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<extra_id_5>When an ice cream sundae cost much less, a boy entered a coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" "Fifty cents," said the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins in it. "How much is a dish of plain ice cream?" he asked. Some people were waiting for a table, and the waitress was not patient. "Thirty-five cents," she said angrily. The little boy again counted the coins. "I will have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream and walked away. The boy finished, paid the money, and left. When the waitress came back, she was surprised at what she saw. There were fifteen cents placed beside the empty dish. That was her tip. How much was the tip that the boy left for the waitress?
<extra_id_0>30 cents.
<extra_id_1>15 cents.
<extra_id_2>20 cents.
<extra_id_3>50 cents.
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<extra_id_5>Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, China, was chosen to be the host city of the 19th Asian Games . However, some people say that the 19th Asian Games will be held in 2022, while some say 2023. Which is true? To make it clear, we need to have a better understanding of Asian Games first. The Asian Games is a multi-sport event. It is held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. It is the second largest multi-sport event after the Olympic Games. The Asian Games are always held at the same year as the World Cup, which is also held every four years. Many people around the world pay more attention to the World Cup. This really makes the Olympic Council of Asia(OCA) worried. So, the OCA decides to _ the 18th Asian Games for a year. That is in 2019. In this way, the Asian Games won't be held in the same year as the World Cup. So Hangzhou will hold the event in 2023. Hanoi , capital of Vietnam , is the host city of the 18th Asian Games. However, Vietnamese government announced in 2014 that Hanoi gave up the right to host the Asian Games because they don't have enough money. Luckily, Djakarta , capital of Indonesia , was willing to be the host city instead of Hanoi. But then came another problem. Djakarta will hold presidential election in 2019, so the government wanted to change the holding time of the Asian Games back to 2018. The OCA agreed. Why did the government of Indonesia wanted to change the holding time of the Asian Games back to 2018?
<extra_id_0>Because they don't have enough money.
<extra_id_1>Because the World Cup will be held in 2018.
<extra_id_2>Because the OCA has advised them to change the time.
<extra_id_3>Because Djakarta will hold presidential election in 2019.
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<extra_id_5>Career education is instruction intended to help young people identify, choose, and prepare for a career. Such instruction may focus on a person's role in work, leisure, or family life. Career education differs from vocational education, which is designed to teach specific occupational skills. Career education includes the formal and informal learning that occurs in the family, in the community, and in schools. In schools, career education consists of instructive activities included in many courses. These activities are designed to improve the attitudes, knowledge, and skills important for work roles. Career education helps students develop self- understanding and use it to plan their education and working life. A complete career education program in school begins in kindergarten and continues at least through high school. Many colleges and universities also offer career education through their counseling programs. In kindergartens and elementary schools, youngsters learn about different types of work. In middle schools or junior high school, children begin to explore the occupations and leisure activities that interest them most. In high school, students get more specific information about occupations and life styles. They may be in classroom, small group, or individual sessions where they learn how to make career decisions. They also should obtain the skills they need for further study or for a job after graduation. Counselors provide information on such matters as how to locate and apply for jobs and how to be successful in interviews. Teachers and counselors use a variety of methods to provide career education, including films about occupations or industries. Children may invite parents or other adults to come to school and describe their jobs. A student may accompany a worker on the job. Cooperative education s classroom study with practical work experience. According to the passage, which statement is true?
<extra_id_0>Career education is carried out in primary schools only.
<extra_id_1>Career education is carried out in middle schools only.
<extra_id_2>Career education is carried out in colleges only.
<extra_id_3>Career education is carried out in the whole process of people's education--from kindergarten to university.
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<extra_id_5>Tibet is among the most popular places for Chinese tourists. The number of travelers to Tibet has grown by 10% every year for a few years. Since July 1,2006, when the first train ran 1956 kilometers from Xining to Lhasa, more and more people have been going to Tibet. The train stops at several famous places along the way, such as Qinghai Lake, Kunlun Mountain, and the Potala Palace. Passengers can also enjoy many activities during the journey, like Tibetan dancing and Karaoke. On the train, passengers can have tea, eggs and noodles for breakfast, and fried chicken and green vegetables for lunch and dinner. Unlike most Chinese trains which have open - hole toilets, this one has special toilets which can collect the waste. There is also a special rubbish system in the train that keeps the environment clean. All the windows on the train can protect people from the bright sunlight. TV and electrical sockets for computers and mobile phones can be found on the train. Because there isn't much oxygen there, trains will have oxygen masks for those who need _ . It makes passengers feel more comfortable when they have enough oxygen on the famous "roof of the world". There are also doctors on the train to make sure that all of the travelers are safe. We can learn from the passage that _ .
<extra_id_0>flying to Tibet is impossible
<extra_id_1>train to Lhasa is too clean to take
<extra_id_2>train trip to Tibet is popular with travelers
<extra_id_3>taking train to Lhasa causes a lot of trouble
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<extra_id_5>Sam hated doing chores. And he had many chores. For example,on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays he took out the rubbish. And on weekends he always washed his father's car. He also cleaned his own room once a week. What a chore that was! Sometimes he even had to look after his little sister and brother. Sam had a foreign friend at school. His name was Kumar. Doing chores in Kumar's family was very different. In the house only the girls did chores. His sisters made all the beds and cleaned all the rooms too, even his bedroom.His mother always cooked the meals, and his sisters helped her to go shopping, and prepare the food. They worked hard at home,doing all the chores with their mother. So when Kumar talked to his friend Sam about chores, he felt very lucky. One day, Sam had an idea. He asked Kumar,"Could I borrow your sisters? " He wanted them to help him clean his room,but they said " no " Instead, they asked Sam to teach their brother how to do chores, so he could make his own bed. Sam and Kumar are very good at science. They are going to be scientists after university. They want to make a robot to do the chores. Then everyone-mothers and fathers, sons and daughters-will be happy! Which of the following is right?
<extra_id_0>The sisters agreed to help him.
<extra_id_1>Sam wanted to borrow Kumar's sisters.
<extra_id_2>The sisters didn't want Kumar to do chores at home.
<extra_id_3>The sisters asked Sam to do chores for them.
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<extra_id_5>How much of an addict(/) are you? Are you like any of the people? 1I dislike haircut. I seldom get a haircut. So when I get one, my hair is really short. My hair gets really long before my next haircut. --- Harry 2I hardly drink soda .I usually drink coffee. I sometimes drink eight cups a day. ---Rose 3I exercise regularly .Sometimes I spend 4 or 5 hours on it in one day. ---Sam 4I have a bar(/) of chocolate sometimes. I can't eat a lot of it, because it makes me heavy. ---Kim 5I have a TV in my living room, one is in my dining room, one is in my bedroom. I even have one in the bathroom. --- John 6I spend a lot of time shopping, but I don't spend a great deal of money. I mostly do window shopping. ---Jenny Kim has chocolate _ ,while Jenny spends _ shopping.
<extra_id_0>once; a lot of time
<extra_id_1>sometimes; a great deal of money
<extra_id_2>sometimes; a lot of time
<extra_id_3>once; a great deal of money
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<extra_id_5>One morning Julie took her dog, Rosie, for a walk. Rosie loved to walk outside. She loved to walk any time - morning, afternoon, or night. She liked to smell everything. This morning she smelled something new. It was another animal. It was not a squirrel. It was not another dog. Maybe it was a tiger! Rosie sniffed around until she saw the other animal. It was not a tiger. It was a cat. The cat was watching Rosie. The cat was afraid Rosie would try to bite her, so she climbed up a tree. Rosie tried to follow her, but she could not climb up. Instead, she barked at the cat in the tree. Julie did not want Rosie to scare the cat. She called Rosie away from the tree. The cat watched them walk away. When they came back, the cat was gone. Rosie remembered the cat. She started digging in the dirt under the tree. But there was no cat there. Julie and Rosie went home for breakfast. When do Julie and Rosie eat breakfast?
<extra_id_0>after their walk
<extra_id_1>They don't eat breakfast.
<extra_id_2>before their walk
<extra_id_3>The story doesn't say.
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<extra_id_5>Mark Twain, the famous American writer, was traveling inprefix = st1 /France. Once he was very tired and wanted to sleep. He therefore asked the conductor to wake him up when they came toDijon. But first he explained that he was a very heavy sleeper. "I'll strongly protest when you try to wake me up," he said to the conductor. "But do not take any notice, just put me off the train anyway." Then Mark Twain went to sleep. Later, when he woke up it was night time and the train was inParisalready. He realized at once that the conductor had forgotten to wake him up atDijon. He ran up to the conductor and began to shout at him." I have never been so angry in all my life," Mark Twain said. The conductor looked at him calmly. "You are not half so angry as the American whom I put off the train atDijon," he said loudly. Mark Twain told the conductor _ .
<extra_id_0>it was difficult to wake him up when he fell asleep
<extra_id_1>he was too heavy to be woken up
<extra_id_2>he was too strong to take any notice
<extra_id_3>he should be helped as he had something heavy with him
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<extra_id_5>On August 4, while a young man in Hangzhou was caught because of killing another young man with his car, a 17-year-old girl died because of the same reason in the same city. It's reported that the driver was badly drunk. Cars are more and more popular for more Chinese these days. And the numbers of car accidents are increasing. From 1994 to 2008, deaths because of drunk-driving increased 7.3%. In 2009, a total of 18,371 people were killed in car accidents because of drunk driving. In the middle of August, there were some new rules to deal with the drunk drivers: 1. If a driver's alcohol content is 20mg per 100 ml of blood, he is regarded as a drunk driver. 2. If a driver's alcohol content is 80mg per 100ml or more, he will be held for 15 days and have their license revoked for six months, and are given a fine of 2,000 yuan. The first weekend, 3,167 drivers were held because of high levels of alcohol in their blood. So many people are calling for the law to deal with drunk drivers in order to make drivers understand that drunk drinking can make serious problems. The girl in Hangzhou died because the driver _ .
<extra_id_0>was not careful enough
<extra_id_1>wanted to kill her
<extra_id_2>drank too much
<extra_id_3>was too old to see clearly
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<extra_id_5>Saturday, June 30th, 2012 I asked to have a dinner party at the biggest hotel in my hometown--New York today. I was very busy,so I had no time to change my clothes for dinner.Then I drove there as soon as possible.But when I came in, no one saw me and gave me a seat.I got angry. Then I went back home,put on my best clothes.At about nine o'clock,I returned again.This time,everyone stood up at once and said"hello"to me.And I was taken to the best table and given the best food.I got much angrier.I took off my coat,put it in the food and said: _ They were very surprised and asked,"Why are you doing this?" I said" _ " According to the story, what did he say at the end of the diary?
<extra_id_0>I enjoy doing this.
<extra_id_1>My coat is hungry
<extra_id_2>You gave the food to my coat, not me.
<extra_id_3>I love my coat
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<extra_id_5>What makes us happy? For 15-year-old Ellie Wilson from London, going through the turbulent period between childhood and adulthood is "a pain". However, she also enjoys happy times with friends, even though they have a lot of arguments. "The thing about me and my friends is that one minute we're up and then the next we're down; one minute I want to shout the house down, the next I feel so happy that I just want to hug everyone in the room at once," she said to British paper The Independent. Wilson's generation have all the latest fashions and electronic equipment. But owning them does not necessarily make them happier. New research shows that it is the simple things in life that please us most. Close friends, playing sport and a stable home life are more important to a teenager's happiness than the wealth of their parents, according to a study published this month by the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex in Britain. Researcher Gundi Knies found families' incomes didn't necessarily play a part in happiness. But happy children tend to have their own bedroom, a bike or other leisure equipment. Children who have friends over for tea once a fortnight and those who go swimming once a month were also happier with their lives than those who do not. A sense of belonging clearly had an influence on how satisfied people were. Children with lots of friends reported higher levels of happiness than those without. Children who live with both their parents were happier than those living in single families and step family relationships. Diet plays an important role too. Children who have fewer than five portions of fruit and vegetables a day or who eat fast food most days tend to be less happy. The study also finds that girls make up both the happiest and least happy groups of children. "Older girls are unhappier because they are going through puberty and their parents become more protective. Girls also become very conscious of the way they look and the way they are treated," Knies told UK newspaper The Observer. "In general boys don't face the same pressures." Why are girls unhappier than boys during puberty?
<extra_id_0>Because they are more likely to be under pressure.
<extra_id_1>Because they receive more attention from their parents.
<extra_id_2>Because they have less sense of belonging at that time.
<extra_id_3>Because they experience bigger physical changes than boys.
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<extra_id_5>A bully is a boy or a girl who acts mean (unkind) or hurtful to others, especially weaker persons bullies sometimes hit, kick, or push people, and they sometimes use words to call names or scare them. A bully might say mean things about someone, take a kid's possessions or make fun of someone on purpose. Some bullies force people to do things they don't want to do. Why do bullies act so badly? Just to look for attention. They might think bullying is a way to be popular or a way to get what they want. Most bullies are trying to make themselves felt more important-when they pick on someone else, it makes them fell big and powerful. Some bullies come from families where everyone around has a normal way to act. Some bullies are copying what they've seen someone else do. Some have been bullied themselves. Bullying can be a big pain, but you don't have to let bullying you. Sometimes just acting bravely is enough to stop a bully. If you walk by and hold your head high as though you're not afraid, a bully may be less likely to give you trouble. Bullies want a big reaction to their meanness. Acting as if you don't notice and don't care is like giving no reaction at all, and this just might stop a bully's behavior. If you are being bullied, it's very important to tell an adult. Teachers, principals, parents, and lunchroom helpers at school can all help to stop bullying. Don't hit, kick, or push back to deal with someone bullying you or your friends. Fighting back just satisfies a bully, and it's dangerous, too, because someone could get hurt. Which of the following is advisable if you are being bullied?
<extra_id_0>Giving the bullies a satisfactory reaction.
<extra_id_1>Putting up with the bullies' behavior.
<extra_id_2>Turning to grown-ups for help.
<extra_id_3>Acting bravely and fight back.
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<extra_id_5>A high school in Hiroshima City has been the first to do something with DNA in the world. Its students have won praise not only for doing this research but also for presenting their findings to groups of expert scientists. The school is one of the Super Science High Schools allowed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, where students are given an opportunity to study science at an advanced level. Here, students use the same type of hitech experimental laboratories as those found at universities. In these labs, they conduct experiments and research in new fields of study not found in textbooks. As part of this science course, the students, with the help of Hiroshima University, used a machine called sequencer , and over the course of a year and a half they succeeded in decoding the DNA. They then presented their results to academic groups. Achieving a world first might sound very wonderful, but the process of decoding the DNA involved very hard work. The students were also responsible for maintaining the equipment, and they had to read difficult research papers and put in extra study beyond their regular schoolwork. "Researchers need to work hard. The work was tiring, but the students worked toward their ambitious goal of achieving a world first. They have a great sense of achievement, and the number of students who hope to become biologists has increased," said Taruma Akinori, who is in charge of the science course. In addition to the results being added to the scientific community, the students' research paper will be translated into English and made available overseas. Moreover, the students have decided to take on a new challenge in DNA decoding. The research paper will be put into English in order to _ .
<extra_id_0>become an English textbook
<extra_id_1>help the students make English friends
<extra_id_2>make the results known by the whole world
<extra_id_3>challenge foreign scientists
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<extra_id_5>Newspapers in the United States earn most of their money from selling space for advertising. The rates they charge are tied to the number of readers. But the number of people who buy newspapers has been falling for years. And this traditional business model had not worked very well on the Internet, especially in a bad economy. Many newspaper companies have large debts from buying other papers. Some papers have recently closed or declared bankruptcy or reduced their operations. Newspapers are looking for new ways to reinvent themselves and new ways to earn money. That includes giving new consideration to an old idea-charging for at least some of the material that most papers now publish online for free. Internet access to newspapers means that more people may read the news, which is good for society. But good reporting costs money. The question is how much people are willing to pay for news that they have got used to receiving for free. The look of American newspapers changed after USA Today arrived in 1982. Most of the stories were short. There was heavy use of color1 and images. People who compared it to television did not necessarily mean that as praise. But the new design succeeded and influenced many other papers. Now newspapers are looking to redesign themselves for an increasingly online world. Millions of people would rather read papers like USA Today and The New York Times for free on the Web than pay for a printed version. Publishers who chose that business plan might regret it now, but they might not have had much choice. Survival means changing as conditions change. Like any other business, newspapers have to balance their needs with the need of their customers. The main cause of the problems of American newspapers is that _ .
