upper-case, it can take up to ten hours. So if you want to make your account much safer, you should make your password upper-case. Of course, you can also add numbers or _ to your password. Most of the time a hacker's computer has to work for 18 days to break a password, but if you choose a nine-letter password that includes numbers and symbols, it can take a hacher's computer 44,530 years to break it. What is the main idea of the passage?
<extra_id_0>What passwords are.
<extra_id_1>How a password is hacked.
<extra_id_2>How to make your password much safer.
<extra_id_3>Why hackers hack your password.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>For thousands of years, people have been debating the meaning of happiness and how to find it. From the ancient Greeks and Romans to current day writers and professors, the debate about happiness continues. What makes someone happy? In what parts of the world are people the happiest? Why even study happiness? The Greek philosopher Aristotle said that a person's highest happiness comes from the use of his or her intelligence. Religious books such as the Koran and Bible discuss faith as a form of happiness. The British scientist Charles Darwin believed that all species were formed in a way so as to enjoy happiness. People throughout history may have had different ideas about happiness. But today, many people are still searching for its meaning. How do you study something like happiness? You could start with the World Database of Happiness at Erasmus University in prefix = st1 /Rotterdam, The Netherlands. This set of information includes how to define and measure happiness. Some findings are not surprising. For example, the database suggests that married people are happier than single people. People who like to be with other people are happier than unsocial people. But other findings are less expected: People with children are equally happy as couples without children. And wealthier people are only a little happier than poorer people. Positive psychology is the new term for a method of scientific study that tries to examine the things that make life worth living instead of life's problems. Traditional psychology generally studies negative situations like mental suffering and sickness. But positive psychology aims to study the strengths that allow people and communities to do well. There is also an increasing amount of medical research on the physical qualities of happiness. Doctors can now look at happiness at work in a person's brain using a method called magnetic resonance imaging , or MRI. For example, an MRI can show how one area of a person's brain activates when he or she is shown happy pictures. A different area of the brain becomes active when the person sees pictures of terrible subjects. MRI is used in the study of happiness in order to _ .
<extra_id_0>find out the physical quantities of happiness
<extra_id_1>look at the images formed in people's brain
<extra_id_2>study the reaction of the brain to happiness
<extra_id_3>understand the pictures of terrible subjects
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>The old saying that practice makes perfect seems to make no sense when it comes to schoolwork. Many educators today are looking for evidence to support the case for homework, but are coming up empty-handed. Mary Jane Cera is the academic administrator for the Kino School, and she maintains a no-homework policy across all grades. The purpose of the policy is to make sure learning remains a joy, not a thing that discourages social time and creative activity. At the Kino school, Cera says children often choose to take their favorite parts of school home. "A lot of what we see kids doing is practicing music with their friends, and taking experiments home to show their parents," she says. Surveys of Kino graduates suggest that the early control they are given over their education continues to serve them well into college. "One of the reasons that we continue to assign much homework is our obsession with tests, although we can agree on the importance of kids doing better on tests through proper homework to some degree,"says author Alfie Kohn. In his book The Homework Myth, Kohn points out that no study has ever found a relation between homework and academic achievement and that if kids have no choice in the matter of homework, they're not really exercising judgment, and are instead losing their sense of self-control. However, many supporters of homework argue that life is filled with things we don't like to do, and that homework teaches self-discipline, time management and other non-academic life skills. Wherever the homework debate goes next, it's worth taking a moment to examine if we're doing the right thing about our children's education. The good news is -- it's never too late to start. What would Kohn probably agree with?
<extra_id_0>Homework is linked to academic achievement.
<extra_id_1>Homework can equip students with life skills.
<extra_id_2>Homework leads to the loss of kids' creativity.
<extra_id_3>Homework might improve kids' grades in exams.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Warwick New York Hotel This hotel offers you stylish rooms in a quiet neighborhood, just a short walk from some of New York's business streets. It's small. Family-owned hotel with 16 rooms. They provide not only comfortable rooms but also warm smiles and friendly greetings. The Westpark Inn The Westpark has 90 rooms and is close to Manhattan tourist centers. The hotel's rooms have been recently painted. On the Internet many travelers say it is below the usual standard and should be avoided. If you want to save money, you may have a try. The Affinia Hotel The Affinia is a good choice for experienced business travelers, families and international visitors. The 80 guest rooms are stylish and modern with good furniture. Guests who need more space might like the hotel's rooms. All the rooms have a kitchen. The 60 Thompson The 60 Thompson, with 100 beautiful guest rooms, is a stylish hotel in the heart of SoHo. Good use of dark wood and full-wall leather headboards give the hotel warmth. Guests can enjoy fine food in the hotel's Kittichhai restaurant and cocktails at Thom's Bar. Some people suggest not choosing the Westpark Inn because _ .
<extra_id_0>it has a bad position
<extra_id_1>it's close to business centers
<extra_id_2>it is below the usual standard
<extra_id_3>its rooms have been recently painted
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>A rich American went into a shop in London. He wanted very much to buy a nice looking watch, but the owner of the shop asked five hundred dollars for it. Suddenly a young man came into the shop, took the watch out of the owner's hands and ran out with it. It all happened in a few seconds. When the owner ran out into the street, the young man was already lost among the people. The American went on. At the next corner, he saw the young man with the watch in his hand. "Do you want to buy a fine watch, sir?" he asked in a low voice. "It's only a hundred dollars." "The young man doesn't know I saw him stealing the watch," he thought. The American paid at once and went back to his room with the watch. He told his friend about the fine watch. His friend took a look at the watch and started laughing. He said, "You are a fool. This watch isn't worth even ten dollars. I'm sure the shop owner and the young man planned this together." Who is foolish ?
<extra_id_0>The young man
<extra_id_1>The rich man
<extra_id_2>The shop owner
<extra_id_3>The man's friend
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Dear Nancy, How are you? Now I want to tell something interesting. Last week we had a trip to Mount Tai. On Tuesday we went to Taian by bus, a city at the foot of the mountain. We had a good rest at a hotel. At about one o'clock early the next morning, we began to climb the mountain. It took us about four hours and a half to get to the top. The mountain is covered with trees. I didn't see such a beautiful place before. "Look! The sun is going to rise!" my friend Lim shouted. We all turned to the east and watched. Soon half of the sky because white, and a big, red ball was rising slowly. A few minutes later, the sky became bright . We stayed on the top and had a good time. After lunch we started going down. We got to the tour hotel at about four in the afternoon. Though we were tired, we were very happy. We came back to school the next day. Thank you very much for your last letter and the beautiful postcards. Hope to hear from you soon. Yours Wu Tong The letter is from _ to _ .
<extra_id_0>Wu Tong; Nancy
<extra_id_1>Nancy; Wu Tong
<extra_id_2>Lim; Wu Tong
<extra_id_3>Nancy; Lim
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>It may not be news to parents of teenage girls, but researchers have confirmed that no one can stop their 16-year-old daughter from deciding how the family spends its money. The willpower and determination of teenage girls in how a family's money is spent on everything from food and meals to mobile phones, and, of course, clothes. Teenage boys did not show up at all in the analysis, which was designed to find out the influence of young people on household spending. The findings on the spending power of teenage girls were calculated from Office for National Statistics records of family spending during the 1980s and 1990s. Researchers examined how much money went on services and leisure goods in different kinds of homes. They checked spending on food, restaurant meals, alcohol, tobacco, services, heating, transport, clothes and sports in 2,745 British families. They found that teenage girls in the UK typically played an active role in family decisions about the allocation of household resources. But older children-- those over the age of 21 who are still living with their parents--appear to have no say in household decisions. They also tried to calculate to what extent the bargaining power of a teenager affected family budgets. "Every parent knows that children, even at a very early age, have their own preferences with regard to consumption, researchers said. "But children are only interested in a limited range of goods--mainly sweets and toys--and parents are able to use punishment to reduce their children's bargaining power or remove it." When they become teenagers, however, girls are much more independent and they are capable of earning their own money, which improves their bargaining power in family decisions. The researchers could not explain why girls have more influence over spending while the evidence for boys is much less conclusive. However, this study could be of great significance to market research and how marketers target children. It appears that household decisions are NOT affected by _ .
<extra_id_0>girls living with parents
<extra_id_1>girls over 21
<extra_id_2>girls over 12
<extra_id_3>girls living alone
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Jack London was a famous American writer. He was born on January 12, 1876, in America.His family was very poor, and Jack had to leave school to make a living when he was twelve. He worked very hard. Later Jack returned to school. He was strict with himself and worked hard at every subject, especially literature . In 1897, he went to Alaska to look for gold . Instead of getting gold, he found material for his books and stories. He returned home and started to write. His writings were so successful that he became rich and famous in his twenties. But Jack London was not a happy man. He took his own life in 1916 when he was only 40 years old. He became famous for _ .
<extra_id_0>his writings
<extra_id_1>his gold
<extra_id_2>rich life
<extra_id_3>both A and B
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>As a manager, Tiffany is responsible for interviewing applicants for some of the positions with her company. During one interview, she noticed that the candidate never made direct eye contact. She was puzzled and somewhat disappointed because she liked the individual otherwise. He had a perfect resume and gave good responses to her questions, but the fact that he never looked her in the eye said "untrustworthy," so she decided to offer the job to her second choice. "It wasn't until I attended a diversity workshop that I realized the person we passed over was the perfect person." Tiffany admits. What she hadn't known at the time of the interview was that the candidate's "different" behavior was simply a cultural misunderstanding. He was an Asian-American raised in a family where respect for those in authority was shown by turning away your eyes. "I was just thrown off by the lack of eye contact, not realizing it was cultural," Tiffany says. "I missed out, but will not miss that opportunity again." Many of us have had similar experiences with behaviors we describe as different. As the world becomes smaller and our workplaces more diverse, it is becoming essential to expand our understanding of others and to reexamine some of our false assumptions . Hire Advantage At a time when hiring qualified people is becoming more difficult, employers who can have no personal biases from the process have an obvious advantage. My company, Mindsets LLC, helps organizations and individuals see their own blind spots. A real estate agent we worked with illustrates the positive difference such training can make . "During my Mindsets coaching period, I was taught how to own a diversified workforce. I employed people from different cultures and skill sets. The agents were able to make use of their full potential and experiences to build up the company. When the real estate market began to change, it was because we had a diverse agent pool that we were able to stay in the real estate market much longer than others in the same profession." Blinded by Gender Dale is an account executive who attended one of my workshops in charge of a diverse workforce. "Through some of the lessons, I discovered my personal bias." he recalls. "I learned I had not been looking at a person as a whole person, and being open to differences." In his case, the blindness was not about culture but rather gender. "I had a management position open in my department; and the two finalists were a man and a woman. Had I not attended this workshop, I would have automatically assumed the man was the best candidate because the position required quite a bit of extensive travel. My assumption would have been that even though both candidates were great and could have been successful in the position, I assumed the woman would have wanted to be home with her children and not travel." Dale's assumptions are another example of the well-intentioned but incorrect thinking that limits an organization's ability to promote the full potential of a diverse workforce. "I learned from the class that instead of forcing my gender biases into the situation, I needed to present the full range of duties, responsibilities and expectations to all candidates and allow them to make an informed decision." Dale sings high praise for the workshop, "because it helped me make decisions based on fairness." A better Bottom Line An open mind about diversity not only improves organizations from inside, it is profitable as well. These comments from a customer service representative show how an inclusive attitude can improve sales." Most of my customers speak English as a second language. One of the best things my company has done is to contract with a language service that offers translations over the phone. It wasn't until my boss received Mindsets' training that she was able to understand how important inclusiveness was to customer service. As a result, our customer base has increased." Once we start to see people as individuals, we can move positively toward inclusiveness for everyone. Diversity is about coming together and taking advantage of our differences and similarities and about building better communities and organizations. When we begin to question our assumptions and challenge what we think we have learned from our past , from the media, peers, family, friends, etc, we begin to realize that some of our conclusions are imperfect or contrary to our fundamental values. We need to train ourselves to think differently, shift our mindsets and realize that diversity opens doors for all of us, creating opportunities in organizations and communities that benefit everyone. Which of the following statements will Dale not agree with about Mindsets LLC's workshop?
<extra_id_0>It helped him make fair decisions.
<extra_id_1>It helped him discover his personal bias about gender.
<extra_id_2>It helped him look at a person as a whole one.
<extra_id_3>It helped him find successful candidates.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Spiderman is one of the most famous comic book characters. He was created by Stan Lee in 1963 and was first introduced to the world in the page 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 was 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 jobs because he is so busy saving people! Yet he has to fight different kinds of cruel enemies. ,. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
<extra_id_0>Peter Parker was short of money.
<extra_id_1>Peter was shy when he was a child.
<extra_id_2>Peter Parker could fly.
<extra_id_3>Peter's aunt's name.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>To us it seems so natural to put up an umbrella to keep the water off when it rains.But actually the umbrella was not invented as protection against rain.Its first use was as a shade against the sun. Nobody knows who first invented it, but the umbrella was used in very ancient times.Probably the Chinese were the earliest to use it in the eleventh century BC.We know that the umbrella was used in ancient Egypt and Babylon as a sunshade.And there was a strange thing connected with its use: it became a symbol of honor and authority.In the Far East in ancient times, the umbrella was allowed to be used only by royalty or by those in high offices. In Europe, the Greeks were the earliest to use the umbrella as a sunshade.And the umbrella was allowed in common use in ancient Greece.But it is believed that the earliest persons in Europe to use the umbrella as protection against rain were the ancient Romans. During the Middle Ages, the use of the umbrella practically disappeared.Then it appeared again in Italy in the late sixteenth century.And again, it was considered a symbol of power and authority.In around 1680, the umbrella appeared in France and later on in England. By the eighteenth century, the umbrella was used against rain throughout most of Europe.Umbrellas have not changed much in style during all this time, though they have become much lighter in weight.It wasn't until the twentieth century that women's umbrellas began to be made in a whole variety of colors. From the text, we can infer that _ .
