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<extra_id_5>It came with devastating force,a natural disaster of strange intensity that shocked the world and killed tens of thousands.The waters have now receded,but disease and food and water shortages trouble a number of countries around the Indian Ocean.Millions of survivors face serious problems. The number of survivors in need of food aid after the Indian Ocean disaster has climbed to 5 million people.They stretch from Somalia to Thailand,and the figure could rise further,the United Nations has said. Relief teams hope to reach all of the estimated 700 000 hungry in Sri Lanka within three more days.It could take longer before enough food aid gets to the nearly 1 million people in need in hard-to-reach parts of Indonesia.Another serious problem is the need for purified water. Although aid had poured in from all over the world to the disaster areas,"Logistics is the big problem here--just getting the stuff out to people who need it,"said Ron Libby,emergency management specialist at the USA agency for International Development. Relief efforts are hindered by the difficulty of delivering aid to the more than 1000 islands scattered across hundreds of kilometers of ocean. For those who survived the tsunami's force,disease is now the No.1 problem.Five million people are short of water,food and basic sanitation across the region.World Health Organization(WHO) crisis chief David Navarro said 50 000 more people could die from disease and other causes,as has been the case in previous humanitarian emergencies. WHO said it had already received a handful of reports of malaria and dengue fever and hundreds of reports of diarrhea and infected wounds.It said millions of water purification tablets had been sent to Asia,along with sanitation engineers to rebuild water sanitation infrastructure. Psychologists are warning that mental health problems caused by the tsunami could prove harder to resolve than the physical damage. Some survivors say they are plagued by recurring nightmares about walls of water.Many locals are afraid to return to beachside homes.Officials also warn that suicide rates could rise dramatically as parents struggle with guilt at losing children. Psychologists estimate that 20 to 30 per cent of people who face traumatic events eventually develop symptoms,such as alcohol abuse,lack of concentration at work and an inability to develop close relationships. Although the Thai Government has offered to build temporary beachside housing,many refugee families are refusing to come down from the hills.Others are afraid to go back to jobs on the sea. Over 150 000 people were killed by the tsunami,but hundreds and thousands more have been left with no means to earn a living. In the village of Akirapettai in India,all that is left is the twisted wreckage of the fishing fleet.Dakshina Murti,a fisherman,not only lost three family members,but also lost his boats,his nets,everything. "Everything's gone,"he says.With no government aid so far,all he has is a wreck.There are several million people who suffered the same experience.Homes have been destroyed,as well as wharves,docks,and sheds. For now,rebuilding the economy remains a distant concept. According to what the United Nations has said,the number of survivors in need of food aid after the disaster _ .
<extra_id_0>is not more than 5 million
<extra_id_1>is less than 5 million
<extra_id_2>has reached 5 million
<extra_id_3>won't reach 5 million
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<extra_id_5>Now I would like to talk to you about your final exam. The exam will be held next Thursday, the last day of the exam week. Remember to bring two or three pens in case they run out of ink. Unlike the midterm exam, this test will not include multiple-choice questions, it will contain entirely of essays . You will have to answer three of the five essay questions. The exam will be comprehensive , which means you will have to go over all of the subject matters we learnt in class this term. I would suggest you review your midterm exam as well as textbooks and your class notes. The research project will count as 20% and the midterm exam 30%. I will be in my office almost all day next Tuesday. If you run into any problems, please drop in. Good luck to you and I will see you on Tuesday. Why does the teacher call the exam comprehensive?
<extra_id_0>It will be easy to understand.
<extra_id_1>It will cover topics from a variety of subjects.
<extra_id_2>Students must finish it by themselves.
<extra_id_3>Students must complete all parts of it.
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<extra_id_5>A Korean wave is sweeping across China, with many Chinese women worshiping South Korean actors Kin Soo-hyun and Lee Min-ho as demigods . Chinese netizens always have different opinions. Over South Korean TV dramas, but there is no doubt that programs from the neighboring country are now enjoying a new round of popularity in China, And a big part of the credit for that goes to You Who Came From The Star, the South Korean TV series which is on the air now. You Who Came From The Star and The Heirs have been subjects of hot online discussions throughout Asia. Besides, the book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, read by the hero You Who Came From The Star was a hard-to-get item on Amazon for a while. The two TV programs have several common elements :a tall, handsome, and rich hero who loves the heroine blindly and always protects her, and an equally handsome man madly in love with the same woman. Both programs describe the purity of love, which is expressed through a kiss or a warm hug. Perhaps that's the secret of their success; perhaps people still like Cinderella-type stories. The widening wealth gap is a matter of social concern both in South Korea and China, and the challenges that young people face in their hope for a better life might have caused many ordinary girls to dream of marrying rich, caring men. This is precisely what the popular South Korean TV drams describe. _ Many netizens even said at an earlier time that South Korean TV dramas had become popular because of their stereotyped themes: traffic accidents, cancer and other incurable diseases. But all that has changed with the success of You Who Came From The Star and The Heirs, which Chinese directors can use as examples, as well as inspiration, to improve their productions. What is the main reason for a new round of popularity in China?
<extra_id_0>The dramas are from the neighboring country North Korea.
<extra_id_1>Most of the Chinese netizens have voted for them.
<extra_id_2>The actors in the dramas are all gods.
<extra_id_3>It is because of You Who Came From The Star.
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<extra_id_5>For most of the 20th century, Asia asked itself what it could learn from the modern, innovating West. Now the question must be reversed. What can the West's overly indebted and sluggish nations learn from a flourishing Asia? Just a few decades ago, Asia's two giants were stagnating under faulty economic ideologies. However, once China began embracing free-market reforms in the 1980s, followed by India in the 1990s, both countries achieved rapid growth. Crucially, as they opened up their markets, they balanced market economy with sensible government direction. As the Indian economist Amartya Sen has wisely said, "The invisible hand of the market has often relied heavily on the visible hand of government." Contrast this middle path with America and Europe, which have each gone ideologically over-board in their own ways. Since the 1980s, America has been increasingly clinging to the ideology of uncontrolled free markets and dismissing the role of government---following Ronald Regan's idea that "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. "Of course, when the markets came crashing down in 2007, it was decisive government intervention that saved the day. Despite this fact, many Americans are still strongly opposed to "big government." If Americans could only free themselves from their antigovernment doctrine(,), they would begin to see that the America's problems are not insoluble. A few sensible federal measures could put the country back on the right path. A simple consumption tax of, say, 5% would significantly reduce the country's huge government deficit without damaging productivity. A small gasoline tax would help free America from its dependence on oil imports and create motivations for green energy development. In the same way, a significant reduction of wasteful agricultural subsidies could also lower the deficit. But in order to take advantage of these common-sense solutions, Americans will have to put aside their own attachment to the idea of smaller government and less regulation. American politicians will have to develop the courage to follow what is taught in all American public-policy schools: that there are good taxes and bad taxes. Asian countries have embraced this wisdom, and have built sound long-term fiscal policies as a result. Meanwhile, Europe has fallen prey to a different ideological trap: the belief that European governments would always have infinite resources and could continue borrowing as if there were no tomorrow. Unlike the Americans, who felt that the markets knew best, the Europeans failed to expect how the markets would react to their endless borrowing. Today, the European Union is creating a $580 billion fund to prevent sovereign collapse. This will buy the EU time, but it will not solve the bloc's larger problem. What's the problem with the European Union?
<extra_id_0>Lack of resources
<extra_id_1>Excessive borrowing.
<extra_id_2>Conservative ideology.
<extra_id_3>Shrinking market.
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<extra_id_5>Fossil records indicate that Earth was first inhabited by bacteria-like organisms. These organisms
<extra_id_0>were single-celled.
<extra_id_1>had organ systems.
<extra_id_2>were multi-cellular.
<extra_id_3>had small appendages.
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<extra_id_5>A Notice of Delnor Hospital (the "Hospital") THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED ( ) If you have any questions about this notice, please contact: The ASIFlex Privacy Office PO BOX 6044 Columnbia MO 65205- 0858 We understand that medical information about you and your health is personal. We are committed to protecting your medical information. We create a record of the care and services you receive at the Hospital. We need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice explains the ways in which we may use and disclose medical information about you. We also describe your rights and certain obligation( ) we have regarding the use and disclosure of medical information. HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU The following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose your medical information. Not every use or disclosure in every category is listed. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories. For Treatment. We may use your medical information to provide you with medical treatment or services. We may disclose your medical information to doctors, nurses and technicians. In addition, the doctor may need to tell the dietician if you have diabetes so that we may arrange appropriate meals. Different departments within the Hospital also may share your medical information. For Payment. We may use and disclose your medical information so that the treatment and services you receive at the Hospital may be billed and payment may be collected from you, an insurance company or a third party. We also may tell your health plan about a treatment you are going to receive to obtain prior approval or to determine whether your plan will cover the treatment. For Health Care Operations. We may use and disclose your medical information for the Hospital operations purposes. These uses and disclosures are necessary to run the Hospital and to make sure that all of our patients receive quality care. We also may combine your medical information with those of many Hospital patients to determine whether additional services should be offered, what services are no longer needed and whether certain new treatments are effective. From the notice, we can learn _ may read your medical information.
<extra_id_0>doctors
<extra_id_1>nurses
<extra_id_2>dietician
<extra_id_3>all above
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<extra_id_5>Each summer,you hear news that some sports players are sent to hospitals because it is too hot. Our bodies can't be outside in the sun for a long time. So in hot summers,be careful about playing sports outside. Firstly,to play sports safely in hot weather,you must drink water. Sports drinks are great for athletes,but they have so much sugar that they'll dehydrate you more. However,drinking a few bottles of sports drinks will be good for you. Secondly,be sure to take enough breaks to let your body rest. If your coach doesn't let you take enough breaks in the heat,don't wait until you feel uncomfortable. Just be honest with your coach when you need breaks. Thirdly,when you have a break,don't sit in the sun. With the sun beating down on you,you'll only heat up and sweat more. Take a seat under a tree,or even better,go indoors for a little while. Cooling yourself down can help you stay active longer. Fourthly,remember that the earlier in the day you start your exercise,the cooler it will be. If you can start practice before the sun comes up,you have a few good hours to practise in the cool hours of the morning. Also,the earlier you practise,the earlier you can finish the exercise. If you need more practice time,come back to the field later in the evening,when the sun is setting. Last but not least,you should watch what you eat. Eat food which is high in water,starch and carbonhydrate ,but be sure to get a good balance in your diet. As long as you pay attention to the above,playing sports safely in the heat isn't a difficult thing. How many pieces of advice are mentioned in the passage?
<extra_id_0>Three
<extra_id_1>Four
<extra_id_2>Five
<extra_id_3>Six
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<extra_id_5>As a kid, I read a story of a bird. It described a male bird which takes a lot of pain to build a house and the female bird takes care of the baby in it. When the baby bird learns to fly, the whole family flies off to a different place leaving behind the beautiful nest for other birds to grow their family in it. It made me confused : How could they so easily give up their house built with so much effort? One night, I got this dream. I was walking on the endless road with beautiful trees on the either side. Attracted by the greenery, I went on, then I saw a wonderful house. I explored the house. There was a sloping roof which matched with the greenery around; the large central open yard reminded me of the activities that might have taken place there which felt lively even now. The small water body that kept the house cool added to the beauty of the house -- of course, it was all dried up now. Such liveliness turns the house into a home. People say "THE HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS", and now I felt it and was attracted deeply. When I woke up from the dream, I was clear about everything. I realized what message my dream wanted to convey me. And years later, when I chose my career, I thought of the story of the bird and my dream, then I was sure what to do. I decided to choose _ as my career. I wanted to do the same thing that the male bird in the story did, to take pain in building a beautiful house and let others stay in it. My dream comes true and the happiness that I gain now from this career is great. When the writer read the story of the bird, he felt _ .
<extra_id_0>bored
<extra_id_1>confused
<extra_id_2>amazed
<extra_id_3>worried
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<extra_id_5>Jake wanted to eat an orange. He liked fruit, and the only fruits in the house were apples, which he didn't like, oranges, and strawberries, which made him itchy. But his mother had put oranges on top of the refrigerator. Jake couldn't reach the top of the refrigerator. He got the stool that he used to reach things in the cupboards. But the stool wasn't tall enough on its own. He thought if he stood on the edge of the kitchen sink he could reach the oranges. (The kitchen sink was right next to the refrigerator). So he used the stool to get up to the edge of the sink, and then he stood on the edge of the sink to get the oranges. He took one out of the bag and then put the bag back on top of the refrigerator. Then he used the stool to climb back down again with his orange. He sat at the kitchen table, peeled the orange, and ate it. Then he took all of the pieces of orange peel and threw them away in the yard waste. What does Jake do with the orange once he has it?
<extra_id_0>Puts it back on top of the refrigerator
<extra_id_1>Throws it away in the yard waste
<extra_id_2>Puts it in the sink
<extra_id_3>Eats it
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<extra_id_5>Considered one of Europe's two "bicycle capitals" along with Amsterdam, Copenhagen counts more bicycles than people and cycling is so popular that its numerous bike paths can become crowded. Two-wheeler traffic jams are especially regular on the main Noerrebrogade road used by around 36,000 cyclists a day. "You have to elbow your way in to go forward and some cyclists aren't always thoughtful," complains 22-year-old university student Lea Bresell. The creation of bike highways "comes right on time", says Danish Cyclist Federation Spokesman Frits Bredal. "Copenhagen's roads are overloaded with people who want to ride their bicycles in all kinds of weather," he says. "If in the 1960s Danes viewed the car as the symbol of freedom, the bicycles have supposed that role today," Bredal says. "It's a _ of transportation used by all social classes, even politicians ride bikes," he says. It is on crowded Noerrebrogade--the busiest bicycle street in Europe, according to the cyclist association--that city planners have decided to build the first of Copenhagen's environmentally friendly roads. The jammed bike paths will be widened up to four metres on either side of the road, which itself will be reserved for bikes only. The idea is to make Noerrebrogade "Europe's great cycling street", says Andreas Roehl, Copenhagen government's bicycle program manager who is also known as "Mr. Bike". But Roehl is not content with making life easier for Copenhagen's inner-city cyclists: He wants to get suburbanites out of their cars and onto two wheels as well. His goal is to hike the percentage of suburban commuters cycling to and from the city from the 37 percent it is today to 50 percent by 2015. Which of the following is NOTincluded in Andreas Roehl's plan?
<extra_id_0>The former jammed bike paths will be widened.
<extra_id_1>Noerrebrogade is to be made "Europe's great cycling street".
<extra_id_2>All commuters will be pushed to leave their cars at home.
<extra_id_3>More suburbanites will be got out of their cars and onto two wheels.
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<extra_id_5>There are over one million superstitions , and most people believe at least one or two of them. Many people are superstitious about numbers. They think that there are lucky numbers and unlucky numbers. The number 13 is often considered unlucky. In some parts of the world, buildings have no 13th floor and streets have no houses with the number 13. In Japan, "4" is considered unlucky because in Japanese the word "four" is pronounced the same as the word "death" . Japanese never give gifts of four knives, four napkins, or four of anything. What are the lucky numbers? Seven is a lucky number in many places, and "8" is considered a lucky number in Japan and China. In China, businesses often open on August 8, and many couples register to get married at eight past eight on August 8. Superstitions about numbers are so widespread that some people--called numerologist--make a living by giving advice about numbers. In 1937, when the Toyoda family of Japan wanted to form a car company, they asked a numerologist if "Toyoda" would be a good name for the company. The numerologist said it would not be. He explained that "Toyota" would be a better name for the company. The family took his advice. As a result, millions of people drive "Toyota" and not "Toyoda" . There are many other kinds of superstitions. There are superstitions about eating, sleeping, sneezing and itching . There are superstitions about animals and holidays and horseshoes. There are even superstitions about superstitions. Those superstitions will tell people how to reverse bad luck. When the Japanese bump heads, they immediately bump heads again. According to a Japanese superstition, the first-bump means their parents will die, but the second bump "erases" the first bump To reverse bad luck in general, people turn around three times, turn their pockets inside out, or put their hats on backwards. In the United States, baseball players sometimes wear their caps backwards when their team is losing. It looks silly, but the baseball players do not mind if it helps them win the game. If a Japanese purposely bumps his head again after an accidental bump, we can be sure that .