<extra_id_0>too many people read printed newspapers for free
<extra_id_1>the Internet and television have taken the place of newspapers
<extra_id_2>some newspapers have become non-profit organizations
<extra_id_3>more and more people read news on the Web
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<extra_id_5>On March 19, 2013, Malala Yousafzai, a 15-year-old Pakistani student and women's-education activist , returned to the classroom for the first time since being attacked by a member of the Taliban on October 9, 2012. Malala was shot on her way home from school in Mingora, Pakistan. The Taliban said that they did the attack. The group said the attack should be a warning to others. Malala was targeted because she expresses her opinion publicly about girls' rights to education. After a long period of recovery, Malala is starting as a ninth-year student at Edgbaston High School. It is the oldest independent girl's school in Birmingham, England. Though she has no specific plans to return to Pakistan, Malala still speaks out as a voice for change in her country, and everywhere. "I'm excited that today I have realized my dream of going back to school. I want all girls in the world to have this kind of chance," Malala said in a statement . Malala has been an Internet blogger since she was 11 years old. In 2011 she was awarded Pakistan's National Peace Award for her bravery in writing about the difficulties of life and education in the shadow of the Taliban. She has spoken publicly about children's rights and been nominated for an international children's peace prize. Why did the Taliban attack Malala?
<extra_id_0>She is a Pakistani student.
<extra_id_1>She was targeted without being planned.
<extra_id_2>She didn't want to be a member of the Taliban.
<extra_id_3>She spoke publicly about girls' rights to education.
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<extra_id_5>It was not a good day today. Everything went wrong. First, I slept late and Mom shouted at me to wake up. When I went to the kitchen for breakfast, there was no cereal. I decided to have some toast instead, but I burned it. I had to eat it anyway because there was no more bread. There was no juice, either. I just had a glass of water. When I was almost at the bus stop, I realized that I had forgotten my wallet, so I had to go back home and get it. Of course, I missed the bus and had to wait for the next bus. I was late for school and the teacher told me to stay in the classroom at lunchtime to catch up on the schoolwork I had missed. After lunch, it was the time to give the teacher our homework. I reached into my bag to get it but it wasn't there. I had left it at home. I was in trouble again. When I got home, I went straight to my room to catch up on my homework. Mom cooked fish for dinner. She knows I don't like fish, but she thinks it is good for her son. It was a horrible day. I hope tomorrow will be better. What did the writer do after he went home?
<extra_id_0>He did some homework.
<extra_id_1>He made a telephone call.
<extra_id_2>He made fun with his friend.
<extra_id_3>He was tired, so he went to bed.
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<extra_id_5>Sales of electric bicycles, or e-bikes, a hot item in consumer green tech, are expected to grow by more than 50% in North America during 2013. Actor William Shatner, who is no stranger to futuristic tech, recently purchased two e-bikes for him and his wife. I've been shopping for an e-bike now for a few weeks, and I've had my eye on the folding electric bike. I've had folding bikes in the past and love the convenience of being able to throw my bike into my car. The e -bike market is ready to go mainstream in the U.S. The price for e-bikes has come down greatly in recent months. At one time, most e-bikes with good components and proper weight were in the $3,000range. Now you can find reasonable quality e-bikes in the $1,000range. With gas prices at all-time highs, e-bikes are an attractive, low-cost option to gas efficient vehicles. E-bike owners are finding that they are great for commuting to work, as traditional bikes can be a problem with office dress and sweat. People who use e-bikes range from commuters to casual cyclers who like a little help with hills and wind,to those who decided to save money on buying a motor bike.These are not for the serious road cycler or professional mountain biker. If you're considering all e--bike, it pays to do some research first.Cheaper e-bikes are going to be heavier and have less battery--power.Higher priced bikes will be made from lighter materials and have better batteries. Another consideration is local motor vehicle laws.For example,according to US federal law,as long as your electric bike is under 750 watts and does not go over 20 MPH then it is a bicycle and not a motor vehicle.Most consumer e--bikes in the $1,000 range don't fit the motorized vehicle description. According to the text,e--bikes are practical for _ .
<extra_id_0>serious road cyclers
<extra_id_1>couples spending a holiday
<extra_id_2>people commuting to work
<extra_id_3>professional mountain bikers
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<extra_id_5>For several years, Americans have enjoyed teleshopping -- watching TV and buying things by phone. Now teleshopping is starting in Europe. In a number of European countries, people can turn on their TVs and shop for clothes, jewelry, food, toys and many other things. Teleshopping is becoming popular in Sweden, for example. The biggest Swedish company sells different kinds of things on TV in 15 European countries, and in one year it made$100 million. In France there are two teleshopping channels, and the French spend about$20 million a year to buy things through those channels. In Germany, until last year teleshopping was only possible on one channel for 1 hour every day. Then the government allowed more teleshopping. Other channels can open for telebusiness, including the largest American teleshopping company and a 24-hour teleshopping company. German businesses are hoping this new teleshopping will help them sell more things. Some people like teleshopping because it allows them to do their shopping without leaving their homes. With all the problems of traffic in the cities, this is an important reason. But at the same time, other Europeans do not like this new way of shopping. They call teleshopping "junk on the air". Many Europeans usually worry about the quality of the things for sale on TV. Good quality is important to them, and they believe they cannot be sure about the quality of the things on TV. The need for high quality means that European teleshopping companies will have to be different from the American companies. They will have to be more careful about the quality of the things they sell. They will also have to work harder to sell things that the buyers cannot touch or see in person. The best title of this passage is _ .
<extra_id_0>American Teleshopping
<extra_id_1>Teleshopping Companies
<extra_id_2>Teleshopping in Europe
<extra_id_3>Teleshopping -- Junk on the Air
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<extra_id_5>Tom Sawyer is known as one of the most beloved characters in American literature , but new research found that Mark Twain based this character on his friend named Tom Sawyer. He admired his firefighting friend so much that he gave the character his name. Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer had many adventures together, gambling in Nevada and drinking in pubs. Tom Sawyer once worked as a volunteer firefighter, policeman and customs officer. Before making his way out West, Tom Sawyer used his strength to save 90 people from a burning ship. Mark Twain was particularly moved by this story because his own brother died in a fire while working on a similar steamboat. The two men became friends immediately after meeting in 1863, with Tom Sawyer traveling to Virginia City, while Mark Twain was working as a reporter there. After one night they returned to San Francisco, Mark Twain told his friend that he would base a character in his yet-unwritten book on him. Tom Sawyer said, "One day he said to me, 'I'm going to put you between the covers of a book, Tom.' 'Go ahead, Sam,' I Said, 'but don't disgrace my name.'" Besides their fondness of drinking, the two men also shared a hobby for storytelling. Tom sawyer believed that it was his anecdotes about his own childhood that inspired Mark Twain to create a book on him. Finally Mark Twain said that the character of Tom sawyer was based on a mix of three real people---John B. Briggs, William Bowen and himself. In spite of this, the historical evidence shows that there might be a fourth, more prominent influencer. Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer have the common hobbies EXCEPT _ .
<extra_id_0>gambling
<extra_id_1>drinking
<extra_id_2>storytelling
<extra_id_3>drawing
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<extra_id_5>James Stallman Rockefeller, the oldest-known U. S. Olympic medal winner and the former head of the bank that became Citigroup, died Tuesday. He was 102. Records of the U. S. Olympic Committee show that Rockefeller was the oldest American medal winner. He was the captain of Yale University's eight-man rowing team with coxswain that won gold at the 1924 Paris Olympics - beating the Canadian team by less than 16 seconds. The oars from the winning race and the gold medal were prominently displayed in Rockefeller's house. "I think he was really proud of that - probably more than the bank career," said his grandson. Rockefeller suffered a stroke on Thursday, said his grandson, who lived with him at his Greenwich home for two years, attributed his long life to a regimented lifestyle: breakfast at eight a. m. , lunch at 1 p. m. , cocktails at 6 p. m. and dinner promptly at 7 p. m. . He liked plain food, without sauces or cheese, and plenty of fresh vegetables, including those grown in the garden of his estate. Rockefeller was in good health until shortly before he died. He drove his car up until last year and would review documents from the various charities and businesses he helped lead. Rockefeller, born on June 8, 1902, was a grandson of William Rockefeller, who founded Standard Oil with his brother, John D. Rockefeller. He graduated from Yale in 1924 and served in the Airborne Command during World War II. He started at the bank, and then called the National City Bank, in 1930, following his uncle and grandfather, who were leaders of the bank. He became president in 1952, chairman in 1959 and retired in 1967. In 1955, under Rockefeller's leadership, the bank merged with the First National Bank of New York to form Citigroup. Rockefeller also was a director of numerous companies, including Pan American Airways, Northern Pacific Railroad, NCR and Monsanto, and served on the boards of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the American Museum of Natural History. Rockefeller and his wife. Nancy Carnegie Rockefeller, had four children. His wife died in 1994. What we can infer from the passage is that _ .
<extra_id_0>James Stallman Rockefeller is a great Olympic medal winner.
<extra_id_1>James Stallman Rockefeller was in good health until he died.
<extra_id_2>James Stallman Rockefeller was very active in American society.
<extra_id_3>James Stallman Rockefeller was the only grandson of William Rockefeller.
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<extra_id_5>The best thing about going to school is learning how to read. Books are great friends. They can help you to learn about anything you want to know. They can go anywhere with you. You can read about animals, faraway places, people, and anything else. Books are written by people called authors . Authors think of things they want to write about. They make a plan for a book and start to write .Some authors write books that give us information and teach us things. Authors are very important people because they help us learn. Find a good book to read and read every day ,You will enjoy your time with a good book. .Authors are important people because _ .
<extra_id_0>they sing great songs
<extra_id_1>they help us learn
<extra_id_2>they take time to play
<extra_id_3>they have animals
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<extra_id_5>When I arrived, it was early morning and it was raining. I looked to the east--the sky was becoming grey. I got out of the car, went through a gate and walked along a dark path. There was nothing to see, but I knew it was there. After about a mile, a stranger appeared beside the path. "Am I going the right way?" I asked. He knew where I was going. "Yes," he replied. "you'll get there in five minutes." Finally, I came to some rocks and stopped. I looked over them, but it was silent and there was no sign of it. Suddenly, the rain stopped and the clouds cleared. The sun rose behind me and shone on the rocks. Far below me, the ground fell away and down to a river. I was looking across one of the wonders of the natural world -the Grand Canyon. I looked down to the Colorado River, a silver stream nearly one mile below me. If you put the two tallest buildings in the world on top of each other at the bottom of the canyon, they still would not reach the top. Then I looked across to the other side of the canyon. It was about fifteen miles away, maybe more. Finally, I looked to my left and to my right, and on both sides the canyon went far away for more than 200 miles. The Grand Canyon was not just big. It was huge! I remained by the canyon for about half an hour, and I asked myself, "Is the Grand Canyon the greatest wonder of the natural world?" I certainly know the answer. What do you think? Where does the passage most probably come from?
<extra_id_0>A magazine
<extra_id_1>A grammar book
<extra_id_2>A dictionary
<extra_id_3>A storybook
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<extra_id_5>On Tuesday,a new study published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation:Heart Failure revealed that women who ate five or more dishes of baked fish a month had a thirty percent lower risk of heart failure in comparison to women who ate less than one dish a month. Researchers examined the diets of 84,493 women,whose ages ranged from 50 to 79.The women who had eaten lots of baked fish like salmon ,were more healthy than those who mostly ate tuna or white fish. Eating baked fish also appeared to provide a protection against high blood pressure. The study also found that those women who ate more baked fish were likely to have a lower weight,exercise more and eat more fruits and vegetables in comparison to those who ate fried fish. Researchers noted that past research had discovered the fatty acids in fish probably decreased the risk of high blood pressure by improving blood pressure along with heart and blood functioning. This study showed the link between eating fish and heart failure risk but it was not designed to show cause and effect. This study also showed that just by eating one dish of fried fish a week led to a 49% greater risk of heart failure,and eating fried fish led to lower fiber intake and higher calorie intake. The American Heart Association suggested eating a minimum of two dishes of fish especially fatty fish each week. According to this passage,which one is correct?
<extra_id_0>The fatty acids in fish can make one's heart bigger.
<extra_id_1>Eating fish probably helps you take in more calories
<extra_id_2>The fatty acids in fish can improve blood functioning.
<extra_id_3>The fatty acids in fish can raise blood pressure.
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<extra_id_5>The television news feature about Ben Heckmann, an eighth grader from Farmington, Minn, was breathless in its praise. "At 14, he has accomplished something many adults can't achieve," the reporter said, "Ben is a twice-published author." But Ben's two "Velvet Black" books, describing a fictional rock band, were not picked from a pile of manuscripts by an eagle eyed publisher. They were self-published, at the cost of $400 by Ben's parents. Over the past five years, print-on-demand technology and a growing number of self publishing companies whose books can be sold online have inspired writers of all ages to avoid the traditional gatekeeping system for determining who could call himself a "published author." The mothers and fathers who foot the bill say they are simply trying to encourage their children, in the same way that other parents buy equipment for a promising baseball player. But others see self-publishing as a lost opportunity to teach children about hardship and perseverance. Mr. Robbins, a critic, thinks it is wonderful to start writing at a young age, but worries self-publishing sends the wrong message. "There are no prodigies in literature," he said. "Literature requires experience, in a way that mathematics and music do not." Alan Rinzler, a publishing industry veteran, suggested parents hire a professional editor like him to work with their child to tear a manuscript apart and help make a better. Ben's father, Ken, said Ben's ambitions "weren't to knockHarry Potteroff the list," but "to get that good feeling inside that you've done something." Ajla Dizdarevic, 12, who has self-published two books of poetry, has been on television and in local newspapers. "Being a published author," she said, "was always a dream of mine." Her new dream: three books by age 15. Why do some children self-publish works according to the last part?
<extra_id_0>Just to achieve their dreams.
<extra_id_1>Just to earn more money.
<extra_id_2>Just to gain self-confidence.
<extra_id_3>Just to satisfy their parents.
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<extra_id_5>Paul had just left college and was offered an interview for a position in a company in New York. As he needed to move from Texas to New York if he got the job, he wanted to talk about the decision with someone before accepting it. But his parents had died. He remembered that his father had suggested he should turn to an old friend of his family if he needed advice. The older man said, "Go to New York and have the interview. But I want you to go on a train and I want you to get a private compartment . Don't take anything to write with, anything to listen to or anything to read, and don't talk to anybody except when you order the meal. Call me when you get to New York and I will tell you what to do next." At first, Paul followed the advice closely. The trip took two days. As he had brought along nothing to do, he quickly became bored. He realized he was being forced into quite time - he could do nothing but think. About three hours outside New York City he broke the rules, asked for a pencil and paper and kept writing down the thoughts until the train arrived in New York. Paul called the family friend from the train station. "Thank you, Uncle I know what you wanted. You wanted me to think. And now I know what to do.""I guessed you could understand my idea, Paul," came the reply, "Good luck." Now, years later, Paul runs a company in New York. And he always spends a couple of days being alone with no phone, no television and no people to think quietly. Paul would go to New York for _ .
<extra_id_0>a conference
<extra_id_1>a visit
<extra_id_2>education
<extra_id_3>an interview
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<extra_id_5>Recently, an almost literal case of lifeboat ethics occurred. On Aug. 4, Graham and Sheryl Anley, while boating off the coast of South Africa, hit a rock. As the boat threatened to sink the husband got off, but his wife was trapped in the boat. Instead of freeing his wife and getting her to shore, Graham grabbed Rosie, their pet dog. With Rosie safe and sound, Graham returned for Sheryl. All are doing fine. It's a great story, but it doesn't strike me as especially newsworthy. News is supposed to be about something fairly unique, and recent research suggests that, in the right circumstances, lots of people also would have grabbed their Rosie first. We have strange relationships with our pets. We lavish our pets with adoration and better health care than billions of people receive. We speak to pets with the same high-pitched voices that we use for babies. As an extreme example of our feelings about pets, the Nazis had strict laws that guaranteed the humane treatment of the pets of Jews being shipped to death camps. A recent paper by George Regents University demonstrates this human involvement with pets to an astonishing extent. Participants in the study were told a situation in which a bus is out of control, bearing down on a dog and a human. Which do you save? With responses from more than 500 people, the answer was that it depended: What kind of human and what kind of dog? Everyone would save a brother, grandparent or close friend rather than a strange dog. But when people considered their own dog versus people less connected with them--a distant cousin or a hometown stranger--votes in favor of saving the dog came rolling in. And an astonishing 40% of respondents, including 46% of women, voted to save their dog over a foreign tourist. What does a finding like this mean? First, that your odds aren't so good if you find yourself in another country with a bus bearing down on you and a cute dog. But it also points to something deeper: our unprecedented attitude toward animals, which got its start with the birth of humane societies in the 19th century. We prison people who abuse animals, put ourselves in harm's way in boats between whales and whalers and show sympathy to Bambi and his mother. We can extend empathy to an animal and feel its pain like no other species. But let's not be too proud of ourselves. As this study and too much of our history show, we're pretty selective about how we extend our humaneness to other human beings. What does the author mainly argue for?
