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<extra_id_5>To prevent the deserts coming near, China has planted billions of trees---to replace destroyed forests and as barriers against the sand. This isn't a cure, though, say experts, as thirsty trees can make the problem worse by taking in groundwater. "Planting tress is one way, but it isn't that simple. It doesn't solve the basic issue of water resources," says Wu Bo, a professor. "We need to calculate how much water the trees will absorb, or else it could have a negative effect." Villagers in Zhengxin have taken on this challenge, with limited success. When the irrigation channels began to run dry, Lu Xianglin switched from wheat to cotton on his land. He also planted trees to protect his fields from sandstorms. He says he still gets good yields using flood irrigation and earns a good income for his family. Other farmers haven't stuck it out : about one in three have left Zhengxin in the past 10 years after their wheat crops died. Young people who can find jobs in the towns rarely return. Last week, Mr Lu joined the other men in his village on a government-arranged trip to see the land that has been set aside for their relocation, nearly 40 miles to the south. The next day, he was back, shaking his head at the plan. The idea of uprooting his family troubles him, as does the idea of giving up the land that fed his forefathers. He prefers to stay and keep up the fight. "With enough water, this problem can be solved," Lu says. "We can plant trees and grass, and they will grow bigger. That will stop the desert." Experts say that farmers could switch to drip irrigation to lessen their water intake for growing crops. Elsewhere in the region, farmers have built brick greenhouses as part of a plan to grow vegetables using less water. Roadside signs urge farmers to "Save Water, Protect the Environment". The negative effect of planting trees in deserts is that _ . <extra_id_0>it can make groundwater become less <extra_id_1>it can prevent the sand moving freely <extra_id_2>it can stop crops growing well <extra_id_3>it can get the soil to become poor <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>An old lady went to the shop last Sunday. She passed a bank and saw a car near the door. A man got out of it and went into the bank. She looked into the car. The keys were in the lock . The old lady took the keys and followed the man into the bank. The man took a gun out of the pocket and said to the clerk, "Give me all the money." But the old lady didn't see this. She went to the man and put the keys in his hand and said, "Young man, you are foolish. Never leave your keys in your car. Someone is going to steal it. " The man looked at the old lady for a few seconds. Then he looked at the clerk. He took the keys, ran out of the bank, got into his car and drove away quickly without any money. Last Sunday, an old woman _ . <extra_id_0>had nothing to do <extra_id_1>went out for a walk <extra_id_2>went to buy something <extra_id_3>went to see the man <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Alice: Good afternoon, Helen! Helen: Good afternoon, Alice! How are you? Alice: I'm fine, thanks. How are you? Helen: I'm OK. Alice: Helen, what' s this in English? Helen: It's a cup. And it's my cup. Alice: Oh, it' s red. I like the color. Is that a pencil? Helen: No, it' s a pen and it' s brown. Alice: Is it your pen? Helen: No, it s Bill's. My pen is green. Helen's pen is _ . <extra_id_0>black <extra_id_1>green <extra_id_2>brown <extra_id_3>blue <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>A community garden is a shared garden. A group of people get together and share a piece of land for their garden. This could be an empty place, or simply one at a neighbor's house. Community gardens are not limited to urban locations. Many rural communities share garden space as well . Some communities will divide their garden into individual plots and others will work on the entire garden together. You may find some community gardens on rooftops. This provides a platform for city citizen, where they can communicate with nature even when there no yard space. community garden can be used to grow flowers and other plants as well as produce. Some community gardeners choose to sell their homegrown goods. Others choose to use it themselves and some do a combination of both . Some community gardeners donate part of their produce to local food banks . Besides, homegrown produce is also much fresher and tastier. When you belong to a community garden it also gives you a chance to socialize with your neighbor. You'll develop a better sense of involvement and belonging. You'll be communicating with people of similar interests, as well as people with different ideas .Community gardening often leads to setting up other community projects. It brings a sense of achievement to know that you've taken apiece of waste land and turned it into something beautiful .The entire neighborhood will enjoy the benefits of your bard work. A community garden is an opportunity for education as well .You may learn from your fellow gardeners .You can also ask local children to join you .This gives them a way to show their creativity and keep them busy, and points them in the right direction. According to the passage, a community garden _ <extra_id_0>will replace other community projects <extra_id_1>is especially suitable for rural areas <extra_id_2>can sometimes be on the top of a roof <extra_id_3>can only be shared where there is no yard space <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Elizabeth and I are 18 now, and about to graduate. I think about our elementary-school friendship, but some memories have blurred .What happened that day in the fifth grade when Beth suddenly stopped speaking to me? Does she know that I've been thinking about her for seven years? If only we could go back, discover what ended our relationship. I have to speak with Beth. I see her sometimes, and find out school is "fine". It's not the same. It never will be. Someone says that she's Liz now. What happened to Beth? I can't call her. Should I write? What if she doesn't answer me? How will I know what she's thinking? Yes, I'll write her a letter. These things are easier to express in writing. " Dear Be,"no, "Dear Li," no, "Dear Elizabeth," I begin. The words flow freely, as seven-year old memories are reborn. I ask her all the questions that have been left unanswered in my mind, and pray she will answer. I seal my thoughts in the perfect white envelope, and imagine Beth looking into her mailbox. Will she know why I'm writing? Maybe she once thought of writing the same letter. As the mailman takes my envelope from me forever, I wonder if I've made the right decision. Do I have the right to force myself into Beth's life again? Am I simply part of the past? I have taken the first step. Beth has control of the situation now. One day has passed. Are my words lying on the bottom of the post office floor? Two days are gone. I'm lost in thought and don't even hear the phone ring. "Hello? It's Elizabeth." Why does the author decide to write a letter instead of calling? <extra_id_0>She is sure that Beth will not answer. <extra_id_1>She's afraid that they'll quarrel on the phone. <extra_id_2>She doesn't know Beth's telephone number. <extra_id_3>It is easier to express her feelings in writing. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Jack and Mike are on holiday in France. Mike loves visiting old buildings. Jack likes, too. In the village Jack and Mike see a beautiful old church, but when they come into the church, some people are there. They don't know what the people are doing. "Oh! Just sit quietly, and do like the others!" Mike says. Because they don't really know French, so they stand, kneel, and sit to follow other people. Then the priest says something. The man next to Jack and Mike stands up. "We should stand up, too!" Jack whispers to Mike. So, Jack and Mike stand up with the man. Suddenly, all the people smile! After that, Jack and Mike walk to the priest. "What's so funny?" Jack asks in English. With a smile on his face the priest says, "Boys, there is a new baby born, we ask the father to stand up." Mike smiles and says, "We should understand what people do before we do like them. " Mike and Jack can speak _ . <extra_id_0>French <extra_id_1>English <extra_id_2>English and French <extra_id_3>Chinese <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Friends play a very important part in everyone's life. Friendship usually develops during childhood. New friends are made when you progress through school. Those friends that you make as a student can usually last long. Friends influence your development, maturity and sense of responsibility. A familiar expression is "You can tell a lot about a person by knowing who his friends are." Friendship is based on common interests. If you like sports, most of your friends are likely to be athletic . If you enjoy reading and shopping, most of your friends do the same. Some people call you their friends for the wrong reasons. These people are not really friends. They are superficial only "friends" on the outside, not the inside where it counts. Superficial friends only want to be your friends if it is to their advantage. True friends are there if you are rich or poor. It is easy to have many _ if you are rich. By this time you should be able to separate your friends into the real or the "phoney". True friends are most special. They are also difficult to find. You can consider yourself very lucky if you have one true friend. This friend is eager to help you whenever necessary. He or she knows you would do the same for them. A true friend is someone you can talk to about any subject or problem. You and your true friend have good understanding of each other. True friends support you, take your side, and build up your confidence. Which of the following is TRUE? <extra_id_0>What you value above anything is the friendship developing during childhood. <extra_id_1>The friendship developing during your school days will be with you for a long time. <extra_id_2>Only through your friends' influence will you take the responsibility for your task. <extra_id_3>If you have no music in you, none of your friends will be a music lover. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>It is an aerial performance far beyond the capabilities of even the most complex modern aircraft: landing upside down on a ceiling. But it is routine business for bats, and now scientists have learned precisely how they do it. Brown University scientists observed two species: Seba's short-tailed bat and the lesser dog-faced fruit bat. They tracked their motions using three high-speed video cameras taking images at 1,000 frames per second, and studied weight distribution in the bats' body and wings. They found that by flapping both wings while folding one of them just a bit toward their body, a bat can shift its centre of mass to perform a midair flip in order to land on a ceiling. "Flying animals all move skillfully constantly as they fly through a three-dimensional environment," Brown biology and engineering professor Sharon Swartz said. "Bats employ this specific technique every time they land, because for a bat, landing requires reorienting from head forward, back up, belly down, to head down, toes up." When approaching their touchdown spot, bats are not flying very quickly, making it difficult to gather the type of aerodynamic forces produced by pushing against the air that could help position them for an upside-down landing. But their heavy wings enable them instead to create inertial forces to adjust themselves in midair. Swartz said bats, as nocturnal animals, are generally not fully appreciated as skilled pilots. "People have many opportunities to observe birds and insects flying, but the bat world is hidden in the night. The more we observe flight behavior in bats, the more we are impressed," Swartz said. What's the key factor in bats' successful landing? <extra_id_0>Flapping both wings constantly. <extra_id_1>Flying slowly and stably. <extra_id_2>Choosing suitable positions. <extra_id_3>Shifting their centre of mass. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Whenever the house gets quiet, Mrs. Smith knows just where to find her 6-year-old daughter Maria: lost in the world of stories. "I like to read every time of the day," said Maria, a student at Creel Elementary School in Australia. Maria's headmaster, Mrs. White, wants each of her 850 students and their families to learn the love of reading this year. She wants reading at home to become an activity of choice in every family, even during holiday breaks. "I truly realize reading should be an important part of everyone's life, and nothing should stop it." said Mrs. White. "The aim we want most of all is to help children understand they can enjoy reading, as well as practice their skills," said Hannas, an education researcher. He suggested parents take their children to the library and allow them to pick out books that interest them. Each night, students take home two books to read with their parents or other family members. They have to return the books the next day with a signed note from their parents showing that the books were read, and have passing tests that check how well they understand the books. "We're trying to get parents into the habit of reading with their kids." said the headmaster. "Nothing is better than sitting on a sofa with your child and reading and laughing." Through books, Mrs. Smith, a parent, said she's able to give her two daughters more experiences than she could. "I think reading opens all the doors and creates imaginations in children," she said, "I think if you read well, you can succeed in anything in life." From the article, we know that the at-home-reading activity _ . <extra_id_0>can bring everything we want <extra_id_1>has influenced the students at Creel Elementary School <extra_id_2>helps family members understand each other better <extra_id_3>makes parents understand school better <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Have you ever heard of a mobile phone company called Nokia?And do you know that there's a mobile phone throwing competition in Finland every year? In order to recycle old mobile phones,the town of Savonlinna in southeast Finland holds a Mobile Phone Throwing Competition every year.And people can have a little fun from the games. While _ cannot throw their own phones,the competition organizers provide hundreds of mobiles to choose from. Then people throw as far as possible from the throwing area.Last year's winner Ere Karjalainen set a world record with his 101.46m throw.As a prize,he got a chance of drinking and practiced again as hispreferred training methods. Those without a strong throwing arm can enter the freestyle competition.During the competition,the style of the throw are judged rather than the distance. A three person jury gives scores from one to six,and the thrower with the highest number of points wins.This Year's competition will be held on August 24.Sign ups( ) are still being accepted for five dollars per person or twodollars for children 12and under.Once all the day's phones have been thrown,they are taken to a recycling center. A child at the age of ten must pay _ dollars for the sign up. <extra_id_0>0 <extra_id_1>2 <extra_id_2>5 <extra_id_3>6 <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>We all want to be healthy. You know food is very important . There is lots of healthy food . You can have more bananas, apples, oranges, tomatoes and carrots. Fruits and vegetables are good for you . Healthy food can make you strong and happy. Remember there is a saying , " An apple a day keeps the doctor away." Sports can also make you healthy . Do some sports and eat healthy food every day and you will be healthy and happy . _ can also keep people healthy and happy . <extra_id_0>Playing computer <extra_id_1>Doing sports <extra_id_2>Watching TV <extra_id_3>Buying fruits <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>One of the easiest ways to keep fit is to do jogging. Jogging is the name for a very gentle running--it is just a little faster than walking. Start slow jog 20 meters, then walk 20 meters. Little by little, if you are not feeling very tired, you may do more jogging and less walking. Finally, jog the whole way. It will be easy for you to start jogging for 15 minutes twice a week, slowly, increase this to 20-30 minutes every day. The longer you join in jogging, the more you enjoy it and the healthier you will become. Some people like jogging alone, and others enjoy doing it with friends. Jogging in groups makes more people keener , because you just can not stay in bed while there is a group of friends waiting outside. If you want to start jogging, prepare a pair of comfortable shoes and a _ mind. ,. (5,2, 10) If you want to start jogging, what you need most is _ . <extra_id_0>a pair of comfortable shoes and a determined mind <extra_id_1>a sports suit and a lot of students <extra_id_2>a partner and a good plan <extra_id_3>a strong body <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Look at your classmates around you. You all wear the same uniform and similar sneakers. Do you want to stand out among them? A fashionable and useful backpack can be a great idea! Backpacks are lightweight and easy to carry. They are great tools for students. They help you to stay organized. You can keep school things, books and personal items like cell phones and keys neatly . With a _ backpack, you can also stand out among your classmates. Tourists also love backpacks. With convenient backpacks, backpackers can move freely from one place to another. Meanwhile, they can also free their hands to do other things like taking photos. But in the very beginning backpacks were not what we see today. It is thought that US hiker Dick Kelty invented the first modern backpack in 1951. He used nylon and aluminum tubing to make backpacks lightweight. Then he added shoulder straps and waist straps to transfer much of the weight to the hips . Today, backpacks come in different styles. Rolling backpacks have wheels on the bottom. Users can pull them along the ground if they are too heavy to carry on their shoulders. And with more people bringing laptops to school and work, backpacks also offer space for lightweight electronics. In order to make the backpack light, _ is used. <extra_id_0>cotton <extra_id_1>nylon <extra_id_2>cloth <extra_id_3>paper <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>I was walking along prefix = st1 /Orchard Roadwhen I realized a tall young man wearing a jacket and tie was following me. I noticed him because not many people wear a jacket and tie in the middle of a hot summer day, and I had already seen this man four times that afternoon. To make sure he was following me, I walked on quickly, turned right into a shopping center and then stopped to look in a shop window. Soon the man appeared and stopped at another shop window. I walked on and stopped several times. When I stopped , he stopped too. I began to be rather worried and decided to try to lose this strange man. When I saw a taxi coming, I jumped into it. As I was telling the taxi driver where to go, I found the man get into another taxi, which then followed mine. As the two taxies slowly made their way alongOrchard Road, I looked back at the taxi behind, and saw that the stranger was looking out at me. At MRT station, I told the taxi driver to stop and I got out. As I was paying my fare, I saw the man was getting out of his taxi. By now I got angry, so I turned and walked straight to him. I asked him why he was following me. At first he said he was not following me at all, but when I threatened to call the police, he admitted he was. He then told me that he was a journalist(news reporter) and that he was writing an article on how elderly people inSingaporespend their time. He said he was observing me to gather materials for his article. What did the stranger do when the writer jumped into a taxi? <extra_id_0>He got into another taxi. <extra_id_1>He tried to stop the taxi. <extra_id_2>He almost gave up following him. <extra_id_3>He made his way alongOrchard Road. