instruction
stringlengths 104
6.76k
| output
stringclasses 4
values |
|---|---|
<extra_id_5>In 1901, H. G. Wells, an English writer, wrote a book describing a trip to the moon. When the explorers landed on the moon, they discovered that the moon was full of underground cities. They showed their surprise to the "moon people" they met. In turn, the "moon people" showed their surprise. "Why," they asked, "are you traveling to outer space when you don't even use your inner space?" H. G. Wells could only imagine travel to the moon. In 1969, human beings did land on the moon. People today know that there are no underground cities on the moon. However, the question that the "moon people" asked is still an interesting one. A growing number of scientists are seriously thinking about _ . Underground systems are already in place. Many cities have underground car parks. In some cities, such as Tokyo, Seoul and Montreal, there are large underground shopping areas. The "Channel", a tunnel connecting England and France, is now completed. But what about underground cities? Japan's Taisei Corporation is designing a network of underground systems, called "Alice Cities". The designers imagine using surface space for public parks and using underground space for flats, offices, shopping, and so on. A solar dome would cover the whole city. Supporters of underground development say that building down rather than building up is a good way to use the earth's space. The space, they say, can be used for farms, parks, gardens and wilderness. H. G. Well's "moon people" would agree. Would you? The explorers in H. G. Well's story were surprised to find that the "moon people" _ .
<extra_id_0>knew so much about the earth
<extra_id_1>understood their language
<extra_id_2>lived in so many underground cities
<extra_id_3>were ahead of them in space technology
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>A Chinese actor's divorce from his wife, over her alleged extramarital affair, has social media buzzing, with posts about the subject gaining over five billion views. Wang Baoqiang announced online on Sunday that he was divorcing his wife, Ma Rong, and sacking his agent, Song Zhe. He alleged that his marriage broke down after his wife had an affair with his agent, and that she had also transferred the couple's joint assets. Ma has hit back at Wang, accusing him of abandoning their family. The topic has sparked a debate about relationships and divorce. It seems Wang's situation has struck a chord with many - which could explain the number of views, which are high even by Chinese standards. The divorce quickly became a top trending topic in China. According to micro blog Sina Weibo, posts with the hashtag "Wang BaoQiang Divorce" have been viewed over five billion times. Chinese netizens seem to have rallied around Wang, with topics like "Wang Don't Cry" "Wang We Support You", quickly trending after news of the divorce spread. Statistics by Weibo showed that 47% of netizens' posts condemned Ma for her affair, saying it had shattered her family. But why are they so interested? what is it about this one that's got all of China ruffled up? Some people feel that this divorce seems to fit a certain trope - of a beautiful but ordinary girl marrying a rich but less good-looking man. It is not uncommon to hear the belief that a couple has to "match" at every level - be it in status, or physical appearance - for a relationship to work out. Wang and Ma's split has many people wondering if uneven matches are unlikely to succeed. A lot of social media discussion has also centred around divorce, and in particular how people can protect themselves. Wang has alleged that his wife transferred and hid some of the couple's assets. They're a wealthy couple - their assets, according to Chinese media, include nine flats, a BMW car and various luxury goods. As a result, people are debating the importance of protecting individual assets, even after marriage. What is the possible reason why Wang Baoqiang wanted a divorce?
<extra_id_0>He abandoned his wife and family deliberately
<extra_id_1>He wanted to make his divorce a top trending topic on the internet.
<extra_id_2>He found his wife had an affair with his agent and that she had also transferred the couple's joint assets.
<extra_id_3>He wanted to protect himself and individual assets.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Wanted Project Management Assistant Responsibility: Provide service for the project in Chongqing. Provide assistance to the project manager for everyday work. Responsible for file management, customer service for students & parents. Requirements: College degree and above. Good English and computer skill. Related working experience in an international organization. Patient, careful, supportive. Have strong team work spirit. English Teacher Responsibility: Conduct English teaching according to British education system. Requirements: University degree and above in English major or normal English. Eager to learn and open-minded with creativity. With deep understanding for different cultures. (Warmly welcome the fresh graduates to apply for this position.) Marketing Assistant Responsibility: Responsible for the local management of marketing & sales activities according to the instructions from the head office. Collect related information to the head office. Develop relationship with local media and customers. Requirements: College degree and above with good English (speaking & writing). With basic idea of sales and marketing, related experience is preferred. Working experience in the international organizations is a must. Good communication and presentation skills Accountant Responsibility: Accountant work for Chongqing office and project. Perform the finance management locally according to the rules & policy of the company. Requirements: College degree and above in finance area. Good English and good computer skill. Have sense of finance management. At least 2 years' experience as an accountant in an international organization is a must. Self-management, hardworking, independent and able to deal with pressure. You can go to _ for more information. Please mail or fax your resume (both in English & Chinese), diploma, training certificates and expected salary to the following address within two weeks. No personal visit or telephone call before that. Your materials will be kept in ACE files. Add: Room 1806 Plaza Building Yuzhong District Chongqing 40010 Fax No: 023- 63728428 Email: acercq @ cta.cq.cn If you want to apply for a position, you can _ .
<extra_id_0>go to the company or make a telephone call at any time
<extra_id_1>tell the company how much money you want for your position
<extra_id_2>go to acercq @ cta.cq.cn for the information about the employment
<extra_id_3>write about yourself either in English or in Chinese
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Almost every child in big cities has the chance to go to school. Nine years' studying helps children to prepare for their future lives. In fact, many students can study for more than nine years. Not all children are so lucky. There is a girl called Xiao Fang. She is eight years old and lives in a small village in Guangxi. When she was younger, she wanted to go to school, but she could not because her family was too poor. The schools were too expensive, so her parents kept her at home. Instead of studying, Xiao Fang worked in the fields with her parents. Then Project Hope heard about Xiao Fang. It agreed to help Xiao Fang to go to school. Her wish came true, and now she is studying in a school. Unluckily, there are many thousands of children who can not go to school. You can help these children. Project Hope also helps to repair school buildings. All this good work costs money. Project Hope needs your help. If you give Project Hope Y=300, we can pay for one child to go to school for a whole year. With more money, Project Hope can build new schools. The money buys good desks, chairs, blackboards and books. To help us is to help Xiao Fang and many other children to have a good start in life. _ can go to school.
<extra_id_0>Almost everyone in the world
<extra_id_1>Almost everyone in China
<extra_id_2>Almost everyone in big cities
<extra_id_3>Almost everyone in small villages
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Fortunately, I've been able to avoid the traffic jam brought by presidential visits because ! don't have to commute anywhere. Barack Obama visited Los Angeles recently which paralyzed large sections of a city and you could almost hear the collective pain of unhappy commuters. I am among the l0 percent of people in the US that regularly work from home. You could include Obama among them, although I suspect his working area in the White House is better-equipped than my small space on to the back of the garage. He also probably doesn't have a problem with three little kids interrupting his phone calls or bursting into his office at inappropriate moments. Every day there they are, knocking on my window and peering inside, as if looking at an animal in a zoo. Once, a telephone interview I was doing with the former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was interrupted by my older son, then three years old, and completely naked "Ahaaar!" he shouted to my face. "What was that?" said Schwarzenegger. I stammered something about the joys of children and silently managed to shoo the boy out of the room without putting down the phone. I shouldn't complain. I no longer have to stand having someone's armpit being pressed into my face on a crowded train and home status means ! should be a more productive worker although working from home could also lead to "avoiding duties from home". I would argue that a bigger problem is going nuts: Staring at the same walls every day and not going anywhere can do strange things to a person. I realized I had to get out of the house at least once a day to avoid turning into an unshaven and unshoweredrecluse who was still in his pyjamas at dinner time. I would work for an hour or so in a local coffee shop but, like most routine, this became boring because I would constantly see the same faces: Screenwriters poring over screenplays, elderly women heading to the yoga studio next door and hordes of overweight middle-aged male cycling by. And yet here I am several years later, still working from home consciously and, I'm happy to report, not sitting at my desk in my pyjamas. Not since last Tuesday, anyway. The author may agree that _
<extra_id_0>it's a bad decision to work from home
<extra_id_1>presidential visits bring inconvenience to the locals
<extra_id_2>if a person wants to be more productive, he must work from home
<extra_id_3>the former California governor was angry at the interruption during the interview
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Mr. Jackson was a doctor in a small town. He was very absent-minded . One afternoon, he went to visit a friend who lived not far from the town. They had dinner together and then talked and talked, for Mr. Jackson was very fond of talking. It was already midnight, then one o'clock, two o'clock and still Mr. Jackson kept on talking. But this time the friend was feeling very tired and kept looking at the clock on the wall. He didn't want to be impolite , but at last he said, "Charles, my dear friend, I don't want to put you out, but I have to go to work at six tomorrow morning, I must go to bed now. " "Oh, my God!" said Mr. Jackson in surprise. "I thought you were at my house. " Mr Jackson stayed at his friend's house for _ .
<extra_id_0>four hours
<extra_id_1>three hours
<extra_id_2>two hours
<extra_id_3>more than six hours
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Many people travel to different places in the world by air. Usually it takes a long time, perhaps half a day, for passengers to stay in the plan. So airlines offer passengers food. But it is common that they feel bad about food taste. Do you agree? To solve this problem, airlines try hard to improve their food. They would like to do so because they don't want to lose customers. However, according to scientific research, part of the reason why plane food tastes bad is that at high altitude we can not taste things as well as we do on the ground. Also scientists have found that our noses become very dry even before a plane takes off. As the plane moves up, the change in air pressure reduces one third of the sensibility of our taste buds . So our taste buds become senseless. The sad face, however, is that our noses don't know it. All of these help explain why food on the plane tastes so bad. They also help explain why airlines choose to offer passengers salty and spicy food. Without doing so, the food would be tasteless. Now there are many researches on this. According to one of them, some volunteers are asked to lie with their feet higher than their heads for weeks. And scientists write down their feelings about food taste. Though scientists try their best, it is not as easy as they thought. Because they can't deal with the special environment successfully, such as the change in air pressure, making food taste good is still hard for them. What do airlines do to solve this problem?
<extra_id_0>Get more customers.
<extra_id_1>Offer more food.
<extra_id_2>Improve their food.
<extra_id_3>Reduce the ticket price.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>People have been growing chrysanthemums for more than 2,000 years. Mums make bright and colorful gardens. People in China and other Asian cultures make tea with the flowers. One basic kind of mum is the garden mum. The other basic kind is the florist mum. The garden mum is better able to handle different growing conditions. There are many varieties of mums. The decorative mum is often seen in gardens. Another popular type, the quill mum, has long, straight petals like a tube or needle. Chrysanthemum blooms can be white, yellow, gold, red or other colors. The plants often grow one meter high. The soil for chrysanthemums should be kept moist but well drained so it does not get too wet. Newly-planted mums should be watered two or three times a week, depending on conditions. Plants established in the ground may do well just with normal rainfall. Mums grow best in full sunshine. They produce colorful blooms when days get shorter and nights get longer. The life cycle of the plant depends on the amount of daylight. This is why experts advise against placing mums near night lights or street lights. The light may interfere with their normal growth cycle. The plants may develop buds too soon. In climates where temperatures fall below freezing, plant mums at least six weeks before the first frost. That way, the plants will be well established for cold weather. Some gardeners say the most beautiful presentation comes from planting mums close together. But be sure to leave enough space to let air flow between the plants. If not, there may be a greater chance of disease. To get more blooms, gardeners pinch back the branches when new growth has reached fifteen centimeters. Squeeze about five to seven centimeters off each branch. Pinch it again when a branch grows another twelve to fifteen centimeters. Stop the pinching about one hundred days before you want the plants to bloom. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>Growing mums has a very long history and all the people in the world like making tea with mums.
<extra_id_1>Mums can grow one meter high and the closer they are planted, the higher they grow.
<extra_id_2>Though planting mums close together can make them look more beautiful, enough space should be left.
<extra_id_3>The petals of mums are long and straight and the more water mums get, the more quickly they grow.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Which of these resources will most likely be depleted first?
<extra_id_0>Wind
<extra_id_1>Solar energy
<extra_id_2>Fossil fuels
<extra_id_3>Water
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Robert Fredy was general manager of a large hotel in Ashbury park. New Jersey. One cold day two years ago when he stopped his car at a traffic light, Stephen Pear man, an out-of-work taxi and truck driver, walked up to Fredy's car hoping to earn some change by washing his windshield.Like many motorists who try to keep the beggars off, Fredy turned on the wipers to show he wasn't interested. Pearman put his head close to the window."Come on, mister.Give me a chance.I need a job," he said.Something in Stephen Pearman's voice moved Robert Fredy.In the seconds before traffic started moving again, Fredy handed a business card and told him to call if he was serious. "My friends told me he was just pulling my leg, "said Pearman."But I said, " No, he's a businessman.I need to give it a shot." Two days later,29-year-old Pearman appeared in the manager's office of the big hotel.Fredy gave him a job and housing and lent him pocket money while training him. Today, Pearman works full time setting up the hotel's dining halls for business meetings.In the past two years, he has found a flat, married and repaid Fredy's loans. "Mr.Fredy gave me a second chance, "says Pearman, " And I took advantage of it.I could have just come here a while, eaten up and left.But there is no future in washing windshields." Ordinarily, Fredy keeps away from the street people."But Pearman seemed so honest and open, asking for a chance rather than just money," Fredy says, "I don't hand my business card to just anybody.But I'm glad I did in this case." When Pearman first appeared before Fredy, .
<extra_id_0>Fredy took him as a beggar
<extra_id_1>Pearman was told to do it later
<extra_id_2>Fredy gladly agreed to let him do it
<extra_id_3>Pearman knew Fredy was a kind man
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>When it comes to movies, we usually think of big actors, big budgets, big screens, and, if lucky, big profits. Unfortunately, that puts up some big barriers for aspiring young filmmakers and their dreams. However, thanks to easy access to technology, that's all changing. All one really needs nowadays is a camera, a computer, an Internet connection, and, of course, a good idea. With that, you can enter the microfilm world. Shooting a movie using friends and family as the cast has become a common class project for high school students. After a little editing on a laptop, some even decide their creation is worth sharing online. Microfilms are shot within a short period of time and last only a few minutes or even shorter. Most are completed on an extremely small budget and offer a cheap way for grassroots directors to realize their dreams. With a range of film festivals, they have taken off due to being perfectly suited to new media platforms such as mobile phones and notebook computers. They are also easily shared across social networks and microblogs. But microfilms are far different from the shorts commonly found on YouTube. A microfilm must have a solid and thoughtful plot. Most importantly, the movies are easily distributed and there can be no concern about long-term box office profits. Most people who upload a microfilm simply see it as an easy way to share their fun with a few friends and family. Others may be curious about what sort of reaction their production may receive from the general public. According to the passage, what helps promising microfilmmakers realize their dreams?