<extra_id_0>the umbrella changed much in style in the eighteenth century.
<extra_id_1>no one knows why the umbrella was used in very ancient times.
<extra_id_2>once ordinary people had no right to use umbrellas.
<extra_id_3>during the Middle Ages the umbrella was common in Europe.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Today's demands for measuring childhood success have chased household chores from the to-do lists of many young people. In a survey of 1,001 US adults released by Braun Research, 82% reported having regular chores growing up, but only 28% said that they require their own children to do them. "Parents today want their kids spending time on things that can bring them success, but ironically, we've stopped doing one thing that's actually been a proven predictor of success--and that's household chores." says Richard Rende, a developmental psychologist. Giving children household chores at an early age helps to build a lasting sense of mastery, responsibility and independence, according to research by Marty Rossmann, professor at the University of Minnesota. In 2002, Dr. Rossmann analyzed data from a longitudinal study that followed 84 children across four periods. She found that young adults who began chores at ages 3 and 4 were more likely to have good relationships with family and friends and to achieve academic and early career success, as compared with those who didn't have chores or who started them as teens. Chores also teach children how to be empathetic and responsive to others' needs, notes psychologist Richard Weissbourd. In research, his team surveyed 10,000 high-school students and asked them to rank what they treasured more: achievement, happiness or caring for others. Almost 80% chose either achievement or happiness over caring for others. As he points out, however, research suggests that personal happiness comes most reliably not from high achievement but from strong relationships. "We're out of balance," says Dr. Weissbourd. A good way to start re-adjusting priorities , he suggests, is by learning to be kind and helpful at home. The next time that your child asks to skip chores to do homework, resist the urge to let him or her off the hook. Being slack about chores when they compete with school sends your child the message that grades and achievement are more important than caring about others. What may seem like small messages in the moment but add up to big ones over time. What can be the best title for the text?
<extra_id_0>Children need regular chores
<extra_id_1>Children need to be independent
<extra_id_2>Household chores build up relationships
<extra_id_3>Chores bring children responsibility
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>l.Your NAME,YEAR OF BIRTH,HOME ADDRESS/CITY/STATE/PHONE NUMBER,SCHOOL NAME(and English teacher)and EMAIL ADDRESS so we can email you if you're published. For photos,place the information on the back of each envelope:PLEASE DON'T FOLD. 2.This statement MUST BE WRITTEN on each work;"I promise the above work is completely original,"and sign your name. SEND IT ALL SUMMER! By mail-Teen Ink Box 30 Newton,MA 02461 On the web-Teelnk.com/Submissions By email-Submissions@TeenInk.com THE FINE PRINT *Type print carefully in ink.Keep a copy *Writing may be edited;we reserve the right to publish it without your permission. * If due to the personal nature of a piece you don't want your name published.we will respect your request,but you MUST include your name and address for our records. * Include a self-addressed envelope,and we'11 send a coupon for any Pepsi product and an announcement to let you know we got your work. * If published.you will receive a copy of Teen Ink.and a wooden pen. * A11 Works _ will not be returned and all copyrights belong to Teen Ink.We keep the rights to publish all such works in any forms.All material in Teen Ink is copyrighted to protect US and prevent others from republishing your work. What is the most suitable title for this piece of advertisement?
<extra_id_0>Join Teen Ink
<extra_id_1>Buy Teen Ink;Enjoy Pepsi
<extra_id_2>Send Us Your Work
<extra_id_3>Keep In Touch With Teen Ink
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>There are some stories behind English words. You've spent a lot of time studying how to use English in a proper way. But have you ever wondered why English speakers say some of the things they say? For example, why do they say "an easy task" is "a piece of cake"? Why do the two letters "OK" means "all right"? Many English words and phrases have stories behind them. Sometimes these stories can help us look back into old western history. Let's take a look at a few of the original * common English words and phrases: OK "OK" was an American who lived in the 19th century. His name was "Old Kinderhook". In one year he was trying to take the place of the leader of his town. His supporters went around the town shouting " OK \ OK \" The supporters thought their future leader was " all right". The expression caught on, and now if something is "all right" , people like to say "OK|" Boss* Is your boss nice to you? If not, just be glad you weren't living in the old times. Back to that time, bosses could do anything bad to their men and could even beat* them! That explains why the word "boss" comes from an old German word meaning "to beat". A piece of cake A famous American writer named Ogden Nash lived in the 1930s. Many readers enjoyed his poems and wrote them down in their notebooks. In one of his poems, Nash wrote, " Her picture's in the papers now, and life's a piece of cake. " His readers found these words interesting and quickly wrote them down. They thought that if one picture in a newspaper could make you famous, wouldn't life be easy? For nearly 70 years, "a piece of cake" has meant any task or activity that is easy. OK comes from " _ ".
<extra_id_0>Old King
<extra_id_1>Old Kindman
<extra_id_2>Old Kinderhook
<extra_id_3>Old Mcdonald
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>The National Outline for Medium and Long Term Education Reform and Development (2010 - 20) was released over the weekend. Here are some of the highlights: Four - percent effort The government says spending on education will be 4 percent of GDP by 2012. globally, average spending on education is about 4.5% of GDP. China spend 3,33% in 2008. according to Hu Angang, of Tsinghua University's Center for China Studies, even if China reaches that goal, it will only rank about 100 th out of 188 countries. Administrative rank Administrative rankings for school leaders are to be phased out to tackle the bureaucracy problem that limits educational development, according to Cheng Fangping, of the national Institute for Educational Research. Areas like teaching programs, scientific research, and technological development will be more independent. Vocational Education The system will be free of charge. According to Wu Yan, of Beijing Institute of Educational Sciences, this will be key to developing China's production capacity and will improve poor people's lives dramatically. Entering college Universities could eventually have the freedom to choose some of their own high school applicants. Normally, students are accepted based on the uniform national exam scores. Also, students who agree to go to a remote area could be admitted to university under special circumstances. The most likely change could come on the college entrance English test, which might be modeled on the IELTS or TOEFL. Students will be able to take it several times and pick their best score. 56.Which of the following is true in the future according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>Applicants could take the IELTS or TOEFL instead of the college entrance English test.
<extra_id_1>Colleges will be given the right to choose all of their own applicants.
<extra_id_2>Vocational education will be party free to make people's lives better.
<extra_id_3>Applicants could sit for the college entrance English test more than once.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>It was in the Victorian Era that the novel became the leading form of literature in English. Most writers were more concerned to meet the tastes of the middle class. The best known works of the period included the works of Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters and others. Charles Dickens came on the literary scene in the 1830s. Dickens wrote vividly about London life and the struggles of the poor. Most of his works were written in a very humorous style, which was popular with readers of all classes. The Bronte sisters were English writers of the 1840s and 1850s. They began to write from early childhood. In 1846 they published the first book at their own expense as poets; however, their book attracted little attention, selling only two copies. Then the sisters turned to writing novels, each producing a novel in the following year. An interest in rural matters and the changing social and economic situation of the countryside may be seen in the novels of Thomas Hardy and a number of others. Literature for children developed as a single style. Some works became well-known, such as those of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear. Adventure novels were written for adults but are now generally grouped in the list for children. Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author at the end of the Victorian Era, best known for her children's books, which featured animal characters. In her thirties, Potter published the highly successful children's bookThe Tale of Peter Rabbitin 1902. This text is mainly about _ .
<extra_id_0>literature in the Victorian Era
<extra_id_1>writing styles in the Victorian Era
<extra_id_2>famous works in the Victorian Era
<extra_id_3>the importance of literature in the Victorian Era
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>1. The Wright Brothers, by David McCullough Another must-read for history fans, McCullough tells the story of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the brothers who taught the world how to fly. Drawing on all types of historical data -- from personal diaries and scrapbooks, to thousands of private letters of family letters -- we get a close look at the actual personalities behind one of the most influential moments in history. 2. The Wonder Garden, by Lauren Acampora This novel is really a collection of several interwoven stories of people living in the rich Connecticut suburbs. From tales of an elderly artist to a young mother to a woman whose husband just behaves carelessly, The Wonder Garden gives us an unforgettable reminder that there's often so much we don't know about what happens with our neighbors behind closed doors. 3. Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen, by Mary Norris Does someone mistaking who for whom make your blood boil? Do you want to throw a dictionary at someone for mistaking sit for cite? Enter Between You & Me. Mary Norris brings her experience working in The New Yorker's copy department to eager grammar fans in this laugh-out-loud book that looks at some of the most common spelling, punctuation, and usage problems in the English language. 4. My Struggle: Book Four, by Karl Ove Knausgaard My Struggle is a six-volume autobiographical novel that follows the life of Karl Ove Knausgaard, a Norwegian father of three. In Book Four, he writes of his decision at the age of 18 to move to a fisherman's village in the far north of the Arctic circle to work as a school teacher. It's there that he struggles with love, alcoholism, and becoming loved by one of his students. Which of the following books might make you burst into laughter?
<extra_id_0>My Struggle.
<extra_id_1>The Wonder Garden.
<extra_id_2>The Wright brothers.
<extra_id_3>Between You & Me.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Is reading better than watching TV? I believe it is. Is reading better than playing video games? I'm not so sure if it is. If learning is important to you, but not necessary so,and if pleasure is what you want,these activities can be pleasant in their own way. Reading might be better than many activities if you want to educate yourself and improve your chances of succeeding in your work. If you're serious about creating the habit of reading,what's important is finding a time you can read every day--often that's early morning or late at night,or both. For others, it might be during their lunch break. You only need to read for 10 to 20 minutes a day to form the habit. Then, you need to find a place that's comfortable. Make sure it has good lighting, the temperature is nice and you're in a good chair. Or you can find some place that you can relax in without falling asleep, although there's nothing wrong with sleep. Next,be sure to shut off the TV,Internet,cell phone,radio, or other music. Let reading be a quiet time. Mark an "x" on your calendar every day you read, and try to keep your unbroken "x"es going as long as possible. A habit is much easier to form if it's something you enjoy, not something you are made to do. So make the time, you spend reading a joy. I've been a lifelong reader, so the pleasure of a good book is one of my favorite things in the world. I love to lose myself in the world of a book. The importance of reading depends on _ .
<extra_id_0>what you're going to read
<extra_id_1>why you want to read
<extra_id_2>where you decide to read
<extra_id_3>when you begin to read
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>The use of the word imitation reminds me that we ought to make some more comments on the risk of people imitating what they see on the screen in the way of crime or violence. First there was always a risk of children acting out scenes which could be dangerous. For example, I remember a woman who was head of a middle school telling me that she had happened to look out of her window when the children were on the playground and had seen them putting a small boy on a chair with a rope round his neck and the rope over the branch of a tree; fortunately she was in time to get there before the child was hanged. I remember a film in particular in which the hero who was imprisoned had escaped by electrocuting his guard, the technique of doing this being shown in detail. This was the kind of scene which we could cut for these reasons. In films for young people and adults we always tried to keep off the screen the details of criminal techniques, such as how to open a locked door with a piece of hard plastic or how to open a safe; if we were consulted before production, I used to advise that the details should not be shown. When I gave talks in prisons about film checking I had full support for this, since fathers who were in prison for criminal offences did not want their children to get on crime. Every time I gave a talk in a prison someone used to mention the French film Rififi. made by Jules Dassin in 1954. This remarkable film showed in great detail a robbery of a jeweler's shop, the robbery lasting about half an hour and being backed by only natural sound...one of the most brilliant film sequences of all time. I remember our discussion at the time. We thought that the robbery was finished only with the use of advanced and obviously expensive equipment and that only the most experienced and skilled criminals could possibly imitate it; we believed therefore that it was ly safe. When talking in prisons some years later I learned that there had been several robberies in which the techniques had been copied, so perhaps we were wrong. It can be inferred from the passage that _ .
<extra_id_0>it is hard for children to tell the differences between real life and the imaginary
<extra_id_1>only people in prison support film checking
<extra_id_2>only children imitate what they have seen on the screen
<extra_id_3>the writer used to advise the details of crime should be shown
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Studying in Amsterdam means having one of the most beautiful and cultural cities as your campus. People living there are easy-going and friendly; English is the second language in the nation. It has a television cable network with access to over 20 television stations from Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United States, and the number of books and magazines in the library is one of the largest in the world. The colourful and lively city has a lot to offer. With 735,000 inhabitants , it has all the advantages of a major metropolitan center, but with a "small village atmosphere". Amsterdam has beautiful architecture, giving the city its famous shape and atmosphere. In addition, it has many famous museums, theatres, concert halls, and many lovely parks, serving as the inhabitants' gardens in summer. Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, one of Europe's smaller countries. The river Amstel flows through the heart of Amsterdam and gave the city its name in 1275 when its first inhabitants dammed the river. A lively trade made Amsterdam expand rapidly from the early 13th century onwards, and by 1500 it was the largest city in the Netherlands. At that time, Amsterdam attracted scholars and writers who did not have the same amount of freedom in their own countries. The city of Amsterdam is the best place for _ .
<extra_id_0>living
<extra_id_1>visiting
<extra_id_2>studying
<extra_id_3>amusing
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Dear Sammy, I'm sorry I can't go to the Sports Center with you today.I have to see a doctor. Here are the directions to the Sports Center. From our house, go right ahead on Main Avenue. Walk past the police station and the City Fountain. Then cross the bridge. At the other side of the river, turn right. The Sports Center is on your left. You can't miss it. The basketball game starts at 1:00 p.m. so don't be late. By the way, let's have some ice-cream after you finish playing. We can meet at Choco's Ice-Cream Shop. It's right around the corner from the Sports Center. Your game should be over at 3:00 p.m. so I'll meet you there 10 minutes later. Have fun! Mom Where is Choco's Ice-Cream Shop?