<extra_id_0>Pets are of great significance to us human beings.
<extra_id_1>We should rethink about our attitude towards animals and mankind.
<extra_id_2>It is kind of human beings to extend humaneness to animals.
<extra_id_3>We should be selective when showing attitude toward other human beings.
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<extra_id_5>Motown songwriter-producer Deke Richards,who was behind songs including The Jackson 5's first three US number one hits,has died aged 68. Richards,who had oesophageal cancer,died in a Washington state hospice ,Universal Music said.The musician,whose real name was Dennis Lussier,Was leader of the Motown songwriting,arranging and producing team--The Corporation.Their hits include The Jackson 5'S I Want You Back and ABC. Richards also co-wrote Love Child for Diana Ross and The Supremes,as well as Ross's solo track I'm Still Waiting.He produced and wrote for Martha Reeves and the Vamlellas and Bobby Darin. The Corporation,which consisted of Motown label head Berry Gordy,Alphonzo Mizell,Freddie Perren and Richards,was set up in 1969 to create hit records for the label's new act,The Jackson 5. They also wrote,produced and arranged the band's singles and Maybe Tomorrow and Mama's Pearl. According to Michael Jackson biographer,J.Randy Taraborrelli,Mama's Pearl was originally called Guess Who'S Making Whoopie(With Your Girlfriend). But Richards had the lyrics changed to preserve the young frontman's innocent image. The Hollywood Reporter said Richards' "love of music" kept him involved with a variety of projects,including last year'S production of The Jackson 5's Come and Get It:The Rare Pearls.featuring rare and unreleased tracks. Richards' final work was the mixing of eight unreleased tracks by Martha Reeves and The Vandellas for the band's 50th anniversary box set,which is to be released on 5 April. What Call we learn from the passage?
<extra_id_0>The Corporation has a history of more than 40 years.
<extra_id_1>The lyrics of Mama'S Pearl turned out to be a failure.
<extra_id_2>The lyrics of Mama'S Pearl Was changed by J.Randy Taraborrelli.
<extra_id_3>Richards said his own love of music kept him involved with many projects.
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<extra_id_5>Anne Sanders was practicing soccer moves, which was not normal. Usually, Anne only plays basketball. She wins every basketball game she plays, and she loses at any other game. "Anne", I waved to her. "Why are you playing soccer?" "Well, the gym teacher is doing something different," she said. "There are teams of four and partners of two.We get to pick our partners, and I want someone to pick me. "Anne held up a list. "It looks like I'm on a team with you, Stacey, and Paul," I said. "Stacey is my best friend.Maybe we can be together: " Just then, Stacey and Paul came over. They had heard of the teams. "Do you want to be partners, Stacey?" I asked. "Well, I was going to be partners with Paul," she claimed. I didn't blame her. Paul was as fast as a rocket, and my nickname was "Snail". "But we are best friends," said Stacey. "So I guess I'II be with you. " It was our first game. Stacey went to talk to some other friends afterwards, and Paul and Anne were talking about winning their game. I was sipping on my water, when I overheard Stacey, "She's worse than I thought; if I played the team alone,, I would have won easily. She's worse than a snail. She's more like a statue. " That night, I felt terrible for losing and mad at Stacey for calling me a statue. After all, she was my best friend and my only friend. Anyway, the phone rang, and it was Stacey. At first, I thought she might apologize, but no such luck. "Allison, the game tomorrow is canceled, " she said. "Okay," I replied. "Sorry about the game today", Stacey hung up on me. The next day, I went over to the soccer field. I knew the game was canceled, but maybe I could help clean up.But instead of a mess, I saw a soccer game in progress. Stacey and were playing, and Anne was hiding in the corner. "Paul made me pretend to be sick, " she whispered. "He wants to play with Stacey because she's so fast. " So Anne and I went to get ice cream. Even if I lost Stacey ,I just created a lifelong friendship. What did Stacey complain about Allison?
<extra_id_0>Allison called her nickname.
<extra_id_1>Allison was as fast as a rocket.
<extra_id_2>Allison didn't treat her as a best friend
<extra_id_3>Allison moved too slowly in the game.
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<extra_id_5>Recently, some concerns have been raised about the health of the world's banana plants. Many media reports have said that bananas may completely disappear in the coming ten years. Bananas are one of the world's most important food crops. They are also the fourth most valuable export. Bananas do not grow from seeds. Instead, they grow from existing plants. Bananas are threatened by disease because all the plants on a farm are copies of each other. They all share the same genetic weaknesses. For example, the Cavendish banana is most popular in American markets. It is an important export crop. However, some kinds of fungus organisms easily infect the Cavendish. Black Sigatoka disease affects the leaves of Cavendish banana plants. The disease is controlled on large farms by putting chemicals on the plant's leaves. Farmers put anti-fungal chemicals on their crops up to once a week. Another fungal disease is more serious. Panama disease attacks the roots of the banana plant. There is no chemical treatment for this disease. Infected plants must be destroyed. Panama disease has affected crops in Southeast Asia, Australia and South Africa. There is concern that it may spread to bananas grown in the Americas. This could threaten an important export product for Central and South America. The International Network for the Improvement of Banana and Plantain, whose headquarter lies in France, supports research on bananas. The group says that more research must be done to develop improved kinds of bananas. The group says that fungal diseases mainly affect only one kind of banana. In fact, there are five-hundred different kinds of bananas. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says the Cavendish banana represents only ten percent of world production. The UN agency says farmers should grow different kinds of bananas. This protects against diseases that affect only one kind. Experts warn that disease may cause the Cavendish banana to disappear. This has already happened to one popular banana because of its genetic weakness against disease. (words: 335) According to the passage, which information is right?
<extra_id_0>The Cavendish banana can be mainly imported from North America and Europe.
<extra_id_1>Fungal diseases mainly affect the Cavendish banana.
<extra_id_2>The Cavendish banana won't die out in the future.
<extra_id_3>Panama disease affects the leaves of banana plants.
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<extra_id_5>British potato farmers were angry and wanted the expression "couch potato" to be taken out of the dictionary because it harmed the vegetable's image. The British Potato Council wants the Oxford English Dictionary to replace the expression with the term "couch slouch", with protests being outside Parliament in London and the offices of Oxford University Press. Kathryn Race, head of marketing at the Council, which represents some 4,000 planters and processors, said the group had complained in writing to the OED but had yet to receive a response. "We are trying to get rid of the image that potatoes are bad for you," she said on Monday. "The potato has had its knocks in the past. Of course it is not the Oxford English Dictionary's fault but we want to use another term instead of "couch potato" because potatoes are naturally healthy." The OED says that "couch potato" began as American slang, meaning "a person who spends his or her leisure time sitting around, especially watching television or video tapes." The Potato Council says its campaign is backed by dieticians who say the vegetable is low in fat and high in vitamin C. Supporting the campaign, famous cook Antony Worrall Thompson said the vegetable was one of Britain's favorite foods. "Not only are they healthy, they are also convenient and yummy . Life without potato is like a sandwich without a filling," he said. John Simpson, chief editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, said the dictionary first included the term "couch potato" in 1993 and said "dictionaries just reflect the words that society uses." Simpson said words were never taken out of the full-length dictionary, which includes some 650,000 words in 20 volumes. But little-used words can be removed from the smaller dictionaries to make way for newer ones. "If society stops using words then they get taken out of the smaller dictionaries," he added. The first known recorded use of the expression "couch potato" was in an article in Los Angeles Times, in 1979, Simpson said. Nigel Evans, a member of Parliament for the Ribble Valley in Lancashire, has made a motion in support of the campaign, highlighting the nutritional value of the British potato. John Simpson thinks that _ .
<extra_id_0>the expression can be taken out of every kind of dictionary
<extra_id_1>dictionaries do not necessarily reflect the words the society uses
<extra_id_2>little-used words can remain in the smaller dictionaries
<extra_id_3>it is impossible for them to take the expression out of the dictionary
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<extra_id_5>An incredible dog has mastered more than just the doggy paddle -- the golden brown pet helps disabled children learn how to surf. Ricochet's owner Judy Fridono said, "I was working with her at balance and coordination . Her balance is so good that she can help to stabilize the board for the kids. And it makes them feel good to know that Ricochet is there with them, keeping them company." After becoming an expert, two-year-old Ricochet helps the disabled children build up the confidence to get on the board themselves. Dressed in a yellow jacket, Ricochet helps to counter-balance the board and acts as a reassuring presence. Ms. Fridono knows what an impact her beloved dog can have. She herself was severely disabled since her teens. Having Ricochet around lifts her spirits, and inspires her to conquer her pain to get on the board. "Ricochet has taught me to focus on what I can do, rather than what I can't," she said. One of those who have benefited from Ricochet's skills is six-year-old Ian McFarland. In 2008 a car crash left him with brain damage. Although he had loved surfing before the accident, he was too nervous to go back into the water. His fear turned to excitement, when he was told he could try a tandem surf session with Ricochet. Their session was a success and by the end of it, Ian was smiling from ear to ear. As well as helping with treatments, Ricochet also raised PS5,000 to help continue Ian's recovery. Over the last 10 months, Ricochet's excellent performances on the sea have raised more than PS30,000 for a number of charity causes. According to the passage, Ricochet is _ .
<extra_id_0>a dog
<extra_id_1>a doctor
<extra_id_2>a dog owner
<extra_id_3>a disabled boy
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<extra_id_5>Living next to next is the principle of a neighbor. Good neighborliness is the ideal to be aimed at. As the saying goes, no man is an island; he has to live with his neighbors. To make life easy and pleasant, he must cooperate with his neighbors. Whether one likes it or not, one cannot do without neighbors. Normally one may think he can do without neighbors because he can manage all comforts and services, so the services or the need for a friend may not happen. However, the sympathy , admiration and appreciation which a neighbor may offer will have a great humanizing influence. To share one's view and sometimes even sadness, one needs some neighbors. But all neighbors are not always keeping the friendly relationship. Stresses and tension develop because of misunderstanding. Very often children may be the cause for tense feelings. The neighbor's son may pick a flower or a fruit from your garden and an argument may follow. Again he may throw his ball at your window breaking it. These are common cases so far as the younger one is concerned but it is for the elders to view them with calmness and make up for it. This may read easy on paper but not so in real life. But being broad minded, one must be able to tolerate . Another reason for tension may be the animals. Your neighbor's dog may be a real trouble or his chickens would come into your garden and eat away your plants. In all these cases to keep up good neighborliness, some understanding between the neighbors is important. _ Try to be friendly and the problem will not be difficult to solve. Care can at times play a good part and help the neighbors in a small or big way. Nobody is perfect and it is better not to speak ill of your neighbors. A cheerful word, a nod or a small talk will strengthen the feeling of good neighborliness. Neighborliness is not only for people but it is also largely important between neighboring countries. History has got a lot to teach on this. Unless countries learn to live as good neighbors, there cannot be peace on earth. So children must be taught at home and in the school to cooperate with the neighbors and be friendly with them. The basic rule is to give and take and to develop a sense that the other man has as much right as you do, and some degree of tolerance is very necessary. Which of the following may cause misunderstanding?
<extra_id_0>Hobbies and habits.
<extra_id_1>Children and pets.
<extra_id_2>Sports and games.
<extra_id_3>Likes and dislikes.
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<extra_id_5>Some people think that they have an answer to the problems of automobile crowding and pollution in large cities. Their answer is the bicycle, or bike. In a great many cities, hundreds of people ride bicycles to work every day. In New York City, some bike riders have even formed a group called "Bike for a Better City". They claim that if more people rode bicycles to work there would be fewer _ in the downtown section of the city and therefore less dirty air from car engines. For several years this group has been trying to get city government to help bicycle riders. For example, they want the city to paint special lanes--for bicycles only--on some of the main streets, because when bicycle riders must use the same lanes as cars, there may be accidents. "Bike for a Better City" feels that if there were special lanes, more people would use bikes. But no bicycle lanes have been painted yet. Not everyone thinks it is a good idea. Taxi drivers don't like the idea--they say it will slow traffic. Some store owners on the main streets don't like the idea--they say that if there is less traffic, they will have less business. And most people live too far from downtown to travel by bike. The city government has not yet decided what to do. It wants to keep everyone happy. On weekends, Central Park--the largest open place in New York--is closed to cars, and the roads may be used by bicycles only. But "Bike for a Better City" says that this is not enough and keeps fighting to get bicycle lanes downtown. Until that happens, the safest place to bicycle may be in the park. No bicycle lanes have been painted yet because _ .
<extra_id_0>the city government can't help to paint the lanes
<extra_id_1>the main streets are not wide enough
<extra_id_2>the idea isn't accepted by all
<extra_id_3>there's no need for most people to travel by bike
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<extra_id_5>Liz isn't happy. Her husband, Stephen, frequently changes jobs, and is unsure of what he wants to do. The new house they bought just a year ago seems like a prison to Liz, and Stephen says he wants to go back to college, she decides that it's the end of her patience with him. Now, since this happens quickly in the film, it's kind of like she just gives up on her husband without much of a fight. She's done, he still loves her, but she quickly moves on to a much younger actor who's starring in a play she wrote. She sees him on stage, and thinks he's saying the words only to her. They are in a relationship. But soon after, she decides that he's not for her. She's unhappy and feels dead inside, and the only way to fix herself is to take a year off and travel. Liz has three specific destinations in mind for her journey of self-discovery. First, it's Italy, where she can enjoy a lot of pasta and sees all the historical sites. Next, she'll head to India to spend time with her young boyfriend's favorite guru . And then she will finish her year off with a visit to Bali where she will reunite with a wise man who told her on a previous trip that she would have two marriages, lose her money, and then gain it back again. With no worries about money or work or responsibilities, she goes off, passing through the lives of various interesting people while telling anyone willing to listen that she's trying to find herself and get over the end of her marriage, which she gave up and immediately turned to another man to get over, who she then gave up on fairly quickly for no apparent reason. So says the film. By the end of the movie, she believes that she has healed herself and discovered what she needed to find out. Why did Liz leave Stephen so soon?
<extra_id_0>He no longer loved her.
<extra_id_1>There were a lot of fights between them.
<extra_id_2>He didn't focus on her.
<extra_id_3>She became impatient with him.
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<extra_id_5>Jimmy doesn't 1ike school and is always looking for excuses not to go.If he coughs,he asks his mother to write a note saying he has a cold . If he has a headache,he asks his mother to take him to the doctor during school hours.He spends more time at home than he does at school. Even when he is at school.he looks for excuses to go home early. One day he came home from school in the middle of the morning.His father was of course surprised to see him back so early. "You're home early.Jimmy,"he said"Is the school closed today?" "No.Dad,"Jimmy said."It's open.But I came home early." "How did you do this?"his father asked him."What did you say to the teacher?" "I told her that I had a new baby brother and I had to come home and help you.'' "But your mother has had twins." his father said."a boy and a girl. You have a baby brother and a baby sister." "Yes.I know, Dad."Jimmy said"I'm saving my baby sister for next week." One morning Jimmy's father was surprised because _ .
<extra_id_0>Jimmy came back early from school
<extra_id_1>Jimmy's school was closed
<extra_id_2>Jimmy's mother was ill
<extra_id_3>Jimmy's mother had two babies
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<extra_id_5>A beautiful woman took a plane on business. She found her seat and sat down next to a young man. The man was just thinking of making a few dollars on the plane. When he saw the woman, he got an idea. "Hey! Would you like to play a game?" he asked the woman. "No, thank you. I just want to take a nap ," the woman answered. "It's really easy. All you have to do is to answer the questions that I ask you. If you don't know the answer, you give me five dollars. If I don't know the answer to your question, then I'll give you five dollars." "No," the woman still refused. "OK. If I don't know the answer to your question, I'll give you five hundred dollars. How about that?" the man said. Then the woman became interested and decided to join in the game. "OK. How many moons does Jupiter have?" asked the young man. The woman reached into her purse and took out a five-dollar bill. "What goes up the mountain with three legs and comes back with four?" the woman asked. Then the young man took out his computer and searched the Internet for an answer. Minutes later, the young man handed five hundred dollars to the woman. After a few hours, the young man really wanted to know the answer to the question. So he asked the woman, "What is the answer to your question?" The woman reached into her purse and handed the young man a five-dollar bill. We can learn from the story that the woman is _ .