<extra_id_0>The profits from microfilms.
<extra_id_1>Aids from friends and family.
<extra_id_2>Supports from the public.
<extra_id_3>Small costs for microfilms.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>As we all know, it was Thomas Jefferson who wrote the Declaration of Independence (<<>> ). He wrote it in two weeks, and after a few changes, it was accepted by the Congress . As a result, he became famous. Born in 1743 in Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, a wonderful student at school and almost talented( ) lawyer later, was much interested in politics. Jefferson was elected the Governor of Virginia in 1779, and he was sent to France as the representative of the American government in 1784. Sixteen years later, at the age of 57, he was elected president after Washington and Adams. Far from a handsome man, he was tall with long arms and big hands. Jefferson, who was an amusing talker in conversation but a poor speaker, was generally good-natured. Jefferson was regarded as a defender of freedom in America. As a president, he protected the right of free speech. Interestingly enough, in his eight years as president, Jefferson never vetoed a bill which the Congress had passed. He did a lot in organizing the new University of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson died on July the fourth, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of American Independence. How old was Thomas Jefferson when he was elected President of the U.S.A.?
<extra_id_0>He was 47.
<extra_id_1>He was in his forties.
<extra_id_2>He was 57.
<extra_id_3>We don't know.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Glastonbury Festival: Time and place: 22nd~26th June, Pilton, Somerse. Recognized as the best summer festival season, Glastonbury is one of the biggest and oldest festivals in the UK. Last year's 40th anniversary was their best ever, even though the supergroup U2 canceled last minute because of Bono injuring his back. Latitude Festival: Time and place:14th~17th July, Henham Park, Suffolk. Now in its sixth year, this festival is the choice for more families. It is providing visitors with a range of entertainment to accompany the music, including comedy, show, theatre and literature. Shrewsbury Folk Festival: Time and place: 26th~29th August, West Mids Show Ground, Shrewsbury. Announced as one of the best folk festivals in the UK, this festival is only in its sixth year. It takes place over the 4 days of the August bank holiday weekend, and moved to Shrewsbury in 2006. Download Festival: Time and place: 10th and 12th, June, Donington Park Derby. It is a three-day rock music festival held every year. The name Download was chosen for the festival for two reasons. Downloading was a dirty work in the music industry at the time because of file sharing and rock is seen as a rebellious type of music. Which festival is one of the oldest festivals in the UK?
<extra_id_0>Download Festival
<extra_id_1>Latitude Festival
<extra_id_2>Shrewsbury Folk Festival
<extra_id_3>Glastonbury Festival
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>There is a unique place where deserted factories have been transformed into a lively artistic zone - where the city's tradition and heritage meet with cutting-edge art and fashion. This is Redtory. Located at Yuancun Si Heng Lu, not far from the Pearl River of Guangzhou city, Redtory is a creative cultural and industrial zone made up of more than 30 old buildings - mostly red-brick ones. Back in 1956, it used to be the biggest canning factory in China. The factory produced the Can Dace with Black Bean Sauce, an iconic food product in the last century, well-known throughout south-east Asia. After the local government's industrial structure reformations, the canning factory moved away and the workshops were left deserted. There was nothing left but memories in well-preserved Soviet-style buildings. Not long after the noise of the running machines was gone, posters of advertisement and art were found hanging on the wall in the area. To enrich the cultural and artistic life of the people in Guangzhou, the abandoned factories reopened in 2009 - displaying art, fashion and culture of different forms. Redtory is home to more than 40 establishments including art galleries, themed restaurants and design studios. Large international cultural exchange activities, art exhibitions and seminars are often held here, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Meanwhile, waste materials have been used wisely instead of being thrown away. For instance, some installations standing around the area are made up of the rusty machines or components from the old canning factory. The shabby and nostalgic appearance combined with fashionable and artistic features makes Redtory uniquely attractive. That may be the reason that Redtory is considered the holy land for young art-lovers in Guangzhou. Add.: No.128 Yuancun Si Heng Lu, Tianhe District, Guangzhou Bus: Yuancun Er Heng Rd Stop - 40,44,140,284,293,299,401,504,540,542,583,882;Yuancun Stop Terminal (Meilin Garden) - B11,243;Pazhou Bridge (North) Stop - 137,304,564,B7,B25 Metro: Exit B, Yuancun Station, Line 5 What's special about Redtory?
<extra_id_0>It perfectly combines the old with the new.
<extra_id_1>It shows every respect of modern city life.
<extra_id_2>It tells the story of some old buildings
<extra_id_3>It shows how the old is replaced by the new.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Many American youngsters earn their own allowance by doing temporary jobs for their neighbors. Babysitting is one of the common of these jobs. Most couples do not have maids or relatives living with them, and they need to have someone watch the children if they want to go out. Another way is by mowing lawn in summer and clearing snow from sidewalks and driveways in winter. Many people mow their own lawns,but often people prefer to give the job to a neighbor's child. In winter, snow clearing from streets and highways is the government's responsibility. Homeowners or tenants, however, must clear sidewalks and driveways. Since clearing snow is very tiring, many people prefer to hire teenagers for this job rather than do it themselves. Besides, many American teenagers usually work two to three hours after school and all day on Saturday or Sunday at the local supermarket. They work as cashiers or stockroom clerks. Or they help customers carry things to their cars. Other favorite jobs are waiting on tables in restaurants or working part-time at stores or gas stations. By earning their own allowance,teenagers acquire a feeling of independence and a sense of responsibility which prepares them for a productive life in society. Who will clear the snow on the streets?
<extra_id_0>The inhabitants.
<extra_id_1>The neighbors
<extra_id_2>The government.
<extra_id_3>The police.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>A 72 W navigation unit on a commercial aircraft has a 24 V power supply and uses 3 A of electric current. What is the electrical resistance of the navigation unit?
<extra_id_0>4 ohms
<extra_id_1>8 ohms
<extra_id_2>13 ohms
<extra_id_3>22 ohms
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Just as mankind has always had a desire to fly, the human race has wanted to swim under the water since prehistoric times. Pictures of primitive devices to enable people to breathe underwater have been found dating from 3000 years ago, but our dream of moving freely beneath the ocean waves for long periods of time was only realized about 60 years ago, when French diving legend Jacques Cousteau developed the first practical Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus(SCUBA). Since then the sport of SCUBA diving has gone from strength to strength. Lovers of SCUBA diving like the feeling of weightlessness, the peace and quiet under the water, the ability to move in three dimensions and the sense of adventure they get while on a dive. SCUBA divers often travel to some of the most beautiful and remote places in the world in the search for rare underwater flora and fauna(, ). prefix = st1 /Palau, The Red Sea, The Maldives and Hawaii have many of the most popular diving sites, but recreational divers often have to make do with less exotic local destinations, like the North Sea inBritain. SCUBA diving is not without its dangers, however. The mixture of nitrogen and oxygen divers breathe underwater, combined with the pressure under the water can be deadly if a diver rises too quickly to the surface, causing a condition called 'the bends'. Divers can also get lost or trapped when diving on wrecks, and fatalities are particularly common in cave diving, where divers add to the dangers of diving by swimming through underground caves filled with water. Diving can also be harmful to the underwater environment. However with proper precautions diving can open up a whole new world, far from the stresses of daily life. How might the writer describe SCUBA diving?
<extra_id_0>Interesting.
<extra_id_1>Relaxing.
<extra_id_2>Frightening
<extra_id_3>Unpleasant.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>In 1970, my five brothers, my sister and I lived in the housing projects of Toronto with our parents. My father was a factory worker, and my mother stayed at home. Each year my father would dress up as Santa Claus and go through the streets of the projects sharing joy and candies with the children there. He loved it as much as they did! But around the Christmas in 1970, my father was out of his job and money was tight. In fact, there was no money for Christmas and my parents weren't sure what they'd provide for us. That Christmas Eve, however, as usual, my father left the house dressed as Santa Claus. He knew that even though our Christmas would be hard, he could not disappoint the other kids in the neighborhood.[:,,] As my father left the house and went down the walkway, Santa Claus was walking up, with a great sack full of gifts for us! He said nothing, only smiled a sweet smile at my father, and wished him a Merry Christmas. The happy man handed Dad the sack and walked away down the block. We never knew who the man was and who showed us great kindness on a snowy Christmas night. We do know, however, that without him we would have had nothing under the tree. His kindness gave my parents hope and showed us in a very real way the true meaning of Christmas. Our family has never forgotten this kind stranger. Each year we tell the story of the mysterious Santa Claus and try to repay his gifts by giving gifts to others in need. The author's family knew _ .
<extra_id_0>who the mysterious Santa Claus was
<extra_id_1>why the mysterious Santa Claus helped them
<extra_id_2>how they could repay the mysterious Santa Claus
<extra_id_3>they could find the mysterious Santa Claus one day
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Every morning my father buys a newspaper on his way to work. Every evening my mother looks through magazines at home. And every night, I look at the posters with photos of David Beckham and Yao Ming on my bedroom wall before I go to sleep. Can we imagine life without paper or print? Paper was first created about 2,000 years ago, and has been made from silk, cotton, bamboo, and, since the 19th century, from wood. People learned to write words on paper to make a book. But in those days, books could only be produced one at a time by hand. As a result, they were expensive and _ . And because there weren't many books, few people learned to read. Then printing was invented in China. When printing was developed greatly at the beginning of the 11th century, books could be produced more quickly and cheaply. As a result, more people learned to read. After that, knowledge and ideas spread quickly. Today information can be received online, downloaded from the Internet rather than found in books, and information can be kept on CD-ROMs or machines such as MP5 players. Computers are already used in classrooms, and newspapers and magazines can already be read online. So will books be replaced by computers one day? No, I don't think the Yao Ming poster on my bedroom wall will ever be replaced by a computer two meters high! What does the writer do before he goes to sleep'?
<extra_id_0>He reads books.
<extra_id_1>He reads newspapers
<extra_id_2>He looks through magazines
<extra_id_3>He looks at the posters on the wall.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>In March 2004, Joe Ryan got a collection notice from a billing agency for Littleton Adventist Hospital near prefix = st1 /Denver,Colorado. The hospital wanted payment for surgery totaling $41,188. Ryan had never set foot in that hospital. Obviously there was some mistake. "I thought it was a joke," says Ryan. But when he called the billing agency, nobody laughed. Someone named Joe Ryan, using Ryan's Social Security number, had indeed been admitted for surgery. He figured clearing this up would take just a few phone calls. Two years later, Ryan continues to suffer from the damage to his credit rating and still doesn't know if his medical record has been cleared of wrong information. Joe Ryan was the victim of a little-known but frightening type of consumer fraud that is on the rise: medical identity theft, which involves using your name to get drugs, expensive medical treatment and even cheating insurance payments. As Ryan discovered, money isn't the half of it. When someone steals your name to receive health care, his medical history becomes part of your record -- and setting the record straight can be extremely difficult. That's because, in part, the information is distributed among dozens of caregivers, from doctors to medicine stores to insurance companies and labs. "I wanted to help straighten this out," says Ryan, "so I went to the hospital, and they had a three-inch-thick record for me, but they wouldn't let me see it. I showed them my ID, and they said that's not Joe Ryan's signature. Well, of course not! They had this other guy's signature." Ryan had fallen into a victim's Catch-22: If your record doesn't appear to be yours, you may not have the right to see it, much less change it. Ryan's next step was a visit to the Police Department. But the cops concluded there was not much they could do; local law enforcement has little experience with medical ID theft, and cases can end up being considered a civil matter. Which of the following is the best title of this passage?
<extra_id_0>A mistake Made byLittletonAdventistHospital
<extra_id_1>Expensive Medical Treatment
<extra_id_2>Your Medical Records, Stolen!
<extra_id_3>Joe Ryan, Wanted by the Police
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Many parents like setting family rules for their kids. When kids break rules, parents will give them some punishments, which aren't included in rules. In fact, when you tell your kids about a new rule, you should talk with them about the price they should pay for breaking the rule -- what the punishment will be. Punishments you set should be reasonable, without violence or threat . For example, if you find your son smoking, you may limit his social activities for two weeks. You should punish your kids only in ways you have discussed before the rule is broken. A study shows that the most popular punishment is to limit kids' TV time. It's understandable that you'll be angry when rules are broken. Punishment is a way to express your anger, but it's not a very good one. Sharing your feelings of anger, disappointment or sadness with your kids can have a better effect on them. Try to do that. When your kids know what they have done has made you sad, they will feel _ . When they know their actions influence you greatly, they will obey rules better. Rules are made to help your kids behave better. If your rules or ways of punishment make them unhappy or under a lot of pressure, are they helpful? In the writer's opinion, which is thought to be the best way to express anger to kids?
<extra_id_0>Punishing them.
<extra_id_1>Keeping silent.
<extra_id_2>Asking them to do some housework.
<extra_id_3>Telling them how disappointed you are.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Sports, school are tiring. But there is a great way to _ after all of those activities. Go to north London, to the coolest part of the city---Camden. There you can find fashion trends (,) and famous people. Sam and I walked down Camden High Street and made our way to a bridge over Regent's Canal. It is a 9-mile man-made river that goes through London. We went into a big market and saw crazy signs, fun T-shirts, and things like hand-made earrings for sale. We bought Chinese fried noodles. It tasted very different from the noodles we make at home, and we ate it with a fork instead of chopsticks! Camden is famous for the punk style that started in the 1970s. Punks walked around with bright pink and green hair, broken clothes with safety pins, metal buttons and pierced ears and lips. Punk music shops played loud, heavy rock music. But there were also groups of hippies with big sweaters. They sat in cafes drinking soymilk, with black clothes, black lipstick and painted white faces. Besides all these "normal" people, a lot of famous people come to Camden. Actor Orlando Bloom from Pirates of the Caribbean lives there. Camden is especially known as a home to famous musicians. Lots of top bands played here, including Coldplay, Oasis---and Sam's favourite band, The Vaccines. I had never heard of them before---But luckily they were playing that night in Camden. What did Sam and the writer do at the big market?
<extra_id_0>They bought some hand-made earrings .
<extra_id_1>They ate some Chinese fried noodles.
<extra_id_2>They used chopsticks instead of a fork.