<extra_id_0>It's on Main Avenue.
<extra_id_1>It's near the Sports Center.
<extra_id_2>It's near the City Fountain.
<extra_id_3>It's on the left of the police station.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>The most popular idol among girls is a white kitten .She is kind,friendly and cute. Who is she? She's Hello Kitty. This sweet kitten has won the hearts of people of all ages from all over the world. Hello Kitty was created by a Japanese company in 1974 which is now making thousands of Kitty products. In the beginning, Kitty was a greeting-card character, and the company quickly used her logo into children's things, such as clothes and bags. Now we can see Hello Kitty on clothes, bags or toys. It is famous all over the world. Hello Kitty has no mouth, but she keeps buying toothpaste. Hello Kitty has no mouth, yet she speaks the truth. Hello has no mouth, but she says "Hello". We all know Kitty has no mouth, but why? There are countless different guesses for that. Among them, the most popular answer is because Kitty should be an international character. If she speaks a certain language, people who don't speak the same language will feel disappointed. So that's the reason why she has no mouth and never speaks. Which of the sentences is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>Kitty is an idol.
<extra_id_1>Kitty is famous.
<extra_id_2>Kitty is cute.
<extra_id_3>Kitty is shy.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>A cow can see that the farmer is coming because there is light that makes its way
<extra_id_0>into his eyes
<extra_id_1>into the moon
<extra_id_2>into the sun
<extra_id_3>into a bucket
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Visitors were still paying 20 yuan to hug Lele and have their photos taken yesterday despite a ban that forbids any such sontact with a wild animal. The ban was introduced more than a week ago. "The city zoo broke the law and should be prohibited," said an official at the State Forestry Administration. The administration notice last Monday clearly bans contact with wild or captive animals, the abuse of wild or captive animals for performance purposes and any improper business related to wild animal products. "Close contact with the chimp is the only bit that breaks the ban and we will end that soon," said Beijing Zoo spokeswoman Ye Minxia yesterday. "The chimpanzee performance can't stopped overnight as we have a contract with a company scheduled to terminate at the end of this year," she said. "The zoo is negotiating with the company in the hope of terminating it sooner," Ye said. She refused to answer directly whether the chimp photo sessions were still ongoing yesterday, instead, saying. "It's very likely we will cancel it tomorrow." Zoo staff confirmed photos were taken yesterday, one employee saying 2-year-old Lele "works" form 10am to 3pm daily, according to the Leagl Mirror. Such activities not only damage the mental and physical health of the animals, but also risk the safety of visitors, according to the official website of the State Forestry Administration where the notice was released. "A pet male chimpanzee bit and attacked 55-year-old Chala Nash, causing serious injuries to her face, neck and hands at her friend's home in Stamfor, Connecticut on February 16th last year," CNN reported. The friend, Sandra Herold, called the police, who shot 14-year-old Travis many times after he also attacked an officer." "Putting a blue T-shirt on a wild animal and training it to bare its teeth and parade for visitors might not enhance that already-troubled image of Chinese animal protection," the State Forestry official warned. "Some zoos even hit animals and promote themselves with commercials involving animal abuse, " he said. "Too much focus on the profits too often results in improper treatment of animals, contributing to their early and unnatural deaths," the notice stated. Where can people most probably find the article?
<extra_id_0>In research reports.
<extra_id_1>In newspapers.
<extra_id_2>In science fictions.
<extra_id_3>In book reviews.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<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. The passage is intended for people who _ .
<extra_id_0>haven't decided on their career
<extra_id_1>have no interest in science
<extra_id_2>hope for the world peace
<extra_id_3>have little knowledge of science
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>In NYC, what would you expect during December?
<extra_id_0>less day light
<extra_id_1>less rain
<extra_id_2>less weather
<extra_id_3>less moonlight
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>This is the letter that Mr. White wrote before his death about his three books for children: Dear Reader: I receive many letters from children and can't answer them all -- there wouldn't be time enough in a day. That is why I am sending you this printed reply to your letter. I'll try to answer some of the questions that are commonly asked. Where did I get the idea for Stuart Little and for Charlotte's Web? Well, many years ago I went to bed one night in a railway sleeping car, and during the night I dreamed about a tiny boy who acted rather like a mouse. That's how the story of Stuart Little got started. As for Charlotte's Web, I like animals and my barn is a very pleasant place to be, at all hours. One day when I was on my way to feed the pig, I began feeling sorry for the pig because, like most pigs, he was doomed to die. This made me sad. So I started thinking of ways to save a pig's life. I had been watching a big grey spider at her work and was impressed by how clever she was at weaving. Gradually I worked the spider into the story that you know, a story of friendship and salvation on a farm. Three years after I started writing it, it was published. (I am not a fast worker, as you can see.) Sometimes I'm asked how old I was when I started to write, and what made me want to write. I started early -- as soon as I could spell. In fact, I can't remember any time in my life when I wasn't busy writing. I don't know what caused me to do it, or why I enjoyed it, but I think children often find pleasure and satisfaction is trying to set their thoughts down on paper, either in words or in pictures. I was no good at drawing, so I used words instead. As I grew older, I found that writing can be a way of earning a living. Some of my readers want me to visit their school. Some want me to send a picture, or an autograph, or a book. And some ask questions about my family and my animals and my pets. Much as I'd like to, I can't go visiting. I can't send books, either -- you can find them in a bookstore or a library. Many children assume that a writer owns (or even makes) his own books. This is not true -- books are made by the publisher. If a writer wants a copy, he must buy it. That's why I can't send books. And I do not send autographs(,) -- I leave that to the movie stars. I live most of the year in the country, in New England. From our windows we can look out at the sea and the mountains. I live near my married son and three grandchildren. Are my stories true, you ask? No, they are imaginary tales, containing fantastic characters and events. In real life, a family doesn't have a child who looks like a mouse; in real life, a spider doesn't spin words in her web. In real life, a swan doesn't blow a trumpet(,) . But real life is only one kind of life -- there is also the life of the imagination. And although my stories are imaginary, I like to think that there is some truth in them, too -- truth about the way people and animals feel and think and act. Yours sincerely, E.B. White What caused the author start to write?
<extra_id_0>His parents' encuoragement
<extra_id_1>His talent in writing
<extra_id_2>Not mentioned in the passage
<extra_id_3>A writer in the early time
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Being beautiful means a lot to teenage girls. Once it did to me too. I was the vainest person in the world, but that all changed one December night. It was a Thursday, and I was getting ready for the wrestling tournament the following day. I was so excited; it was going to be my first tournament as a cheerleader. I walked past the mirror and stopped to check my appearance. I noticed my eyebrows were a little bushy, and that's when my vanity kicked in. The brows could be easily fixed with the waxing kit I had purchased. I put the jar of wax in the microwave. But instead of heating the wax for 30 seconds, I pressed too many zeros and heated it for three minutes. As I reached for the jar, I dropped it, spilling it all over myself. My mother came running when she heard my screams. The hot wax was rolling down my face and arm. My mom took a wet washcloth and tried to wash the wax off my face. This proved to be a bad idea, because the wax was honey based, and it pulled my skin off with the wax. The 15-mile drive to the emergency room seemed to take hours. When we finally arrived, the nurse didn't waste any time. They took me straight to a doctor and gave me extra-strength painkillers, so my mind was in confusion. The doctor explained how severe my burns really were: my arm was a combination of first-, second- and third-degree burns, and needed to stay bandaged. My face was first- and second-degree burns. If the wax had gotten any closer to my right eye, I would have lost my sight. I was covered in multi-colored "goop ", wrapped, and sent home to recover. I got up the next morning and the first thing I wanted to do was wash off the remaining wax. I unwrapped the bandages and "degooped", letting warm water gently remove the rest of the wax. The next step was to do a self-evaluation of the damage. I couldn't believe how horrible I looked. A horror-movie monster stared back at me from the mirror. All I could think was, my life is over. For someone as vain as me, this was very true. I thought I was going to be horribly disfigured for the rest of my life! All I could do was cry. My mom made it worse by forcing me to go out in public. She dragged me to the grocery store and wherever else she felt like taking me. Everywhere we went, people had a million questions, none of which I wanted to answer. Then my mom declared she was going to put me through even more torture--I had to go to school on Monday. School only led to more questions from more people. Now, two years later, my wounds have healed, leaving a few scars. I still feel self-conscious if I don't wear make-up, and I've discovered that three-quarter length sleeves are wonderful for covering the scars on my arm. After spending several months adjusting to this injury, I realized how vain I was. _ . It took this event to teach me that no matter how much you change on the outside, you're still the same person on the inside. After the accident, the writer has come to realize that _ .
<extra_id_0>teenage girls care too much about their appearance
<extra_id_1>loving beauty will necessarily make one disfigured
<extra_id_2>we can never judge a person merely by one's looks
<extra_id_3>sometimes being beautiful can cost you something
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>There once was a man and a woman. They had been married for more than 60 years. They kept no secrets from each other except that the old woman had a shoe box on the top of her closet . She told her husband never to open it or ask about it. For all these years , he had never thought about the box, but one day the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would never get better. The woman said it was time that he should know what was in the box. The old man took down the shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside. When he opened it , he found two beautiful doilies and some money. The money was over $25,000. "When we got married," she said, "my grandmother told me that the secret of a happy family was never to argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doily." The little old man was so moved. Only two doilies were in the box. She had only been angry with him twice in all those years. "My dear," he said, " but what about all this money?" Where did it all come from?" "Oh," she said, "that's the money I made from selling the doilies." From the story we know _ .
<extra_id_0>the old woman enjoyed crocheting doilies
<extra_id_1>the old man only made his wife angry twice
<extra_id_2>the old woman didn't follow her grandmother's advice
<extra_id_3>the old man didn't mind his wife having a secret during the past years
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Children spend more time messaging each other on phones and websites than talking in Person ,a survey has revealed. Text messages and social networking sites have become the common mode of youngsters aged 8 to 14. A survey of modem childhood found that many youngsters are conscious that they are spending too much time on their computers and enjoy themselves the most 'when playing outside. But the lure of electronic products proves too strong for a quarter, while a fifth say their parents don't like them playing outside because they are worried about strangers and injuries. The "iGeneration report" suggested that youngsters are increasingly health-conscious and skeptical of commercialization, including gender-based labelling on toys and pop videos released by singers. More than half of those questioned care about eating healthily and one in 10 lectures their own parents about the food they are eating or buying. 42 percent of those questioned own a smartphone , with 36 percent admitting to spending more time communicating with friends via instant messaging, such as texts or networking websites, than talking in person Only one child in 100 said that being happy, having a loving family and being clever were taken as the most crucial elements in their lives. Cary Cooper, the professor of organizational psychology and health at Lancaster University , said social media were contributing to youngsters becoming more independent. They had a sense of individuality due to exposure to a range of media. The survey follows major statebacked research which found that youngsters are turning their back on drink, drugs and smoking. It found a dramatic drop in the number of secondary school students trying and regularly using drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Some analysts said that thanks to the rise of social media, millions of teenagers are spending their time at home in their rooms rather than out on the streets. The survey of modem childhood found that many youngsters _ .
<extra_id_0>are fans of the pop videos released by singers
<extra_id_1>message each other more rather than chat in person
<extra_id_2>are doubtful about possessing the latest smartphones
<extra_id_3>pay no attention to their lifestyle nowadays .
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Peter's uncle lives in the country. He is a man full of humor . One day, Peter went to see his uncle. His uncle drove his car to the station to meet him. On their way home, they saw many people. His uncle waved to everybody. Peter was surprised and said,"Uncle,you wave to everybody. Do you know all of them?" "No,Peter," answered his uncle. "When I wave to someone who knows me, he'll feel happy. When I wave to someone and he doesn't know me, he will feel surprised and then he will have something to think about,he will make his road seem shorter . So I can make everybody happy." Peter's uncle wanted to _ .
<extra_id_0>make everybody happy
<extra_id_1>make everybody unhappy
<extra_id_2>make someone happy
<extra_id_3>make someone unhappy
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>When disaster happens, you might find yourself without water, gas and electricity. You might even need to leave your home right away. So you are supposed to plan for the bad situations before the disaster comes. Here are some suggestions: First, have a family meeting. Plan a way to get your family members together if they can't find each other after the disaster. Choose two places for everyone to go to if it isn't safe to return home. The first should be near your house. You can go there in an emergency like a fire. The second meeting place should be outside your neighborhood. Next, choose a person outside your area who can help your family get in touch with each other. After a disaster, it is often easier to communicate over a long-distance call than a local one. The person can pass messages between your family members. Then, get a family disaster _ ready. It should include things your family needs. It can help you survive at least for three days like bread, water, medicine and things like that. Put them in a bag so you can carry it if you leave in a hurry. When doing it, remember that different people have different needs. Include special things necessary for elderly or young members of your family. Finally, practice your emergency plan, and update it as necessary. You may not be able to stop disasters, but with a little planning you can be helped. How many suggestions are mentioned in the passage?
<extra_id_0>Two.
<extra_id_1>Three.
<extra_id_2>Four.
