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<extra_id_5>Certainly no creature in the sea is stranger than the common sea cucumber . All living creatures, especially human beings, have their features, but everything about the little sea cucumber seems unusual. What else can be said about an unusual animal that eats mud, feeds almost continuously day and night but can live without eating for long periods, and can be poisonous but is considered eatable? For some fifty million years, in spite of all its strange features, the sea cucumber has lived on its diet of mud. It is adaptable enough to live attached to rocks by its tube feet, under rocks in shallow water, or on the surface of mud flats. Common in cool water on both Atlantic and Pacific shores, it has the ability to suck up mud or sand and digest whatever nutrients are present. Sea cucumbers come in a variety of color1s, ranging from black to reddish-brown to sand-color1 and nearly white. One form even has brilliant purple tentacles . Usually the creature are cucumber-shaped--where their name comes from--and because they live in rocks, this shape, combined with flexibility, enables them to press into crevices where they are safe from animal eater and ocean currents. Although they have greedy desire for food, eating day and night, sea cucumbers have the ability to become still and live at a low metabolic rate--feeding a little or not at all for long periods, so that the living things in the ocean that provide their food have a chance to increase by a large amount. If it were not for this natural ability, they would swallow all the food available in a short time and would probably starve themselves out of existence. But the most impressive thing about the sea cucumber is the way it defends itself. Its major enemies are fish and crabs. When attacked, it forces all its internal organs in its body out into water. It also removes attached structures such as tentacles. The sea cucumber will get rid of its organs and grow itself again if it is attacked or even touched; it will do the same if the surrounding water temperature is too high or if the water becomes too polluted. What can be inferred about the defense system of the sea cucumber?
<extra_id_0>They require group cooperation.
<extra_id_1>They are almost useless.
<extra_id_2>They are similar to those of most sea creatures.
<extra_id_3>They are very sensitive to the surroundings.
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<extra_id_5>Sea turtles come in many different sizes, shapes and colors. The shell of each sea turtle species is different in length, color, shape and the arrangement of the scales . Sea turtles do not have teeth but use their jaws to eat. Their sense of smell is excellent. Their eyesight underwater is good, but they have _ out of water. Their special bodies make them adapt to life at sea. However, sea turtles maintain close ties to land. Female sea turtles have to go to the seaside to lay their eggs in the sand; therefore, all baby sea turtles begin their lives on land. Most research on sea turtles has been focused on female turtles nesting and the baby sea turtles in the nest, largely because they can be found most easily. After decades of studying sea turtles, much has been learned about. However, many mysteries still remain. Researchers do not yet know how long baby turtles spend in the open sea, or exactly where they go. People believe they spend their earliest years floating in the sea, where they do little more than eat and grow. Once turtles reach dinner-plate size, they appear at feeding grounds in waters near the shore. They grow slowly and take between 15 and 50 years to grow old enough to bear baby sea turtles, depending on the species. There is no way to know the age of a sea turtle from its physical appearance. It is believed that some species can live for over 100 years. What would be the best title for the text?
<extra_id_0>Mysteries About Sea Turtles
<extra_id_1>Baby and Female Sea Turtles
<extra_id_2>The Growth of Different Sea Turtles
<extra_id_3>The Characteristics of Sea Turtles
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<extra_id_5>Desert plants fall into two sorts according to the way they deal with the problem of surviving drought. There are the drought--avoiders--those which persist only as seeds, ready to spring up when it rains, to flower quickly and produce another crop of seeds, and to die again. There are also the drought--resisters--those which have evolved various methods for strong water, locating underground water, or reducing their need for water by such devices as shedding their leaves. The drought--resisters are perennials ,they manage to live from one rainy season to another, slowly growing bigger and bigger. Of these, the succulents is a small but interesting fraction . They may store water in their leaves, in their stems, or in underground containers. In the American deserts the best--known succulents are the cacti . They come in a wide range of sizes, from 50--foot tall giant saguaros to tiny round cacti about the size of a thumb--nail. They take thick, cylindrical or even spherical forms, thereby exposing a minimum of evaporating surface to the air and light. They are leafless, except in youth, and then the leaves are small. Typically their surfaces are spiny, discouraging thirsty animals, and channeled like an accordion , so the fleshy stem may expand quickly when the plant drinks and contract slowly as it uses up the water. The root system is widespread and shallow, with good reason; only about 3 per cent of the rain that falls on the desert penetrates to any significant depth into soil. The passage gives us an impression that _ .
<extra_id_0>the desert plants are shaped in a way as if them were designed by somebody on purpose
<extra_id_1>more water is needed in desert so that more desert plants can grow there
<extra_id_2>more lands will be turned into desert if we do not try harder to save water in our daily life
<extra_id_3>the cacti are the most famous desert plants in America
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<extra_id_5>A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men aboard were able to swim to a small, desert-like island. Not knowing what else to do, the two survivors agreed that they had no alternativethan to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayers were more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island. The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the island, and he was able to eat its fruit. But the other man's parcel of land remained _ . After a week, the first man became lonely and decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the island. But on the other side of the island, there was nothing. Soon thereafter the first man prayed for a house, clothes and more food. The next day, like magic, all of these things were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing. Finally, the first man prayed for a ship so that he and his wife could leave the island, and in the morning he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island, considering the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings since none of his prayers had been answered. As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from Heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?" "My blessings are mine alone since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he doesn't deserve anything." "You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings." "Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?" "He prayed that all your prayers would be answered." For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us. So what you do for others is more important than what you do for yourself. Which of the following is true about the second man?
<extra_id_0>He didn't deserve any blessing from God.
<extra_id_1>None of his prayers was answered by God.
<extra_id_2>He is not brave enough to tell God his needs.
<extra_id_3>His prayer helped his companion get out of trouble.
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<extra_id_5>One day,when 12-year-old Sean Redden went to a popular chat room on the Internet, he saw the name of someone he'd never seen there before, Susan Hicks. Her message was " Would someone help me? I can't breathe. Help me! I can't feel my left side." At first, Sean thought it was a bad joke and he told his mother Sharon Redden. But she asked, " It's not just some game, is it? The message was not a joke. " Susan Hicks" was actually 20-year-old Taija Laitinen, a student working late at night at a college library near Helsinki, Finland---almost 7,000 miles away from Sean's home in Texas. While searching the Internet, she began to feel terrible pain all through her body. The library was empty and the nearest phone was outside in the hallway. She couldn't move that far because any movement caused the pain to get worse. Then as the pain became worse, she began typing her message for help in the chat room. "I don't think it's a joke, mom," Sean said. He typed, " Where are you? The letters appeared, "Finland." Sean and Sharon couldn't believe it. Not knowing what else to do, Sharon called the local police and explained the situation to officer Amy Schmidt. Schmidt told Sharon to try to get the sick girl's phone number and address. Meanwhile, the Texas police called the international telephone operator and asked to be connected to the proper agency in Finland. The Texas police explained the situation and gave Susan's address to the Finnish operator. When Sean heard that, he typed, "Help is on the way." In the few minutes, the library door opened. Doctors and three policemen ran in. Taija turned once more to the computer, " They are here. Thanks. Bye-bye." At first when receiving the message for help, Sean _ .
<extra_id_0>didn't believe it
<extra_id_1>took no notice of it
<extra_id_2>called the police at once
<extra_id_3>had a joke with the person
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<extra_id_5>How many chromosomes are in a human sperm cell?
<extra_id_0>12
<extra_id_1>23
<extra_id_2>46
<extra_id_3>58
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<extra_id_5>The 1950s and 60s brought many new things to American offices, including the Xerox machine , word processing and -- perhaps less famously -- the first National Secretaries Day, in 1952. Secretaries of that era expected a bright future, and many saw their job as a ticket to a better life. But nearly 60 years later, on the date now promoted as Administrative Professionals Day, we 're living through the end of a recession in which around two million secretaries lost their jobs after bosses discovered they could handle their calendars and travel arrangements online, and found their assistants unnecessary. Clearly, technological advances haven't made things turn out quite the way those mid-century futurists imagined. 'New technologies did make the lives of 20th-century secretaries easier. But even from the start, the relationship between secretaries and technology was fraught. As early as 1966, with the introduction of the first computerized word-processing system, secretaries were worrying that machines could, replace them. Coffee has long been a flash point for emotions about the differences between service and servility in offices . In the 1970s, when the second wave of feminism began to change the traditional relationship of male boss and female secretary , more than one secretary was fired for refusing to make , fetch or serve coffee .In Los Angeles, in 1973, one secretary , Leona Pendleton, was fired for being "unqualified , and failing to obey instructions " after refusing to make coffee . This sort of thing still happens today . It's interesting to note that strengthening their positions as being important indicators of social status has often been one way secretaries have tried to keep themselves from being dismissed.. After all these years , a human being still needs to plug in Mr. Coffee and deliver his output . But that won't save an assistant's job from the stomach of computerization . Secretaries can only hope that bosses won't take the human in question for granted , a sign that not everyone will be celebrating this Administrative Professionals Day. What is the main topic of the passage ?
<extra_id_0>Whether secretaries have a good future nowadays.
<extra_id_1>How secretaries have failed to benefit from technology advances.
<extra_id_2>Whether secretaries should make coffee for their bosses.
<extra_id_3>How the traditional relationship of a male boss and a female secretary is being challenged.
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<extra_id_5>Recently Dr. Cleiman has proved that everyone has a daily energy cycle. During the hours when you labor (work) through your work, you may say that you are "hot". That is true, the time of day when you feel most energetic is when your cycle of body temperature is at its peak . For some people the peak comes during the forenoon . For others it comes in the afternoon or evening. No one has discovered why this is so. Much family quarrelling ends when husbands and wives realize what this energy cycle means and which cycle each member of the family has. You cannot change your cycle, but you can learn to make your life fit it better. "Habits can help," Dr. Cleiman believes. If your energy cycle is low in the morning but you have an important job early in the day, rise before your usual hour, and then you will work better at your low point. Get off to a slow start which saves your energy. Get up with a lazy yawn and stretch . Sit on the edge of bed before putting your feet on the floor. Avoid the troublesome searching for clean clothes by laying them out the night before. Which of the following can save your energy in the morning?
<extra_id_0>Getting up late.
<extra_id_1>Jumping out of bed as quickly as possible.
<extra_id_2>Looking for clean clothes.
<extra_id_3>Sitting for a while before getting out of bed.
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<extra_id_5>Scientists found that sleeping considerably improves our creativity. After taking a nap people are able to think faster and put more imagination into their thinking. Besides, if we dream, the thinking abilities are improved even more. Researchers consider that sleeping on a problem in most cases leads to elucidation . They say when a person enters a phase called Rapid Eye Movement (REM) during sleep, _ increases the effect. Such phase takes place right before we awake and according to scientists it helps our brain make links between unrelated subjects. In the study, led by Professor Sara Mednick, scientists made a conclusion that the REM was "important for assimilating new information into past experience" in order to find solutions to creative problems. Prof. Mednick is a psychiatrist at the University of California. Her study involved the analysis of 77 adults. Each participant was given several word-associated creative tasks. All tasks were given in the morning, with participants being shown a number of groups of 3 words, for example: cookie, heart and sixteen. They were asked to come up with a word that would be associated with all three given terms--like sweet. Sometime later, after some participants were allowed to sleep, they were asked to perform the same tasks and some new ones. It is worth mentioning that while some people slept, researchers used brain scans to see the type of sleep each participant entered. When given the same tasks, participants, who took a nap, were able to give more varied solutions, some of which were much better than they gave earlier. But when given new tasks, researchers found that those who entered REM sleep had a 40 percent better result compared to the performance they showed in the morning. The important stage in the study is _ .
<extra_id_0>to think of a creative word
<extra_id_1>to show a group of 3 words
<extra_id_2>to give participants time to think
<extra_id_3>to let some participants sleep for a while
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<extra_id_5>A seaman will likely use this tool more than other:
<extra_id_0>plate with a plug
<extra_id_1>candle with a wick
<extra_id_2>disc with an arrow
<extra_id_3>card with a strip
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<extra_id_5>My Uncle Dave posed an interesting question to my wife and me when he came to visit us the other day. He asked: "What do you think the world will be like in 50 or 100 years, in terms of technology and society and so on?" He says he asks many of the people he meets this question to see what their thoughts are. His point is that no one really knows. I mean, in 1945, could people have even imagined surfing the net or sending e-mails as we do? No way. And the pace of technological innovation is incredible . We're on a more different curve than we used to be. One thing I'm looking forward to is real software agents. There is so much information out there, but I want something that can help me find what I really want. For instance, in about ten years, I think, there will be no longer recorded music, and there will be some big databases from which you can download music onto your hard drive or whatever. At that point, there will be so much music to choose from and you'll be able to sample things before you buy them. But the question will be how I find what I'm looking for and how I do find the music that might interest me. Or more generally, how do I find information that I want without spending all the time myself surfing the net? How do I find people who are like-minded , with whom I might really want to communicate? I want to find those people but it's hard to do. In the future I think that one will be able to build a community of like-minded people who live all over the globe. It's going to be very interesting, I think. The best title of this passage should be _ .
<extra_id_0>What the Future Will Be Like
<extra_id_1>Listen to Music Through the Internet
<extra_id_2>Music and Software Development
<extra_id_3>How to Live a Happy Life in the Future
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<extra_id_5>Big Ben is not the name of a man. It is the name of a big clock in London. London is the capital of England. This clock has four faces. So, no matter where you stand, you can read the time on the face of Big Ben. Each face is the size of a bus. The _ are about four meters long. It is about the size of two people standing on top each other. If you go to London, you may want to visit the Houses of Parliament. In that place you will find Big Ben sits at the top of the clock tower in the Houses of Parliament. You will probably hear it and see it. The big clock makes such a loud noise. "Ding dong, ding dong." It goes, every quarter of an hour. The name of Big Ben comes from a big builder. Big Ben is _ .
<extra_id_0>a bus
<extra_id_1>a clock
<extra_id_2>the name of Ben
<extra_id_3>a house
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<extra_id_5>Henry Ford, the famous U.S. inventor and car manufacturer, once said, "The business of America is business." By this he meant that the U.S. way of life is based on the values of the business world. Few would argue with Ford's statement. A brief glimpse at a daily newspaper vividly shows how much people in the United States think about business. For example, nearly every newspaper has a business section, in which the deals and projects, finances and management, stock prices and labor problems of corporations are reported daily. In addition, business news can appear in every other section. Most national news has an important financial aspect to it. Welfare, foreign aid, the federal budget, and the policies of the Federal Reserve Bank are all heavily affected by business. Moreover, business news appears in some of the unlikeliest places. The world of arts and entertainment is often referred to as"the entertainment industry"or"show business." The positive side of Henry Ford's statement can be seen in the prosperity that business has brought to U.S. life. One of the most important reasons so many people from all over the world come to live in the United States is the dream of a better job. Jobs are produced in abundance because the U.S. economic system is driven by competition. People believe that this system creates more wealth, more jobs, and a materially better way of life. The negative side of Henry Ford's statement, however, can be seen when the word business is taken to mean big business. And the term big business--referring to the biggest companies, is seen in opposition to labor. Throughout U.S. history working people have had to fight hard for higher wages, better working conditions, and the fight to form unions. Today, many of the old labor disputes are over, but there is still some employee anxiety. Downsizing--the laying off of thousands of workers to keep expenses low and profits high--creates feelings of insecurity for many. The United States is a typical country _ .