<extra_id_0>clever
<extra_id_1>friendly
<extra_id_2>polite
<extra_id_3>honest
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<extra_id_5>San Francisco has many museums. You can visit one and learn something new. We have art, science, history and other special museums. Some museums are open every day. Some are only open on certain days. Many museums are expensive, and others are free. But some of the expensive ones have free days . Many museums have websites. The websites usually have information about the things you can see in the museums. On a museum's website you can get information about ticket prices and free days. You can also know where the museum is and when it is open. Sometimes the information is on the first page, and it's very easy for you to find. But sometimes you have to click on the words like Visit Information, or About to find the information. That will be hard work for you. Some museums in San Francisco are open every day, but some are only open _ .
<extra_id_0>on weekdays
<extra_id_1>on weekends
<extra_id_2>on certain days
<extra_id_3>on holidays
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<extra_id_5>It's such a happy-looking library, painted yellow, decorated with palm-tree stickers and sheltered from the Florida sun by its own roof. About the size of a microwave oven, it's pedestrian-friendly, too, waiting for book lovers next to a sidewalk in Palm Beach country Estates, along the northern boundary of Palm Beach Gardens. It's a library built with love. A year ago, shortly after Janey Henriksen saw a Brian Williams report about the Little Free Library organization, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit that aims to promote literacy and build a sense of community in a neighborhood by making books freely available, she announced to her family of four, "That's what we're going to do for our spring break!" Son Austin, now a 10th-grader, didn't see the point of building a library that resembles a mailbox. But Janey insisted, and husband Peter unwillingly got to work. The 51-year-old owner of a ship supply company modified a small wooden house that he'd built years earlier for daughter Abbie's toy horses, and made a door of glass. After adding the library's final touches , the family hung a signboard on the front, instructing users to "take a book, return a book," and making the Henriksen library, now one of several hundred like it nationwide and among more than 2,500 in the world, the only Little Free Library in Palm Beach County. ks5u They stocked it with 20 or so books they'd already read, a mix of science fiction, reference titles, novels and kids' favorites. "I told them, keep in mind that you might not see it again," said Janey, a stay-at-home mom. Since then, the collection keeps replenishing itself, thanks to ongoing donations from borrowers. The library now gets an average of five visits a day. The project's best payoff, says Peter, are the thank-you notes left behind. "We had no idea in the beginning that it would be so popular." (317 words) The passage tells us that the users _ .
<extra_id_0>donate books to the library
<extra_id_1>get paid to collect books for the library
<extra_id_2>receive thank-you notes for using the library
<extra_id_3>visit the library over 5 times on average daily
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<extra_id_5>Have you ever walked to the shops, only to find when you get there that you've completely forgotten what you go for? Or have you struggled to remember the name of an old friend? For years, we've accepted that a forgetful brain is as much a part of aging as wrinkles and grey hair. But now a new book suggests we've got _ all wrong. According to The Secret Life Of The Grown-up Brain, by science writer, Barbara Strauch, our brains actually get better with age. In fact, she argues many new studies have found that the brain hits its peak between our 40s and 60s --much later than previously thought. Furthermore, not losing many brain cells as we age, we preserve them, and even produce new ones well into middle age. For years it's been accepted that the brain, much like the body, got worse with age. But the longest, largest study into what happens to people as they age suggests otherwise. This continuing research has followed 6,000 people since 1956, testing them every seven years. It has found that, on average, they performed better in cognitive tests in their late 40s and 50s than they had in their 20s. Specifically, older people did better in tests of vocabulary, spatial orientation skills, verbal memory (how many words you can remember) and problem solving. Where they were weaker was in numeracy (how quickly one can multiply, add, subtract and divide) and the speed at which they could move. However, with harder tasks, such as problem-solving and language, we are at our best at middle age and beyond. In short, researchers are going to come up with scientific evidence that we do get wiser with age. What is the author's purpose of writing this passage?
<extra_id_0>To suggest ways to preventing aging.
<extra_id_1>To help us know more about brain cells.
<extra_id_2>To introduce a new research about aging.
<extra_id_3>To tell us that we can get wiser with age.
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<extra_id_5>Debate: Can stricter gun control laws decrease the rate of crimes involving guns? Yes, because with fewer weapons, you get fewer crimes. Take a look at the crime rates of countries like the United Kingdom. Their crime rate is very low, compared to ours here in the United States. Just by simply putting stricter laws in place on who can own them, it will greatly reduce the crimes involving guns. Posted by: 5h4yGlory Past Practice There was an assault weapon ban back in 1994 under Bill Clinton. Shootings and crime did not go down for the 10 years when this law was in effect. Criminals do not follow rules. The law only affects those who try to obey the law to arm them to protect themselves. Posted by: jb1988 Wake up, you Americans! It's hardly surprising that America has one of the highest gun related murder rates of all countries! And of course guns don't kill people, but the more people own guns, the easier it is to get access to one, the higher the chance of people using it to kill somebody is! In Germany, we have really strict gun laws and only a few people own guns, and obviously we don't need them. There's no reason that a normal citizen would need a gun! Guns are made for one reason only: killing. Posted by: cstephie13 More gun control laws, fewer shootings On the same day as the Sandy Hook tragedy, a man in China entered a primary school with a knife and injured 22 students on December, 14. However, nobody was killed. Compare that to the 26 students and teachers killed at Sandy Hook in Connecticut with a powerful gun. We must learn something from this tragedy. Posted by: Jasonx986 Gun violence goes up with more gun control Criminals will take advantage of the situation. They will do whatever they want and take whatever they want and kill whoever gets in their way. They will get guns illegally. Crime rates go up as a result of more gun control, because criminals know you don't have one, and they will kill you as they like. There is no point in banning guns! Posted by: eebnflow According to the first post, in the United Kingdom _ .
<extra_id_0>the crime rate is higher than America's
<extra_id_1>the crime rate is rising sharply
<extra_id_2>there is no gun control laws
<extra_id_3>buying guns is very hard
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<extra_id_5>Sometime in the next century, the familiar early-newspaper on the front porch will disappear. And instead of reading your newspaper, it will read to you. You'll get up and turn on the computer newspaper just like switching on the TV An electronic voice will distribute stories about the latest events, guided by a program that selects the type of news you want. You'll even get to choose the kind of voice you want to hear. Want more information on this brief story? A simple touch makes the entire text appear. Save it in your own personal computer if you like. These are among the predictions from communication experts working on the newspapers of the future. Pictured as part of broader home-based media and entertainment systems, computer newspapers will unite print and broadcast reporting, and offer news and analysis with video images of news events. Most of the technology is available now, but convincing more people that they don't need to read a newspaper is the next step. But resistance to computer newspapers may be stronger from within journalism. Since it is such a cultural change, it may be that the present generation of journalists and publishers will have to die off before the next generation realizes that the newspaper industry is no longer a newspaper industry. Technology is making the end of ' traditional newspapers unavoidable. Despite technological advances, it could take decades to replace newsprint with computer screens. It might take 30 t0 40 years to complete the changeover because people need to buy computers and because newspapers have established financial interests in the paper industry. Which of the following is a reason why it will take a long time to complete the changeover?
<extra_id_0>The technology is impossible now.
<extra_id_1>Computer newspaper s are too expensive.
<extra_id_2>The popularization of computers needs a long time.
<extra_id_3>Traditional newspapers are easier to read.
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<extra_id_5>Archery is one of the oldest sports that are still beingpracticed today. The bow and arrow dates as far back as the Old StoneAge, and is the most widely used weapon in human history. While there is recorded evidence of archery competitions taking place in China more than 3,000 years ago, the modern sport of archery most likely originated in England during the 14th century. Then the sport began to develop fast and there were a few different styles of shooting, some of which developed into what we see today in the sport of archery. There was clout shooting, in which arrows were held high into the air with the purpose of hitting a target which was laid flat, not vertical. The aim was to land the arrow as close to the target as possible. This variety of shooting is still practiced today, often with traditional bows. "Roving marks", another style, saw players shooting at a target, only to shoot at a new target from the location of the previous target. It is said that this is the oldest form of competitive archery, and was practiced by Henry VIII. Finally, there was butt shooting, in which butts held targets, which the players would shoot at. This is the ancestor of modern-day Olympic target shooting. Archery was a part of the second Olympic Games, which was held in 1900. It was dropped after 1920, however, because rules varied too much between nations. Archery was brought back into the Olympics in 1972. This was after enough nations had formed archery governing bodies affiliated with the Federation Internationale de Tir l'Arc, which was founded in Paris in 1931, to standardize rules for international competitions. From its early history to modern times, archery has always been a competitive sport. Surely, many years from now archery will continue to be a popular sport reaching across age gaps and national borders, uniting archery lovers from all over the world. According to the text, archery _ .
<extra_id_0>was already very common in the Old Stone Age
<extra_id_1>could be seen around Europe in the 14th century
<extra_id_2>was recorded as a sport in China over 3,000 years ago
<extra_id_3>disappeared from the Olympics after 1920 because of war
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<extra_id_5>Which animal interacts most with a peony?
<extra_id_0>human
<extra_id_1>bee
<extra_id_2>elephant
<extra_id_3>worm
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<extra_id_5>Feeling exhausted and hopeless, I began walking to my car. Every step seemed tiring, and every step was another to survive. As I looked up into the sky I thought about how my grandmother had left me, and my anger began to return. I was annoyed by the loss, and my belief in God was beginning to fade. I couldn't understand why these things happened. So as I stood in a public parking lot a million questions formed in my mind. Why did this happen to me? Aren't we supposed to get signs from the people that pass on? Why did I not feel her presence anymore? Is there a heaven? Suddenly, a woman driving right by my side rolled down her window and distracted my unanswered thoughts. "Excuse me, excuse me, excuse me," she said loudly. Thinking she was going to ask for my parking spot, I simply pointed to my car. The thought of having to say where my car was seemed like too much to bear. "No, excuse me," she said again. At this point, I felt I had no choice but to see what this annoying lady wanted. As I got closer, I was startled--was this my grandmother's nurse, Adu, who lived with her during her final months? I soon realized that she wasn't, although the resemblance was unusual. Then, I realized that this Adu was searching for something in her bag. Surprisingly, I was overcome by a sense of relief that led me to be patient the entire time the lady was searching. Others would be nervous by a stranger reaching in their bag, but I wasn't. She finally reached to the very bottom of her bag and handed me a three-page booklet. "It looks like you need this," she said calmly with a warm smile on her face. I looked down at the mysterious and obviously used booklet and on the front cover in big bold letters read "What Hope for Dead Loved Ones?" It took me only a few seconds to comprehend the exchange with this woman, but by the time I looked up, she was gone. I walked slowly into my car holding the tiny little book that was given to me with fear that it would fly away in the wind. I didn't know what it was exactly, but I knew that if my grandmother had anything to do with that I didn't want to let it go. I felt a sense of relaxation as I opened the first page. It explained how people pass on, but their spirit remains with us. This was the first time since my grandma had passed that I felt her with me, just like I had wanted. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but I did know that I finally felt happiness from the surprising change in events. I couldn't, and still can't, believe what had happened to me on that day. I don't remember the specific details that you usually hear about like what the person was wearing, the time of day, or even the weather, but it doesn't matter. It was a random day in November when my life turned back around and I began to feel hope again. It was real. It was a miracle. And, I'll remember it for the rest of my life. What can we learn about the author's grandmother?
<extra_id_0>She often made the author angry.
<extra_id_1>She left nothing to the author.
<extra_id_2>She was kind to the author.
<extra_id_3>She lost faith in God.
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<extra_id_5>Which of these can you use as much as you'd like of without diminishing it at all?
<extra_id_0>natural gas
<extra_id_1>sunlight
<extra_id_2>good will
<extra_id_3>fossil fuels
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<extra_id_5>When women sit together to watch a movie on TV, they usually talk simultaneously about a variety of subjects, including children, men, careers and what's happening in their lives. When groups of men and women watch a movie together, the men usually end up telling the women to shut up. Men can either talk or watch the screen--they can't do both--and they don't understand that women can. Besides, women consider that the point of all getting together is to have a good time and develop relationships--not just to sit there like couch potatoes staring at the screen. During the ad breaks, a man often asks a woman to explain the plot and tell him where the relationship between the characters is going. He is unable, unlike women, to read the subtle body language signals that reveal how the characters are feeling emotionally. Since women originally spent their days with the other women and children in the group, they developed the ability to communicate successfully in order to maintain relationships. For a woman, speech continues to have such a clear purpose: to build relationships and make friends. For men, to talk is to relate the facts. Men see the telephone as a communication tool for sending facts and information to other people, but a woman sees it as a means of bonding . A woman can spend two weeks on vacation with her girlfriend and, when she returns home, telephone the same girlfriend and talk for another two hours. There is no convincing evidence that social conditioning, the fact that girls' mothers talked to them more, is the reason why girls talk more than boys. Psychiatrist Dr Michael Lewis, author of Social Behaviour and Language Acquisition, conducted experiments that found mothers talked to, and looked at, baby girls more often than baby boys. Scientific evidence shows parents respond to the brains of their children. Since a girl's brain is better organized to send and receive speech, we therefore talk to them more. Consequently, mothers who try to talk to their sons are usually disappointed to receive only short grunts in reply. While watching TV with others, women usually talk a lot because they _ .
<extra_id_0>are afraid of awkward silence with their families and friends
<extra_id_1>can both talk and watch the screen at the same time
<extra_id_2>think they can have a good time and develop relationships
<extra_id_3>have to explain the plot and body language to their husbands
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<extra_id_5>Topping the class academically was certainly an advantage. For Nigel, studying was a piece of cake. The reward was certainly much bigger compared to the little effort Nigel had made. It all began when he was selected to help the teachers in the computer laboratories. And the peak of his school career came not when he topped the class but when he was selected for the nationwide competition. Unlike everyone else, Nigel wanted to join in the contest because he liked playing with the Lego sets and making something out of them. Nigel spent two months building his robot. It was during the time that Nigel found out about the big prize for the competition as well as a competitive rival , Alicia, from a neighboring school. His early intentions were forgotten. Getting the thousand-dollar prize was more important than anything else. Nigel decided to make friends with Alicia. Unaware of his intentions, she told him all about the robot that she had been building for the competition. He even helped her to put the finishing touches to her robot. He was glad with the way things had progressed. His robot looked even better than Alicia's and it was able to play a ball with its arm, something Alicia had failed to do. On the day of the competition, he saw Alicia. Everything became clear the minute she saw him among the competitors. She stared at him, puzzled at first, then angry and finally a look of helplessness came over her. The flashbulbs of the camera exploded in Nigel's face. The robot had performed actions so unique and different that the specialists' judgments were the same. Nigel was so pleased with himself that he did not even notice the girl standing a few feet away from him. Without her, he would never have won the competition. What reward did Nigel receive for doing well in his school work?
<extra_id_0>He was offered a part-time job.
<extra_id_1>He was honored with a scholarship.
<extra_id_2>He helped his teachers build a robot.
<extra_id_3>He helped in the computer laboratories.
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<extra_id_5>A: Hello! B: Hi, is that Paul? This is Nick, your new classmate. A: Hi, Nick! Where are you? B: At home. There's a new movie at the Capital Cinema . Do you Know? A: Yes, I do. Do you like going to movies? B: Yes, very much. I usually go to movies with my parents on Sunday. A: What kind of movies do you like? B: Action movies. How about you? A: I don't often go to movies. I like watching TV or VCD at home. B: That's different from seeing the movie at the cinema . Let's go to the movie this evening, OK? A: Sorry, I'm going to a concert with my mother this evening. What about tomorrow afternoon? B: OK. See you after lunch tomorrow. A: Bye-bye. Paul and Nick are going to _ .
<extra_id_0>the new movie this evening
<extra_id_1>a concert this evening
<extra_id_2>the new movie tomorrow
<extra_id_3>have lunch at the cinema
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<extra_id_5>If you think you're too shy and want to be a little bit brave, try the following: You can make it. Tell people you're shy. There's no need to hide it. When they get to know you're a shy kid, they'll understand you better. This also helps you feel more relaxed in talks. Try to smile more. When you smile, people think you're friendly and easy to talk to. Remember that other people have feelings too and most people will stay away from an angry-looking face. Learn to be a good talker. If you find it hard to start talks, say something nice about people around you. Think about how great you feel when someone says something nice to you. Doesn't it make you want to keep talking to that person? Get your attention elsewhere . Think more about ways to enjoy parties or games. Don't waste time worrying about your look or whether people like you or not. Take one small step at a time. Each time when you say "Hi" or smile at someone, say to yourself "You did it". Keep trying and one day you'll never feel shy when you talk about yourself. How many pieces of advice does the passage give us?
<extra_id_0>Four.
<extra_id_1>Five.
<extra_id_2>Six.
<extra_id_3>Seven.