<extra_id_3>Five.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>A meteorite flew fast across the sky and exploded over central Russia on Friday, raining fireballs over a vast area and causing a shock wave that smashed windows, damaged buildings and injured l,200 people. People heading to work in Chelyabinsk heard what sounded like an explosion, saw a bright light and then felt the shock wave. According to Russian space agency Roscosmos, the fireball, travelling at a speed of 30km per second, had burnt very brightly across the horizon, leaving a long white trail that could be seen as far as 200km away. Car alarms went off, thousands of windows shattered and mobile phone networks were disrupted. "I was driving to work, it was quite dark, but it suddenly became as bright as if it were day," said Viktor Prokofiev, 36, a resident of Yekaterinburg in the Urals Mountains. "I felt like I was blinded by headlights." The meteorite, which weighed about 20 tons and may have been made of iron, entered Earth's atmosphere and broke apart 30-50km above ground, according to Russia's Academy of Sciences. The energy released when it entered the Earth's atmosphere was about several thousand tons, the academy said, the power of a small atomic weapon exploding. No deaths were reported, but the Emergencies Ministry said 20,000 rescue and clean-up workers were sent to the region after President Vladimir Putin told Emergencies Minister Vladimir Puchkov to ease the disruption and help the victims. The Interior Ministry said about l,200 people had been injured, at least 200 of them children, and most from broken pieces of glass."While events this big are rare, an impact that could cause damage and death could happen every century or so. Unfortunately there is absolutely nothing we can do to stop impacts." According to the text, the meteorite explosion caused _ .
<extra_id_0>some deaths
<extra_id_1>road accidents
<extra_id_2>communication problems
<extra_id_3>building collapse
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Time spent in a bookshop can be most enjoyable, whether you are book-lover or only there to buy a book as a present. You may even have entered the shop just to find a shelter from a sudden shower. Whatever the reason is, you can soon be totally unaware of your surroundings. You soon become attracted in some books or others, and usually it is only much later that you realize you have spent too much time there and must dash off to keep some forgotten appointments. This opportunity to escape the realities of everyday life is the main attraction of a bookshop. A music shop is very much like a bookshop. You can wander round such a place to your heart's content. If it is a good shop, no assistant will approach you with the greeting "Can I help you?" You needn't buy anything you don't want. In a bookshop an assistant should remain in the back ground until you have finished reading. Then, and only then, are his services necessary. Once a medical student had to read a text book which was far too expensive for him to buy. He couldn't obtain it from the library and the only copy he could find was in a certain bookshop. Every afternoon, therefore, he would go along to the shop and read a little of the book at a time. One day, however, he was disappointed to find the book missing from its usual place. He was about to leave, when he noticed the owner of the shop beckoning to him. Expecting to be told off, he went towards him. To his surprise, the owner pointed to the book which was tucked away in a corner. "I put it there in case anyone was tempted to buy it!" he said, and left the delighted student to continue his reading. The writer thinks that the assistant in a bookshop should _ .
<extra_id_0>greet customers pleasantly and warmly
<extra_id_1>not disturb the customers when they read
<extra_id_2>help the readers to find what they want
<extra_id_3>not stay in the background all the time
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Music is magic! Music speaks louder than words and it is a "language" that the whole world can understand. A piece of music can produce a response in the heart and mind. Like feeling an electrical current or receiving a personal radio signal, music has a spiritual effect on a person. Different kinds of music influence people in different ways. I have listened to music all my life. When I was twelve years old, the Beatles came to America and my whole world opened up. Maybe young people today cannot understand the influence of the Beatles when they exploded across America. Their influence changed the way we dressed, looked, acted and spoke... even our culture. The Beatles arrived in America from the UK just under three months after the assassination of President John Kennedy, which had put America into a great depression. And the freshness and lively spirit of the Beatles was exactly what the country needed to refresh itself. Music links the heart of the hearer with that of the composer. This means that it mixes the spirit of the composer with your spirit when you listen to it. And the music can take your spirit out of your body and transport you into another world. Music has a great way of touching people. Music can make you laugh, cry or shout. It's also a great source of inspiration. Try this one day and notice what happens: make yourself a cup of tea, sit on your sofa and play one of your favorite songs. Close your eyes, and soon you'll find yourself creating vivid mental images--matching the music that you are listening to. It can be inferred from the passage that the author _ .
<extra_id_0>has been influenced by the Beatles
<extra_id_1>enjoys drinking tea in his spare time
<extra_id_2>admires President John Kennedy very much
<extra_id_3>likes to match his own feeling with that of the composer
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>In a forest community, trees produce leaves that can be eaten by deer. The leaves also fall to the forest floor during autumn. Fungi break the leaves down into nutrients that enter the soil. What is the decomposer in this forest community?
<extra_id_0>the soil
<extra_id_1>the deer
<extra_id_2>the trees
<extra_id_3>the fungi
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Nobody likes an old poop . Developing a sense of humor is part of becoming a mature, emotionally healthy individual. Laughter is good for the soul, builds friendships and relieves stress. It serves as the glue for social situations and as an ice-breaker for sadness and boredom. If you've ever been told to "lighten up" or "chill out", you should save the blue attitude for serious situations and develop your sense of humor. Forgive the accidental. A sudden fall is humorous not because we like to see people fall, but because it surprises. From a spilled water glass in a meeting to Aunt Rae's teeth coming off in the Thanksgiving turkey, the embarrassment of accidents can be relieved by humor and a helping hand. After making sure that nobody's hurt, forgive accidents with a chuckle rather than a scolding. Look for the unexpected. The kid who used to look at you with his eyes closed during a test had the idea. Parents who serve green eggs and ham to their children on graduation day get the idea. Unexpected actions lighten an atmosphere and relax people. Learn to laugh with your kids. Most of what children say and do is funny. Help them learn that accidents are sometimes funny and sometimes occasions for joining in and helping another human being. By sharing laughs and attempting to explain humor, you develop your sense of humor, as well as help kids develop their own sense of humor. If you've ever been told to "lighten up" or "chill out", it means _ .
<extra_id_0>you are humorous
<extra_id_1>you are blue
<extra_id_2>you lack humor
<extra_id_3>you are funny
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>In classes, your teachers will talk about topics that you are studying. The information they provide will be important for you to know when you take tests. You must be able to take good written notes from what your teachers say. Taking good notes has three stages. There are certain things you should do before class, during class, and after class. Here are the three stages of note-taking and what you should do during each class. 1. Get Ready to Take Notes Review your notes from the previous class before you come to class. This will help you remember what was covered and get you ready to understand the new information your teacher will provide. Complete all assigned readings before you come to class. Your teacher will expect that you have done this and will use and build upon this information. Bring all note-taking materials with you to class - several pens and pencils as well as your notebook. 2. Take Notes Keep your attention on what your teacher is saying. Paying attention to "signal statements". Examples of signal statements are "The most important point ..." and "Remember that ..," Be sure to include in your notes information that your teacher repeats or written on the blackboard. Write quickly so that you can include all the important information in your notes. Do this by writing abbreviated words such as med for medicine, using symbols such as % for percent, and writing short sentences. Place a "?" next to information about whose meaning you are not sure. What's the writer's purpose in writing this passage?
<extra_id_0>To encourage us to listen carefully in class.
<extra_id_1>To tell us the importance of taking notes.
<extra_id_2>To tell us how to quickly improve our study.
<extra_id_3>To give us some tips on how to take notes.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Last month the manager of a jewelry shop ( ) received a letter. As he was very busy then, the letter lay on his desk till tea-time. He opened it and a 10-pound note( ) fell out onto the desk. Within the note was a letter which said: Dear sir: In 1935 I got engaged( ). But unfortunately I lost my job. At the time a lot of people were out of work. Six months later I got a job again, but of course I was very short of money. I came to your shop to buy a wedding ring( ). The assistant took out some rings for me to look at, but she was called away for a moment, and I put one of the rings in my pocket. When she came back, I said I didn't know the size of my girl's finger. So I left the shop without buying a ring. My wife died a short while ago and the fact that I never paid for the ring has been heavy in my heart all these years. At that time, the ring cost 2 pounds so I think it is 10 pounds at today's price and I'm sending 10 pounds. Yours truly, A customer ( ) What happened in 1935?
<extra_id_0>The jewelry shop lost some rings.
<extra_id_1>The customer married a girl.
<extra_id_2>The customer stole a ring for his wife.
<extra_id_3>The customer stole a ring for his girl friend.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>A young American doctor was sleeping when suddenly his doorbell began to ring. It was already midnight, but what could the doctor do? He had to get up, put on his coat and go downstairs. When he opened the door, he saw a man standing with a hat in his hand. "How do you do?" said the man. "Can you come at once to a place out of town? It's quite far but you have a car and I can show you the way." "Certainly," said the doctor. "I'm quite ready. I can come at once." After a few minutes the car was standing at the front door, the man got into the doctor's car, and they drove off. They drove on for a long time. Then the man said, "Here we are. This is my home. Now I can pay you and you can go back to the town." "I must see the patient. How can I go back without seeing the patient?" "There is no patient," explained the man. "Nobody is ill. I live here, you see, and I must get home from a town, There are no taxis this time of the night, but a doctor often _ , so excuse me. Here is money. Thank you, doctor. Good night." ,. What did the man ask the doctor to do?
<extra_id_0>to go out for a walk
<extra_id_1>to go to a place in the town
<extra_id_2>to play
<extra_id_3>to go to a place out of town
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Tom had a pet. Tom loved his pet and would always laugh at the funny thing he did when facing his chin. The pet was a dog. Tom would blow in the dog's ear in order to make him mad. One day Tom wanted to give the dog a treat but he wouldn't eat it. Tom got very upset and confused and said, "I think my dog is going to die." So Tom threw his dog a party in the sand to make his dog happy and have a great life. At the party they only listened to hit songs. Tom let his dog eat anything he wanted, even a dingdong. Tom invited the dog's favorite friend, his nana. He took his dog and the dog's nana and went for a drive on the road. At the end of the party Tom let his dog chew his favorite pencil. The dog was not dying, but he was happy he got to have the best party ever. What did Tom give his dog at the end of the party?
<extra_id_0>a pencil
<extra_id_1>a drive on the road
<extra_id_2>a dingdong
<extra_id_3>a treat
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>The Student symphonic orchestra of Fairfax,Virginia recently celebrated its first anniversary.A young man named Matthew Martz(Matt) started the group in his last year of high school with twelve friends from the school orchestra.Michelle Bui was one of them. She said."Matt is one of my very good friends,so I did it as a friend,but also because I love playing the violin." Michelle,who is now in college.says she likes the idea that the students run the orchestra themselves. Orchestra member Lizzie Culbertson plays the French horn.She said,"It has a versatile sound,first of all.I can do so just strings . We don't have a complete orchestra or anything." Thirteen-year-old oboe player Kanika Sahi is the youngest member. He said, "They just show me how to be better. I am learning different techniques of playing." Matt Martz leads the orchestra as the conductor. Matt is now in college, studying music education. The orchestra's rehearsals bring him back to his hometown every weekend. The orchestra gives him the chance to improve his teaching skills. The orchestra performs for free but receives donations that help pay for necessities like sheet music.Matt Martz said."In our first concert.we made l,100 dollars,which helped pay for a lot of music that we had bought."Then this last concert in January,we made over l,500 dollars which is just incredible. After college graduation, Matt Martz is more likely to become a(an) _ .
<extra_id_0>pianist
<extra_id_1>teacher
<extra_id_2>engineer
<extra_id_3>painter
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Microwaves may be great at warming up food, but what about warming people? Using microwaves to directly heat owners of a room would save much of the energy wasted by heating walls and furniture. And despite popular ideas about microwaves, this technique would be safe, according to Charles R. Burlier of the Microwave Research Center in Marlborough, New Hampshire. Low-power microwaves only penetrate the skin (low-power microwave penetration in a ham is about 0.2 inches, for example) and with no negative effects. To test this idea, Buffler subjected himself to microwaves in a special room using a standard 500-watt, 2459 MHz magnetron . He found that a person will start to feel warmth at about 20 milliwatts per square centimeter (mw. / sq. cm. ) ; a satisfactory feeling of warmth occurs between 35 and 50mw. / sq. cm. By comparison, a person standing in noonday summer sun feels the amount of 85 mw. / sq. cm. And a frozen meat pie in your microwave oven receives about 1000 mw. / sq. cm. In houses of the future, each room could be provided with its own magnetron, says Buffler. When you stepped into the living room, for example, a motion detector would turn on the magnetron, filling the room with low-power microwaves. In the same way that a microwave oven heats up a hamburger, but not the plate it's on, you would feel warmth from the microwaves without changing the temperature of your coffee table. (You could, however, make your favorite easy chair even more comfortable by treating it with a radiation-absorbing chemical.) While it might be some time before homeowners are comfortable enough with the idea to set up whole-body microwave heaters in houses, Buffler says microwaves may attract livestock farmers. Lambs that are born outdoors in winter, for example, are frequently lost to cold. Microwaves could warm the lambs safely and quickly. The test conducted by Buffler shows that when a person feels comfortable warmth, he receives about _ .
<extra_id_0>20 mw. / sq. cm.
<extra_id_1>40 mw. / sq. cm.
<extra_id_2>60 mw. / sq. cm.
<extra_id_3>85 mw. / sq. cm.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Mother managed to buy me some more paint brushes, along with one or two drawing books and a pencil. This, of course, broadened my range of expression and allowed me to have a greater choice of subjects. After the first few weeks of uncertainty and awkwardness, I settled down contentedly with my new pastime. I painted every day upstairs in the back bedroom, completely by myself. I was changing. I didn't know it then, but I had found a way to be happy again and to forget some of the things that had made me unhappy. Above all I learned to forget myself. I didn't miss going out with my brothers, for I had something to keep my mind active, something to make each day a thing to look forward to. I would sit on the floor for hours, holding the brush between my toes, my right leg curled up under my left, my arms held tightly at my sides, hands clenched. All my paint and brushes were around me, and I would get Mother or Father to pin the drawing paper to the floor with tacks to keep it keep it steady. It looked like a very awkward position, with my head almost between my knees and my back crooked, but I painted all my best pictures this way, with the wooden floor as my only easel . Slowly I began to recover from my earlier depression. I had a feeling of pure joy while I painted, a feeling I had never experienced before and which seemed almost to lift me above myself. What can we infer from the passage?