<extra_id_0>which encourages free trade at home and abroad
<extra_id_1>where people's chief concern is how to make money
<extra_id_2>where all businesses are managed scientifically
<extra_id_3>which normally works according to the federal budget
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<extra_id_5>Climate change will increase U.S wildfires, and the smoky air will cause terrible problems in areas far beyond those burned, reports an environmental group Thursday. Two-thirds of Americans, or nearly 212 million, lived in states suffering from wildfire smoke three years ago, according to the report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). These areas, which had smoke for at least a week, were nearly 50 times greater than those burned directly by fire. " It affects a much wider area of the United States than people have realized, " says author Kim Knowlton, a Columbia University health professor, adding the smoke can move up to hundreds of miles. She says the smoke contains air pollution and can cause several kinds of disease. Texas was hit hardest in 2011, when smoke stayed for at least a week in areas that are home to 25 million people, according to NRDC's report. Illinois, which recorded no wildfires within its borders( ) ,ranked ( ) second with nearly 12 million people affected by smoke that moved in from elsewhere. The other eight states with the most people exposed ( ) to smoky air were, in descending ( ) order: Florida, Missouri, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Alabama, Oklahoma and Iowa. Nearly two dozen states had no wildfires within their borders in 2011, but eight of them still had at least one week of smoky air: Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio. Only 18 states and the District of Columbia had no people exposed to at least a week of smoke that year, although five of them----Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah---had a large area burned by wildfires. The problem will only get worse, Knowlton say. Scientific research shows climate is causing higher temperatures and health problems. Which of the following states had wildfires within its borders?
<extra_id_0>Texas
<extra_id_1>Kansas.
<extra_id_2>Ohio
<extra_id_3>California.
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<extra_id_5>A young father was visiting an old neighbor.They were standing in the old man's garden,and talking about children.The young man said,"How strict should parents be with their children?" The old man pointed to a string between a big strong tree and a thin young one. "Please untie that string,"he said.The young man untied it,and the young tree bent over to one side. "Now tie it again, please."said the old man."But first pull the string tight so that the young tree is straight again.'' The young man did so.Then the old man said,"There,it is the same with children.You must be strict with them, but sometimes you must untie the string to see how they are getting on.If they are not yet able to stand alone,you must tie the string tight again.But when you find that they are ready to stand alone,you can take the string away.'' The story is about _ .
<extra_id_0>How to take care of young trees
<extra_id_1>How strict parents should be with their children
<extra_id_2>How the young father should get on with his old neighbor
<extra_id_3>How to help children to study
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<extra_id_5>"If you want to see a thing well, reach out and touch it!" That may seem a strange thing to say. But touching things can help you to see them better. Your eyes can tell you that a glass ball is round. But by holding it in your hands, you can feel how smooth and cool the ball is. You can feel how heavy the glass is. When you feel all these about the ball, you really see it. With your skin, you can feel better. For example, your fingers can tell the difference between two coins in your pocket. You can feel a little drop of water on the back of your hand, too. You can even feel sounds against your skin. Have you ever wanted to know why some people like very loud music? They must like to feel the sounds of music. All children soon learn what "Don't touch!" means. They hear it often. Yet most of us keep on touching things as we grow up. In shops, we touch things we might buy, such as food, clothes and so on. To see something well, we have to touch it. The bottoms of our feet can feel things, too. You know this when you walk on warm sand, cool grass or a bad floor. All feel different under your feet. There are ways of learning to see well by feeling. One way is to close your eyes and try to feel everything that is touching your skin. Feel the shoes on your feet, the clothes on your body, the air on your skin. At first, it is not easy to feel these things. You are too used to them! Most museums are just for looking. But today some museums have some things to touch. Their signs say, "Do touch!" There you can feel everything on show. If you want to see better, reach out and touch. Then you'll really see! Which of the following is true?
<extra_id_0>Touching can help people learn things better.
<extra_id_1>Our feet, fingers, hands and skin can help us enjoy music.
<extra_id_2>People have to learn to see by feeling as they grow up.
<extra_id_3>Visitors cannot feel the things on show in some museums.
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<extra_id_5>Getting rid of dirt, in the opinion of most people, is a good thing. However, there is nothing fixed about attitudes to dirt. In the early 16th century, people thought that dirt on the skin was a means to block out disease, as medical opinion had it that washing off dirt with hot water could open up the skin and let ills in. A particular danger was thought to lie in public baths. By 1538, the French king had closed the bath houses in his kingdom. So did the king of England in 1546. Thus began a long time when the rich and the poor in Europe lived with dirt in a friendly way. Henry IV, King of France, was famously dirty. Upon learning that a nobleman had taken a bath, the king ordered that, to avoid the attack of disease, the nobleman should not go out. Though the belief in the merit of dirt was long-lived, dirt has no longer been regarded as a nice neighbor ever since the 18th century. Scientifically speaking, cleaning away dirt is good to health. Clean water supply and hand washing are practical means of preventing disease. Yet, it seems that standards of cleanliness have moved beyond science since World War II. Advertisements repeatedly sell the idea: clothes need to be whiter than white, cloths ever softer, surfaces to shine. Has the hate for dirt, however, gone too far? Attitudes to dirt still differ hugely nowadays. Many first-time parents nervously try to warn their children off touching dirt, which might be responsible for the spread of disease. On the contrary, Mary Ruebush, an American immunologist , encourages children to play in the dirt to build up a strong immune system. And the latter position is gaining some ground. Which of the following best describes Henry IV's attitude to bathing?
<extra_id_0>Afraid.
<extra_id_1>Curious.
<extra_id_2>Approving.
<extra_id_3>Uninterested.
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<extra_id_5>According to new research,there could be a social hierarchy attached to where people stand in the lift.More senior men stand at the back,young men in the middle and women of all ages at the front. Most people know that awkward feeling when you shuffle into an elevator with other people and try not to make eye contact. But new research suggests it may be down to a subconscious power struggle being played out as you make your way up or down. A study found that people decide where they stand based on a micro social hierarchy,established within seconds of entering the lift. Rebekah Rousi,a Ph.D.student in cognitive science,conducted all ethnographic study of elevator behaviour in two of the tallest office buildings in Adelaide,Australia. As part of her research,she took a total of 30 lift rides in the two buildings,and discovered there was an established order to where people tended to stand. In a blog for Ethnography Matters,she writes that more senior men seemed to direct themselves towards the back of the elevator cabins. She said,"In front of them were younger men,and in front of them were women of all ages." She also noticed there was a difference in where people directed their gaze half way through the ride. Men watched the monitors,looked in the side mirrors(in one building)to see themselves,and in the door mirrors(of the other building)to also watch others. Women would watch the monitors and avoid eye contact with other users(unless in conversation)and the mirrors,she writes. The doctorate student concluded it could be that people who are shyer stand toward the front,where they can't see other passengers,whereas bolder people stand in the back,where they have a view of everyone else. What causes people to feel uncomfortable when entering the an elevator?
<extra_id_0>The manner people went into the lift.
<extra_id_1>The limited space in the lift.
<extra_id_2>The subconscious power struggle.
<extra_id_3>The micro social hierarchy.
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<extra_id_5>My school has no cafeteria . Students bring their own lunches and eat in the classroom with their teachers. At first, I didn't think I needed to be "on" during lunch, since it was technically a free time for students. However, I was surprised to learn that even in a classroom with fewer students, social segregation happened. The entire class crowded around a table just to avoid one or two other students sitting by themselves on the other side of the room. Students refer to one as the "cool" one and another as the "loser". There were only three tables. After witnessing this, I made a new classroom rule. Every day at lunch, we would put all the tables together and everyone including me would sit around the big table. Students could sit wherever they wanted at the table. This way, no one was excluded from the group. At first, there was much grumbling at this. But gradually the complaining stopped. Students who didn't usually talk to each other during free time started to share conversations. Students were occasionally requested to bring something for others to taste. This started a new tradition: weekly food sharing. In other situations, students make unpleasant comments about their classmate's food, but not during these lunches. Students were careful to thank the sharer, even if they didn't like the offering. Many students tried a food they had never tried before and some cooked a family recipe with their parents for the first time. Eating together gave us the opportunity to practice social graces . Students learned to ask about and respect each other's food choices. They also gained knowledge about their classmates' lives and cultures by tasting each other's food and practicing open-mindedness. At the beginning, the author didn't eat in the classroom with his students because he _ .
<extra_id_0>was very busy with his work
<extra_id_1>didn't want to eat with them
<extra_id_2>wanted to let them feel free
<extra_id_3>needed to eat with other teachers
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<extra_id_5>Psychiatrists who work with older parents say that maturity can be an advantage in child raising--older parents are more thoughtful, use less physical discipline and spend more time with their children. But raising kids takes money and energy. Many older parents find themselves balancing their limited financial resources, decreasing energy and failing health against the growing demands of an active child. Dying and leaving young children is probably the older parents' biggest, and often unspoken fear. "Having late-life children often means parents, particularly fathers, end up retiring much later. For many, retirement becomes an unobtainable dream." says Brandy Gabrielle, an economics professor. Henry Metcalf, a 54-year-old journalist, knows it takes money to raise kids. But he's also worried that his energy will give out first. Sure, he can still ride bikes with his athletic fifth grader, but he's learned that young at heart doesn't mean young. Lately he's been taking afternoon naps to keep up his energy. "My body is aging," says Metcalf. "You can't get away from that." Often, older parents hear the ticking of another kind of biological clock. Therapists who work with middle-aged and older parents say fears about aging are nothing to laugh at. "They worry they'll be mistaken for grandparents, or that they'll need help getting up out of those little chairs in nursery school," says Joann Gals, a New York psychologist. But at the core of those little fears there is often a much bigger one: "that they won't be alive long enough to support and protect their children," she says. Many late-life parents, though, say their children came at just the right time. After marrying late and undergoing years of pregnancy treatment, Marilyn Nolen and her husband, Randy, had twins. "We both wanted children," says Marilyn, who was 55 when she gave birth. The twins have given the couple what they desired for years -- a sense of family. Kids of older dads are often smarter, happier and more sociable because their fathers are more involved in their lives. "The dads are older, more mature," says Dr. Silber, "and more ready to focus on parenting." What do we learn about Marilyn and Randy Nolen?
<extra_id_0>They thought it was too late to have children in their fifties.
<extra_id_1>When they reached middle age, they thought of having children.
<extra_id_2>They believed that children born of older parents would be smarter.
<extra_id_3>Not until they had the twins did they feel they had formed a family.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>A large quantity of heavy rain falling in a short time period will most likely
<extra_id_0>reduce the amount of nutrients in the soil.
<extra_id_1>increase the number of minerals in the soil.
<extra_id_2>reduce oxygen levels in the soil.
<extra_id_3>increase the temperature of the soil.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>Jim, Kate and Li Ming are doing the homework together. Jim's spelling of "Moday" is wrong . Kate tells him about it. Li Ming wants to borrow a rubber from Jim or Kate. Jim says he has one and gives it to Li Ming. Li Ming thanks Jim for his help. Jim says, "You're welcome". Now Jim says "Thanks very much" to Kate for her help. Kate says "That's all right". The three children are students in a school in Beijing. Jim is from London . Kate is from New York. Li Ming is a Chinese girl. They are good friends. They often do homework and play games together. They often help each other. The three students are _ now.
<extra_id_0>not in the same class
<extra_id_1>in the UK
<extra_id_2>in Beijing
<extra_id_3>in the USA
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>An ivory page will be able to
<extra_id_0>feed a family
<extra_id_1>make some money
<extra_id_2>reflect all light
<extra_id_3>eat a cookie
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>The Hawaiian Islands are situated about two thousand miles away from North America, right in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Despite the distance the islands actually make up the fiftieth state of the United States. The islands were all formed by volcanic eruption and on the largest of the islands, Hawaii, or the Big Island, there are still two active volcanoes, the Mauna Loa and the Kilauea, which still erupt every few years. On the Hawaiian islands the natives have a particularly strange way of indicating directions. They don't use the north, south, east and west system common to the rest of the world. They use the mauka andmakaisystem.Maukameans "mountain". The mountains in Hawaii are always at the center of the islands, as these are volcanic islands.Makaimeans "the sea". The islands are small and the system is simple. Wherever you want to visit, it can always be described in terms of where it lies in relation to the mountains and the sea. A typical conversation between a native Hawaiian and a tourist might go as follow. TOURIST: Excuse me! Could you tell me where the Sheraton Hotel is? HAWAIIAN: Well... Let me see! From here it's two blocks mauka, and then one blockmakai. You can't miss it! Choose the most suitable title for the article.
<extra_id_0>The Big Island.
<extra_id_1>Volcanoes.
<extra_id_2>Giving Directions in Hawaii
<extra_id_3>The Hawaiian Islands.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>When a dirty and untidy orange cat showed up in the prison yard,I was one of the first to go out there and pet it. I hadn't touched a cat or a dog in over 20 years.I spent at least 20 minutes, knelt down behind the kitchen as the cat rolled around,relaxed.What he was expressing outwardly, I was feeling inwardly.It was an amazing bit of grace to feel him under my hand and note that I was reaching a life or another creature with something as simple as my care. Over the next few days,there were other prisoners responding to the cat.Every yard period,a group of prisoners gathered there.They stood around talking and taking turns petting the cat. These were guys you wouldn't usually find talking to each other.Several times I saw an officer in the group,not chasing people away,but just watching and seeming to enjoy along with the prisoners. Bowls of milk and water appeared along with bread,wisely placed under the edge of the dustbin to keep the birds from getting it. The cat was obviously homeless and in pretty bad shape .People said that the cat came to the right place.He's getting treated like a king.This was true,but as I watched I was also thinking about what the cat was doing for us.There was a lot of talk about what's wrong with prisons in America.We need more programs.We need more psychologists or treatment of various kinds, Some may even talk about making prisons more kind. But I think what we really need is a chance to practice our own kindness , Not receive it , but give it, After more than two decades here, I know kindness is not a value that's encouraged. It's often seen as a weakness, Instead, the culture encourages keeping your head down, minding your own business, and never letting yourself be weak. The cat did my heart good to see the effect he had on me and the men here, By simply saying ,"I need some help here", he did something important for us, He needed us , And we needed to be needed, I believe we all do. What is the best title for the passage?