<extra_id_3>They found some crazy signs about T-shirts
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Dou Kou, a Chinese boy, is called "the youngest writer in the world" .He has written 3 books now. Dou Kou was born in Jiangsu Province in 1994. When he was 7 months old, his parents started working in over 30 different cities, such as Xi'an and Shenzhen .This kind of life gave him things to think and write about. When Dou Kou was 9 months old, he could speak and at the age of one he could say five to six hundred words. At 3, he could look up words in the dictionary. At 4, his father taught him to learn something. His parents like reading very much. So does he. At the age of 5, he began writing fairy tales . His fairy tales are all from his life. One day ,he found many mice in the house. They not only ate their food but also hurt his mother's hand. So he thought, "lf we give mice the stomachs of cows, they'll eat grass and it'll be helpful to people. " This was his first fairy tale Change, Stomach for Mice. At 6, he wrote a novel about his own life in different cities with his parents. Now, he studies well in a middle school. He has written his third book, the novel- called Eyes of Childhood . Because of _ Dou Kou could write his books.
<extra_id_0>his mother
<extra_id_1>his father
<extra_id_2>school life
<extra_id_3>life in different cities
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>About five states in Nigeria will experience a total eclipse of the sun on March 29, 2006, according to a forecast by the Ministry of Science and Technology this week. An eclipse occurs in one of two ways: when the moon passes between the earth and the sun so that all or part of the sun cannot be seen for a time, or when the earth passes between the moon and the sun so that you cannot see all or part of the moon for a time. The first case is a solar eclipse or eclipse of the sun, which occurs as the earth enters the shadow of the moon. The second describes a lunar eclipse or eclipse of the moon, which happens when the moon enters the shadow of the earth. More than 60 percent of Nigerians are uneducated, and eclipses in some parts of the country in the past have caused commotions in which people have been killed and property destroyed. Some Nigerians believe an eclipse is punishment from the gods for evil doing. The March 29th eclipse would be the fifth in prefix = st1 /Nigeria's history, and it is expected to last for 30 minutes -- 9:15AM to 9:45AM, according to the official prediction.Nigeriawitnessed eclipses in 1898, 1947, 1959, and 2001. The shadows in an eclipse have a central dark part called umbra, and a less dark external section called penumbra. In the umbra, all the sun's light is cut off, and this is called total eclipse; while in the penumbra, only a part of the light from the sun is cut off from the moon, and it is called partial eclipse. Five Nigerian states -- Oyo, Kwara,Niger, Zamfara, and Katsina -- are expected to have total eclipse, while other parts of the country will experience partial eclipse. If this passage is taken from a newspaper, which section is the passage probably from?
<extra_id_0>Entertainment.
<extra_id_1>Economy.
<extra_id_2>Education.
<extra_id_3>Science.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>For several days I saw little of Mr.Rochester.In the morning he seemed much occupied with business,and in the afternoon gentlemen from the neighborhood called and sometimes stayed to dine with him.When his foot was well enough,he rode out a great deal. During this time,all my knowledge of him was limited to occasional meetings about the house,when he would sometimes pass me coldly,and sometimes bow and smile.His changes of manner did not offend me,because I saw that I had nothing to do with the cause of them. One evening,several days later,1 was invited to talk to Mr.Rochester after dinner.He was sitting in his armchair,and looked not quite so serious.There was a smile on his lips,and.his eyes were bright,probably with wine.As 1 was looking at him,he suddenly turned,and asked me,"do you think I'm handsome,Miss Eyre?'' The answer somehow slipped from my tongue before I realized it,"No,sir." "Ah,you really are unusual!" "Sir,I'm sorry.I should have said that beauty doesn't matter,or something like that." "No.You have honesty and feeling.There ale not many girls like you.But perhaps I go too fast.But I mean you're the sort of person people tell their problems and secrets to,because you're sympathetic and give them hope." It seemed he had quite a lot to talk to me.He didn't seem to like to finish the talk quickly."Don't be afraid of me,Miss Eyre."He continued."You don't relax or laugh very much.But in time you will be more natural with me,and laugh,and speak freely.You're like a bird in a cage.When you get out of the cage.You'11 fly very high.Good night." Mr.Rochester meant _ by saying"You're like a bird in a cage.When you get out of the cage,you'11 fly very high."
<extra_id_0>Miss Eyre would think highly of him,
<extra_id_1>Mi.ss Eyre would have a higher position
<extra_id_2>Miss Eyre would have a broaden view about the world
<extra_id_3>Miss Eyre would get better paid because of her wondefu1 work
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Jodie Foster was born on Nobember 19,1962,in Los Angeles, Carlif., US. She is an American film actress who began her career as a mature child actress. Jodie began her performing career as a very young child in television, appearing first in commercials . She starred in her own short-lived series, Paper Moon (1974), based on the 1973 film of the same name. She appeared in a number of Disney films, beginning with Napoleon and Samantha (1972). Director Martin Scorsese cast Jodie in a bit part in Alice Doesn't live Here Anymore (1974) before giving her the role of Iris in Taxi Driver (1976). Her mature performance in Taxi Driver earned her an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress. Her later films as child actress were less impressive, but her performances were always admired. Jodie graduated from Yale University in 1985. Perhaps because of her screen image of early maturity, Foster was abler to make a relatively smooth transition to adult roles. In The Accused (1988), she gave a perfect performance as Sarah Tobias. In The Silence of the Lames (1991), she tracks a killer as FBI agent Clarice Starling. Both performances won her Academy Awards as best actress. In 1990s, Jodie went into other areas of filmmaking. She directed her best film, Little Man Tate, in 1991,in which she also co-starred. In 1994, she co-produced Nell, for which she also received an Oscar nomination for best actress. In 1997, Foster starred in Contact. Her later films included Panic Room (2002), Inside Man (2006), and The Brave One (2007). In which part of a newspaper would you most probably read this passage?
<extra_id_0>People
<extra_id_1>Business
<extra_id_2>Fashion
<extra_id_3>Career
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Douglas Adams was born in Cambridge in March 1952, educated at Brentwood School, Essex and St John's College, Cambridge where, in 1974 he gained a BA (and later an MA) in English literature. He was the creator of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy(<<>> ), which started life as a BBC Radio 4 series in March 1978. Since then it has been transformed into a series of best-selling novels, a TV series, a record album, a computer game and several stage adaptations. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's success sent the book straight to Number One in the UK Bestseller List and in 1984 Douglas Adams became the youngest author to be awarded a Golden Pan. He won a further two (a rare feat), and was nominated--though not selected - for the first Best of Young British Novelists awards. He followed this success with The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (1980); Life, The Universe and Everything (1982); So Long and Thanks for all the Fish (1984); and Mostly Harmless (1992). The first two books in the Hitchhiker series were adapted into a 6-part television series, which was an immediate success when first showed in 1982. Other publications include Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (1987) and Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul (1988). In 1984 Douglas teamed up with John Lloyd and wrote The Meaning of Life and their second huge success, The Deeper Meaning of Life followed in 1990. One of Douglas's personal favorites was written in 1990 when he teamed up with zoologist Mark Carwardine and wrote Last Chance to See an account of a world-wide search for rare and endangered species of animals. Douglas sold over 15 million books in the UK, the US and Australia. He was also a best seller in German, Swedish and many other languages. Douglas Adams died on Friday, May 11, 2001, in Santa Barbara, CA. He will be greatly missed by fans worldwide. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was first shown to the public as _ .
<extra_id_0>a radio series
<extra_id_1>a movie
<extra_id_2>a TV series
<extra_id_3>a computer game
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>We have three meals a day. In the morning,we have breakfast. It is at about 6 or 7 o'clock. Breakfast should be good. We can have milk,egg,and other things. Some students often have no breakfast. It is very bad for their heath. In china,lunch is the main meal of the day. It is at about 12 o'clock. It is a big meal. There are often three or four dishes. We should be full after lunch. We usually have supper at about 6 or 7 o'clock in the evening. We should have a small supper. But in England,people call the main meal dinner. It often means supper. What does the word"full"mean in Chinese?
<extra_id_0>.
<extra_id_1>.
<extra_id_2>.
<extra_id_3>.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Can you be too beautiful? It is hardly a problem that most of us have to bother -- as much as we might like to dream that it were the case. Yet the blessings and curses of beauty have been a long-standing interest in psychology. Do those blessed with shiny faces and an attractive body live in a cloud of appreciation -- or does it sometimes pay to be ordinary? Combing through decades of findings, social psychologists Lisa Slattery Walker and Tonya Frevert at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte havereviewed all the evidence to dateand their conclusions are not what you might expect. At the most basic level, beauty might be thought to carry a kind of halo around it; we see that someone has one good quality, and by association, our deep mind may assume that they have other good ones too. Even in the courts, a pleasing appearance can work its magic. Attractive criminals are likely to get less strict sentences, or to escape punishment entirely; attractive plaintiffs , meanwhile, are more likely to win their case and get bigger financial settlements. "It's an effect seen everywhere," says Walker. But if beauty pays in most circumstances, there are still situations where it can have opposite results. While attractive men may be considered better leaders, for instance, hidden sexist prejudices can work against attractive women, making them less likely to be hired for high-level jobs that require power. And as you might expect, good-looking people of both sexes run into envy -- one study found that if you are interviewed by someone of the same sex, they may be less likely to employ you if they judge that you are more attractive than they are. More worryingly, being beautiful or handsome could harm your medical care. We tend to link good looks to health, meaning that illnesses are often taken less seriously when they affect the good-looking. When treating people for pain, for instance, doctors tend to take less care over the more attractive people. And the bubble of beauty can be a somewhat lonely place. One study in 1975, for instance, found that people tend to move further away from a beautiful woman on the pathway -- perhaps as a mark of respect, but still making interaction more distant. "Attractiveness can convey more power over visible space -- but that in turn can make others feel they can't approach that person," says Frevert. Interestingly, the online dating website OKCupid recently reported that people with the most beautiful pictures are less likely to find dates than those with less perfect pictures. Ultimately, Frevert points out that focusing too much on your appearance can itself be harmful if it creates stress and anxiety -- even for those already blessed with good looks. "If you are crazy about attractiveness, it may affect your experience and interactions," she says. It's an outdated saying, but no amount of beauty can make up for a bad personality. As the writer Dorothy Parker put it so elegantly: " _ ." Which is the benefit for beautiful people?
<extra_id_0>An attractive plaintiff has more chances to get away with punishment.
<extra_id_1>Women with pleasing appearance will always be considered as better leaders.
<extra_id_2>Good-looking people are often regarded as having many good qualities.
<extra_id_3>Beautiful criminals are more likely to persuade the judge and win the case.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>She might not be paid, but Carnegie Mellon University's newest staff member does all that a typical receptionist can do: give directions, answer the phone -- and even gossip about her life. University officials revealed what it considers to be the world's first robot receptionist with a personality of her own. The blond receptionist, named "Valerie," puts on a headset and interacts with people by talking about her boss, her psychiatrist and her dream. Valerie, the roboceptionist, sits in a custom-made booth at the entrance of a computer science hall. With her ability to distinguish motion, she greets visitors as they come near. Type in a question on a keyboard and she gives directions around the Pittsburgh campus and provides visitors information about the weather. More than that, she tells stories about her life. From her booth, passers-by often can hear her talking on the phone. She recognizes when someone is in front of her and remembers their characteristics. She can change between tasks from talking on the phone to answering a question. Valerie, however, does have her limit. She is a drum-shaped mechanical device with a digitally lively face that appears on a computer display. Visitors have to type on a keyboard to communicate with her. And she understands only simple questions. Eventually her creators would like to install face recognition so people don't have to insert an identity card for her to remember them. And people won't have to type their questions on a keyboard if they can solve the problem of voice recognition in a crowded hall. Valerie will tell the story of a robot living in a human world. According to the passage we know that _ .
<extra_id_0>Valerie looks like a real beautiful woman
<extra_id_1>Valerie can do whatever a human receptionist can't
<extra_id_2>Visitors can have a conversation with Valerie
<extra_id_3>Valerie doesn't understand of the visitors' questions sometimes
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Sushi is a kind of food made with a mixture of cooked or raw fish, vegetables, and rice. Although Sushi is most commonly considered to have its origin in Japan, it actually began in China during the 7thCentury. At that time, any fish caught had to be preserved. Raw fish was cleaned and then pressed between layers of heavy salt. After a couple of months, the whole process was complete. Over time, a discovery was made that by rolling the fish in rice that had been soaked in vinegar the fish was easily fermented in a few days rather than months. The rice was then thrown away and the fish was eaten. However, with a food shortage, people began consuming the rice as well as the fish and thus, Sushi today as we know was born. However, in the 1800s, a famous chef by the name of Yohei created two styles of Sushi--one called Edo, and the second, Osaka, for two cities. Sushi is usually consumed with hot green tea. Also, Gari is offered free and eaten between bites to create a better taste. Two kinds of sauce are usually available: one is soy sauce, which is poured on most kinds of Sushi; the other is a thick sweet sauce used on eel . Sushi has taken the world by storm and today is a multi-billion dollar industry. Its popularity continues to rise because people are looking for healthy food that is quick and easy to make. With such unbelievable popularity as well as the health benefits of eating Sushi, it is likely that this food will continue to be a part of everyday life for many more centuries to come. What can be the best title for the text?
<extra_id_0>Delicious Sushi and Its Origin
<extra_id_1>How to Make Delicious Sushi
<extra_id_2>Yohei and Two Styles of Sushi
<extra_id_3>The Birthplace of Sushi--China
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Now and then we all get ill. Then we usually go to see a doctor. Doctors know a lot about what makes us ill. They may give us something to take. The medicine often makes us well again. But sometimes the doctor's medicine doesn't work. A sick person does not get well. The pain doesn't go away. There was such man. He was in hospital, but he wasn't well. Then he found a new "doctor" inside himself. This "doctor" was his own sense of humor . He saw funny films. He read funny books. And he liked to learn something interesting. Laughing took away his pain. Then he was able to sleep and rest. His own happy feeling helped him to feel well again. And he told his story in a book. He said that laughing was his best "medicine". His doctor thought so, too. Another man was ill, and he had a terrible pain in his back. The doctors could not stop it from hurting. So the man began to "picture" his pain. In his head he "drew" a picture of a dog. He imagined it as a real dog. And it was biting his back. It was hurting him. Then the man talked softly to the dog. He put his hand on the dog's head. He made friends with the dog. And his pain went away! These stories may surprise you. But more and more people are getting well in this way. So call on the "doctor" inside your own head. And stay happy and well! We should believe that _ .