<extra_id_0>.The writer has become a famous painter now.
<extra_id_1>The writer felt depressed when he first started painting.
<extra_id_2>The writer couldn't express himself well without painting.
<extra_id_3>Before learning painting, the writer enjoyed out with his brothers.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Cancer is feared by everyone. And there is more and more fear about cancer. Not the disease itself -- there is no such thing as a high incidence rates of cancer. Except for lung cancer, mostly caused by cigarette smoking, the incidence rates are not on the rise. However, some kinds of cancer are decreasing. But the fear of cancer is catching, and the country stands at risk of an anxiety. The earth itself is coming to seem like a huge carcinogen . The ordinary, more or less, scientific statement that something between 80 and 90 percent of all cancers are due to things in the environment is taken to mean that none of us will be safe until the whole environment is "cleaned up." This is not at all the meaning. The 80-percent calculation is based on the unthinkable differences in the incidence of cancer in various societies around the world -- for example, the high incidence of liver cancer in Africa and the Far East, stomach cancer in Japan, breast cancer in Western Europe and North America, and the relatively low figures for breast cancer in Japan and parts of Africa and for liver cancer in America. These data show there may be specific environmental influences, but largely based on personal life-style, which determines the incidence of various forms of cancer in different communities -- that is all the data suggest. The overall incidence of cancer, counting up all the cases, is probable roughly the same everywhere. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
<extra_id_0>Cancer and Environment
<extra_id_1>The Fear Caused by Cancers
<extra_id_2>Data on Cancer Incidence
<extra_id_3>Cancer and its Investigation
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>In England, people don't usually talk too much. You can go on a bus, or in a train, and everyone sits looking out of the windows. Often they read. They read books and newspapers. But they don't talk much. When you meet English people, they often talk about one thing, the weather. So when you meet someone in England, you say: "Nice weather for the time of year!" "But it was a little colder yesterday ," someone may say. "But it will be a little warmer later!" You can say. Talk like this and the English people will think, "How friendly you are!" But it' s not good to ask their age , or they will not be happy. They often _ on a bus or in a train.
<extra_id_0>study
<extra_id_1>sing
<extra_id_2>read
<extra_id_3>dance
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Good afternoon, and welcome to England. We hope that your visit here will be a pleasant one. Today, I would like to draw your attention to a few of our laws. The first one is about drinking. Now, you may not buy alcohol in this country if you are under 18 years of age, nor may your friends buy it for you . Secondly, noise. Enjoy yourselves by all means, but please don't make unnecessary noise, particularly at night. We ask you to respect other people who may wish to be quiet. Thirdly, crossing the road. Be careful. The traffic moves on the left side of the road in this country. Use pedestrian crossings and do not take any changes when crossing the road. My next point is about litter. It is an offence to drop litter in the street. When you have something to throw away, please put in your pocket and take it home, or put in a litter bin. Finally, as regards smoking, it is against the law to buy cigarettes or tobacco if you are under 16 years of age. I'd like to finish by saying that if you require any sort of help or assistance, you should contact your local police station, who will be pleased to help you . Now, are there any questions? How many laws are there discussed in the speech?
<extra_id_0>Three
<extra_id_1>Four
<extra_id_2>Six
<extra_id_3>Five
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>The host: Now it's time for our You Must Read This program. Today we'll hear from Lauren Groff. She came across a book when she was going to have her first child and was worried about the future. Lauren Groff: Staring into darkness, I wanted to read about happiness.1n fact, books full of joy are hard to find because happiness is nearly impossible to write about. So, when I found Elizabeth and Her German Garden, by Elizabeth Von Arnim, I felt as if someone suddenly opened a curtain and revealed a window where I had thought there was a wall. Elizabeth and Her German Garden feels as if it rose out of Von Arnim's deep unhappiness in the way she was supposed to fit into her world Still, what a cool drink this novel is. It has a few characters: the narrator, a countess named Elizabeth, her husband, her three tiny daughters, various servants and some visitors. There is also Elizabeth's garden. whick we see in all its seasonal richness. That is only the book's surface, however. There are great things hidden in the book. Eliza- beth is always comparing herself and the women around her and finding their fixed social roles disappointing. Her happiness, when it comes, arrives as an act of will. She has fought hard to achieve delight and I think it is more valuable for her struggle. I appreciate Elizabeth for showing me a way through my darkest time, by revealing that an act of focused attention can lift a person out of a long, dark period in their lives. Anyone can get a little happiness from living, even by reading a few pages of a book. The host : That's Lauren Groff. Her latest novel is Arcadia. The book she recommended is Elizabeth and Her German Garden. Lauren Groff likes Elizabeth and Her German Garden because it _ .
<extra_id_0>is full of joy and laughter
<extra_id_1>shows a way to happiness
<extra_id_2>is a perfect way to kill time
<extra_id_3>describes a beautiful garden
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Alexis was _ and tired. With anger in her voice she shouted,"Pull me up. I give up. I hate this. This is stupid!"It was at that moment when Jason, the adviser on the trip, looked at me and said,"Ed, I'm going to go down and talk with her."I then shouted down to Alexis,"Hold on! You can do this. We know you can!" Jason grasped another rope, put this climbing harness on and began to move down the cliff. Within moments Jason was beside Alexis. She had her cheek directly against the face of the rock with her feet barely resting on a small piece of the cliff that jetted outward. Jason said to Alexis,"I know that you have been on this cliff now for what seems like a long time. Your feet and fingers are cramping " up and your forearms feel as though they are on fire. But, Alexis, you are strong. Look how far up you are already. You have taken one of the more difficult parts up the cliff. Alexis, look at the path you have taken." At that moment, Alexis moved her cheek away from the rock face and looked down. The bright white chalk she used on her hands to give her a better hold, showed the path where her tired hands had moved her upward on the cliff. Jason was right. Alexis had taken the hardest way up the cliff. Jason then looked straight into Alexis' eyes and in a calm voice he said,"You are not alone out here. There are people who care about you, who want to help you and see you succeed. We are going to do this together. Are you ready?"Slowly she nodded and took a deep breath. Jason went down the cliff because_.
<extra_id_0>Alexis took a wrong path
<extra_id_1>Alexis was trapped in rocks
<extra_id_2>Alexis didn't believe in herself
<extra_id_3>Alexis' forearms were badly hurt
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>A well-dressed man goes into a restaurant one day. He sits down at a table near the window. A waiter comes up to him and says, 'Can I help you, sir?' The man says, 'Can I see the menu? ' 'Of course.' The man wants a good meal and he orders a lot of nice food. The waiter gets them for him. The man is having his meal. At this time, a boy comes in and sits beside the man. He asks the man to give him an ice cream. The man does so. Now the boy is eating his ice cream. The man says, 'I go out for a newspaper.' The man goes out. After the boy eats his ice cream up, he stands up and goes to the door. 'Excuse me, but your father doesn't give the money for the meal and your ice cream.' the waiter stops him and says. 'Father? You are wrong. He isn't my father. I don't know him. I meet him in the street. He says he will give me an ice cream if I come here at 12 o'clock.' The boy _ .
<extra_id_0>is the man's son
<extra_id_1>is the waiter's son
<extra_id_2>knows the man
<extra_id_3>meets the man in the street
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Why is acid rain unhealthy?
<extra_id_0>because it causes drought
<extra_id_1>because it evaporates too quickly
<extra_id_2>It contains various detrimental particles from the air
<extra_id_3>because it causes algae growth
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Our "Timeline of Education" shows highlights of learning and education (especially related to Western education), going back to the very first education: In the beginning: Adam got the very first lesson, from God: break the law and you pay the price. 3000 B.C. :Priests teach religion, writing, sciences. 0 B.C./A.D.: Jesus teaches in Jerusalem. 105 A.D.: Paper is invented in China. 1150-1250 : "Modern" universities founded. 1620s: Slide rule is invented, math is made easier. 1918 : All U.S. states require free education Early 1980s: Television in the classroom. The availability of cheap VCRs makes video learning common. Late 1990s: The Internet changes everything. E-learning courses develop. http://www.worldwidelearn.com/education-timeline/education-timeline.htm#3000BC Adam got the very first lesson from _ .
<extra_id_0>his teacher
<extra_id_1>God
<extra_id_2>religion
<extra_id_3>himself
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Animals are a favorite subject of many photographers. Cats, dogs, and other pets top the list, followed by zoo animals. However, because it's hard to get them to sit still and "perform on command," some professional photographers refuse to photograph pets. One way to get an appealing portrait of a cat or dog is to hold a biscuit or treat above the camera. The animal's longing look toward the food will be captured by the camera, but the treat won't appear in the picture because it's out of the camera's range. When you show the picture to your friends afterwards, they'll be impressed by your pet's loving expression. If you are using fast film, you can take some good, quick shots of a pet by simply snapping a picture right after calling its name. You'll get a different expression from your pet using this technique. Depending on your pet's mood, the picture will capture an interested, curious expression or possibly a look of annoyance, especially if you've awakened it from a nap. Taking pictures of zoo animals requires a little more patience. After all, you can't wake up a lion! You may have to wait for a while until the animal does something interesting or moves into a position for you to get a good shot. When photographing zoo animals, don't get too close to the cages, and never tap on the glass or throw things between the bars of a cage. Concentrate on shooting some good pictures, and always respect the animals you are photographing. Why do some professional photographers NOT like to take pictures of pets?
<extra_id_0>Pets may not follow orders.
<extra_id_1>Pets don't want to be bothered.
<extra_id_2>Pets may not like photographers.
<extra_id_3>Pets seldom change their expressions.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Rhea is a moon of Saturn. Which of these facts about Rhea best indicates that it does not have a water cycle in which water changes state?
<extra_id_0>Its radius is 765 km.
<extra_id_1>Its density is about 1.3 kg/m3.
<extra_id_2>Its period of rotation is about 4.5 Earth days.
<extra_id_3>Its temperature is between -174°C and -220°C.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>A plant will have difficulty growing larger if it is held away from
<extra_id_0>corn
<extra_id_1>poison
<extra_id_2>ice
<extra_id_3>liquid
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Retirement should be time of joy and freedom. However, for some people retirement comes with feelings of depression , which makes life difficult for them. Retirement is a major life change. Even good changes usually involve some kinds of loss. When you retire, you find yourself lacking whatever working used to provide. That could include, for example, 1. knowing you're working for society, 2. getting admiration from your skills, 3. having "aha" moments when you solve problems, 4. having people to socialize with, and 5. simply having a place to go and a reason to get out of bed every day. For most people, there's a financial loss, too. Also, retirement age is a time when a lot of people have to deal with losing their parents or having serious health problems of their own. Because of all these, retirees are more likely to get depressed. Depression is very harmful. First, depression can make physical health problems worse. Second, _ because it can make people angry. Third, it's hard to get much done when you're depressed. What can we do to overcome the feelings of depression? First, do all the things that help depression in general: drink enough water, exercise, talk to friends, have a hobby, laugh, and spend time in nature. If you feel depressed more often than not, it's probably time to talk to a doctor about your feelings. Second, it's important to keep busy and get out of the house when you can. Make specific plans with friends. Take a class Volunteer. Or just make sure you start each day with some kind of goal. Third, try to focus on what you've gained by retiring. Think about what you may have now that you wished you had before you were able to retire. For example, days that are less stressful, a chance to rest and take better care of your body, more time for your family and yourself. To write, to start a hobby and to learn something new are all new possibilities. Finally, tell your story. You've lived a long time and you become an oral historian each time you talk with someone about your experiences. You can also write in a journal or make a video recording of your memories. Telling your stories can help you look back on your life and career with a sense of wholeness and achievements. What would be the best title for the passage?
<extra_id_0>Depression and Retirement
<extra_id_1>Depression During Retirement Is Harmful
<extra_id_2>Reasons for Depression During Retirement
<extra_id_3>How to Overcome Depression During Retirement
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Water is bubbling. What characteristic is it likely to have?
<extra_id_0>intense heat
<extra_id_1>cool water
<extra_id_2>melted water
<extra_id_3>easier to transport
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Global emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning jumped by the largest amount on record in 2010. Emissions rose 5.9 percent in 2010, according to an analysis released on Sunday by the Global Carbon Project. Scientists said the increase was almost certainly the largest absolute jump in any year since the Industrial Revolution. The increase solidified a trend of ever-rising emissions that will make it difficult, if not impossible, to stop severe climate change in coming decades. The burning of coal represented more than half of the growth in emissions, the analysis found. In the United States, emissions dropped by a remarkable 7 percent in the year of 2009, but rose by over 4 percent in 2010, the new analysis shows. "Each year, emissions go up, and there's another year of negotiations, another year of indecision," said Glen P. Peters, a researcher at the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research. "There's no evidence that this path we've been following in the last 10 years is going to change." Scientists say the rapid growth of emissions is warming the Earth and putting human welfare at long-term risk. But their increasingly urgent pleas that society find a way to limit emissions have met sharp political resistance in many countries because doing so would involve higher energy costs. The new figures show a continuation of a trend in which developing countries have surpassed the wealthy countries in their overall greenhouse emissions. In 2010, the burning of fossil fuels and the production of cement sent more than nine billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere, the new analysis found, with 57 percent of that coming from developing countries. On the surface, the figures of recent years suggest that wealthy countries have made headway in stabilizing their emissions. But Dr. Peters pointed out that, in a sense, the rich countries have simply exported some of them. The fast rise in developing countries has been caused to a large extent by the growth of energy-intensive manufacturing industries that make goods that rich countries import. "All that has changed is the location in which the emissions are being produced," Dr. Peters said. Many countries, as part of their response to the economic crisis, invested billions in programs designed to make their energy systems greener. While it is possible, the new numbers suggest they have had little effect so far. Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
<extra_id_0>Emissions in the United States dropped by about 7 percent in 2010.