<extra_id_0>he is mad
<extra_id_1>he is happy
<extra_id_2>he is superstitious
<extra_id_3>he is very sad
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<extra_id_5>As people in China celebrated Singles' Day on November 11, the media eagerly discussed why so many marriageable young people fail to find their other half. While single people in China are pitied, their counterparts in some Western countries feel they are being discriminated against. In the US, where more than a quarter of all households consists of one person, single people often pay more insurance than married people. They don't get the same tax breaks and they seldom get promoted at work. There seems to be a bad name attached to their status - somehow their personality is flawed and therefore they are not to be trusted. Activities have created the term "singlism" to describe discrimination against unmarried people. It means stereotyping , stigmatizing and discrimination against those who are single. Globally, the number of people living alone is skyrocketing. Many people are at peace with being single and some even choose to remain single. But why are so many of us worried about singledom? Michael Cobb, professor of English at the University of Toronto in Canada, says that pop culture is to blame for people's fear of singledom. His book Single: Arguments for the Uncoupled is a critical examination of singleness in favor of the couple, making singletons one of the most despised sexual minorities in Western countries. In pop culture, singles are viewed as immature, whereas fully adults are able to form relationships and live meaningful lives. The overall message is clear: go ahead and be yourself, but if you want real happiness, make sure you get coupled up. You may get that idea from US comedy series Sex and the City and the most recent Girls, or UK's Bridge Jones' Diary. From the passage, we can learn that _ .
<extra_id_0>single people are always pitied in the world.
<extra_id_1>all the singles are worried about singledom.
<extra_id_2>single people can share equality with other people.
<extra_id_3>single people in some Western countries are treated unfairly.
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<extra_id_5>Every year landslides cause 25 to 50 deaths and $2 billion in damage in the United States. And in December, a single _ killed more than 2000 people in the Philippines. Sending workers to stabilize mountainsides using steel bars can help a lot, but it introduces new difficulties because of dust and loosen heavy, dangerous debris from the work. "It's a quite dangerous job," says Giorgio Pezzuto of D' Appolonia, working with eight other companies. Now there may be an answer: a three-ton robot called Roboclimber. "The idea is to operate a machine far away that can do the stabilizing job without a human being near,"says Pezzuto, manager for the project, which is supported by a European organization. Engineers say that the machine will be faster and cheaper than manual labor. The robot, a large radio-controlled four-legged spider, has cost at least $2 million so far. It should be able to climb mountainsides, drill holes and insert steel bars there. Testing should begin in May. The biggest advantage of this product is that _
<extra_id_0>it will be faster and cheaper than manual labor
<extra_id_1>it can climb mountainsides, drill holes and insert steel bars there.
<extra_id_2>it can do the stabilizing job without human beings near
<extra_id_3>it is like a spider
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<extra_id_5>The Beginning of the Civil Rights Movement In 1955,bus seats for African Americans and whites were separated in parts of the U.S.. On December 1,1955,in the city of Montgomery,Alabama,a conflict,or disagreement,started when an African American woman named Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white man and go to the back of the bus. The police took 42yearold Parks to jail. The African American community was extremely angry. They had a meeting and decided to work together to protest discrimination. They agreed to boycott the buses on the day that Parks went to court. The day was a success. Empty buses drove through the streets. The city lost money. The community decided to continue the boycott. They elected a man named Martin Luther King,Jr. to be the leader. The boycott continued. It was difficult for African Americans to get to work without buses,but they didn't stop the boycott. The city continued to lose money. Finally,the U.S. Supreme Court decided that Montgomery's bus laws were unfair and gave the African American community equal right. On December 21,1956,the bus boycott ended. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. The movement eventually led to the Civil Rights Act in 1964,a set of laws that made discrimination a crime. During the Montgomery Bus Boycott,people worked together to change the government. Today,people in the U.S. continue to work together for a change. Now hundreds of organizations and community groups work to protect the rights of U.S. citizens and residents. How long did the boycott continue?
<extra_id_0>Less than a year.
<extra_id_1>Less than a month.
<extra_id_2>More than a year.
<extra_id_3>More than a month.
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<extra_id_5>The people who live after you will appreciate it if you take your glass bottles and
<extra_id_0>throw them
<extra_id_1>break them
<extra_id_2>reuse them
<extra_id_3>shatter them
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<extra_id_5>The invention of the telescope allowed which of the following to take place?
<extra_id_0>the discovery of cells
<extra_id_1>the identification of weather patterns
<extra_id_2>detailed observation of planets
<extra_id_3>communication between distant cities
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<extra_id_5>The International Olympic Committee named a short list of five cities as possible hosts for the 2012 Olympics. The five--London, Madrid, Moscow, New York and Paris--became official candidates, beginning a 14-month race that ended with the selection of a winning bid by the IOC's assembly in Singapore in July 2005. Havana, Leipzig, Rio de Janeiro and prefix = st1 /Istanbulwere the victims in 2004, as the field was cut down from nine applicants. Geography would appear to favor a European city after the 2008 Summer Games in Asia--Beijing and the 2010 Winter Games in North America--Vancouver. IOC president Jacques Rogge said the list could be further cut in the next month if any of the bidding cities fall short of IOC expectations. "What we have done today is retain five cities which we believe will deliver, but we will have to check if they do deliver," said Rogge. "I do not like the word 'rejection' and this in no way reflects that we do not trust these countries. " The nine original competitors launched their bids in January, 2004 with the emphasis on agreement and easily accessible venues . Favorites Paris and London promoted the attractions of their landmarks, Madrid promised an environmentally friendly Games while New Yorkcalled itself the "world city". Paris bid organizers said they would stage beach volleyball at the foot of the EiffelTowerand host many of the events at two clusters on the edge of the French capital. "Our experience with previous bids has taught us a great deal about the needs and aspirations of the IOC," Parisbid chief Philippe Baudillon said. "We firmly believe thatPariswill meet those needs." London organizers countered it by promising to hold the beach volleyball competition in Horse Guards Parade. Seventeen sports, including athletics and swimming, would be staged at a new venue in the city's deprived East End. "I am very pleased that Londonhas been named a candidate city for the 2012 Olympic Games. But I am not surprised we have cleared this most important hurdle," British Prime Minister Tony Blair said in a statement. How did Tony Blair feel about Londonbeing named a candidate city for the next Olympic Games?
<extra_id_0>Happy and surprised.
<extra_id_1>Disappointed but hopeful.
<extra_id_2>Excited and impatient.
<extra_id_3>Happy and unsurprised.
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<extra_id_5>Scientists have created a way to control a robot with signals from human brain.By generating the proper brainwaves--picked up by a cap with electrodes that sense the signals and reflect a person's instructions--scientists can instruct a humanoid robot to move to specific locations and pick up certain objects. The commands are limited to moving forward,picking up one of two objects and bringing it to one of two locations.The researchers have achieved 94 percent accuracy between the thought commands and the robot's movements. "This is really a proofofconcept demonstration," said Rajesh Rao,a researcher from the University of Washington who leads the project."It suggests that one day we might be able to use semiautonomous robots for such jobs as helping disabled people or performing routine tasks in a person's home." The person wearing the electrode cap watches the robot's movements on a computer screen through two cameras installed on and above the robot. When the robot's cameras see the objects that are to be picked up they pass on the information to the user's computer screen.Each object lights up randomly on the computer screen.When a person wants something picked up and it happens to light up,the brain registers surprise and sends this brain activity to the computer and then to the robot.The robot then proceeds to pick up the object. A similar algorithm is used to decide where the robot will go. "One of the important things about this demonstration is that we're using a 'noisy' brain signal to control the robot," Rao said."That means we can only obtain brain signals indirectly from sensors on the surface of the head,not where they are generated deep in the brain.As a result,the user can only generate highlevel commands such as indicating which object to pick up or which location to go to,and the robot needs to be autonomous enough to be able to execute such commands." In the future,the researchers hope to make the robots more adaptive to the environment by having them carry out more complex commands. What Rao said suggests that the new robot _ .
<extra_id_0>is still at its early stage of development
<extra_id_1>will be widely used in our daily routine soon
<extra_id_2>is autonomous enough to complete complex commands
<extra_id_3>is only limited to doing routine work at home
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<extra_id_5>Some time ago, a friend working in a part of the city I did not know very well, invited me to visit him. It took me hours to get there and I drove round and round looking for a place to park my car. At last I found a place in a back street. As I was already half an hour late, I parked my car quickly and hurried off on foot. Making my way rapidly along the street, I could not help thinking that it was much easier to walk than to drive. At noon, I left my friend's office. It suddenly stuck me that I had no idea where I had parked my car. Walking down street after street, I examined each car closely and was greatly relaxed to see a small green car just behind an old truck. But how _ I was to discover that though the car was very much like my own, it belonged to someone else. Quite tired now, I was ready to give up the search when I turned the corner. I nearly jumped with joy: my car was just in front of me ! When he left his friend's office, what happened to him?
<extra_id_0>He wanted to go back.
<extra_id_1>He didn't know where he had parked his car.
<extra_id_2>He had a telephone call.
<extra_id_3>He found his car.
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<extra_id_5>A student is investigating which type of soil is best for growing tomato plants from seeds. The student plants four tomato seeds in each of three different containers of soil. Which step of the procedure would help the student get the most reliable results?
<extra_id_0>Place one container in a dark room.
<extra_id_1>Use different types of tomato seeds.
<extra_id_2>Change only the soil type in each container.
<extra_id_3>Water each container with a different amount of water.
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<extra_id_5>We need a logo that will be the perfect symbol of our new Wheelsville Skate Park. We would like those of you who are _ until the opening of the park to design a proper logo. LOGO REQUIREMENTS #Designs must be original and easy to recognize. #They should include no more than two colors in addition to black and white. #Artwork should be reproducible at different sizes from business cards to posters. #The words " Wheelsville Skate Park" must appear in the logo. SUBMISSION DETAILS #Competitors are required to be 18 years old or younger. #There is no limit to the number of submissions. #The name and address of the designer must appear on the back of the logo design. #Competitors need to include a one-page written explanation describing the key features of the design. #All submissions sent to Wheelsville Skate Park will not be returned. #All works must be sent to skateman4x@comlink.com no later than May 15. #Files should be .jpg, .gif, .png, .pict, or Photoshop files. #The winning design will be posted on our website at www.wheelsville.skatepark.com on May 20, one week before the opening celebration. PRIZES #First Prize: Digital camera, one-year pass to Wheelsville Skate Park, and two T-shirts with the prize-winning logo. #Second Prize: Six-month pass to Wheelsville Skate Park and a T-shirt with the prize-winning logo. #Honorable Mention: One free ticket to Wheelsville Skate Park and a T-shirt with the prize-winning logo to two competitors from grades 6-8, and two from grades 9-12. JUDGES #Among the judges are a professional designer, two technology teachers, four local skaters, and three members of Wheelsville Skate Park Board of Directors. #The judges' decisions are final. As the top winner of the activity, you may _ .
<extra_id_0>win a camera and a free ticket to the park
<extra_id_1>get a T-shirt with your own photo on it
<extra_id_2>visit the park free of charge for one year
<extra_id_3>receive a half-a-year pass to the park
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<extra_id_5>There is a student from China in our class. He is very good at his lessons, but he is also very shy. He doesn't talk too much with us because he thinks that there are so many differences. When he came into our classroom for the first time, he was so frightened that he cried out. That's because of our appearances. For example, his hair is short, black and straight, but ours are all different from his. Jim's hair is yellow and much longer than his. Dave's hair is curly and brown. Kitty's hair is blonde. Our builds and clothes seem to be strange in his eyes,too. Peter is a boy. He is tall and thin, but he wears a colorful T-shirt. Why did the student cry out when he came into our classroom for the first time?
<extra_id_0>Because he is Chinese.
<extra_id_1>Because he didn't like to be a student of our class.
<extra_id_2>Because our appearances frightened him too much.
<extra_id_3>Because he was ill.
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<extra_id_5>It is reported that today in China, 50% of people who write blogs do so as a personal diary and 83% use their blogs for sending messages to friends. It is also found that there is a strong East-West difference. In places like the US, blogs that offer information on news attract more readers but in China, blogs are more likely to be about sharing personal feelings. It seems that bloggers can be divided into three types: IT bloggers, bloggers who record their ordinary feelings and media bloggers. When blogging first started, the IT people had the technological advantage and they took the chance to put their thoughts on the web. Some of these IT people read their blogs. The next wave of bloggers did not have any training as writes or in IT and wrote about normal daily life. Media bloggers, however, are trained writers, such as journalists and editors. When the many media bloggers showed up, the everyday blogs lost most of their readers. Media bloggers have the advantage of knowing how to communicate well through the written word. However, the normal bloggers are still out there and increasing in number. It seems that blogging is the new way to express your feelings. People feel like the world is listening to, or rather reading, their problems, even if they are not . What is the writer's tone?
<extra_id_0>Humorous and light-hearted.
<extra_id_1>Serious and factual.
<extra_id_2>Conversational.
<extra_id_3>Informal.
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<extra_id_5>Bill Fulton doesn't remember losing his wallet, but its return helped him remember the past. The leather stayed smooth and the cowboy design unblemished . And when he looked inside, the contents brought back memories from 1946, when he apparently dropped the wallet behind the balcony bleachers in the Baker Middle School gym. Fulton's Social Security Card and bicycle license, bearing the address where he lived during his teenage years, were positioned in their respective compartments, apparently untouched since the year after World War Il ended. Worker Nathan Osborne found the wallet -- along with old homework, lost library books and a 1964 talent show program -- while removing the bleachers for renovations on June 17. It was brought to Fulton's door the following day by Melanie Trindle, the Baker Middle School secretary. Middle School Principal Mindi Vaughan said the brown pine bleachers were connected to the gym balcony's brick wall and had remained in the same place since the school, known as the Helen M. Stack Building, opened in 1936. Fulton, 78, said he probably lost the wallet while cheering for the Baker High basketball team with a group of friends. Fulton said the bicycle ID was needed because he delivered medicine for Rodamar Drug. He was surprised, however, that his bicycle ID wasn't inside. He said he always kept it there. But rather than focus on what was inside the wallet, Fulton said the recovery has led him to reflect on his life -- one that took him to the Korean War and Berlin before the return to Baker City. He worked at Ellingson Lumber Company for 30 years, from March 1964 to April 1994. Since his retirement, Fulton has enjoyed spending time with his 11-year-old black dog, Smokey. The two often hike the nearby mountains. Trindle's knock on the door, wallet in hand, induced a slight ripple in his life, prompting him to consider the times he hadn't thought about in many years. "Where did all the times go?" Fulton said with a deep sigh. "It' s hard to believe that the times have gone so fast." When the wallet was found, it _ .
<extra_id_0>was still in good condition
<extra_id_1>was a little damaged
<extra_id_2>had just lost color1
<extra_id_3>was just repaired
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<extra_id_5>Long-time exposure to air pollution can lead to physical changes in the brain and cause trouble in learning and memory, and even anxiety. This is suggested by the results of new research on mice. While other studies have shown the harmful effects of polluted air in the lungs and heart, this is the first to show the negative effect on the brain. The team of Laura Fonken, Randy Nelson , from the Ohio State University, the USA, has spread to the brain a previous line of research which found that fine particulate matter floating in the air mainly because of air pollution caused by humans, causes swelling in much of the body, and may be related to high blood pressure problems, and some other diseases. In the research Fonken and his colleagues exposed mice to polluted air for six hours each day, five days a week, over a period of 10 months, almost half the average life length of mice. Polluted air contains fine particles created by cars, factories and natural dust. Fine particles of this kind are tiny, about 2.5 micrometers in diameter , or about one-thirtieth the width of a human hair. These particles can go deep into lungs and other organs. The concentration of this particulate material to which they exposed mice is equal to the concentration at which people can be exposed in some polluted urban areas. After a period of 10 months, the researchers got the animals to have a series of behavioral tests. Both the behavior of mice and the results of neurological tests done to them show that those within the polluted air had more problems in learning and memory, and higher levels of anxiety. The results suggest that long-time exposure to polluted air can have measurable negative effects on the human brain and can cause a variety of mental health problems. This could have important consequences for those living and working in polluted urban areas. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?
<extra_id_0>Long-time Exposure to Air Pollution
<extra_id_1>Evidence and Concern of Air Pollution
<extra_id_2>Measurable Effect on Human Brain
<extra_id_3>Mental Problems Caused by Air Pollution
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<extra_id_5>When I had something difficult to do, I used to ask my mum for help. But she always said, "Do it yourself, dear." I was not happy about this at all. I thought she was the laziest mother in the world! For example, one day, some of my friends would come to my home. My bedroom was really untidy. Books were all over the floor, and I didn't make the bed. So I asked my mum to help me clean it, but she still said, "Do it yourself, my daughter." Because of my "lazy mum", I have to wash my clothes and clean my room. I have to help my parents do housework. I even have to go to hospital by myself. It is very hard to do everything well on my own, but I have learnt a lot. As time goes by, I come to understand my mum. She makes me clever and hard-working. How great she is! A good mother is worth 100 teachers! Don't you think so? According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
<extra_id_0>She tidies up her books and makes the bed.
<extra_id_1>She washes her clothes and cleans her room.
<extra_id_2>She often helps her parents do housework.
<extra_id_3>Her mother always takes her to hospital when she feels uncomfortable.