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Bolivia has a population of three and a half million. About one tenth of the total population are white; one-fourth are mixed Indians and white; and more than half are full-blooded Indians. The government and the industries are under the control of the white people. The Indians today live in much the same way as their ancestors. Most of them are farmers. Many work in the mines, for mining is the most important industry on Bolivia's. Of all the mining products, tin is the most important, which makes up three-fourths of all Bolivia's exports. The eastern slopes of the Andes, since there are very few roads there, are fertile but not highly developed. The two primary means of transportation are river boats and porters. East of the hill region is the great plains where tropical plants are grown. A serious problem for Bolivia is the transport of food from the warm regions, where it is grown, to the mountainous regions, where most of the people live. Bolivia gained its independence from Spain about a hundred years ago. It has been slow in developing, but its rich resources promise a better future in it. The majority of the Bolivian population are _ . <extra_id_0>full-blooded Indians <extra_id_1>mixed Indian and white <extra_id_2>white citizens <extra_id_3>all whites and mixed-blooded people <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>The term "to extend an olive branch" means to make an offer of peace or reconciliation . This term has Biblical origins, coming from the section of the Old Testament that deals with the flood; the sign that the flood is over is an olive branch brought back to the ark by a dove. Olive branches were also symbols of peace in Ancient Greece and Rome, and they continue to be used in various works of art that are meant to suggest peace. Some people have suggested that the olive was a very deliberate and well-considered choice as a metaphor for peace, because olive trees famously take years to mature. War is typically very, hard on the trees because people cannot take the time to nurture them and plant new ones. Therefore, the offer of an olive branch would suggest that someone is tired of war, whether it be an actual war or a falling out between friends. In Ancient Greek and Roman times, people would offer actual olive branches. In Rome, for example, defeated armies traditionally carried olive branches to indicate that they were giving in, and the Greeks used them into weddings and other ceremonies. In the modem era, the branch is usually metaphorical, rather than actual, not least because the plants can be a bit difficult to obtain. Many people agree that peace negotiations at all levels of society are a good idea. Between nations, obviously, it is important to extend an olive branch to ensure mutual safety and to help the world run more smoothly. This act can also be important on a personal level, as resolving conflict and learning to get along with others is viewed as an important life skill in many cultures. At some point m their lives, many people will be advised to extend an olive branch to settle a dispute or resolve an issue. Some people believe that it takes an immense amount of courage to take this action, as it often comes with an admission of wrongdoing and regret. It can be learned from the text that to extend an olive branch _ <extra_id_0>is not important on a personal level <extra_id_1>is only important between nations. <extra_id_2>takes a lot of courage. <extra_id_3>is an important life skill m many cultures. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Soon computers and other machines will be able to remember you by looking at your eyes! The programme works because everyone's eyes are different. So in the future you won't have to remember a number when you want to use a machine or take money out of a bank. You'll just have to look at the machine and it will be able to tell who you are. The eye-recognition programme is tested in shops and banks in the USA, Britain and Italy. Scientists are working on other systems, such as knowing you from the shape of your face or hand or even your smell! And machines can already tell who you are from your voice or your fingerprint . But eye-recognition will replace other ways of finding out who you are. It is better, because your eyes don't change as you get older, or get dirty like hands or fingers. And even twins have different eyes, so the programme can be up to 94% correct, depending on how good the technology is. In Britain, it was found that 91% of people said that they liked the idea of eye-recognition. ,. Which recognition technology is already in use? <extra_id_0>Remembering eyes or smell. <extra_id_1>Remembering fingerprints or voices. <extra_id_2>Remembering faces or voices. <extra_id_3>Remembering hands or faces. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Think stars don't move? Think again! When you look at the sky at night, the stars may appear to stay in the same place. But stars are always on the move--they are just so far away that the movement is hard to see. But some stars move in ways that appear to be strange to be real. In 2005, astronomer Warren Brown found one of these space oddities . It was located on the outer edge of the Milky Way, the galaxy we live in. The star was speeding away like nothing he'd ever seen. "It seemed unbelievable. No star in the galaxy has a speed like that," Brown remembers. "I thought, oh my goodness, I have something kind of special here." No one had ever seen a star like this one. What does a scientist do when the results don't make sense? Brown didn't give up. Instead, he kept looking. And he kept finding more of these strange and speedy stars, called _ stars. Hyper means "above" and velocity has to do with speed. He and his team just found six more of these "above speed" stars, bringing to the total of 16. And, he says, he's found even more, and is just waiting for the scientific community to confirm them. In 2005, astronomer Warren Brown found _ . <extra_id_0>a star was speeding away very fast. <extra_id_1>a stars was moving away very slowly. <extra_id_2>some stars were not real. <extra_id_3>some stars were not in the Milky Way. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>It's Sunday morning. My parents, my uncle, my sisters and I are all at home.My father is sitting near the window. What is he doing? He is reading a newspaper. He wants to know what happens all over the world. My mother is watering the flowers in the small garden. There are some beautiful flowers in it. Some are red, and the others are yellow. They look nice. My uncle is my mother's brother. He is a worker. He is watching TV now. He is a basketball fan . And he is good at playing basketball. Now he is watching NBA on TV. Where are my sisters? Lily is over there, and she is listening to the radio . She likes popular music very much. Lucy is in her room. She has a computer. Now she is surfing the Internet. She is writing an e-mail to her friend. What am I doing? I am doing my homework. Which is NOT true? <extra_id_0>Lucy likes popular music very much. <extra_id_1>There are some red and yellow flowers in the garden. <extra_id_2>Uncle is good at playing basketball. <extra_id_3>The writer is doing the homework <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Leonardo da Vinci began painting the Mona Lisa in 1503.He was working on a special painting for a church at the time, but the church painting was not going well. An Italian businessman asked da Vinci to paint a picture of the businessman's second wife. This is the woman who can be seen in the Mona Lisa. All in all, the Mona Lisa is a very good example of da Vinci's work. Da Vinci uses darkness and light in a clever way in the painting. Da Vinci loved science and maths. Right away a person can see that there is a lot of geometry in the Mona Lisa. The face of the Mona Lisa is made of many circles and round shapes like balls. Even her smile can be seen as a small part of a large circle. The woman in the painting is sitting on a balcony , and mountains can be seen behind her. Da Vinci loved to study rocks and mountains, so these can be seen over and over in his other paintings. The woman is sitting with her knees to the side. Her head is turned to look out of the painting. Her hands are held together in front of her. This way of sitting is now used by many artists when they are painting a picture of a man or woman today. The woman in the painting is _ . <extra_id_0>an Italian businesswoman <extra_id_1>Leonardo da Vinci's wife <extra_id_2>the wife of a businessman <extra_id_3>a woman from the church <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>There is some unwelcome news for students preparing for exams and officers putting in long hours-----you don't need the break as much as you may think that makes you feel less tired. Scientists have long assumed that willpower is a limited resource, which is why you feel the need to have a rest, have a snack and come back to a task when you're feeling better. They argued that the only way to restore willpower was by rest, food or entertainment. But psychologists have challenged this theory, saying weak willpower is all in your head. They found that people's beliefs in willpower determine how long and how well they'll be able to work on a tough mental exercise. "If you think of willpower as something that's limited, you're more likely to be tired when you perform a difficult task," said Prof.Veronika Job. "'But if you think of willpower as something that is not easily used up, you can go on and on." The researchers designed four experiments to test students'-beliefs in willpower. After a tiring task, those, who believed or were led to believe that willpower is a limited resource, performed worse on standard concentration tests than those who thought of willpower as something they had more control over. They also found that leading up to final exam week, students who believed the limited resource theory ate junk food 24 percent more often than those who believed they had more control in resisting temptation . Mr. Job said. "The theory that willpower is a limited resource is interesting, but it has had unintended consequences. Students who may already have trouble studying are being told that their power of concentration is limited, and they need to take frequent breaks. But a belief in willpower as a non-limited resource makes people stronger in their ability to work through challenges.'" The findings could help people who are" battling temptation. Willpower isn't driven by a biologically based process as much as we used to think. The belief in it is what influences your behavior. The following groups can benefit from the findings except <extra_id_0>patients following strict diets <extra_id_1>children liking to watch TV <extra_id_2>smokers trying to give up smoking <extra_id_3>employees facing a new but well-paid task <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>I am a Chinese. I've always been making drams from time to time. Those dreams made by each average Chinese like me are certainly Chinese dreams. Dreams vary from person to person, an d also from time to time. But in a certain time, people share the similar dreams here I'd like to share my Chinese dreams with you. When I was a child in 1970s, poverty kept hovering over my family, just as it did with other average families in the countryside. The unfit second-hand clothes, rain leaking roof of old adobe house became part of my memory. However, the worse impression is that I was feeling hungry all the time. Sometimes hunger bit me so severely that I regarded dried sweet potato slices as a delicious snack. The sharp cracks of chewing are still echoing in my dream. At that time, my dram was getting enough to fill my cooing empty belly. In the early years of 1980s, as the reform and opening-up policy was carried out, the child dream came true. And then another dream became clearer and clearer in my mind. I must try my best to escape out of my poor and backward hometown. I worked harder at my study than most of my classmates, and, after luckily succeeding in the national college entrance examination, my dream became reality again: after graduation, I became a citizen working in a city. As the first college graduate out of a remote village, my success set an example for my folks. They came to realize that schooling is a good way to change one's fate . In the following years, there were less drop-outs and more college graduates in my village, of which I am proud even today. Afterwards, I got accustomed to the life of citizens and I began to dream the same things as other peers: a comfortable home, my own car and a big house. Based on my hard-work, more than ten years passed, all of these dreams have been fulfilled. Of course, new dreams will come true sooner or later only if my motherland keeps advancing with current(,)pace. My Chinese dreams are also ones of other Chinese people. If every individual's dreams come true, the dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will be sure to come true. "The Chinese dream, after all, is the dream of the people," as the Chairman Xi Jingping said. Which of the following statements about the author is WRONG? <extra_id_0>The author has many dreams in his life. <extra_id_1>The author accepted his college education. <extra_id_2>there are more drop-outs in the author's village. <extra_id_3>The author realized all of his dreams by hard-working. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Youth, friendship and love are the main themes of this year's Chinese movies, such as So Young(<<>> ) and American Dreams in China(<<>> ). Tiny Times(<<>> ), one of the most popular movies this summer, also has the same features. The movie was based on author and director Guo Jingming's novel of the same name. It tells a story about four girls who come from different backgrounds and of different personalities. Since it was shown on June 27, Tiny Times has made 483 million yuan at the box office. The sequel of it was shown on Aug 8 and it has also been a big box office hit. Cao Yuhan, 13, a high school student at Beijing Jianhua Experimental School, is a big fan of the movie. "I'm deeply touched by their friendship," Cao said. "When Nan Xiwang is in trouble, the other three girls try their best to help her, even running barefoot in the snow. However, not everyone has had good things to say. The people's Daily said that the film went too far in encouraging youths to become materialistic . Film commentator Raymond Zhou wrote on his online blog that "Buying luxury goods seems as a way to express love or friendship, and the word 'money' is repeated over and over again. Song Kexin, 14, a high school student at Zhida Middle School in Taiyuan, Shanxi, shows a typical example of a fan's attitude . And that's to look for the positive value. "That movie is a little far from our daily life. My friends and I are not having parties every day," Song said, "But I admire Tang Wanru's optimistic attitude. She's always looking at the bright side of life. I should learn from her." Song Kexin admires Tang Wanru because of Tang's _ . <extra_id_0>optimistic attitude <extra_id_1>rich family background <extra_id_2>good looks <extra_id_3>excellent grades at school <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Dear SJ, Losing a best friend is never easy. Your problem, is not just that you miss your best friend, it is that you feel empty and lost without her friendship. It takes time to get over a lost, and during that time, your mind is getting used to _ . This is usually a good thing, even if it feels like a bad thing. Now that you are on your own, you are being forced to learn to be by yourself and to rely upon your own inner voice for guidance. I am sure that this feels strange for you, but if you can hang on for a bit longer, it may work to your advantage. Best friends are cool, but it is important to know the difference between missing someone and being too independent upon them. At your age, girls do tend to stick together and having a good boyfriend may not yet be the better choice. Your friend is leaving you, her best friend, for a boyfriend. Boyfriends are completely different from best friends. The distinction is that boyfriends come and go, while girl friends often stay in your life throughout high school, and even afterwards. It is a completely different sort of bond. I suggest that you take advantage of this period in your life to expand your horizons. Enjoy the freedom of having no best friend for a while, and hang with the group. By the time your former best friend breaks up with her boyfriend, you will be in a completely different place, a far better place. And, by the way, next time you feel empty and lost, try to write about it in a diary. In several months, you will look back and read it with curiosity about yourself. "Who was I then, and what could I have been thinking?" Judging from the letter, SJ's problem was that she didn't know _ . <extra_id_0>whether to give up her best friend <extra_id_1>what to do without her best friend <extra_id_2>whom to choose between two friends <extra_id_3>how to stop missing her former friend <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Sarah came running in saying, "Look what l found. " Over the top of the paper I was reading I saw a long object that made me jump. It was a piece of snakeskin that had been shed by one of our garden snakes. 'Isn't it beautiful?" said my wide-eyed 7~year-old daughter. I stared at the organic wrapper and thought to myself that it really was not that beautiful, but I did not want to disappoint Sarah. Everything children see for the first time is elementary to their sense of beauty and creativity. They see only merit and excellence in the world. "Why does it do this?" Sarah asked. I like to teach my children that there is something else going on besides what they see in front of them. "Snakes shed their skin because they need to renew themselves," I explained. "Why do they need to renew themselves?" Sarah asked. "We often need to shed our skins, those coatings that we cover ourselves with," I said to my now absorbed daughter. "We outgrow some things and find other stuff unnecessary. This snake no longer needs this skin. It is probably too old, and the snake probably doesn't think it looks as smart in the skin as it once did. Like buying a new suit. " Of course, I'm sure this explanation won't suit naturalists. But Sarah got the point. As we talked, I knew that she began to understand that renewal is part of progress; that we need to take a good look at ourselves, and rooms and schoolwork and creativity, and she began to see what we need to keep and what need to cast off. I was careful to point out that this is a natural process, not one to be forced. "Snakes don't peel off their skin when they feel like it," I explained. "lt happens as part of their growth. " "I see, Dad. " said Sarah. She then jumped off my lap, grabbed the snakeskin, and ran off. I hoped she would remember this. Often, in order to find our real selves underneath the layers of community and culture we are cloaked in year after year, we need to start examining these layers. We need to gently peel some away, as we recognize them to be worthless, unnecessary, or flawed ; or at best, remember the things we discard to teach us how we can improve. Which of the following could be the best title for the article? <extra_id_0>The things we should cast off <extra_id_1>A shed snakeskin in Sarah's eyes <extra_id_2>A natural part of our growth <extra_id_3>Renewal for snakes and us <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>English words don't stay the same. People need new words for new ideas and new inventions. Some new words come into use, and some old words are used in a new way. English can change by borrowing words from other languages. The word "tomato" was borrowed from Mexico, and "tea" came from China, and so on. Now a great many new space and science words are being borrowed from other countries, too. New words can be created in other ways. For example, some can be created by adding two words together. "Weekend" and "cookbook" are made up of two parts. Sometimes new words are shorter forms of older words. The word "photo" was made from "photograph" by cutting off the end of the longer word. "Plane" was made by cutting off the front part of "airplane". The names of people and products can become new words. Our "sandwich" was named after a man named Sandwich and "sello " was a name given by the company that first made the product. What can we know from the passage? <extra_id_0>New science words are shorter than the old ones. <extra_id_1>The best way to make a new word is adding words together. <extra_id_2>Some new English words are borrowed from other languages. <extra_id_3>Most new English words are the name of a person or a product. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Ad.1 Special house in Glebe ($ 160 every month) Reply to: Alatinpolo@yahoo.com Date available : December 9 Looking for a girl student roommate to share a well situated house in Glebe for not less than one month. 2 minutes from the bus stop in a quiet street, double living room etc. Give me a call if interested. The room is ready to be rented from now. Ad.2 Room with own bathroom ($330 every month) Reply to: Katarinakube@yahoo.com Date available: December 17 I've got a big flat in Sandas with own bathroom with two bedrooms and two bathrooms in a safe building with all equipment. I'm looking for a girl student who wants to stay for at least 6 months, easy-going, tidy. There will be only me, so 2 people in total. It's available from Dec. 17 for $330 every month, including bills. Ad.3 One bedroom suitable for one boy ($175 every month) Reply to: Lookforyou@yahoo.com Date available: December 16 We have a bedroom available with a big bed. The living room, kitchen and bathroom will be shared with our roommate, Al, who is a university student. We provide a computer, TV, DVD player, a parking space which are all included in the rent. The apartment is available December 16 at the earliest and for at least 2 months because we won't be back to the town Lading until next April. Ad.4 Room with own kitchen for a girl ($280 every month) Reply to: Everlastingfriend@yahoo.com Date available: December 18 I've got a flat in Patrio with a bedroom available. A kitchen is also available with all equipment. I'm looking for a girl student who wants to stay for at least 3 months. I also provide a PC and a parking place, but the parking place isn't included in the rent. Mary wants to find a room for only one month, she would rent a room _ . <extra_id_0>in Glebe <extra_id_1>in Patrio <extra_id_2>in Sandas <extra_id_3>in Lading <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Do you know the late leader of China, Deng Xiaoping? He was called the"chief architect of China's reform and opening-up ". August 22 is the 110 anniversary of his birth. President Xi Jinping held an important meeting for the event on August 20 , 2014 in Beijing. Senior leaders Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli also attended the event. Deng was born on Aug, 22, 1904 in the southwest China's Sichuan Province. He also had the name Deng Xiaosheng. His father , Deng Wenming , was a middle-level landowner . His mother died early in Deng's life. He has three brothers and three sisters. Deng's first wife , one of his schoolmates from Moscow , died when she was 24, a few days after giving birth to Deng's first child, a baby girl, who also died. His second wife left him in 1933. His third wife, Zhuo Lin, was the daughter of an industrialist in Yunnan Province. She married him in 1939 in Yan'an. They had five children:three daughters and two sons. Deng was sent to private primary school at the age of five. In the summer of 1919, Deng Xiaoping graduated from the Chongqing School. Then he went to study and work in France in the 1920s. His father strongly supported him, the night before going to France, Deng's father took his son aside and asked him what he hoped to learn there. He repeated the words he had learned from his teachers:"To learn knowledge and truth from the West in order to save China."He joined the Communist Party of China in 1924. In late 1927 , Deng left Moscow to return to China. He joined the army to save China. He died on February 19 , 1997. Deng Xiaoping's birthday is _ . <extra_id_0>August 20 <extra_id_1>February 19 <extra_id_2>August 22 <extra_id_3>September 18 <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Many people believe that teaching children music makes them smarter, better able to learn new things. But the organizers of a new study say there's no scientific evidence that early musical training affects the intelligence of young people. An estimated 80 percent of American adults think music lessons improve children's abilily to learn or their performance in school. They say that the satisfaction for learning to play a new song helps a child express creativity. Researchers at Harvard University, however, have found that there's one thing musical training does not do. They say it does not make children more intelligent. Samuel Mehr is a graduate student at Harvard's School of Education. He said it is wrong to think that learning to play a musical instrument improves a child's intellectual development. He says the evidence comes from studies that measured the mental ability of two groups of 4-year-olds and their parents. One group attended music class, the other went to a class that places importance on the visual arts--arts that can be seen. "The evidence there is 'no'. We found no evidence for any advantage on any of these tests for the kids participating in these music clases," said Mehr.Samuel Mehr says researchers have carried out many studies in an effort to learn whether musical training can make children smarter. He says the results have been mixed. He says only one study seems to show a small percentage increase in IQ, intellectual scores among students after one year of music lessons. He does not believe that IQ is a good measure of child's intelligence. He says researchers in his study compared how well children in the musical training group did on mental processing tasks or projects, then the results were compared to those of children who did not take lessons. There was no evidence that the musical training group did much better on the mental tasks than the other group. The researchers comfirmed the results with a larger group of children and their parents.Mr Mehr says music lessons may not offer children a fast easy way to gain entry to the best schools later of their life. But he says the training is still important for cultural reasons. In his words, "We teach music because music is important for us." The artical may be taken from a report about _ . <extra_id_0>health <extra_id_1>education <extra_id_2>culture <extra_id_3>economy <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>After moving to a small town, I took several pairs of shoes to the shoemaker to be fixed. Within a week I picked them up and put them away in my closet. Four months later my husband and I were invited out to dinner. I unboxed a pair of high heels . I hadn't worn them since they were repaired. I put one shoe on my right foot, and then I put the other on my left. I took both shoes off for a closer look. They were exactly the same style, color1 and size, but each was for the right foot. I was puzzled, since I had worn the shoes on several occasions and knew I hadn't worn two right shoes. Then I thought of the shoemaker. Although I was sure he wouldn't remember me after such a long time, I telephoned him and explained to him the trouble I had. "Thank goodness you finally called!" he was nearly shouting, "An angry woman with two left shoes has been bothering for months!" When the shoemaker received the writer's telephone call, _ . <extra_id_0>he might be very surprised <extra_id_1>he must be very sad <extra_id_2>he was very much worried <extra_id_3>his mind was set at rest <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>New York, the city that never sleeps, fell silent last week--schools were closed; bus and subway services were stopped; flights were canceled, and even the stock market closed for the first time since 1985. All the disorder was caused by one thing, the arrival of hurricane Sandy. This big storm landed on Oct 29 on the US east coast and brought damaging winds, flooding, blackouts and heavy snow. Sandy is one of the largest storms that have ever hit the US, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. By the afternoon of Nov1 (Beijing time), about 140 deaths were caused by the storm as it traveled across the Caribbean islands and into the US. Unlike most hurricanes that happen during summer, Sandy was strengthened not only by warm ocean water, but also by the cold air coming from the northwest. Sandy's power grew because of the difference in masses between the warm and wet air and cool and dry air. It became a kind of "super-storm", the Guardian reported. The flooding was particularly severe. Scientists said it was because Sandy's arrival happened together with a full moon, which normally means higher-than-usual tides . "The most worrying aspect of Sandy is the high tides," Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee told Reuters before the storm arrived. "With the full moon on Monday, with Sandy coming up the bay, we're very concerned about flooding in our low-lying coastal areas." Apart from the power of Sandy itself, another reason why her arrival has caused so much damage is that its target area is crowded with big cities such as New York and Philadelphia. These urban areas are home to tens of millions of people. The flood, the snow and the blackout have brought the country's financial and political centers to a stop. "The size of this alone, affecting a heavily populated area, is history making." Said Jeff Masters, a hurricane specialist. What is the main point of the article? <extra_id_0>To show how a super-storm comes into being. <extra_id_1>To explain why hurricane Sandy was so destructive. <extra_id_2>To show that big cities in the US are easily affected by huge hurricanes. <extra_id_3>To explore the best ways to avoid loss when a hurricane hits. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Canadian scientists have found a method to help aging people get less forgetful by improving their cognitive abilities through well-designed training.Everyone experiences some degree of memory loss and cognitive decline as they get older.The decline usually becomes noticeable after 50,when people may find it slightly more difficult to focus on tasks,organize everyday jobs and remember how to do things in the right order. A team of psychologists in Toronto created a strategy of cognitive training to help people preserve these abilities."Our primary emphasis was on improving the use of general strategic abilities because they are particularly weak to the aging process,"Dr.Donald Stuss,director of the study,said in a press release.The team examined 49 healthy older adults with normal cognitive decline.All of the participants were between the ages of 71 and 87.Over the course of 12 weeks,psychologists taught them methods to improve their strategic abilities.Afterwards,researchers saw a 15 to 40 percent improvement in the memories of all participants."Over a period of six months their improvement not only maintained,but increased,"said Dr.Gordon Winocur,coordinator of the study.The 12-week course was broken up into three four-week sections,focusing on a different skill involved in strategic abilities:memory,goal management and psychosocial function. The memory training emphasized how to preserve and recover information, while goal management focused on methods to lower the chance of memory slips.Psychosocial training was aimed at increasing the participants' confidence in their mental abilities. "We wanted to develop a cognitive training program that would produce improvement over a ly short period of time,so participants could benefit more on that while they're still functional and slow down the rate of decline,"said Winocur."If we can work with people in the early stages of cognitive decline,then we can slow down the rate of this decline and help them maintain a higher level of function for a longer period of time." What can be a suitable title for the passage? <extra_id_0>A new way to develop a good memory. <extra_id_1>Cognitive abilities are essential to memory. <extra_id_2>Say no to the memory decline. <extra_id_3>Canadian scientists help aging people preserve memory. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Texting long messages can be a pain in the neck. The repetitive action of working your fingers across the keyboard of your cell phone can cause some of the same chronic pain problems previously limited to those who'd spent a lifetime typing. The possible connection is particularly worrying considering how much teens and young adults -- and increasingly those in professional settings -- are texting nowadays, said Judith Gold, who carried out one of the first studies on the potential connection. Text messaging is a fairly new technology, Gold says, so this is a new area of research for those who study ergonomics . But "considering the similarities in body position, findings from research on overuse injuries from computers could be applicable" to texting. "The way the body is positioned for texting - fixed shoulders and back with rapidly moving fingers - is similar to the position for typing on a computer," Gold explained. Previous research has found pain in the elbow connected with too much thumb texting. To look for a broader link between texting and chronic pain, Gold and her colleagues sent a questionnaire to 138 college students, asking them to report the number of text messages they sent per day (in four categories: 0, 1-10, 11-20, 21+ messages) and to point out any discomfort they felt on a body map. The research showed an association between the number of text messages sent per day and shoulder discomfort. The effect seemed to be particularly pronounced in males, though Gold says she doesn't know why that would be. "What we've seen so far is very similar to what we see with office workers who've spent most of their time at a computer," Gold said. However, Gold's study did not take account of the amount of time the people surveyed also spent typing on computers, which could be affecting the results. In the past, who usually suffered from a pain in the neck according to the passage? <extra_id_0>A writer <extra_id_1>A typist <extra_id_2>A teacher <extra_id_3>A doctor <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>I was born in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Caracas. By the time I was fifteen, my parents had discussed what I wanted to do when I grew up. Mom was very excited about my future. One day she came home with a booklet from one of the best colleges in the country, which happened to be located fairly close to our neighborhood. That was one of the most expensive colleges in the country, so we could not afford it. At that point she smiled and opened the booklet. Among the descriptions was a very small paragraph indicating that there was a scholarship program. I decided to let her dream a little bit longer, so I agreed to submit my application. I didn't pay attention to the subject until the day of the admittance test. I have to confess I took the exam to humor my mom. The first surprise came when I saw my name on the list. I was accepted! My dad was terrified. How were we going to pay the tuition? My mom used one of her typical answers, "I don't know, but we will. Even if we have to work day and night, our daughter is going to that college." Her determination was so strong that we didn't dare say anything. We filed the papers for the scholarship and for weeks we waited. Finally I got a scholarship that would cover eighty-five percent of the tuition for three years. I won't say college was easy. I had to borrow material and books because we could barely find the money to pay the fifteen percent the scholarship didn't cover. The day I graduated, I gave my mom the medal. She was so proud. I remember telling her that if it hadn't been for her, I would have never even tried. She said, "Don't worry about it, baby. Even before you were born I would pass in front of this university every day. I saw the students lying on the grass, and I would think: one day a daughter of mine is going to study there. I dreamed of this green grass too many times; it had to come true." I found a good job after college. But I never forget that it was my mom's dream that made me do what everyone thought was impossible. How did the author react when her mother first wanted her to go to the best college in the country? <extra_id_0>She was sure she could earn the scholarship. <extra_id_1>She didn't want to go to college at all. <extra_id_2>She thanked her mother for supporting her. <extra_id_3>She though it impossible for her to go to that college. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>It helps to choose the colors you plan to live with in your home with awareness of how different colors affect your emotional and physical states. Every color has a unique meaning, and this can significantly affect how you feel in a room. A room that is painted red will energize, inspire activity and movement, help passion, and be powerful and stimulating. A red room can also be exhausting and overpowering, and stressful for those who are anxious. Orange rooms encourage happy, joyful, social gatherings. While an orange dining room or family room can stimulate the appetite, it is a great choice for such gathering places. Orange enhances parties, communication, positive feelings, and general good cheer. Yellow rooms inspire intellectual clarity, organization, clear -headed thinking, and happy energy. Yellow is considered a color for the logical left side of the brain. Yellow is also very bright and somewhat energizing. Blue rooms are often chosen for bedrooms and meditation rooms because its cool energy is very calming, restful, peaceful, and spiritual. Blue helps inspire a quiet meditative quality, and color therapy with blue has been found to reduce blood pressure. Blue is also useful to make one to sleep. Green rooms are very restful but combine with an energizing quality. Green is the color of outdoors, calm and active at the same time. Green brings balance and harmony to a room, and can be used as a calming place for people who are troubled or in need of refreshment. What color should his room be painted if a person likes meditation? <extra_id_0>Blue. <extra_id_1>Orange. <extra_id_2>Green. <extra_id_3>Red. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Fruit powered digital clock Fruit's not only good to eat, but it can also power this Fruit digital Clock. This clock uses the scientific principles on which modern electrical storage batteries are based. The acid from the fruit helps transmit an electrical flow between two metal poles. The clock is priced at US $ 15. Connecting any fresh fruit or vegetable to the clock will make it work. The fruit is a clean, renewable source of electrical power. USB vacuum Do you know the dirtiest parts of your desk are probably your keyboard and mouse? Get a USB Mini Vacuum with retractable cable and suck away all that _ . The US- made product is priced at US $14. SIM card reader Making useful USB 2.0 multi-card readers even handier, this card can also read and write data to phone SIM cards. It comes with SIM editing software. Download your phonebook to your computer. If you lose your cell phone, you can store missing phone numbers in your new one. The US-made IMOMO SIM card + Multi Card Reader is priced at US $ 19 (152yuan). Beer in your ear The beer barrel -shaped Naf Naf Hyp MP3 is a musical box that's capable of playing radio, CDs and cassettes. It's got all the standard features of the typical clock-radio, but with the relaxing look of a big beer barrel. The Danish product is priced at about US $ 130 (1,040yuan) What does "junk" mean in the second item? <extra_id_0>dirt <extra_id_1>desk <extra_id_2>keyboard <extra_id_3>mouse <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>The first people who gave names to hurricanes were those who knew them best -- the people of Puerto Rico. The small island of Puerto Rico is in the West Indies, off the coast of Florida. This is where all the hurricanes begin that strike the east coast of the United States. Often they pass near Puerto Rico or cross it on their way north. The people of Puerto Rico expect some of these unwelcome visitors every year. Each one is named after the Saint's Day on which it arrives. Two of the most destructive storms were the Santo Ana in 1840 and the San Ciriaco in 1899. Giving girls' names to hurricanes is a fairly new idea. It all began with a story called "Storm", written by George Stewart in 1941. In it a weatherman amused himself by naming storms after girls he knew. He named one Maria. The story describes how she Maria grew and developed, and how she changed the lives of people when she struck the United States. Weathermen of the U.S. Army and Navy used the same system during World WarII. They were studying weather conditions over the Pacific Ocean. One of their duties was to warn American ships and planes when a storm was coming. Whenever they spotted one, they gave it a girl's name. The first one of the year was given a name beginning with [A]. The second one got a name beginning with [B]. They used all the letters from A to W, and still the storms kept coming. They had to use three lists from A to W to have enough names to go around. This was the first list of hurricane names that followed the alphabet. It served as a model for the system the Weather Bureau introduced in 1942. Before 1950 the Weather Bureau had no special system for naming hurricanes. When a hurricane was born down in the West Indies, the Weather Bureau simply collected information about it. It reported how fast the storm was moving and where it would go next. Weather reports warned people in the path of the hurricane, so that they could do whatever was necessary to protect themselves. This system worked out fine as long as weather reports talked about only one hurricane at a time. But one week in September 1950 there were three hurricanes at the same time. The things began to get confused. Some people got the hurricanes mixed up and didn't know which was which. This convinced the Weather Bureau that it needed a code for naming the storms in order to avoid confusion in the future. The practice of giving girls' names to hurricanes was started by _ . <extra_id_0>a radio operator <extra_id_1>an author <extra_id_2>a sailor <extra_id_3>local people <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>According to the US Geological Survey, about seven million earthquakes strike worldwide every year--but fortunately, only about 1500 of these are of a magnitude of 5 or greater on the Richter scale. Certain areas, such as California and Japan, are more _ earthquakes than others. Although the chance of being caught in "The Big one" is remote, it's wise to be prepared if you live in a region where earthquakes are common. Educate your family about earthquakes before a big one strikes. For example, they need to know to take shelter in a doorway or under a strong object if indoors, and never to run outdoors if they are inside. If outside, they need to know to stay away from power lines and buildings where objects could fall. Teach family members how to turn off gas or water lines or electrical power that may need to be shut off after a quake if severe damage occurs. Develop a plan. Where will your family meet in the event of a disaster? What if some people are at work or school? How will you know if they are safe? Where will you all meet up? Pack a preparedness kit and keep it in a safe location. In a major earthquake, it's possible that you won't be able to get into your house. Keep supplies in your car trunk or an outside storage shed if possible. Pack whatever your family is likely to need, enough for three days to a week, including food, water, medication, first aid and personal hygiene supplies, flashlights, a portable radio, blankets, clothes and shoes, cash, or camp stove, candles, matches or lighters, and a whistle. Consider earthquake insurance for your home if you live in an earthquake-prone area. Regular homeowner's insurance doesn't cover earthquake damage. What would be the best title for the passage? <extra_id_0>How to Keep Safe in an Earthquake <extra_id_1>How to Prepare for an Earthquake <extra_id_2>Who Can Help Us After an Earthquake? <extra_id_3>Where Is an Earthquake-prone Area? <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Which area contains few organisms? <extra_id_0>Madagascar <extra_id_1>South Pole <extra_id_2>Amazon Rain Forest <extra_id_3>Sahara Desert <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>One afternoon, Kate and her brother Bob went out to play.Kate was eight, and Bob was ten."Let's go to the bridge and we can see fish in the river." said Kate. "I don't know..." Bob said."Mum told us, 'don't go on the bridge.' She said it's dangerous." Kate said, "I am not afraid.Are you?" They walked onto the bridge and began looking for fish in the river.The bridge was a train bridge.Trains went over the bridge three times a day. The children were standing in the middle of the bridge when they heard a loud noise."A train is coming!" Bob shouted."Run!" He ran to the end of the bridge.He was safe. Kate ran, too, but she fell.The train was coming fast.Kate ran towards Bob.She fell again right on the train tracks .There was no time to leave.She had to lie down between the tracks.A few seconds later, the train went over the girl, but she was not hurt at all.She stood up and said to Bob, "Don't tell Mum! Don't tell Mum!" At last their mother found out about the story.She was angry because they went on the bridge.But she was happy that Kate was all right. One afternoon they went to the bridge to see _ . <extra_id_0>their mother <extra_id_1>fish <extra_id_2>the train <extra_id_3>the river <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>When I spent Christmas away from home in Europe for the first time, I was only 14 and it was absolutely terrible. I am now married and live in the US. So there is little possibility for me to go home for Christmas. Now I am able to get through Christmas with some moments of joy: First, you are advised to search your area for stores that carry items from your home country or town. Buy food, candles and some other things that mean something to you. Hold on to the traditions from your home that you think are important even if other people think they are stupid. But keep in mind to be open for new traditions from wherever you might be, because those traditions are as important to those people around you as yours are to you. For me that includes celebrating Christmas on the 24th. Call, write Christmas cards, buy gifts and mail them to loved ones, just as if you were there. If you try to pretend as if the holiday doesn't exist, you are just going to make it worse. Introduce your traditions to your loved ones, especially your kids. It will only enrich their celebration of the holiday to have some unique traditions in their home. Little by little it will become their tradition and it's fun for them to try something new. Find clubs, churches or organizations that are from your home country. Chances are that they will have some celebration with some of your traditions which you can join in. Food is one of the most important factors in any kind of tradition. Find the recipe of that cake your grandmother used and make it your tradition to bake that particular cake. Call up your parents and get them to send you some of your favorite childhood ornaments for your tree. Pay attention to new traditions, talk to your family about which ones you want to make your own and stick with them. If you are far away from home, Christmas can never be the same as you experienced it before, but it is important to remember these traditions while appreciating the new ones. Keep an open mind and find a compromise between old and new traditions. Which of the following statements does the author agree with? <extra_id_0>It's great for children to have some unique traditions. <extra_id_1>People should join in all kinds of clubs to celebrate Christmas. <extra_id_2>People should give up traditions which are stupid in other people's eyes. <extra_id_3>It is popular to celebrate Christmas on the 24th around the world. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Fashion always keeps at least one eye on the future. Now scientists are lending a hand, developing tomorrow's super-powered clothing such as coats that can recharge your MP3 player and make you stronger. For example, electronics could get recharged in the future simply by plugging them into your outer wear, because Australian researchers are designing clothing that can collect energy from a person. The coats would include small things that change vibration energy from a person's movements into electricity. High-tech fabrics would carry this energy to batteries . "It will look like an ordinary(common)coat but have super energy," said Adam Best, an Australian head research scientist. " _ has important uses for soldiers in the field and could mean they no longer need to carry heavy batteries,'' Best added. "Above all, they'd be wearing the battery, not carrying it." Besides helping soldiers, these coats could also have common uses for common people, such as powering radios, mobile phones, MP3 players or medical things. Solar-powered handbags could do the same thing. Thanks to self-cleaning fabrics developed by scientists working for the U. S. Air Force, underwear and sports clothing could go weeks without washing. The general idea of clothes that never get dirty can be found in the 1951 film The Man in the White Suit. The new technology helps keep off water, oil and bacteria . High-tech fabrics could also help serve as protection. For example, future fabrics could lead to soft helmets that turn hard in an accident. Not all the possible fabrics of tomorrow are necessarily high-tech. For example, chicken feathers and other things of the farming industry could get changed into wool-like fabrics or cotton-like ones, helping use fewer fabrics made from oil. Scientific development is also creating wool that doesn't become bigger or smaller after washing. And future clothing could help soldiers shoulder heavy bags and help people walk. But not all electronic coats have such uses--some might serve as video game players with high technology and the latest fashion joined together perfectly. The world of fashion is set to be taken by high-tech clothing that works as you wear! Which of the following is TRUE according to the article? <extra_id_0>You can get electronic energy from your clothes in the future. <extra_id_1>Self-cleaning coats are developed for American scientists. <extra_id_2>We will no longer use fabrics made from oil in the future. <extra_id_3>The future high-tech clothing will be used only for soldiers. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Hello! I'm Mark Smith. I'm an American boy. I'm 12 years old. This is my little sister, Ann . She is five. My family are in China now. Because my father and my mother work in China. They are English teachers. They work hard. The students all like them. Now I'm a middle school student. I have a friend at school. He's a Chinese boy. He's very good. His name is Huang Long. His English name is Bill. But I don't know his family name. Can you tell me? What's Ann' s last name? <extra_id_0>Mark <extra_id_1>Bill <extra_id_2>Huang <extra_id_3>Smith <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Jumping on your bike, even in the city, is becoming increasingly popular--- in London, for example, cycle use has more than doubled in the past ten years. So, which is the best bike for you? If you're traveling to work, a folding bike such as one of the models here is suitable unless you're cycling more than a couple of miles, in which case it might be uncomfortable . You can take a fold-up on the train and as it goes indoors with you, it's secure . For longer journeys, a road bike with drop handlebars and narrow tyres is a good choice. Try Specialized, from PS400. Note that the riding position encourages you to look downwards, which can be dangerous. Mountain bikes are best suited to off-road travel; their fat and strong tyres are good for climbing steep, muddy slopes . Good brands include Trek and Giant, with prices starting at less than PS300. A hybrid bike (halfway between a mountain bike and a road bike) is a good compromise with more upright riding position and thin, fast tyres. Ridgeback makes great hybrids, from around PS350. For a classic sit-up-and-beg bike, it's still hard to beat Pashley, which makes its bikes by hand. Expect to pay around PS500. Once you've picked your bike, sizing is crucial or you may suffer back or neck pain. A famous bike shop will help you choose the right size frame. The height of the seat should be adjusted carefully---again, a good shop will advise. If you only plan to cycle once or twice a month, you can choose a lower-priced bike, but for regular use, paying more means better quality: cheaper bikes need more frequent adjustment of brakes and gears ---and tend to be heavier, too. Finally, items such as mudguards aren't always included. The main purpose of this passage is to _ . <extra_id_0>give advice on how to choose a bike <extra_id_1>advertise some famous bike brands <extra_id_2>encourage people to go to work by bike <extra_id_3>introduce the advantages of different bikes <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>The possibility that pleasant smells might reduce pain has recently been suggested by new research. In a scientific study, doctors asked 20 men and 20 women to keep their hands in very hot water for as long as possible while breathing in different smells. As people believe that strong smells can affect the senses, volunteers were asked not to eat or drink for eight hours before the experiment began. During the experiment, volunteers were asked to take in pleasant smells such as vanilla , and unpleasant smells such as durians . The volunteers kept their hands in the water until it became too hot for them. When they could not bear the pain any more, they took their hands out of the water. Scientists are interested in whether the senses or smell is related to pain and whether men and women have the same senses. Now, the study has proved that for women, pleasant smells reduce pain. For men, there is no change. Dr Finkelstein has been studying smells since 1999. He says that scientists already have data from 40 volunteers. He adds that this year, scientists will test another 60 volunteers and will be in a better position to explain the results. One explanation is that women's sense of smell developed long ago, and is linked to recognizing the smell of babies. Scientists used to believe that mothers recognized their children by sight only. Now, they have started to believe that the sense of smell also helps, but why pleasant smells do not reduce pain in men is a question still to be answered by scientists. The writer wrote the passage in order to _ . <extra_id_0>supply some entertainment to us <extra_id_1>show women's sharper senses than men's <extra_id_2>inform the readers of some knowledge <extra_id_3>call for volunteers for the experiment <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>American schools begin in September after a long summer vacation . There are two terms in a school year: the first term is from September to January, and the second is from February to June. Most American children go to public schools . High school students take only four or five subjects at a time. They usually go to the same classes every day, and they have homework for every class. After class they have many activities. After high school, many students go to college. How many vacations do American children have each year? <extra_id_0>One. <extra_id_1>Two. <extra_id_2>Three. <extra_id_3>Four. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>James got up at five to seven. His parents and his little twin sisters went traveling in France and he had to look after himself at home. He opened the fridge, but he found only two hamburgers in it. He decided to have breakfast in the restaurant at the other side of the street. He sat at a table and the waiter came up and said, "Can I take your order , James?" "But you don't show your menu to me, Mr. Hunt," said the boy. "Oh, sorry! I forget it. Here it is." James looked at the menu carefully. It was: Bread $1.30 Sandwich $1.80 Hamburger $2.40 Pizza $2.40Egg $0.30 Milk $0.50 Coffee $0.70 Coke $0.30 James brought out his wallet and found there was only 6.50 dollars in it. "Well," said Mr. Hunt. "What about a hamburger, a pizza, two eggs and a glass of coke?" "Oh, no," said the boy. "I'll buy a picture-book this afternoon. It's 1.50 dollars." "I see," said the waiter. And then he brought the boy a nice breakfast. There were _ people in James' family. <extra_id_0>three <extra_id_1>four <extra_id_2>five <extra_id_3>six <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>When my first wartime Christmas came, I was in basic training in New Jersey and not sure if I could make it home for the holidays. Only on the afternoon of December 23 was the list of men who would have three-day passes posted. I was one of the lucky soldiers. It was Christmas Eve when I arrived, and a light snow had fallen. Mother opened the front door. I could see beyond her, into the corner of the living room where the tree had always stood. There were lights, all colors, and ornaments shining against the green of a pine. "Where did it come from?" I asked. "I asked the Gates boy to cut it," my mother said. "I wouldn't have had one just for myself, but when you called--- oh, such a rush! He just brought it in this afternoon..." The pine reached to the proper height, almost to the ceiling, and the Tree Top Krystal Star was in its place. A few green branches reached about a little awkwardly at the side, I thought, and there was a bit of bare trunk showing in the middle. But the tree filled the room with warm light and the whole house with pleasant smell of Christmas. "It's not like the ones you used to find," my mother went on. "Yours were always in good shape. I suppose the Gates boy didn't know where to look. But I couldn't be picky." "Don't worry, " I told her. "It's perfect." It wasn't, of course, but at the moment I realized something for the first time: all Christmas trees are perfect. The best title for this passage would be " _ ". <extra_id_0>How to Choose a Christmas Tree <extra_id_1>How Soldiers Spent Christmas <extra_id_2>The Perfect Christmas Tree <extra_id_3>The Christmas Without a Tree <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>In England, traffic keeps on the left.Cars, buses and bikes all move on the left side of the road.But the traffic keeps on the right in China.So when you are in England, you must be very careful in the street.Before you cross a street you must stop and look both ways.Look right and look left and look right again.If the traffic lights are red, the traffic must stop.Then the people on foot can cross the road.If the traffic lights are green, the traffic can go.People on foot mustn't cross. In the morning and in the evening, when people go to or come back from work, the streets are very busy.Traffic is very dangerous . When you go by bus in England, you have to be careful, too.Always remember the traffic moves on the left.If you don't have a look first, you will go the wrong way. In many English cities, there are big buses with two floors.You can sit on the second floor.From there you can see the city very well.It's very interesting. ,. When you go by bus in England, you must be careful because _ . <extra_id_0>you may go the wrong way <extra_id_1>there are too many buses <extra_id_2>there are big buses with two floors <extra_id_3>there are not any traffic lights <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Last week Lu visited England. He stayed with my grandmother. He found it was strange. 'I don't know why, but I frightened your grandmother a lot. When I arrived, I gave her a purse from Dongtai. She looked in it and asked me to take it back. Then I saw a red spider on the table, and I killed it for her. She seemed very unhappy. Do English people like spiders? 'Later we went shopping. Someone was painting a shop front, so there was a ladder. Grandmother stopped me from walking under it and said I must walk around it. I liked the shops and bought some lovely rose soap for my mother, a smart umbrella for my father and some new shoes for myself. When we got back, I put the shoes on the table and opened the umbrella to check if it was all right. Your grandmother came in and screamed! 