<extra_id_0>doctors can heal all patients
<extra_id_1>no one can help patients but themselves
<extra_id_2>only medicine can make patients feel better
<extra_id_3>sometimes a patient can help himself in his own way.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Japanese students work very hard but many are unhappy. They have heavy pressures from their parents. Most students are always told by their parents to study harder and harder so that they can have a wonderful life when they grow up .Though this may be a good idea for those very bright students, it can have terrible results for many students who aren't gifted enough. Many of them have tried very hard at study but fail in the exams and make their parents lose heart. Some students feel that they are hated by everyone else and they don't want to go to school any longer .They become _ It is surprising that though most Japanese are worried about their children, they do not help them in any way .Many parents feel that they are not able to help their children and that it is the teachers' work to help their children .To make matters worse, a lot of parents send their children to those schools opening in the evening and on weekends. They only help the students to pass the exams and never teach them the very real sense of the world. Many Japanese schools usually has rules about everything from the student' clothes to things in their school bags. Child psychologists now think that such strict rules are harmful to the feeling of the students. Almost 40% of the students said that no one had taught them how to get on with others , how to tell right from wrong and how to show love and care for others, even for their parents. ,. What do they work hard for?
<extra_id_0>a wonderful life
<extra_id_1>their parents
<extra_id_2>study
<extra_id_3>themselves
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>When it comes to feeling better about yourself,nothing will help you like healthy eating.Controlling what you eat is a big factor in how you look and feel.If you think about it,so much of how we behave,how we feel,and how our bodies perform is based on what we put into them. The old saying "You Are What You Eat" is actually true.The problem is that a lot of mainstream diet books you might find in your local bookstore or online are trying to sell you diet plans that don't work and that might even make you sick. Healthy eating is great for your body.It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out.Many people don't realize just how good healthy food is for them.By eating great foods that are natural and healthy,you can lose weight.You can also have a lot more energy.So you shouldn't just think of healthy eating as a way to burn fat,but you should also think of it as a way to get your life back in order. You can spend more time with your family and get more work done because you will have more energy.You will be impressed by how much better you'll feel by putting nutritious,natural foods into your body.Your look will be better.You'll have more energy,and you'll be happier. The important thing to remember when it comes to eating healthy is to not fall for any tricks.There are a lot of people out there looking to make quick money.They will tell you just something so they can sell a book or a video.What you need is to trust a diet plan that is right for your body.Educate yourself about your own body type.Find out what kinds of foods are best for you.If the diet book you trust doesn't teach you these important factors,then you might be reading bad information. The purpose of this passage is to _ .
<extra_id_0>describe a good diet book
<extra_id_1>teach people how to make diet plans
<extra_id_2>list the advantage and disadvantage of eating
<extra_id_3>show the importance of healthy eating and some tricks in eating
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Owls are mysterious creatures. We often think of them as scary. They sometimes live in abandoned houses. They fly without a sound through backyards at night. In stories, they appear with ghosts. When we hear an owl's familiar "whooo...whooo...",it can make us feel very frightened. Owls fly silently, without even a whisper of wings moving through the air. It's as though they appear out of nowhere--like ghosts on wings. Owls fly and hunt on the darkest of nights. An owl's night habits make it unique. Do these creatures of the night possess strange powers? Owls possess unusual powers of sight and hearing, but they are not supernatural powers. They are natural adaptations that let them live most efficiently at night. There is no reason to fear owls. Their habits make them helpful to humans. By hunting mice and other rodents ,owls help to keep a natural balance between plant and animal life. Without owls, there would be a large number of rodents in farmers' fields and storage barns. More than 100 species of owls occupy a variety of habitats around the world. A few oceanic islands and the Antarctic have no owls. The world's owls come in large, medium, small, smaller, and smallest. For example, the Eurasian eagle owl--one of the largest--has a body that is two to three feet long, with a wingspan of up to five and onehalf feet. The North American elf owl (the world's smallest owl) is five to six inches long and has a wingspan that measures slightly more than one foot. Most male and female owls of the same species look alike, although females are usually larger. In some species, the female's colors are like those of the trees or grass where she makes her nest. Baby owls, called chicks, stay with their parents until they are about three months old. They soon find their own hunting areas, where they may stay for the rest of their lives. Some owls can live 20 years or more. What is special about owls?
<extra_id_0>They fly silently.
<extra_id_1>They are night hunters.
<extra_id_2>They possess supernatural powers.
<extra_id_3>They can be found around the world.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Recycling old cars has a positive impact on
<extra_id_0>the weather
<extra_id_1>conservation of metal
<extra_id_2>human life span.
<extra_id_3>the economy
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>The English, as a race, are very different in many ways from all other nationalities, including their closest neighbors, the French, the Belgians and the Dutch. It is claimed that living on an island separated from the rest of Europe has much to do with it. Whatever the reasons are, it may be fairly stated that the Englishman has developed many attitudes and habits which distinguish him from other nationalities. Broadly speaking, the Englishman is a quiet, shy, reserved person who is fully relaxed only among people he knows well. In the presence of strangers or foreigners he often seems _ , even embarrassed. You have only to witness a city train any morning or evening to see the truth of this. Serious-looking businessmen and women sit reading their newspapers or having a light sleep in a corner, and no one speaks. In fact, to do so would seem most unusual. An Englishman, pretending to be giving advice to overseas visitors, once suggested, "On entering a railway carriage, shake hands with all the passengers." Needless to say, he was not being serious. There is an unwritten but clearly understood code of behavior which, if broken, makes the person immediately suspected. In many parts of the world it is quite normal to show openly extremes of enthusiasm, emotion, excitement, etc, often accompanied by appropriate gesture. The Englishman is somewhat different. Of course, an Englishman feels no less deeply than anyone of a different nationality, but he tends to display his feelings far less. This is reflected in his use of language. Imagine a man commenting on the great beauty of a young girl. A more emotional man might describe her state "Oh, she is a goddess", whereas an Englishman might just say "Oh, she's all right." An Englishman who has seen a highly successful and enjoyable film recommends it to a friend by commenting, "It's not bad you know", or on seeing some very unusual scenery he might convey his pleasure by saying, "Nice, yes, very nice." The overseas visitor must not be disappointed by this apparent lack of interest and involvement. Instead, he must realize that "all right," "not bad," and "nice," very often have the sense of "first-class," "excellent," "beautiful". This unique style of language use is particularly common in England, and is known as restrained statement. If an Englishman says "all right", it may mean " _ ".
<extra_id_0>not bad
<extra_id_1>correct
<extra_id_2>quite right
<extra_id_3>wonderful
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Apparently everyone knows that global warming only makes climate more extreme. A hot, dry summer has caused another flood of such claims. And one of the players that benefit the most from this story is the media: the idea of "extreme" climate simply makes for more exciting news. Consider Paul Krugman writing breathlessly in The New York Times about the "rising incidence of extreme events." He claims that global warming caused the current drought in America's Midwest, and that supposedly record-high corn prices could cause a global food crisis . But the United Nations's latest assessment tells us precisely the opposite--there has an overall slight tendency toward less dryness in North America. Moreover, there is no way that Krugman could have identified this drought as being caused by global warming without a time machine since climate models estimate that such detection will be possible by 2048, at the earliest. And, fortunately, this year's drought appears unlikely to cause a food crisis, as global rice and wheat supplies are plentiful. Moreover, Krugman overlooks inflation :Prices have increased six-fold since 1969.So, the inflation-adjusted price of corn was higher throughout most of the 1970s. Finally, Krugman forgets that concerns about global warming are the main reason that corn prices have skyrocketed since 2005.Nowadays 40 percent of corn grown in the United States is used to produce ethanol ,which raises the price of corn -at the expense of many of the world's poorest people. Bill Mickbben similarly worries in The Guardian About the Midwest drought and corn prices.He confidently tells us that fierce wildfires from New Mexico and Colorado to Siberia are "exactly" what the early stages of global warming look like. In fact, the latest study on global wildfire suggests that fire incidence has declined over the past 70 years and is now close to its preindustrial level. When well--meaning campaigners want us to pay attention to global warming, they often end up making overstatements. And exaggerated claims merely fuel public distrust and unconcern. That is unfortunate, because global warming is a real problem, and we do need to address it. What is the author's comment on Krugman's claim about the current drought in America's Midwest?
<extra_id_0>It will eventually get proof in 2048.
<extra_id_1>It is based on an erroneous climate model.
<extra_id_2>So far there is no way to prove its validity.
<extra_id_3>A time machine is needed to tell if it is true.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Sand and iron particles that are similar in size and color are mixed together in a beaker. What would be the best method of separating the particles?
<extra_id_0>Use tweezers to separate them.
<extra_id_1>Use a magnet to separate them.
<extra_id_2>Add water to the mixture.
<extra_id_3>Pour the mixture into a filter.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Which of these items contains only a solution?
<extra_id_0>a jar of pickles
<extra_id_1>a bottle of juice
<extra_id_2>a bag of peanuts
<extra_id_3>a can of mixed fruit
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Mr Clark goes to a dinner party in old clothes. He comes into the room, but the people in the room don't look at him. They don't ask him to sit at the table. Mr Clark goes home and puts on his good clothes. He goes back to the party. People in the room stands up and smiles at him. They give him very good food to eat. Mr Clark _ his clothes, and puts them in the food and say, "Eat, clothes!" The other people ask, "What are you doing?" He answers, "I'm asking my coat to eat food. When I am wearing my old clothes, you don't look at me. You don't ask me to sit down. Now I am in these clothes. And you give me very good food. Now I know, you give the food to my clothes, not to me!" ,. Mr Clark asks _ to eat the food.
<extra_id_0>his coat
<extra_id_1>his old clothes
<extra_id_2>his parents
<extra_id_3>the people
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>I used to think Dad didn't love me at all, because he never tried to hug or kiss me. But whenever I felt sad or lonely, Dad was always there. When I was in high school, Dad retired and set up a food _ on the street near my school. Every day when I finished school, my classmates and I would pass his food stand. But I really hated talking to Dad, because I did not want my classmates to know my dad was selling noodles on the street! One night, I couldn't stand it any more and shouted, "Dad, could you stop selling your stupid noodles? I don't need a father who sells noodles on the street!" At that moment, Dad was shocked. He tried to say something but didn't. His eyes were filled with tears and sadness. It was the first time for me to see Dad crying. My mum later told me Dad was selling noodles to save money for my college education. Even today I still feel guilty for that night. Time really flies. I finished college and then left my home city. For the past ten years, whenever I visited home, Dad was always there meeting me and seeing me off quietly at the railway station. When I was away, Dad never wrote or called me, but he always pushed my mum to call me. That's the way Dad shows his love to me. . What did the writer use to think of his father?
<extra_id_0>He thought his father loved him very much.
<extra_id_1>He didn't think his father loved him.
<extra_id_2>He thought his father felt sad.
<extra_id_3>He thought his father felt lonely.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Michael was a farmer in Texas.His parents moved to the USA from Ireland in the 1940's, and they became very rich.Michael decided to go back to Ireland to meet his old grandfather, who was still living on the same farm. Michael booked his ticket,flew to Shannon airport,hired a car and drove to the small village where his parents had been born.He asked for directions to the Ohagan farm,and in the end he drove up a bumpy path.He was shocked by what he saw:a small field,and in the middle of it was an old house,which looked as if it was falling down.Animals were wandering in and out of the front door,and on the porch an old man was smoking a pipe. "Are you Mr. Ohagan?"asked Michael. "Yes,"replied the old mall. "I'm your grandson,Michael,"said Michael. "A--ha,"replied the old man. "Is this your farm?"asked Michael. "Yes,all the way to the wall over there,"said the old man. Michael was astonished."Grandfather,"he said,"I have a farm in Texas.I can get into my car and drive all day and I still haven't reached the end of the farm." "Yes,"said his grandfather."I used to have a car like that." Michael's parents _ .
<extra_id_0>still lived in Ireland alone
<extra_id_1>owned a small farm in Texas
<extra_id_2>returned to their birthplace
<extra_id_3>were Irish immigrants in America
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Starting a bank a child's play? Absolutely, if you ask some enterprising youngsters in India, who have not only managed to establish one, but also, unlike many of the large International banks, run it successfully since 2001. What's even more impressive is that the young bankers and their 90,004---clients are all homeless! The Children's Development Khazana (treasure) opened its first branch in 2001 at a homeless shelter in New Deli as a way to help the street children protect their hard-earned money from thieves. Since then, the idea has caught on like wildfire. Today, Khazana has 12 branches all across New Deli, with a total of Rupees 12lakh (about 22,000USD) in deposits. Not only that, there are now 77 affiliated branches in other parts of Asia, ranging from Nepal, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to the island of Sri Lanka, and even Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia. While no deposit or balance is too small for the bank, they do have strict regulations about where the money is earned from. Funds obtained by begging or selling drugs are not welcomed at this bank ! Also, unlike the real banks, all employees are volunteers, which means that they go to school or a paying job during the day and work at the bank in the evening. To ensure that everybody gets a chance to participate in running the branch, two volunteer managers are elected from the clients base every six months. Karan, the current manager is just 14-year-old. During the day he earns a living by helping out the cleaning crew at wedding banquets and other big parties. In the evening, he handles the deposits and withdrawals in the bank. After the bank closes, he along with an adult volunteer from the shelter head over to a regular bank and deposit the funds collected into Khazana's interest-bearing bank account and though it started with one single purpose. The Children's Development Khazana is today a well-developed bank, one kids can not only deposit money which earns them 5% interest, but also, request loans for family emergencies, to start a business or even to pay for school. The initial aim of starting the Children's Development Khazana is to _ .
<extra_id_0>provide for jobs for homeless children
<extra_id_1>help homeless families with emergencies
<extra_id_2>sponsor homeless children to go to school
<extra_id_3>safeguard homeless children's hard-earned money
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Repeating experiments improves the likelihood of accurate results because the overall results are
<extra_id_0>less likely to prove the hypothesis correct.
<extra_id_1>more likely to prove the hypothesis correct.
<extra_id_2>less likely to be correct due to fewer errors being made.