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<extra_id_5>You can improve your child's hearing memory considerably . Once his hearing memory has been greatly improved, he'll be able to use and remember what he listens to in class. The success of these suggestions depends upon your ability to use your child's natural desire to get involved in games he finds simple and fun. A good way to begin is to read aloud a sentence from a book suitable for your child's reading age. Then ask your youngster to repeat the sentence back to you correctly. Next, reread the sentence, leaving out a particular word. See if your child can identify the word you left out. At the beginning use only simple sentences. Gradually, increase the length of the sentences. Make sure you don't rush things along too quickly, or your child may become discouraged and tired of the game. Take your child shopping with you often. He's to remember a list of items you want to buy in the supermarket. First , ask him to remember only a few things. Then, as he shows increased ability to remember, make the list longer and longer. Praise him often and warmly when he shows increased ability to remember things. He'll become proud of his 'good' memory and will happily play the game. Encourage your child to learn easy and short poems. As his ability to do this becomes stronger, encourage him to remember longer poems. Do the same with songs. The last sentence 'Do the same with songs' means you should encourage your child to learn and remember _ .
<extra_id_0>songs in the same way as he does with poems.
<extra_id_1>poems in the same way as he does with songs
<extra_id_2>the poems and songs which are similar in meaning
<extra_id_3>those songs that have the same meaning as poems
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<extra_id_5>China Science and Technology Museum was opened to the public in September 1988. But the second project was completed in May 2000. Its main task is to spread knowledge of science and technology among the public. The activities of China Science and Technology Museum include popular science exhibitions, Astro-vision film shows, training education programs and experiment exhibition programs. The museum has an area of 40,000 square metres, of which 16,000 square metres is for exhibition halls. The Astro-vision Theatre is one of the museum's major attractions and also one of the largest Astro-vision theatres in the world. It makes visitors feel they are in actual events rather than see a film. Many great science activities are often held at the museum, and the museum wants to be an important window to the world. Which is NOT true according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>It's a national museum of science and technology.
<extra_id_1>It's a window of Chinese new science and technology to the world.
<extra_id_2>Exhibition halls of the museum have an area of 40,000 square metres.
<extra_id_3>The museum has a large Astro-vision theatre.
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<extra_id_5>I'm pretty sure everyone wants to visit Europe at least once in their lifetime. Here's a list of the most amazing places to visit in Europe. Riviera Wow, this is such a beautiful place in Italy. The Cinque Terre is a very beautiful national park, which connects five beautiful villages. Walking paths connect the villages, follow the coastline and offer hikes through hills. The villages remain unaffected by tourism. Tuscany Another Italian region, Tuscany is simply attractive. The buildings there are amazing, and the culture is special. From the historical center of Florence to the Cathedral of Pisa, it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Make sure you check out the nature reserves, and enjoy a few bottles of the very famous wine. Lauterbrunnen Since a school trip here, I've always wanted to revisit this city in Switzerland. The city always seems as if it's trapped in time. There are untouched fountains and springs everywhere, and a huge number of waterfalls and valleys. The area is very popular for skiing. The Greek Islands There are plenty of places to visit in Greece. But I love the Greek Islands best. White houses and beautiful churches, beaches and Aegean Sea make this a very popular place to visit. However, there is more to do here than just sunbathe. I cannot wait to go back and check out the caves and culture that make the Greek Islands one of the best places in Europe. Venice I am a big Italy lover, and Venice is another city that is not to be missed. It has its own share of history, art and attractive buildings. However, the attraction comes from the pedestrian -- only streets and rivers filled with boats. According to the passage, people who are interested in waterfalls and valleys would most probably go to _ .
<extra_id_0>Riviera
<extra_id_1>Tuscany
<extra_id_2>Lauterbrunnen
<extra_id_3>the Greek Islands
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<extra_id_5>HOTEL INFORMATION 3800 W. Commercial, Ft. Lauderdale, FL33309 Lowest Prices 110% Guaranteed . Room Information: Rooms are equipped with Double, Queen, or King bed (s) .smoking or non-smoking based on location and availability. Provided in each guest room is a hairdryer, coffee maker, iron, ironing board and cable TV. Check-in Time: 7:00 P. M. Hotel Amenities : Air Conditioner, Parking, 24 Hour Front Desk, Pool, Television with Cable, Coffee Maker in Room, Hairdryers Available. 625N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd, Ft. Lauderdale. FL 33304 Room Information: The oceanfront accommodations at Beach Plaza Hotel are some of the most affordable on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Each room has direct-dial telephone, cable television and daily maid service. Full kitchens available! All rooms surround the private poolside garden courtyard. Check-in Time: 7:05 P. M. Hotel Amenities: Air Conditioner, Coffee Maker in Room, 24 Hour Front Desk, Free Parking, Hairdryers Available, Pool, Television with Cable. w.w.^w.k.&s.5*u.c.#om 3711N. Ocean Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308 Room Information: Guest rooms include TVs, in-room movies, Internet access, in-room safes, alarm clock radios, hairdryers, refrigerators, microwaves and balconies. Check-in Time: 7:00 A. M. Hotel Amenities: Parking, Heated Pool, Cable TV and Coffee Maker in Room. Which hotel gives a promise?
<extra_id_0>Fort Lauderdale Plaza Hotel
<extra_id_1>Beach Plaza Hotel
<extra_id_2>Baymont Hotel
<extra_id_3>All the three hotels
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<extra_id_5>Humans are naturally drawn to other life forms and the worlds outside of our own. We take delight in the existence of creatures and even whole societies beyond our everyday lives. This sense of wonder is universal. Look at the efforts that scientists have made to find out whether life of some kind exists on Mars, and the popularity of fantasy literature or movies like The Lord of the Rings. This sense of wonder draws us to each other, to the world around us, and to the world of make-believe, but have we gone so far in creating worlds of fantasy that we are missing the pleasure of other worlds that already exist all around us? Human beings, as biologists have suggested, possess an inborn desire to connect with and understand other life forms. However, people, especially in big cities, often lead rather isolated lives. In a study of British schoolchildren, it was found that children by age eight were much more familiar with characters from television shows and video games than common wildlife. Without modem technology, a small pond could be an amazing world filled with strange and beautiful plants, insects, birds, and animals. When we lack meaningful interaction with the world around us, and sometimes even with our families and friends, we seek to understand and communicate with things that exist only in our imaginations or on a computer screen. The world of make-believe is not necessarily bad, but when the world of fantasy becomes the only outlet for our sense of wonder, then we are really missing something. We are missing a connection with the living world. Other wonderful worlds exist all around us. But even more interesting is that if we look closely enough,we can see that these worlds, in a broad sense ,are really part of our own. What is the main purpose of the passage?
<extra_id_0>To show us the hidden beauty in our world.
<extra_id_1>To warn us not to get lost in the fantasy world.
<extra_id_2>To argue against the misuse of the sense of wonder.
<extra_id_3>To discuss the influence of the world of make-believe.
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<extra_id_5>English Teacher Needed We are one of the biggest English Teacher agency in China, we refer lots of foreign teacher/employee to university or company daily.We provide this service to teacher for free. What you need to do is log on our website www.languageteaching.com.cn and register, we will put your resume on Chinese website except contact details.There are thousand potential clients who will view your information daily, once they choose you we will contact with you.For any more details you also can send email to admin@languageteaching.com.cn Part Time English Tutor wanted We are looking for a part time English teacher, the teacher should come from U.S.A, Canada, UK, New Zealand or Australia.We would like to have 2 lessons a week, 2 hours each lesson.Please send me your Resume with photo if you are interested, email: admin@languageteaching.com.cn Private English Tutor Wanted Senior Chinese manager is looking for a one-on-one English tutor for several hours per week.He would like to learn British pronunciation, so UK nationals will be preferred.Tutors should be fairly flexible to suit his busy schedule and be of professional appearance.Pay is to be discussed directly and will be very high for the right candidate.Teaching experience is not a must. If interested, please send an email with your background information, pay expectations and a recent picture to dhanyatk@hotmail.com. _ - Teacher/Librarian! We are a small Kindergarten to Grade 6 international school in Beijing.We need a teacher/ librarian.The teacher we are looking for will: - Be a Chinese /English speaking librarian. Qualifications Be self-starters, active team players, Have a positive attitude and love to work with kids Provide an exciting and innovative library program to students. If you meet the above qualifications, please send your CV and a current picture to principalinchina@yahoo.com . According to the first advertisement, we can learn that _ .
<extra_id_0>English Teacher agency charges teacher for this service
<extra_id_1>you must go online to offer your basic information first
<extra_id_2>you may call to get more information about the job
<extra_id_3>once you call the English Teacher agency, you will get a job
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<extra_id_5>President Obama: I want to welcome Vice President Xi to the Oval Office and welcome him to the United States. This is obviously a great opportunity for us to build on the U. S.-China relationship, but also an opportunity to return the extraordinary hospitality that Vice President Xi showed Vice President Biden during his recent visit to China. As I indicated during my recent visit to APEC and the East Asia Summit, the United States is a Pacific nation. And we are very interested and very focused on continuing to strengthen our relationships, to enhance our trade and our commerce, and make sure that we are a strong and effective partner with the Asia Pacific region. And obviously, in order to do that, it is absolutely vital that we have a strong relationship with China. So, Mr. Vice President, I hope you have a wonderful visit while you're here. I'm sure the American people welcome you. I'm glad that you're going to get an opportunity to get out of Washington. I know you'll be visiting Lowa, which you visited many years ago when you were governor. And I understand you're also going to Los Angeles and maybe even taking in a Lakers basketball game. So I hope you enjoy that very much. I want to extend my deepest welcome to you, and look forward to a future of improved dialogue and increased cooperation in the years to come. Which istrueaccording to the passage?
<extra_id_0>Biden once paid a visit to China before this talk.
<extra_id_1>Obama didn't attend APEC or the East Asia Summit recently.
<extra_id_2>Biden and Xi Jinping are holding the talk in the Oval Office of the White House.
<extra_id_3>The talk is being held between China and the USA in the Oval Office of New York.
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<extra_id_5>It's over three years since I began to learn English. I'm glad that I am getting on well with it. I find English quite difficult, but very interesting. When I first started, I thought I had only to remember the new words and learn some grammar I knew little about English idioms .I thought each English word had the same meaning in Chinese. When I learn to say"I see a book on the desk," I thought the English word "see " was just like the Chinese word " kan ",So one day when my teacher asked me," what are you doing?", I answered, "I'm seeing a book." "That's wrong ." the teacher said, "you don't see a book, You read a book. You can't use English word like a Chinese one.. Be sure not to make the same mistake again." After that I began to pay more attention to the differences between Chinese and English. For example, in English we say a" high mountain", but a" tall man. " In Chinese we use the same word "gao " for both.. Again in English we say" take part in the sports meeting ", " attend the meeting " and" join the army," while in Chinese we can use "can jia " for all three. Interesting ,isn't? So to study English doesn't only mean hard wok, it can be great fun, too! We not only have to pay attention to pronunciation, grammar spelling and handwriting, we also have to understand English idioms. We can learn English well only in the way! But all this is only a beginning and I still have a long way to go. I'll try my best and work even harder than before. I must speak and listen to English more both in and out of class. I must learn English well so that I can work well when I grow up. When I first started English I _ .
<extra_id_0>knew more English words
<extra_id_1>knew more English idioms
<extra_id_2>used an English word like a Chinese one
<extra_id_3>found English easy and interesting
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<extra_id_5>Having good etiquette at the workplace is very important to be a favorite in an office.However,it's observed that many people aren't aware of the workplace etiquette and this creates a very bad impression in the office.So it's important to know some workplace etiquette tips. Among all the workplace etiquette guidelines,the most important is to be punctual to your office.Though going late due to an emergency is okay,habitual late comers are never appreciated in any organization.By arriving at your office on time,you show that you're aware of your responsibilities and have respect for the organization.In case you feel that you would be late,call the concerned authority and report the matter to him or her. Also,a proper knowledge of the workplace email etiquette is a must.In the official emails,you need to mention the subject concisely,while at the same time include all the important details which are to be shared.You should use good and grammatically correct language while writing emails. A knowledge of telephone etiquette in the workplace is very important as well.While talking on the telephone,be polite and listen to what they're saying carefully.Only then should you say what you feel.Speak in a voice which would be heard clearly at the other end. The workplace guidelines are important even while you're dining or celebrating with your coworkers.If you get a call in between,receive it after you're permitted by the others by saying "excuse me".Don't talk loudly while eating.Greet people well and try to make them feel comfortable while being in your company. These guidelines will help you become the best employee of a company.All the best! In the writer's opinion,workplace etiquette _ .
<extra_id_0>is easy to master
<extra_id_1>is considered important by all employees
<extra_id_2>can be helpful in doing your work well
<extra_id_3>will bring you good luck and good salaries
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<extra_id_5>A green roof is a roof of a building that is covered with vegetation over a waterproof membrane . It is a proper method of growing plants on the roof and does not refer to the mere green color of the roof. People benefit a lot from these green roofing systems, and they are gaining popularity day by day. Human beings have occupied major areas of land and transformed them into huge buildings, which has severely affected the environment and the natural habitat of bird and insects. Green roofing compensates for that. It creates a natural habitat for creatures like bees, grasshoppers and other insects. Modern roofs need a lot of energy to control the temperatures in winter and summer. However, green roofs reduce the amount of energy required for controlling temperatures, thus making them energy-efficient. As green roofing is highly energy-efficient, it can act as a encouragement for people who are interested in green roofing systems and their benefits. It will increase the market value of the building and fetch the owner a great share of profit. As the vegetation requires a water supply, there is a inbuilt water preservation layer in the green roof system. This layer helps to keep the rainwater. It makes full use of the rainwater and prevents wastage. During heavy rains, the water runs off the flat roof. The green roof prevents this overflow by slowing down the volume of running water. Green roofs can compensate for the lost greenery in urban areas and increase the artistic value of an area. Your building will look beautiful, coated with green vegetation. Green roofs can serve as local community garden and create a natural atmosphere, giving physical and psychological benefits like reducing stress levels in people and keeping them physically fit. Besides, people can start their own small-scale cultivation and experience the pleasure of gardening. What do we know about a green roof?
<extra_id_0>It is painted green for a specific purpose
<extra_id_1>It uses solar energy to produce electricity
<extra_id_2>it is designed for kids to enjoy themselves
<extra_id_3>it is covered with grass, flowers or other plants
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<extra_id_5>Does money buy happiness? Not! Ah, but would a little more money make us a little happier? Many of us smirk(,) and nod. There is, we believe, some connection between financial fitness and emotional fulfillment. Three in four American college students--nearly double the 1970 proportion-- now consider it "very important" or "essential" that they become "very well off financially". Money matters. But a surprising fact of life is that in countries where nearly everyone can afford life's necessities, increasing wealth matters surprisingly little. The connection between income and happiness is "surprisingly weak," observed University of Michigan researcher Ronald Inglehart in one 16-nation study of 170,000 people. Once comfortable, more money provides diminishing returns . The second piece of pie, or the second $100,000, never tastes as good as the first. Even lottery winners and the Forbes' 100 wealthiest Americans surveyed by University of Illinois psychologist Ed Diener have expressed only slightly greater happiness than the average American. Making it big brings temporary joy. But in the long run wealth is like health: its complete absence can create suffering, but having it doesn't guarantee happiness. Happiness seems less a matter of getting what we want than of wanting what we have. Has our happiness, however, floated upward with the rising economic tide? Are we happier today than in 1940s, when two out of five homes lacked a shower or tub? Actually, we are not. Since 1957, the number of Americans who say they are "very happy" has declined from 35 to 32 percent. Meanwhile, the divorce rate has doubled, the teen suicide rate has increased nearly three times, the violent crime rate has gone up nearly four times, and depression has mushroomed. Economic growth has provided no boost to human morale. When it comes to psychological well being, it is not the economy. I call this soaring wealth and shrinking spirit "the American paradox." More than ever, we have big houses and broken homes, high incomes and low confidence, secured rights and reduced civility. We are good at making a living but often fail at making a life. We celebrate our prosperity but long for a purpose. We treasure our freedoms but long for connection. In an age of plenty, we feel spiritual hunger. The things that happened after 1957 are given to show that _ .