<extra_id_0>. Caring Makes us Human
<extra_id_1>. Prison Culture is Important
<extra_id_2>. Animals Need Care
<extra_id_3>. Everyone Needs to be Cared for
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>Seeds travel by
<extra_id_0>Fish
<extra_id_1>Word of mouth
<extra_id_2>Knowledge
<extra_id_3>Boat
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>A young man is lying in hospital sadly. The 24-year-old lost his right leg. The doctor said that his long history of smoking was the reason. "I first smoked when I was 14. _ made me feel like a man and I thought it looked cool. Now I know I was wrong," said the young man. It is a mistake many young people make. According to the survey, 40 million of China's 130 million young people aged between 13 and 18 smoke. Fifteen million of them are addicted . The survey also found that about 68% of young smokers first smoked before the age of 13. Many young people see people smoke in the movies, but in real life, stars like Jackie Chan think smoking is a bad thing and not cool at all. Doctors say that if a person starts smoking very young, he or she may live 22 years less than those who don't smoke. What did the young man think of smoking when he first smoked?
<extra_id_0>It was wrong.
<extra_id_1>It was bad.
<extra_id_2>It was boring.
<extra_id_3>It was cool.
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>Parents whose children show a special interest in a sport feel very difficult to make a decision about their children's careers. Should they allow their children to train to become top sportsmen and sportswomen? For many children it means starting schoolwork very young, and going out with friends and other interests have to take a second place. It's very difficult to explain to a young child why he or she has to train five hours a day, even at the weekend, when most of his or her friends are playing. Another problem is of course money. In many countries money for training is available from government for the very best young sportsmen and sportswomen. If this help can not be given, it means that it is the parents who have to find the time and the money to support their child's development and sports clothes, transport to competitions, special equipment, etc. All can be very expensive. Many parents are worried that it is dangerous to start serious training in a sport at an early age. Some doctors agree that young muscles may he damaged by training before they are properly developed. Professional trainers, however, believe that it is only by training when young that you can reach the top as a successful sports person. It is clear that very few people do reach the top, and both parents and children should be prepared for failure even after many years of training. _ can become the best players after many years of training.
<extra_id_0>Most people
<extra_id_1>Many people
<extra_id_2>merely a few people
<extra_id_3>No people
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>I am Alice. I like We chat. It is fast, convenient and fashionable. And you can use it for free. It can be used in my mobile phone. It has hold-to-talk voice messaging function. I am a fan of Leehom Wang. Through We chat, Leehom Wang often says something to me. It's amazing. I am David. I love Micro blog. I update my Micro blog when I am free. We can share instant messages with each other. I often look through Yao Chen's Micro blog. She has many followers. I make many friends with them. I often write something on my Micro blog, for example, "I'm in blue today. I didn't pass the exam." Then many friends comfort me. I share my birthday party, my new phone, my new coat, etc. with my friends. It is fun. I'm Lily. I don't like We chat or Micro blog. I don't believe them. There are so many crimes on We chat. Many people are cheated because they believe in other people they meet on We chat easily. It is not a real world. As to Micro blog, I don't think it is a good way to make friends. And you should write something no more than 140 words. I like keeping diaries. I don't want my secrets known by others. I am a low-key girl. Who loves Micro blog?
<extra_id_0>Alice.
<extra_id_1>David.
<extra_id_2>Lily.
<extra_id_3>Leehom Wang.
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>Deep in the western Amazon rainforest, live butterflies that drink turtle tears. That sounds like a line straight out of a fantasy novel, but it's one hundred percent real life! It's an unusual sight--a crowd of butterflies flying around the eyes of yellow-spotted river turtles, trying to get a little tear.s. The poor turtles try to avoid them, hut the butterflies insist drinking their tears until they've had their fill. The butterflies are likely attracted to the turtles' tears because the liquid drops contain salt, specifically sodium, an important mineral that is rare in the western Amazon rainforest, said Phil Torres, a scientist who does much of his research at the Tambopata Research Center in Peru and is associated with Rice Univtrsity. Turtles get plenty of sodium through their largely carnivorous diet. Meat contains significant levels of the salt, Torres told LiveScience. But herbivores butterflies sometimes .struggle to get this extra mineral source, he added. Torres explained the western Amazon rainforest is lower in sodium than many places on earth, because it t is over l,000 miles away from the Atlantic Ocean---a main source of salt. The region is also cut off from the mineral dirt blown towards the west from the Andes Mountains. Most of these windblown minerals are removed from the air by the rain before they have a chance to reach the western Amazon. In fact, the butterflies have other sources to get sodium besides turtles' tears, which include animal urine , muddy river banks, sweaty clothes and so on. People can't help wondering if the process is painful for turtles. Torres said it's not completely clear, but the teary effort probably has little effect on the turtles, other than perhaps making them more vulnerable to their enemies like big cats, since the butterflies can block out their vision. We can conclude from the passage
<extra_id_0>the butterflies like eating meat for getting salt .
<extra_id_1>the turtles like the butterflies drinking their tears
<extra_id_2>turtle tears are the only source of salt for the butterflies
<extra_id_3>the Andes Mountains lies east of the western Amazon rainforest
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>The most important reason for having dog toys is to keep the dog entertained while you are away at work or even during home time. They need something to keep their active minds from finding trouble. You may see friends or family with dogs that come home to chewed shoes, table clothes pulled to the floor, and other destruction that the dog looks on as just playing with toys. Some toys can also be helpful to the dental health of your dog. Chew toys, such as bones and other items, can help them relieve new teeth coming in when they are young as well as help them feel better. You may find that your budget is a concern for new pet toys or certain dog toys. What you need to keep in mind is that dog toys are part of their care, especially for mental health. You can find toys around the house they may be willing to play with. You can place an old tennis ball on thick rope to play tug of war with. Stuffed (full) animals make great chew toys. The point is no matter what the toy is as long as it is safe for the dog to chew on, you will be providing proper dog care. Some dog toys that you may wish to have for yourself for the proper training and care include a laser pointer, balls, frisbees , or squeaky toys. You will also need to buy some kind of leather belts on the market for more active dogs. Most cities require leather belts to be worn when the dog is out for a walk, but it can also help during training. If the dog learns commands and the pressure on the leather belts for those commands, chances are that they will learn to stay at your side even off the leather belts. You should give your dog toys in order to _ .
<extra_id_0>finish your work on time
<extra_id_1>make it happy and active
<extra_id_2>stop it from barking
<extra_id_3>keep the shoes and table clothes clean
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<extra_id_5>There are many kinds of cars in the world. My grandmother thinks that is because cars are like their drivers. She says, "Rich people have expensive cars, big people have large cars, and old people have old cars," But I don't agree with her. My neighbor, Mrs. Hill, is 82 years old. She drives only on Tuesday, and she drives only to the bank. She never drives more than 30 kilometers an hour. Do you think Mrs. Hill has a very old and small car? No! Her car is new. It is very large and it can go 200 kilometers an hour! My friend Mike is an artist. He draws beautiful pictures with a lot of colors. But his car is black! Mrs. Bates has a very old car. It often has engine trouble. Does she have that kind of car because she is very poor? No, she has four factories and two million dollars in the bank. My aunt Mary has a car. Every Sunday, she drives to the country with her husband, her three children , her mother and their dog. Now you read about my friends and their cars. Do you agree with my grandmother? There are _ people in my aunt's car on Sunday?
<extra_id_0>5
<extra_id_1>6
<extra_id_2>7
<extra_id_3>8
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>Researchers are now using 3D printing to create models of the human heart to help heart specialists. The heart doctors can use the models to better help patients before an operation. Dr. Bramlet, a children's heart expert at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, says the 3-D models show information he cannot get any other way. "And so what we've done with the printed models? We've pulled it out of the screen so that you can actually hold it in your hand and evaluate the anatomy ." A 3-D printer uses images from a digital display to create a physical model of a human heart. Matthew Bramlet says doctors can use the model to understand the anatomy. Pictures from medical tests like CAT scan or MRI are sent to a 3-D printer to create a heart in a plaster form. The printer then constructs the heart, thin layer by thin layer. Dr. Bramlet says the model matches the real heart in every detail. "When we're done with the model and made our decision, we want to be able to go back to the source image and confirm those findings," he says. Dr. Bramlet has built model hearts for different kinds of heart operations. All of the operations were successful. In his first case, digital images showed only one tiny hole in a baby's heart. But, the 3-D printed model showed several defects or problems that the baby was born with. Dr. Bramlet says those defects could not be seen easily in the images. The heart surgeon was able to change the type of surgery for the patient based on the 3-D model. He added that 3-D heart models saves time during heart operations. Kathy Magliato is a heart surgeon at Saint John's Health Center in Los Angeles. She welcomes the new technology. She says it could help her make better decisions before she operates on the hearts of her patients. "I can then take this very complicated structure before the operation and I can hold it in my hand and plan an operation around what I'm seeing, touching and feeling. That to me is what can potentially change the game in an operation and save lives." Dr Bramlet continues to research the technology. He is working with the National Institutes of Health to build a 3-D library that includes heart models and images that others can use. What is the biggest advantage of 3-D models in the diagnose of heart problems?
<extra_id_0>Surgeons can see, touch and feel the 3-D models.
<extra_id_1>They can help surgeons save time.
<extra_id_2>They can be made exactly like the hearts.
<extra_id_3>They can help discover the otherwise hidden heart problems.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Neighbours play an important role in our lives. Their lifestyles, friends, and social habits can have a strong influence on our lives. It is a good idea to get to know the people next door or across the street to develop a community of support and safety. You never know when a neighbour will find a stranger walking around your house, or you may want to leave an extra key at their house in case someone in your family gets locked out. How do you get along with your neighbours? Here are some tips for building a better relationship with your neighbours. Point 1...Proper greetings can make your neighbours remember your name and pave the way for more meaningful future meetings. Don't stay too long, though, or you'll wear out your welcome! Point2...If your neighbour is building a pool, offer a few hours of help. Besides, you never know when the favor might be returned. Point3...If you hear that someone who live close to you has had an accident, take over a hot meal or some fruit. Your action will add a special touch during a difficult time. Point4...Invite your neighbours over for a cup of coffee in December or an Easter egg hunt in spring. A backyard barbecue can be a great way to share food and fun. Your neighbours may annoy you at times, but they are like family in many ways. Appreciate their strengths and overlook their weaknesses, and everyone will get along just fine. We infer that the writer wrote this passage to _ .
<extra_id_0>explain why it is good to get along well with others
<extra_id_1>give us some tips on how to support our neighbours
<extra_id_2>tell us how to get along with our neighours
<extra_id_3>advise us to be nice to our neighbours
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<extra_id_5>People think being an artist must be a wonderful way to earn one's living. And of course, there are lots of great things about working for oneself, at home alone, even in a cold studio like mine. What I really like is that nobody tells me what time to start in the morning. I like to paint as soon as I wake up, which is always early, but isn't the same time every day. And nobody tells me what to wear or whether I can take the afternoon off and go to a football match. But then, I have no one to chat with when I'm bored, no one to discuss last night's match with during the office lunch hour. Sure, I can spend the afternoon doing something I enjoy like cycling or gardening if I choose. But the work will still be there when I do finally get back home. Unfortunately, working at home means that people can always find me, whether I'm bored or not, and once I've answered the doorbell, it's too late -- my thoughts have been interrupted. No one would dream of calling in if I worked in an office, but I find myself listening to friends' troubles. As they talk, my ideas disappear and I feel increasingly stressed thinking of my work waiting to be done. However, when I hear the traffic news on the radio, and imagine my friends sitting miserably in their cars in a jam, feeling bored, or waiting unhappily for an overcrowded train in the rain, I realize that I really haven't got much to complain about. I find a CD which will start me thinking, turn it up really loudly and begin another picture. What does the writer like about his working life?
<extra_id_0>He has plenty of opportunities for sport.
<extra_id_1>He can do things without being told by others.
<extra_id_2>He needn't work in the morning.
<extra_id_3>He has a comfortable place to work in.
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>The Future Stars General introduction The Future Stars was set up in 1988 as a non-profit service center for child development devoted to providing quality childcare in a loving and educational environment for children 6 weeks to 6 years of age. Our funds mainly come from public donations. A healthy curiosity about learning is the most important quality for early childhood development. We aim at offering high quality developmentally age-appropriate activities for early childhood, the most Important time of child development, so that they can do better after they start formal schooling. Hours of operation Childcare will be provided for the child from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday except for holidays. Children may not arrive before 7:00 am or remain after 6:00 pm. Should an emergency arise, the parent should immediately make us know in consideration of our work arrangements. A late charge of $ 1.00 per minute will be assessed if the child is not picked up by 6:05 pm. Charges for these services are to be paid directly to the staff person that has been looking after your child until your arrival, not to the center. Failure to pay late charges may affect continued services with the center. Tuition When it has been confirmed that a position is available for your child, you must pay a registration fee of $200 per child. The weekly tuition fee is $ 98.00. You can make payments either by credit card or in cash on Monday every week. If your payment is not made by Tuesday at 9:00 am, you will be charged a $ 25.00 late fee. For more information, please call 434-293-6110 or visit www.childdevelopmentcenter.com. What is the purpose of the passage?
<extra_id_0>To attract public donations.
<extra_id_1>To promote early education.
<extra_id_2>To tell the benefits of childcare.
<extra_id_3>To introduce a child development center.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>A creature that is living will require this to have movement abilities:
<extra_id_0>clouds
<extra_id_1>nutriment
<extra_id_2>glass
<extra_id_3>dirt
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>During my review for the medical boards, I gained 101 pounds in four months and promised to exercise when all of this was over. I successfully passed the medical boards and _ . One morning, I woke up and decided to go to a park to start working out. I got out of bed, washed my face, brushed my teeth and put on my sports shoes. Then I headed for the park. While going there, I decided to set a goal for myself, that, I had to finish 10 rounds before I went home. Upon reaching the park, I joined the people in walking around the park. I was enjoying every step, breathing in fresh air, appreciating the green grass and looking at the dried leaves falling from the trees while listening to my iPod. On my 5th round, I felt tired, hungry and thirsty. I thought of giving it up, going home and sleeping again. As the idea battled in my mind, I was reminded about the goal I had set just a while ago. I kept on walking and as I looked around, I saw myself in the midst of men and women much older than me who continued to move on. Some even suffered from a stroke that had difficulty walking, some took on small steps with a cane on hand and some took on pauses before they continued their walk but still they kept on walking. Suddenly I realized that each of us has set our own goals in our lives, such as reaching a dream, building up a career, correcting a past mistake or starting a business. The process won't be easy. We may encounter a lot of difficulties and obstacles that may push us to just give up. Amazed by the men and women whom I walked with that morning, I finished my goal in the end. Let us be inspired with the people around us who experience the same or even a greater amount of difficulty but still don't give up and continue until they reach their goals and now are savoring their success. When the author was walking the 5th round _ .