<extra_id_3>more likely to be correct due to fewer errors being made.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>I had been a step-mother for six years, and with my husband,I had watched his young children growing into teenagers. Although they lived mostly with their mother, they spent a lot of time with us. Over the years, we all learned to become more comfortable with each other. However, I continued to feel somewhat like an outsider. When the children moved to a town five hours away, my husband was understandably destroyed. In order to keep in touch with the kids, we set up an e-mail and chat-line service. Ironically , this technology can make us feel out of touch and more in need of real human contact. If a computer message came addressed to "Dad", I'd feel forgotten. If my name appeared along with his, it would brighten my day. _ not just over the telephone wires. Late one evening, as my husband was snoozing , I was catching up on my e-mail, an "instant message" appeared on the screen. It was Margo, my oldest stepdaughter, also up late in front of her computer. We sent several messages back and forth, exchanging the latest news. When we "chatted" like that, she wouldn't necessarily know if it was me or her dad unless she asked. That night she didn't ask and I didn't tell her it was me either. After hearing the latest volleyball scores and the details about a coming dance at her school, I said that it was late and I should go to sleep. Her return message read, "Okay, talk to you later! Love you!" At this, a wave of sadness ran through me and I realized that she must have thought she was writing to her father the whole time. She and I would never have openly exchange such words of love. Feeling guilty for not telling her the truth, yet not wanting to embarrass her, I simply replied, "Love you too! Have a good sleep!" I thought again of their family circle and I felt again the sharp ache of emptiness and "otherness". Then, just as my fingers reached for the keys to return the screen to black, Margo's final message appeared. It read, "Tell Dad good night for me too." With tear-filled eyes, I turned the machine off. How was the experience of the author as a stepmother that night?
<extra_id_0>Heart-warming.
<extra_id_1>Full of sadness.
<extra_id_2>Heart-breaking.
<extra_id_3>Disappointing.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Both of my parents worked full-time when I was a little girl, so my grandmother would stay at our house during the day. We would watch game shows in the living room. Our favorite was The Price is Right. We would call out our answers along with the contestants. When I got older and started going to school, we couldn't watch our game shows regularly. That was okay with me, though, because the one thing I liked better than watching game shows with my grandmother was helping her bake cakes. Watching her in the kitchen was amazing: she never seemed to need the recipes but everything she made tasted delicious. At first I would just sit in the kitchen and watch, even though I didn't understand what she was doing, As I got older, she let me help with the easy parts, such as measuring the sugar. The day she let me separate the eggs, I felt like I had found complete pleasure. At last, my parents decided that I could take care of myself, and my grandmother stopped coming over every day. The love of baking, however, stayed with me. I started baking by myself, and even if the cookies ended up burnt sometimes, more often they turned out pretty well. I tried out new recipes, and whenever I got to a _ part, I would call my grandmother for advice. Sometimes I would call her just to talk, too. I felt like I could talk to her about anything. My grandmother passed away ten years ago, but I still think of her every day. Last week, I found a recipe book she made for me. It included her recipes for brownies, cookies, and my favorite, lemon pie. As I looked through the pages, I thought I could hear her voice. She was the one who taught me not just about baking, but about life. The passage is mainly developed by _ .
<extra_id_0>analyzing causes
<extra_id_1>making comparisons
<extra_id_2>following the time order
<extra_id_3>examining differences
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Bringing a giraffe into the world is _ . A baby giraffe is born 10 feet high and usually lands on its back. Within seconds it rolls over its legs under its body. Then the mother giraffe rudely introduces its children to the reality of life. In his book,A View from the Zoo, Gary Richmond describes how a new-born giraffe learns its first lesson. The mother giraffe lowers her head long enough to take a quick look. Then she puts herself directly over her child. She waits for about a minute, and then she does the most unreasonable thing. She throws her long leg and kicks her baby, so that it's sent sprawling . When it doesn't get up, the process is repeated again and again. The struggle to rise is important. As the baby giraffe grows tired, the mother kicks it again. Finally, it stands for the first time on its shaky legs. Then the mother giraffe kicks it off its feet again. Why? She wants it to remember how it got up. In the wild, a baby giraffe must be able to get up as quickly as possible to stay with its group, where there's safety. Another writer named Irving Stone understood this. He spent a lifetime studying greatness, writing stories about such men as Michelangelo, Vincent van Gogh, Sigmund Freud, and Charles Darwin. Stone was once asked if he had found something that runs through the lives of all these great people. He said, "I write about people who sometime in their life have a dream of something. They're beaten over the head, knocked down and for years they get nowhere. But every time they stand up again. And at the end of their lives they've realized some small parts of what they set out to do ." Why were some great people mentioned in the passage?
<extra_id_0>Because they all worked hard.
<extra_id_1>Because they all liked to read some special stories.
<extra_id_2>Because they were born with some illnesses.
<extra_id_3>Because they were similar to giraffes in some ways.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Boxing is a fist fighting sport between two matched combatants wearing padded gloves. A boxer's primary aim is to land as many blows as possible to the head and torso of the opponent, using strength and speed to dominate the contest. One of the oldest sports still practiced, boxing dates back to thousands of years ago. Today the sport is popular in many parts of the world and encompasses both amateur and professional matches. For most of the 20th century boxing attracted huge fan and media attention in the United States. Some boxing champions became legendary, larger-than-life figures, such as Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, and Muhammad Ali. Criticized to varying degrees throughout its history for its violent nature and high injury rate, boxing has somehow always managed to survive----and even thrive----as a sport. Modern boxing regulations are based upon the 12 rules set out by British boxing officials in the mid-19th century. These rules became known as the Marquess of Queensberry Rules, named after the 8th Marquess of Queensberry, John Sholto Douglas, who sponsored and published them. In addition to in-the-ring rules, modern boxing also has specific regulations regarding eligibility for the fighters themselves. The modern rules for professional and amateur boxing differ, but both types of contests are divided into time periods called rounds. In professional boxing, each round lasts three minutes; in amateur boxing, two minutes. A one-minute rest period between rounds is standard. Amateur contests consist of three rounds; professional contests may consist of up to 12 rounds. A bell is usually sounded by a timekeeper to begin and end each round. A key step in making boxing safer and more respectable was the introduction of gloves, ending brutal bare-knuckle competition. Boxing gloves are heavily padded to soften the impact of the blow and to protect the hands of the boxer. As an added protection, the hands are taped before being placed in the gloves, which are essentially huge mittens. Professional gloves usually weigh between 170 and 226g; amateur gloves average 226 to 340g. The author's purpose in writing this passage is _ .
<extra_id_0>to give a general introduction to the sport of boxing
<extra_id_1>to advertise a band of boxing-related product
<extra_id_2>to discourage people from enjoying this violent sport
<extra_id_3>to get support for a sport with long tradition
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>The term "Industry 4.0" refers to the fourth industrial revolution. The first industrial revolution was the production of goods with machines like steam engines, which was followed by the second industrial revolution that introduced mass production with the help of electric power, followed by the digital revolution --the use of electronics and IT in production. Industry 4.0 is a high-tech project, which promotes the computerization of manufacturing . The basic principle of Industry 4.0 is that by connecting machines, work pieces and systems, we are creating intelligent networks along the entire value chain that can control each other automatically. The goal is the Smart Factory, which adapts well and uses resources efficiently as well as linking customers and business partners with great intelligence. Technological basis are the Internet systems and advanced factories. Experts believe that Industry 4.0 could be a reality in about 10 to 20 years. So, what effects does this change have on the classic manufacturing? According to an expert, "it is highly likely that the world of production will become more and more networked until everything is connected with everything else." Networks and processes have so far been limited to one factory. But in the time of Industry 4.0, the boundaries of individual factories will most likely no longer exist. Instead, they will be lifted in order to inter-connect multiple factories or even geographical regions. How is an Industry 4.0 factory different from a today's factory? In current industry environment, providing high-end quality service or product with the least cost is the key to success. Factories are trying to increase their profit as much as possible. In the time of Industry 4.0, various data sources are available to provide worthwhile information about different aspects of the factory. Using data for understanding the current condition and checking faults and failures is a natural thing. _ will enable these connected systems to manage themselves independently, work more efficiently and identify any errors quickly. The good news is that Europe is much better prepared for the Industry 4.0 revolution than one might think. Europe will position itself as a pioneer in the fourth revolution. Industry 4.0 is a project in the high-tech strategy of the German government. Meanwhile, in the U.S., some companies are also working hard on it. But the success of industry depends on whether business and politics can work together. It's not only politics that needs to help open the door for Industry 4.0. Every company is advised to seize the new digital opportunities. The writer's attitude toward Industry 4.0 can best be described as _ .
<extra_id_0>supportive
<extra_id_1>negative
<extra_id_2>doubtful
<extra_id_3>cautious
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Today Han Mei's classmates are having an art lesson in the park. Now they are playing near the lake. The boy in black is flying a kite. He is Li Lei. The girl in red is reading a book. Who is she? Ha, she's just Han Mei. Lucy and Lily are twins. They look the same and they are dancing under a big tree. There is a boat on the lake. Mrs. Green and Mrs. Brown are in the boat. They are their teachers. And now the children are drawing pictures on the grass near the lake. The teachers are teaching how to draw pictures. But what is Joe doing? Oh, he is looking for his pencil case. How many children are mentioned in the passage?
<extra_id_0>Four
<extra_id_1>Five
<extra_id_2>Six
<extra_id_3>Seven
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>FOOD, football, and fashion - Milan has it all. The city is perhaps most famous for its annual Milan Fashion Week and its world-class soccer teams AC Milan and Inter Milan. And May will see it host the six-month Milan Expo , the theme of which is food and nutrition . Milan may not be the first place tourists think of when they think of Italy. Rome is the most famous city in Italian history, Venice draws visitors who want to travel along its canals and Florence is popular with the art lovers. Yet Milan can often be let off tourists' lists. But although some see Milan as the "Ugly Sister" of these cities, in 2015, the city is "Suddenly back in fashion in a big way". The delicious Milan Expo will look at the future of food, trying to answer the question of how Earth's fast-growing population can be fed in the future. According to the Lonely Planet website, "144 countries will set up shops in northwest of central Milan, forming a mini city-within-a-city". Milan's famous opera house, La Scala, normally closed in the summer, will also host daily performances during the Expo, reported Fox News. Not interested in opera? Don't worry. Visitors who prefer sports may want to visit the San Siro Stadium , home of the soccer teams AC Milan and Inter Milan. The stadium is one of the most famous in Europe and has seen many important games over the years, both in Series A and the European Champions league . So even if all of its fashion and beautiful people can make Milan seem "Soulless " as Lonely Planet said, it still has "a serious sense of history and place". Many people will be discovering it this year, and eating great food from all over the world to help solve world problems. Will you? The author's purpose in writing this article is to _ .
<extra_id_0>give an introduction to Milan as a good choice for traveling
<extra_id_1>tell readers about the theme and activities of the 2015 Milan Expo
<extra_id_2>give an proper review of the food culture in Milan
<extra_id_3>explain why Milan will be holding the world Expo in 2015
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Earth Day is on April 22nd.People say thanks to the Earth and learn ways to keep the Earth safe and clean.But saving the Earth is not just for grow-ups.Kids are also taking an active part in it. The American writer and filmmaker Lynne made a film called Young Voices for the Planet.It lists a lot of stories about different kids who help to keep our environment clean. Team Marine, US A group of students at Santa Monica High School started an organization called Team Marine.They tell people why plastic bags are bad for sea animals and environment.In 2011, they successfully made lawmakers in their city stop people using plastic bags. Felix, 15, Germany In 2007, a 9-year-old boy, Felix, started a club,Plant for the Planet.It encourages children around the world to plant trees in their own countries.Felix helped plant 25 million trees in Germany and 120 million trees worldwide. Alec, 17, US When he was 12, Alec set up Kids VS Global Warming.It teaches kids about weather change and ways to stop the world getting warmer and warmer.Alec travels widely to encourage people to help stop global warming.He has given more than 70 talks across the country. Olivia, 13, US When Olivia was 11, she heard about the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.She painted 500 pictures of birds to raise money for the clean-up.She raised more than $200,000 to protect birds and other wild animals. Young Voices for the Planet made by Lynne is _ .
<extra_id_0>a book
<extra_id_1>a TV play
<extra_id_2>a film
<extra_id_3>a club
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Hi, Peter. Thank you for your telephone call. I'm happy to tell you that we have a double room for you now. It's on the fifth floor. It faces the West Lake, so you can see it well. The price for each room is $150 per night. Every morning from 7:00 to 9:30, there is a free breakfast, but you have to pay if you have lunch and supper in the hotel. Remember to bring your ID card with you. If you have any more questions, please let us know and we will be pleased to help you. We _ you to come to the hotel on August 16. We hope you will enjoy your stay with us. Thanks again for choosing our hotel. What room does Peter want?
<extra_id_0>A single room.
<extra_id_1>A double room.
<extra_id_2>A clean room.
<extra_id_3>A tidy room.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>India has a very vast history and heritage. The country has witnessed some of the most important events in the past and every event has an effect of its own on the culture, religion, lifestyle, and economy of the country. This is one of the leading reasons why tourists prefer India to travel and explore. Historical tours in India provide everything that a traveler expects from his/her journey. These historical tours give an opportunity to study and explore Indian history. Historical tours of India generally consisted of four phases: ancient, medieval , modern India and contemporary India. Some of the historical travel packages are: Forts and Palaces The rich cultural past of India is reflected in the countless forts and palaces across the country. Most of the forts were constructed as a defense device to keep the enemy away and palaces were made on the names of the kings and queens. Some of the famous forts and palaces are: Agra Fort (Agra), Fatehpur Sikri (Agra), Hawa Mahal (Jaipur), Amber Fort (Jaipur), City Palace (Jaipur), Gwalior Fort (Gwalior), Mysore Palace (Mysore), Red Fort (Delhi), etc. India Heritage Tours The main purpose of India Heritage tours is to make Indians as well as tourists familiar with the rich Indian legacy . The heritage of the country is at least 5000 years. Some of the heritage tours are: medieval heritage, Rajput heritage, Golden Triangle, splendid Gujarat, etc. South India Historical Tours The Southern India is known for its diversity and there are many places, which attract tourists, not only from the country but also from all around the world. The famous tourists' destinations in South India include Goa, Cochin, Kerala, Munnar, Periyar, Kottayam and the list goes on and on. Many tourists prefer to travel to and explore because
<extra_id_0>modern India has little to study
<extra_id_1>Indian people have an interesting lifestyle
<extra_id_2>its culture is greatly influenced by its history
<extra_id_3>India's history is longer than that of any other country
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Shelly Nielsen sees students fall asleep in class at least twice a week. "When I see teens asleep in my class, I wonder if I am really that boring", said Nielsen, a teacher. "I also wonder why they are so tired." Neilson first tried to wake up sleeping students quietly. If the snoozing continues, she may call a student's parents to find out how much sleep the students is getting at night and why. According to a research, teens need at least nine hours of sleep to function properly during the day. And more than 90 percent of teens say they are sleeping less than that each night. "The big problem is the social demand for homework, video games and friends. Teens don't understand how important sleep is." said Dr. Carl Lawyer, a specialist. Rebecca Lucas, another teacher agrees. "Teens are busy," she said, " many activities force them to get home pretty late. When I see teens sleeping in my class, I feel sad. I also feel frustrated because I have so much to teach in such a short amount of time and teens sleeping in the class slows me down." Al Taylor, a teacher says sleeping is not allowed in his class. "When I see a teen sleeping in my class, I feel bad that they didn't get enough sleep but they need to correct it at home," Taylor said. "I've raised teenage boys myself. Teenagers like to wait to the last minute to do their homework so that they often stay up late trying to finish it." What is the main idea of the passage?