<extra_id_0>people's spiritual needs cannot be fulfilled by wealth
<extra_id_1>family problems become more and more serious
<extra_id_2>young people are not happy about their life
<extra_id_3>social crimes have increased significantly
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<extra_id_5>Forbes asked a panel of architects and campus designers to nominate their picks for the best-looking campuses in the world. These are their top choices. Kenyon College Gambier, Ohio, US Mike Evans, a principal at Norfolk, Va., design firm Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas + Company, says to be beautiful a campus must have a "signature campus space as a carrier of the campus brand." At Kenyon College, that space is "Middle Path," a 10-foot-wide footpath that serves as the Gothic hilltop campus' central artery. More than just a trail, it's a village green for the tight-knit campus community. Sergei Lobanov-Rostovsky, who teaches 17th-century poetry at Kenyon, says the college, both isolated and pastoral, is "a small place to think big thoughts." Oxford University Oxford, England Teaching within Oxford's stone walls dates as far back as the 11th century, and the school is considered a paradigm for all college campuses. With its labyrinth of quads, cloisters, and archways, it evokes elegance and tradition at every turn. "Its monastic roots and the spectacular quality of its buildings make it an architectural wonderland," says David Mayernik, associate professor at Notre Dame's School of Architecture. Princeton University Princeton, N.J., US Princeton's style is pure Collegiate Gothic ; most of it executed in gray stone covered in, yes, ivy. As imposing as these old stone structures are, the campus keeps life on a "human scale" by preserving green spaces and walkability.Sinuous footpaths, archways, plazas - all are designed to inspire spontaneous discussion and learning. Scripps College Claremont, Calif., US The total plan of this women's college, founded in the 1920's, has always called for artistic connection between buildings and landscape. Together, architect Gordon Kaufmann, in collaboration with landscape architect Edward Huntsman-Trout, created a distinctively Southern Californian blend of Mission Revival-inspired architecture and landscape, which is lovely, evocative and intact. An expert in deciduous trees, Trout planted rows of liquid amber trees to give the students "a sense of autumn" come fall. He also peppered the campus with tulip trees, sycamores, almond and orange trees, as well as rare shrubs. Stanford University Palo Alto, Calif., US New additions like the Science and Engineering Quad manage to gracefully blend modern and technological elements with the timeless, elegant aesthetics of the campus' early California Mission Revival architecture. The campus also scores big points for its dramatic entrance via Palm Drive, its romantic Spanish red-tile roofs and myriad patches of green. Tsinghua University Beijing, China Forbe's panel of architects says natural setting plays a big part in assessing a campus' beauty. In that regard, this campus is blessed: Founded in 1925, Tsinghua sits on the former site of the Qing Dynasty's royal gardens. Many of Beijing's most notable historical sites, like the Summer Palace, are close by. The campus is peppered with artificial ponds where stone benches and floating lotus blossoms inspire reflection. Why does Tsinghua University enter the list of the best-looking campuses in the world?
<extra_id_0>because the amber trees give the students "a sense of autumn" come fall.
<extra_id_1>because the artistic connects between buildings and landscape.
<extra_id_2>because its natural setting plays a big part.
<extra_id_3>because it is founded in 1925.
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<extra_id_5>In a room at Texas Children Cancer Center in Houston, eight-year-old Simran Jatar lay in bed with a drip above her to fight her bone cancer. Over her bald head, she wore a pink hat that matched her clothes. But the third grader's cheery dressing didn't mask her pain and weary eyes. Then a visitor showed up. "Do you want to write a song?" asked Anita Kruse, 49, rolling a cart equipped with an electronic keyboard, a microphone and speakers. Simran stared. "Have you ever written a poem?" Anita Kruse continued. "Well, yes," Simran said. Within minutes, Simran was reading her poem into the microphone. "Some bird soaring through the sky," she said softly. "Imagination in its head..." Anita Kruse added piano music, a few warbling (, ) birds, and finally the girl's voice. Thirty minutes later, she presented Simran with a CD of her first recorded song. That was the beginning of Anita Kruse's project, Purple Songs Can Fly, one that has helped more than 125 young patients write and record songs. As a composer and pianist who had performed at the hospital, Kruse said that the idea of how she could help "came in one flash". The effect on the kids has been great. One teenage girl, curling in pain in her wheelchair, stood unaided to dance to a hip-hop song she had written. A 12-year-old boy with Hodgkin's disease who rarely spoke surprised his doctors with a song he calledI Can Make It. "My time with the kids is heartbreaking because of the severity of their illnesses," says Anita Kruse. "But they also make you happy, when the children are smiling, excited to share their CD with their families." Simran is now an active sixth grader and cancer-free. From time to time, she and her mother listen to her song,Always Remembering, and they always remember the "really sweet and nice and loving" lady who gave them a shining moment in the dark hour. What is probably the best title for the passage?
<extra_id_0>Purple Songs Can Fly
<extra_id_1>Singing Can Improve Health
<extra_id_2>A Shining Moment in Life
<extra_id_3>A Kind Woman--Anita Kruse
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<extra_id_5>Minimalism is a term that describes movements in various forms of art and design, especially visual art and music, where the work is reduced to its most basic features. As for me, minimalism functions well not in art or design, but in my daily life. When I was packing for university, I found it extremely difficult to let go of some of the things I owned. I knew I couldn't take everything with me, but I kept asking myself "how could I possibly throw this away?", "what if I need it one day?", and "what about all of the memories?" Now that I've moved, and left that stuff behind, I don't even miss it. Whether or not I got rid of it, it barely makes a bit of difference to me now. I've learned that over time people forget, or their need for a particular object eventually disappears. Either they store it away or they get rid of it. You might think nostalgically about the toys you cared about when you were a child, but what is making you smile now is not the thing itself but the memory of it. 1've heard it a hundred times, "you don't need things to make you happy." It takes something life-changing like moving across the country to realize how true this is. Speaking of which, for a lot of people, minimalism is about able to move. It's about being able to go almost anywhere at any time because you don't have many possessions to carry. When you keep things you don't need they become a burden that ties you to a place. Moving to university was a good time to let go of a lot of stuff. And when I visit for the holidays, I'll probably get rid of even more, to lighten the burden. _ There are some things that are irreplaceable, very rare or expensive or we simply love and cherish for some reason or another, since we are humans. But after we keep those, how much is left that we don't really need? Hence, minimalism. And why does minimalism bring happiness? That was a bit of a roundabout way of saying that, it's because what really makes me happy is freedom. And the key to freedom is minimalism because minimalism reduces our attachment to things. Attachment to too many objects creates a great mess and can severely hold back our freedom to do whatever we want, while minimalism helps us start new projects, move, travel, learn new things, work, expand, be debt-free, be healthy - really living life to our full potential. I left the nest to fly onwards and upwards, I can't do it with old things weighing me down. And that is why I have adopted minimalism with open arms. By saying "there are exceptions", the writer means _
<extra_id_0>little is left if we keep what we cherish most in our life
<extra_id_1>minimalism should be practised accordingly in different situations
<extra_id_2>minimalism is a method difficult to employ in reality
<extra_id_3>life is full of exceptions so it's difficult to preserve what we value
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<extra_id_5>Music for Little Mozarts is a programme designed to help your little ones develop a love of music. Learning music at an early age helps develop minds and expand cognitive ability. While listening to music can certainly help your youngster pick up songs, actually learning to play the piano can help your child's development. This programme focuses on little creatures that both entertain and teach. By grasping the attention of a young child's mind and engaging them with stories along with hands on experience, you can provide them with a positive experience that may produce a little Mozart in later years. Within this multi-book and multi-year lesson plan there are ten little characters that help draw the child into the lesson plan. These little creatures actually can be used to help the child grasp basic concepts in music. The series starts out in the preschool years and provides day by day lessons that can aid the child or a classroom of children right through early adolescence . The series is designed for both classroom and preschool use and for those at home with homeschoolers. It contains a series of books along with audio CD's, flash cards, and other visual aids that can help very young children develop an ear and an eye for music. It can be hard to hold the attention spans of children for very long. However, with the right creativity and the proper attention along with simple, easy to master daily lessons, most children will not only grasp music rather quickly, they will also develop a love of real music, not just banging on a piano keyboard and making sounds. The short, daily lessons are planned out so that children learn to play music by ear. They learn to play real songs and master real passages quickly and easily. This element keeps them involved. They also master playing by ear and then later by reading rather quickly. We can infer that this programme was developed for_.
<extra_id_0>children's attention spans in mind
<extra_id_1>children's intelligence spans
<extra_id_2>preschool children's interest
<extra_id_3>school children's music ability
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<extra_id_5>In which of the following cases is Morrow most likely to be convicted if she is charged with receiving stolen property?
<extra_id_0>Morrow bought a car from Aster, who operates a used car lot. Before the purchase, Aster told Morrow that the car had been stolen, which was true. Unknown to Morrow, Aster is an undercover police agent who is operating the lot in cooperation with the police in exchange for leniency in connection with criminal charges pending against him.
<extra_id_1>Morrow bought a car from Ball. Before the purchase, Ball told Morrow that the car was stolen. Ball had stolen the car with the help of Eames, who, unknown to Morrow or Ball, was an undercover police agent who feigned cooperation with Ball in the theft of the car.
<extra_id_2>Morrow bought a car from Cooper. Before the purchase, Cooper told Morrow that the car was stolen. Unknown to Morrow, Cooper had stolen the car from a parking lot and had been caught by the police as he was driving it away. He agreed to cooperate with the police and carry through with his prearranged sale of the car to Morrow.
<extra_id_3>Morrow bought a car from Dixon. Before the purchase, Dixon told Morrow that the car was stolen. Unknown to Morrow, Dixon was in fact the owner of the car but had reported it to the police as stolen and had collected on a fraudulent claim of its theft from his insurance company.
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<extra_id_5>One evening Mr. Green is driving his car in the country and looking for a small hotel. When he sees an old man on the side of the road, Mr. Green stops his car and says to the old man, 'I want to go to the Sun Hotel. Do you know how to get there?' 'Yes, of course,' the old man answers, 'I will show you the way. Please let me sit in your car. I can go with you and tell you where to turn.' He gets in Mr. Green's car. They drive about twelve miles . When they come to a small house, the old man says, 'Stop here.' Mr. Green stops his car and says, 'But this isn't a hotel.' 'No,' the old man answers. 'This is my house. Thank you very much for driving me home. And I'll show you the way to the Sun Hotel. Turn around and go back nine miles. Then you will get to the hotel.' Mr. Green asks _ how to get to the Sun Hotel.
<extra_id_0>a young man
<extra_id_1>an old woman
<extra_id_2>a child
<extra_id_3>an old man
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<extra_id_5>Wild elephants live in herds of 10 to about 50. The leader is usually a female. A herd can go through a forest quietly. It travels in a single line. It goes about 6 miles an hour. When frightened, it may run at about 25 miles an hour. When they reach water, elephants swim across. They are great swimmers. Elephants eat grass, leaves, small branches, and bark. They particularly like the tender leaves on the top of trees. How do they get these leaves? They use their heads to knock trees down. They can easily knock down a 30-foot tree. Elephants also eat berries, mangoes, coconuts, corn, and sugar cane. They love salt. A wild male adult eats 500 to 600 pounds of food a day. Many people want to find the graveyards of elephants. There is a strong belief that such graveyards exist. Here is why. Bones and tusks of dead elephants have almost never been found. Searches have been made in forests. Grassy plains have been searched too. But neither bones nor tusks are found. Elephants don't live forever. Where are their bones? They don't just bury themselves. Here is one belief. When an elephant gets sick or old, it instinctively knows death is near. It leaves the herd. It goes off to a secret graveyard. The place is known only to elephants, and perhaps other animals, but not to humans. Obviously, such a graveyard would be filled with tusks. These were once very valuable. The objective of explorers was to find this "gold" mine. This graveyard belief may be a truth or a myth. But it is romantic. It would be nice if it were true. An elephant usually travels at a speed of _ per hour.
<extra_id_0>around 6 miles
<extra_id_1>around 25 miles
<extra_id_2>no more than 6 miles
<extra_id_3>more than 25 miles
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<extra_id_5>If your mother told you to eat carrots so you'd be able to see in the dark, she was right. It turns out that feeding kids carrots is just one of a number of things to keep eyes healthy. Other things include regular eye exams, and sunglasses or hats are also very helpful, experts say. While eye disease is sometimes hereditary , some are still preventable , said Dr. Ron Weber, an Atlanta-based ophthalmologist. For example, nearsightedness, "not only has a genetic component but is also influenced by how kids use their eyes during childhood," he told Reuters Health by phone. He said that extended close work, such as reading, has long been thought to cause nearsightedness. Recent support has come from a study in which people with a higher level of education were more likely to have nearsightedness, because they spend more time reading or working on computers. Another study showed that children who spend more time outdoors are less likely to become nearsighted. But these findings don't mean kids should be stopped from reading or working on the computer. Instead, Weber suggests, make sure a child's environment is bright enough while they are doing close work. Parents should also help kids get into the habit of holding their reading material at the perfect distance - about 18 to 22 inches, he said. Finally, taking a break every five minutes or so, to let the eyes relax and focus on an object in the distance, will also help. One of the most important things a parent can do to help _ eye disease and vision problems is to make sure their child gets regular eye exams, beginning early in life. "The majority of vision problems in children are preventable and treatable," said Dr. Ida Chung. Which can be the BEST title for this passage?
<extra_id_0>Eating carrots
<extra_id_1>Eye disease
<extra_id_2>How to keep eyes healthy
<extra_id_3>The importance of eye health.
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<extra_id_5>Mr. and Mrs. Brown were going abroad for their holiday. They had a lovely dog called Blackie, but they could not take it abroad with them, so they had to look for a good place to leave it while they were away, and at last they found a place which looked after dogs very well while their owners were away. They left Blackie there just before they started for their holiday. At the end of their holiday, they came back to Sydney very late at night, and as they thought that the place where Blackie was staying might be closed at that late hour, they decided to wait until the next morning. So the next morning Mr. Brown got into his car and drove off happily to meet Blackie. When he got home with the dog, he said to his wife, "Do you know, dear, I don't think Blackie enjoyed his stay at that place very much. He barked(,) all the way home in the car as if he wanted to tell me something." Mrs. Brown looked at the dog carefully and then answered, "You are quite right, dear. He was certainly trying to tell you something. But he wasn't trying to tell you that he hadn't enjoyed his stay at that place. He was only trying to tell you that you were bringing the wrong dog home." Mr. and Mrs. Brown stayed _ before they went to get Blackie back.
<extra_id_0>at home
<extra_id_1>in the car
<extra_id_2>outside the house
<extra_id_3>in the open air
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<extra_id_5>1Have you ever wondered what goes through your mind when you choose where to sit in a new classroom? Or in a waiting room full of strangers? Or on a bus? Researchers have found out some interesting facts. 2Girls sit by girls and boys sit by boys.Adults sit together and young people choose another young person to sit near.But it goes further than this.We even choose to sit near someone who looks like us.People with glasses are more likely to sit near other people with glasses.People with long hair sit closer to other people with long hair. 3We seem to believe that people with similar habits or hobbies will share similar experiences and we are more likely to be accepted by people like ourselves, or even, we think we may be safer with people who look like us.Sometimes that' s true but it's a pity if we always stay with the same people, the same group.The danger in always staying in our comfort zone is that we just recycle the same opinions, the same tastes and the same ideas.We lose the chance to learn something new, find out interesting things, hear funny stories and discover differences. 4When we always stay with the same people, how can we break down the barriers which prevent us from getting to know people with different ideas? And how can we avoid the ignorance ? If you want to live in a society that opens to changes, new things and different opinions, be the cat among the pigeons . 5Move out of your comfort zone.Go and sit next to someone different.And don't just sit there in silence.Say hello.Ask a question.Start a conversation.That's how we make friends.That's how we learn about people.That's how we open our minds to new ideas.That's how we live an exciting life. The sentence "Unsurprisingly, we prefer to sit closer to people like ourselves." should be put at the beginning of _ .
<extra_id_0>Paragraph 1
<extra_id_1>Paragraph 2
<extra_id_2>Paragraph 3
<extra_id_3>Paragraph 4
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<extra_id_5>Five years ago, Rachel Lopez graduated from college with a degree in history. Today she works for a large software company. Now twenty-seven, Rachel takes classes twice a week after work. She is learning to use the computer program PowerPoint. "I enjoyed college, but my job doesn't use information I learned when I was doing my degree," Rachel says," This course is helping me to do my job better. In the future, I might go back to school and got an MBA. " In the past, when students graduated from college and got a job, they usually stopped studying. Today, lifelong learning is becoming more common. In the United Stated, people can return to school in their late twenties, thirties, or older to get a higher degree, such as a master's or Ph. D. Like Rachel many more are taking training courses to improve their workplace skills. With many classes now available through the Internet, it is easier for people to get degrees or training by distance learning. Mayumi Hosoya, who is forty, teaches Japanese at a community college in New York. "Next term, I'll be teaching some of my classes using the Internet. This is new for me," says Mayumi, "At the moment, I am taking a course to learn how to teach this way. " At the same time, Mayumi's seventy-year-old mother and father are taking a distance learning course in Art History. "We love the subject," says Mayumi's father, "and now we can study with people from all over the world. I never thought learning could be this much fun. " We know from the reading that _ .