<extra_id_0>he didn't want to continue walking
<extra_id_1>he found it easy to keep his promise
<extra_id_2>he was enjoying walking in the park
<extra_id_3>he was too tired to keep up with others
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<extra_id_5>As summer comes near, many children are really happy to forget about school for a few months. However, they might be taking that goal too seriously. Studies have found that children often forget between one and three months' worth of school learning during the summer months. Spelling and math abilities drop off the most, while reading is not really influenced by the time off. The main reason for this is because most children sometimes read outside of the classroom, whether newspapers, magazines, books, or video game guides. However, their math and spelling skills only get exercised in the school setting. The first purpose of summer holidays was to let farm children have time off to help work in the fields during the growing season, but this reason is no longer a good one since fewer kids actually work on farms today. Some cities in the United States, such as Los Angeles, have moved to a year-round school timetable, which may help reduce the loss of school skills that happens during the long summer holiday. To improve skills and to keep a good level of preparation, headmasters suggest trips to museums, summer camps, holidays with educational value, and visits to libraries to keep kids interested throughout the summer. There are other educational systems that provide holidays while still keeping students' skills up to date. For example, in Japan, students attend class for seven weeks in a row, followed by two weeks of holiday. This continues the whole year. In Italy, students attend class six days per week, but finish at 1: 30 pm each day, so that school does not run their life the way that it does in America, where students attend high school from 7: 45 am until 3: 00 pm each weekday. In areas where there are not enough classrooms--in Afghanistan or Somalia, for example--older students attend classes in the morning while the younger kids go to school in the afternoon. Headmasters fear that the three-month summer holiday stops the flow of learning. Just as students become used to new math problems or new ideas in reading, writing, or thinking skills, they " _ " during the summer holiday. When they go back to school after the long summer holiday, they take up to two months to return to their previous level of skill. So the debate continues: whether to continue holidays or to make changes based on the Los Angeles or the Japanese models. What can we infer from the passage?
<extra_id_0>Parents always read to their kids to keep reading skills.
<extra_id_1>Summer holidays lead to the loss of all the school skills.
<extra_id_2>Students love holidays and get their mind off learning in holidays.
<extra_id_3>In Italy students attend classes in the late afternoon six days a week.
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>Dear Editor, I am writing to ask what has happened to our youth. They are not as polite, hard-working or clever as my generation. I will give you two examples. Last Friday, I got on the underground at 9.15a.m. It was very busy so there were no free seats. There were some teenagers sitting on the seats nearest me. I didn't know why they were not at school. They were talking loudly and laughing. It was difficult to read my newspaper with all the noise. A heavily pregnant woman and her daughter got on at the next stop, with lots of shopping bags. I expected the teenagers to let them sit down. They saw the woman but did nothing. I had to ask them to give her a seat. They reluctantly did so but give me a rude look. I got off at the next stop and was glad that the teenagers didn't follow me. Last Saturday, I had dinner with my friend's family. I was expecting to meet his children, who I hadn't seen for ten years. During dinner, we started talking about world politics. It soon became clear that they didn't know much. They couldn't tell me the name of the King of Spain or the President of Italy. All they knew about was the Internet and which singers were the most beautiful. In my day, students knew the kings, queens and presidents of every country in Europe. I worry about the future of Germany. How could these young people become responsible workers and parents? They sit around Macdonald's after instead of going to the library like I did at their age. Maybe they have too much money. Perhaps another reader can give us an idea about what to do with this"lost generation". Franz Vogts Hamburg When Franz Vogts met the teenagers on the underground, he _ .
<extra_id_0>expected that they would make less noise
<extra_id_1>knew there was no hope for him to get a seat
<extra_id_2>felt he would meet with some trouble from them
<extra_id_3>thought they should have been studying instead of staying there
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>Deserts are in extremely dry environments, so liquids will naturally be
<extra_id_0>rainbow
<extra_id_1>plentiful
<extra_id_2>meager
<extra_id_3>talented
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Four out of ten women who diet end up heavier than when they started watching their waistline, a study revealed today. The research also showed that a large percentage of women start noticing the pounds creeping back on just 21 days after reaching their ideal weight. Yesterday, Dr Ian Campbell of the Jenny Craig weight management program said, 'In the UK 61.4 percent of adults are overweight or obese. Successful weight management requires a long-term commitment in order to lose weight successfully and for good. Dieting can be a real challenge so setting realistic goals and remaining focused on them is important. Otherwise as this research shows, women could end up heavier than when they started.' The "Food, Body, Mind" report was publicized by Jenny Craig who quizzed 2000 women aged between 18 and 65 who diet regularly on their attitudes, beliefs and behaviors around weight loss. Six in ten said they were currently on a diet and one in five women said they were on a continuous diet. It found the most common triggers to start dieting was seeing their reflection in the mirror, preparing for a summer holiday or unflattering photos posted on social networking sites. Other popular reasons include comments by friends or relatives or their other half. However, the study showed that one in ten give up within one day, while almost a fifth manage to make it to a week or more. The average is ten days. Many blamed pressure they put on themselves to lose weight too quickly for the weight gain, which leaves them with a bigger appetite than normal. Others blamed colleagues, who tuck into fatty lunches and snacks unaware of the effect it has on the dieter, while mothers' polishing off their children's leftovers was another common cause of weight gain. In the UK, women who go on a diet _ .
<extra_id_0>are all overweight or obese
<extra_id_1>all fail because they are not persistent enough
<extra_id_2>are likely to gain weight again after reaching their ideal weight
<extra_id_3>end up heavier than when they start to diet
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<extra_id_5>We always use body language in our daily life. When we have a talk with someone, we may use more body language than words. However, the same body language may mean different things in different countries. That's why people sometimes do not understand each other correctly. Pointing to one part of the body can mean differently in different cultures. For example, in the USA people point to their heads when they think someone is clever. However, in Europe it means "He or she is stupid or something is wrong with his or her head" .In China, nodding heads means "Yes" and shaking heads means "No". However, in parts of Greece and Turkey, they mean just the opposite. In England or the USA, when you raise your hand and make a circle with the thumb and the second finger, it means "Everything is OK." However, if you do this in France or Belgium, it means "You're worth zero." In Greece or Turkey, you should not make this gesture, or you are thought to be very rude. The meaning of gestures can also change over time. In the 1960s, the V sign meant "peace". However, during World War II, it meant "victory". In Greece, it is a very insulting sign. Though the meaning of body language is different, there are some expressions having the same meaning throughout the world. In France, if you raise your hand and make a circle with the thumb and the second finger, it means _ .
<extra_id_0>it is true
<extra_id_1>everything is OK
<extra_id_2>you are clever
<extra_id_3>you are worth nothing
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<extra_id_5>China's new popular word, "tuhao", may be taken in next year's Oxford English dictionary. The word caught the attention of the dictionary's editing team after BBC's recent program on influential Chinese words. "If its influence continues, it is very likely to appear on our updated list of words," said Julie Kleeman, project manager with the editing team. Kleeman told the Beijing Youth Daily that "tuhao" has some similarities with the English word "bling", which refers to expensive, ostentatious clothing or jewelry. Both the two words have existed for long but later on took a new meaning. In Chinese, "tu" means rude and "hao" means rich. It has traditionally been referred to rich people who throw their weight around in China's rural areas. In recent years, people in the ACG (anime, comic and game) circle borrowed the term to describe those who spend money in an unreasonable manner. The word gained acceptance in September with the launch of Apple's new gold-colored iPhone, an item loved by China's nouveau riche . The color became known as "tuhao gold".The word is now often used by the online community to refer to people who have the cash but lack the class to go with it. Kleeman also mentioned another Chinese word "dama" which may also be taken in the dictionary. "Dama", meaning middle-aged women, was first used in the Western media by the Wall Street Journal in May when thousands of Chinese women were buying up record number of gold. They were the driving force in the global gold market between April and June when the gold prices had dropped. "People can have an intuitive grasp of the meanings if they see pinyin", Kleeman said adding that people avoided using an English word to keep the original meaning. The new words will be first uploaded on the official website before the dictionaries arrive. The online version is also renewed every three months. Why is the word "tuhao" likely to be taken in Oxford English Dictionary?
<extra_id_0>Because it represents noble and rich
<extra_id_1>Because it has the same meaning with an English word.
<extra_id_2>Because its influence becomes bigger and bigger
<extra_id_3>Because it is popular in online game circle.
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<extra_id_5>Sherlock Holmes was the greatest detective in history. His astonishing power of observation and analysis meant that he was able to solve cases which left the real police completely . As a problem solver in the law forced business, he was a knowledgeable person equal to Superman, the comic book hero. Like Superman, of course, Holmes did not exist. He was the creation of a Scottish doctor and novelist Arthur Conan Doyle, and remains one of the most famous literary fiction characters of all time. Holmes' general rule when trying to solve a case was as follows: completely get rid of the impossible. Then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. It's said that Holmes' powers of deduction were superhuman, particularly his ability to process information from what he observed. In a story called The Boscombe Valley Mystery, Holmes examines the area near a lake where a murder has been committed. The local police have already searched the area and found no clues. Holmes spends ten minutes in the area, and announces that the murderer "is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears thick-soled shooting boots and a gray coat, smokes Indian cigars, uses a cigar holder, and carries a penknife in his pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be enough to aid us in our search." Needless to say, he has found evidence to support all of these statements. The fictional Holmes lived in an apartment at 221 Baker Street, a real street in Central London. When Conan Doyle wrote about Holmes, there was no 221 Baker Street, but after the street was extended northwards, there was. There is currently a bank at that address. The fact that Holmes didn't actually exist doesn't stop thousands of people writing to him for help every year.The bank kindly responds to every letter they receive with the following message: "Mr. Holmes thanks you for your letter. At the moment he is retired in Sussex, keeping bees, and does not undertake detective work nowadays." When letters are written to Holmes, _
<extra_id_0>he answers letters when he receives them
<extra_id_1>his secretary answers them for him.
<extra_id_2>the bank at 221 Baker Street where he used to live sends the letters back
<extra_id_3>the bank at his address replies that Holmes is no longer working as a detective
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<extra_id_5>In 1620,about half the USA was covered by forests .Today the forests have almost gone .A lot of good land has gone with them ,leaving only sand .China doesn't want to copy the USA's example.We're planting more and more tress .We've built the "Great Green Wall "of tress across northern pat of our country .The "Great Green Wall"is 7,000 kilometers long ,and between 400 and 1,700 kilometers wide .It will stop the wind from blowing the earth away .It will stop the sand from moving towards the rich farmland in the south .More "Great Green Wall "are needed .Trees must be grown all over the world. "Great Green Wall "will make the world better . ,. The "Great Green Wall"In China is _ long
<extra_id_0>7,000 kilometers
<extra_id_1>1,700 kilometers
<extra_id_2>7,000 meters
<extra_id_3>400 kilometers
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<extra_id_5>Swimming is very popular in the world. Many people like swimming in summer, even in the other three seasons. Water makes people feel cool and swimming makes people keep fit. If you swim in a wrong place, it may not be safe. A lot of people died when they were enjoying themselves in water, and most of them were students. Now some people are not careful enough in swimming. They often think they can swim so well that nothing will happen to them in water. If you go swimming in summer, don't forget that a lot of good swimmers have died in water. They died not because they couldn't swim, but because of their carelessness . Don't get into water when you are alone. If there is a " No Swimming" sign, don't swim there. If you remember these, swimming will be safe and enjoyable . Swimming can make people keep _ .
<extra_id_0>clean
<extra_id_1>fat
<extra_id_2>healthy
<extra_id_3>ill
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<extra_id_5>Many children think mobile phones are cool. They come in fun colors and let you talk with friends anytime and anywhere. In the U.S., more than 90 million people use mobile phones. Many of these people are children. For children, mobile phones are more than phone calls. They are fashionable. Most mobile phone users don't think about the health problems caused by mobile phones. Some scientists say that mobile phones give off radiation that might be bad for the users. One newest study shows that mobile phone radiation might raise a person's chance of getting some kinds of cancer . Other scientists say mobile phones don't' threaten people's health. They say that they have not found any link between phone use and cancer. Scientists say that people can protect themselves from mobile phone radiation. One way is to use a headset . Or people can make shorter call. Many children like mobile phones because they think mobile phones are _ .
<extra_id_0>cool
<extra_id_1>small
<extra_id_2>cheap
<extra_id_3>their toys
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<extra_id_5>WASHINGTON(Reuters)-People who drink two or more sweetened soft drinks a week have a much higher risk of pancreatic cancer , an unusual but deadly cancer, researchers reported on Monday. People who drank mostly fruit juice instead of sodas did not have the same risk, the study of 60,000 people in Singapore found. "Sugar may be to blame but people who drink sweetened sodas regularly often have other poor health habits," said Mark Pereira of the University of Minnesota, who led the study. "The high levels of sugar in soft drinks may be increasing the level of insulin in the body, which we think contributes to pancreatic cancer cell growth," President said in a statement. Writing in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, Pereira and his colleagues said they followed 60,524 men and women in the Singapore--Chinese Health Study for 14 years. Over that time, 140 of the volunteers developed pancreatic cancer. Those who drank two or more sweetened soft drinks a week had an 87 percent higher risk of being among those who got pancreatic cancer. Pereira said he believed the findings would apply elsewhere. "Singapore is a wealthy country with excellent healthcare. Favorite pastimes are eating and shopping, so the findings should apply to other western countries." he said. But Susan Mayne of the Yale Cancer Center at Yale University in Connecticut was cautious. "Although this study found a risk, the finding was based on a relatively small number of cases and it remains unclear whether it was a causal connection or not." Said Mayne, who serves on thee board of the journal, which is published by the American Association for Cancer Research. Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest form of cancer, with 230,000 cases globally. In the United States, 37,680 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in a year and 34, 290 die of it. How does Susan seem to feel about the findings of the study?
<extra_id_0>Satisfied
<extra_id_1>Doubtful
<extra_id_2>Worried
<extra_id_3>Hopeful
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<extra_id_5>What do you do if you don't get into your first choice of university? That's the dilemma that faces thousands of British students every year. Many candidates turn to Clearing, the service that helps find university places for students at the last moment. If they don't have the marks to get into their first choice of institution, Clearing tells them about places available at other universities, though they might have to read another subject. But this year has seen a record number of people applying to university. This, combined with the weak economy, an uncertain job market and budget cuts at universities, means that _ than usual. Some sources say six students have applied for each remaining undergraduate university place. The British university admissions service, UCAS, says up to a quarter of this year's university applicants --- almost 190,000 people --- still don't have a place on a degree course. That's a rise of over 46,000 students from last year. Faced with these figures, some British students might be thinking of an interesting alternative: studying abroad. The University of Nottingham, for example,is offering places at its campuses in Ningbo, near Shanghai, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Students here can gain University of Nottingham degrees in business, accounting, engineering and English. Similarly, the University of Bolton says it has 'unlimited' places at its campus in the United Arab Emirates. Given the problems getting into university, the UK's Higher Education Minister, David Willetts, encourages students who haven't made the grade to consider alternatives to university, such as apprenticeships and studying at home. "There are a range of options available," he says. "People are able to reapply. They should think how they can spend their year adding that bit to their CV, which would help their application --- getting practical work experience or extra skills --- anything that strengthens their chances next year." But some experts say that rising university costs, poor long-term job prospects, and a drop in graduate recruitment mean it's the worst time to be a university student in the UK. David Willetts encourages students faced with the lack of places on a degree course _ .