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<extra_id_5>USA Today Subscription Options: 2 months (43 issues)$50. 00 6 months (130 issues)$152. 00 1 year (260 issues)$275. 00 Shipping is always free. Giving a gift? Add the magazine to your cart, and on the next page check the box marked "this will be a gift". You can also find this option if you enter "edit your shopping cart". Enter your gift receiver's address during the checkout process. After placing your order, look for the "Send Magazine Gift Notification" on the order confirmation page, or go directly to the Magazine Subscription Manager. In Magazine Subscription Manager, you'll see gift notification options to the right of each magazine you've bought. You can schedule a gift email or print a gift note. Product Description USA Today" provides you with daily information of the top News, Money, Sports and Life news across the country and around the world with fair and honest reports, powerful pictures, and a quick, simple format. The Nation's NO.1 newspaper keeps you knowing a thing or two with news influencing your life. Privacy &Security In order to complete the deal, we will share the name, billing and shipping address and other order information about your purchase with the publisher or magazine seller. Your name and address will also be shared with a circulation-auditing organization. We may share your email with the publisher, but you can know how it will be used in Subscription Manager. We will not share your credit card information. How much should people pay for a month if they buy the newspaper for a half year?
<extra_id_0>About $ 22. 7.
<extra_id_1>About $ 25.
<extra_id_2>About $ 25. 3.
<extra_id_3>About $ 26. 2.
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<extra_id_5>Painting, the execution of forms and shapes on a surface by means of pigment , has been continuously practiced by humans for some 20,000 years. Together with other activities that may have been ritualistic but have come to be considered as artistic (such as music or dance), painting was one of the earliest ways in which man sought to express his own personality and his emerging understanding of an existence beyond the material world. Unlike music and dance, however, examples of early forms of painting have survived to the present day. And painting, like other arts, exhibits universal qualities that make it easy for viewers of all nations and civilizations to understand and appreciate. The major extant examples of early painting anywhere in the world are found in Western Europe and the Soviet Union. But some 5,000 years ago, the areas in which important paintings were executed shifted to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and neighboring regions. Therefore, Western shared a European cultural tradition ----the Middle East and Mediterranean Basin and, later, the countries of the New World. Western painting is in general distinguished by its concentration on the representation of the human figure, whether in the heroic context of antiquity or the religious context of the early Christian and medieval world. The Renaissance extended this tradition through a close examination of the natural world and an investigation of balance, harmony, and perspective in the visible world, linking painting to the developing sciences of anatomy and optics . The first real break from figurative painting came with the growth of landscape painting in the 17th and 18th centuries. The landscape and figurative traditions developed together in the 19th century in an atmosphere that was increasingly concerned with "painterly" qualities of the interaction of light and color1 and the expressive qualities of paint handling. In the 20th century these interests contributed to the development of a third major tradition in Western painting, abstract painting, which sought to uncover and express the true nature of paint and painting through action and form. What makes it possible for Western to share a European cultural tradition?
<extra_id_0>The examples of early painting found in Western Europe and the Soviet Union.
<extra_id_1>The shift of the areas where important paintings were created.
<extra_id_2>The Middle East and Mediterranean Basin.
<extra_id_3>The countries of the New World.
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<extra_id_5>Do you know that in some parts of the world, people build temporary hotels made of snow and blocks of ice? These are known as ice hotels. Unlike usual hotels, all the rooms in the ice hotels are made of ice. In some ice hotels, even the glasses for drinks are made of ice blocks. So they only serve cold drinks. Also, hot food is not served in the ice hotels, but guests can eat hot food at places nearby. To keep warm, guests sleep in comfortable sleeping bags on ice blocks that are covered by mattresses and reindeer skins . There are some places in the ice hotels that are heated, such as the bathrooms. This is because, even though it is not as cold in the ice hotels as it is outdoors , indoor temperatures are still very low. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the ice hotels is that they are rebuilt every year. They can be used only during the winter months. The ice hotels melt away when spring arrives. The ice blocks used to build these hotels are from nearby rivers. So, when the ice hotels melt away, they melt back into the rivers. Why are bathrooms heated in the ice hotels?
<extra_id_0>Guests want to eat in them.
<extra_id_1>Indoor temperature are very low.
<extra_id_2>Guests ask the hotels to do that.
<extra_id_3>It is as cold indoors as it is outdoors.
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<extra_id_5>For Chinese students the end of their senior year is filled with studying and stress as they prepare for the college entrance exams in June. The end of senior year is a celebration of their time in high school and involves parties, games and fun. Senioritis is a commonly used expression. It means seniors have a disease which makes them unable to do work. This starts in April when seniors find out whether they have been accepted to university. Unwilling to do school work, seniors have plenty of other activities to focus on.Many schools have a "Senior Show", in which only seniors are allowed to perform. Some seniors sing or dance but many of them perform skits , where they make fun of their favorite teachers or their friends. For example, a group of boys may dress up and imitate a group of their girl friends. It is all very light-hearted.The "Senior Show" is usually a part of Senior Week, which is a week specifically dedicated to seniors. During this week, seniors usually get academic or athletic awards they have won over their high school careers. The seniors also vote for one of their male and female classmates who they believe is the best-looking or funniest or most involved, etc. These are then published in the yearbook. The yearbook is an important part of high school for seniors. It is usually dedicated to them and has all their pictures and some words from them in it. Then seniors go around and get it signed by their friends so they can always remember their time together. Of course during all of this time, seniors are preparing for the Senior Prom , which is an important moment in American culture. It is the most important dance in a young American's life. The end of senior year is a truly special and wonderful time for American students. It's something they will remember for the rest of their lives. Why are seniorities unable to do work?
<extra_id_0>Because they have a "disease".
<extra_id_1>Because they are busy for the university.
<extra_id_2>Because it is illegal for them to work.
<extra_id_3>There's too much for them to learn in high school.
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<extra_id_5>We live in a sweet world. The average American kid eats more than 20 teaspoons of sugar per day, and adults eat 50% more sugar today than they did in the 1970s. We all know that too much sugar isn't good for you. But did we know it could be dangerous? A team of researchers at the University of Utah used mice to do a study on the bad effects of sugar. They found it could have serious effects on people's health. Sugar is found not only in sweets and candies, but also in many household items like pasta and crackers. During the 58-week-long study, mice were fed a diet containing 25% more sugar. This percentage equals a healthy human diet along with three cans of soda daily. The team found that these mice were twice as likely to die as mice fed a similar diet without the sugar. Though the mice did not show signs of obesity or high blood pressure, male mice produced 25% fewer offspring than the other mice. Scientists often use mice for research because they have a similar genetic structure to humans. "Since most substances that are dangerous in mice are also dangerous in people, it's likely that those physical problems that cause those mice to have increased deaths also work in people,"says study author James Ruff of the University of Utah. Findings from this study show bad effects that are not as noticeable as weight gain or heart problems. Sugar can contribute to long-term changes in the body that can change development and even shorten lives. Cutting sugar out of the American diet altogether may be difficult. But making the effort to control our nation's sugar need will provide for a truly sweeter future. What's the best title of the passage?
<extra_id_0>Living a sweet life
<extra_id_1>Kids eat much more sugar
<extra_id_2>Genetic structure of humans
<extra_id_3>Danger of too much sugar
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<extra_id_5>.Chris is not a traditional explorer --he usually works in an office for a large organization. However, Chris' job can be just as exciting and dangerous as being an explorer. Chris works for MSF, an organization also known as Doctors Without Border . Since 1971, MFS has sent trained doctors all over the world to help people who have suffered from disasters, such as wars and illnesses. Chris is a doctor from France who has traveled to many places to organize programs that help people. At the moment, over 27,000 trained doctors have taken part in MSF projects. The organization received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. All kinds of doctors can volunteer for MSF. They need to be ready to go almost anywhere in the world and, of course, they should face difficulties. Most of MSF's work is in Africa. When MSF chooses a doctor for a task, they have to go for at least six months. When doctors have completed a few tasks, they might be sent on an emergency task following a disaster, such as an earthquake. But why would doctors leave a comfortable life and a good pay to join MSF? According to Chris, the experience they have is a great help in their life. What's more, just like the explorers of the past, they need to keep an open mind and learn to get on well with the people they meet. One thing that they can say at the end of any task is that they have made a real difference to people's lives. What is the main idea of this passage?
<extra_id_0>Chris is a doctor who has organized programs to help people.
<extra_id_1>MSF received the Nobel Peace Prize for helping poor countries.
<extra_id_2>Volunteer doctors make a real difference to their own lives in MSF.
<extra_id_3>MSF offers medical help to people who have suffered from disasters.
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<extra_id_5>Life is difficult. It is a great truth because once we truly understand and accept it. Then life is no longer difficult. Most do not fully see this truth. Instead they complain about their problems and difficulties as if life should be easy. It seems to them that difficulties represent a special kind of suffering especially forced upon them or else upon their families, their class, or even their nation. What makes life difficult is that the process of facing and solving problems is a painful one. Problems, depending on their nature, cause us sadness, or loneliness or regret or anger or fear. These are uncomfortable feelings, often as painful as any kind of physical pain. And since life causes an endless series of problems, life is always difficult and is full of pain as well as joy. Yet, it is in this whole process of solving problems that life has its meaning. Problems are the serious test that tells us success from failure. When we desire to encourage the growth of human spirit, we encourage the human ability to solve problems, just as in school we set problems for our children to solve. It is through the pain of meeting and working out problems that we learn. As Benjamin Franklin said, "Those things that hurt, instruct." It is for this reason that wise people learnt not to fear but to welcome the pain of problems. According to the passage, we give school children difficult problems to solve in order to _ .
<extra_id_0>encourage them to learn
<extra_id_1>teach them to fear the pain of solving the problem
<extra_id_2>help them learn to deal with pain
<extra_id_3>teach them how to escape from problems
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<extra_id_5>Life in Britain Homes and families Many British people live in Houses, not apartments. Most houses have gardens. Daily life Most office workers start work at about nine in the morning, and finish at about five or six in the afternoon. Most people don't go home for lunch, and they just have a quick meal. School life Children start school at about nine am, and finish at about three thirty pm. Most children have lunch at school. All children go to school when they are four or five years old, and leave when they are sixteen or seventeen. Shops Most shops open at about nine am and close at about six pm. Usually, they don't close for lunch. Many British people live in _ .
<extra_id_0>apartments
<extra_id_1>parks
<extra_id_2>houses
<extra_id_3>gardens
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<extra_id_5>The creative projects of World Food Program (WFP) focused on preventing hunger from taking hold in the future and breaking the cycle of hunger. Here are some of the ways in which we work to prevent hunger in the future: School Meals As well as directly addressing hunger, School Meals projects encourage families to keep their children in school and help them build better futures. If children aren't hungry they will concentrate on their lessons. With a solid education growing children have a better chance of finding their own way out of hunger. These projects benefit girls especially. For more information: www.wfp.org/schools meals. Food for Assets WFP's Food for Assets projects provide the hungry with food to lay the foundation for a better tomorrow. When poor farmers no longer have to worry about the next meal, they have the time and energy to build irrigation systems that can increase production. Similarly, Food for Training projects allow the poor to devote time to learning skills that will sustain them economically in the future. For more information: www.wfp.org/food-assets. HIV/AIDS WFP uses its food rations to reduce the blow of HIV and AIDS. The agency distributes its rations to people living with HIV and AIDS, so they can keep providing for their families for longer and have time to transfer vital knowledge and skills to the growing number of AIDS children--the next generation of food providers in developing countries. For more information: www.wfp.org/hiv-aids. Purchase for Progress WFP buys large amounts of food in developing countries. It has this purchasing power and uses it to help poor farmers contact reliable markets where they can get competitive prices for their produce. With secure markets, farmers will be encouraged to produce more and innovate .The knock-on effect is producing more food for everyone. For more information: www.wfp.ofp/purchase-progress. By buying large amounts of food in developing countries, WFP aims to _ .
<extra_id_0>help farmers to increase their income
<extra_id_1>encourage farmers to produce more food
<extra_id_2>introduce new ways of farming to farmers
<extra_id_3>motive farmers to plant different kind of crops.
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<extra_id_5>Mother Teresa was born in Yugoslavia, on August 27th, 1910. She attended the government school near her home until she was eighteen. At that time, some doctors and nurses from Yugoslavia were working in India, and they often wrote to the school about their work. She decided to join them one day. When she finished school, she went first to Britain. Then a year later she went to India, where she began to train to be a teacher. After training, she was sent to Calcutta, where she taught geography at a school and soon after became headmistress . However, although she loved teaching, in 1946 Mother Teresa left the school and went to work in the poor parts of Calcutta. Later she trained to be a nurse in Panta, and then began her work helping the poor and comforting the dying in the streets of the city. Slowly, others came to help her, and her work spread to other parts of India. Mother Teresa is now a well-known person. Many photos have been taken of her, as she travels the world to open new schools and hospitals in poor countries. In 1979, she was given the Nobel Peace Prize for the lifetime of love and service she has given to the poor. What first inspired Mother Teresa to work in India?
<extra_id_0>Her visit to the poor parts of Calcutta.
<extra_id_1>Her visit to Britain after she left school.
<extra_id_2>The medical worker's letters to her school.
<extra_id_3>The work of the nurse in the city of Panta.
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<extra_id_5>There is a joke among flu researchers: "If you've seen one flu season, you've seen one flu season." The joke is about the unpredictable nature of the flu virus. Every year it looks different, and everystrain follows its own pattern -- it's the reason why new strains like H1N1 are extremely difficult to predict. Dr. Michael Osterholm is a former adviser to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "I know less about influenza today than I did 10 years ago," he says in a joking way. "Every stone we've turned over, we get more questions." The flu rectums every season and the world experiences terriblepandemics , but researchers still do not understand why some strains infect people and others do not; they are not entirely sure about how the flu is transmitted; nor do they understand why some patients become seriously ill while others develop mildsymptoms . As a result, when a new strain shows up -- like H1N1 -- they often have little information to _ , and the lessons of previous pandemics are only somewhat helpful. While researchers are still putting together a complete picture of H1N1, for example, its most striking difference with the seasonal flu is that the elder1y are not the mostvulnerable population. Influenza's unpredictable nature makes it a moving target for researchers, says researcher Allison Aiello at the University of Michigan. "Even if we had complete seasonal flu data from the past, it wouldn't be much helpful for a new strain of influenza," she explains. Whi1e researchers are frustrated by the holes in their knowledge, they say, however, that the pub1ic--health community is generally doing a very good job responding to H1N1 with seasonal flu data that do exist. Studying influenza, says Osterholm, is "like looking through the windows of a house you can't get into because the door is locked." Gathering the data researchers do have is like "looking through the windows to get a pretty good picture of what the inside looks like." One thing researchers do know for sure: the best way for people to protect against H1N1 is to get the vaccine once it becomes available to them. What do we learn about H1N1 from the passage?
<extra_id_0>In fact it is not a kind of influenza virus.
<extra_id_1>It is quite possible to predict it in theory.
<extra_id_2>Old people are more likely to contract it than kids.
<extra_id_3>Receiving vaccines will be effective to protect against it.
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<extra_id_5>Consult the page adapted from an English dictionary and do Questions 53-56. Important words to learn: E Essential I Improver A Advanced shoot [Su:t] ^verb (shot, shot) WEAPON-1 E to fire a bullet or an arrow, or to hit, injure or kill a person or animal by firing a bullet or arrow at them: If he's not armed, don't shoot. [?]The kids were shooting arrows at a target.[?]She was shot three times in the head.[?]He has a license to shoot pheasants on the farmer's land. [?]A policeman was shot dead in the city centre last night. [?] The troops were told to shoot to kill. SPORT-2 A to try to score points for yourself or your team, in sports involving a ball, by kicking, hitting or throwing the ball towards the goal: He shot from the middle of the field and still managed to score. MOVE QUICKLY-3 A to move in a particular direction very quickly and directly: She shot past me several meters before the finishing line. [?] He shot out of the office a minute ago - I think he was late for a meeting.[?]They were just shooting off to town so we didn't stop to speak. shooter ['Su:t@] noun[C]He's thought to be the best shooter in the league. ^idioms have shot your bolt UK INFORMAL to have already achieved all that you have the power, ability or strength to do and to be unable to do more: He started off the game well but seemed to have shot his bolt by half-time. * shoot yourself in the foot to do something without intending to which spoils a situation for yourself * shoot your mouth off INFORMAL to talk too much in a loud and uncontrolled way: It's just like Richard to go shooting his mouth off about other people's affairs. * shoot for the moon US to ask for the best or the most you could hope for: You might as well shoot for the moon and ask for a promotion as well as a raise. * shoot questions at sb to ask someone a lot of questions very quickly, one after the other: He shot questions at me so quickly that I didn't even have time to answer. * shoot the breeze US INFORMAL to talk with someone or a group of people about things which are not important: We sat out on the porch, just shooting the breeze. ^ phrasal verbs shoot sth down to destroy an aircraft or make an aircraft, bird, etc. fall to the ground by shooting at it: He was killed during the war when his plane was shot down. shoot sb down to shoot and usually kill someone, showing no sympathy: I saw Tom shoot him down like a dog in the street. shoot for/at sth US to try to do something: It's worth taking chances when you're shooting at a chance of fame and wealth. shoot out If opposing groups or people armed with guns shoot it out, they shoot at each other until one of the groups or people is dead or defeated. shoot through AUSTRALIAN INFORMAL to leave a place very quickly, especially in order to avoid having to do something shoot up INCREASE-INFORMAL to grow in size, or increase in number or level, very quickly: David has really shot up since I saw him last. [?]Prices shot up by 25%. ^ noun PLANT-1[C]the first part of a plant to appear above the ground as it develops from a seed, or any new growth on an already existing plant: Two weeks after we'd planted the seeds, little green shoots started to appear. [?]FIGURATIVE The first green shoots (="hopeful" signs) of economic recovery have started to appear. FILM-2[C USUALLY SINGULAR] when photographer take a series of photographs, usually of the same person or people in the same place: We did a fashion shoot on the beach, with the girls modeling swimwear. WEAPON-3[C]an occasion on which a group of people go to an area of the countryside to shoot animals shooting ['Su:tiNG] noun 1 A [U]when bullets are shot from guns or other weapons: We heard some shooting in the night. 2 A [C]when someone is injured or killed by a bullet shot from a gun: There have been a number of shootings in the capital this week. 3[U]the sport of shooting animals or birds: pleasant/grouse shooting [?] He goes shooting most weekends. Choose a word to complete the sentence " _ is one of the oldest sport events, which is popular with people both at home and abroad."