<extra_id_0>many people go to school to take teaching courses
<extra_id_1>Rachel graduated when she was twenty
<extra_id_2>Mayumi's teaching how to use the Internet now
<extra_id_3>many students stopped studying when looking for jobs
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<extra_id_5>Mitchell and his brother, Graham are biking to the store to buy lemons. They want to make a lemonade stand for their friends. In order to do this, they need to buy lemons, sugar, and cups from the store. While they are at the store, they run into their friends Jimmy and Justin. Jimmy and Justin are also brothers. Mitchell and Graham stop to talk to their friends for a bit before they go back to their shopping. After filling up their basket with the items they need to make lemonade, they go to the front of the store to pay. Once they get home, they start making lemonade and set out their table by the sidewalk. They talk to a few of their neighbors as they walk buy and some of them buy some lemonade. After sitting outside for some time, they think about making a sign to let the neighbors know that they have lemonade for sale. Mitchell gets the markers and Graham gets the sign. They work together to make the sign. After putting the sign in front of the table, they find people want much more lemonade. Later Jimmy and Justin stop by and buy some lemonade. Mitchell and Graham talk to their friends about things that Jimmy and Justin would need to do to make their own stand. After their friends leave, Mitchell and Graham count their money and choose to split the money. Each of the boys put the money in their piggy banks. Where did Mitchell and Graham see their friends first?
<extra_id_0>On the way to the store
<extra_id_1>At their house
<extra_id_2>The store
<extra_id_3>The lemonade stand
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<extra_id_5>Joe Brown had a shop. He sold meat in his shop. One Thursday a woman came into his shop at five to one. "I'm sorry I'm late," she said. "I need some more meat for my dinner tonight." Joe had only one piece of meat in his shop. He took it out of the fridge and said, "This is$6.50." "That piece is too small." the woman said, "haven't you for anything bigger?" Joe went into the room behind his shop, put the piece of meat into the fridge, took it out of again and closed the door with lots of noise. Then he brought the piece of meat to the woman and said, "This piece of meat is bigger and more expensive. It's $8.75." "Good," the woman said with a smile, "give me both of them." Why didn't the woman want that piece of meat?
<extra_id_0>Because she had no money.
<extra_id_1>Because it was bad.
<extra_id_2>Because it wasn't big enough.
<extra_id_3>Because it was too big
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<extra_id_5>You can't see any object unless light from that object gets into your eyes.Some of the things you see give off light of their own. The sun,the stars,a lighted lamp are the examples that can be seen by their own light.But most of the things you see are not giving off light of their own.They are just reflecting light that falls on them from the sun or some other luminous bodies.The moon,for example,doesn't give off any light of its own.It is not 1uminous.You see it because sunlight falls on it and some of the sunlight reflects on the earth.So moonlight is only second--hand sunlight. When you look at a book,it sends some of the light which fails on it to your eyes,and you see the book.If light could be kept out from where you're so that there would be no light from the book to reflect.Then you couldn't see the book even with your eyes wide open.Light travels so fast that the time in which it travels from the book you're reading to your eyes is as short as if there were no time at time.Light reaches us from the moon,which is about 380,000 kilometres away,in only a little more than a second. Light travels about _ kilometers per second.
<extra_id_0>300,000
<extra_id_1>100,000
<extra_id_2>400,000
<extra_id_3>190,000
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<extra_id_5>A rich man was ill in hospital, and the doctor feared that his life was ending soon. He called together his three sons and gave them the challenge, 'One of you will get all my money. To decide which of you can get the money, I am going to give each of you a dollar. Go today and buy something that can fill this room." In the evening, they all came back. Child number one went to his friend's farm and bought two bales of hay with the dollar. He brought the hay and threw it up into the air. But it couldn't fill the room. Child number two went to a shop and bought two pillows made with feathers . He then opened them and threw the feathers all over the room. All the feathers settled down on the floor and the room was still not filled. The third son took out a candle and said, "I bought a box of matches and a candle then I gave the rest to a charity." He lit the candle and turned off the lights, and the room was filled. " Well done, my son. You will get all my money because you understand a very important lesson about life. You understand how to let your light shine. That is good." said the father. Child number two _ .
<extra_id_0>asked his father for help
<extra_id_1>bought nothing
<extra_id_2>gave the money to charity
<extra_id_3>got feathers in a shop
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<extra_id_5>An old farmer lived with his little grandson. Every day the farmer got up early to read books. One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I want to read books just like you, but I don't understand them. What are the advantages of reading?" The grandfather said, "Take this litter basket to the river and bring me back a basket of water." he boy did, but all the water _ before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, " You'll have to walk faster next time." This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. The boy said, " See Grandpa, it's useless!" So you think it is useless?" the old man said. "Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket was different. It was clean, inside and out. "That's what happens when you read books. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read them, you will be changed, inside and out." The grandfather got up early to _ .
<extra_id_0>repair a basket
<extra_id_1>do farm work
<extra_id_2>wake up his grandson
<extra_id_3>read books
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<extra_id_5>As a little boy I read a book with a picture showing a man reading while floating in the Dead Sea. What a miracle! How would it feel to lie back in water so thick with salt that it was impossible to sink? Fed by the Jordan River and smaller streams, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on the earth's surface, and its water is ten times saltier than the Mediterranean. As evaporation is its only outlet, salt and other minerals become super-concentrated. Earlier this year, I drove down the long, steep hill to realize my dream. The shoreline was a broad area of bare salt-mud, but the water edge was out of sight. It seemed as if somebody had pulled the Dead Sea's plug . Eli Dior, an Israeli official, explained the problem "The Dead Sea is drying up. Every year, the surface falls about one meter, and as the water level falls, shallow areas are left high and dry." Over the last half-century, the five neighboring countries have used up almost all the water flowing into the Dead Sea to meet human and agriculture needs. Result the Dead Sea is being emptied. With population in the neighbouring countries to double at least in the next 50 years, there is little hope of restoring the water being used in this area. No country has a drop to spare for the Dead Sea, where they know it will just evaporate. To dream of opening the dams and restoring natural balance is unrealistic. Yet one ambitious high-tech dream may turn out to be not only the solution to the Dead Sea but also a ticket to peace around its shores. The "Red-Dead" is a proposed $5 billion project to bring sea water some 240 kilometers by pipeline and canal from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. The Red-Dead may be the only solution, but even if the project is carried out successfully, the Dead Sea will be 10 to 20 meters lower than now and two thirds of its current size. Whatever the future holds, the Dead Sea's magical mix of sun, mud, sea and salt will surely survive. Many might complain that the Dead Sea is half empty--but for me the Dead sea will always be half full. It can be inferred from the passage that _ .
<extra_id_0>the countries around the Dead Sea will join hands to spare water for the Sea
<extra_id_1>as a result of the project "Red-Dead", the Dead Sea will be two thirds larger
<extra_id_2>water crisis is a potential threat to the peace of the area around the Dead Sea
<extra_id_3>If the Dead Sea dried up, great natural disasters would happen in the region
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<extra_id_5>In Europe, people hold the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right throughout the meal, a system that is generally agreed to be more efficient than the American zigzag method. Americans hold both the fork and the knife in their right hands throughout the meal, so they continually change their forks to the left hand when they have to cut their meat. It seems to be funny for the Europeans to see Americans busy changing their dinner sets, making a lot of noises. A few explanations for this American style are as follows: (1) Americans are practical and efficient. Since most of us are right-handed, it is reasonable to keep our working tools at all times in the right hand that can use them most efficiently. (2) Americans, the master of the New World are rebels .They use the zigzag method to break the rules in the Old World and in this way they are thumbing their nose at Mother England. Americans are a restless kind. They do not like to sit in one spot for very long when dining. (3) Forced to do so, they respond by "playing" with the silver. Whatever the reason for the practice, it is now certainly as American as apple pie. Europeans recognize this and are quick to attack it as evidence of American innocence of form. Arguments against the zigzag method rest not only on grounds of efficiency but also on those of tradition. In Old World dining, the knife is held in the right hand continually because it can serve as an instant defense against the uninvited intruders .However, such alertness is out of place in the New World, as every American believes that this is the home of the brave. Americans _ their silverware, perhaps, to show that they are not afraid and that one of them holding a fork is worth any number of them holding blades . Americans use _ to hold their fork to pick up the salad.
<extra_id_0>the right hand
<extra_id_1>the left hand
<extra_id_2>both hands
<extra_id_3>either of the two hands
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<extra_id_5>London has become a cycle friendly zone after the launch of a new bike hire scheme. It has been designed to encourage more people to cycle in and around central London. So how does it work?First you have to sign up to the scheme to be sent a key. The key will unlock one of the bikes,which are kept at docking stations in and around central London. You have to pay an access fee for the key and then you pay as you go,for the length of time you use the bike. Transport for London,which runs the scheme,are hoping to have 6,000 bikes and 400 docking stations in place by the end of the year. The new hire system is hoping to ease congestion in London and is expected to create up to 40,000 extra cycle trips a day into the city centre. London Mayor Boris Johnston launched the scheme and said London had been "filled with thousands of gleaming machines that will transform the look and feel of our streets and become as commonplace on our roads as black cabs and red buses". However,there have been a few problems since the scheme was launched last Friday. On the first day some people found they couldn't dock their bike properly and their usage of the bike had not registered. Transport for London did admit they had been expecting a few "teething problems" and have said they wouldn't charge for the first day as a "gesture of goodwill". Some other people have criticized the lack of docking stations and locks for the bikes as well as the price it costs to hire the bicycles. Despite the comments,the green-thinking London Mayor still seems very positive about things,saying,"My campaign for the capital to become the greatest big cycling city in the world has taken a big pedal-powered push forwards." All the following are the problems of the scheme EXCEPT _ .
<extra_id_0>the high cost to hire a bike
<extra_id_1>not registering their usage of the bikes
<extra_id_2>not charging for the first day of the scheme
<extra_id_3>docking the bikes properly
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<extra_id_5>I can't remember when I fell in love with music. Maybe it happened when I was feeling blue sometime long ago. I can't tell you exactly how music makes me feel better. But while listening to music, especially light music, it makes me feel calm and peaceful. Now I am listening to a song named Moon River. It is really a fantastic song. I didn't like this song at the beginning, but later I found its slow melody and beautiful lyrics deeply touching. "Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker. Wherever you're going I'm going your way. Two drifters are off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see." Yes. Although there is a long way to go for the drifters and maybe there are many troubles ahead, he seems afraid of nothing. I like music. Music reminds me that human beings have a lot in common even if they come from different countries or backgrounds, because we all have the same feeling or understanding of melodies and words. The writer began to love music when he/she was _ sometime long ago.
<extra_id_0>happy
<extra_id_1>excited
<extra_id_2>tired
<extra_id_3>blue
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<extra_id_5>These days, I'm surprised at what my classmates have changed since school started. It's not just the new teachers, new buildings, or new rules. I also notice how people are dressing differently. Dressing is not just a choice to keep warm. It's also a healthy personal choice in so many ways. Dress rules: Many schools have dress rules. They tell students what to wear at school. The teachers don't hope to see their students wear unsuitable clothes in the classroom. _ : The way we dress shows the way we feel about ourselves. If we aren't confident or need lots of attention, we'll often dress in ways that help us get that attention. If you want to get attention in a healthy way, you don't need to dress in an interesting way to express your mind. Body image : If some kids look very bad or ugly, dressing properly can cover them. And it can also help them feel beautiful and comfortable among their friends. Being what you wear: Dressing is important. Dressing in a wrong way can make people mistake you. People like to judge according to what they see. Clothing can often give people a wrong idea. The writer suggests that students should wear clothes in the right way _ .
<extra_id_0>to help them feel comfortable
<extra_id_1>to become famous
<extra_id_2>to cover their bad habits
<extra_id_3>to avoid being mistaken
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<extra_id_5>It's Sunday. Mike does not go to school. But he is not at home. He is now sitting on a bus. He is going shopping. An old woman gets on the bus. Mike stands up and says to her,"Come and sit here, please."The old woman goes over and sits down. She says,"Thank you very much, dear little boy." The bus stops near the shop. Mike says"Goodbye"to the old woman and gets off the bus. The old woman smiles and says"Goodbye"to him, too. There are _ people in the story.
<extra_id_0>five
<extra_id_1>four
<extra_id_2>three
<extra_id_3>two
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<extra_id_5>Assertiveness is the ability to confidently express your opinions, feelings,attitudes, and rights, in a way that doesn't infringe the rights of others. Many of us are taught that it is not nice to consider our own needs above those of others. If someone says or does something that we don't like, we should just be quiet and try to stay away from that person in the future. Why is Assertiveness important? If you don't know how to be assertive, you might experience: *Depression - Anger, a sense of being helpless, hopeless, or of having no control over your life. *Resentment - Anger at others for taking advantage of you. *Frustration - Why did I allow that to happen? Most people find it easier to be assertive in some situations than in others. This makes perfect sense. It's a lot easier to hold your ground with a stranger than with someone you love. But the more important the relationship is to you, the more important it is to be assertive. Assertive behavior leads to increased respect from others! But before you decide to act assertively, you have to decide if you can live with the results. Although assertive behavior usually will result in a positive response ,some people might react differently. How to be effectively assertive: *Use "I" statements. Keep the focus on the problem you're having. "I'd like to be able to tell my stories without interruption." instead of "You're always interrupting my stories ! " *Use facts, not opinions. "Did you know that shirt has a hole?" instead of "You're not going out looking like THAT, are you?" *Express ownership of your thoughts, feelings, and opinions. "I get angry when he breaks his promises. " instead of "He makes me angry. " * Make clear and direct requirements. Don't invite the person to say no. "Will you please?" instead of 'Would you mind...?" or "Why don't you...?" *Keep repeating your point. Use a low level and pleasant voice. Don't try to explain yourself. Which of the following helps you to be effectively assertive?
<extra_id_0>Explaining yourself in a soft and sweet voice.
<extra_id_1>Expressing ownership of others' thoughts.
<extra_id_2>Making requirements directly and clearly.
<extra_id_3>Using your opinions instead of facts.
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<extra_id_5>By installing the software, you acknowledge that you have read all of the terms and conditions of this agreement and agree to be bound by them. Click "YES" and continue to install the game. If you do not agree to the terms of this agreement, click "NO" and directly return to the entire package to the place of purchase for a full refund . LIMITED LICENSE: You may use this software for your own use, but may not sell or reproduce the software in any way. You may use one copy of the software on a single computer. You may not network the software or use it on more than one computer at the same time. OWNERSHIP; COPYRIGHT: Title to the software, patents, copyrights, and all other property rights shall at all times remain entirely with Great Games. Software is protected by law and by international treaty. You may not cause or permit the software to be disclosed, copied, modified, adapted, or otherwise reduced to human readable form. LIMITED WARRANTY : Great Games warrants for a period of ninety days from the purchase of this copy of the game that the software is free from errors or defects that will seriously interfere with the operation of the software as described in the Documentation. If you believe you have found any such error or defect in the software during the warranty period and are in the United States, call Great Games' helpline at 800-383-2647 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. midnight, Monday through Friday, holidays excluded, and provide your Product Number; or if you are outside the United States, send your original software disc to Great Games at 3281 N. Risk St., Ocala, FL, 32410. Include your return address and Great Games will replace the disc within a reasonable period of time. What must the users make clear before installing the software?
<extra_id_0>The place to get a full refund.
<extra_id_1>The contents of the agreement.
<extra_id_2>When to click "YES" or "NO".
<extra_id_3>Why to be bound by the agreement.
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<extra_id_5>Who's in control of your life? Who's pulling your strings ? For the majority of us, it's other people--society, colleagues, friends, family or our religious community. We learned this way of operating when we were very young, of course. We were brainwashed. We discovered that feeling important and feeling accepted was a nice experience and so we learned to do everything we could to make other people like us. As Oscar Wilde puts it, "Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry , their passions a quotation." So when people tell us how wonderful we are, it makes us feel good. We long for this good feeling like a drug--we are addicted to it and seek it out wherever we can. Therefore, we are so eager for the approval of others that we live unhappy and limited lives, failing to do the things we really want to. Just as drug addicts and alcoholics live worsened lives to keep getting their fix , we worsen our own existence to get our own constant fix of approval. But, just as with any drug, there is a price to pay. The price of the approval drug is freedom--the freedom to be ourselves. The truth is that we cannot control what other people think. People have their own agenda , and they come with their own baggage and, in the end, they're more interested in themselves than in you. Furthermore, if we try to live by the opinions of others, we will build our life on sinking sand. Everyone has a different way of thinking, and people change their opinions all the time. The person who tries to please everyone will only end up getting exhausted and probably pleasing no one in the process. So how can we take back control? I think there's only one way--make a conscious decision to stop caring what other people think. We should guide ourselves by means of a set of values--not values imposed from the outside by others, but innate values which come from within. If we are driven by these values and not by the changing opinions and value systems of others, we will live a more authentic , effective, purposeful and happy life. It can be concluded from the passage that _ .