<extra_id_0>Why sleep is important
<extra_id_1>Why teens are so tired
<extra_id_2>How students get enough sleep
<extra_id_3>How teachers managesleeping students
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>February 28th, 2009 2:54 am GMT I have to say that am shocked at just how bad the new music is. This cannot be the same band that produced great albums such as HTDAAB and ATYCLB! This is awful! They either do not care anymore, or have completely lost it. I never thought U2 would become irrelevant, but they have officially become one of those bands that you will now say, "Remember when they were great?" ----- Posted by Ronald Harris February 28th, 2009 8:29 pm GMT Total drivel, Mr Harris. The new album is great, far better than the safe, cynical HTDAAB and ATYCLB. U2 have become inventive again, like they were in the 1990s. thank goodness! ----- Posted by Dan March 3rd, 2009 12:09 pm GMT Agree, Dan. The new album is the best since Actung Baby. Magnificent is an anthem in the waiting, Breathe is unbelievable, and Stand Up Comedy is absolutely outstanding----- to name just three! Loving the new sound, pure class as usual. ----- Posted by Martin March 4th, 2009 7:43 pm GMT Totally agree with you guys. This album is unbelievable. Breathe is definitely a great song, same with Moment of Surrender. I bet their upcoming tour will be amazing. If you haven't bought the CD yet, you should. I bought mine on Amozon.com for $3.99. I couldn't believe it. ----- Posted by Josh Briggs According to Ronald Harris, U2's new album is _ .
<extra_id_0>pretty good
<extra_id_1>so bad
<extra_id_2>the same as before
<extra_id_3>completely fresh
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Mrs. Obama spoke to the graduates of Martin Luther King Jr. High School on Saturday in her only high school commencement speech this year. The ceremony took place in the gymnasium of Tennessee State University. The first lady told the 170 graduates that she spent too much of her time in college focusing on academe achievements. While her success in college and law school led to a good job, she said, she ended up focusing on public service. "My message to you today is that don't waste a minute living someone else's dream," she said. "It takes a lot of real work to discover what brings you joy and you won't find what you love simply by checking mailboxes or surfing the net." She said MLK reminded her of her own high school experience in Chicago. "My No.1 goal was to go to a high school that would push me and challenge me," she said. "I wanted to go somewhere that would celebrate achievement. Unfortunately, schools like this don't exist for every kid." she said. "You are blessed." The first lady told graduates that failure may be a part of their college lives and careers, and that how they respond determines what they will become. "That's when you find out what you're really made of in those hard times," she said. "But you can only do that if you're willing to put yourself in a position where you might fail." Overcoming difficulties has been the mark of many great people, she said, "Oprah was demoted from her first job as a news reporter, and now she doesn't even need a last name," she said of media giant Oprah Winfrey "And then there's this guy Barack Obama, I could take up a whole afternoon talking about his failures. He lost his first race for Congress", the first lady joked, "and now he gets to call himself my husband." What do we know about Mrs. Obama from the text?
<extra_id_0>This was the first time she gave a speech to graduates.
<extra_id_1>She complained about her school life in her speech.
<extra_id_2>She is a graduate of Tennessee State University.
<extra_id_3>She is enthusiastic about public service.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>I was watching some little kids play soccer. These kids were only five or six years old, but they were playing a real game -- a serious game -- two teams, complete with coaches, uniforms, and parents. I didn't know any of them, so I was able to enjoy the game without the distractionof being anxious about winning or losing. The teams were pretty evenly matched. I will just call them Team One and Team Two. Nobody scored in the first period. Then came the second quarter. The Team One coach pulled out what must have been his first team and put in the scrubs , except for his best player who now guarded the goal. The game _ . I guess winning is important even when you're five years old -- because the Team Two coach left his best players in, and the Team One scrubs were no match for them. Team Two packed around the little guy who was now the Team One goalkeeper. He was an outstanding athlete, but he was no match for three or four who were also very good. Team Two began to score. The lone goalkeeper gave it everything he had, desperately throwing his body in front of incoming balls, trying bravely to stop them. Team Two scored two goals in quick succession. It angered the young boy. He became a raging maniac -- shouting, running, diving. With all the strength he could gather, he covered the boy who now had the ball, but that boy kicked it to another boy twenty feet away, and by the time he repositioned himself, it was too late -- they scored a third goal. I soon learned who the goalkeeper's parents were. They were nice, decent-looking people. I could tell that his dad had just come from the office -- he still had his suit and tie on. They yelled encouragement to their son. I became totally absorbed, watching the boy on the field and his parents on the sidelines. After the third goal, the little kid changed. He didn't quit, but he became quietly desperate and futility was written all over him. His father changed, too. He had been urging his son to try harder -- yelling advice and encouragement. But then he became anxious. He tried to say that it was okay -- to hang in there. He sorrowed for the pain his son was feeling. After the fourth goal, I knew what was going to happen. The little boy fetched the ball from the net and handed it to the referee . He just stood there while huge tears rolled down both cheeks. He went to his knees, and he cried the tears of the helpless and brokenhearted. At that moment, I saw the father start onto the field. His wife seized his arm and said, "Jim, don't. You'll embarrass him." But he tore loose from her and ran onto the field. Suit, tie, dress shoe, and all -- he charged onto the field, and he picked up his son so everybody would know that this was his boy, and he hugged him and held him and cried with him. I've never been so proud of a man in my life. He carried him off the field, and when he got close to the sidelines I heard him say, "Scotty, I'm so proud of you. You were great out there. I want everybody to know that you are my son." "Daddy," the boy sobbed. "I couldn't stop them. I tried, Daddy, but they scored on me." "Scotty, it doesn't matter how many times they scored on you. You're my son, and I'm proud of you. I want you to go back there and finish the game. I know you want to quit, but you can't. And, son, you're going to get scored on again, but it doesn't matter. In my eyes, you are the winner! Go on, now." The little guy ran back onto the field -- and they scored two more times -- but it was okay. Now in all viewers' eyes, he is the Winner. When you're all alone, and you're getting scored on -- and you can't stop them -- it means a lot to know that it doesn't matter to those who love you. In their eyes, so long as you don't give up, you are the winner. And they are always proud of you. Which words can best describe the change of the writer's feelings when watching the game?
<extra_id_0>curious - anxious - grateful
<extra_id_1>bored - upset - delighted
<extra_id_2>calm - absorbed - moved
<extra_id_3>surprised - thoughtful - interested
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>I' m Eric. Welcome to our classroom. You can see a nice classroom. A blackboard is on the wall. A map of China and a map of the world are on the wall, too. The map of China is old. But the map of the world is new. There is a teacher's desk. An eraser and a ruler are on it. There are two doors in the wall. Some brooms and a football are behind the door. Fifty desks and chairs are in our classroom. They are our desks and chairs. That is a bookcase. And some books are in it. The students can read them after class but can't _ any of them out. Some flowers are near the window. They are red. We like our classroom. We like our class, too. _ are on the wall.
<extra_id_0>A blackboard
<extra_id_1>A blackboard and a map
<extra_id_2>A map of China
<extra_id_3>A blackboard and two maps
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>While Prudence was leaving an elevator, it suddenly dropped several inches, causing her to fall. An investigation of the accident revealed that the elevator dropped because it had been negligently maintained by the Acme Elevator Company. Acme had a contract with the owner of the building to inspect and maintain the elevator. Prudence's fall severely aggravated a preexisting physical disability. If Prudence sues Acme Elevator Company for damages for her injuries, she should recover
<extra_id_0>nothing, if Acme could not reasonably have been expected to foresee the extent of the harm that Prudence suffered as a result of the accident.
<extra_id_1>nothing, if the accident would not have caused significant harm to an ordinarily prudent elevator passenger.
<extra_id_2>damages for the full amount of her disability, because a tortfeasor must take its victim as it finds her.
<extra_id_3>damages for the injury caused by the falling elevator, including the aggravation of her preexisting disability.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Every year on April 22, People all over the world celebrate Earth Day. It is a time to work to keep our earth clean. People plan projects to clean up the land, air and water. U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson first thought of the idea for Earth Day in 1962 when he saw polluted rivers and cities with smoke. He needed to get support from Americans to clean up the earth. Finally, on April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans celebrated the first Earth Day! Now many countries around the world celebrate it, and you can, too. How can you celebrate Earth Day? Here are a few ideas: Join a clean-up project------Clean up your street or a favorite beach. Save energy------Turn off the lights when you leave a room, and use public transportation. Use less water. Reduce / Reuse/ Recycle ------ Practice the three Rs: First, reduce how much you use. Then reuse or recycle what you can. You can make a difference on Earth Day and every day! Which of the following sentences is NOT true?
<extra_id_0>Americans celebrated the first Earth Day.
<extra_id_1>Three Rs mean reduce, reuse and recycle.
<extra_id_2>Now about 20 million people celebrate the Earth Day.
<extra_id_3>People celebrate Earth Day by helping to do some public cleaning.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Tell a story and tell it well, and you may open wide the eyes of a child, open up lines of communication in a business, or even open people's mind to another culture or race. People in many places are digging up the old folk stories and the messages in them. For example, most American storytellers get their tales from a wide variety of sources, cultures, and times. They regard storytelling not only as a useful tool in child education, but also as a meaningful activity that helps adults understand themselves as well as those whose culture may be very different from their own. "Most local stories are based on a larger theme," American storyteller Opalanga Pugh says, "Cinderella , or the central idea of a good child protected by her goodness, appears in various forms in almost every culture of the world." Working with students in schools, Pugh helps them understand their own cultures and the general messages of the stories. She works with prisoners too, helping them know who they are by telling stories that her listeners can write, direct, and act in their own lives. _ Pugh also works to help open up lines of communication between managers and workers. "For every advance in business," she says, "there is a greater need for communication." Storytelling can have a great effect on either side of the manager-worker relationship, she says. Pugh spent several years in Nigeria, where she learned how closely storytelling was linked to the everyday life of the people there. The benefits of storytelling are found everywhere, she says. "I learned how people used stories to spread their culture," she says. "What I do is to focus on the value of stories that people can translate into their own daily world of affairs. We are all storytellers. We all have a story to tell. We tell everybody's story." Pugh has practised storytelling with _ groups of people.
<extra_id_0>2
<extra_id_1>3
<extra_id_2>4
<extra_id_3>5
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Christmas Eve was tomorrow. I hoped one of the packages that held a camera had already been placed under the Christmas tree. It was the only thing I wanted. I had been _ to my parents. I love taking photos. My bedroom walls are covered with photos I had taken with my mom's old camera. I'm always trying to capture those perfect moments in which you can hear the laughter or touch the beautiful scene, but my camera has always seemed to fall short. I knew Mom had put a few presents under the tree this morning, so I went on a hunt in my mom's room. I opened the door and found my Christmas present was lying unwrapped on the floor -- a big pink cat. I felt so disappointed. Mom seemed to notice that, and she tried to cheer me up. "Stacy, I got your present today. I am so excited to surprise you!" "I can't wait," I said. The next day I couldn't wait any longer. I needed to tell her. "Mom, may I talk to you for a second?" "Sure, dear. What do you need to talk about?" she asked. And so it came -- how upset I was that I was getting a cat. "Stacy, that cat is for your sister Julia!" she said with a smile. "Then what am I getting?" I asked. She just smiled. "You'll have to wait and see." Next morning, I happily got into the living room and sat next to the tree. I pulled out the box with my name on it and opened the wrapping paper to find ... My camera! "Thank you!" I said to both Dad and Mom. Dad picked up the camera and took a picture of Julia, Mom and me. It has become one of my favorite pictures. Just on that Christmas morning, I took lots of photos with my camera -- my little sister making a face, my parents giving me a soft smile -- and all of these photos have come to mean one thing to me: love. What would be the best title for the passage?
<extra_id_0>A Christmas gift as wished
<extra_id_1>Love is more important than gifts
<extra_id_2>A wonderful Christmas
<extra_id_3>Love can not be bought
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>The boys crowded in two teams at the front of Charlene Skinner's class as they thought over the math problem that flashed on the whiteboard. "That's not right," one boy said. "It says find the slope," another boy said, instructing his classmates. Next door, in Room A114, the girls spent five minutes in Justin Anderson's science class writing down everything they know about DNA. When the assigned time was up, Anderson asked the students to share some of what they noted down. "Nobody's DNA is alike," one girl said after raising her hand. "You get it from your parents," said another. This is how some lessons are taught at James Gholson Middle School in Prince George's County: boys in one classroom, girls in another. Advocates argue that separating boys and girls removes distractions and sex prejudice in the classroom, taking the lead from expensive private schools and boarding schools that have relied on single-sex learning for generations. But opponents say there is little evidence that such separation works, that it can be discriminatory and that it doesn't properly prepare students for a world that is mixed. Some experts say single-sex classes can break down sex stereotypes , create opportunities for students and improve test scores. Kathy Couture, an education professor at Stetson University in Florida and a board member of the National Association for Single Sex Public Education, said students tend to be more focused on their curriculum and less concerned about impressing or getting attention from the opposite sex. She said girls tend to "dumb themselves down for boys" when they are together in math and science classes. But a report published last week by the Psychological Bulletin -- which reviewed 184 studies to compare the outcomes of learning in single-sex and mixed classrooms -- raised questions about whether there are any real advantages to single-sex classrooms. Janet Hyde, one of the report's co-authors, said there was no evidence to support the argument that boys do better orally or that girls improve in math and science when in single-sex settings. What is more important is that separating students might not adequately prepare them for college and careers. "One of the major purposes of school is to prepare students for the adult world, and that world is mixed," Janet Hyde said. "I think we do harm to students by not preparing them for the adult world." What is the point of Janet Hyde's statement on single-sex classes?
<extra_id_0>Single-sex classes do not improve boys' speaking ability.
<extra_id_1>Single-sex classes lead to worse academic performance.
<extra_id_2>Single-sex classes harm the students in their future study and work.