<extra_id_0>Shooter
<extra_id_1>Shoot
<extra_id_2>Shot
<extra_id_3>Shooting
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<extra_id_5>What looks like a black hole, behaves like a black hole, but is bigger than a black hole? Two black holes! Astronomers last week discovered a pair of enormous black holes far out in the galaxy that appear to be dancing toward each other. However, astronomers say the collision is not likely to occur for several million years. Black holes are objects in outer space that are so dense that nothing can escape their gravity. They often sit in the center of a galaxy -- like the Milky Way --and suck up everything near them. The gravitational pull of a black hole is so intense that not even light (Which travels faster than anything else in space) can make it past without being swallowed. Black holes, like the one at the center of the Milky Way, are enormous. Scientists call some of them "supermassive", because they can be a few million times the size of most stars. Their size, their mass, and their inescapable gravity make black holes a giant force of nature in outer space. Because there is no light near black holes, astronomers cannot actually see them; they are completely invisible to us on the Earth. Scientists manage to detect the existence of a black hole by watching what happens to other objects, or matter floating in space. So how did scientists manage to get a good look at a region so faraway? The team used an orbiting NASA observatory known as Chandra. This special observatory uses X-rays rather than light to watch far out into space. Right before a star gets sucked into a black hole, it produces a large number of X-rays. Which of the following is NOT discussed in the passage?
<extra_id_0>Why black holes get an immense force of nature.
<extra_id_1>How stars react when sucked into a black hole.
<extra_id_2>Black holes' swallowing up many nearby stars.
<extra_id_3>How black holes come into existence.
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<extra_id_5>Which of these processes is a conversion made by solar panels?
<extra_id_0>mechanical energy to nuclear energy
<extra_id_1>thermal energy to chemical energy
<extra_id_2>kinetic energy to potential energy
<extra_id_3>radiant energy to electrical energy
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<extra_id_5>Having a bit of a temper tantrum , whether at home or in the classroom, is as harmful as you can get and only serves to discourage your teenagers. What they really need at this stage in their lives are words that build them up according to their needs that it may benefit them-that is, words of encouragement, affirmation and a good deal of praise. The benefits to them and us as parents and teachers are quite amazing-harmony, peace and love. When I left my last school where I had been a casual for eight years, I received "thank you" notes from the students. I think these notes illustrate what teenagers want and need from their parents and teachers. Some of the notes mention kindness, patience, thoughtfulness, encouragement and fun. Teenagers value these qualities and what I found was that the more I relaxed and enjoyed their company, the less I had to discipline them. Below I've included a few excerpts from the notes to let the kids speak for themselves. These are teenagers speaking from the heart and show what, according to teenagers, they need and value. Each note began, "Thank you for..." * making each student in the school happy * putting up with us every time you get us (i.e. having patience) * Always giving every student a chance and treating everyone like an adult giving lots of merits and making every lesson fun and enjoyable * Being very kind & for giving me lots of (merit) stickers * You make working be fun * Being a patient and thoughtful teacher Patience is needed as well as kindness, thoughtfulness, a sense of humor and fun and the ability to listen more than talk. When we praise and value our teenagers, the results are nothing short of miraculous. From the passage, we can learn that the author is _ .
<extra_id_0>impatient, careful and humour
<extra_id_1>patient, thoughtful and strict
<extra_id_2>patient, kind and humour
<extra_id_3>impatient, kind and stubborn
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<extra_id_5>Beijing ---- A recent Chinese blockbuster "A World Without Thieves" is based on the experiences of a young migrant worker carrying 60,000 yuan on a train packed with thieves.But while the image of a warm-hearted but somewhat naive migrant worker may have made film fans chuckle, it's a sure bet that most of China's migrant workers are yet to step into a cinema to admire it. "Forty yuan a ticket? I can't afford it," said Shen Jie, a migrant worker at a construction site in Dongzhimen, east Beijing. Shen found it hard to remember when he last watched a film, or what it was about."It must be 10 years ago," he said. Though they are the builders of the nation's theaters and cinemas, a limited cultural life is common among China's 120 million migrant workers. Shen arrived from East China's Zhejiang Province in1991.Life was better then; money seemed to come more easily."Now, as more and more workers are rushing to the capital, it's too hard to earn money, and none of us dare think about watching films," he said. For many like Shen, the dream is earning enough to pay for their children's education so they can find jobs in the cities and say goodbye to the hardships of rural life forever.This drives them to work hard and save as much as possible. With a monthly salary of less than 500 yuan, Shen has to send money home to his little son and silver-haired parents. In Shen's small dormitory, which he shares with seven other co-workers, there is a well-thumbed copy of a magazine published in 1998. A recent survey by local media revealed that 80 percent of migrant workers spent their spare time sleeping and chatting because of exhaust and a lack of income.The same survey found that 47 percent of migrant workers have to work for more than 10 hours a day.Around 40 percent do not even possess a book, and nearly 60 percent say they are dissatisfied with their cultural life. Like many of Shen's co-workers, reading newspapers and hanging out in Beijing's streets provide evening entertainment. From China Daily As for the migrant worker, Shen Jie, _ .
<extra_id_0>life was harder when he first came to work in Beijing
<extra_id_1>he enjoyed a lot of films ten years ago
<extra_id_2>his wish was to pay for his son's education
<extra_id_3>the capital is too hard a place for him to make any money
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<extra_id_5>"Where is Papa going with that ax ?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast. "Out to the hoghouse," replied Mrs. Arable. "Some pigs were born last night." "I don't see why he needs an ax," continued Fern, who was only eight. "Well," said her mother, "one of the pigs is a runt . It's very small and weak. So your father has decided to do away with it." "Do away with it?" shouted Fern. "You mean kill it?" "Don't shout, Fern!" she said. "Your father is right. The pig would probably die anyway." Fern pushed a chair out of the way and ran outdoors. The grass was wet and the earth smelled springtime. Fern's shoes were wetting by the time she caught up with her father. "Please don't kill it! It's unfair," she said. Mr. Arable stopped. "Fern," he said gently, "you will have to learn to control yourself." "This is a matter of life and death, and you talk about controlling myself." Tears ran down her cheeks and she took hold of the ax and tried to pull it out of her father's hand. "Fern," said Mr. Arable, "I know more about raising a group of pigs than you do. A weak pig makes trouble." "But it's unfair," cried Fern. "The pig couldn't help being born small. If I had been very small at birth, would you have killed me?" Mr. Arable smiled. "Certainly not," he said, looking down at his daughter with love. "But this is different. It's a pig." "There is no difference," replied Fern. According to the passage, Fern's father thought that _ .
<extra_id_0>it was natural for pigs to be born small
<extra_id_1>he couldn't afford to have so many pigs
<extra_id_2>a weak pig needed more attention
<extra_id_3>he was troubled by raising a weak pig
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<extra_id_5>During a prolonged shortage of water, a tree's ability to add extra tissue and grow thick rings is slowed and the tree produces
<extra_id_0>wider growth rings
<extra_id_1>thinner growth rings
<extra_id_2>more leafy growths
<extra_id_3>annual scar tissue
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<extra_id_5>Earth Hour is organized by WWF. With almost 5 million supporters and a global network in over 100 countries, it's one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and build a future where people live in harmony with nature. Earth Hour started on March 31st, in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. Only a year later Earth Hour had become a global movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome's Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour. In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4,000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world's largest movement to stop global climate change. On Saturday 27 March, Earth Hour 2010 became the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common--our planet. Earth Hour will continue to be a call to action to every individual, a call to stand up, to take responsibility and lead the global journey to a sustainable future. What is the main purpose of Earth Hour?
<extra_id_0>To fight against pollution.
<extra_id_1>To save electricity effectively.
<extra_id_2>To stop climate change.
<extra_id_3>To support WWF's work.
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<extra_id_5>Scratchy throats, stuffy noses and body aches all spell misery, but being able to tell if the cause is a cold or flu may make a difference in how long the misery lasts. The American Lung Association (ALA) has issued new guidelines on combating colds and the flu , and one of the keys is being able to quickly tell the two apart. That's because the prescription drugs available for the flu need to be taken soon after the illness sets in. As for colds, the sooner a person starts taking over-the-counter remedy, the sooner relief will come. The common cold and the flu are both caused by viruses. More than 200 viruses can cause cold symptoms, while the flu is caused by three viruses - flu A, B and C. There is no cure for either illness , but the flu can be prevented by the flu vaccine, which is, for most people, the best way to fight the flu, according to the ALA. But if the flu does strike, quick action can help. Although the flu and common cold have many similarities , there are some obvious signs to look for. Cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, runny nose and scratchy throat typically develop gradually, and adults and teens often do not get a fever. On the other hand, fever is one of the characteristic features of the flu for all ages. And in general, flu symptoms including fever and chills, sore throat and body aches come on suddenly and are more severe than cold symptoms. The ALA notes that it may be particularly difficult to tell when infants and preschool age children have the flu. It advises parents to call the doctor if their small children have flu-like symptoms. Both cold and flu symptoms can be eased with over-the-counter medications as well. However, children and teens with a cold or flu should not take aspirin for pain relief because of the risk of Reye syndrome ,a rare but serious condition of the liver and central nervous system. There is, of course, no vaccine for the common cold. But frequent hand washing and avoiding close contact with people who have colds can reduce the likelihood of catching one. According to the passage, to combat the flu effectively, _ .
<extra_id_0>one should identify the virus which causes it
<extra_id_1>one should consult a doctor as soon as possible
<extra_id_2>one should take medicine upon catching the disease
<extra_id_3>one should remain alert when the disease is spreading
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<extra_id_5>HOUSTON (Reuters) -- Houston tops a U.S. magazine's annual fattest cities list for the fourth time in five years, with four other Texas cities in the top 25. Fast food restaurants -- Houston has twice the national average number -- are partly to blame for the dishonor,Men's Fitnesseditor-in-chief Neal Boulton said. "Americans work long hours, don't take vacations, and when they're faced with the worst food choices, they indulge in those," he said. High humidity, poor air quality and some of the nation's longest commute times also helped Texas' most populous city unseat Detroit, the 2003 heavy weight champion, the magazine said. Houston Mayor Bill White, who has worked with a major food company to develop healthy food products and the city's public schools to improve lunch menus, called the report "mostly ungrounded and nonsense." "On the other hand, it calls attention to real issues the mayor is trying to deal with," his spokesman, Frank Michel, said. The magazine said it looked at factors such as the number and types of restaurants, park space, air quality, weather and the number of health clubs. Philadelphia, Detroit, Memphis, Tennessee, and Chicago followed Houston on the seventh edition of the fat list. Texas cities Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth and El Paso were in the top 14, which Boulton said was no surprise. "It's pure big indulgence, just _ , and that's part of the culture," said Boulton. Seattle ranked as the fittest city. Austin and Arlington, a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb, were the only Texas cities on the fit list. Austin was 19th and Arlington 22nd out of 25. Which city topped 2003 fattest cities list?
<extra_id_0>Houston.
<extra_id_1>Dallas.
<extra_id_2>Detroit.
<extra_id_3>Philadelphia.
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<extra_id_5>High areas can be visually represented by:
<extra_id_0>deep sea
<extra_id_1>mountains
<extra_id_2>valleys
<extra_id_3>basins
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<extra_id_5>If you're secretly worried about your smartphone addiction, then the new NoPhone might be just the thing you need.It looks and feels exactly like a smartphone,but it does nothing.It's just a piece of plastic that you can carry around in your hand to fool yourself. Dutch designer lngmar Larsen came up with the idea as a joke along with his two friends.To their great surprise,the idea received a lot of attention online and people from all over the world stated placing requests for NoPhones of their own.So that's when the three friends decided to turn to collect enough fund for mass production. NoPhone is currently a prototype that will cost only $12 once it hits the market.It is 5.5 inches high,2.6 inches wide and 0.29 inches thick, bringing it quite close to the latest smartphones on the market.It is described as"battery free","no upgrades necessary","shatterproof ","waterproof''and"an alternative to constant hand-to-phone contact that allows you to stay connected with the real world". "Phone addiction is everywhere."the designers insist."It's ruining your dates.It's distracting you at concerts.It's blocking sidewalks.Now,there is a real solution.With a thin.1ight and completely wireless design,the NoPhone acts as a substitute to any smart mobile device,enabling you to always have a phone to hold without giving up potential engagement with your direct environment." If you're interested in NoPhone,but concerned about not being able to take selfies anymore.Don't feel upset.The makers do have an upgrade at no extra charge--the mirror sticker.That way,they say,you can enjoy'real-time'selfies with your friends when they're standing right behind you. What can NoPhone do for people according to the text?
<extra_id_0>It is actually a new kind of real smartphone.
<extra_id_1>It can help us stay away from the real world.
<extra_id_2>It helps get rid of people's smartphone addiction.
<extra_id_3>It's just a piece of plastic and can do nothing.
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<extra_id_5>Attending a university is an important part of a person's life. Today, many people go to a university to study and train for a future job in subjects like law, medicine, or education. But the university is not a modern invention. It has a history that is over a thousand years old. The world's oldest university, Al-Azhar, is in Cairo, Egypt. It was first built as a mosque in A.D. 972. A few years later, learners and teachers began meeting in the mosque in "tutoring circles". They read and talked about the subject of law. Around 988, leaders in the city of Cairo decided to create a school for higher learning and the University of Al-Azhar was founded. At Al-Azhar, there were many university 'firsts.' _ were created. The earliest ones taught at Al-Azhar were in law and religion. In a course, students read and studied with the teacher, but there was also free discussion. Often, students and teachers talked about a topic, and there was no 'right' answer. Finally, scholars from around the world came to Al-Azhar to teach and do research. At the university, people studied the past, but it was also a place for sharing new ideas. Over a thousand years later, Al-Azhar is still an important university in the world. Its library contains more than 250,000 of the world's oldest and most valuable books. Today, many of the world's most important universities such as Oxford and Harvard still follow the traditions started at Al-Azhar. What's this passage mainly about?
<extra_id_0>The history of the world's oldest university.
<extra_id_1>The importance of attending a university.
<extra_id_2>The relationship between university and future job.
<extra_id_3>The invention of a modern university.
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<extra_id_5>Pessimistic,anxious and depressed people may have a higher risk of dementia ,US researchers reported on Thursday. A study of a group of 3,500 people showed that those who scored high for pessimism on a standardized personality test had a 30 percent increased risk of developing dementia 30 to 40 years later. Those scoring very high on both anxiety and pessimism scales had a 40 percent higher risk,the study showed. "There appears to be a doseresponse pattern.That is,the higher the scores,the higher the risk of dementia,"Dr Yonas Geda,a neuropsychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,Minnesota who led the study,said in a statement. Geda and his colleagues looked at the medical records of 3,500 men and women who lived near the clinic between 1962 and 1965. They all took the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory,a standard personality and life experience test,Geda's team told a meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Miami. In 2004,the team interviewed the participants or family members. Those who scored higher for anxiety and pessimism on the test were more likely,as a group,to have developed dementia by 2004,including Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia. This did not mean a person who is pessimistic could assume he or she has a higher risk of developing dementia. "One has to be cautious in interpreting a study like this,"Geda said. "One cannot make a leap from group level data to the individual.Certainly the last thing you want to do is to say,'Well,I am a pessimist;thus,I am doomed to develop dementia 20 or 30 years later,'because this may end up becoming a selffulfilling prophecy ." And there is NOT any specific way to prevent dementia,although many studies have shown that a healthy diet,exercise,keeping active in other ways,doing puzzles and other activities lower the risk. What is the passage mainly about?