<extra_id_0>it's better to do what we like
<extra_id_1>we shouldn't care what others think
<extra_id_2>we shouldn't change our own opinions
<extra_id_3>it's important to accept others' opinions
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<extra_id_5>We had one class for computers when I was in school, which was also introduced new in school and all the students did not attend it. I took it because I had free period and was interested in taking it. In those days we could not image that computers will become so important in our lives otherwise most of the students would have joined the computer class. Computers are beneficial for almost anyone and the present generation is growing in an atmosphere where you need the computers for doing almost everything .If they are not made computer literate they will lag behind in all the activities. Nowadays almost all schools have some kind of computer courses for the students so that they learn the fundamentals of the computer. It will not be possible to do it if they don't have computer classes. Most of the homes have personal computers now and most children are already aware of the basics before they join school. Computing courses are also good for adults who are not familiar with the computer as most of the jobs which are available today have the use of computer in some way or the other. Adults who have not used the computer before are generally quite anxious, but an easy computing course will be able to change the way they think in a few weeks. If you are interested, you can join a computing course which is longer and teaches you more than the basics, but you may have to spend more time in the completing course. They are very useful courses as _ teaches you ways to use the fundamental programs which are typically used in various jobs. It is also possible you may like to do the computing course for enjoyment as some of the classes are also free .There are courses which charge a fee for skills like graphic design and photo editing . They are a lot of fun too and may also be useful when you do a job , depending on the kind of career ,someone you choose or have . You will find these courses in the colleges, as well as online, if you already are familiar with the use of computer. Most of the students didn't attend the computer course probably because _ .
<extra_id_0>they were not interested in computer
<extra_id_1>they were busy with their homework
<extra_id_2>they thought computers were useless
<extra_id_3>they didn't have computers at all
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<extra_id_5>To Jim, Hi, Jim. I'm a Chinese girl .My English name is Betty. I'm a student. I live in Nanjing with my parents. Nanjing is a big city in China. I like playing table tennis and running. I like listening to music, too . My favourite food is rice and fish. My dad is a doctor and my mum is a worker. To Betty, Hi, Betty. I'm a boy. My name is Jim Hand. I'm a student, too. I live in London with my parents and my sister. London is big , too. It's in England. My sister likes reading books, but I like watching TV. She can type and write Chinese. I can draw and sing very well. My parents are both teachers. Betty is a(an) _ .
<extra_id_0>Chinese girl
<extra_id_1>English girl
<extra_id_2>Chinese teacher
<extra_id_3>English teacher
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<extra_id_5>How could I turn down an opportunity for a weeklong cruise on a luxury motorsailer in the Andaman Sea? Without a second thought, I packed my bags and jumped on a plane to Singapore, and the following day I found myself looking out the airplane window at the beautiful waters surrounding the island of Langkawi off the coast of Malaysia. The last time I was in Langkawi was in 2001, when it was relatively quiet. Langkawi has come a long way since then; there are 4, 5, and even 6-star hotels, as well as spas, golfing, horseback riding and even a cable car taking visitors to the highest point on the island. At the Langkawi International Airport I met my shipmates and we were driven to Pantai Tengah with a quick pit stop for sunblock and duty-free goodies. Many other shopping opportunities abound since Langkawi was designated as a duty-free zone in 1987 to entice tourists to the island. A luxurious yacht tender picked us up. Phillipe, the first mate, maneuvered the tender between sailboats and as we went around a small island there she was, S/V Blue Gold. This majestic 10-passenger sailboat--all 165 feet of her--had been built in Italy and recently underwent a full retrofit. Once aboard, the crew welcomed us with refreshments and big smiles. Before we got too comfortable and settled into the plush comforts of the boat, Alain, the captain, took us on a tour of Blue Gold's impressive accommodations. The master suite had a king-size bed, with a lounge area and "his & hers" wardrobes. The VIP cabin had a queen-size bed, also with a lounge area. Both had ensuite bathrooms. The first evening aboard was the perfect start to our voyage--a small cocktail party followed by a light meal of seared tuna salad. It was exactly what our jet-lagged bodies craved, and we all slept very well aboard what would become our new home for the next 7 days. In the morning after breakfast, we sailed to Pulau Ta Ngah (also spelled "Pulau Tengah"; pulau means island in Malay). In the 1970s the site had been a Vietnamese refugee transit camp. Not long after the end of the war, the camp was shut down and the island was gazetted as a marine park by the Malaysian government. Officially "uninhabited," it does boast a golf course, but we were unable to determine if it was still in operation. The most intriguing event on the island occurs in July when the giant leatherback turtles lay their eggs on a beach on Ta Ngah. We know from the passage Langkawi _ .
<extra_id_0>has become prosperous in the past decade
<extra_id_1>was a noisy industrial city twenty years ago
<extra_id_2>has no three-star hotels nowadays
<extra_id_3>is best known for its horse riding races
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<extra_id_5>A new report says only about half of all students in the main school systems of America's largest cities finish high school. The report notes higher rates of graduation -- over 70% --in areas surrounding the cities. Researchers studied high school graduation rates from the 2003, 2004 school year. They also identified the nation's fifty largest cities. The largest, New York City, had a population of more than eight million. The smallest city was Wichita, Kansas. It had about three hundred and sixty thousand people. Researchers used a system of measurement called the cumulative promotion index to find graduation rates. School officials in many of the cities studied said the resulting numbers were too low. That is because different areas use different methods to find graduation rates. Critics say many methods do not give a true _ of the number of students who leave high school before finishing. Other studies have put the national graduation rate at about 70%. But experts agree that too many students are not completing high school. They estimate the number at more than one million each year. The report was prepared for America's Promise Alliance. The private group aims to help children receive services they need to succeed. General Colin Powell was chairman of America's Promise Alliance when it was formed in 1997. He attended the press conference Tuesday where the report was released. He said studies have shown that the US must do more to educate the leaders and work force of the future. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings also spoke. She said the government will propose that states use the same methods when reporting graduation rates. Alliance officials also announced the start of a nationwide campaign to improve graduation rates. It is to include a series of meetings to be held in every state over the next two years. The meetings will bring together elected leaders, business owners, students, parents and education officials. They will develop plans to increase the number of Americans who finish high school. The author wants to tell us _ .
<extra_id_0>too many Americans do not finish high school
<extra_id_1>different methods to find graduation rates
<extra_id_2>services American children need to receive
<extra_id_3>the increase of the number of Americans who finish their high school
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<extra_id_5>Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance. Parents often give their children an amount of money that they may spend as they wish. The purpose is to let the children learn from experience at an early age when financial mistakes are not very costly. A child may receive an allowance each week or each month. The amount is not so important. But parents should make clear what the child is expected to pay for with the money. At first, young children may spend all of their allowance soon after they receive it. If they do this, they will learn the hard way that spending must be done within a budget. Parents should not offer more money until the next allowance is to be given. Older children may be responsible enough to budget larger costs like those for clothing. The object is to show young people that a budget demands choices between spending and saving. Many people who have written on the subject say it is not a good idea to pay your child for work around the home. These jobs are a normal part of family life. Paying children to do extra work around the home, however, can be useful. It can even provide an understanding of how a business works. Allowances give children a chance to experience three things they can do with money. They can share it in the form of gifts or giving it to organizations. They can spend it by buying things they want. Or they can save it. Saving helps children understand that costly goals require _ : you have to cut costs and plan for the future. Requiring children to save part of their allowance can also open the door to future saving and investing. Many banks offer free savings accounts for young people with small amounts of money. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>Children are advised to buy anything they wish to with the allowance.
<extra_id_1>Parents should offer children more money if they spend all of their allowance soon after they get it.
<extra_id_2>It can be useful to pay children to do extra work around the home.
<extra_id_3>It is unnecessary for the children to save part of the allowance.
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<extra_id_5>Heading off to college this year? Here are some fashion tips from our experts you should keep in mind: Dress to impress.Stylist and business consultant Daniela Smith says,"Girls should keep in mind that your college professors will often be the bridge that connects you to your future career and your classmates will become your professional network,You don't need to dress like you're going to the office, but you.should display all ability to properly present yourself with appropriate maturity and confidence,and look put together." Logo mania .Wearing the loges of brands aimed at younger customers physically identifies you as part of that age group,so consider the targeted age group of the stores you shop at.It's tempting to load up on loges,especially well-known loges that signify high-end brands.But consider this:college is a time of self-discovery, a chance to develop your own personal style.Instead of wearing loges head to toe,"walking advertisement"-style,why not express who you really are? Wear real pants! The combination of leggings and baggy shirts is all too common on college campuses.Smith points out that leggings,yoga pants,and Sweatpants ale entirely unacceptable in public unless you're exercising.Although leggings worn as pants are a common trend among high school and college girls,they are not an appropriate choice for daywear;As a young woman, your style choice should begin to reflect your maturity level.So,get rid of leggings and wear real pants! Keep the cute factor to a minimum.Stay away from sweaters and T-shirts with smiling animals, cartoon characters,or Hello Kitty on them.Sure,kittens might be cute,but they're not doing you any favors in the style department.Dressing too cutesy can take years off your look,and not necessarily in a good way! The author recommends wearing real pants because _ .
<extra_id_0>leggings and baggy shirts are too common
<extra_id_1>yoga pants and sweatpants are not as comfortable
<extra_id_2>real pants can present you with appropriate maturity
<extra_id_3>people like real pants better man the other pants
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<extra_id_5>What is a worldwide increase in temperature called?
<extra_id_0>greenhouse effect
<extra_id_1>global warming
<extra_id_2>ozone depletion
<extra_id_3>solar heating
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<extra_id_5>Scientists in Canada say big ocean fish have almost disappeared from the world since the start of industrial fishing in the nineteen-fifties. The scientists found that population of large fish like tuna; swordfish and cod have dropped by ninety percent in the past fifty years. The study took ten years. The researchers gathered records from fishing businesses and governments around the world. The magazineNaturepublished the findings. The scientists say the common method called longline fishing is especially damaging to populations of large fish. This method involves many fishing lines connected to one boat. These wires can be close to one-hundred kilometers long. They hold thousands of sharp metal hooks to catch fish. Longline fishing is especially common in the Japanese fishing industry. Records showed that Japanese boats used to catch about ten fish for every one-hundred hooks. The study says longline fishing boats now might catch one fish per hundred hooks. The scientists say industrial fishing can destroy groups of fish much faster than in the past. The study suggests that whole populations can disappear almost completely from new fishing areas within ten to fifteen years. Ransom Myers of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia led the study with Boris Worm of Dalhousie and the University of Kiel in Germany. Mister Worm says the destruction could lead to a complete re-organization of ocean life systems. Mister Meyers says the decreased number of large fish is not the only worry. He says even populations that are able to reproduce do not get the chance to live long enough to grow as big as their ancestors . He says not only are there fewer big fish, they are smaller than those of the past. American government scientists say even with the best efforts to protect fish populations, decreases are to be expected. When did the researchers begin to survey the decreasing of large fish?
<extra_id_0>In the 1960s.
<extra_id_1>In the 1970s.
<extra_id_2>In the 1980s.
<extra_id_3>In the 1990s.
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<extra_id_5>Planning for the weather No matter what time of year you vacation in San Diego, be sure to bring a light jacket or sweater and bring shorts. During our summer months, we have warm days but cool evenings, especially if you are near the ocean. Those cool evenings can feel cold and fresh if you are visiting from someplace that is typically hot and damp all summer. And during our winter months, we can have days that reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). In fact, our winter months are the sunniest months of the year along the San Diego coast. How to get around San Diego Deciding whether you need to rent a car for your visit to San Diego? If you are planning to visit attractions in and around downtown San Diego, including SeaWorld, San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park, Old Town, Coronado, and the Gaslamp Quarter, all of these attractions can be readily accessed by public transportation assuming the hotel or place you are staying in is close to a bus or trolley stop. Tour guests comment on how easy it is to use our transportation system, how clean it is, and the low cost for a one-day or multi-day pass that works on both buses and trolleys. However, if you are going to visit attractions further away from downtown San Diego such as the Safari Park or Legoland or if you want to visit our local mountains or desert, we recommend a car rental. How to make time for all the things to do Our final tip for now is to plan ahead. Unlike most cities where there may be a few concentrated tourist areas and it's easy to find things as you go, San Diego offers hundreds of attractions and guests tell us they are overwhelmed and certainly didn't plan enough time once they find how much there is to do in San Diego. Many guests visit San Diego as part of an extended trip that includes San Francisco and Los Angeles. They often plan fewer days in San Diego because they assume it is the smallest city with the least to offer only to say they wished they had planned more days in San Diego because it offers more things to do in a much more relaxing environment. By planning ahead you can also get discounts for various attractions. For example you can save a lot of money at SeaWorld if you buy your tickets in advance online, at a visitor center or through your hotel. Another reason to plan ahead is that some attractions close early or get sold out since San Diego is a big destination for major conventions and big companies bringing in employees from around the world for special events in beautiful, sunny San Diego. You'd better rent a car if you are to visit .
<extra_id_0>the Gaslamp Quarter
<extra_id_1>San Diego Zoo
<extra_id_2>the Safari Park
<extra_id_3>Balboa Park
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<extra_id_5>I ran into quite a few language problems while vacationing with my family last summer. The most embarrassing was when my Mom apologized to the people we were staying with because her "pants were dirty". They looked at her in amazement, not knowing how to react. You see, Mom had fallen over and gotten mud on her jeans. But in Britain, "pants" means underpants or knickers, not trousers as it does back home. Katie -- From America I went to stay with a friend on the west coast last summer. Her flat was on the first floor of a high-rise building so I got the lift up. Then I wandered round for ages looking for her flat but couldn't find it. Fed up and tired, I finally had to go out to find a phone box. She explained that her flat was on the first floor, which for me meant the ground floor. David -- From Britain When I asked for the "restroom" in a big department store, people kept directing me to a room with seats where I could sit and "rest". It took me years to get through to someone that I only wanted the toilet! Tom -- From America Last summer we went on a two-week family touring holiday, so Dad hired a car over the Internet. This was an old vehicle and there turned out to be lots of things wrong with it. When he phoned the hire company and tried to explain that the lock on the boot was broken, they thought he was talking about footwear! He had no idea their word for "boot" was "trunk". In the end we went to a _ and just solved the problem. Mary -- From Britain Hearing Katie's mother's words, Katie's friends were in amazement because _ .
<extra_id_0>Katie's mother got mud on her jeans
<extra_id_1>Katie's mother's underpants were dirty
<extra_id_2>they mistook "pants" in American for underpants
<extra_id_3>they didn't know English
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<extra_id_5>For a long time people have believed that high self-esteem is the key to success. However, new research shows that focusing just on building self-esteem may not be helpful. In some cases, having high self-esteem can bring bad results if it makes you less likeable or more upset when you fail at something. "Forget about self-esteem," says one of the psychologists involved in the new research. "It's not the most important thing." This idea may sound a bit strange to you because studies also show that people with high self-esteem are less likely to be anxious, shy, or lonely than those with low self-esteem. In short, to feel good does you good. But, after reviewing about 18,000 studies on self-esteem, Roy Baumeister, a psychologist at Florida State University, has found that building up your self-esteem will not necessarily make you a better person. He believes that violent and evil people often have the highest self-esteem of all. He also said, "There's no evidence that kids with high self-esteem do better in school." All types of people have problems. "People with high self-esteem can have big egos that can make them less likeable to their peers," said Kathleen Vohs, a psychology professor at Columbia University. "People with high self-esteem tend to think more of themselves," Vohs says. People with low self-esteem are more likely to rely on their friends when they need help. Researchers say it is best to listen to and support other people. Find positive ways to contribute to society. If you fail at something, try to learn from the experience. The best therapy , as they suggest, is to recognize your faults, accept yourself, understand your weaknesses and then do something about them. What's the passage mainly about?
<extra_id_0>High self-esteem is the key to success.
<extra_id_1>New research shows that high self-esteem may not be helpful.
<extra_id_2>New research shows that high self-esteem can only bring bad results.
<extra_id_3>People with high self-esteem are less likeable.
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<extra_id_5>The smart phones that can take self-portraits or selfies have set us free. We can now document every moment of our life and instantly share it with the world through the Internet. However, some believe that it's also causing people to take unnecessary risks that sometimes prove to be deadly! According to recent reports, the desire to take a breathtaking selfie has killed 12 people. Though that may not seem like a lot, it's 50% more than the death from shark attacks. While the issues have been known for a while, they came to a head on September 21st, following the accidental death of Hideto Ueda at the Taj Mahal. It turns out that the 66-year-old Japanese and his companion were trying to take a selfie with the Royal Gate as the background when they fell down some stairs. While the friend escaped with a broken leg, Ueda was not as fortunate. He suffered a head injury and died soon after. Other fatal accidents include a 21-year-old Russian woman who fell off a bridge while trying to capture an exciting self-portrait. Three Indian students suffered a similar fate after they were run over by a train while taking a selfie on the railway tracks. The rising number of injuries is forcing officials to take measures. Russia has begun a nationwide awareness program to make its young citizens aware of the dangers of this safe hobby. The campaign's slogan is:"Even a million 'likes' on social media are not worth your life and well-being." Though no other country has followed their lead, many are banning the selfie stick! In the last few months many museums, and theme parks including Disney, have banned its use. JR West became the first institution worldwide to ban the sticks both inside Japan's bullet trains as well as out on the railway platforms. While these measures may help reduce the incidents, the only way to stop selfie-related injuries and deaths is to take responsibility -- not just for themselves but their friends. So next time you decide to take a selfie that appears a little risky, be sure to stop and ask yourself -- is it worth it? How many people have died from shark attacks according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>Sixteen.