'Then I broke a small mirror in the bathroom. Your grandmother's face went white. I felt very sorry. When I left, I gave your grandmother some flowers. She counted and there were 13. She didn't like them.' I explained to Lu, 'My grandmother follows the old customs. You must not give someone an empty purse, or they will have no money. You must not kill a "money spider", or the same will happen. Also it is very unlucky to walk under a ladder or put new shoes on the table. An open umbrella in a house means someone will die. Breaking a mirror brings seven years' bad luck, and 13 is also a very unlucky number. You were really making my grandmother very afraid.' What do many British people think of spiders? <extra_id_0>They are afraid of them. <extra_id_1>They keep spiders as pets. <extra_id_2>They hope to see every kind of spiders in their houses. <extra_id_3>They think some kinds of spiders are lucky. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>It's Sunday today. Students are having good time in the park. Look, there is a table under a big tree, three students are sitting there. Lucy is reading a book, she looks very happy. Next to her is another girl, she's Mary. She is eating apples with her friend Jean. They think the apples are very delicious. Other girls are drawing pictures there.In the middle of the park, there is a playground. There are four boys, they are playing basketball. Lisa is watching them, and singing beautiful songs. Near the lake, Mr. Li is telling interesting stories for other students, they are so happy and relaxing. How are they playing in the park? <extra_id_0>They are happy and relaxing. <extra_id_1>They are watching and singing. <extra_id_2>They are tired but interesting. <extra_id_3>They are having a school trip. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>The best way of learning a language is using it .The best way of learning English is talking in English as much as possible. Sometimes you'll get your words mixed up ( )and people will not understand you .Sometimes people will say things too quickly and you can't understand them. But if you keep your sense of humor ,you can always have a good laugh at the mistakes you make . Don't be unhappy if people seem to be laughing at your mistakes . It is better for people to laugh at your mistakes than to be angry with you. because they don't understand what you are saying .The most important thing for learning English is : "Don't be afraid of making mistakes because everyone makes mistakes. " The writer thinks that the best way for you to learn a language is _ . <extra_id_0>writing <extra_id_1>using it <extra_id_2>listening <extra_id_3>learning grammar <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Category: Comedy Best known for his role on the Emmy award-winning sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, Brad Garrett returns to his Vegas roots with his comedy club at the MGM Grand. It is a good place to check out when you need a break from work. Prices from: $56.40 and up Age restriction: Must be 21 years of age or older Show Length: 115 minutes MAC KING COMEDY MAGIC SHOW Category: Comedy, Magic Mac King Comedy Magic Show is different every afternoon, with lots of audience participation. He is willing to make fun of himself instead of his guests in order to make everyone feel welcome and entertained. The afternoon is kid-friendly from start to finish. Still, whether you're eight or 80, you won't be able to figure out King's secrets. Prices from: $40.90 and up Age restriction: No age restriction Show Length: 90 minutes THE MENTALIST, GERRY MCCAMBRIDGE Category: Comedy, Magic Using his skills as a "mentalist", Gerry McCambridge shocks the crowds as he uses his abilities to predict just what audience members will do next. Anyone who has seen the show has walked away in disbelief, amazed by his unusual power. Prices from: $34.99 and up Age restriction: Under 13 will not be admitted into the theater Show Length: 75 minutes ROCK OF AGES Category: Plays & Musicals The cheerful Rock of Ages brings audiences back to the times of big hair and even bigger bands with 28 popular rock songs from the 80s including "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," "I Wanna Know What Love Is," "Here I Go Again," and more. Rock of Ages has been nominated for five Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical. It also received a Drama League nomination for Distinguished Production for a Musical. Prices from: $74.00 and up Age restriction: Must be 15 years of age or older Show Length: 125 minutes Who is most likely to be able to read audiences' minds? <extra_id_0>Raymond. <extra_id_1>Mac King. <extra_id_2>Brad Garrett. <extra_id_3>Gerry McCambridge. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Mrs Brown is very fat . "Don't eat meat or cakes,"her doctor says to her. "I'm going to stop her eating them, doctor,"her husband says. The next morning, Mrs Brown makes a nice cake, and her husband eats half of it. After he goes out, Mrs Brown cuts a very small piece of the cake and eats it. It is very good. She cuts a bigger piece and eats it. In a few minutes she finishes the cake."My husband is going to be very angry ,"she says."What am I going to do?" She makes another cake very quickly, eats half of that, and leaves half on the table. Her husband comes back later. He sees the half of the cake on the table and he is very happy. Mr Brown eats _ that morning. <extra_id_0>one cake <extra_id_1>half cakes <extra_id_2>half a cake <extra_id_3>many cakes <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Everyone knows that eating too much junk food is not good to our health. Yet, what is it about junk food that is so completely irresistible ? For one thing, it's everywhere. From chips in fast food restaurants to candy in supermarkets, junk food always seems available. Thankfully, science is now providing new clues to help us reduce snacking. Make friends with dainty eaters. Studies have found that people tend to increase or reduce the amount of food they eat depending on what their companions are taking in. See happy movies... and always get the smaller bag of popcorn . According to some experts, people eat up to 29% more popcorn if they are watching a sad or serious movie, compared to when they are watching a comedy. Viewers consumed almost 200 calories more when snacking from a large bucket, as opposed to when given a medium-sized container. Eat breakfast. Nutritionists have gone back and forth about the question of how much to eat in the morning, but new studies suggest that consuming a good breakfast is a must. Surveys on long-term weight-loss show that two key factors in keeping weight down are eating breakfast and exercising. Divide your food and conquer overeating. Any kind of dividing your food into portions slows down your eating. Any kind of marker makes you aware of what you're eating and of portion size. Researchers advise reallocating snack foods into small plastic bags. It sounds simplistic, but it works. Why do people eat too much junk food though it is bad for our health? <extra_id_0>Because it's available here and there. <extra_id_1>It's delicious from chips to candy. <extra_id_2>It's easily taken everywhere. <extra_id_3>It's easily bought in fast food restaurants. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Which animal is preparing for a seasonal change in the environment? <extra_id_0>a bat flying at night <extra_id_1>a deer drinking water <extra_id_2>an owl eating a mouse <extra_id_3>a squirrel storing nuts <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>How did your parents celebrate when you were born? Of course you can't remember, but they can. They have photos or videos from a ceremony of some kind. In the United States, the proud parents of a new baby often put something on their front door. It's an exciting time for them, and they want to share the good news with their neighbors. For example, they put balloons on their door. Pink balloons mean the baby is a girl. Blue ones are for boys. People around the world often celebrate a new baby's birth with some kinds of ceremonies, perhaps a religious ceremony. This perhaps takes place when a baby is a few days or weeks old. Take what people do in Mexico as an example, many new parents dress their babies in special clothes take them to church.In some African countries, the family plants a tree near the house. In Korea, there is a traditional ceremony on the baby's 100th day. And it's the same in China. On that day, all family members and friends get together to have a big meal, with all the best wishes that the baby will grow up happily and healthily. The parents of new babies often receive presents. In the United States, friends send cards, flowers or baby clothes. In China, family members and friends give money or presents. Presents, celebrations---these are great, but what do most new parents really need? More sleep! According to the passage , _ is NOT a kind of ceremony. <extra_id_0>putting things on the front door <extra_id_1>planting a tree near the house <extra_id_2>having a big meal on the baby's 100 th day <extra_id_3>giving new parents more time to sleep <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Several weeks ago, a mysterious Christmas card dropped through our mailbox. The envelope was addressed to a man named Raoul, who, I was ly certain, did not live with us. The envelope wasn't sealed, so I opened it. The inside of the card was blank. Ed, my husband, explained that the card was both from and to the newspaper deliveryman. His name was apparently Raoul, and Raoul wanted a holiday tip. We were meant to put a check inside the card and then drop the envelope in the mail. When your services are finished at 4 a.m., you can't simply hang around, like a hotel bellboy expecting a tip. You have to be direct. So I wrote a nice holiday greeting to this man who, in my imagination, fires The New York Times from his bike aimed at our front door, causing more noise with mere newsprint than most people manage with sophisticated black market fireworks. With a start, I realized that perhaps the reason for the 4 a.m. wake-up noise was not ordinary rudeness but carefully executed spite : I had not tipped Raoul in Christmas past. I honestly hadn't realized I was supposed to. This was the first time he'd used the card tactic . So I got out my checkbook. Somewhere along the line, holiday tipping went from an optional thank-you for a year of services to a Mafia-style protection racket . Several days later, I was bringing our garbage bins back when I noticed an envelope taped to one of the lids. The outside of the envelope said MICKEY. It had to be another tip request, this time from our garbage collector. Unlike Raoul, Mickey hadn't enclosed his own Christmas card from me. In a way, I appreciated the directness. "I know you don't care how merry my Christmas is, and that's fine," the gesture said. "I want $30, or I'll 'forget' to empty your garbage bin some hot summer day." I put a check in the envelope and taped it back to the bin. The next morning, Ed noticed that the envelope was gone, though the trash hadn't yet been picked up: "Someone stole Mickey's tip!" Ed was quite certain. He made me call the bank and cancel the check. But Ed had been wrong. Two weeks later, Mickey left a letter from the bank on our steps. The letter informed Mickey that the check, which he had tried to cash, had been cancelled. The following Tuesday morning, when Ed saw a truck outside, he ran out with his wallet. "Are you Mickey?" The man looked at him with scorn . "Mickey is the garbageman. I am the recycling." Not only had Ed insulted this man by suggesting that he was a garbageman, but he had obviously neglected to tip him. Ed ran back inside for more funds. Then he noticed that the driver of the truck had been watching the whole incident. He peeled off another twenty and looked around, waving bills in the air. "Anyone else? " Had we consulted the website of the Emily Post Institute, this embarrassing break of etiquette could have been avoided. Under "trash/recycling collectors" in the institute's Holiday Tipping Guidelines, it says: "$10 to $30 each." You may or may not wish to know that your hairdresser, mailman and UPS guy all expect a holiday tip. From the passage we can infer that _ . <extra_id_0>their garbage bin might not be emptied one day if the writer didn't give tips <extra_id_1>the writer could have avoided giving tips if they had consulted the website of the Emily Post Institute <extra_id_2>the writer's husband didn't know Raoul at all <extra_id_3>the writer's family was too poor to give the tips <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Emergency rooms (ER) are supposed to cure people but Dr. John Stemgold wonders if working in an ER in Willits made him sick. The ER was downwind of the Remco chrome plant. "I used to sit facing that window and kind of daydream out the window, looking at Remco, looking at the fog coming out of there. Then I would cough and cough." Stemgold said. What Dr.Stemgold didn't know was that Remco was flowing out Chromium VI into the air--- a chemical known to cause cancer and breathing problems in humans. A recent state health department study found that people who were in Willits when Remco was in operation from 1964 to 1995 are at higher risk for cancer because of Chromium VI exposure. Today Dr.Stemgold has lots of time to play his guitar. It turns out he has a form of breathing difficulty. Hospital chemicals cause coughing so violently that he's broken bones and it's cost him his career. Others in this town believe the Chromium has made them sick, too, and their families. Actually, Chromium VI was classified as a carcinogen , a cancer-causing substance, thirty years ago, Twenty years ago, a group of state scientific specialists found no exposure level below which carcinogen effects would not have some probability of occurring. Still, Remco was allowed to flow out Chromium VI into the air. In the battle to balance public health and a healthy economy, laws often favor business, Alan Ramo is a professor of law at Golden Gate University. "There is a real drive to make money, to have employment. When there's a real job that's available and a theoretical risk of a chemical, jobs win out, business wins out." And chemicals are allowed to flood the marketplace and the government requires strict testing before any drugs can be sold. But the vast majority of industrial chemicals are put into use little testing of any kind Chemicals that people like us, you and me might be exposed to. Marilyn Underwood is with California state health department. " You need to have the convincing evidence that something is bad to then start regulating it." However, in most cases, chemicals are not tested until someone reports the abnormal, unnatural condition of the environment in general. "I think that if people really knew what really goes on with environmental protection I think they would be shocked and they should be." Says Professor Ramo. "It might be valuable for other people to know what has happened to me, not for me but for them." He said "because they might be in a similar situation because of where they work." What can we infer from the scientists' finding twenty years ago? <extra_id_0>Chromium VI surroundings help surgeons have more casual life. <extra_id_1>More skillful and capable doctors were needed. <extra_id_2>There is no safe level of Chromium VI exposure. <extra_id_3>A group of scientists were trying proper ways to solve the problems. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>"Humans should not try to avoid stress any more just as they would not _ food, love or exercise," said Dr. Hans Selye, the first physician to record the effects of stress on the body. While here's one question that continuous stress is harmful, several studies suggest that challenging unexpected and difficult situations can be good for you. In a 2001 study of 158 hospital nurses, those who faced considerable work demands but dealt with the challenge were more likely to say they were in good health. In a study at theprefix = st1 /AcademicCenter, researchers put volunteers through a stressful experience: a timed task that required memorizing a list followed by a short test. Those who did well on the memory test had an increase in levels of immunoglobulin A, which is the body's first line of defense against germs . Stress makes the body produce certain stress hormones. In short bursts these hormones have a positive effect including improved memory function. "They can help nerve cells deal with information and put it into storage," says Dr. Bruce McEwen of Rockefeller University inNew York. But in the long run these hormones can have a harmful effect on the body and brain. "Continued stress is not good for you," says Dr. Bruce," it's the short burst of stress that could be protective." Dr. Bruce believes that_. <extra_id_0>a person's memory is determined by the level of hormones in his body <extra_id_1>a person's memory improves with continued experience of stress <extra_id_2>stress hormones have lasting positive effects on the brain <extra_id_3>short bursts of stress hormones increase memory function <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Nonverbal Communication When you are in another country, it is important to know the language, but it is equally important to know how to communicate nonverbally. Before saying anything, people communicate nonverbally by making gestures. According to an investigation ,only 30 to 35 percent of our communication is verbal. When people don't know the language, the most common way to communicate is through gestures. However, many gestures have different meanings, or no meaning at all, in different parts of the world. In the United States, for example, nodding your head up and down means "yes". In some parts of Greece and Turkey, however, this motion can mean "no". In Southeast Asia, nodding your head is a polite way of saying "I've heard you." In ancient Rome, when the emperor wanted to spare someone's life, he would put his thumb up. Today in the United States, when someone puts his/her thumb up, it means "Everything is all right." However, in Sardinia and Greece, the gesture is insulting and should not be used there. In the United States, raising your clasped hands above your head means "I'm the champion" or "I'm the winner". It is the sign that prizefighters make when they win a fight. When a leading Russian statesman made this gesture after a White House meeting, Americans misunderstood and thought he meant he was a winner. In Russia, however, it is a sign of friendship. There are other nonverbal signals that people should be aware of when they go to another country, such as the distance to maintain between speakers. Americans stand closer to each other than English people. English people don't like touching somebody or being touched. Now in America, touch is important. For example friends touch each other on the arm. They often put an arm around a friend when they say "hello" or "goodbye". It is very important to know how to communicate nonverbally when you are in another country because _ . <extra_id_0>most people speak different languages <extra_id_1>much of our communication is nonverbal on many occasions <extra_id_2>people usually make gestures before saying anything <extra_id_3>it's easy to learn how to express oneself through gestures <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>For many students in the UK today, deciding whether or not to go to university can be as much about affordability as it is about ambition and aspiration. In the past, students in the UK could apply to a university or college. They were sure that even if they came from a low income family, their tuition fees and some of their living (or maintenance) costs would be covered by a local authority grant . A university education was, in a financial sense, open to all and the number of students attending university grew yearly. Sadly, it seems, those days are long gone. The turning point came in 1998, when the Labour Government introduced tuition fees of PS1,000 a year and, instead of giving students a maintenance grant, asked them to cover their own living expenses with a repayable student loan. Only students on the lowest incomes were entitled to a grant. The flood gates had been opened. As time passed, the ceiling on tuition fees rose, and although applicants from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales still qualified for varying levels of subsidy , by 2009/10 students in England often found themselves facing tuition fees overPS3,000 a year. In 2011 the Government announced that, from 2012, universities could charge fees of up to PS9,000 a year. Although the Government by stating that postgraduates did not have to begin repaying their student loans until they were earning more than PS21,000 a year, the news created over-dissatisfaction. Many students argued that it was unfair that students should have to begin their work life loaded with huge debt, while others complained that the changes would bring back a class divide to university education. These views were reflected in the number of students applying for a university place, which by January 2012 fell by more than 22,000. The Universities Minister, David Willetts, stood by the decision to increase tuition fees, saying that they would not "put universities' finance on a bearable footing" and that they would accelerate "a stronger focus on high quality teaching." We can put the sentence "But the biggest change was still to come" at the beginning of Paragraph _ . <extra_id_0>2 <extra_id_1>3 <extra_id_2>4 <extra_id_3>5 <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>When summertime came Jack the Pirate made up his mind it was time to get his hair cut. He told all his friends that it was because he wanted a new look. But the truth was the Sun was too hot for Jack the Pirate. His long hair only made it worse. So he left his home by Whipple Creek and went into town to visit the Edward the Barber at his barbershop. It was fun getting his hair cut, and when it was done Jack the Terrier felt fresh and cool. "Your friends won't even know it's you, Jack!" said Edward the Barber as Jack the Pirate headed out the door. On the way back home, he took a short cut through the forest, and he met three people who were his friends. First he met Ichabod the Chief of Police, who was doing an important case. Jack said "Hello, Ichabod!" but Ichabod ignored him. The second person he met was Willy the Candy Man, who was delivering delicious treats. Jack said "Howdy, Willy!" but Willy didn't say anything back. The third person Jack met was Dean the Librarian, who was looking for a book he had lost. Jack said "Hey, Dean!" but Dean didn't stop looking for his book. "That's odd," thought Jack to himself, as he arrived home. "Why did all of my friends ignore me today?" Then he looked in the mirror and saw why. He looked like a totally different person. His friends must not have even known it was him! Where does Jack live? <extra_id_0>By Whipple Creek. <extra_id_1>In the forest with his friends. <extra_id_2>In town. <extra_id_3>In a barbershop. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Can eating a chocolate bar every day really prevent age-related memory loss? No. But a new research shows that large amounts of flavones, substances found in cocoa, tea and some kinds of vegetables, may improve age-related memory failure. Dr. Scott Small is a professor of neurology at Columbia University in new York City He is the lead writer of a research paper describing the effects of cocoa flavones on brain activity His study involved 37 volunteers aged between 50 and 69. Researchers gave them a high-level flavones drink made from cocoa beans or a low-level flavones drink. For a period of three months, some subjects got 900 milligrams of flavones a day. The others got 10 milligrams of flavones each day. Brain imaging and memory tests were given to each study subject before and after the study Dr. Small says that the subjects who had the high-level flavones drink showed much improvement on memorytests. The researchers warn that more work is needed to be done because this study was performed only on a small group. Dr. Joann Manson is the lead researcher of a four .year study involving 18,000 adults. This study will use flavones capsules The study subjects will be divided into two groups and will take two pills per day. The capsules used will all Look the same. But one group's capsules will contain flavones, while the other group will take capsules made of an inactive substance, or placebo Dr. Manson says it's not necessary for people to start eating more chocolate, because 3 person would have to eat a huge amount of chocolate to get the same level of flavones given to the Lest subjects. He adds many manufacturers have planned to remove the flavones from their chocolate products. Similarity, Dr. says a cocoa-based flavones extract may be developed in the future But he says that more studies are needed to see how much flavones is good for our health What was done to the subjects alter Dr. Small's study? <extra_id_0>They were asked to take a high-level flavones drink <extra_id_1>They were given capsules containing flavones <extra_id_2>They were given brain imaging and memory tests <extra_id_3>They were asked to take two pills of flavones capsules per day <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>A kitchen that gives step-by-step cooking instructions in French could inspire a revolution in language learning in the UK. By using a new technology, it speaks to you as you prepare a French dish. The kitchen breaks new ground by taking language learning out of the classroom and linking it with an enjoyable and rewarding real-life activity. The new kitchen is designed to be used in schools, universities and even people's homes. It could also be an existing kitchen. The first version of the technology was tested in the kitchens of project partner Newcastle University. The kitchen could be available for schools and universities, and for the UK market by the June of 2014. The Newcastle University team is now working on ways to put it on the market. And the European Union has given money to begin programs in six other languages, including English Italian and Spanish. Finally, versions could be developed for any language cuisine in the world. Professor Paul says, "By international standards, the UK students are now poor when it comes to learning languages--a problem that certainly has an economic influence. We believe that developing skills in a country's language and its cuisine will help change the trend." [( )] On a computer fixed into the kitchen, the user first selects the French recipe they want to follow. Digital sensors built into dishes, containers and other equipment then communicate with the computer to make sure the right instructions are given at the right time, the user can ask the computer to repeat an instruction, or translate it into English, simply by pressing the touch screen. After cooking, the user can test what they have learned by carrying out a short test on the computer. All grammar and vocabulary has been carefully selected to make sure that using the kitchen adds to basic proficiency in understanding French. Now three easy-carrying versions of the kitchen are being prepared. They're to be fixed in Newcastle University and at Institute Francais, a London-based charity devoted to teaching the French language. [( )] The new kitchen is designed mainly to _ . <extra_id_0>increase people's interest in cooking <extra_id_1>teach people how to cook French dishes <extra_id_2>offer people a new way to learn languages <extra_id_3>help cooks learn spoken French in the kitchen <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>St paul's Cathedral Ludgate Hill, EC4 Underground: St Paul's; Bus: 6,7,11,15,22,25 Open: Daily 8:00-19:00(17:00 from Oct. to Mar.) Entrance free Designed by the great architect, Sir Christopher Wren, St Paul's Cathedral was built following the Great Fire of London of 1666, which destroyed the gothic cathedral on the site at that time. It is crowned by a magnificent dome and its choir is internationally famous. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married here in 1981. Buckingham Palace South end of the Mall(SW1) Underground: St. James's Park, Victoria, Hyde Park Comer, Green Park Bus:2,11,14,16,19,22,24,29,30,38,52,73,74,137 Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the monarch for much of the year. (When the monarch is in residence, a flag flies over the palace.) The Mall is a very impressive wide street, leading from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square. Note: As the palace is the monarch's official residence, it is not open to the public during most of the year. The Tower of London Tower Hill, EC3 Underground: Tower Hill; Bus: 42, 78 Open: Mon. - Sat.9:00--18:00. 8:00--19:00 Parts of the Tower of London are over nine centuries old, as building began under William the Conqueror in 1078. Famous as a prison in the distant past, the Tower has also been a royal residence, a zoo and an observatory , among other things. It is now a museum and many thousands of people visit it every year in particular to see the Crown Jewels. Westminster Abbey Broad Sanctuary, SW1 Underground: Westminster, St James's Park; Bus: 3, 11, 12, 24, 29, 39, 53, 59, 76, 77, 88, 109, 155, 168, 170, 172, 184, 503 Open: Daily 8:00--19:00(Mar.-DEC., Tuesday till 20:00) Entrance free A Benedictine abbey which already existed on the site was rebuilt by Edward the Confessor and consecrated in 1065. On the way to its present form, the abbey was extended in the 13th-16th centuries, with the two west towers being added in the 18th. There are many famous tombs in the abbey, including that of the unknown Warrior and those of many poets and writers. No.11 bus can take you to all three of these places: _ . <extra_id_0>St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London <extra_id_1>St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace <extra_id_2>St Paul's Cathedral, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace <extra_id_3>Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>If your pen broke at school today,what would you do?You would go to a shop and buy a new one.What if you could simply print out a real,working pen with your 3-D printer without leaving your room? The 3-D printer has been used to make many different things.People have made cups cars and even an airplane with it. Doctors have been using 3-D printers for several years.People's nervous systems have been printed out in 3-D form medical research.Some body parts have been printed and used in hospital.Several months ago,doctors used a 3-D printer to rebuild Ten years ago people could only see 3-D printing in science fiction movies.But now 3-D printing is here and it's bringing big changes. Unlike normal printing that can only copy a 2-D picture with ink.3-D printing can build almost anything made from material.The printer layers the material in different shapes to create the object you want to be copied.the face of a person who had a bad accident.In the future,it is expected that the printer will make human organs to save more lives. However there are _ to the printer.At the moment,printing can be quite slow and it's still rather expensive.The average price of a household printer is around $1,700,not including the cost of the materials. But as the technology develops,it shouldn't be long before disadvantages are improved.Only time will tell where this new technology will take us. ,A, B, C, D,. What's the best title of the passage? <extra_id_0>The advantages of 3-D printing <extra_id_1>The disadvantages of 3-D printing <extra_id_2>The changes brought by 3-D printing <extra_id_3>The rapid development of science <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Perhaps the only test score that I remember is the 55 when I was in high school. The test was the final for a course. I remember waiting anxiously as my teacher Mr. Right passed out our papers one by one. It was a rather difficult test. I heard my classmates groaning , and I could tell by the groans that the scores weren't looking good. Mr. Right put my paper on my desk. There in big red numbers, circled to draw attention, was my score, 55! I lowered my head, and covered the score up quickly. A 55 is not something that you wanted your classmates to see. "The scores were not very good, none of you passed," Mr. Right said. "The highest score in the class was a 55." A 55. That's me! Suddenly my sad look didn't look so bad. I had the highest score. I felt a lot better. I walked home alone that day with the low but high score. My father knew that I had a big test that day and asked me as soon as I got home, "How did you do in your test?" "I made a 55," I said. A frown now stood on my father's face. I knew I had to explain immediately. "But Dad, I had the highest score in the class," I proudly stated. I thought that explanation would make a difference. "You failed!" my father replied. "But it's the highest!" I insisted. "I don't care what scores others had, but you failed. What matters is what you do!" my father firmly said. For years, my father was always that way. It didn't matter what others did, it only mattered what I did and that I did it excellently. We often don't understand the wisdom of good parents until we ourselves stand in the parents' shoes. My father's words have carried me throughout life. In class, to hide my score from my classmates, I _ . <extra_id_0>lowered my head <extra_id_1>covered my score up <extra_id_2>walked home alone <extra_id_3>explained immediately <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>We drink tea every day. But more than three hundred years ago most of the people in Europe did not know anything about tea. Some people heard about it, but very few of them know what to do with it. There is a story about an English sailor who went to countries in the east, the west and the south. He went to India and China. One day he came home and brought some tea as a present for his mother. She told her friends about the present and asked them to a "tea party". When her friends came to the "tea party", the old woman gave them brown tea-leaves. The old woman's friends began to eat them. Of course, nobody liked the tea-leaves. At that time the sailor came in. He looked at the table and said, "Mother,what did you do with the tea?" "I boiled it,as you said." "And what did you do with the water?" "I threw it away ,of course." answered the old woman. "Now you may throw away the leaves,too," said her son. Most of the people in Europe _ 300 years ago. <extra_id_0>drank tea every day <extra_id_1>knew everything about tea <extra_id_2>knew nothing about tea <extra_id_3>liked to eat the tea-leaves <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>It was 1:30 a.m. Monday at London's Savoy Hotel and, with autograph books and cameras, a group of brighteyed tennis fans of all ages were waiting for just a glimpse of Maria Sharapova . The 17-year-old girl defeated champion Serena Williams 6-1 6-4 in the Wimbledon final on Saturday in London to become the first Russian to win a single title at the championships. A silver lining to a depressing, rain-hit Wimbledon, she has raised heated passion. Nobody was complaining, though, for the 1.83-metre Sharapova has created a welcome wave of interest in tennis, something missing in recent years. Not even Anna Kournikova evoked such passion when she broke on to the scene. To look good on court is one thing, but Sharapova can actually play the game too. Extremely well. She proved it over 13 days at the world's most prestigious tournament. Playing tennis of the highest quality throughout, the Russian's triumph not only lifted the tournament from fits of rain-induced depression but also salvaged(;) the season for the woman's tour. Sharapova was given no easy ride in the tournament, having to beat 1999 champion Lindsay Davenport in the semifinals and twice-champion Serena Williams for the title. Neither caused her much concern. "I don't remember too much about the final," Sharapova giggled. "I was in my own place." She will find it increasingly hard to find any place to call her own from now on after advertisers identified her as the most marketable woman in sport. In Russia she is sensational news. She headlined the news bulletins and was telephoned by former Russian President Boris Yeltsin after her triumph. Sharapova will return to her adoptive Florida home knowing life will never be the same again. But the girl who arrived in the US aged seven with her father and just US$700 is determined not to let fame and riches detract from her number one love, tennis. "I know things will start coming up and that many more things will want to get involved, but I want to keep my head cool and play tennis," she said. Who has won the most times in Wimbledon? <extra_id_0>Sharapova. <extra_id_1>Kournikova. <extra_id_2>Serena Williams. <extra_id_3>Davenport <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>A Bite of China, made by CCTV's Documentary Channel, sparked discussion not only on Chinese food, but also on locally made documentary programs. When you think of documentaries, you may think of them as long, boring programs. But documentaries can be wonderful and bring stories from the real world into our homes. With fascinating footage and stories, documentaries encourage us to think about interesting issues we wouldn't necessarily know about. So, what makes a good documentary, and what should we pay attention to when we watch one? Here, we offer a few easy strategies to help you get the most out of watching documentaries. Pay attention to the themes While watching a documentary, keep your eyes and ears peeled for the themes people talk about and what ideas they focus on. Is it meant to be informative or raise a certain emotional response? Think critically Listen to what the people in the documentary are saying and ask yourself the following questions: If you were debating with someone or introducing a new concept, would you say the things the people in the documentary are saying? Do the arguments make sense? Check the sources If you're sitting at the computer and can't think of anything to do, why not look up the points the documentary made and see if they are accurate? You could even read more about what is presented in the documentary. Who are the creators? The creators or financial backers of a film will usually be involved with how the subject matter is presented. For instance, as the documentary 2016: Obama's America was directed in large part by a conservative writer, it's not surprising that it's critical of President Obama from the beginning. Which of the following is the most proper to describe documentaries? <extra_id_0>non-fictional <extra_id_1>controversial <extra_id_2>subjective <extra_id_3>thoughtful <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>The world moves so quickly nowadays. With so many daily responsibilities, some of us can hardly keep our heads above water. Should we make time for studying or appreciating the arts? Many people would say the arts are nice, but not necessary .In school, students should focus on languages ,math and science. Painting, drama and music are _ After graduation, listening to Mozart won't lead you to a better-paying job. In truth, spending time learning to appreciate the arts may be more worthwhile than you think. A recent British study examined the salaries and jobs of people who spent time enjoying the arts when growing up. The researchers found those who enjoyed the arts from an early age had better jobs and higher salaries than those who didn't. What's the link? How could visiting a museum, enjoying a symphony, or honing painting skills lead to career success? It turns out that the arts help us develop many useful skills. Other students have found students studying the arts exercise their reasoning ability. The skill helps with problem-solving. Creative and critical-thinking abilities are also developed through art study. Moreover, those who enjoy the arts have more motivation to achieve .Students who practice an art experience the rewards that come from persistence and goal-setting. These benefits also extend to those who make time to appreciate the arts beyond their school years. The best kind of art stirs our imagination and makes us think. Paintings aren't just pretty pictures. They tell stories about the lives of the subjects or about the experience of the painter. See Michelangelo's art and you'll taste the power of his faith in God. Look at the world from Picasso's point of view, and you see everyday life in new ways. Those who appreciate the arts also gain a broader perspective on the world. The arts reveal and explain the world beyond our own personal knowledge which can help us better communicate