<extra_id_0>It is impossible for people to avoid dementia.
<extra_id_1>People who always have negative feelings may have a higher risk of getting dementia.
<extra_id_2>If we have a healthy diet,we would have no chance of getting dementia.
<extra_id_3>A person who is pessimistic has a higher risk of developing dementia.
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<extra_id_5>How can you get more song birds to visit your yard?
<extra_id_0>put out some hamburgers to attract them
<extra_id_1>adopt some large dogs to stay in the yard
<extra_id_2>call Here birdy birdy! out the window
<extra_id_3>hang an open box containing tasty seeds from a tree
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<extra_id_5>I left home to support my sister in her efforts to present a music festival. She lives on the other side of the world, and I went to visit her, not wanting to leave and feeling like I was leaving home against my will. However, I wanted to show her my support because she is my only sister. So I boarded the plane in mid-August, and hated the long flight. I arrived, tired and hungry. I had left my husband of 2 years, alone, in our old New Orleans house. I was all set and ready to perform for my sister for the music festival on Sunday morning when I received a call from Chicago. The hurricane was predicted to hit our city, and many people had already _ , but my husband chose to stay behind. He could not get a call to me on the other side of the world, but he could call his cousin in Chicago. He gave his cousin a message for me, that he would be just fine, and not to worry. As the day wore on, I finally took the stage in front of hundreds of Europeans, and I realized, thanks to CNN, that New Orleans was under water. I performed, hoping that my husband would survive. And I performed perfectly. The audience stood and applauded. I left the stage and went straight to the TV. I saw the street sign near my home, of Humanity Street, but nothing below it, except water. In the days that followed, I found out that my house, my car, my clothes, my furniture, everything that I'd left behind was gone...but not my husband. He survived by riding on the rear bumper of a VW bus, holding on to the overhead luggage rack, in the pouring rain, down the highway from New Orleans, half-way to Baton Rouge. The rest of the journey was a long walk, but he survived. By the first week of September, I flew back to the Baton Rouge airport, and hugged my husband. Since then, our relationship has grown deeper; we have completely rebuilt our house, bought a new car, bought new furniture and new clothes and joined an inspirational, spirit-filled community. Why did the author leave home?
<extra_id_0>To look after her sister.
<extra_id_1>To attend a music festival.
<extra_id_2>To watch a performance.
<extra_id_3>To visit her husband's cousin.
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>Nineteenth-century writers in the United States, whether they wrote novels, short stories, poems or plays, were powerfully drawn to the railroad in its golden years. In fact, writers responded to the railroads as soon as the first were built in the 1830's. By the 1850's, the railroad was a major presence in the life of the nation. Writers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David saw the railroad both as a boon to democracy and as an object of suspicion. The railroad could be and was a despoiler of nature, furthermore, in its manifestation of speed and noise. _ might be a despoiler of human nature as well. By the 1850's and 1860's, there was a great distrust among writer and intellectuals of the rapid industrialization of which the railroad was a leading force. Deeply philosophical historians such as Henry Adams lamented the role that the new frenzy for business was playing in eroding traditional values. A distrust of industry and business continued among writers throughout the rest of the nineteenth century and into the twentieth. For the most part, the literature in which the railroad plays and important role belong to popular culture rather than to the realm of serious art. One thinks of melodramas, boys' books, thrillers, romances, and the like rather than novels of the _ . In the railroads' prime years, between 1890 and 1920, there were a few individuals in the United States, most of them with solid railroading experience behind them, who made a profession of writing about railroading--works offering the ambience of stations, yards, and locomotive cabs. These writers, who can genuinely be said to have created a genre, the "railroad novel", are now mostly forgotten, their names having faded from memory. But anyone who takes the time to consult their fertile writings will still find a treasure trove of information about the place of the railroad in the life of the United States. Which of the following topics is the main idea of passage?
<extra_id_0>The role of the railroad in the economy of the USA
<extra_id_1>Major nineteenth century writers
<extra_id_2>The conflict between expanding industry and preserving nature
<extra_id_3>The railroad as a subject for literature
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>Children are known to be very keen observers and once they are interested in something, it is very likely to stay with them for life. They tend to look at life through the eyes of the person they are close to or want to be like. If their role model is optimistic, there are more chances of them optimistic. The role model becomes their standard of measurement. Because they follow the actions of their role models so closely, children adopt the personality and attitude of their role models. Children learn to like or dislike certain things by _ the personality and attitude of the people they admire. One reason why children keep changing their answers to "what would you like to be when you grow up" is that they are influenced by individuals in a certain field. Children view the social relationships (family or public) mainly in the light of the importance these relationships hold in the life of their role models. Their expression of their feelings is many times a reflection of their role model's outlook. According to a study, around 56% of teenagers identified with the role models. Out of these, those having personal or direct contact with their role models had higher self-esteem and were better at academics compared to those who didn't. As such, children who have positive role models, have more self-confidence and are more optimistic about their future. They learn to handle themselves well in social settings and positively interact with those around them. Of course, children who have their parents as positive role models have a well-rounded outlook towards life. They find it easier to deal with the highs and lows of life because they have seen their parents do it before. They find a sense of stability and security knowing that they will overcome failures just like their parents before them. Besides, it becomes easier for parents to discipline and guide children. So it is no wonder why children who have parents as their role models have fewer behavioral issues. This article is mainly about _ .
<extra_id_0>the importance of role models to children
<extra_id_1>how to be a good role model for children
<extra_id_2>the relation between role models and children
<extra_id_3>how to change children's personality and attitude
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>Last week, while visiting my dad with my daughter, we went to a restaurant for dinner. When we were seated, my dad asked the waitress if there were any soldiers eating at the restaurant. Then waitress said there was a soldier having dinner with his friend. My dad told the waitress to tell the soldier and his friend that their dinner was paid for! He also said that he did not want to be known as the benefactor . Then waitress later commented on my dad's thoughtful behavior saying that she had never seen anything like this before. At a local college, she had studied opera and so she used this to thank my dad by performing a piece from The Pearl Fisherman. Her voice brought me to tears because it sounded perfect! After a while, the soldier appeared at our table (I don't know how he knew my dad paid the bill for him.) and said that he would be sent to the front the next morning and that he could not leave this country without saying "thanks" to my dad. My dad replied that it was he who wanted to say "thanks". They shook hands as the soldier left. Before we left, the waitress came by again. She did a magic show as another way to show her "thanks" to my dad. Her show was really great. My dad left her a note with email address asking for her next performance time in addition to a $ 50 tip. Everyone witnessed something exemplary in the human spirit that night. I can only hope to see more of this in the future. The author considered her father's action to be _ .
<extra_id_0>funny
<extra_id_1>understandable
<extra_id_2>worthless
<extra_id_3>honorable
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<extra_id_5>There is a wide and deep choice of a career. Whether he's a hand in construction or sitting behind the desk working on a computer, everyone has some ideas of what is an attractive career. However, making a career choice is not simply a matter of following a dream; for most people it means a lot of research and soul searching. Choosing the right career becomes one of the most important decisions of an individual's life. It used to be that one followed in the footsteps of their father or grandfather or took over the family's business when it came to making a career choice. These days, a career path can start anywhere and then _ into something totally different. Career choices must be realistic and well thought out. It is not uncommon for persons to start a career path and realize they have made a terrible mistake, feeling as if it may be too late to turn around. Not only does a career choice concern your strongest skills and interest, it is also something that you will be doing continuously to bring in income. This is why a career choice can be such a personal decision. Formerly it used to be unusual for someone to change occupations or careers more than once or twice in a lifetime; it is now even more unusual to keep the same career during someone's working life. There are a great many measures in helping one choose the right profession. A number of websites offering tools such as career tests and information, educational resources, resume services and the kind can be found. It is important for one to research one's career in this changing economy situation, and choose the best from several related career choices. All of the following are the tools on profession offered by websites EXCEPT _ .
<extra_id_0>tests and information
<extra_id_1>training courses
<extra_id_2>employer's phone numbers
<extra_id_3>instructions on resume
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<extra_id_5>There was a big race in town. Stephanie and Sarah were friends. Stephanie was faster than Sarah. On the day of the race, they wished each other good luck. Sarah tripped on a rock during the race. She cried but another one of her friends, Matt, helped her stand up. Stephanie cheered for her to finish after she crossed the line. On the next day Sarah came into school with a bruise on her knee. Jane thought she looked silly. They were in the same class. Jane did not make fun of Sarah. She gave her a bandage instead. It had a cat on it to match Sarah's shirt. Sarah was still unhappy. She would not eat her lunch or play at recess. When Stephanie tried to talk to her she frowned. Then Stephanie gave Sarah a bunny toy that she liked. Sarah smiled. She gave Stephanie a hug. What was on Sarah's shirt?
<extra_id_0>shoelace
<extra_id_1>cat
<extra_id_2>rock
<extra_id_3>bunny
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>Recently, one of my best friends, whom I'd shared just about everything with since the first day of kindergarten, spent the weekend with me. Since I moved to a new town several years ago, we'd both always looked forward to the few times a year when we could see each other. Over the weekend, we spent hours and hours, staying up late into the night, talking about the people she was hanging around with. She started telling me stories about her new boyfriend, about how she experimented with drugs and was into other bad habits. I was blown away! She told me how she had been lying to her parents because they didn't want her around him. I tried to convince her that she was ruining her future and heading for big trouble. But she didn't believe me. Her self-respect seemed to have disappeared. I just couldn't believe that she really thought it was acceptable to hang out with such a loser. By the time she left, I was really worried about her. It had been so discouraging, and I had come close to telling her several times during the weekend that maybe we had just grown too far apart to continue our friendship--but I didn't. I put the power of friendship to the ultimate test. We'd been friends for far too long. I had to hope that she valued me enough to know that I was trying to save her from hurting herself. I wanted to believe that our friendship could conquer anything. A few days later, she called to say that she had thought long and hard about our conversation,and then she told me that she had broken up with her boyfriend.I just listened on the other end of the phone with tears of joy running down my face. It was one of the truly rewarding moments in my life. Never had I been so proud of a friend. What's the author's purpose in telling the story?
<extra_id_0>To show the power of friendship.
<extra_id_1>To describe the troubles of friendship.
<extra_id_2>To tell the necessity of trusting friends.
<extra_id_3>To tell the importance of keeping up with friends.
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>Many people think it is safe to use a cell phone while they are driving. Yet Scores of studies suggest that real multitaskers - those who can carry out multiple tasks equally well, make up just 2 per cent of the population. More surprisingly, the so-called "supertaskers" actually have differently structured brains to the other 98 percent. The brain areas that make supertaskers differ from the rest of the population are the same parts that are most different between humans and nonhuman primates , according to David Strayer, director of the applied cognition lab at the University of Utah. Scientists are unsure of the reason why some brains are different. In fact, we could all benefit from doing just one task at once. In most of us, scientists have located a "bottleneck in the brain" that may explain why we find it hard to do two things at once. The problem appears to be caused by a logjam of nerve messages. Faced with two almost simultaneous tasks less than 300 milliseconds apart, the brain's ability to deal with the second one slows down. The neural response to the second task was postponed until the response to the first was completed. This means that with e-mails, phone calls, text messages and online social media all competing for our attention, often against a background of television, radio or music, our brains can reach information overload. Scientists made the discovery after scanning the brains of volunteers attempting to multitask on a computer. The task was deliberately designed to involve the use of different senses and _ responses. Dr Rene Marois, one of the neuroscientists who carried out the experiment at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, said: "Our research offers neurological evidence that the brain cannot effectively do two things at once." The next step, the neuroscientists say, is finding out "why these areas cannot process two tasks at once." The researchers tried to find out the difference between _ brain structures.
<extra_id_0>different supertaskers'
<extra_id_1>supertaskers' and ordinary people's
<extra_id_2>humans' and nonhuman primates'
<extra_id_3>supertaskers' and nonhuman primates'
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<extra_id_5>Life are always full of stress these days. How do you usually deal with your stress? Do you know doing housework is helpful in dealing with stress? In fact, doing something like washing dirty clothes may really make people relaxed. "Doing some housework such as washing windows or ironing clothes is a good way to face our stress without taking any medicine," says Carol Clark, a successful psychologist in New York. She often advises people who are under lots of stress to try doing housework every day. "While washing something," she says, "you can imagine you're washing away some trouble in your life." Do people all agree with her idea? Here are some ideas about it. "Housework is the main reason for the stress in my life," says Linda in France. "Get me out of doing the housework and then I'll really be relaxed." Gary is a single father. "So, a man pays a psychologist $200 an hour for his problem about stress. However, he is just told to go back home and do some housework. I really don't know who is crazier, the psychologist or the man! Linda thinks that doing housework will make her _ .
<extra_id_0>relaxed
<extra_id_1>under much stress
<extra_id_2>helpful
<extra_id_3>in a healthy state
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<extra_id_5>Here are some tips about how to keep healthy. 1. Healthy food is important. If you want to keep healthy, eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Don't eat much meat. 2. Water is important. Drink water every day. Milk is good for you, too. Don't drink sweet drinks. 3. Exercise is important. You can ride your bike or play soccer. Going swimming is a good idea. 4. Clean air is important. If you are free, you can go to the park and enjoy clean air. 5. Your teeth are important. You should brush your teeth twice a day. 6. Sleep is important, too. Go to bed early. Don't stay up late, or you will feel sleepy. The third tip is about _ .
<extra_id_0>healthy food
<extra_id_1>healthy drinks
<extra_id_2>exercise
<extra_id_3>clean air
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<extra_id_5>Something that may effect a child negatively could be
<extra_id_0>unicorns
<extra_id_1>magic
<extra_id_2>time travel
<extra_id_3>punching
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<extra_id_5>Hello! I'm an English girl.My first name is Lucy.My last name is White.I'm in No.3 Middle School.My father and mother are in No.3 Middle School, too.They are English teachers.My brother is in Nanchang University .His name is Tony.I have a Chinese teacher.Her name is Wang Yan.She can speak English well.She is a good teacher. Wang Yan is _ .
<extra_id_0>a Chinese teacher
<extra_id_1>my aunt
<extra_id_2>an English teacher
<extra_id_3>a student
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<extra_id_5>Share Flat Happy Village big flat, 1 room ready for use immediately, with all necessary furniture and appliances. 3 minutes' walk to underground station, 2 blocks from shopping center, park view, $2100 including bills, female nonsmoker, no pet. Sara 25720836 or 10077809Moving Sale 2 armchairs, red/brown at $400 each; coffee table, black, wood, $800; oil painting, big, $900; Tianjin carpet, green, 3*7, $600; double bed, $500; mirror, big, square, $500; fridge, big double-door, $1000; old pictures, $140 each. Mr. Brown, Tel Weekend, 25216011, Weekday, 25245867 Part-time Lab Assistant Wanted Required by busy electronics company to help with development of computer, should have an electronic degree and some experience of working in an electronic lab. Hours 9:00am--1:00pm, Monday - Friday Salary 6,598 - 10,230 dependent on experience Letter of application to Mrs. G Chan NOVA ELECTRONICS, 45 Shanxi RD, Shanghai The salary for the part-time lab assistant depends on _ .
<extra_id_0>his experience of working in an electronic lab
<extra_id_1>the variety of part-time jobs he has done.
<extra_id_2>his ability of applying for different jobs.
<extra_id_3>the degree he has got.
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<extra_id_5>Calendar of Events WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR NEIGUHBORHOOD & LOCAL AREAS Spring Wildflowers Around Unicol The wildflower program will begin with a slide show and lecture on Wildflowers. There will be organized wildflower walks that will help both the novice and experienced wildflower enthusiast to better appreciate the color1ful and fascinating world of mountain wildflowers. Preregistration is required. 706 - 878 - 3983 $2 parking. prefix = st1 /1788 GA Hwy.356,Helen,GA, 706-878-3983, Toll Free: 800-573-9659, www.gas - tateparks.com. Directions:GA Hwy.356 Wings of Flight Programs on birds, bats, butterflies included activities, educational discussions, crafts and more. Program fees may be required for some activities. $2 ParkPass.Please call 1-800-573-9656 for additional info.418 Amicalola Falls Lodge Road,Dawsonville,GA, 706-265-8888, Toll Free: 800 -573-9656. www.gastateparks.org. Directions:GA Hwy.52 from Dawsonville 3 rd ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT The Chestatee Wildife Preserve, located in Dahlonega,Georgiapresents their 3 rd ANNUAL EASTER EGG HUNT. Fun and prizes for children ages 1 - 12. Admission is adults $ 10.00, children $ 5.00. April 12 th at 2:00 p.m. The preserve houses a variety of over 100 different species of animals. Among the residents are Bengal and Siberian tigers, African and Barbary lions, chimpanzees, wallabies, kangaroos, wolves, fox, buffalo, white tigers, elk, peacocks and _ . Chestatee Wildlife is open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Call us at 706-864-9411. Directions: 400 North to end. Continue on Longbranch Rd., 5 miles to Hwy. 52. turn right and follow 1 mile. Turn right onOld Dahlonega Hwy.We are 1/2 mile on the left. All of the following are included in the wildflower program EXCPET_.