<extra_id_1>Twelve.
<extra_id_2>Ten.
<extra_id_3>Eight.
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<extra_id_5>LEEDS, England--A Leeds University psychology professor is researching a course to help dozens of Britons forgive their enemies. "The hate we hold within us is a cancer." Professor Ken Hart said, adding that holding in anger can lead to problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease. More than 70 people have become volunteers in Hart's first 20-week workshop in London--a course he says is the first of its kind in the world. These are people who are sick and tired of living with a memory. They realize their bitterness is a poison they think they can pour out, but they end up drinking it themselves, said Canadian-born Hart. The students meet in each group of eight to ten for a two-hour workshop with a director every two weeks. The course, ending in July, is expected to get rid of the cancer of hate in these people. "People have lots of negative attitudes towards forgiveness," he said, "People confuse forgiveness with forgetting. Forgiveness means changing from a negative attitude to a positive one." Hart and his team have created instructions to provide the training needed. "The main idea is to give you guidances on how to look at all kinds of angers and how they affect you, and how to change your attitudes towards the person you are angry with," said Norman Claringbull, a senior expert on the forgiveness project. Hart said, "I believe forgiveness is a skill that can be taught, as these people want to get free of the past." From this passage we know that _ .
<extra_id_0>without hate, people will have less trouble connected with blood pressure and heart disease
<extra_id_1>people who suffer from blood pressure and heart disease must have many enemies
<extra_id_2>high blood pressure can only be cured by psychology professors
<extra_id_3>high blood pressure and heart disease are caused by hate
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<extra_id_5>When I was seven my father gave me a Timex, my first watch. I loved it, wore it for years, and haven't had another one since it stopped ticking a decade ago. Why? Because I don't need one. I have a mobile phone and I'm always near someone with an iPod or something like that. All these devices tell the time--which is why, if you look around, you'll see lots of empty wrists; sales of watches to young adults have been going down since 2007. But while the wise have realized that they don't need them, others--apparently including some distinguished men of our time--are spending total fortunes on them. Brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Breitling command shocking prices, up to PS250.000 for a piece. This is ridiculous. Expensive cars go faster than cheap cars. Expensive clothes hang better than cheap clothes. But these days all watches tell the time as well as all other watches. Expensive watches come with extra functions--but who needs them? How often do you dive to 300 metres into the sea or need to find your direction in the area around the South Pole? So why pay that much of five years' school fees for watches that allow you to do these things? If justice were done, the Swiss watch industry should have closed down when the Japanese discovered how to make accurate watches for a five-pound note. Instead the Swiss reinvented the watch, with the aid of millions of pounds' worth of advertising, as a message about the man wearing it. Rolexes are for those who spend their weekends climbing icy mountains; a Patek Philippe is for one from a rich or noble family; a Breitling suggests you like to pilot planes across the world. Watches are now classified as"investments" . A 1994 Philippe recently sold for nearly PS350, 000, while the 1960s Rolexes have gone from PS15, 000 to PS30, 000 plus in a year. But a watch is not an investment. It's a toy for self-satisfaction, a matter of fashion. Prices may keep going up--they've been rising for 15 years. But when fashion moves on, the owner of that PS350, 000 beauty will suddenly find his pride and joy is no more a good investment than my childhood Timex. What can be learned about Swiss watch industry from the passage?
<extra_id_0>It's hard for the industry to beat its competitors.
<extra_id_1>It targets rich people as its potential customers.
<extra_id_2>It wastes a huge amount of money in advertising.
<extra_id_3>It's easy for the industry to reinvent cheap watches.
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<extra_id_5>After a particularly busy period at work, I decided to get away from it all by going on a hike in the mountains in southern France. Before I left, I read an interesting story in a magazine. It read, "Once, while I was riding on a crowded bus, the man sitting next to me threw his cell phone out of the window when his phone rang. I was surprised. He looked at me, shrugged and looked away. I had no idea whether it was his or stolen or whether he even knew what a cell phone was or not, but he clearly wanted to be free of it, because it clearly troubled him. " Billions of people across the world use cell phones. Though cell phones are a wonderful way for communication, they often do the exact opposite. Using cell phones can increase stress within families and friends. So when I recently returned home, I got rid of my cell phone. Now I go outside without taking my phone with me. I've noticed things in my neighborhood I never noticed before, such as gardens. I've met new people, started conversations with neighbors I didn't speak to before and talked with some of my friends face to face instead of chatting over the phone. Instead of keeping me off from the world, stopping using my cell phone has helped me get even closer to my family and friends. What can we learn about the author?
<extra_id_0>He wants to own a garden now.
<extra_id_1>He always chatted with his neighbors.
<extra_id_2>He used to take his cell phone when going outside.
<extra_id_3>He once rode on a crowded bus in France.
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<extra_id_5>Sunrises in January are
<extra_id_0>late
<extra_id_1>green
<extra_id_2>old
<extra_id_3>early
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<extra_id_5>Before I even started school, people felt that I was not going to _ . At the age of four, I started speech lessons because even I could not speak well enough to be understood. First grade was a struggle. I not only had difficulty speaking, but I was expected to learn to read and I just couldn't do it. My parents grew more and more frustrated. They bought books and offered great rewards if I could read one of them from start to finish to them. Well, with my speech problems and now my reading problems, I did not like to do reading and so refused to do it whenever possible. Second grade was not much better. It was in the second grade that the teacher decided that I needed special education. I remember the days of taking the physical exams. However, after all that, they decided that I did not qualify for special education. It was in third grade that a new school was built close to where I lived. I remember going there with my parents and helping to get the school ready so that we could transfer . It was a happy day that we started school at Vandalia. However, things did not get better as my parent expected. It was now time for fifth grade. Mrs. Wakefield was my teacher, and if ever there was a teacher that deserved a gold star, it was her. She did not make me feel upset. Instead, she helped me in so many ways and built my self-confidence so that I actually did believe that I could do something special. And that is just what I did. For the past 22 years, I have been a fifth grade teacher. Because of Mrs. Wakefield's influence in my life, I am now encouraging students who have had difficulties in their lives to believe that they can overcome and become someone. I have won a large number of awards but I know that all of them belong to one fifth grade teacher who believed in me and challenged me to be all that I could be. I still have a class picture of her with her fifth grade class hanging on the wall of my office, encouraging other teachers to reach out to their students. .What can we learn from the passage?
<extra_id_0>A good teacher is hard to find in our lives.
<extra_id_1>Many students have speech difficulties,
<extra_id_2>Confidence is very important in one's life
<extra_id_3>Different teaching methods work the same
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<extra_id_5>In the U.S.,the public has tended to believe that all motorcycles are ridden by wild,irresponsible lawless young men. There are several things about motorcycling that the average citizen dislikes.A cyclist's appearance has something to do with this dislike.Motorcyclists frequency look dirty;in fact,they are dirty.0n the road there is little to protect them from mud,crushed insects and bird droppings.For practical reasons they are often dressed in old clothing which looks much less respectable than the clothing of people who ride in cars.For the same reason motorcyclists usually wear dark color1s.Perhaps this helps to explain why they are sometimes suspected of having evil natures. In old plays of long ago,evil characters usually wore black. In cowboy movies the"bad guys"usually wear black hats while the"good guys"wear lighter color1s.Something else about their appearance makes an unfavorable impression. In their practical,protective clothing they look very much like the men on military motorcycles in the movies of World War II--cruel enemies who roared into peaceful villages filling people's hearts with fear. Probably the machine itself also produces anger and fear. Motorcycles are noisy,though some big trucks are even noisier.But trucks are big and carry heavy loads;they are accepted(if not really welcomed)because they perform a needed service,making America move.Motorcycles,on the other hand,make all unpleasant noise just to give their riders pleasure.That is what is commonly thought.In the woods motorcycles,frighten animals.Roaring along quiet streets, they wake sleeping families and make babies cry. Of course the danger of motorcycling,also helps account for many people's low opinion of the sport.Its defenders, however,claim that careful cyclists are in less danger than commonly behaved. A cyclist must drive as if everybody around him wanted to kill him.He must pay careful attention to his driving.From that point of view,a man on a motorcycle is safer than,a man in a car. The average citizen dislikes the motorcyclists because _
<extra_id_0>all motorcycles are wild young men
<extra_id_1>all motorcycles are irresponsible young men
<extra_id_2>all motorcycles are lawless young men
<extra_id_3>they frequently look dirty,they often make an unpleasant noise,and their appearance contributes to people's terrible imagination
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<extra_id_5>In the early morning, I headed for the back door and found 10 inches of snow blanketing our home. Oh, no, Bryan would have to clear the roof again, I thought. But Rio rolled onto his back, playing in the white stuff and kicking his back legs, delighted. His days in an animal shelter in New Mexico were long forgotten---he had wholeheartedly enjoyed life as a Colorado dog. Rio needed a walk. I had planned to attend an emergent webinar, but my husband was busy clearing. Rio pushed my leg with his snout , wondering why we were still inside. We were overdue for our morning hike. I pulled on my boots reluctantly. I didn't have time for this. Rio and I walked a block through our neighborhood to the beginning of a road. Rio leaped happily into the snow, which was up to his neck. But I walked slowly with heavy steps, worrying about my to-do list, and I didn't notice that the world around me until Rio started barking. A squirrel chattered at him from a high branch of a pine tree. We hadn't seen a squirrel in at least a week because of all the storms, so this was a treat for us. Once again, my animal teacher was reminding me to enjoy the present moment, and I was grateful. I took a deep breath ans looked around. Suddenly, there was an explosion of snow. A nearby tree had released its heavy burden, snapping back upright. Silver snowflakes dusted the air around me as a group of birds fled the area, talking to one another as they flew overhead. I watched and listened in wonder for what seemed like a full minute. There would be 1,440 minutes in this day, but this was the one I would remember most. Then I looked back to the earth and there was my sweet boy, waiting patiently for a treat. He knew I would want to celebrate this moment we had just shared. "I love you, Rio!" I said as I gave him a cookie. He had trained me well. When we walked home, I smiled broadly, spirit washed clean, ready for whatever the day might bring. What did the author learn from Rio?
<extra_id_0>No pains, no gains.
<extra_id_1>Live in the moment
<extra_id_2>Nothing is impossible.
<extra_id_3>Troubles never come singly
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<extra_id_5>Off the coast of Hawaii's Big Island swim masses of colorful tropical fish. Some of these fish will be caught and sold, ending up in aquariums around the world. Is the industry putting populations of the fish at risk? Scientists who have studied the Big Island fishery say it is well managed. Rules put in place more than 15 years ago have helped to protect the fish. Along 35% of the coastline, for example, fish collecting is banned. Two years ago, the state cut the number of fish species for the aquarium trade from hundreds to just 40. Conservationist Robert Wintner objects to the findings. Wintner, who owns snorkel shops across Hawaii, started the Snorkel Bob Foundation to protect the island's coral reefs . He says he simply doesn't see yellow tang in the protected areas. "There should be millions of them," he says. "Where are they?" Wintner says people believe the numbers in reports. But few people have actually dived into the coral reefs to see for themselves how many fish can be found there. According to Wintner, the coral reefs along the coast should be filled with yellow tang, but they are "virtually empty". Empty reefs are not good for tourism, Wintner points out, which brings out $800 million yearly. By contrast, the aquarium-fish trade brings out just $2 million yearly. Which of the following is caused by the empty reefs?
<extra_id_0>Worse tourism.
<extra_id_1>More fish death.
<extra_id_2>More hungry people.
<extra_id_3>Less swimming events.
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<extra_id_5>Han Hong is one of the most famous singers in China . She was born in Qambo,Tibet . Her mother , a Tibetan singer, is famous for her popular song On the Golden Hill in Beijing. Han Hong gets her good voice from her mother and shows a strong love of music .Han Hong came to Beijing at the age of nine to study singing .In 1985, 14-year-old Han Hong won her first prize.And then , the song Road to Heaven made Han Hong become popular in China. Han Hong has not only a nice voice ,but also a big kind heart .She spends a lot of time doing charity. She got hurt in an accident on her charity tour last year , but she didn't stop her charity work .Give our best wishes to this kind lady. ,,. (2,10) Han Hong's mother is a famouse _
<extra_id_0>worker
<extra_id_1>teacher
<extra_id_2>dancer
<extra_id_3>singer
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<extra_id_5>Until the twentieth century cigarettes were not an important threat to public health. Men used tobacco mainly in the form of cigars. They chewed tobacco, piped tobacco, and snuffed. Most women did not use tobacco at all. The cigarette industry began in 1870s with the development of the cigarette manufacturing machine. This made it possible to produce great numbers of cigarettes very quickly, and it reduced the price. Today cigarette smoking is a widespread habit. About forty-three percent of the adult men and thirty-one percent of the adult women in the United States smoke cigarettes regularly. It is encouraging to note, however, that millions of people have quit smoking. Seventy-five percent of the male population and forty-six percent of the female population have smoked cigarettes for some time during their lives, but twenty-six percent of these men and eleven percent of the women have stopped smoking. The number of persons who have given up smoking is increasing. Men as a group smoke more than women. Among both men and women the age group with the highest proportion of smokers is the age group 24--44. Income, education, and occupation all play a part in determining a person's smoking habit. City people smoke more than people living on farms. Well-educated men with high incomes are less likely to smoke cigarettes than men with fewer years of schooling and lower incomes. On the other hand, if a well-educated man with a higher income smokes, he's likely to smoke more packs of cigarettes per day. The situation is somewhat different for women. There are slightly more smokers among women with higher family incomes and higher education than among the lower income and lower educational groups. These more highly educated women tend to smoke more heavily. Among teenagers the _ is similar. There are fewer teenager smokers from upper-income, well-educated families, and also fewer from families living in farm areas. High school students who are preparing for college are less likely to smoke than those who don't plan to continue their education after high school. Children are most likely to start smoking if one or both of their parents smoke. Which of the following isn't true?
<extra_id_0>It wasn't until the twentieth century that cigarettes became an important threat to public.
<extra_id_1>More and more people are giving up smoking.
<extra_id_2>A poorly-educated woman with lower income is more likely to smoke than a well-educated woman with high income.
<extra_id_3>There are the most smokers in the age group of 24-44.
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<extra_id_5>Some places in the world have strange laws. It's important for you to know about them before going there. Whoever likes to chew gum may have to leave Singapore. The government really wants to keep the city clean and will fine you for chewing gum. Before you leave for the United Arab Emirates you'd better make sure you aren't visiting during Ramadan . During that time you aren't allowed to eat or drink in public. Tourists have been fined up to $275 for drinking in public. Lovers spend so much time kissing each other goodbye at train stations that trains often start late. This law -- no kissing your lover goodbye at train stations - is rather old, and isn't in use today in France. In Thailand it's against the law to drive a car or motorcycle without a shirt on, no matter how hot it is. Punishments are different in different areas and can include warnings and tickets costing about $10. No joke -- the local police will stop you. Studies in Denmark have shown that cars with their headlights on are more noticeable by other drivers than those with their headlights off. Drivers there are required to leave their headlights on even during the day, or they may face a fine up to $100. Do you often buy things using coins? Don't do it in Canada. The Currency Law of 1985 doesn't allow using only coins to buy things. Even the use of the dollar-coin is limited . The shop owner has the right to choose whether to take your coins or not. Make sure you know about these laws before your next trip. Better safe than sorry. What do we know about the strange law in Canada?
<extra_id_0>It is a newly invented law
<extra_id_1>You aren't allowed to use dollar-coins.
<extra_id_2>You will be fined if you use coins
<extra_id_3>Shop owners can decide if you can use coins.
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<extra_id_5>Naturally, American schoolchildren love holidays. And they get a lot of them each year. Besides having national holidays such as Thanksgiving and Presidents' Day off from school, students get longer breaks in the spring and during the summer holidays .In fact, kids in US only go to school for about 180 days a year .To students, holidays are perfect .However, parents think there are advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, school holidays allow families to spend time together. Many American parents take time off from work during June ,July or August to travel with their children on vacation either in US or a foreign country. On the other hand, schoolchildren get much more time off school than parents get vacation time. This means that parents with young children may have to pay more in babysitting or daycare costs. As well, the long summer holidays mean that students sometimes get bored . Besides going on trips with their parents, American students enjoy taking part in different kinds of activities during the holidays. For example, some kids enjoy summer camps and outdoor adventure holidays. Such trips are great for adventurous students. _ also have a lot to offer students who aren't usually interested in traditional PE activities. You can do courses in survival skills, for example. Students learn how to make a camp in the forest, which wild food they can eat and how to find their way back to the center. Students who are not excited about summer camps and outdoor adventure may take part in courses in computer game design, filmmaking and photography during the holidays. Finally, the traditional school trip to foreign countries is always popular. Students can practice their foreign language skills and experience everyday life in a different culture. How long are kids in the US at school every year?