<extra_id_0>to consider apprenticeships and studying at home
<extra_id_1>to study at campus outside the UK
<extra_id_2>to reapply next year
<extra_id_3>not to go to university in the UK
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<extra_id_5>Ted Brown's dream as a child was an unusual one: he wanted to fly. What was more unusual was the way in which he made his dream come true. After high school, he wanted to join the U. S. Air Force but he failed because of his poor eyesight. However, his dream remained. At the age of 33, Ted was a truck driver in Los Angeles. One day, while sitting outside in his garden, he watched planes fly overhead and an idea came to him: to use balloons to fly. A few weeks later, Ted bought 42 huge balloons. He tied them to a chair and then he sat down in the chair with some beer, sandwiches and a gun. His plan was to fly to 10 meters above his garden, enjoy a few hours in the air, and then shoot some balloons with his gun to get back down. But things did not go as he planned. Once his friends cut the ropes under Ted's chair, the 42 balloons flew into the sky at an astonishing speed until about 4000 meters above the ground with Ted and his chair. He didn't shoot any of the balloons because he was afraid he might break the balanee of his "plane". Ted stayed in the sky with his beer and sandwiches for 14 hours, cold and frightened. Planes heading towards Los Angeles' busy international airport reported the strange sight. And Ted' s balloons caused great danger to them. At last, Ted gathered his courage to shoot a few balloons and slowly landed on the ground, where many policemen were waiting for him. Ted made his dream come true, but it cost him: he was fined $ 1,500 for breaking the law about air safety. When asked by a reporter why he had done it, Ted answered, "A man can't just sit around and do nothing; he should have his dream and go for it. " What can be the best title for the story?
<extra_id_0>Go for It.
<extra_id_1>A Man with Poor Eyesight.
<extra_id_2>Up High in the Air.
<extra_id_3>Ted's Dream to Fly.
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<extra_id_5>Most American families like to have a vacation in summer. Summer is a good season for vacation. It is often hot in July and August. Children do not go to school in those two months. Some people like to stay at home, read books, or watch TV. Many families take their lunch to eat at a place with many trees or a nice lake. Some people have enough time and money to travel to other countries like France, Japan and Australia. They usually fly to these countries. Many families travel by car or train to see interesting places in their own countries. Their favorite cities are New York, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Not everyone likes to go to busy cities. Some families travel to mountains or beautiful valleys. ,A, B, C, D,. (5,1,5) Which of the following is NOT true ?
<extra_id_0>Summer vacation is about two months long.
<extra_id_1>Some people usually go to other countries to travel.
<extra_id_2>Everyone likes to travel to busy cities.
<extra_id_3>It's often hot in July and August in America.
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<extra_id_5>Physical fitness refers to good health, and is the result of regular exercise, proper diet and nutrition, and proper rest for physical recovery. A person who is physically fit will be able to walk or run without getting breathless and he or she will be able to carry out the activities of everyday living and will not need help. How much each person can do will depend on their age and whether they are a man or woman. A physically fit person usually has a normal weight for height. The relation between height and weight is called the Body Mass Index. A taller person can be heavier and still be fit. If a person is too heavy or too thin for the height it may affect the health. Mental health refers to a person's emotional and psychological well-being. "A state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her thinking and emotional(feeling) abilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life." One way to think about mental health is by looking at how well a person functions. Feeling capable and efficient, being able to handle normal levels of stress, having good friends and family, and leading an independent life, and being able to "bounce back" or recovering from hardships, are all signs of mental health. Public Health refers to trying to stop a disease that is unhealthy to the community, and does not help in long life or promote your health. This is fixed by organized efforts and choices of society, public and private clubs, communities and individuals. It is about the health of many people, or everybody, rather than one person. Public health stops instead of encouraging a disease through surveillance of cases. To prevent being sick, it is good to do healthy behaviors, such as hand washing, vaccination programs and so on. When infectious diseases break out, washing hands may be especially important. What are the signs of mental health?
<extra_id_0>Living an independent life and suffer from hardships.
<extra_id_1>Reducing normal levels of stress and handle "bounce back".
<extra_id_2>Living an independent life and own good friends and family.
<extra_id_3>Increasing emotional demands and psychological well-being.
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<extra_id_5>Are you bored and lonely? Do you want to make new friends? Do long working hours make it difficult for you to get out and about to meet new people? Maybe you or your friends have moved to a new area and this has left you feeling lonely. Even if you are already the proverbial social butterfly, you may still find that your existing friends do not share the same interests and feelings. You may have a satisfying social life, but you still find you have no one to travel with. You may have your circle of friends, but find that none of them will join you in the activities or sports that interest you most. These are just a few of the reasons why millions of people search online to find new friends. Matchmaking websites are good tools to make friends online. Profile matching technologies enable you to search for new friends by age, gender, location, interests and much more. You can make friends near you or anywhere in the world and learn about new countries, cultures and lifestyles. Making friends online is easy and anonymous as members get to know you by your username only. You can get in touch with members by sending private messages, joining in discussion forums, or sharing online chat. When you are ready, you can take your new friendships into the real world by arranging meetings to share your common interests. If you prefer to meet in numbers, you can join or create your own local group in which members share interests and activities near you. The purpose of this passage is to _ .
<extra_id_0>introduce a new way to make friends
<extra_id_1>warn people not to trust online friends
<extra_id_2>tell readers how to lead a good social life
<extra_id_3>explain why people like to make friends online
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<extra_id_5>It was lunch time. Mike was in the garden with Linda. Suddenly, two aliens arrived! "Wow! Aliens!" They were so excited that they _ loudly. "Hello, friends!" The two aliens came out from a small flying machine. "Hi! Come and have lunch with us." Mike said. "Do you like earth food?" Linda asked. "We don't know. Let's have a try," the aliens said. "What's this? Is it a phone?" the tall alien asked. "No, it's a banana," Mike said. The tall alien took a bite , "Yuke! I don't like bananas." "What's this? Is it a ball?" the short alien asked. "No, it's an egg," Linda said. The tall alien took a bite, "Yuke! I don't like eggs." "What's this? Is it a hat?" the tall alien asked. "No, it's a lunchbox!" Mike said. The tall alien took a bite, "Yum! I like lunchboxes!" Which of the following is True?
<extra_id_0>The short alien tasted many kinds of food.
<extra_id_1>Mike felt very scared when he saw the aliens.
<extra_id_2>The aliens didn't think the earth food tasted delicious.
<extra_id_3>The aliens came to the earth in a big flying machine.
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<extra_id_5>The Bedouin people think most highly of people who show loyalty. To them loyalty does not mean that one is devoted to a country, a place, or a leader. Loyalty means being faithful to one's family and tribe . The Bedouin people take pride in their ancestors . They do not admire a hero from an ordinary or poor family as much as one who comes from an honored family. They particularly respect those who have received a good name from their ancestors and then have passed it on to their children. A man's position among the black-tent people depends upon his ancestors, relatives, and fellow tribesmen. If they are honored, he is also honored. If they are disgraced, he too is disgraced. Therefore one carefully guards the honor of his family, his lineage ,and his tribe. A man can protect his family's honor by being brave and generous and by giving protection to those who ask for it. He also guards it by carefully watching the women of his family. A Bedouin woman cannot bring honor to her family, but she can bring disgrace. Even if a woman only looks as if she has done wrong, she may be killed. The honor of her family depends upon her virtue . The word "disgrace" means " _ " in this text.
<extra_id_0>honor
<extra_id_1>danger
<extra_id_2>pride
<extra_id_3>shame
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<extra_id_5>Once there were two brothers. They were very good to each other. They were half brothers because the elder brother's mother was dead, and then his father married again. The stepmother was not kind to the elder brother, but the younger brother loved him and often helped him. One day, the mother gave each of the brothers a box of seeds and enough food for a few days. She said to them, "Take them. Go and plant them. One of you must plant them on the east hill, and the other on the west hill. Don't come back if the seeds don't come out. " The mother gave very bad seeds to the elder brother, but the two brothers didn't know this, and set out the next morning. When they came to a bridge, they sat down to rest. After that, they got up to say good-bye to each other, but they took the wrong boxes of seeds! Ten days later, the elder brother's seeds began to grow and he came back. But the younger brother did not return home because his seeds didn't grow. At last, he died on the hill. ,. (10) In fact the mother wanted _
<extra_id_0>the two brothers to plant trees
<extra_id_1>the two brothers to work hard
<extra_id_2>the elder brother to die
<extra_id_3>the younger brother to die
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<extra_id_5>Feathers, wings, and the hollow bones of birds are examples of
<extra_id_0>adaptations for flight
<extra_id_1>responses to stimuli
<extra_id_2>unnecessary body parts
<extra_id_3>reproductive structures
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<extra_id_5>Late that afternoon I took the train back to Sydney. There I found another surprise waiting for me. My room at the hotel had been given to somebody else and they had no room for me. Harkin had known my travel plans and had planned everything. How could he have booked the room only for three days? There was nothing to be done but to find another hotel. The waiters were happy to find me a new hotel, and when I said that I was happy to stay at the airport, thinking it might be cheaper than staying in the city, they suggested the Holiday Inn at the airport. There was one small matter: the room rate was 300$ per night. The best hotel in Katoomba had wanted only 145$. I asked if there was anything cheaper they might suggest but they warned that most hotels would already be full by this time. The hotel was far from the train station, so I had to take a taxi, as 25$. On the way to the Holiday Inn, we passed a hotel just two blocks from the Holiday Inn that advertised a room rate of 104$. At the desk I asked if their room rate could go down a lot. "No, this is a 4star hotel," the waiter told me. "In that case," I replied, "I'll just walk the two blocks to the cheap hotel." But she warned me that they were probably full and that if I didn't take the room, it might not be available when I came back. Finally, I decided to take the room. The room itself was big, but the air conditioning couldn't keep up with the Australian heat. I couldn't get to sleep until about 1:00 am. Why did the writer take a room in the Holiday Inn finally?
<extra_id_0>It's a 4star hotel.
<extra_id_1>It's around the station.
<extra_id_2>It was midnight then.
<extra_id_3>The room was in great demand.
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<extra_id_5>The U.S. government may issue stronger regulations about the use of tobacco. Many governments and private buildings have "No Smoking" regulations. In airplanes, on trains and at cinemas, Golf courses are seriously thinking of keeping out smokers, so are schools, shopping malls and even football fields. So where do people go to fill their lungs with nicotine? The government is working on it. One suggestion is that the government set aside a piece of land somewhere in the United States where smokers could go when they want a cigarette. Yellow Stone Park has been in the list, but many people don't agree because they fear that second-hand smoking would make the bears there sick. The Mojave Desert in California is also being studied, and so are Las Vegas Casinos . The smokers were not too nervous about the government idea. They say they are not going to California just to light up. They have a right to smoke at home. To make life more pleasure for those who find it hard to give up smoking, the government is seriously thinking of getting somewhere for the smokers. The tobacco companies are fighting the idea like mad. They say nobody has proved that cigarettes are bad for you. They say as a matter of fact, the doctors have proved that a cigarette saved a person's life after that person was shot. Other places under consideration are: the cold areas in Alaska, the Rocky Mountain in Colorado and the Whitewater River in Arkansas. Smokers in the U.S. _ to light a cigarette now.
<extra_id_0>find nowhere
<extra_id_1>are not so free
<extra_id_2>have no rights
<extra_id_3>have to travel a long way
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<extra_id_5>Traveling by train is usually not easy in China. It can be hard to get a ticket. When you're traveling to the railway station, you look at your watch, for you are afraid you will miss your train. But there is good news for people traveling between Beijing and Shanghai. Construction on the express railway between the two cities started just before the Spring Festival of 2008. When it is finished by 2013, taking a train will be as easy as taking a bus. "There will be trains every several minutes. Buying a ticket, getting through the checkpoint and taking your seat, will take just 10 minutes," said an engineer. There may be high-speed trains running at 350 kilometers an hour. The travel time between the two cities will _ from 10 to about 5 hours. The trains will carry twice the present number of passengers. The new line will be 1,318 kilometers long and go across specially built bridges. It will run along side the present line. There will be 21 stations in Hebei, Tianjin, Shandong, Anhui and Jiangsu. "The cost of traveling by the express railway may be around 800 yuan. That will be more expensive than an ordinary train, but cheaper than by air." Said Zhang Xiaoling, a Jiangsu government official. According to Zhang, the higher price is caused by the large cost of the railway project. At about 200 billion yuan, the project may be even more expensive than the Three Gorges Project . Before taking your seat, you should _ with your ticket.
<extra_id_0>buy a ticket
<extra_id_1>get through the checkpoint
<extra_id_2>pack your things
<extra_id_3>make some friends
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<extra_id_5>My tears run down from my cheeks when I talk to my parents on the phone. What are they doing when I call them? Dad works from seven o'clock in the morning to nine o'clock in the evening. My mum does all the housework, she also has to work in the field. But I can't do anything for them. Every day she gets up at around 4 o'clock in the morning. When I sometimes call her at 7:30 in the evening, she tells me that she is still in the field and doesn't have supper. I tell her I'll study hard in the school. I also ask her to take care of herself and dad because I can't live without them. Mum says that the happiest time for dad and her is when my sister and I come back home. We play cards in the room, watch TV, or do anything we like, with dad and mum making delicious food in the kitchen. It is also the happiest time for me. Love, sometimes, doesn't need many words. Love your parents like they love you. Give them a call, tell them you miss them. The happiest time for the writer's mum and dad is _ .
<extra_id_0>she and her sister help them make delicious food in the kitchen
<extra_id_1>her sister and her coming back home
<extra_id_2>they play cards in the room
<extra_id_3>they work in the field together
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<extra_id_5>Here are some news from China Daily in February, 2016. 1. Air quality in 271 out of 338 prefecture-level or above cities failed to meet national standards on the Chinese New Year Eve to 6 am the next morning on Feb 8, primarily because of pollution caused by firecrackers . 2. According to data released by CCTV, the Spring Festival Gala was watched on TV domestically by 690 million views while 138 million people watched it online. 3. Kung Fu Panda 3 and The Mermaid<<>> were very popular movies during the Spring Festival. But The Mermaid has earned more than 2 billion yuan after nine days in Chinese mainland theaters. It is expected to break the box office records Fast & Furious 7<<7>> and Monster Hunt<<>> set on the Chinese mainland to become the highest earning film in China's film history. 4. After the universal two-child policy, China will have a baby boom. Especially Chinese people have traditionally believed babies born in the Year of the Monkey to be smart and confident, due to their love of the animal because it is cute and resembles humans in many ways. How many people watched the Spring Festival Gala ?