and cooperate with other people. If you want to better yourself, go and enjoy the arts. Check out an art gallery or a museum. Take in a play. You won't regret it and it will do you more good than you can imagine. What is the author's attitude towards art appreciation? <extra_id_0>Doubtful <extra_id_1>Opposed <extra_id_2>Critical <extra_id_3>Supportive <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>All presentations should include the beginning, the middle, and the end. The first part of your presentation should always present the problem. The middle of the presentation should present your key findings. By the end of the presentation, your audience should have a better understanding of the solution. Less is more. There's a tendency to make a presentation slide excessively complicated with flashy images, strange transitions, and too much text. These features are often unnecessary, and tend to make the viewers get bored. Instead, keep each slide short and plain, using one image to sell your idea. Using bullets is a bit of a cliche , but if you must use them, never exceed more than one line of text per bullet. Branding is the key. Whether you're stating a new business idea to investors or describing a new product to customers, you'll want your presentation to reinforce your brand's image. Use the same color1 schemes, fonts , and logos that you use on your website or company literature. There's an assumption of what a Power Point is supposed to look like, and company standards falls through the floor. Give them a break. According to a recent research, the average adult attention span for a presentation is just 20 minutes. It's always best to keep your presentation short and to the point, but if you must exceed the recommended 20 minutes, try giving your audience a moment to relax. "You can extend attention spans by giving your audience a rest," the study says. This can be done by telling a story, giving a demo, or doing something else that gives the brain a break. Practice it again and again. In the end, a great presentation will come down to the speaker's ability to capture the audience's imagination and keep their attention. The presentation and the speaker should work together and they can be complementary to each other. The best presenters won't have to look down at the notes and will never be reading from a script. A good speaker can focus on the key points and convey information well. What can be the best title for this passage? <extra_id_0>Four Tips for a Great PowerPoint Presentation <extra_id_1>The Importance of a PowerPoint Presentation <extra_id_2>The Benefits of Using a PowerPoint Presentation <extra_id_3>The Proper Occasion for a PowerPoint Presentation <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>How to Study Smarter, Not Harder Here are some of our favorite study tips that will help any student study smarter, not harder: Recite As You Study Reciting--saying things out loud should first take place as you read through each paragraph or section. Test yourself. This will help you to understand as well as learn faster because it is more active than reading or listening. It will also help you to notice your mistakes and the topics you have trouble understanding. Take Fuller Notes Notes should be in your own words, brief and clear. They should be tidy and easy to read. Writing notes will help you better than just underlining as you read, since it forces you to rewrite ideas in your own words. Study the Middle The best time to review is soon after you've learned something. You are more likely to remember the material at the beginning and the end of the lesson, so make sure you focus on the middle when you review. Sleep On It Study before going to bed, unless you are very tired. It's easier to remember material you've just learned after sleeping than after an equal period of daytime activity, because your brain continues to think even after you've fallen asleep. Combine Memory and Understanding There are two ways to remember: by memorizing and by understanding. Multiplication tables, telephone numbers, and math formulas are better learned by rote. Ideas are best learned by understanding. The more ways you have to think about an idea, the more meaning it will have; the more meaningful the learning, the better you can remember it. Pay attention to similarities in ideas and concepts, and then try to understand how they fit in with things you already know. Never be satisfied with anything less than a completely clear understanding of what you are reading. If you are not able to follow the thought, go back to the place where you first got confused and try again. You can notice your mistakes by _ . <extra_id_0>saying things out aloud <extra_id_1>taking notes <extra_id_2>studying the middle <extra_id_3>sleeping on it <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Which type of evidence would a geologist need to support plate tectonic theory? <extra_id_0>plant fossils that are similar in size <extra_id_1>the weathering and erosion of coastlines <extra_id_2>new crust formed by the sea floor spreading <extra_id_3>rocks with different physical appearances <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Born into a poor family,two of the Durers' children still had a dream for art,but they knew their father could not afford to send either of them to the academy . After discussions,the two boys finally agreed to toss a coin.The loser would go to the nearby mines and support his brother while he attended the academy.Then,when the winner completed his studies,he would support the other brother,either with sales of his art work or,if necessary,by working in the mines.So they tossed a coin.Albrecht Durer won the toss and went to Nuremberg.Albert went to the dangerous mines and financed his brother,whose work at the academy was almost an immediate success,and by graduation,he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his works. When the Durer family held a dinner to celebrate Albrecht's homecoming, Albrecht drank a toast to his brother,"Now,Albert,it is your turn to go to Nuremberg and follow your dream,and I will take care of you." Albert wiped the tears from his cheeks,glanced at the faces he loved,and said softly,"No,brother.It is too late for me.Look....look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been broken at least once,and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast,much 1ess make lines on canvas with a pen or a brush.No,brother ...for me it is too 1ate." Therefore,Albrecht took pains to draw his brother's injured hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward.The entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and named it "The Praying Hands". The artist created the masterpiece "The Praying Hands" <extra_id_0>to show kindness to his poor brother <extra_id_1>to encourage people to realize their dreams <extra_id_2>in praise of his brother's sacrifice and love <extra_id_3>in honor of his brother as a symbol of working people <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Finding summer jobs for teenagers has not always been easy, but now you no longer have to worry about what your kid can do to earn their own money.Recently I found some different sites online that offer information about what kids can do.Below is some of that information, along with questions to think about to help you come up with your own ideas. Ideas for summer work *Parks and Recreation Programs. *Babysitting during the day of school. *Working part-time at a day care for the summer. *Car washing. *Working at local vegetable stands. The easiest way for you to find ways for your child to make money is to think about others' inconveniences .Think of things you need done, or would like to have done, and what you would consider paying for these things to get done.Once you have some ideas, you can sit down with your child and talk to them about what they would be interested in doing.Then once you have an idea of what they want to do you can help them come up with fair prices. Preferably you would want to only have your child working with people you know and trust, or in the least bit you could have your child pick a partner.That way with each of them carrying cell phones, even those without service can call 911, they will be much safer. You can find out more information and many more ideas for kids to use to make money during their summer holidays by visiting http//www.kidswantmoney.com. What can we learn about http//www.kidswant-money.com? <extra_id_0>The author set up the website. <extra_id_1>It gives information about educating children. <extra_id_2>People need to pay to visit the website. <extra_id_3>It offers ideas for children to make money. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>A guy wants to be able to remember the evening. He can be sure that he has a visual and audio backup of the night by <extra_id_0>bringing his camera <extra_id_1>bringing his son <extra_id_2>bringing a drink <extra_id_3>bringing a chair <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>When it's summer in the USA it's winter <extra_id_0>in the southern hemisphere <extra_id_1>in the northern hemisphere <extra_id_2>in the western hemisphere <extra_id_3>in the eastern hemisphere <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>In Asia,there are special competitions where kites have complex designs and are fitted with instruments that make musical sounds as the wind blows through them.Although all kites have a similar structure ,they are widely different in size and shape.Kitefighting competitions are also held,in which competitors use their kites to attack and bring down their opponents' kites or cut their strings . For more than 15 years,the Big Wind Kite Factory has been giving kitemaking and kiteflying classes for the children on an island in Hawaii.In its kitemaking lessons,students can make kites in as little as 20 minutes!Children as young as four years old can learn how to fly a kite.Jonathan Socher and his wife Daphne started the kite factory in 1980.Their kites are made of nylon .Their designs are Hawaiian themes created by Daphne.The designs are cut out of the nylon with a hot knife that seals the edges and then fastened directly onto the kite. The kite that is used to give lessons is a regular diamond kite with a rainbow pattern.The difference between this kite and the ones they make during the lessons is that it is a twostring controllable kite.Big Wind employees fly the kite and for a few minutes show students how pulling on one line and then on the other controls the direction the kite goes in.Then the controls are given to the students. Jonathan insists that it is not necessary to make a huge impressive kite to have fun making and flying kites.Even the simplest structure can work,and can give hours of fun.Go on,give it a try! (2012*,D) Which of the following is TRUE according to the text? <extra_id_0>A hot knife is used to iron the nylon. <extra_id_1>Children never fly kites on their own in flying lessons. <extra_id_2>Kite strings must not be cut in kitefighting competitions. <extra_id_3>Daphne designs kites for the Big Wind Kite Factory. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Bob rode his bike to his house on Monday. He wanted to get home to get some yogurt. On Tuesday, Bob looked over his shoulder and saw Matt. Matt was looking around in the fridge. On Friday, Bob walked on the ice. He fell down. Matt had a saying for such things, but he forgot what it was. Matt played ball with a duck. He did not play ball with a dog, cat, or mouse. On Sunday, Bob wrote a lot down on a piece of paper. Bob wrote a lot about his lip. Bob then walked around. Bob took a look at a pan in the kitchen. Bob then walked around in the vegetable garden. Matt was standing in the garden. Matt asked Bob if he wanted to play. Bob said no. Bob did not want to play with anyone. Matt walked away. Bob went inside. Bob walked into the living room and sat on the couch. What animal did Matt play with? <extra_id_0>cat <extra_id_1>mouse <extra_id_2>dog <extra_id_3>duck <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Sydney Tower Address: 100 Market St, Sydney Phone: 02 93339222 Fax: 02 93339203 Open time: 9:00 am to 10:30 pm (Saturdays to 11:30 pm) Ticket: $ 60 (for an adult) $ 30 (for a child) Website: www. Sydneytower. com. au How to get there: train to Town Hall Station and a short walk along Market Street How to book tickets: by phone / fax or through the Web Attraction: Sydney's best views are just the beginning! Sydney Tower takes you to the highest point above Sydney for exciting 360deg views of our beautiful city. Sydney Tower is _ in Sydney, Australia. <extra_id_0>the busiest street <extra_id_1>the biggest station <extra_id_2>the highest point <extra_id_3>the most beautiful park <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>We let ourselves believe that life will be better once we are married, have a baby, then another. Then we get frustrated because our children are not old enough and that all will be well when they are older. Then we are frustrated because they reach teenage years and we must deal with them. Surely we'll be happier when they grow out of the teen years. We tell ourselves our life will be better when our spouse gets his/her act together, when we have a nicer car, when we can take a vacation, when we finally retire. The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not, then when? Your life will always be full of challenges. It is better to admit as much and to decide to be happy in spite of it all. For the longest time, it seemed that life was about to start--real life. But there were always some obstacles along the way, an ordeal to get through, some work to be finished, some time to be given, a bill to be paid. Then life would start. I finally realized that those obstacles were part of life. Little by little, that point of view also helped me see that there isn't any road to happiness. Happiness is the road. So, enjoy every moment. And keep in mind that _ . So stop waiting for school to end, for a return to school, to lose ten pounds, to gain ten pounds, for work to begin, to get married, for Friday evening, for Sunday morning, waiting for a new car, for your mortgage to be paid off, for spring, for summer, for fall, for winter, for the first or the fifteenth of the month, for your song to be played on the radio, to die, to be reborn... before deciding to be happy. Happiness is a voyage, not a destination. There is no better time to be happy than... NOW! Live and enjoy the moment. The most proper title for the passage should be _ . <extra_id_0>Happiness Is a Frustration <extra_id_1>Happiness Is a Destination <extra_id_2>Happiness Is a Dream <extra_id_3>Happiness is a Process <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Mr Green is an Englishman. He teaches English well His English classes are very interesting. He likes us and we like him, too. Mr Green has two children----Mike and Nancy. Mike is eight and his sister Nancy is five. Mike goes to school but Nancy doesn't. Mr Green likes to wear a T-shirt and a pair of jeans. Football is his favorite sport. After school we often have a basketball match. Sometimes Mr Green watches and joins us. He plays basketball just for us. _ is Mr Green's favorite sport. <extra_id_0>Basketball <extra_id_1>Football <extra_id_2>running <extra_id_3>Volleyball <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>On Friday, Japanese researchers announced a population clock that showed a dangerous situation that the Japanese nation would disappear in 1,000 years if the falling birth rate kept the present level. Researchers in the northern city of Sendai said that Japan's population of children aged up to 14, which now stands at 16.6 million, was falling at the rate of one child per 100 seconds. It would lead to a terrible result that there would be no children left in Japan in 1,000 years. "If the rate keeps falling at that rate in our country, there will only be one child who is able to enjoy the following Children's Day left on May 5th, 3011," said Hiroshi Yoshida, a professor at Toholu University. "But 100 seconds later, a national disaster that there are no children left in Japan will happen," he added, "The nation's people will disappear for the birth rate has fallen to the level that every woman has no more than two children, which started in 1975." Yoshida said they created the population clock to make Japanese people pay close attention to that problem for their nation's future. Another study showed that Japan's population was expected to fall to one third of the present population amount: 127.7 million in the next century. The Japanese government predicted that the birth rate would just become 1.35 children per parents within 50 years. At the same time, Japanese life expectancy which is expected to ascend from 86.93 years in 2010 to 90.93 years in 2060 for women and from 79.64 years to 84.19 years for men has already been one of the highest in the world. More than 20 percent of the Japanese are aged 65 or over. It means that Japan has become one of the countries with aging populations in the world. The problem of aging populations is a headache for the government and the Japanese economy because there are fewer and fewer workers who can make money for the country. However, the government has to face the terrible situation that it needs to offer a growing number of pensions. The passage is probably taken from a _ . <extra_id_0>travel magazine <extra_id_1>science book <extra_id_2>news web <extra_id_3>medical report <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Mr and Mrs Smith had always spent their summer holidays in New Jersey in the past, staying in a small inn at the foot of a hill. One year, however, Mr. Smith made a lot of money in his business, so they decided to go to London and stay at a really good hotel while they went touring around that famous city. They flew to London and arrived at their hotel late one evening. They expected that they would have to go to bed hungry, because in that small inn in New Jersey, no meals were served after seven. They were therefore surprised when the man who received them in the hall asked whether they would take dinner there that night. "Are you still serving dinner?" asked Mr Smith. "Yes, certainly, sir," answered the man. "We serve it until half past nine." "What are the times of meals then?" asked Mr Smith. "Well, sir," answered the man, "We serve breakfast from seven to half past eleven in the morning, lunch from twelve to three in the afternoon, tea from four to five, and dinner from six to half past nine." "But that hardly leaves any time for us to see the sights of London!" said Mrs Smith. Mr and Mrs Smith _ in the past. <extra_id_0>had often stayed in a big hotel in New Jersey <extra_id_1>had traveled to many places <extra_id_2>had often stayed in a small inn <extra_id_3>had made a lot of money <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>It can't be truer that when in Rome do as the Romans do. So it's necessary for you to know what you can talk with the local people in France, Australia and Switzerland, and different customs of these countries. In France You'll find that conversations often turn into heated debates. Give opinions only on subjects that you are knowledgeable about. There is rarely a moment of silence, except when the topic under discussion has been exhausted, and nothing new has been introduced. Food, art, music and current events or history are welcome topics. French believe in freedom, and you can criticize anyone, but not Napoleon, who is a symbol of French spirit and never use the standard. U.S. conversation opener "What do you do". In Australia Australians tend to be enthusiastic debaters. A wide range of topics may be open to discussion, including religion and politics. The best policy, however, is to wait for Australian companions to bring up these two subjects; be prepared to hear their arguments. Sport is a common topic of conversation in Australia and Australians tend to use sporting comparisons. Australians like to criticize themselves, but they can't stand criticism from others. Don't talk big;instead Australians prefer to judge your competence and abilities through your actions. People who show off their education in conversation may be subject to teasing. In Switzerland The Swiss may seem cold. Once you get close to