<extra_id_1>Developing countries will produce less emissions with economic development.
<extra_id_2>There is a long way to go for many countries to limit the fast growth of emissions.
<extra_id_3>Over 50 percent of the growth in emissions resulted from the burning of fossil fuels.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>There are some very good things about open education. This way of teaching allows the students to grow as people, and to develop their own interests in many subjects. Open education allows students to be responsible for their own education, as they are responsible for what they do in life. Some students do badly in a traditional classroom. The open classroom may allow them to enjoy learning. Some students will be happier in an open education school. They will not have to worry about grades or rules. For students who worry about these things a lot, it is a good idea to be in an open classroom. But many students will not do well in an open classroom. For some students, there are too few rules. These students will do little in school. They will not make good use of open education. Because open education is so different from traditional education, these students may have a problem getting used to making so many choices. For many students it is important to have some rules in the classroom. They worry about the rules even when there are no rules. Even a few rules will help this kind of students. The last point about open education is that some traditional teachers do not like it. Many teachers do not believe in open education. Teachers who want to have an open classroom may have many problems at their schools. You now know what open education is. Some of its good points and bad points have been explained. You may have your own opinion about open education. The writer thinks that open education is a good idea, but only in theory. In actual fact, it may not work very well in a real class or school. The writer believes that most students, but of course not all students, want some structure in their classes. They want and need to have rules. In some cases, they must be made to study some subjects. Many students are pleased to find subjects they have to study interesting. They would not study some subjects if they did not have to. Some students will do little in an open classroom because _ .
<extra_id_0>there are too few rules
<extra_id_1>they hate activities
<extra_id_2>open education is similar to the traditional education
<extra_id_3>they worry about the rules
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>On Friday night, after a three-hour weather delay, passengers boarded a Beijing-bound flight in Dhaka, Bangladesh that had a stopover in Kunming, a provincial capital in southwest China. Scheduled to leave Kunming at 8:45 p.m., the connecting flight was delayed until 11 p.m. by additional poor weather. This did not make the passengers happy. Several refused to board and demanded compensation, but by 1:45 a.m. the airline had persuaded everyone to board. But that wasn't the end of the passengers' problems. After they boarded, the airport staff had to clear snow from the runway, which took over an hour. Finally, the plane began to taxi at 3:15 p.m.--15 minutes after the pilot inexplicably shut off the air conditioning. When passengers complained, the pilot reportedly asked: "Are you going to die soon? If not, just wait." Two passengers then burst open the emergency exits, which resulted in their arrests. The journalist Matt Sheehan, who in 2013 described a Chinese airport melee in hugely entertaining fashion, told MSNBC that "Chinese people have just begun waking up to this idea that as a consumer you're entitled(...) to certain protections, but they don't have any of the institutions like consumer rights groups that do this professionally." Airlines--and the airline industry--are a useful lens for viewing China's development as a whole. In his excellent book China Airborne, Atlantic national correspondent and aviation buff James Fallows described how China is attempting to condense a century's worth of developments in aviation into a few decades. This breakneck pace has resulted in a dazzling array of new airports scattered across the country, but has included some serious growing pains. According to Matt Sheehan , the passengers _ .
<extra_id_0>should refuse to board and demand compensation .
<extra_id_1>should complain about the delay by saying something bad .
<extra_id_2>should take immediate measures like opening the emergency exits to protect themselves .
<extra_id_3>should appeal to institutions like consumer rights groups for their rights .
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Psychologists in Britain have said that the last full week of January is the most depressing time of year, and labelled next Monday 'Blue Monday'. Blue is a slang way of saying unhappy. Mondays are generally seen as the worst day of the week because people feel grumpy and tired at having to go back to work after a weekend with a different sleep pattern. There are various reasons why more people feel depressed at this time of year. Many people have unpaid credit card bills for the Christmas presents they bought, and pay day is often not until the end of the month. As the party season is over, people feel stressed because they have to go back to real life - work and commuting; and they may be unhappy with their body image after bingeing on booze, chocolates, and other food at Christmas-time. People may have already failed in their New Year's resolutions, such as giving up smoking. The bad weather in January can also contribute to people feeling fed up. Some companies are taking this quite seriously and offering counselling for any staff who are feeling depressed. They hope that helping people as soon as there are signs of depression will avoid absenteeism . Evidence shows that unreasonable managers who contribute to their staff feeling fed up at this time can expect an uncooperative workforce. However, it's not all bad! Many people feel optimistic at this time, that things can only get better. Psychologists offer suggestions of how to combat feeling blue. These include spending 15 minutes doing a 'gratitude exercise' thinking about and writing down what you are grateful for, such as health, family, friends and so on. Taking up a new hobby, doing some exercise, going to bed earlier, eating a healthy breakfast, and listening to some uplifting music, are all recommended as ways to feel more cheerful. To avoid feeling blue next January, experts say that the best thing to do is to plan better next December. Spend less on presents, eat and drink less over the festive period, and make more realistic New Year's resolutions. In order to avoid feeling blue next time, you can do the following EXCEPT _ .
<extra_id_0>spend less on gifts.
<extra_id_1>eat and drink less over the holidays.
<extra_id_2>drinking alcohol with your best friends.
<extra_id_3>make more realistic New Year's resolutions.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>One day several years ago,Josie went to collect her sister from her local Harvester pub in Brentwood,Essex,where they both worked.A few men came up with gulls in their hands.The robbers then tied up their arms and legs and told them to get down on the ground,while they _ the restaurant,fleeing withPS1,000. "As I lay on the ground I felt helpless and ashamed as they took time out to laugh at me,calling me fat cow,''Josie said.Shortly after that she was able to untie herself and raise the alarm,but it was just the beginning of her nightmare. "I was too terrified to go back to work,so I had to leave.I slept with the light on for more than a year.My confidence was totally destroyed.At school people would call me fatty and shout nasty things.When the robber called me fat that night,it just brought all those horrible memories back.''Over the next few months Josie ate more and piled on more pounds as she tried to cope with the sufferings. Two years went by and Josie stuck to the same bad habits,which worried her family a lot.In order to wipe the cloud off and cheer her up,her sister suggested a trip.It wasn't until returning from the family holiday on the island of Aruba that she decided to take action once and for all and signed up for Weight.Watchers the next day with her sister. Eighteen months 1ater,a slimmer and happier Josie flew to Turkey in summer in 2012 with her family,where she met sailor Fatih,26,at a party and the pair:plan to get married next summer."If you had told me three years ago that I would be marrying a handsome Turkish man, and looking for a size 10 wedding dress,I would have never believed you." When did Josie decide to lose weight?
<extra_id_0>After she heard the:robber's words.
<extra_id_1>When she met the sailor Fatih.
<extra_id_2>After she graduated from school.
<extra_id_3>After she finished the tour of Aruba.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>A board game is a game played on a pre-marked surface or "board" according to a set of rules. Board games have been played in most cultures and societies throughout history. Do you think of yourself as a bit of an expert at board games like chess or Go? Maybe you're not quite as good as you think. New research from the University of Manchester and Oxford suggests complex games like these are impossible to learn fully. They may even be too complex for the human mind to understand. Researchers studied two-player games, to try and understand the strategies which people use to make decisions during the game. Some games with two players are simple, with only a small number of possible moves. Players can quickly work out the best strategy but that means the game soon becomes boring. It gets more interesting when there are many possible moves. That's why people are so fascinated by complex board games like chess or Go, or some card games. But what the researchers found was that with difficult games, players find it hard to work out the best strategy and their actions become less reasonable. This research is part of the field called game theory: the study of human strategic decision-making. Much thinking on how people play complex games is based on something called "the balance point", which is when players have a perfect knowledge of what they are going to do and of what their rivals are going to do. When you add more than two players then of course the game becomes even harder to understand. Trading on the stock market is an example of a complex multi-player game. Which of the following games belongs to board games?
<extra_id_0>football
<extra_id_1>badminton
<extra_id_2>swimming
<extra_id_3>Mahjong
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>"Well, we're in our new house. Let's get a new pet to go along with it," Mrs. Brown said to her husband. "That sounds like a very good idea," he answered. "Do you want to see the ads in the newspaper?" "Let's go to the animal _ . Many pets there need homes. Since tomorrow is Saturday, we can both go." she said. The next morning the Browns met Mr. Snow at the animal shelter. "We want to be sure that the pets here go to good homes," Mr. Snow said, "So I need to ask you some questions." After they talked for a while, the Browns decided to get a small dog. It wouldn't need a big house or a big yard. A small dog would bark and warn them if someone tried to break into their house. After Mr. Snow gave the Browns a book on pet care, they chose one and wanted to take her home right away. But the animal doctor hadn't examined her yet. So Mr. Snow told them to return on Sunday. On Sunday afternoon the Browns went to the animal shelter. The animal doctor said, "Shadow has had all of her shots . She will be healthy." The Browns thanked the doctor and took Shadow home. Mr. Snow asked the Browns some questions to _ .
<extra_id_0>see if they had moved to a new house
<extra_id_1>find out how rich the Browns were
<extra_id_2>know where they'd keep their new pet
<extra_id_3>make sure they'd take good care of pets
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Paula Radcliffe, chasing a third London marathon title , says she has became a stronger person after her terrible experience at the 2004 Athens Gaines. Radcliffe, who failed to complete the Olympic marathon and the 10,000m last August, said: "Athens made me a stronger person and it made me care less about criticism " "In the past I wanted to please everyone, but now I am going to listen even more to the people around me." She didn't care about criticism made at the weekend by Liz McColgan, who felt Radcliffe should have rested and let her body recover after her failure inprefix = st1 /Athens. "Liz is someone I look up to but she hasn't spoken to me since last year and if she really eared for me, I'm sure she would have contacted me." Instead Radcliffe won the New York City marathon just 11 weeks afterAthens. "In New York I wasn't in my best state but I did know I was good enough to win the Radcliffe insisted her only goal in Sunday's race would be winning a third title and not chasing world records. However, RadcIiffe has not ruled out m the future chasing her "final" world record time and questioned sayings that marathon runners have the ability in their career to produce only four or five world-class times. "I don't think that -- although _ ," said. RadcLiffe. "That changes from person to person." Radcliffe is sure she can better her winning London 2003 performance at some point in the future. Following a successful three-month training period in theUnited States, the 31-year-old will chase a third title on Sunday after her first victory in 2O02 and again 12 months later. Radcliffe clocked a time of 2:18:56 in her first 42.2-kdnmetre race three years ago. Afterwards she set a "mixed course" mark of 2:17:18 five months later In Chicago before lowering that to a time of 2:15:25 m the 2003Londonevent. By saying "I can't put a number on it," Radcliffe means she's not sure _ .
<extra_id_0>if she has the ability to set a new world record
<extra_id_1>if she can win another race though she has won many tunes
<extra_id_2>how many times a marathon runner can set the world record
<extra_id_3>if she has the ability to produce four or five world-class times
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Homeownership has let us down. For generations, Americans believed that owning a home was undoubtedly good. Our political leaders hammered home the point. Franklin Roosevelt held that a country of homeowners was "unconquerable." Homeownership could even save babies, save children, save families and save America. A house with a lawn and a fence wasn't just a nice place to live in or a risk-free investment; it was a way to transform a nation. No wonder leaders of all political types wanted to spend more than $100 billion a year on subsidies and tax breaks to encourage people to buy. But the dark side of homeownership is now all too apparent: Indeed, easy lending stimulated by the cult of homeownership may have caused the financial crisis. Housing remains a drag on the economy. Existing-home sales in April dropped 27% from the prior month, worsening fears of a double-drop. And all that is just the obvious tale of a housing bubble and what happened when it popped. _ For the better part of a century, politics, industry and culture lined up to create a fetish of the idea of buying a house. Homeownership has done plenty of good over the decades; it has provided stability to tens of millions of families. Yet by idealizing the act of buying a home, we have ignored the downsides. In the bubble years, lending standards slipped dramatically, allowing many Americans to put far too much of their income into paying for their housing. And we ignored longer-term phenomena too. Homeownership contributed to the hollowing out of cities and kept renters out of the best neighborhoods. It fed America's overuse of energy and oil. It made it more difficult for those who had lost a job to find another. Perhaps worst of all, it helped us become casually self-deceiving: By telling ourselves that homeownership was a pathway to wealth and stable communities and better test scores, we avoided dealing with these frightening issues head-on. Now, as the U.S. recovers from the biggest housing bust since the Great Depression, it is time to rethink how realistic our expectations of homeownership are--and how much money we want to spend chasing them. Many argue that homeownership should not be a goal pursued at all costs. It can be inferred from Para. 3 that _ .