<extra_id_0>690 million.
<extra_id_1>138 million.
<extra_id_2>828 million.
<extra_id_3>2 billion.
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<extra_id_5>Recently, while hiking in the foothills of South Carolina, I happened to notice a small, yet quickly flowing whitewater stream. While relaxing and enjoying the aloneness, I sensed a battle for favorable position between the highly-spirited water and the large rocks resting on the bed along the edges of the stream. At first; the rocks, stubborn, immovable and unbending, seemed to have their way with their adversary . However, the water, determined yet forgiving, seemed merely inconvenienced by the presence of the rocks, as it effortlessly changed its course, running towards its original destination. Soon it became clear that the rocks, although remaining strong and firm, were losing this battle as the water's total indifference began to slowly reform these obstacles into smooth and beautifully polished stones. You see, there seemed to be total lack of struggle associated with the water's journey. Struggle is like bondage forcing harmony and the water would have none of that. On the contrary,the water seemed perfectly content to move around the rocks when necessary, following some route God had originally intended. I paused for thought. Maybe people need to be more determined and less stubborn. Maybe human beings need to always be open to different points of view, not afraid to readjust their direction as life presents all of its new and unforeseen challenges. The author wrote the text mainly to _ .
<extra_id_0>stress the importance of determination
<extra_id_1>praise the open-mindedness of the stream
<extra_id_2>share with us his interesting journey
<extra_id_3>give us some advice on how to deal with challenges
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<extra_id_5>Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love. The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner. His tail has long ago been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch. Ugly would have been a dark grey tabby, striped-type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs. Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!" All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their home or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around feet in forgiveness. Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and bump his head against their hand begging for their love. If you ever picked him up, he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earring whatever he could find. One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbor's huskies. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly attacked. From my apartment I could hear his scream and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was obvious Ugly's sad life was almost at an end. Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. It must be hurting him terribly, I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled-scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion. At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain. Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterward thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly. Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand book lecture or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful. He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my total to those I cared for. Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be Ugly. Why did the writer say he would try to be Ugly?
<extra_id_0>Because he loved Ugly so deeply
<extra_id_1>Because the Ugly taught him to love totally and truly
<extra_id_2>Because he hated it that his neighbors were so cruel
<extra_id_3>Because he found some similarities between them
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<extra_id_5>My name is Frank. I am from St. John Middle School in America. I am in Class Three, Grade Seven. We study Chinese at school. Our Chinese teacher is Joy Black. He is not Chinese, but he is good at Chinese. I have a lot of friends in my school. Jimmy is tall and has black hair. He is good at playing basketball. He is in the school basketball team . May is short and she wears glasses. She is good at Maths. Sandra has long hair. She likes swimming. She is in the school swimming team. Maria is new here. She is from Hong Kong. She has black hair and big eyes. She is good at English and computers. Nick is tall. He has small eyes. He is funny. He plays football very well. , Frank is _ .
<extra_id_0>in Class Seven
<extra_id_1>a middle school student
<extra_id_2>in Grade Eight
<extra_id_3>a Chinese student
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<extra_id_5>To get the right job you need to be attractive to employers from the moment they first hear about you. We specialize in thoroughly preparing professional people for effective job searching. Our confidential and professional service includes: l a personal interview with one of our qualified counselors; l advice and training in approaching employers; l all application letters prepared and professionally typed or you; l an individually-prepared CV that emphasizes your achievements; l training in interview techniques. Our service will ensure that employers put you on their short list and that you present yourself positively and effectively at the interview. SUSANBRIGHT CVs: 891 New Oxford Street, London WC1TSJK 019978091 This service_.
<extra_id_0>searches jobs for people
<extra_id_1>gets right jobs for people
<extra_id_2>gets people ready for effective job hunting
<extra_id_3>introduces best jobs to people
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<extra_id_5>When you discuss about eating out with your friend, first of all, you must make it clear who will pay for the meal.If somebody suggests having lunch with his friend, he might simply say something like this "I'm afraid it'll have to be some place nearby ,as I have little money." The other person may say. "OK. I'll meet you at Mcdonald's." This means he has agreed that the two will go Dutch, that is, each person pays for himself. He may say "Oh, no. I want to take you for lunch at Johnson's " This means the person is to pay the bill for both of them. Although the other person is pleased with the invitation, there is one reason why he shouldn't accept it by simply saying "Thank you." American customs are much the same as those in other parts of the world. American women used to expect men to pay for all the meals. But today, some of them like to. However, if a woman is asked to attend a dinner or a dance outside, the invitaton itself means "Come as my guest". So, as you see, it is a polite thing to make the situation clear at the very beginning. What does "go Dutch" mean? It means _ .
<extra_id_0>go to Dutch
<extra_id_1>travel in Dutch
<extra_id_2>each person pays for himself
<extra_id_3>one person pays the bill for both of them
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<extra_id_5>Which factors can have the greatest effect on the health of a river system?
<extra_id_0>type of soil and salinity
<extra_id_1>nitrate levels and turbidity
<extra_id_2>human consumption and pH
<extra_id_3>natural disasters and tidal changes
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<extra_id_5>Large population has caused many problems. For example, the traffic is very heavy in some big cities. During the last ten years, big cities like Beijing and Harbin were full of cars and buses. Now the streets are completely crowded and it's very difficult to drive a car along them. Drivers must stop at hundreds of traffic lights. What are our cities going to be like in the future? How can we solve the problem? There are some good ideas to reduce the use of private cars. In 1971, the officer in Rome began an interesting experiment: Passengers on the city buses didn't pay for their tickets. In Stockholm there was another experiment: People paid very little for a season ticket to travel on any bus, trolley bus and train all over the city. In many cities now some streets are closed to vehicles and _ are safe there. In London there is another experiment: Part of the streets is for buses only. So the buses can travel fast. There are no cars or taxis in front of them. , . The city of _ experimented on a very cheap bus service.
<extra_id_0>Paris
<extra_id_1>Stockholm
<extra_id_2>London
<extra_id_3>None of the above
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<extra_id_5>A board game is a game played on a pre-marked surface or "board" according to a set of rules. Board games have been played in most cultures and societies throughout history. Do you think of yourself as a bit of an expert at board games like chess or Go? Maybe you're not quite as good as you think. New research from the University of Manchester and Oxford suggests complex games like these are impossible to learn fully. They may even be too complex for the human mind to understand. Researchers studied two-player games, to try and understand the strategies which people use to make decisions during the game. Some games with two players are simple, with only a small number of possible moves. Players can quickly work out the best strategy but that means the game soon becomes boring. It gets more interesting when there are many possible moves. That's why people are so fascinated by complex board games like chess or Go, or some card games. But what the researchers found was that with difficult games, players find it hard to work out the best strategy and their actions become less reasonable. This research is part of the field called game theory: the study of human strategic decision-making. Much thinking on how people play complex games is based on something called "the balance point", which is when players have a perfect knowledge of what they are going to do and of what their rivals are going to do. When you add more than two players then of course the game becomes even harder to understand. Trading on the stock market is an example of a complex multi-player game. If players want to get to the balance point, they should _ .
<extra_id_0>ask other players to work out the best strategy
<extra_id_1>have a good knowledge of the games they are playing
<extra_id_2>figure out the next actions of themselves and their opponents
<extra_id_3>come to a quick decision about what to do next by themselves
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<extra_id_5>Friendship can deeply affect the physical and mental health of both men and women. Studies show that people who have no friends or who are lonely, are more likely to die earlier, get sick more often and suffer greater physical wear and tear than those who have a support system of friends. Sometimes, family members may be more likely to give you advice or tell you what you don't want to hear. It may not be as good as a friend who will listen to you and guide you, but support your decisions anyway. The most important elements about friendship are those who suffer support and do not judge your decisions based on society. One reason for the link between social support and good health practice seems to be that people who feel cared for by others are less stress-out and protected against the symptoms of depression and loneliness. Generally, women benefit most because of how they deal with stress. Women are more social in how they deal with stress than men while men are more likely to have a "fight or flight" reaction. Women also tend to have larger, denser social network, in which more people know each other and help each other, while men typically have smaller groups of friends and will rely on their wives or other important people for more support. While all these affect people psychologically , friendship brings comfort that reduces the ill effects of stress, and the sex difference also contributes to the difference in the length of one's life time. Women benefit more from friendship than men because _ .
<extra_id_0>women are always cared for by more people than men
<extra_id_1>women are usually less stress-out when staying with others
<extra_id_2>women are more likely to solve problems with friends' help
<extra_id_3>women can always keep more long-life friendship than men
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<extra_id_5>A dentist's office may not be everyone's idea of a perfect holiday destination.But a growing number of Europeans are travelling abroad for medical treatment to save money,or maybe to combine a visit to the doctor with some sightseeing,creating a potential but fastgrowing market for traditional tour operators. "It was simply cheaper for me to go to a dentist in Hungary," said a 42yearold physical therapist from Berlin.He chose the clinic near Budapest from an Internet advertisement,attracted by hundreds of euros in savings compared with the same treatment in Germany.He was happy to find when he got there that the clinic was clean,the staff qualified and the work thorough. People travel abroad for medical treatment for various reasons:it's cheaper,they face a long wait at home,or the treatment they want is not available in their own country.The Britishbased Medical Tourist Company refers about 100 patients a year to hospitals in India for treatments.And Chief Executive Premhar Shah reports rapid growth in demand from customers in Africa,where it can be harder to find wellequipped medical facilities for complex surgeries. Some patients who have immigrated may prefer to return to be close to their families when they undergo surgery."People will want to take the opportunity to seek treatment in places where they have relatives who might be able to look after them.I'm seeing that especially with younger people from eastern Europe," said a professor at the University of Oxford. For some,there is the attraction of free treatment abroad.British lawmakers have called for tighter checks on patients arriving for treatment,out of concerns that foreign citizens are travelling to Britain to take advantage of the free service. The global medical tourism market is believed to be worth $40 billion to $60 billion and growing at about 20 percent per year. Young people from eastern Europe return to their mother countries for surgery in order to _ .
<extra_id_0>get cheaper medical service
<extra_id_1>be looked after by relatives
<extra_id_2>have better medical treatment
<extra_id_3>enjoy free medical treatment
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<extra_id_5>Every man wants his son to be somewhat of a clone, not in features but in footsteps. As he grows you also age, and your ambitions become more unachievable. You begin to realize that your boy, in your footsteps, could probably accomplish what you hoped for. But footsteps can be muddied and they can go off in different directions. My son Jody has hated school since day one in kindergarten. Science projects waited until the last moment. Book reports weren't written until the final threat. I've been a newspaperman all my adult life. My daughter is a university graduate working toward her master's degree in English. But Jody? When he entered the tenth grade he became a "vo-tech" student . They're called "motorheads" by the rest of the student body. When a secretary in my office first called him "motorhead", I was shocked. "Hey, he's a good kid," I wanted to say. "And smart, really." I learned later that motorheads are, indeed, different. They usually have dirty hands and wear dirty work clothes. And they don't often make school honor rolls . But being the parent of a motorhead is itself an experience in education. We who labor in clean shirts in offices don't have the abilities that motorheads have. I began to learn this when I had my car crashed. The cost to repair it was estimated at $800. "Hey, I can fix it," said Jody. I doubted it , but let him go ahead, for I had nothing to lose. My son ,with other motorheads, fixed the car. They got parts from a junkyard, non-toasting toaster have been fixed. Neighbours and co-workers trust their car repair to him. Since that first repair job, a broken air-conditioner, a non-functioning washer and a non-toasting toaster have been fixed. Neighbors and co-workers trust their car repairs to him. These kids are happiest when doing repairs. They joke and laugh and are living in their own relaxed world. And their minds are bright despite their dirty hands and clothes. I have learned a lot from my motorhead: publishers need printers, engineers need mechanics, and architects need builders. Most important, I have learned that fathers don't need clones in footsteps or anywhere else. My son may never make the school honor roll. But he made mine. What did the author realize in the end?
<extra_id_0>It is unwise to expect your child to follow your path.
<extra_id_1>It is important for one to make the honor roll.
<extra_id_2>Architects play a more important role than builders.
<extra_id_3>Motorheads have greater ability than office workers.
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<extra_id_5>In one way, it may be thought that failure is a part of life. In another, failure may be regarded as a step towards success. The "spider story" is often told as an example of this. Robert Bruce, leader of the Scots in the 13th century, was hiding in a hole on a hill from the English. He watched a spider making a web . Bruce is said to have got confidence from this and to have gone on to beat the English. Edison, too, the inventor of the light bulb , made hundreds of models that failed before he found the right way to make one. So what? First, always think about your failure. What caused it? Were you in high spirit then? What can you change so that things will go right the next time? Second, is the goal you are trying to reach the right one? Try to do some thinking about what your real goal may be. Think about this question: If I am successful in this, where will it get me?" This may help to prevent failure in the things you shouldn't be doing anyway. The third thing to remember about failure is that it's a part of life. Learn to "live with yourself!" even though you may have failed. Remember, "You can't live with them all." If you are not sure about what success will get you, you'd better _ .
<extra_id_0>change your goal
<extra_id_1>go on with your goal
<extra_id_2>not care for that
<extra_id_3>work even harder on your goal
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<extra_id_5>Braking and Stopping Two important factors that influence the distance you take to stop a car are how quickly you react to danger and the speed at which you are traveling. The average reaction time (from the time driver sees danger to when he/she applies the brakes) is two seconds. Reaction time is affected by the driver's levels of tiredness, alcohol and concentration . Braking distance ( the distance travelled after the driver has applied the brakes) depends on factors such as your speed, type of brakes, type pressure and tread , vehicle weight, wind speed, slope of the road, surface smoothness and the driver's braking technique. Remember: As your speed doubles, your total stopping distance more than doubles. At 60km/hr a vehicle will travel 34 meters while the driver is reacting to the danger, and another 21 meters before the car comes to a stop. Total stopping distance is 55 meters. Total stopping distances shown in the graph are for vehicles with good brakes, on a dry smooth level road surface, and fitted with good tyres with the correct depth of tread. If I am driving at 100 km/hr, my total stopping distance is about _ .