<extra_id_3>Single-sex classes do not help students' physical development.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>While small may be beautiful, tall is just plain uncomfortable it seems, particularly when it comes to staying in hotels and eating in restaurants. The Tall Persons Club Great Britain (TPCGB), which was formed six months ago to campaign for the needs of the tall, has turned its attention to hotels and restaurants. Beds that are too small, shower heads that are too low, and restaurant tables with hardly any leg-room all make life difficult for those of above average height, it says. But it is not just the extra-tall whose needs are not being met. The average height of the population has been increasing yet the standard size of beds, doorways, and chairs has remained unchanged. "The bedding industry says a bed should be six inches larger than the person using it, so even a king-size bed at 6'6'' (6 feet and 6 inches) is falling short for 25% of men, while the standard 6'3'' bed caters for less than half of the male population." Said TPCGB president Phil Heinricy, "seven-foot beds would work fine." Similarly, restaurant tables can cause no end of problems. Small tables, which mean the long-legged have to sit a foot or so away from them, are enough to make tall customers go elsewhere. Some have already taken note, however. At Queens Moat Houses' Caledoman Hotel in Edinburgh, 6'6''beds are now put in as standard after requests for longer beds from taller visitors, particularly Americans. What change has already been made in a hotel in Edinburgh?
<extra_id_0>Tall people pay more for larger beds.
<extra_id_1>6'6''beds have taken the place of 6'3''beds.
<extra_id_2>Special rooms are kept for Americans.
<extra_id_3>Guest rooms are standardized.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>An Ofsted study reports that teachers are discouraging students who want to leave school and work as apprentices in beauty salons or hair dressers. Inspectors questioned 105 young people for a report on apprenticeships published on Wednesday. They found several examples of young people who felt they had been laughed at by their teachers for wanting to progress to work-based learning, particularly in care or hairdressing, rather than stay on at school. Right or wrong, is it any surprise that this is happening? From 2014,the government will measure schools according to the rate of their pupils who go to university. Brian Lightman , general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, says the government has already put teachers under "very great pressure to focus on academic subjects" On the other hand, the Education Act 2011,which came into force in November, places schools under a duty to give fair career advice to pupils. This advice must include information on all post-16 education and training choices, including apprenticeships. This doesn't appear to be happening in several schools, according to Ofsted9S report. Many of the young people the inspectors talked to said the advice they had received on apprenticeships was "unsatisfactory". Schools were also blamed for lack of work experience courses, which are particularly important for teenagers considering an apprenticeship. _ help students decide whether they enjoy a line of work and enable employers to see whether those on work experience have the potential to be hired as apprentices in future years. But there is a good reason why they can't do this: they'd be unable to adapt to GCSE exams if they did. Sometimes, it seems, schools just can't win. Pressure for schools to provide pupils with career advice comes from _ .
<extra_id_0>Association of School and College Leaders
<extra_id_1>Education Act 2011
<extra_id_2>GCSE exams
<extra_id_3>OFSTED
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Do you often play with your pet dog or cat? Do you like touching wild animals such as squirrels? They are cute. But be careful. If they bite you, you may get a terrible disease----rabies. Believe it or not, in the last five months, rabies killed more people in China than any other disease. 2,254 people got rabies in the first nine months of this year. In September, 318 people died of rabies. That is 37 per cent more than last September. Animals like dogs, cats, squirrels and bats can have rabies. If they bite or scratch someone, rabies could infect the person's nervous system . The person could even die. It's important to get the right _ as soon as possible. Every year, more than 50,000 people around the world die of rabies. Most of them are from developing countries. India has the most deaths. China is second. What the best title for the passage?
<extra_id_0>Don't keep pets
<extra_id_1>How to keep pets
<extra_id_2>Watch out for rabies
<extra_id_3>Pets with rabies
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Parents are creating an "I want it now" generation by satisfying children's every demand at Christmas, say experts. Youngsters in Britain are becoming increasingly selfish, claim the education analysts. Behavioral consultant Chris Calland said: "Parents want to make Christmas into magical fairytale for their kids. "There's nothing wrong with that. The problem arises when it means always giving into all our children's demands--- even if they are beyond our price range or not age-appropriate." Ms Calland, who runs "Santa Says No" style sessions with colleague Nicky Hutchinson, added: "Many of us go into so much debt providing the gifts our children want that we spend the rest of the year paying off the bills. But so often the gifts we've carefully wrapped, once opened, are just pushed away because the very thing our little boy or girl was once so desperate for, they have now lost interest in." Ms Calland and Ms Hutchinson have drawn up a list of guidelines to help parents manage their offspring's Christmas lists this year. They say that adults can actually improve their relationships with their children by resisting "pester power". Ms Calland said: "All too often we say yes because we want an easier life when the fact is that we're only building up problems for the future. We are helping create a generation of youngsters who are blind to the needs of others and the necessity of hard work. "Children learn fast--- if we sometimes change our mind, they quickly realize it might be worth lying on the floor and screaming for it. Make sure you and your partner are working together on this. Be consistent. And try not to get caught up in competition with other families or friends. What is the main problem with the " I want it now" generation?
<extra_id_0>They are quite self-centered.
<extra_id_1>They like to live in fairy tales.
<extra_id_2>They waste a lot of money on gifts.
<extra_id_3>They can't keep their interest in gifts.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Sports may be fun, but you need to play them safely. Here are some tips to help you stay safe while you're playing sports in winter. * Get your body ready! Before you do any exercise, be sure to warm up for at least five minutes. During warming up you should stretch all parts of your body. * Wear the right clothes! Be sure to wear the right clothes for sports. If you play winter sports, make sure that you dress warmly. Also make sure to use suntan oil . It may be cold, but the sun is still bright! If you don't put on suntan oil, your skin may be hurt. If you go skiing, be sure to wear waterproof trousers and gloves. If you go running in cold weather, try to wear a scarf. It will keep your face, ears and neck warm. * Stop playing sports when you are hurt! If you get hurt when playing sports, don't play again until you get well. * Don't get thirsty! Drink a lot when playing sports because it is easy to become thirsty. ,. Two kinds of sports are mentioned in the passage. What are they?
<extra_id_0>Running and skating.
<extra_id_1>Swimming and running.
<extra_id_2>Skiing and running.
<extra_id_3>Skiing and skating.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Astronomy is the oldest science known to man. Thousands of years ago man looked at the stars and wondered about the heavens. But man was limited by what he could see with his eyes alone. The Greeks studied astronomy over 2,000 years ago. They could see the size, color, and brightness of a star. They could see its place in the sky. They watched the stars move as the seasons changed. But the Greeks had no tools to help themselves study the heavens. Each new tool added to the field of astronomy helped man reach out into space. They did not know that the planet called Saturn had rings around it. Their sight was so limited that they could not see all the planets. In the early 1700s, people thought there were only six planets. Nepture , the last of eight planets to be discovered, was not seen until 1846. Before the spectroscope , man did not know what kind of gases was in the sun or other stars. Without the radio telescope, we didn't know that radio noises came from far out in space. Today, astronomy is a growing science. We had learned more in the last fifty years than in the whole history of astronomy. . Which of the following sentences is NOT true?
<extra_id_0>Astronomy is the oldest science that humans have known.
<extra_id_1>Astronomy is developing fast with the help of technology.
<extra_id_2>In the early 1700s, people didn't know the existence of Neptune.
<extra_id_3>Over 2,000 years ago, the Greeks knew the planet Saturn had rings around it.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>What is one factor that contributes to seasons occurring in New York State?
<extra_id_0>the revolution of the Moon around Earth
<extra_id_1>the tilt of Earth on its axis
<extra_id_2>the rising and falling of ocean tides
<extra_id_3>the distance of Earth from the Sun
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>The cause of a wildfire could be as simple as
<extra_id_0>A water puddle
<extra_id_1>tons of ice
<extra_id_2>snow
<extra_id_3>a ciggy
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>In the wilderness, light pollution is?
<extra_id_0>less
<extra_id_1>stronger
<extra_id_2>brighter
<extra_id_3>more widespread
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>I have nothing to say about whether or not "A Day Without Immigrants" had a positive or negative effect on the question of how the federal government should deal with the huge population of undocumented illegal immigrants in this country. I'll leave that question to others. Regardless of how you feel about the event, one conclusion is obvious. Using the theme of" A Day Without" as a way to focus national attention on a particular subject is a great idea, and could serve as a method for increasing public awareness about other issues that affect daily life in America. Here are my top three examples: "A Day Without Speeding." How hard could this be? If all drivers would strictly obey every posted speed limit on highways, downtown, on neighborhood streets, and in parking lots for one 24-hour cycle, the benefits would be huge. "A Day Without Losing Your Temper." A higher degree of difficulty here, and I know that from personal experience. When something goes wrong at home or on the job, there may be brief satisfaction in yelling or kicking the furniture, but erupting with anger usually doesn't do anything to solve the problem, and in many cases it makes the situation more unpleasant. "A Day Without Having All The Answers." I would like to get a break from hearing anyone speak the phrase, "Here's what you're doing wrong." Right now the US is jampacked with citizens who believe they can point out the cause of every single problem in existence and then solve it on the spot. I believe they need to be quiet sometimes and use their ears instead of their voices. I wonder how would average Americans react to such a collective pause? Would it be a day of angry protests, or joyful celebrations? The writer suggest a day without having all the answers because _ .
<extra_id_0>he thinks the American are too proud
<extra_id_1>he doesn't think what he is doing is wrong
<extra_id_2>he wants others to keep quiet
<extra_id_3>the writer is so tired that he needs a break
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Carrying a passenger on a bicycle is an offence punishable by law. Everyone knows that but still some of us do it. I had done it many times before until something happened to teach me never to do it again. It was not the police. Rather it was an unforgettable, and unpleasant, experience. It happened one evening when my friend Segaran and I wanted to go and visit another friend who lived some distance away. I had a bicycle. Segaran did not. So, as usual, he sat side-saddle on the horizontal bar of the bicycle while I pedalled. We had done it many times before, so it should not be any problem. Near my friend's house, we got onto a gravel path made slippery by the recent rain. Still we managed to move along, thoroughly enjoying the rough ride. As we passed by a stream, I made the mistake of going too near the bank. The rain had softened the soil and it could not hold our combined weight. One moment we were going along merrily, the next we were tumbling head over heels into the stream. Splash! Splash! Splash! We plunged into the river bicycle first, followed by Segaran, then me. Normally the stream is only a few centimetres deep with clear water. When we fell in, it was a metre deep with smelly black water. The water prevented us from getting badly injured but we also had to pay the price of swallowing some of it. It tasted horrible. Segaran got the worst of it for being sandwiched between the bicycle and me. Our pride was far more hurt. We walked all the way home. I had to push the bicycle because its front wheel was bent out of shape. From that moment I promised never to carry anyone on a bicycle again. Where did they land when they fell off the bike?
<extra_id_0>Into the dirty river
<extra_id_1>Onto the friend's house
<extra_id_2>Onto the gravel path
<extra_id_3>Into the softened soil
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>surging commodity prices could worsen poverty in many poor countries, the International Monetary Fund warned Tuesday. A new IMF study, seeing the effect of soaring oil and food costs, said many poor and developing countries would likely have to change their economic policies in response to soaring commodity prices. "Some countries are at a dangerous point," warned IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn. "If food prices rise further and oil prices stay the same, some governments will no longer be able to feed their people and at the same time keep stability in their economies," Strauss-Kahn said. The IMF chief called for a "broad cooperative approach" to help handle higher oil and food prices, and said the IMF stood ready to assist countries in need. Strauss-Kahn said the international community would also have to play a role in helping to reduce the effect of commodity price shocks which have caused protests in some countries. European truckers have blockaded major roads to protest fuel prices in recent weeks and food riots have occurred in Cameroon, Bangladesh, and Somalia among other countries in recent months. "Poor countries that are highly dependent on food imports are particularly vulnerable to rising food prices," the IMF report said. Anti-poverty campaigners are concerned that rising commodity costs could roll back advances made through anti-poverty campaigns in recent years, particularly because poorer families tend to spend much more of their household income on food. The IMF report found that poor households are most affected by food price inflation and "warned that the share of undernourished people in developing countries could rise rapidly above the current 40 percent of total population". Energy and food values are still rising and the IMF said its research suggests "the problem is worsening". The Washington-based fund said it is working closely with its member countries to help reduce inflationary pressures taking into account countries' specific needs. The report said that global food markets "need to be kept open" and that "restrictive policies", such as export taxes and bans, should be removed. Why could rising commodity costs roll back advances made through anti-poverty campaigns?
<extra_id_0>Because European truckers have blockaded major roads to protest fuel prices.
<extra_id_1>Because poorer families tend to spend much more of their household income on food.
<extra_id_2>Because energy and labor costs are still rising and the problem is worsening.
<extra_id_3>Because the IMF hasn't prepared well to assist countries in need.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Are you having difficulty falling asleep? Try drinking a glass of warm milk. If that doesn't work, listen to some soft, beautiful music. Still no luck? Try think about sheep jumping over a fence. If you are still awake, take a sleeping pill. People who take pills often become dependent on the drugs. So you lie awake knowing that the new workday will soon arrive. If you have been in such condition for at least one month, you may have primary insomnia . A new study has found that you might fall asleep more quickly and stay asleep longer if you try "cerebral hypothermia." It is not a complex medical process. It just means cooling down your brain. Eric Nofzinger and Naniel Buysse from the University of Pittsburgh Medical School led the study. They examined twelve people who had sleeping problems. Twelve others had no sleeping problems. Each of them wore a soft plastic cap on their head at bedtime. The caps had tubes inside filled with water. The researchers moved the water through the tubes and then changed the temperature of the water. Other studies showed that people who had sleeping problems often had more chemical reactions in the front of their brain. The researchers thought cooling down the brain might help. On the first two nights of testing, the patients wore caps with no water. On the next two nights, the caps were worn, but the water was not cooled. Then the researchers cooled the water a little for another two nights. On the final two nights of the study, the temperature of the water was made much cooler. The researchers found that the water caps didn' t help the patients until the temperature was about 14degC. Most of the patients fell asleep faster and slept better when the coolest water was moving around their head. Dr Nfzinger and Dr. Buysse noted that this was only the beginning of the brain temperature study. But they believed they had discovered something important that needed more research. In the study, researchers helped people fall asleep faster through _ .
<extra_id_0>increasing chemical reactions in the front of their brain.
<extra_id_1>making them feel safe with a cap on their head
<extra_id_2>lowering the temperature of their brain
<extra_id_3>asking them to drink water to cool down
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>In the world today, all of the people need recreation . We cannot work all the time if we are going to keep healthy and enjoy life. Everyone has his own way of relaxing. Perhaps the most popular form is to take part in sports. There are team sports, such as basketball and football; There are also individual sports, such as swimming and running. Skating and mountain climbing are the most popular recreation for people who like to be outdoor. Not everyone who enjoys sports likes to take part in them. Many people like watching them on TV or listening to them on the radio. So many people like some forms of indoor recreation, such as watching TV, singing and dancing. It doesn't matter whether we like indoor recreation or take part in outdoor sports. It is important for everyone to relax from time to time, and enjoy some forms of recreation. People want to take part in sports in order to _ .