<extra_id_0>it is hard for Americans to get a home loan
<extra_id_1>it is the way to wealth to have one's own house
<extra_id_2>homeownership has made many people out of work
<extra_id_3>many Americans choose to live out of urban areas
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>The State Council submitted a bill which aims to allow couples to have two children if either parent is an only child. It focuses on adjusting and improving the family planning policy. The State Council argues adjustment to the policy in the face of a steadily declining birth rate. The birth rate has remained relatively low and shows a tendency to fall further. The rate has dropped to between 1.5 and 1.6 since the 1990s, which means each Chinese woman of child-bearing age gives birth to 1.5 to 1.6 children on average. The working population began to drop in 2012 by 3.45 million every year, and it is likely to fall by 8 million each year after 2023. The population aged 60 and above will reach 400 million and account for one-fourth of the total population in the early 2030s, up from one-seventh now. "If the current family planning policy continues, the birth rate will continue to fall and lead to a sharp drop of the total population after reaching a peak," said Li Bin, minister in charge of the National Health and Family Planning Commission. "It is the right time to make changes: The low birth rate is stable, the working population is still large and the burden of supporting the elderly remains relatively light," he added. An increase in birth is expected if the policy changes but will not seriously affect the food supply, public education, health care or employment. China's food safety and public service plans are designed to meet the needs of 1.43 billion population in 2020 and 1.5 billion in 2033. Even with the policy change, the total population will reach no more than 1.38 billion in 2015, Li said. What can we learn about the population in China from the passage?
<extra_id_0>After the year of 2023, the population will become less and less.
<extra_id_1>There's no need to carry out the family planning policy.
<extra_id_2>At the beginning of 2030s the aging problem will be worse than now.
<extra_id_3>In the year 2023, the population may be the least.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Two American scientists told the people in industrial nations that they would be much healthier if they ate more of the same kind of foods eaten by humans living more than 10,000 years ago. The scientists say that the human body has changed very little since human first appeared on the earth,but the way we live has changed greatly. Our body has not been able to deal with these changes in lifestyles and this has led to new kinds of sicknesses. These new sicknesses were not known in ancient times. So they are called "diseases of civilization ".Many cancers and diseases of the blood system,including heart attacks and strokes are examples of such diseases. Scientists noted that early stoneage people used very little alcohol or tobacco ,probably none. Ancient people also got a great deal of physical exercise,but a change in food is one of the main differences between life in ancient times and life today. Stoneage people hunted wild animals for their meat ,which had much less fat than farm animals. They also ate a lot of fresh wild vegetables and fruits. They did not use milk and other dairy products ,and they made very little use of grains . But today,we eat a large amount of dairy products and grain foods. We eat six times more salt than stoneage people. We eat more sugar. We eat twice as much fat but only one third as much protein and much less vitamin C. People today probably do not want to live as people thousands of years ago did,but scientists say that we would be much healthier if we ate as those ancient people did,cutting the amount of fatty,salty and sweet foods. What is the main cause mentioned in the article why people today suffer from a lot of new sicknesses?
<extra_id_0>Ancient people did a great deal of physical exercise.
<extra_id_1>Food is quite different between life today and life in ancient times.
<extra_id_2>People today have more tobacco.
<extra_id_3>People today have a lot of alcohol.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>On Sunday , April 22nd , people all over the world take time out to appreciate the earth that we all share .It's Earth Day , a special day to learn about our planet and how to take care of it . On Earth Day , some people listen to speeches about the environment . Others help clean up their offices or save water and electricity at home .Your parents may even decide to take a day off from driving their cars . The idea for Earth Day came from a U.S. Senator . He was worried about pollution and the health of plants and animals . And the idea quickly caught on . In 1970 , the first Earth Day was celebrated . More than 20 million people in cities all over the U.S. took part in it .Since then, Earth Day has been used to educate people about their roles in taking care of our planet . Now , Earth Day has become a worldwide celebration. In 1990, two hundred million people from 140 countries took part in clean-ups , tree planting and other environmental events on Earth Day . Earth Day is a special day to learn about our planet and_.
<extra_id_0>how to pay attention to the earth
<extra_id_1>how to learn English
<extra_id_2>how to go to the moon
<extra_id_3>how to make use of time
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>There's a "culture of walking and texting" on the Utah Valley University campus, according to conversations with students, but that's not the main reason Matt Bambrough, the creative director at UVU, came up with an idea to paint a "texting lane" on a staircase leading up to the Wellness Center. According to Bambrough, it's first and foremost a design project--the texting lane was a tongue-in-cheek reference to the college-wide epidemic of kids walking around with their faces buried in their iPhones. "You have 18-24-year-olds walking down the hall with smart phones. You're almost bound to run into someone somewhere; it's something we're dealing with in this day and age," Bambrough said. "But preventing collisions isn't the reason we did it--we did it to arouse the students' attention. It's meant to be there for people to look at and enjoy." Still, when talking to Utah Valley students, it sounds like texting and walking can be quite the annoyance. Robbie Poffenberger, an assistant news editor at the UVU Review, said that most collisions he witnesses aren't human-on-human; rather, it's generally human-on-inanimate-object. "They walk into barriers--chairs on the side of the hallway, or railings," Poffenberger said, "I'm sure they're fairly embarrassed." How do students feel about texting and walking?
<extra_id_0>They are worried.
<extra_id_1>They are annoyed.
<extra_id_2>They are puzzled.
<extra_id_3>They are surprised.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>On a cold morning at a bus station, a man played six famous pieces of music for about an hour. During that time, about two thousand people went through the station, most of them were on their way to work. 3 minutes later: a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed down, stopped for a few seconds and went away. 4 minutes later: the musician received his first dollar. A woman threw the money in the box and kept on walking without stopping. 6 minutes later: a young man stopped to listen to him. Then he looked at his watch and started to walk again. 10 minutes later: a 3-year-old boy stopped to look at the musician, but his mother took him away. Several other children did the same as the boy. And nearly all the parents took their children away. 45 minutes later: the musician kept on playing. Only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 persons gave him money but left quickly. After 1 hour, the musician finished playing. In the end, he collected $ 32. No one noticed that he had finished playing. No one knew this, but the musician was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. At that time, he played one of the most wonderful pieces ever written, with a very expensive violin. If we do not have time to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing with the most beautiful violin, how many other things are we missing? Nearly all the parents _ while they went past the musician.
<extra_id_0>took their children away
<extra_id_1>threw the money into the box
<extra_id_2>stayed with their children listening
<extra_id_3>looked at their watch
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Why are people interested in eating raw foods or whole foods ? One reason is that eating these types of food reduces the risk of acid accumulation in your body. Raw and whole foods are usually digested more efficiently than cooked foods. When we cook foods, we destroy the natural enzymes that are part of the food in its raw form. These enzymes were intended by nature to help us digest the food. When we consume food without these natural enzymes, our bodies either digest the food improperly or allow too many nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream. In both instances, the result is overweight. When too many nutrients are absorbed at once, the body grows fat. Improperly digested food moves slowly through the digestive system, where it becomes increasingly acidic. To protect its vital organs from this acidic waste, the body changes the acid into fat and stores it safely away from the organs. Processed foods contain chemical elements, which might confuse the appetite mechanism that tells us when we've had enough to eat; as a result, people often overeat. Processed foods also upset the digestive cycle. The body will either identify these foods as allergens and then store them safely away from the organs as fat, or the remains of undigested food will become acidic and enter the bloodstream as acid waste, which will stick to the blood vessel walls and block the passage of vital oxygen and nutrients heading for the body's cells. The body's metabolism becomes inactive, and the result is weight gain and obesity. The accumulation of acid in the digestive system makes digestion increasingly inefficient. When that happens, even healthy foods can become acidic and the food allergies will become more common. To stop this vicious circle in its tracks, people need to consume food and supplements that will neutralize the acid already accumulated in body. Eating the right types of raw and whole foods can help. It's also important to restore your enzyme balance. You need to identify and avoid the foods that cause acid accumulation and consume the foods that increase enzyme production. If you truly want to change and help your body heal itself, you need to take an active approach. One effective way is to choose raw and whole foods appropriately according to your health conditions and personal preferences. It can be inferred from Para. 2 that _ .
<extra_id_0>we'd better be cautious about raw and whole foods
<extra_id_1>foods with natural enzymes help people keep fit
<extra_id_2>it is important for people to protect their vital organs
<extra_id_3>giving up cooked and refined foods is a new lifestyle
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>In its latest step to attract Chinese smartphone users, e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. said it is planning to launch a mobile gaming service soon. Alibaba is considering integrating its new mobile gaming service into its messaging app, Laiwang, as well as its Mobile Taobao app for online shopping, a person familiar with the matter said. It is also planning to launch the gaming service as a standalone app, the person said. In the world of gaming and other mobile-based services, Alibaba faces powerful competitor Tencent Holdings Ltd., a giant in online gaming and social networking services. Many analysts view Tencent as a leader in mobile-based businesses in China because of its popular WeChat instant-messaging app, which has over 272 million monthly active users worldwide according to the company. Tencent could use WeChat's massive user base to offer additional mobile services such as gaming or e-commerce, analysts say. Alibaba's push into mobile-based services hasn't always been smooth. It launched Laiwang more than a year ago, but the app, which competes against WeChat, struggled to gain popularity. In September, a person familiar with the situation said Alibaba was in talks with China Telecom Corp., to have the app preinstalled in smartphones sold by the country's third-largest mobile carrier. According to Alibaba, Laiwang had more than 10 million registered users as of November. Alibaba dominates China's e-commerce market with its Taobao and Tmall shopping sites, but one of the biggest challenges it faces is how to hold onto its vast user base when more Chinese Internet users access online services from smartphones. To meet this challenge, Alibaba has made several acquisitions to strengthen its mobile-based services. Last year, it took an 18% stake in Sina Corp.'s Twitter-like Weibo service and integrated some of Taobao's e-commerce services with the microblog. It also bought a 28% stake in mobile mapping firm AutoNavi Holdings Ltd., a move that could enable Alibaba to send location-based ads to smartphone users. Which of the following is true of Alibaba? _
<extra_id_0>Alibaba is second to none in mobile-based social networking services
<extra_id_1>Both Laiwang messaging app and WeChat messaging app are developed by Alibaba
<extra_id_2>Alibaba's entry into mobile-based services has always been successful
<extra_id_3>Alibaba has a cooperation with China Telcom Corp to attract more smartphone users
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Big trees are incredibly important ecologically. For a start, they provide food for countless other species and shelter for many animals. With their tall branches in the sun, they capture vast amounts of energy. This allows them to produce massive crops of fruit and flowers that sustain much of the animal life in the forest. Only a small number of tree species have the genetic ability to grow really big. The biggest are native to North America, but big trees grow all over the globe, from the tropics to the forests of the high latitudes . To achieve giant size, a tree needs three things: the right place to establish its seedling, good growing conditions and lots of time with low adult death rate. Lose any of these, and you will lose your biggest trees. In some parts of the world, populations of big trees are dwindling because their seedlings cannot survive. In southern India, for instance, an aggressive non-native bush, Lantana camara, is invading the floor of many forests. Lantana grows so thickly that young trees often fail to take root. With no young trees to replace them, it is only a matter of time before most of the big trees disappear. Without the right growing conditions, trees cannot get really big and there is some evidence to suggest tree growth could slow in a warmer world, particularly in environments that are already warm. Having worked for decades at La Selva Biological Station in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, Costa Rica, David and Deborah Clark and colleagues have shown that tree growth there declines markedly in warmer years. "During the day, their growth shuts down when it gets too warm, and at night they consume more energy because their metabolic rate increases," explains David Clark. With less energy produced in warmer years and more being consumed just to survive, there is even less energy available for growth. The darks' theory, if correct, means tropical forests would shrink over time. The largest, oldest trees would progressively die off and tend not to be replaced. According to the Clarks, this might cause a destabilization of the climate; as older trees die, forests would release some of their stored carbon into the atmosphere, causing a cycle of further warming, forest shrinkage and carbon emissions. Besides, big trees face threats from elsewhere. All the following factors are a must for making big trees EXCEPT _ .
<extra_id_0>no deadly damage
<extra_id_1>genetic contribution
<extra_id_2>ideal environment for growth
<extra_id_3>high-latitude location
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Smoking, which may be a pleasure for some people, is a series of discomfort for their fellows. Medical scientists have expressed their concern about effect of smoking on the health not only of those who smoke but also those who do not smoke. In fact, non-smokers who take in the air polluted by tobacco smoke suffer more than the smokers themselves. A great number of students are trying to persuade the university to forbid smoking in classrooms. Believe they are completely right in their aim. However, I think it more important to achieve this by calling on the smokers to use good judgment and to show concern for others. Smoking is not allowed in theaters, cinemas and in other public places. Therefore, smoking must be forbidden in our classroom. Although many people have _ for having smoked a lot and we call on people to give up smoking, yet many more that are following will turn down what we say every day, above all, the young people smoke a lot more. In the writer's opinion, smoking does good to _ .
<extra_id_0>nobody
<extra_id_1>some people
<extra_id_2>smokers
<extra_id_3>young people
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>The English expect each other to observe the rules of queuing, feel highly offended when these rules are broken, but lack the confidence or social skills to express their annoyance in a straightforward manner. In other countries, this is not a problem: in America, where a queue-jumper has committed a kind of rudeness rather than a sin, the response is a loud warning: the offender is simply told "Hey, you, get back in line!" or words to that effect. On the European continent, the reaction tends to be loud and argumentative; in some other parts of the world, queue-jumpers may simply be pushed back into line. Ironically , it is only in England, where queue-jumping is regarded as deeply immoral, that the queue-jumper is likely to get away with the offence. Only rarely do the English actually speak up and tell the jumper to go to the back of the queue. Queuing is almost a national pastime for the English, who automatically arrange themselves into orderly lines at bus stops, shop counters, ice-cream vans, entrances, exits, and lifts. In 1946, a Hungarian humorist described queuing as English "national passion". "On the continent," he said. "if people are waiting at a bus stop they walk around in a seemingly relaxed fashion. When the bus arrives they make a dash for it...An Englishman, even if he is alone, forms orderly queue of one." In an update over thirty years later in 1977 he confirmed that this was still the case. After nearly another thirty years nothing much seems to have changed. In many cases, queue-jumping is effectively prevented by non-verbal signals alone. When someone is considering jumping a queue, the queuers will start glancing at him sideways, through narrowed, suspicious eyes. Then they move a bit closer to the person in front of them, just in case the jumper might try to insert himself in the gap. Frowns, glares, and raised eyebrows -- accompanied by heavy sighs, pointed coughs -- are usually the worst that the person will suffer if he jumps a queue. Faced with all this, the jumper will think better of it and withdraw to the back of the queue. By quoting the description of a Hungarian humorist, the author intends to show_.