<extra_id_0>58m
<extra_id_1>100m
<extra_id_2>56m
<extra_id_3>113m
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<extra_id_5>With the popularity ofHarry Potter novels, the number of children applying to boarding schools has risen, many of them hoping to find their own version of Hogwarts. However, others have interpreted this trend as a reaction to longer working hours and the break up of more marriages. The boarding schools of fiction are presented as one long midnight feast with pillow fights making firm friendships. However, some people say the reality is children having more homesickness and a lack of individual attention. Modern boarding schools have done much to get rid of the image of the mass dormitories with 40 or more beds in one room, some going as far as providing private rooms with bathrooms. Similarly, they make great announcements for their academic advantage, particularly in light of the increase in exams, homework and university entrance requirements facing children wishing to succeed in the modern world. Alongside these more conventional schools, two types of boarding schools have also become more popular recently. Sports academies and stage schools seek to cater for children with particular interests and talents, while so-called troubled-teens have been able to turn to a range of religious or wilderness schools to solve their problematic behavior. Boarding schools allow children a safe space in which to accomplish greater control and independence over their daily lives. Teachers and staff can look after and support but they are unlikely to be over-protective. This can be a great preparation for university or for working away from home in later life as it provides an intermediate step between childhood and full independence. However, parents are a child's most natural support and best role models to learn from. If they are separated from them for long periods of time, this may damage their relationship and leave the child feeling anxious or alone. Schools are unlikely to be able to copy the detailed knowledge of each individual child that a parent has and therefore cannot be as effective in supporting the child. To sum up, boarding schools have both their advantages and disadvantages, so it is up to you to decide whether to send your children to boarding schools or not. What is the author's opinion of boarding schools?
<extra_id_0>Neutral
<extra_id_1>Negative
<extra_id_2>Positive
<extra_id_3>Critical
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<extra_id_5>Work your brain! Between 2 and 3 pounds of wonder, it controls everything we say, do or think, who we are and what we care about, the way we walk or laugh or figure out things, what we like and the talents we possess, how we see and talk and run and jump and process our food. The brain uses 20 percent of our body's oxygen and 20 percent of its blood. Somewhere within its protein, fat, 100,000 miles of blood vessels and 100 billion nerve cells, it helps us remember where we put our gym shoes. Change our temperature so we don't die because of the heat or cold. Speed us up or slow us down. Help us choose between orange juice or orangeflavored drinks. Its complexity are stunning, far beyond anything most of us can imagine. To keep this work of art as polished as possible we need to eat right, exercise and keep mentally stimulated. Good nutrition helps brain cells communicate with each other. Exercise stimulates a hormone in our brain that improves memory. Mental stimulation keeps you sharp even as you age. "It's very important that we tell people to be physically active and mentally active," said neurologist Malcolm Stewart. "People cannot stop aging, but you're able to reduce the damage; you're able to keep the function up." Following are Dr.Stewart's advice for improving brain health: l Nutrition Avoid fast food. Follow the old adage : For breakfast, eat like a king; for lunch, like a queen; for supper, like a beggar. l Exercise Do a combination of stretching aerobic and musclestrengthening every day. l Mental games Try to have a sense of hope about the future. Do puzzles. Listen to music. Reach out to others to make their lives better. According to the text,more exercise _ .
<extra_id_0>keeps our mind sharp
<extra_id_1>helps improve our memory
<extra_id_2>gives our brain a rest
<extra_id_3>is good for brain cells communicating with each other
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<extra_id_5>One of the most popular and enduring myths about depression is that depressed people are sad all the time--and that by extension, people who are happy can't be experiencing depression, even if they say they are. It is a mistaken version of depression. Depression doesn't make you sad all the time. When I'm having a depressive feeling, I'm not walking around in black clothes, and weeping. I go out with friends. I play jokes. I keep working, and have friendly chats with the people I work with. I read books. Above all, I experience moments of happiness. Yet I feel a strange conflicting pressure. On the one hand, I feel like I need to engage in a sort of sadness for people to understand that I really am depressed and that each day is a struggle for me. Because that way I will appear suitably sad, and thus, depressed--and then maybe people will recognize that I'm depressed and perhaps they'll even offer support and assistance. On the other hand, I feel an extreme pressure to perform just the opposite, because sad depressed people are boring and no fun, as I am continually reminded every time I speak openly about depression or express feelings of sadness and frustration. I'm caught in a trap where if I don't perform sadness, I'm not really depressed, but if I express sadness at all to any degree, I'm annoying and boring and should stop being so self-centered. Depression can become your master, but you can slip out from under it occasionally. And many depressed people don't actually spend it fainting dramatically on the couch and talking about how miserable they are. When feeling depressed, the writer usually avoids _ .
<extra_id_0>expressing sad feelings straight
<extra_id_1>going out with friends and relatives
<extra_id_2>having friendly chats with colleagues
<extra_id_3>experiencing moments of happiness
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<extra_id_5>During his college years, Rogers spent his summer holidays at an Idaho logging camp . When Roy, the manager, had to leave for a few days, he put Rogers in charge. "What if the workers refuse to follow my orders?" Rogers asked. He thought of Tony, a worker who was always giving the other men a hard time. "Fire them," Roy said. Then, as if reading Rogers' mind, he added, "I suppose you want to fire Tony if you get the chance. I'd feel bad about that. Tony is the most reliable worker I've ever had. I know he complains a lot, but he comes first and leaves last. There has not been an accident on the hill where he works for eight years." Rogers took over the manager's job the next day. He went to Tony and spoke to him, "Tony, did you know that I'm in charge today?" Tony didn't show any respect or interest. "I was going to fire you because you once gave me a hard time, but I want you to know I'm not," he told Tony, adding what Roy had said. When Rogers finished, tears streamed down Tony's face. That day Tony worked harder than ever before --and he smiled for the first time! Rogers went back to school after that summer. Twelve years later he met Tony again. He was in charge of one of the largest logging companies in the West. Rogers asked him how he managed to become so successful. Tony replied, "If it were not for that time you spoke to me back in Idaho, I would not be myself today. That one minute changed my whole life." Have you got one minute to appreciate someone? It can make a difference for a lifetime. What can we learn from Tony's success?
<extra_id_0>It's never too late to learn.
<extra_id_1>It's important to recognize others' good qualities.
<extra_id_2>It's necessary to work with a wise boss.
<extra_id_3>Well begun is half done.
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<extra_id_5>Sometimes people come into your life and you know at once that they were sure to be there. They serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help find out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be: your classmate, neighbor, teacher, long-lost friend or even a real stranger. But you know that every moment they will affect your life in some serious way. Sometimes things happen to you. At the time they may seem terrible, painful and unfair. But later you realize that without getting over those difficulties you would have never realized your further ability and strength. Everything happens for a reason and nothing happens by chance or with good or bad luck. The people you meet affect your life, and the successes and failure you experience, create who you are. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most _ and important ones. Enjoy every day even every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people you have never talked to before, and really listen. You should set your sights high, hold your head up, tell yourself you are a great one and believe in yourself. You can make your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it. ,A, B, C, D. The writer's advice is that we should _ .
<extra_id_0>never talk to strange people
<extra_id_1>learn as much as we can each day
<extra_id_2>get over difficulties painfully
<extra_id_3>not believe in ourselves but others
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<extra_id_5>For some people, music is no fun at all. About 4% of the population is what scientists call "amusic". People who are amusic are born without the ability to enjoy musical notes. Amusic people often cannot tell the differences between two songs. As a result, songs sound like noise to an amusic. Many amuics compare the sound of music to pieces of metal hitting each other. Life can be hard for amusics. In fact, most people cannot begin to understand what it feels like to be an amusic. Just going to a restaurant or a shopping center can be uncomfortable or even painful. That is why many amusics have to stay away from places where there is music. However, this can result in social loneliness. "I used to hate parties," says Margaret, a seventy-year-old woman who only recently discovered that she was amusic. By studying people like Margaret, scientists are finally learning how to identify this unusual condition. Scientists say that the brains of amusics are different from those of people who can enjoy music. The difference is complex , and it is not connected with poor hearing. Amusics can understand other non-musical sounds well. They also have no problems understanding common speech. Scientists compare amusics to people who just can't see certain colors. Many amusics are happy when their condition is finally diagnosed . For years, Margaret felt embarrassed about her problem music. Now she knows that she is not alone. That makes it easier for her to explain. When people invite me to a concert, I just say "No, thanks. I'm amusic." says Margret. How old is Margaret?
<extra_id_0>40 years old.
<extra_id_1>50 years old.
<extra_id_2>60 years old.
<extra_id_3>70 years old.
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<extra_id_5>Danny. . Danny: The pencil is green. It's not mine. It's my friend Kevin's. The eraser is not Kevin's. It's Sally's. She has three erasers. The red pen is Millie's. The ruler is Millie's, too. The blue notebook is not Millie's. It's John's. What's mine? The key is. It's not in my schoolbag. It's in my jacket. Thank you, Kevin, Sally, Millie and John. The pencil is _ .
<extra_id_0>Danny's
<extra_id_1>Sally's
<extra_id_2>Millie's
<extra_id_3>Kevin's
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>Studying abroad is an amazing experience, especially when you come to Australia as an overseas( ) high school student. You can have a lot of fun here, especially on holidays. There are many festivals in Australia. The most important one is obviously Christmas. Each year, the summer holidays at every high school last about two months from the beginning of December to February, which covers the Christmas time. Since it is a long holiday, most overseas students love to fly back to their home countries to spend the time with their families and friends, but a few students still stay in Australia during the holiday to get part-time jobs. It is quite easy to find a part-time job at Christmas. Students often take part in another major social activity. They go to the beach to have fun in the sunshine. The summer in Australia is from December to February, so going to the beach in December is very popular among Australians. Easter in March is another important holiday in the year. It actually combines "Good Friday" and "Easter Monday". Almost every shop closes on Good Friday. And people usually go to see Easter Show. The Chinese New year is not a public holiday in Australia, so every Chinese student still has to go to school to study and do his or her normal duties. Students in Australia go to school _ .
<extra_id_0>at Christmas
<extra_id_1>at Easter
<extra_id_2>in the Chinese New Year
<extra_id_3>on Easter Monday
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>When I decided to write the story of my early years growing up in poverty,many of my friends and family members were shocked.They were more interested in my story of success,such as how I was able to create the nation's largest law firm and sell it to a bank,and how one sells a law firm for millions of dollars.That's the story everyone wanted me to write,but it's not the story I wanted to tell. Looking back,I see so clearly how often,throughout my boyhood,I was touched by random acts of kindness that helped shape me into the man I am today.And random acts of violence and ignorance played just a powerful role in making me who I am.Becoming a successful lawyer involves hard work,but escaping generational poverty is the hardest thing I have ever done. I chose to write the story of my childhood years in poverty,with the hope that a child somewhere in the world will read my story and be inspired to break the cycle of poverty.My publisher was quick to point out that the market would be small for a memoir written by a ly unknown author.To everyone's surprise,the book received over 1,000 prepublication orders one month before the scheduled launch date.The book launch scheduled for October 1,was moved up to September 14.Less than four months later,the first print run of 5,000 copies were sold out. Today,the memoir is being used by universities,high schools and middle schools,as a case study of the behavior patterns of the culture of poverty as well as valuable lessons on how to succeed in life.Here is a quote from the principal of a middle school in Texas on October 27,who is using my memoir for students 5th through 8th grades:"We are halfway through your story.It is changing the lives of our students and the perspectives of our teachers." In the author's opinion,he wrote his memoir mainly for _ .
<extra_id_0>employees in law firms and banks
<extra_id_1>children living in poverty
<extra_id_2>students all over the world
<extra_id_3>successful people in all circles
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>If you're like most students, you may find it challenging to learn a foreign language. However, there are a few tips you can use in order to earn a top grade ---- as well as actually use the skills you've learned. One of the most important and basic lessons in dealing with a foreign language is to learn and understand each concept and lesson before moving on to the next one. If you don't understand one concept but move on to the next chapter anyway, you're less likely to understand the new material. Learning a new language is not only an academic tool, but can help you in your everyday life as well. Being good at another language can help you communicate with other people, and help you when traveling to foreign countries, and even make your resume look better. And it is important to learn correct pronunciation as soon as possible for poor pronunciation can be hard to break. Native speakers of the language as well as others fluent in the language you are learning will appreciate your efforts to learn correct pronunciation. Gather outside materials such as books, study guides, books on tape, and travel books to aid you in learning the language. Your textbooks can't possibly teach you everything you need to know, so seeking outside sources is generally a good rule of thumb to keep in mind. A significant motivator in learning a foreign language is traveling to the country where the language is spoken. That way, you can see firsthand how the language is used, learn the culture, and meet native speakers of the language. Native speakers appreciate sincere attempts of others who take the time to learn their language. Seek out native speakers of your new language in your school or neighborhood. They can help you with many skills, including pronunciation, and they can provide immediate feedback on your progress. We can learn from the passage that _ .
<extra_id_0>textbooks are not good for us when learning a foreign language
<extra_id_1>learning pronunciation well from the very beginning is very important
<extra_id_2>poor pronunciation can be easy to break with the help of native speakers
<extra_id_3>seeking too many outside sources will be more harmful than beneficial
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>I grew up in Lakeland, Louisiana, one of 7 children. We all lived on my parents' farm. At 12, I got a part-time job--milking cows to help support the family. I milked cows at five in the morning and again at two in the afternoon, seven days a week. In the kitchen one Saturday before daytime, I remember complaining to my father and grandfather about having to go milk those cows. My father said, "You know, boy, to work is a blessing ." Going to college was rare for a kid from Lakeland, Louisiana. "Pick something that you like doing to study, and you will always look forward to your work," my father told me. But he also added, "Even having a job you hate is better than not having a job at all." I wanted to be a farmer, but I joined the ROTC program to help pay for college. And what started out as an obligation to the army became a way of life that I was devoted to for 37 years. In the late 1980s, during a visit to Bangladesh, I saw a woman with a baby on her back, breaking bricks with a hammer. I asked a Bangladesh military officer why they weren't using a machine. He told me a machine would make that lady unemployed . Breaking those bricks meant she could earn enough money to feed herself and her baby that day. He told me bad as that woman's job was, it was enough to keep a small family alive, which reminded me of my father's words. I'm retired from the army, but I'm still working to help people be prepared for disaster. I'm not going to stop. I believe in my father's words. I believe in the blessing of work. What kind of program was the ROTC?
<extra_id_0>It was meant to serve the army.
<extra_id_1>It was meant for people out of work.
<extra_id_2>It was meant to serve colleges.
<extra_id_3>It was meant for poor students.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>While their jobs may not be providing them with great excitement, respondents of the Win2000 Salary Survey are saying that they are pretty pleased with their current positions. In fact almost three-quarters of them report a modest to more than average sense of job satisfaction and a little more than ten percent say they are "very satisfied" with their work. So why then does an overwhelming majority of this contented group also report that they are considering changing jobs? The easy and most popular theory says that it's all about the money. IT professionals with highly-prized skills in a very tight job market play salary-stick-em-up by raising their salary demands with each job hop. But this theory calls for a closer look. According to a recent Gartner Group IT market study, enterprises that are experiencing high rates of turnover on average actually offer higher salaries. The Gartner study cites "lack of career development opportunities" as the single most reported reason employees leave companies. Mark Pecoraro, president and CEOof SuccessFactors.com, a workforce management firm, tends to agree: "One of the things we see is the strong desire of these professionals to keep on the cutting edge. These employees are taking control of building their knowledge toolsets and essentially writing their own career tickets." "INDUS Corporation, a Washington, D.C.-based IT firm, is a wonderful place to work," says SearchWin2000 salary survey respondent James Voorhees. Voorhees got his start in IT as an INDUS technical writer. Now, he works as a network administrator, crediting his employer for creating a work environment that let him develop the skills he needed in order to change careers. "An important part of the company culture is an emphasis on employee satisfaction," Voorhees says, pointing to "the company's willingness to let employees try new things ... which has given me several great opportunities to learn and gain experience in networking and software engineering." But INDUS' success relies on a steady series of contract work. Voorhees believes that his status as an IT newbie makes him at risk if these contracts should dry up. As a result he has adopted a mindset that is ready to seize an outside opportunity if it should present itself. According to the Win2000 Salary survey, most of the respondents _ .