<extra_id_0>About 180 days .
<extra_id_1>About 280 days .
<extra_id_2>About 200 days .
<extra_id_3>About 300 days .
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<extra_id_5>Mr. Jones had a nice brown coat . He loved it very much, but his wife didn't like it. Because it was old. She often said. " Give it to a poor man . " But Mr. Jones always answered, " No, I like this coat. " Then a cigarette fell on it and made a hole in it. So Mrs Jones said, "Please don't wear it again. " Mr. Jones took it to a small tailor " Please make another coat like this one ." The tailor made the coat very carefully. Then he lit a cigarette, and made a hole in it in the same place. Mrs. Jones didn't like the coat because _ .
<extra_id_0>it was nice and brown
<extra_id_1>it was not nice
<extra_id_2>it was very old
<extra_id_3>it was not old
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<extra_id_5>My cell phone rang while I was working on my computer. I looked at the phone and saw it was my 17-year-old son, Tom. I quickly picked it up."Mom,I got a 71 on the test.I did it."With those few words,I could feel my heart start to _ . Living in New York State. Students cannot graduate from high school unless they pass at least five exams: one in English, one in science, two in history and one in math. For most students, who work hard, attend class, and do their homework like my son, it isn't that hard. But for Tom, who is dyslexic , it is such a real challenge that some teachers have feared he would never be able to even attempt, never mind achieve. We were honest with him about his trouble, letting him know that there was nothing to be ashamed of. Some people learn differently. If he was willing to work,we would help him find a way to do as much as he could in his academic career. All that was standing in his way was this math test. He had taken it three times and did better each time, but he continued to fail. He was starting to get a bit tired of me saying this was a marathon not a sprint . My heart broke each time we would get the failing results. "Mom,thanks. I love you. Thanks for believing I could do this." For one of the few times in my life, I really had nothing left to say. For that one brief moment I knew, really, really, knew that everything we did to help our son achieve what he wanted was worth it. According to the text, Tom was weak in _ .
<extra_id_0>English
<extra_id_1>science
<extra_id_2>history
<extra_id_3>math
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<extra_id_5>A monkey grabs a banana in order to
<extra_id_0>build a shelter
<extra_id_1>find a mate
<extra_id_2>hit enemies
<extra_id_3>gain nutrients
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<extra_id_5>How can you hear your friends' voices when they are far away and you can't make a long--distance call? Besides the web camera system with your computer, we have a new high-tech way to solve the problem and ease your pain of missing them. The Japanese company Combiwith created a system-- . It makes people in pictures speak! The "talking picture" has a special pen. It is actually a pen-shaped scanner. It can scan information in special--made pictures. A connected player will then play the information out loud. First, you need to take a picture and record what you want to say with the company. The company will then make special barcodes onto your picture(you can't see those codes). Those codes are your voice and your words. When you hold up the pen to scan your picture with barcodes, a player connected to the pen will start to play. It plays things you've recorded. That way the invention makes the "you" in the picture speak! Do you want your friends and families talking out of pictures? Have them make pictures like that, and you can hear them whenever you want, only with the "talking picture" system. The system can play messages for up to 12 minutes. "The pictures would be useful for those who hope to hear the voice of someone living far away," said Mayumi Fuji, a spokeswoman for the company. "Grandparents, for example, longing to know about their grandchildren, would be happy to hear their voice when they see the picture," Fuji said. But it is troublesome to go to the company for taking a special picture first. And, it is much more expensive than using a telephone. The photo with barcodes costs between 17,040 and 17,990 yen (160 and 169 dollars). The larger picture you want, the more you pay. Now, just raise a finger, lonely people can have their loved ones speak out of pictures. But, whether the "talking picture" is practical or not, let's wait and see. What is the attitude of the author?
<extra_id_0>Optimistic.
<extra_id_1>Uncertain.
<extra_id_2>Positive.
<extra_id_3>Pessimistic.
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<extra_id_5>The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, founded in 1861 in response to the increasing industrialization of the United States. The institute stressed laboratory instruction in applied science and engineering. MIT's early emphasis on applied technology at the undergraduate and graduate levels led to close cooperation with industry. Curricular reforms under Karl Compton and Vannevar Bush in the 1930s emphasized basic science. MIT was elected to the Association of American Universities in 1934. Today, the institute comprises various academic departments with a strong emphasis on scientific, engineering, and technological education and research. MIT is one of the most selective higher learning institutions, and received 18,357 undergraduate applicants for the class of 2018 -- only admitting 1,419, an acceptance rate of 7.73%. MIT's 168-acre campus spans approximately a mile of the north side of the Charles River basin in the city of Cambridge. The campus is divided roughly in half by Massachusetts Avenue, with most dormitories and student life facilities to the west and most academic buildings to the east. MIT's on-campus nuclear reactor is one of the most powerful university-based nuclear reactors in the United States. In 1999 Bill Gates donated $20 million to MIT for the construction of computer laboratory named the "William H. Gates Building". While Microsoft had previously given financial support to the institution, this was the first personal donation received from Gates. Other notable campus facilities include a pressurized wind tunnel and a towing tank for testing ship and ocean structure designs. From the passage, we know MIT _ .
<extra_id_0>is a public research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
<extra_id_1>became a member of the Association of American Universities in 1934
<extra_id_2>was founded to improve the development of agriculture of the United States
<extra_id_3>at present puts emphasis on applied technology
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<extra_id_5>A 15-year-old American has become the youngest person to climb the highest mountains on each of the seven continents, completing the feat by summiting Antarctica's Mount Vinson over the weekend. Jordan Romero, who last year at age 13 became the youngest person to climb the world's tallest peak Mt Everest, was descending to base camp on Sunday after reaching the summit of Vinson Massif with a team that included his father and stepmother, according to his team's website. "We're at the roof of Antarctica," a member of Team Jordan said in a webcast from near the 4897-metre peak on a frigid but "legendary day". Romero beat the record previously held by Britain's George Atkinson, who in May completed the seven ascents at the age of 16. The junior mountaineer from Big Bear Lake, California has been hooked on climbing from an early age. When he was just 10, he became the youngest person to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak at 5895 meters. Before his 11th birthday, he had another world record under his belt, summiting Europe's Mt Elbrus, in Russia's Caucasus mountains, in July 2007. Five months later, it was the 6962-metre Mt Aconcagua in Argentina, followed by Alaska's Mt McKinley at 6194 meters. In September 2009 at age 13, he climbed Indonesia's Carstensz Pyramid, at 6194 meters the tallest island peak in the world, breaking another record. Eight months later in May 2010, he climbed Everest, and ever since he and his team had been preparing for his Antarctic expedition. "Looking forward to tomorrow, and we'll make you guys proud and promise we'll come back home safe and sound," Romero said in a webcast on Saturday, hours before he began the final ascent to Mt Vinson's summit. The team had intended to reach the top on Christmas Day, but ideal weather and good progress allowed them to summit a day ahead of schedule. According to the passage, which of the following can't be used to describe Romero?
<extra_id_0>Optimistic
<extra_id_1>Strong-willed
<extra_id_2>Ambitous
<extra_id_3>Selfish.
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<extra_id_5>Regularly staying late at the office significantly increases the risk of having a stroke or heart attack, researchers have found, working just an hour extra each day pushes up stroke risk by 10 per cent, according to a huge review of working patterns. And people who work an extra three hours a day--or 55 hours a week--are 33 per cent more likely to have a stroke, the scientists found. The research, published in the Lancet medical journal, is based on health records of more than 500, 000 people across Europe, the US and Australia. Scientists led by University College London warned that people who work longer hours tend to do less exercise, sit at a computer for hours at a time and drink more than people with a better work-life balance. Repeated stress may also be to blame for greater health problems, the scientists think. They looked at the combined result of 17 previous studies, in which 529, 000 people were tracked over an average of seven years. Experts stressed that the study had only found a link between hours worked and heart problems---it had not proved what had actually caused each death. But they warned people to take note of the findings. Dr Tim Chico, consultant cardiologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said "For many people, reducing their working hours would be difficult or impossible, and this study does not show that it would reduce the risk of stroke." Most of us could reduce the amount of time we spend sitting down, increase our physical activity and improve our diet while working and this might be more important the more time we spend at work. Where is this passage probably taken from?
<extra_id_0>A news report.
<extra_id_1>A science magazine.
<extra_id_2>A psychological journal.
<extra_id_3>A hospital introduction.
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<extra_id_5>Do you like singing or playing musical instruments ? If you say "yes", you can join us! We have piano lessons every Friday evening in our club. We also have guitar lessons on Monday evening. You don't have to pay -- The lessons are all free. Just come and have a try!We also have classes to teach students singing skills on Tuesday evening. If you like singing, you will find them useful. In our club you can meet many students from different classes and you can make friends with them. Come on! Join us! You can have piano lessons _ .
<extra_id_0>every evening
<extra_id_1>on Monday evening
<extra_id_2>every Friday evening
<extra_id_3>every Friday morning
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<extra_id_5>On May 8, last Thursday morning, the Olympic flame was lit on the top of prefix = st1 /MountQomolangma! It was a historic moment forChinaexactly three months ahead of the Beijing Games. Tibetan female climber Cering Wangmo reached the summit with a special extreme-altitude Olympic torch. This event is what Chinahas promised to the world as thehigh pointof the torch relay, the longest and most challenging of all time. Five torchbearers finished the highest relay ever--three of the climbers are Tibetan athletes. Team members said "Beijingwelcomes you!" in Chinese, English and Tibetan, as they stood at the summit celebrating, with the event broadcast on national television. "I finally fulfilled the last dream of my husband," said Gyigyi with tears in her eyes. She was the first torchbearer. Her husband lost his life in an attempt to climb all 14 mountains in Chinamore than 8,000 meters three years ago. "We are on top of the world! One world, one dream," shouted Nima Cering, at the top of his voice. He said that although he had climbed the peak several times, this was the most significant ascent . "As a Tibetan and a Chinese I pray for the success of Beijing 2008," he added. The special torch is different form the one currently touring the Chinese mainland, after an around-the-world relay. Officials organizing the trek up the peak had earlier set an April 26 target to begin the ascent, but high winds and heavy snow had delayed the mission. The Xinhua News Agency said that the Qomolangma _ of the torch relay represents the Olympic motto, "higher, faster and stronger," in practice and will promote unity among all 56 ethnic groups inChina. What would be the best title for the text?
<extra_id_0>One world, one dream
<extra_id_1>Relay reaches its highest point
<extra_id_2>Qomolangma, the highest summit in the world
<extra_id_3>The special torch and the brave torchbearers
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<extra_id_5>In plants, which describes sexual reproduction but not asexual reproduction?
<extra_id_0>Five limbs are grafted onto the same tree.
<extra_id_1>New plants are grown from pieces of other plants.
<extra_id_2>A fertilized egg cell divides to produce an embryo.
<extra_id_3>Offspring are produced that have the same genetic information as the parent.
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<extra_id_5>A victor is, by definition, someone who wins a struggle or contest. However, that doesn't mean he or she will live a proud and happy life ever after, as Katniss Everdeen is about to discover in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Catching Fire, out in Chinese theaters on Nov 21, is set in a futuristic society called Panem. Every year its government holds a televised fight to the death. Two teenagers from each of the 12 districts of Panem are chosen to compete. In the new film, last year's victors Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and her partner Peeta are back home after winning the 74thHunger Games. Katniss just wants to live a normal life. However, that never seems to happen. She has nightmares, which remind her that she is a killer. Her worst nightmare comes true when the annual Hunger Games arrive again. The teenager finds herself back in the competition along with Peeta. Since Katniss brings hope to Panem through her courage, President Snow plans to use this year's Games to kill off Katniss and Peeta and in turn _ the fires of rebellion. "This is the next step of Katniss' heroism and the next part of her journey to finding out who she is really going to be," Lawrence told Reuters. Fast-paced and full of action, Catching Fire looks to outdo the success that the first film had in 2012. With a 97 percent rating on the movie review website Rotten Tomatoes, it is enjoying positive reviews. Critics have praised it for being faithful to the book written by American author Suzanne Collins. The Hollywood Reporter said that Catching Fire outshines the first movie a lot. Jennifer Lawrence, who won a best actress Oscar this year for her 2012 movie Silver Linings Playbook, has helped Catching Fire find success, Forbes pointed out. The 23-year-old actress does well playing a young lady who hates what she was forced to do to stay alive yet is determined not to give up. "Lawrence's down-to-earth personality in real life won the hearts of the public. So given a wildly popular first film that blew everyone away, a rising fan base and a lead performer beloved by the mainstream press and viewers, the sequel was always going to be big," Forbes noted. Which of the following is TRUE about the film's story according to the article?
<extra_id_0>Every year 12 teenagers in total are chosen to join in the televised fight.
<extra_id_1>Despite having won the 74 thHunger Games, Katniss doesn't feel much joy.
<extra_id_2>Katniss and Peeta are chosen once again to make the TV show more appealing.
<extra_id_3>Jennifer Lawrence won a best actress Oscar this year for the first Hunger Games movie.
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<extra_id_5>Do you want to live another 100 years or more? Some experts say that scientific progress will one day help humans to last tens of years longer than what is now seen as the natural limit of the human life span . " I think _ ," said Michael Zey, a Montclair State University business professor and author of two books on the future. " I think by 2075 we will see it and that's a conservative estimate ." At the conference in San Francisco, Donald Louria, a professor at New Jersey Medical School in Newark said progress in using genes as well as nanotechnology makes it likely that humans will live in the future beyond what has been possible in the past. " There is a great push so that people can live from 120 to 180 years," he said. " Some have suggested that there is no limit and that people could live to 200 or 300 or 500 years." However, many scientists who research into aging are doubtful about _ and say the human body is just not designed to last about 120 years. Even with healthier lifestyles and less disease, they say failure of the brain and organs will finally lead all humans to death. Scientists also disagree on what kind of life the super aged might live. "It remains to be seen whether you could be healthy enough to have good quality of life when you pass 120." said Leonard Poon, director of the University of Georgia Gerontology Center. " At present people who could get to that point are not in good health at all." Donald Louria's attitude toward long living is that _ .
<extra_id_0>people can live from 120 to 180
<extra_id_1>it is still doubtful how long humans can live
<extra_id_2>the human body is designed to last about 120 years
<extra_id_3>it is possible for humans to live longer in the future
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<extra_id_5>Ideas about education are changing in the United States. Education today is not just a high school diploma or a college degree. Many adults are not interested in going to college. They are interested in other kinds of learning. For them, learning does not end with a diploma. Continuing education gives these adults the chance to increase their knowledge. It also gives them a chance to improve their old skills or to learn new ones. If they know more or learn more, then they can get a better job or earn more money. There are usually a large number of classes to choose from. Some adults learn new skills. Some take classes for fun or because the class will be useful for them. Others take classes to improve their own lives because they want to feel better about themselves. And still others learn how to be good parents, or how to get along with other people. There are many chances for adults to continue their learning. Almost any community college or public school system has a continuing education program. There are classes in schools, buildings, or churches. Most classes are in the evening, so working people can attend. The classes are usually small, and they are inexpensive. Thousands of people take continuing education classes each year. They receive no diploma and no grade for most of the classes they attend. For them, learning is something they do because they want to. Nowadays, some adults go to continuing education classes to _ .
<extra_id_0>just get a college education
<extra_id_1>learn new skills
<extra_id_2>just get a certificate
<extra_id_3>earn grades
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<extra_id_5>As a school teacher, Inderjit Khurana used to take the train to work. And one day, at the station, she saw dozens of children who spent their days begging from train passengers rather than going to school. She learned that it was not a rare problem and that millions of children in India lived on the streets. Realizing that these children would never be able to escape poor life and homelessness without education, and that it would be impossible to send these children to school, Inderjit decided to create a model program---taking the school to the most out- of-school children. Khurana's train platform schools aim to provide a creative school form and give children the basic levels of education. Her last goals reach far beyond the 20 platform schools she and her colleagues have created in India's Bhubaneswar region. She is determined that her program will become a model for changing the lives of the poorest children throughout India and the world. Khurana founded the Ruchika Social Service Organization(RSSO) in 1985. The teachers gather the children together between the stops of the train for reading, writing, maths and history taught through songs and other teaching tools. Khurana recently comes to realize that the education of these children is impossible when the most basic needs of their families are not being met. So she also provides food and medicine for their families. Khurana insists that every child have the right to an education and that if a child cannot come to the school, then the school must come to him or her. Khurana also offers free food and medicine to the children because _ .
<extra_id_0>the basic family needs are included in her model program
<extra_id_1>she hopes to draw more people's attention to the RSSO
<extra_id_2>they are the necessities for the out-of-school children
<extra_id_3>she wishes to improve local people's living standard
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