them, however, you'll find that they are honest, responsible people, who will be loyal to your interests. They are good listeners and will remember practically everything you say to them. Sometimes they will even go so far as to take notes while you speak. The Swiss are a very private people, so you should avoid asking personal questions. They can be rather serious, so it is advisable to avoid making jokes on them. What is the best title of the passage? <extra_id_0>Talking in western countries <extra_id_1>How to argue with foreigners <extra_id_2>Things that can't be talked with foreigners <extra_id_3>How to adapt to the life in western countries <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>In tradition education, the teacher may feel that the students are not very grown up. Usually, teachers are older than students, and teachers feel that students are young and do not know much about the world. The teachers feel that they must tell the students what to do most of the time, and that they must also make the students study specific things. In open education, the teacher's methods are very different. These teachers feel that the students are human beings first, and students second. They expect the students to be responsible for the things that they do, just as adults are. A student's ideas and feelings are just as important as the teacher's. The teacher allows the students to decide what they want to do, and does not make them study what they do not want to. The teacher lets them decide what to study and how much to study. It's very important for the teacher to show how he or she feels about students. Which is the topic for the passage? <extra_id_0>Traditional Education <extra_id_1>Open Education <extra_id_2>The Students Are Human Beings First <extra_id_3>Two Kinds of Different Education <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>A cylinder with lenses can even make Uranus appear to be <extra_id_0>farther <extra_id_1>closer <extra_id_2>scaled down <extra_id_3>smaller <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>The last exams finished on Thursday, June 3, although I completed my final one on Monday morning. This allowed several days of rest* after which the seniors had their yearbook signing party, signing yearbooks. Every year US high schools put together yearbooks made up of pictures and words that record the lives of the students. On Friday the seniors had dinner with invited teachers. The dinner was formal, which meant we couldn't wear T-shirts or jeans. Both the food and the conversation were very good. At the end, everyone received a blue Andover Class of 2004 cup as a souvenir. Most of the graduation activities were packed into Commencement Weekend--June 5 and 6. Friends and families of students arrived to see the Senior Talent Show and the Baccalaureate Service in the school hall. Several students, parents and teachers of several religious faiths spoke during the service. Then the lights were turned off and students lit candles held by audience members. I held my candle high, and watched the soft light reach every corner of the hall; it was an almost sacred scene. On Sunday, we had our Commencement, held outside on the lawn . All the girls were required to wear white dresses and the guys black suits. It was only 9 degrees Centigrade and I was freezing cold. There were speeches from the head of school, the president of the board and by a student representative. Then the seniors lined up in a circle, while the head of school handed out the diplomas . Each one was passed around the circle, until it reached its rightful owner. When all the diplomas had been awarded, the circle broke up -- our graduation was complete, The passage is most probably written by _ . <extra_id_0>a teacher of senior grade <extra_id_1>a senior student <extra_id_2>the headmaster of the school <extra_id_3>a junior student <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>The world has indeed become smaller due to the Internet. A freelance writer can easily get a job from the United States, the United Kingdom or even from Japan. He can travel the world in an hour just by surfing the various places in the world for his work using the Internet. Looking at the job offers on the various freelance job boards can be tiring especially if you are a first timer. To do this, you have to use your search engine and type in the terms "freelance work-at-home jobs" or something like that. You will get several sites that offer freelance work-at-home job boards and you should choose the sites that are credible enough. You will know when the site is credible because first of all, they do not ask you to pay them suddenly even before you have found a freelance work-at-home job through their services. Most sites will offer free registration for freelance writers and you can register as long as you have an email address where they can send the confirmation link . Once you have registered successfully then you can start looking for the present freelance work-at-home opportunities and bid on them. But not all freelance work-at-home job boards require bidding. Some job boards will ask you to send your resume and they will contact you if you make the grade. The Internet is a world that is open to a lot of opportunities especially for people who want to work at home. However, the Internet is open to all people who have access to the Internet so you should also be careful in dealing with possible employers who may dupe you into doing something for them without paying you in the end. A freelance writer can easily get a job from any country mainly because of _ . <extra_id_0>the job opportunities available <extra_id_1>his own talents <extra_id_2>the Internet <extra_id_3>the lack of writers around the world <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>I remember reading a story once about a man who found a bag with a lot of clay balls by the seashore. They didn't look like much, but they intrigued (......) the man so he took the bag with him. As he walked along the beach, to pass the time, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could throw. He thought little about it until he dropped one of the balls and it broke open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone . Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him. He had been on the beach for a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have had tens of thousand, but he just threw it all away. You know sometimes, it's like that with people, we look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It isn't always beautiful, so we discount(,) it, we see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or well-known or wealthy. There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees him, then _ Why did the man throw the clay balls into the ocean? <extra_id_0>Because he wanted to exercise. <extra_id_1>Because he wanted to kill time. <extra_id_2>Because the balls were too heavy. <extra_id_3>Because he wanted to show he was rich. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>I realized that I was getting cold, and felt it was probably time to go back to the apartment, so I put my collar up against the wind and began to walk back up the cold street. I managed to get some food from a vendor , and walked on. About twenty-five minutes later I knew that something was wrong. It was getting very, very cold, there were no streetlights, and the hill I was hoping to see on my right was nowhere in sight. There was almost no light except for mysterious red crosses shining from the tops of churches, and I was beginning to get worried. To cut a long story short, I had walked the wrong way from a crossroads, and had wandered miles in the wrong direction. My head was aching from the cold, and I couldn't think straight. Turing around, I started back, and a long time later was outside the house I had set off from. It was at about that time I realized that I had a gate key but no house key. How happy I was when I found that the front door was open--my only piece of good luck that day. My apartment was of course locked, my head felt like it was about to explode, and my hands and feet were freezing. I tried turning the handle. No luck. I tried another key from England. I wanted to avoid waking the family downstairs, so despite the fear of an early death from cold, I couldn't break the door down. What would my hosts think? I pulled an ATM card from my pocket and forced it alongside the inside of the lock. I didn't think it would work, but after fifteen minutes of trying, I heard a click. Another couple of minutes later the door was open. Relieved, I took off my clothes in the dark and got into bed. The purpose of the passage is mainly to _ . <extra_id_0>tell us how difficult it is living abroad <extra_id_1>show us how terrible the weather was <extra_id_2>tell us an unusual experience abroad <extra_id_3>show us how afraid the author was <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Mr Smith gave his wife money every Friday evening. His wife always spent it all the next Wednesday, so that for the next three days she had no money to spend at all. One day Mr Smith asked her, "But how did you spend all that money?" She answered, "I don't know ."So on Friday evening, Mr Smith gave her money together with an exercise book and a pencil. He said to his wife , "Please write down how you spend the money ."Next Tuesday, his wife had no money again. Mr Smith took the exercise book to see how she had spent it. "I have done what you told me,"she said gladly . She had written "Friday, I got 18 pounds from Mr Smith. " on the first page, and on the second page, she wrote , "Tuesday, I have spent it all." Mr. Smith gave his wife money every _ . <extra_id_0>Monday morning <extra_id_1>Friday evening <extra_id_2>Friday morning <extra_id_3>Wednesday afternoon <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>In our old neighborhood, neighbors chatted over fences. Newcomers were welcomed with chocolate and bread. It had been easy to find friends there. Our new community was different. It seemed that family roots grew deep. Deep as the Mississippi river that flowed past the tiny river town. We'd moved to decrease my husband's commute to work. Only thirty miles. After living there for six months, I was ready to move back home. I was lonely for a friend. My three boys were lonely. My husband, Lonny, fared okay, but he spent his days at work. Lonny noticed my sinking disposition. "Shawnelle, you look unapproachable," he said. He and I were sitting in lawn chairs. Samuel, our three-year-old son sat in his own little chair. "What do you mean?" "Body language. You placed our chairs fifteen yards away from everyone else." "It doesn't matter. I'm not going to have friends here. " Just then Samuel looked up. "Mom's right, Dad. And we just want to go home. " That's when I knew that I needed an adjustment. I didn't want my boys to learn that the way to work through a tough time was to use a wounded and bitter attitude. Over the next few months I smiled when I didn't feel like it. We signed up for reading programs at the library and frequented parks and the bike path along the river. One afternoon Samuel and I clambered up the stairs to the library activity room. A woman who I hadn't seen before sat at an oblong table with a tiny boy. "Hi," she said. "I'm Tammy. Do you need a seat? There's one right here." I sat down next to Tammy. Soon class was over, and I still had a lot to say. "Why don't you come over later?" Tammy asked. "I live on a farm. There's plenty of room for the kids to run. " We went. And since that day, we've been back a million times. When I look back, I'm grateful for that tough time. I learned to persevere. I'm glad I didn't give up. And as for my boys, they learned a lesson too. "Keep moving forward," is what I tell them. "Your heart will follow." Shawnelle decided to keep going when _ . <extra_id_0>Tammy encouraged her to join conversations <extra_id_1>Samuel expressed his wish to go back home <extra_id_2>Lonny pointed out the mistakes of her body language <extra_id_3>Tammy invited her to go to her farm <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>The fur color of a bear varies with its environment. Polar bears found in the Arctic have white fur, while black bears found in Pennsylvania have dark fur. Which best describes the variation of fur color amongst the bear species? <extra_id_0>modified characteristic <extra_id_1>ecological succession <extra_id_2>structural adaptation <extra_id_3>selective breeding <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>The Australian continent is a land like no other. Its animals, plants and landscapes have evolved over one thousand years, and there are about a million different natural species in Australia. More than 80 per cent of the country's plants and animals are unique to prefix = st1 /Australia, along with most of the fish and almost half the birds. Australia has more than 140 species of marsupials ,including koalas, wombats and the Tasmanian devil, now found only in the Australian wilderness. More than 750 species of birds have been recorded in Australia, 350 of which are found nowhere else in the world. Among them are the kookaburra, the rainbow lorikeet and fairy penguins. There are also 55 differernt species of macropods--the kangaroo family--native toAustralia. They vary greatly in size and weight, ranging from half a kilogram to 90 kilograms. The country has been making every effort to protect its natural heritage. Despite the large size of the continent, the majority of Australians live on the coast and in major cities--around 75 per cent of Australia's population lives in city areas. Australia is the driest continent on earth. Its center has one of the lowest rainfalls in the world and about three-quarters of the land is dry. These dry areas extend from the large central deserts to the western coast. Soils in these areas are very poor compared to other deserts. This has given Australians a great challenge.They have to make the best use of the variety of regions to meet the competing demands of agriculture, economy and conservation. About_kinds of birds can only be found in Australia. <extra_id_0>140 <extra_id_1>350 <extra_id_2>400 <extra_id_3>750 <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>Almost everyone is afraid of something --- snakes, heights, public speaking and so on. It is normal and can even be helpful to experience fear sometimes. In dangerous situations, fear can keep our bodies alert so that we can act quickly to protect ourselves. But for some people, fear develops into a "phobia", which is a strong and unreasonable fear of something. For example, the majority of us feel a little scared when looking down from a tall building. But people with height phobia may have trouble breathing, feel dizzy or turn down a great job just because the company is on the 20th floor. Phobias can prevent you from living a normal life. "People with spider phobia would stay out of their home or dormitory room for days if they thought a spider was present," Katherina Hauner, a researcher at Northwestern University, US, told ABC news. This is why scientists have been trying to find a cure for this disease. Since fear comes from experience --- from what we are told, what we see others experience and what happens to us --- some scientists think if they can "rewrite" these unpleasant memories, they might be able to help people overcome their phobias. In a study by Hauner and other scientists, participants with spider phobia were asked to first touch a spider with a paintbrush. Seeing that it was not actually dangerous, they then tried touching it while wearing a glove. Finally, they could hold it with their hands. Certain medicine has also been found to be helpful. Back in 2010, researchers at the University of Hiroshima, Japan, injected a special medicine into a fish --- who was afraid of light --- to turn off the fear center in its brain. From then on, the fish no longer feared light. While the search for solutions to phobias is making great progress, it's an open question whether getting rid of fear is good. Some people want to use these methods to make soldiers fight harder in wars by taking away their sense of fear. Dave Smithson of the charity Anxiety UK thinks that's a bad idea. "It's fear that prevents us from doing crazy things," he says. "There's a name for people who don't have fear of consequences: psychopaths . Which of the following would Dave Smithson probably agree with? <extra_id_0>There is nothing to fear except fear itself. <extra_id_1>We should not let fear affect our decisions. <extra_id_2>Fear is not a completely bad thing. <extra_id_3>Without fear, everyone would be brave. <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>_ join us together and set us apart. Today, our society has a terrible lack of values. Here are some social values that everyone needs. Respect Respect means to respect others in everyday life. Even if you are against a person, it is important to have respect. It is this respect that makes us human. Without respect, we become animals. We need to respect our friends for our friendship. We even need to respect our enemies because they help us to grow up and become stronger. Respect is one of the crucial values in a relationship. Love Love is everything. With love in our hearts, we feel no need to hurt another. With love in our hearts, we will pay more attention to the similarities in opinions rather than the disagreement. If we want others to be good to us, we need to be good to them. After all, we give love to get love, right? Loyalty People often ignore the meaning and importance of loyalty. Loyalty is necessary for people to believe in each other. In no matter what kind of friendship, we need to believe in each other so that we can work together towards the same goal. Honesty Honesty is to show other people who we really are. Honesty helps to do better, because it makes us realize our problems and find ways to solve them. It is this honesty that will make others help you out, not because you need it, but because they have problems, too, which you can help out with. This honesty will help us follow the other values in society and truly, "Heal the world!" The best title of the passage can be _ . <extra_id_0>Values We Need For Our Society <extra_id_1>Love & Honesty <extra_id_2>Our Society <extra_id_3>How To Change Our Society <extra_id_4>
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<extra_id_5>In 1909 an English newspaper offered PS 1,000 to the first man to fly across the English Channel in an aeroplane. Today, modern jets cross it in minutes. But at that time it still seemed a good distance. The race to win the money soon became a race between two men. Both were very colourful. One was Louis Bleriot. He owned a factory in France that made motor car lamps. He was already well known as a pilot because he had had accidents several times. Some people laughed at him. One man said, "He may not be the first to fly across the Channel but he will certainly be the first to die in an accident!" But Bleriot was really a good and brave pilot. He also had many good ideas about aeroplane design. The other man was Hubert Latham. He was half French and half English. He took up flying when his doctors told him he had only a year to live. "Oh, well," he said, "if I' m going to die soon, I think I shall have a dangerous and interesting life now." Latham was the first to try the flight across the Channel. Ten kilometres from the French coast, his plane had some trouble. It fell down into the water and began to sink under the water. A boat reached Latham just in time. He was sitting calmly on the wing and was coolly lighting a cigarette. Bleriot took off six days later. He flew into some very bad weather and very low cloud. He somehow got to the English side and landed in a farmer's field. When he did so, a customs officer rushed up to his plane. Planes have changed since then, but customs officers have not. "Have you anything to declare ?" The officer demanded. Why did Hubert Latham want to fly across the Channel? <extra_id_0>He thought he could manage it easily. <extra_id_1>He wanted to be the first one to cross the Channel. <extra_id_2>He knew he only had a year to live. <extra_id_3>He had always been interested in flying. <extra_id_4>
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