<extra_id_0>are considering switching their jobs
<extra_id_1>are disappointed at their incomes
<extra_id_2>are most satisfied with their work
<extra_id_3>are modest about themselves
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>Look at the car. It is Mr Black's car. It doesn't work now. Mr Black is under it. He is repairing it. Mrs Black is near the car. She is helping Mr Black. A girl is in the car. She is Kate, Mr Black's daughter. Who is the boy in the car? He is Jim, Kate's brother. It is Saturday today. They don't work. They want to go to Zhongshan Park. They all look worried. They are going to a _ .
<extra_id_0>zoo
<extra_id_1>farm
<extra_id_2>factory
<extra_id_3>park
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>All residents: Rules for living in Parkrise Flats We all want to live comfortably and safely here, so here are a few simple rules which we think all residents should follow. Rubbish Rubbish collection is on Tuesdays. Please do not leave rubbish bags out before Tuesday as birds and animals can break into them and they smell. Washing There is a washing line for every flat in the garden next to the car park. Please only dry your washing on these lines so it does not disturb people in the ground floor flats. Cleaning The main stairs are cleaned twice a week by the Association, so please try to keep them tidy and clean and do not leave furniture or bags on the stairs or in the hallways. Lights The main lights are on a timer and they stay on for five minutes whey you press them. Please tell the Association if any lights are not working. Noise Residents are asked to keep noise to a minimum. Loud music, etc. can disturb other people and the Association will get in touch with you if you make too much noise. Safety Make sure the main outside door is always locked and do not let anyone in to the main building unless you know who they are. Sometimes people try to get in to the main stairs and then break into flats, so do not let people in unless they are coming to see you. Parking Each flat has one car parking space. These are numbered and are at the back of the building. Do not use another resident's space. If you have more than one car you will have to park it on the road. Do not park where you are blocking entrances. Problems If you have any problems or questions, please call the Association at 0800 096 9000. Parkrise Housing Association According to the text, which of the following is done once a week?
<extra_id_0>Rubbish collections.
<extra_id_1>Drying the washing.
<extra_id_2>Cleaning the main stairs.
<extra_id_3>Changing the lights.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>It remained a question who had to be the pioneer life on a new island. In fact, few people knew it. Thousands of years ago, in the middle of an ocean, miles from the nearest island, an undersea volcano broke out. The hot liquid rock piled higher and higher and spread wider and wider. In this way, an island rose up in the sea. As time went on, hot sun and cool rains made the rock split and break into pieces. Sea waves dashed against the rock. In this way, soil and sand came into being. It is well known that nothing lived on the naked soil. And then the wind and the birds brought plant seeds, spiders and other creatures there. Only plants could grow first. Only they, in sunlight, could produce food from the minerals of the soil, water and air. While many animals landed on the island, they could find no food. A spider spun its web in vain , because there were no insects for its web to catch. Insects could not stay until there were plants for them to eat. So plants had to be the pioneer life on his new island. According to the passage, the island got its first soil from _ .
<extra_id_0>its own rock
<extra_id_1>cool rains
<extra_id_2>the sand brought by the wind
<extra_id_3>sea waves
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>More than 6000 children were expelled from US schools last year for bringng guns and bombs to school,the US Department of Education said on May 8. The department gave a report on the expulsions as saying handguns accounted for 58 per cent of the 6093 expulsions in 1996--97,against 7 per cent for rifles or shotguns and 35 per cent for other types of firearms. "The report is a clear sign that our nation's public schools are cracking down " on students who bring guns to school,"Education Secretary Richard Riey said in a statement."We need to be tough-minded about keeping guns out of our schools and do everything to keep our children safe." In March 1997,an 11-year-old boy and a 13-year-old using hand-guns and rifles shot dead four children and a teacher at a school in Jonesboro,Arkansas.In October,two were killed and seven wounded in a shooting at a Mississippi school.Two months later,a 14-year-old boy killed three high school students and wounded five in Daducab,Kentucky. "Most of the expulsions,56 per cent,were from high schools,which have students from about age 13,34 per cent were from junior high schools and 9 per cent were from elementary schools." The report said. The report from the US Department of Education shows that _ .
<extra_id_0>the number of the expulsions is now large
<extra_id_1>the number of the expulsions is wrong
<extra_id_2>there are soldiers hiding among the students
<extra_id_3>guns are out of control in US schools
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>Robert is nine years old and Joanna is seven. They live at Mount Ebenezer. Their father has a big property. In Australia they call a farm a property. Robert and Joana like school very much. At school they can talk to their friends, but Robert and Joanna can not see their friends. They live 100,perhaps 300,miles away and like Robert and Joanna, they all go to school by radio. Mount Ebenezer is in the centre of Australia. Not many people in "The Centre", there are no schools with desks and blackboards and no teachers in "The Centre". School is a room at home with a two-way radio. When all students answer, lessons begin. Think of your teacher 300 miles away! In order to send their children to school, parents in "The Centre" of Australia must have _ .
<extra_id_0>a property
<extra_id_1>a car
<extra_id_2>a school room at home
<extra_id_3>a special radio
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>A bicycle may be used for
<extra_id_0>rain
<extra_id_1>cats
<extra_id_2>coffee grinding
<extra_id_3>elephants
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>My six-year-old granddaughter stared at me as if she were seeing me for the first time."Grandma, you are an antique ,"she said. "You are old. Antiques are old. You are my antique." I was not satisfied to let the matter rest there. I took out the Webster's Dictionary and read the definition to Jenny.I explained, "An antique is not only old, it's an object existing since or belonging to earlier times...a work of art... piece of furniture. Antiques are treasured,"I told Jenny as I put away the dictionary. "They have to be handled carefully because they sometimes are very valuable. In order to qualify as an antique, the object has to be at least 100 years old." "I'm only 67,"I renunded Jenny. We looked around the house for other antiques, besides me. There was a desk that was handed down from rone aunt to another and finally to our family. "It's very old,"I told Jenny."I try to keep it polished and I show it off whenever I can. You do that with antiques." There was a picture on the wall purchased at a garage sale. It was dated 1867. "Now that's an antique," I boasted. "Over 100 years old." Of course it was marked up and scratched and not in very good condition. "Sometimes age does that," I told Jenny. "But the marks are good marks. They show living, being around. That's something to display with pride. In fact, sometimes, the more an object shows age, the more valuable it can become." It was important that I believed this for my own self-esteem. Our tour of antiques continued. There was a vase on the floor. It had been in my house for a long time. I was not certain where it came from but I didn't buy it new. One thing about antiques, I explained to Jenny, was that they usually had a story. They'd been in one home and then another, handed down from one family to another, traveling all over the place. They'd lasted through years and years. They could have been tossed away, or ignored. or destroyed, or lost. But instead, they survived. For a moment, Jenny looked thoughtful. "l don't have any antiques but you," she said. Then her face brightened. "Could I take you to school for show and tell?" "Only if I fit into your backpack," I answered. And then Jenny's antique lifted her up and embraced her in a hug that would last through the years. Which of the following information did grandma convey to Jenny?
<extra_id_0>The desk reminded her of her dear relatives.
<extra_id_1>The marks on the picture showed its age and value.
<extra_id_2>There was usually a sad story behind each antique.
<extra_id_3>She planned to buy a new vase to replace the old one.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>The day began with clear sunlight and blue skies.It soon turned into years of war, economic breakdown and political division. Ten years after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11,2001, America has come out of the smoke a very different country.Nearly 3,000 people died on September 11. Suddenly America had to wake up to the fact that not everyone loves the USS A.Members of al-Qaeda, the militant group that earned out the attacks, were angry about US support for the Israelis against Palestinians in the Middle East, about US troops in Saudi Arabia, and about sanctions against Iraq. "September 11 and the years that followed were a shock to our national consciousness," said Nicholas Bums, American ambassador to NATO at the time.The terrorists struck not only the buildings, but also Americans- faith in their power.The fear that America had lost control of events as widespread. In the name of fighting terrorism, the US launched wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.More than 6,000 Americans have died.Tens of thousands of ordinary people in those countries have also lost their lives. But deaths are only part of the story.The world was shocked by photographs of Americans torturing Iraqis in Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad.David Goldstein, a reporter with The Kansas City Star, questioned American behavior: "Has torturing so-called terrorists saved American lives or made the values we advocate around the world weaker? ..." Is that what we've become?" However, a brief moment of national unity did occur straight after 9/11."Americans were coming together in an unusually powerful way ...in the ashes.We live in a bittersweet memory of that collective tragedy and collective possibility," said filmmaker Ken Burns. September 11 was that kind of common moment.When it was over, the Harth still turned in its usual way and the stars in the sky shone as before.But the universe had shifted somehow. Though the world felt the consequence of September 11, more is to come.Ten years on, it still might be too soon to tell. What is the best title for this passage?
<extra_id_0>Result of Military Operations
<extra_id_1>America's Victory over Terrorists
<extra_id_2>Shadows of 9/11
<extra_id_3>Never Say Yes
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_2>
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<extra_id_5>China is a nation with a rich culture in handwriting. "Even though the computer is widely used today, Chinese people should not forget the skill of writing with hands," said a Chinese government official . Nowadays, the computer has become a very useful tool to help people to write. As people use computers more often than before, many people have forgotten how to write Chinese characters . People often make a lot of mistakes in writing. At present, China is trying to help pupils and teachers to improve their writing with the help of information technology. With the technology, it is hoped that teachers can write their teaching contents on the blackboard and students can _ by writing, too. The Chinese character test shows that nowadays, many college students' handwriting has become worse. Many college students do not know how to compose words or sentences in Chinese character in the right way. Not only kids, many adults also have met the same problem. They might be able to tell the general form of a certain character. However, if you ask them to spell out the character in detail , they can't. On the other hand, they can easily type out the character on a computer. In the national language teaching course, we can solve this problem with the use of certain technologies. Actually, apart from technology, there is a lot that we can do. For example, we may ask students to finish their homework by writing with hands instead of typing. People often make a lot of mistakes in writing Chinese characters because _ .
<extra_id_0>they use computers too often and many people have forgotten how to write them
<extra_id_1>Chinese characters are too difficult to write
<extra_id_2>they are using too much English
<extra_id_3>the country forgets to stress the importance of the Chinese writing
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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<extra_id_5>When you are feeling unhappy or forget how great you are, these are six ways to make you feel good about yourself. Look in the mirror and say to yourself,"I am a special person and there's no one in the world like me. I can do anything!" It may not sound so good, but it really works! Do something nice for someone. Helping others always makes you feel good. Smile! Be friendly to people you meet. Look for the good things in your friends and family. Learn something new! Have you always wanted to decorate your own room or learn how to swim? Go for it! New challenges are fun and give you a sense of accomplishment when you have finished. Read and start a diary, Turn off the TV and let your imagination fly! Write you're your thoughts, dreams or anything you want! Writing always helps to express your feelings. Stay with your family. We all need our family time. Talk with your Mum or Dad or maybe even your cousin. Which is the best title for the passage?
<extra_id_0>Do Your Best
<extra_id_1>Six Ways to Feel Good about Yourself
<extra_id_2>It's Never Too Late to Learn
<extra_id_3>Always Smile to Your Life
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_1>
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<extra_id_5>As a kid,I was always chubby .In college I started _ . It got out of control when I went to law school. I'd made a decision a thousand times:I'm going to lose weight now. But what motivated me to get serious about it was turning 30. I weighed 414 pounds. I was always tired. Some of my family members have suffered from heart disease,and I was scared. I also wanted to look better. So after my birthday,I walked into the office of a weightloss doctor. She was very understanding. Her focus was on balanced meals and she wanted me to exercise. Walking was all I could do at first. I started by walking a few blocks and gradually increased the distance,until one weekend,I found myself saying,"Wow,this seems pretty easy." So I started to run. I was losing nine or ten pounds a month,and I had more energy. I started to think about the New York City Marathon. For years,I watched the runners and thought,"This looks like fun,but I could never do that." But now I realized that maybe I could. I joined the New York Road Runners. I ran a 10km,then a halfmarathon. I still wasn't confident I could run a full 26 miles. But I told myself I was going to do it,no matter what. By my 33rd birthday,I was down to 180 pounds. I started formally training for the marathon. And on the morning of November 1,I stood on the Verrazano Bridge in Staten Island with more than 40,000 other runners,waiting for the event to start. It was unbelievable to have the audience cheering me on,handing me cups of water. And I crossed the finish line. My friends sprayed (......) me with beer,as if I'd won the Super Bowl. And at that moment,I knew:If I set my mind to something,nothing is impossible. Which of the following proverbs can best summarize the passage?
<extra_id_0>Practice makes perfect.
<extra_id_1>Pride comes before a fall.
<extra_id_2>A good beginning is half done.
<extra_id_3>Where there is a will,there is a way.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_3>
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<extra_id_5>There are many colors in nature. But do you know if a color has weight? I think you'll say "no". But I am afraid you are wrong. If you don't believe, you may do a small experiment. First, put two objects with the same weight into two boxes. Then cover the box. Third, wrap one box with a red piece of paper, the other with a white piece of paper. OK. Now hold the boxes with your hand one by one. It is certain that you will think the red one is a little heavier. Why do you think so? A scientist found that different colors have different weights in a man's mind. So he did many tests and at last he got the result. That is to say, every color has its own weight in our mind and their order is the same. The heaviest color is red, then blue, green, yellow and white. The scientist told us that colors also have smell. Can you smell the color? Of course not. Then why did the scientist say so? That is because every color stands for a kind of light with a certain wavelength . It reaches our brain through sense organs . According to this discovery, scientists say that people accept the colors they like, and refuse the colors they hate. So your body and mind will be healthy by using the colors you like. Or you'll be nervous or ill. For example, if you stay in a room with red windows, wallpapers and furniture for two hours, you'll feel you have been there for four hours. But if the room is blue, you'll feel you have been there for only an hour. Another example, if a person walks out of a red room and into a blue room, his temperature will fall. That means our body temperature will change with different colors. Why did the scientist say colors have smell?
<extra_id_0>Because people can sense the light from colors.
<extra_id_1>Because we can smell colors with our noses.
<extra_id_2>Because every color has its own sweet smell.
<extra_id_3>Because every color can give off light of the same length.
<extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_0>
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