<extra_id_0>a slide show
<extra_id_1>a discussion
<extra_id_2>mountain flowers
<extra_id_3>organized tours
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<extra_id_5>On Saturday Patrick woke up with a little shock, knowing that this was a special day. For a moment he couldn't think exactly why, and then, with an excited flutter of his stomach, he remembered. At ten o'clock today he was going to find out the final result of the programme called Super Brain. He got dressed more carefully than usual, went downstairs and turned on the TV. Quickly he switched channels. Cartoons, cartoons, advertisements, man talking, snow, snow... and still nothing at all on Channel 8. "Patrick, turn it off, darling, if you're going to watch." Judith walked past with the newspaper under her arm and her eyes half closed. She headed for the kitchen. Patrick turned off the TV and followed. "What's for breakfast, Mum?" "We will see," Judith said in a low voice, turning on the electric kettle . She looked sleepily at him and smiled. "You look nice, darling," She said. "You're all ready. But we can't go till eight-thirty at the earliest, you know. Nothing will be open till then." Patrick's stomach seemed to feel a little sick. "We aren't going out, are we?" He asked. Judith began to make the tea. "Don't say you've forgotten!" she said, "I promised you, last Saturday. Your new trainers, remember?" "Oh--oh, but I can't go out this morning, Mum. There's something I've got to watch on TV. At ten o'clock. I've got to! My trainers will be all right for another week." Patrick said with excitement, looking quite worried. Judith faced him, hands on hips, "Patrick," she said with great dislike, "it's all organized." How did Judith feel about Patrick's requests?
<extra_id_0>She felt happy with his request.
<extra_id_1>She felt sad about his request.
<extra_id_2>She felt surprised at his request.
<extra_id_3>She was not satisfied with his request.
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<extra_id_5>You may feel interested in students in other countries. Do they have so much homework? What do they do in their free time? People did a survey in China, Japan, South Korea and the US last year. This is the result. Who studies the hardest? Chinese students spend the most time in studying. About half of Chinese students spend more than two hours on their homework every day. Who sleeps most often in class? Japanese students fall asleep in class more often. About 45% of them sometimes _ in class. It's 32% in South Korea, 21% in the US and 5% in China. Who is the most distracted ? American students are the most active in class, but also the most distracted. 64.2% of them chat with friends in class. 46.9% of them eat something in class, and 38.9 % of them send e-mails or read other books in class. What do they do after school? In their free time, most Chinese students study or surf the Internet. Most American students hang out with their friends. Most Japanese students do exercise. Most South Korean students watch TV. According to the survey, _ students sleep in class most often.
<extra_id_0>Chinese
<extra_id_1>Japanese
<extra_id_2>American
<extra_id_3>South Korea
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<extra_id_5>I suppose when you grow up in one place, you have friends whom you've known since childhood.But as a child who moved a lot, my oldest friendships are with my cousins. On our return from Guam, my parents, sisters and I walked off the plane in Alexandria.All my cousins were there to meet us. I was excited to see them again.The last time I'd seen Don, Sherri and David was two years before.That summer we'd caught fireflies and watched Don and his friends play a game.Some boys acted like a bull with a rope .His friend held the rope and Don rode on it.When Don fell off, he got up and tried again. Just like riding that bull, Don put his heart into everything he did.As a young man he was told he got cancer .But he fought it and never gave up.Like what he did that summer, he held tight , falling off a few times and trying again.I was excited and proud of my cousin for planning and going after his dream.I wished his ride would have lasted longer. When did Don know he got cancer?
<extra_id_0>When he was born.
<extra_id_1>When he was a young man.
<extra_id_2>Two years ago.
<extra_id_3>Last summer.
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<extra_id_5>Which statement about photosynthesis and respiration is true?
<extra_id_0>Photosynthesis stores energy and respiration releases energy.
<extra_id_1>Respiration stores energy and photosynthesis releases energy.
<extra_id_2>Photosynthesis and respiration are the same process.
<extra_id_3>Photosynthesis and respiration do not have anything to do with energy.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>For years, there has been a bias against science among clinical psychologists . In a two-year analysis to be published in November inPerspectives on Psychological Science, psychologists led by Timothy B. Baker of the University of Wisconsin charge that many clinical psychologists fail to "provide the treatments for which there is the strongest evidence of effectiveness" and "give more weight to their personal experiences than to science." As a result, patients have no guarantee that their "treatment will be informed by ... science." Walter Mischel of Columbia University is even crueler in his judgment. "The disconnect between what clinical psychologists do and what science has discovered is an extreme embarrassment," he told me, and "there is a widening gap between clinical practice and science." The "widening" reflects the great progress that psychological research has made in identifying the most effective treatments. Thanks to strict clinical trials, we now know that teaching patients to think about their thoughts in new, healthier ways and to act on those new ways of thinking are effective against depression, panic disorder and other problems, with multiple trials showing that these treatments -- the tools of psychology -- bring more lasting benefits than drugs. You wouldn't know this if you sought help from a typical clinical psychologist. Although many treatments are effective, relatively few psychologists learn or practice them. Why in the world not? For one thing, says Baker, clinical psychologists are "very doubtful about the role of science" and "lack solid science training". Also, one third of patients get better no matter what treatment (if any) they have, "and psychologists remember these successes, believing, wrongly, that they are the result of the treatment." When faced with evidence that treatments they offer are not supported by science, clinical psychologists argue that they know better than some study what works. A 2008 study of 591 psychologists in private practice found that they rely more on their own and colleagues' experience than on science when deciding how to treat a patient. If they keep on this path as insurance companies demand evidence-based medicine, warns Mischel, psychology will "discredit itself." How do clinical psychologists respond when charged that their treatments are not supported by science?
<extra_id_0>They feel embarrassed.
<extra_id_1>They try to defend themselves.
<extra_id_2>They are disappointed.
<extra_id_3>They doubt their treatments.
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<extra_id_5>Who doesn't have a clingy friend? You know, that person who often calls,texts, and e-mails. He often needs your attention, your feedback,or your help.Worse yet, he often gets _ when you don't reply immediately. Is there ever a moment when you just want to turn off your phone and be alone? But you won't do that to a friend. Actually there are better ways to deal with a clingy friend. Give Yourself Some Time If you really need some time for yourself, or you're just tired of being the listener, just explain to your friend honestly that you want or need some time of your own.Even the most determined friends will understand and give you some space. Of course, those extremely clingy friends will still call, text, and e-mail. If that happens, just reply gently that you need some time for yourself. Suggest an Activity for Your Friend If you 're tired of different get-togethers and outings, then you should advise your friend to do something alone. If you both like sports, you could tell your friend to have a try at the new gym. If your friend likes your suggestion, but insists that you go along, just explain that you've already visited the gym. Mention that you enjoy the gym. If you're lucky , he'll try it, and like it. Introduce Your Clingy Friend to Others. Your clingy friend may just be lonely or have trouble meeting new people. If that's the case , introduce him to others with similar interests. He may just make some new friends. _ There's no reason for you to rudely tell your clingy friend that he's a pain in the neck. Just follow the above advice to take your time back. After a while, your clingy friend should learn to value your time and your friendship. We can learn from the passage that clingy people _
<extra_id_0>are very confident
<extra_id_1>have little free time
<extra_id_2>don't respect others
<extra_id_3>don't want to be alone
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<extra_id_5>The baby is just one day old and has not yet left hospital. She is quiet but alert . Twenty centimeters from her face researchers have placed a white card with two black spots on it. She stares at it carefully. A researcher removes the card and replaces it by another, this time with the spots differently spaced. As the cards change from one to the other, her gaze starts to lose its focus - until a third, with three black spots, is presented. Her gaze returns; she looks at it for twice as long as she did at the previous card. Can she tell that the number two is different from three, just 24 hours after coming into the world? Or do newborns simply prefer more to fewer? The same experiment, but with three spots shown before two, shows the same return of interest when the number of spots changes. Perhaps it is just the newness? When slightly older babies were shown cards with pictures of objects(a comb, a key, an orange and so on), changing the number of objects had an effect separate from changing the objects themselves. Could it be the pattern that two things make, as opposed to three? No again. Babies paid more attention to squares moving randomly on a screen when their number changed from two to three, or three to two. The effect even crosses between senses. Babies who were repeatedly shown two spots became more excited when they then heard three drumbeats than when they heard just two; likewise when the researchers started with drumbeats and moved to spots. Why did the researchers test the babies with drumbeats?
<extra_id_0>To reduce the difficulty of the experiment.
<extra_id_1>To see how babies recognize sounds.
<extra_id_2>To carry their experiment further.
<extra_id_3>To keep the babies' interest.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>It seems that there is no middle ground when it comes to cats. People either love them or hate them. These feelings are not new either. All through history, cats have been worshiped or hated. A study of ancient writings and evidence found in tombs indicates that for the past 5,000 years, cats have been kept as pets in China, Arabia, Egypt, and India. However, this isn't very long compared to dogs, which have been domesticated for 50,000 years. Still, while the period in which cats have been domesticated may be quite short, it has definitely had its high and low points. Cats were at their highest position of domesticated life in ancient Egypt. There were more cats living in Egypt during the time of the pharaohs than in any other place in the world since that time. This high number of cats was probably due to the laws protecting them. Cats were associated with the moon goddess, Bast, so the Egyptians worshiped them as holy animals. If anyone was caught killing a cat, the person could be put to death. Families in Egypt also mourned the death of a cat and had the body of the dead cat wrapped in cloth before it was finally laid to rest. This respect for cats carried over to the Roman Empire where cats were the only animals allowed into temples. This fact was probably due to the ability of cats to keep the temples free of mice and rats. With the coming of the Dark Ages in Europe, the place of cats in society took a turn for the Empire, Christians began to associate cats with pegan beliefs. Cats had a reputation as helpers of witches. When a person was accused of being a witch, a cat would often be put on trial with the person. The cat would be tortured to try and make the person tell the truth, and usually the cat and the person would end up being burned in a bonfire or drowned. Bonfires of collected cats were not uncommon during this time. The days of hunting witches have ended, but other myths about cats still hold out. For a while, people in some places used to bury live cats under new buildings for good luck. As well, many people today continue to believe that black cats bring bad luck. If a black cat walks in front of a person, that person must take extra care in the near future to watch out for dangerous situations. Regardless of superstition , cats remain a popular pet today. Some cat experts believe that a cat never truly be domesticated because it may turn wild and run away at any time. However, this claim has not put people off keeping cats in their homes. A third of homes in the United States have cats, and one out of every three of these homes keeps both a dog and a cat. Especially in large cities, many people in small apartments have found that cats make much better pets than dogs. Cats may not be worshiped as gods any more, but there are people who seem to think of their cat as their children. These cat owners will do almost anything to keep their pets healthy and happy. For those cat owners who have always wondered what their pets are trying to tell them, a Japanese company may have come up with the perfect invention. In 2003, the Takara Company announced the Meowlingual, a cat translation device. The Meowlingual uses a microphone, display, and cat voice analyzer to analyze a cat's meows to determine which of 200 phrases a cat is trying to say. According to a company spokesperson, "... cat owners all over the world have been telling Takara, ' We want a cat translator!'" Now, the company "is making their dream come true by bringing in a new era of communication between cat lovers and their pets." According to the passage, what percentage of people in the United States keep both a cat and a dog?
<extra_id_0>about 10 percent
<extra_id_1>nearly 25 percent
<extra_id_2>about 33 percent
<extra_id_3>close to 50 percent
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>We spent a few days in Paris last week. We visit the famous city quite regularly. After all, it only takes three hours from London to Pairs. It's always a pleasure visiting places we really like, exploring areas we've never been. The only unlucky thing this time was the weather. As soon as we got there the temperature reached almost 35 degrees C (which lasted until we left). It was so hot that Matthew just couldn't _ it -- for him, it wasn't the most enjoyable trip. I felt sorry for him because every time we go there he has to put up with my endless shopping spree ... Because of the heat, we ended up just having lots of ice-cream and drinks most of the time, although we managed to pay a few visits to the new Herme shop on rue de Vaugirard at least. It's not as busy as the shop on rue Bonaparte so you can choose whatever you like without worrying about a queue behind you! I really enjoyed his bread this time as well as the cakes. And I must say that his Croissant aux Amandes and Bostock were simply the best I've ever had. The shops on rue Bonaparte _ .
<extra_id_0>has no bread that the writer likes
<extra_id_1>is often crowded with customers
<extra_id_2>don't have anything the writer likes
<extra_id_3>is not very busy all the time
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>In October 2010, I left my hometown and family in Virginia and moved to Iowa so I could be coached by Liang Chow. I'd been dreaming of an Olympic gold medal since I was eight -- but gradually, that dream seemed like a million miles away. On January 2, 2012, while Mom was visiting me in Iowa, I told her, "I don't like gymnastics anymore. I want to try dancing, or become a singer. I can get a job in Virginia. I just want to come home." Mom's eyes narrowed and her expression turned to stone. "You're breaking my heart, Brie," she said. "You've been doing gymnastics for ten years, and now you want to quit? Have you lost your mind?" I hadn't lost my mind, but I had lost my fire. It's an entirely different thing to push toward that dream when you feel alone. "I'm not trying to break your heart, Mom," I said. "I just don't want to do it anymore." "I know you miss home. But you've signed a contract that says you will represent your country to the best of your ability. You've got a responsibility to your teammates. And now you just want to walk away? I will not let you be dishonorable. If you don't like gymnastics, then at the very least, you will finish the season." The next afternoon as I dragged myself into Chow's gym, I thought of the efforts Mom had made in order to pay for my training. I thought of my two sisters: Arielle, who gave up ballroom dancing, and Joyelle, who stopped ice skating so that our single mom could afford to keep me in gymnastics. For now, here's what you need to know: Exactly 210 days before I ever attempted my first vault in the London Summer Olympics, my leap of faith came this close to ending in a crash of disaster. Who will be interested in the passage?
<extra_id_0>A medical student who will graduate from university.
<extra_id_1>A healthcare professional who will give a lecture on cancer.
<extra_id_2>A marketing professional who is looking for customers.
<extra_id_3>A gymnastic player who wants to give up competition.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>That cold January night, I was growing sick of my life in San Francisco. There I was, walking home at one in the morning after a tiring practice at the theatre. With opening night only a week ago, I was still learning my lines. I was having trouble dealing with my part-time job at the bank and my acting at night at the same time. As I walked, I thought seriously about giving up both acting and San Francisco. City life had become too much for me. As I walked down empty streets under tall buildings, I felt very small and cold. I began running, both to keep warm and to keep away from any possible robbers . Very few people were still out except a few sad-looking homeless people under blankets. About a block from my apartment , I heard a sound behind me. I turned quickly, half expecting to see someone with a knife or a gun. The street was empty. All I saw was a shining streetlight. Still, the noise had made me nervous, so I started to run faster. Not until I reached my apartment building and unlocked the door did I realize what the noise had been. It had been my wallet falling to the sidewalk. Suddenly I wasn't cold or tired anymore. I ran out of the door and back to where I'd heard the noise. Although I searched the sidewalk anxiously for fifteen minutes, my wallet was nowhere to be found. Just as I was about to give up the search, I heard the garbage truck pull up to the sidewalk next to me. When a voice called from the inside, " Alisa Camacho?" I thought I was dreaming. How could this man know my name? the door opened, and out jumped a small red-haired man with an amused look in his eye. "Is this what you're looking for?" he asked, holding up a small square shape. It was nearly 3 A.M. by the time I got into bed. I wouldn't get much sleep that night, but I had gotten my wallet back. I also had gotten back some enjoyment of city life. I realized that the city couldn't be a bad place as long as people were wiling to help each other. On her way home the writer _ .
<extra_id_0>lost her wallet unknowingly
<extra_id_1>was stopped by a garbage truck driver
<extra_id_2>was robbed of her wallet by an armed man
<extra_id_3>found some homeless people following her
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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