<extra_id_0>Englishmen are stubborn and too strict with themselves
<extra_id_1>queuing is a kind of automatic behavior for Englishmen
<extra_id_2>queuing is essential in maintaining good public order
<extra_id_3>other Europeans are more open-minded than Englishmen
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>When e-mail first came into general use about twenty years ago, there was a lot of talk about the arrival of the paperless office.However, it seems that e-mail has yet to revolutionize office communication.According to communications analyst Richard Metcalf, some offices have actually seen an increase in paper as a result of e-mail."Information in the form of e-mal messages now floods our computer screens.These messages can be sent so quickly that memos tend to be distributed in the hundreds.For those secretaries whose bosses ask them to print out all their e-mails and leave them in their in-trays, this means using up a great deal of paper every month," Metcalf says. Metcalf has found that because some e-mails get lost in cyberspace, important documents are increasingly likely to be asked by clients and colleagues to send all important documents both by e-mail and by fax or "snail mail" - through the post.This highlights a further potential problem with e-mail in today's offices - it is taking up time rather than saving it."With e-mail, communication is much easier, but there is also more room for misunderstandings," says psychologist Dr David Lewis.Generally, much less care is taken with e-mails than with letters or faxes and the sender will probably print the document and reread it before putting it in an envelope or sending it by fax. More worrying is still the increasing misuse of e mail for sending "flame-mail" - abusive or inappropriate e-mail messages, Recent research in several companies suggests that aggressive communications like this are on the increase.E-mail has become the perfect medium for expressing workplace dissatisfaction because it is so instant. E-mail can also be a problem in other ways.Staffs all too often make the mistake of thinking that the contents fan e-mail, like things said over the phone, are private and not permanent.But it is not only possible for an employer to read all your e-mails, it is also perfectly legal.E-mail messages can be traced back to their origin for a period of at least two years, so you might want to rethink e-mailing your dissatisfaction about your too to your friends.The advice is to keep personal e-mails out of the office. It goes without saying that e-mail exists to make Jife easier, and if used correctly, it is an invaluable tool for businesses of all sizes.But perhaps, for the time being, the fact that in the business world 70 percent offal documents are still in paper form is not such a bad thing after all. Why has the promise of the paperless office not come true in many offices?
<extra_id_0>People write more memos than they used to.
<extra_id_1>Staff leave messages lying around their offices.
<extra_id_2>Many managers prefer to read their messages on paper.
<extra_id_3>Many secretaries keep paper copies of their bosses' e-mails.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Welcome to the zoo,everyone!Here is our plan.Listen carefully.First we will visit the Children's Zoo.After that,we will walk to Bird World.Next is the African Area.There are elephants and lions!Don't be afraid.The cages are safe. Then,we will have lunch.Everybody brought their lunch,right?Some of you don't have drinks.That's all right.There are many places to buy drinks. After lunch,we will go to the Asian Area.Last,there is the Butterfly Park.Then,we will come back here and get on the bus.Remember,don't feed the animals.OK,let's have some fun! People at the zoo should not _ .
<extra_id_0>visit the Butterfly Park
<extra_id_1>look at the lions
<extra_id_2>give food to the elephants
<extra_id_3>bring their lunch
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>The virus "Ebola" is named after the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. That's where the virus was discovered in 1976. A person can only get Ebola through direct contact with an infected person's bodily fluids, for example, sweat or spit. Additionally, the virus can get into your body through your eyes and mouth if those areas come into contact with something that contains the bodily fluids of an infected person. That's why health care workers are supposed to keep themselves completely covered while treating patients. The deadliest Ebola outbreak is spreading fast in Western Africa, taking over 900 lives so far. The health systems in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia are severely lacking in resources, and health care workers may not have access to adequate protective clothing when working in rural clinics, where the proper protections are lacking. Since Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia share a border; it's easier for people to move from one country to another, increasing the risk for disease spread. For now, all doctors can do is treat the symptoms and provide supportive care like monitoring heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing while making sure the patients' fluids are supplied. Sometimes patients are given antibiotics to treat other possible infections. The hope is to make the patient pull through the infection so their immune system can eventually clear the virus. The people who survive Ebola have created enough antibodies to kill it. There are several promising drugs and vaccines in development, but since Ebola is less common--and research about it is not well funded -- there is no drug or vaccine that has been approved for use in humans. Many of the other drugs and vaccines have not yet been tested in humans. The WHO (World Health Organization) is meeting next week to discuss whether experimental treatments should be used during this outbreak. Why have there been no cures used for Ebola in humans so far?
<extra_id_0>There are not enough drugs for the infected people.
<extra_id_1>Ebola is rare and its research money is lacking.
<extra_id_2>The people have enough antibodies to kill Ebola.
<extra_id_3>The WHO has decided not to use them.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>It's amazing how we grow from careless kids to responsible teens. What happens in the course that makes us responsible now? It's the seed that we sow in the beginning which grows and becomes a huge tree. As I sit here, silently thinking about my growth, I wonder over some questions which don't have an answer but it's because of such unanswerable situations that life has become a roller coaster ride. As a kid, I used to read a lot of story books. In one particular book, I read a story of a bird. From then on, that has become an integral part of my life. It described a male bird which takes a lot of pain to build a nest and the female bird takes shelter in it and nourishes the baby. When the bird learns to fly, the whole family flies off to a different place leaving behind the beautiful nest for other birds to grow their family in it. It made me wonder. How could they so easily sacrifice their house built with so much effort? One night, when I was deep in sleep, I got this particular dream. I was walking miles on the endless road, totally isolated but lined with beautiful trees on the either side. Fascinated by the greenery, I marched towards it only to end up deeper and deeper into the greenery. I happened to stop upon seeing something. It was a massive, wonderful house. I fell in love with that amazing part of art. Yeah, it was indeed a piece of art with every nook and corner touched artistically and lovingly. I don't know why I felt that it was done lovingly. Maybe because, things turn out to be beautiful only when we put our love into it -- just like the food prepared by mom which tastes more delicious with her love. I explored the house only to fall more in love with it. There was a sloping roof which matched with the greenery around; the large central open courtyard reminded me of the activities that might have taken place there which felt lively even now when it is completely deserted. The small water body that kept the house cool added to the beauty of the house -- of course, it was all dried up now. It's really wonderful how such things add life to the spaces which otherwise just become structures. Such liveliness and happening turns the house into a home. They say 'THE HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS', but now I began to feel it. This is where my heart belongs. This is what I'm destined to do. When I woke up from the dream, I was clear about everything. I realized where that mile of walk was intending me to lead. I realized what message my dream wanted to convey me. And years later, when finally my turn of choosing my destination came, I simply closed my eyes, held that book in my hand, pressed it against my chest and relived the dream. When I opened my eyes, I was sure what to do. I decided to choose the road -- less traveled. Yes, I took up architecture as my profession because this is what I am destined to do. I wanted to do the same thing that the male bird in the story did, to take pain in building a beautiful house and let others stay in it. This is my dream come true and the happiness that I gain now from this profession is indescribable. In the writer's dream, what part of the house attracted him most?
<extra_id_0>The greenery surrounding the house.
<extra_id_1>The body of water that keeps the house cool
<extra_id_2>The liveliness he sensed around the house.
<extra_id_3>The fact that the house was very large.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>The cost of raising a child has hit an all-time high, according to a new report, putting pressure on families already dealing with cuts to child benefit. Figures from the insurance company LV's annual Cost of a Child Report show that the cost of bringing a child up to the age of 21 has reached $222, 458 -- more than $4,000 higher than last year and up$82,000 on ten years ago. The company estimates that this is set to reach $350,000 by 2023 if costs continue to increase at the same rate. The report will be a further blow for hard-working families as cash-strapped parents continue to struggle with rising household bills, wage freezes and cuts to child benefit. The right to receive the payments, worth $20.30 a week for the first child and $13.40 further children, was removed earlier this month from households with one earner on a salary of more than $60,000 and reduced for families where one member is paid more than $50,000. The research published today shows costs have risen in all areas over the last decade, except for clothing, with education seeing the biggest increase. As a result, more than three-quarters of parents have been forced to make ends meet. According to LV, more than four in ten are reining in spending on luxuries such as holidays, a third are also cutting back how much they spend on essentials such as food. Education remains the biggest expense for parents. The cost of education, including uniforms, after school clubs and university costs, has shot up from $32,593 to $72,832 per child in the last ten years. Childcare costs have also rocketed, up from $39,613 in 2003 to $63,738 today. According to the passage the cost of raising a child to the age of 21 ten years ago was _ .
<extra_id_0>$222,458
<extra_id_1>$218,458
<extra_id_2>$140,458
<extra_id_3>$82,000
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>An Australian company, Smart Car Technologies, has developed a system that lets drivers know when they're speeding. When the technology becomes commercially available, it could help lead-footed drivers avoid tickets and also save lives. The company that developed the product hopes to convince Australian government agencies to put the technology into use in their automobile fleets. The product, called Speed Alert, links real-time location data and speed obtained with the help of GPS to a database of posted speed limits stored in a driver's PDA or programmable mobile phone. The setup of the product does not need to be hooked up to a car's speedometer. In fact, it is entirely portable. It will also work with newer phones and PDAs that have built-in GPS receivers. If a driver exceeds the speed limit, the speed is shown and an alert sounds. Michael Paine, an Australian vehicle design engineer and traffic safety consultant, was hired to analyze the product. He told Live Science that his colleagues in the road safety field are "very enthusiastic" about what they're now calling "intelligent speed alert." Other research, according to Paine, shows that 40 percent of all traffic deaths involve speeding. There is also a potentially controversial future use: "Since the system is so portable, it would be easy to make it a requirement for teenage drivers to always use a speed alert device when driving," Paine said. "The system even has the capability to record speeding violations, so parents can monitor their teenage drivers." The product will soon go on sale in Sydney. What can be the best title of the passage?
<extra_id_0>Speed Alert and Its Future Use.
<extra_id_1>Progress in Car-making Science.
<extra_id_2>Warning for Adventurous Drivers.
<extra_id_3>New In-Car Device against Speeding.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Every Friday we have a fire alarm test at nine o'clock sharp, and even though the sound is very noisy, I am so happy because when I heard that it reminded me today is Friday and tomorrow is weekend, it is the last working day of the week and I have two days off, it's so excited!Sometimes we have a fire drill, when you hear the fire alarm, everybody have to run out through the fire exit. One Monday at nine o'clock, the alarm was sounded and I was working behind the fish house and didn't hear it. The department manager and staff were looking for me thoroughly, finally they found me and asked me to stop my job and follow them went out. "I am busy, No problem! You leave, I work." I said. "No, this is the law, everybody has to leave." The manager said. I understood that if I insisted not to leave, they must carry me out. I went out with them together finally, no choice. One afternoon, when I was working outside, the fire alarm cropped up sounding wildly, nobody knew what's happening, some were standing and looking around, some were asking questions, some were running, I knew this wasn't a test or drill, must be a real one. At that moment, one lady called me from a distance:"Jinglebell: leave your job, go out quickly."I joined the crowded flow of customers and staff going out. I asked somebody what's happened? And they told me this is a real one as there was some smoke on the shop floor.Finally I found out, actually there was no problem, that it was an electrician who used the equipment for the carpet and made a little smoke. After that I asked somebody how to deal with the customer's food in the restaurant in that case, because they went out to leave because of the fire, but hadn't finished their food. They told me that the customers who had bought food or drinks there could get a new one. I don't understand, if in China, under that situation, everybody must carry a bucket or some other water containers to the fire spot, to fight the flames. I agree with the English emphasis the human right, but maybe a very small problem could become a big problem while everybody had withdrawn from the shop, because the fire fighters could not come at once. I was just thinking. Despite the noise from the fire alarm, the author still feels happy because _ .
<extra_id_0>the noise lasts too long
<extra_id_1>the noise is not too loud
<extra_id_2>the noise reminds the author of the coming of weekend
<extra_id_3>the author often ignores it when working
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Camping is one of the most popular forms of outdoor activities. Now, most people are under too much pressure and like going outdoors to relax. Other activities like hunting and fishing, are often connected with camping trips. It's also a good idea to spend time camping with your family during a holiday. That will help you create some of the best memories with the family. Here are some things you have to consider while planning your camping trip. The first thing that you need to think about is deciding the camping destination. For most people who like camping, the best place to choose is the spot that they haven't visited before. As soon as you get to your destination, there will be a lot you will have to do, such as putting up your tent. Of course, food is another necessary factor to be considered. You'd better carry some convenient food like biscuits, nuts and boiled eggs. When all the things are done, fun activities should be planned. It's a good chance for you to spend time with your family. Lots of open space is perfect when you want to do something as simple as letting your kids ride their bicycles. If your kids are old enough, activities like fishing and horse-riding are also good to choose. These are a few ideas about having fun camping. Once you get ready for it, you don't need to worry about anything. Go ahead and be a happy camper. Which place is the best place to camp according to the writer?
<extra_id_0>place where the weather is warm.
<extra_id_1>place where the things are cheap.
<extra_id_2>place that you've ever visited.
<extra_id_3>place that you've never visited.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.