<extra_id_0>keep healthy and enjoy life
<extra_id_1>make friends
<extra_id_2>find a good job
<extra_id_3>make more money
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>matter in the liquid phase has what shape?
<extra_id_0>circle
<extra_id_1>adaptable
<extra_id_2>triangle
<extra_id_3>square
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>What's a big problem in Shenzhen today, do you think? Besides pollution, traffic is, of course. There are too many people, too many cars but too little space so the roads are always busy. You can almost see traffic jams everywhere. It is even worse when everyone is going to school or to work. What's more, cars need fuel to move, so they let out a lot of dirty smoke and pollute the air. However, the government is trying many ways to solve the problem. We can see more roads and footbridges over the main streets. And the workers are making some roads wider. It is said every car will have a computer. The computer can study the latest traffic news. Then it will look over its own map for the best way to drive and they won't get into traffic jams. People won't get into traffic jams in a car with _ because it can study the latest traffic news.
<extra_id_0>a policeman
<extra_id_1>an inspector
<extra_id_2>a computer
<extra_id_3>a TV set
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>A snowy mountain is a good place to
<extra_id_0>watch the sports team the Colorado Avalanches
<extra_id_1>play a strenuous game of beach ball
<extra_id_2>go downhill with wooden planks attached to boots
<extra_id_3>dive into an Olympic-sized swimming pool
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>New York Times--A gunman killed eight people at a mall in Omaha this afternoon and then killed himself, setting off panic among holiday shoppers, the police said. "The person who we believe to be the shooter has died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds," Sgt. Teresa Negron of the Omaha Police Department said at televised news. "We have been able to clear the mall," she said. "We don't believe we have any other shooters." The police said that at least five other people had been injured in the shootings. She did not give the shooter's identity. "We are still conducting the investigation," Sergeant Negron said, adding that the city's mayor, who was out of town, was on his way back to Omaha. She said the police received a 911 call from someone inside the Westroads Mall on the west side of Omaha, and shots could be heard in the background. The first police officers arrived at the mall six minutes after the first call, she said, but by then the shootings were over. It is reported that the gunman left a suicide note that was found at his home by s. A law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the note indicated that the gunman wanted to "go out in style". The shootings broke the usually banal routine of holiday shopping. The gunman was said by some witnesses to have fired about 20 shots into a crowd. Some customers and workers ran screaming from the mall, while others dived into dressing rooms to hide from the shooter. Shoppers and store workers were trapped inside the mall, which has roughly 135 stores. Others streamed out of mall exits with their hands raised. The president was in Omaha this morning to deliver a speech, but he had left the city by the time the shootings took place. Which of the following would be the best title of the news?
<extra_id_0>A Gunman Kills 8 People, Then Himself at a Mall in Omaha
<extra_id_1>Shoppers in Great Panic before the Holiday
<extra_id_2>The President Bush Happened to Escape a Shot
<extra_id_3>Shooter Found Dead in a Mall on the West Side of Omaha
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Barbara Morgan's lifelong dream has always been to travel into space. On August 8,2007,her wish came true. The former teacher was one of seven crew members on the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which flew into space from NASA's Kennedy Space Station in Florida. Morgan taught at a primary school in Boise from 19751998--with some time off for astronaut training. In 1985, she was chosen as a _ for Christa McAuliffe, who was to be the first teacher in space. On January 28,1986,the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded just 73 seconds after takeoff killing McAuliffe and the other six crewmembers. After the Challenger accident,Morgan continued to teach. In 1998, she was asked to become an astronaut. Morgan's mission aboard Endeavour includes overseeing the move of 5000 pounds of goods from the shuttle to the International Space Station and operating the shuttle's robotic arm. Morgan gave students an unusual class after she was in space. Morgan's outofthisworld class was broadcast live on NASA television. Her husband Clay Morgan said he couldn't help but smile as he watched her talk to students. "I'm just so proud of her and how she's going to do all this and do the work of an astronaut as well as a teacher," he said. "She just kept telling me how unbelievable it was to be in space and I think it's much better than she expected." One student asked Morgan how being a teacher compared to being an astronaut. "We explore, we discover and we share," she said. "The great thing about being a teacher is you get to do that with students, and the great thing about being an astronaut is you get to do it in space, these are both wonderful jobs." The 25minute questionandanswer meeting also included the astronauts entertaining students by swallowing floating juice bubbles and playing with Pingpong balls. Which of the following is NOT included in Morgan's mission in space?
<extra_id_0>Operating the shuttle's robotic arm.
<extra_id_1>Watch over the move of goods.
<extra_id_2>Giving a class to the students.
<extra_id_3>Teaching the other crew members.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>A big, mighty tree stood in a forest. Its branches spread out and its roots went deep in the earth. A lot of people came here to have a rest under it. And a lot of birds stood on its branches to sing and dance. The big tree was very proud all the time. At the foot of the tree, there was a little plant. The plant was thin, and seemed to be blown down by any of a little wind. One day, the two neighbors were having a little chat. "Well, little one," said the tree to the plant, "why not put your feet deeply in the earth, and raise your head high in the air as I do?" "I see there is no need to do so," said the plant with a smile. "In fact, I think I may be safer in this way." "Safer?" said the tree. "Are you safer than I am? Do you know how deep my roots are in the earth and how strong my branches are? Who can possibly pull me out by the roots or bow my head to the ground?" And the tree didn't want to say anything to the weak plant. But the tree was to regret its words very soon. One evening, a great hurricane came. It blew the trees off their roots and almost destroyed the forest completely. It uprooted(......)the mighty tree and blew it away with great force. When the storm had gone, the villagers living nearby came to check the damage. The mighty tree lay on the ground, but the little plant still stood there. Who was the big tree's neighbor?
<extra_id_0>People.
<extra_id_1>Birds.
<extra_id_2>A little plant.
<extra_id_3>Branches.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Welcome Aboard Just 15 minutes from Banff is Lake Minnewanka where a 90minute cruise to the Devil's Gap is sure to be the highlight of your summer adventure! For information & group reservations,phone 7623473! www.minnewankaboattours.com GUIDED MOUNTAIN FLIGHTS of the Columbia Ice Field & Canadian Rockies Leave the Crowds Behind Tour Narrated by Your Host Owner/Pilot Steve Neill (from $110/person) *Comfortable window seats *Headsets for clients/pilot conversation *Ski plane available for glacier landings Reservations : 18773447117 www.rockiesairtours.com THREE SISTERS MOUNTAIN VILLAGE Which stars will you be watching tonight? When you discover the beauty that surrounds Three Sisters Mountain Village,you will be surprised at how much brighter they are in the sky than on the screen.So make some popcorn,pull up a comfortable chair and settle in for a quiet night in the mountain.All the stars will be there. Call rollfree (866) 3882877 www.threesistersmountainvillage.com PERFECT PICTURES Discover the Rockies's most desirable natural attractions on a Brewster guided excursion.As national park specialists,we are proud to share the wonders of Canada's largest outdoor living museum.Our 111 years'experience ensures a most memorable guided adventure! *Wildlife viewing *Nature walks *Sightseeing Tollfree:18007606934 www.brewster.ca RAFTING & OUTDOOR ADVENTURES Youth & group rates available! A spectacular adventure is waiting for you between Banff and Calgary,a short scenic drive to paradise.Join us for a fun,exciting and safe adventure in the Kananaskis and Bow Valley. Adventures are available for all ages and skill levels. Our professional and highly qualified guides are all Wilderness First Aid and River Rescue certified. Tollfree:18779997238 www.insideoutexperience.com Where can the passage be probably found?
<extra_id_0>In a tour brochure.
<extra_id_1>In science fiction.
<extra_id_2>In a textbook.
<extra_id_3>In a TV guide.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Recently, Danny Meyer, founder of the Shake Shack chain, announced that his restaurants will do away with tipping. He plans to pay his staff higher wages and pass the cost to customers by raising prices on menus. Is this a good idea? I'm sure Meyer's latest move will be a winner. The new model could work in Meyer's restaurants because he draws a particular type of customers who are there for a high-end experience. Besides, if the restaurants charge more for meals, they'll pay higher in taxes. As restaurants move to higher wages, the benefit costs will be higher, too. --Mel Robbins For a European, eating in an American restaurant is like attending a high school reunion. Tipping turns the whole process into a drawn-out experience where money is at the center stage. There are so many opportunities for embarrassment. So I think Danny Meyer's proposal will change it for the better. --Andre Spicer Danny Meyer is doing the right thing by stopping tipping. Eating out costs what it costs and workers are hard-working humans who deserve the stability of a wage. It may take a while to catch on, but we'll get there and it'll become the norm. --Kat Kinsman I've found that the practice of tipping has traditionally attracted millions of employees to our industry. The current tipping model still has strong support from diners and they are more than happy to reward good service. But it is vital that restaurants continue to have the freedom to choose what works best for their business and their employees. --Cicely Simpson Who considers giving waiters tips as an embarrassment?
<extra_id_0>Mel Robbins.
<extra_id_1>Kat Kinsman.
<extra_id_2>Andre Spicer.
<extra_id_3>Cicely Simpson.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>Soap operas are a kind of popular culture in America. Every weekday, lots of fans from all over the world are waiting to see their favorite soap operas. Soap operas were first on TV in 1952. The soap opera is not about soap, and it is not an opera. It gets this name because soap companies paid for the shows, and they tell stories just like operas do. What makes the soap operas special is that the story never ends. There are daytime and nighttime soaps. Daytime soaps usually have more information. Nighttime soaps are usually once a week, and each _ for about an hour. Soap operas are having a difficult time in today's TV market, but they are here to stay. Big fans will never give them up easily! How often are nighttime soaps?
<extra_id_0>Once a night.
<extra_id_1>Twice a week.
<extra_id_2>Once a week.
<extra_id_3>Three times a week.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>If you are lucky enough, you may find the hummingbird , the smallest bird of the animal world, in a south American forest. Though the hummingbird is no bigger than a bee and weighs only 2 to 3 grams, it can fly as fast as 50 meters in a second. It can fly forwards as most birds do, and it can fly backwards as well. The strangest thing about it, however, is that it can stay still in the air, just like a _ . Whenever a hummingbird needs food, it will fly slowly towards a flower. It won't stand on the flower, as bees do, but just hangs to the flower and then begins to sunk the honey from inside the flower with its needle-like beak. The hummingbird is very particular in building its nest . It takes great trouble to choose materials. It likes soft ones better than hard ones. Its eggs are so small that a common match box can hold as many as one hundred of them. When a hummingbird builds a nest, it likes _ better.
<extra_id_0>soft materials
<extra_id_1>hard materials
<extra_id_2>an material
<extra_id_3>both
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>Eve was waiting in the corridor outside her class.She was feeling sick.She had two exams that day and physics was first.She really hated physics.It was her worst subject.Lisa looked back at her, and then looked away quickly.Eve thought she looked guilty.She didn't have a problem with physics.She didn't have a problem with anything...Miss Perfect! "Hi, Eve! So what's wrong with you and Lisa?"asked Tina,"I thought you were friends.""Yes, so did I," said Eve."But she hasn't spoken to me for two weeks now.She promised to help me review for the physics exam too, but then she's ignored all my calls and texts." While in the exam, Eve found Lisa was holding her phone on her knee under the table and reading from it.Eve couldn't believe it! Is that how Lisa always got such good grades? She thought about telling the teacher, but she hesitated.The next exam was history.That was Eve's favorite subject but she couldn't concentrate.She didn't know what to do about Lisa.Just then, Mr.Reed, their teacher, walked past."Mr.Reed..." Lisa was called to the teachers' office and there waited Mr.Reed... The history test was over.Eve was walking towards the school gate when she heard footsteps behind her.It was Lisa.Eve could see that she had been crying."Listen," said Lisa."I'm really sorry I haven't answered your calls, but my dad had a heart attack two weeks ago and he's in hospital.He had a big heart operation today and I was very worried about him.So I was reading texts from my mum, but Mr.Reed caught me.He thought I was cheating.He believes me now, but I have to take the exam again.I'm sorry I didn't tell you what was happening.Will you forgive me?" Lisa didn't help Eve review for the physics exam because _ .
<extra_id_0>she had to look after her sick father
<extra_id_1>she herself was quite bad at physics
<extra_id_2>she didn't consider Eve as a true friend
<extra_id_3>she was selfish and hated to waste time
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_0>
|
<extra_id_5>DNA is the whole "map" of the human body. It is something that all humans have, and it tells the body what to do. DNA is the reason that we look like our parents, because we get some of their DNA to make our own. People have been trying to understand the human body for a long time. In 1860, Mr. Mendel discovered why we look the same as other people in our family. It is because of small things called "genes" in our body. In 1953, two scientists, Watson and Crick, found out that genes are really messages. They're written in the DNA with a special language. In 1961, another two scientists found the first "word" that they could understand in that language. It shows how DNA tells the cell to build its parts. So far, scientists have found all the words in the DNA map, but we still don't understand what they all do. By understanding what just one "word" means, we can help to save people from several illnesses. So the more we understand, the more doctors will be able to do. Most people hope that this will help to make better medicine and help sick people. Other people worry that when we learn more "words" and find out more information, we will use it in the wrong way. Just to make people more attractive , or stop sick people getting jobs. Watson and Crick found _ in 1953.
<extra_id_0>all the words in the DNA map
<extra_id_1>small things called "genes" in our body
<extra_id_2>the first "word" they could understand in that language
<extra_id_3>genes are written in the DNA with a special language
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>One day, a teacher was giving a speech to his students. He held up a glass of water and asked the class, "How heavy do you think this glass of water is?" The students' answers ranged from 20 g to 500 g. "It does not matter on the weight itself. It depends on how long you hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it is OK. If I hold it for an hour, I will have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you will have to call an ambulance . It is exactly the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes. " If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, we will not be able to carry on, the burden becoming increasingly heavier. " "What you have to do is to put the glass down, rest for a while before holding it up again. " We have to put down the burden sometimes, so that we can be refreshed and are able to carry on. So before you return home from work tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it back home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you are having now on your shoulders, let it down for a moment if you can. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
<extra_id_0>You could become heavier and heavier if you held a glass of water in your hand.
<extra_id_1>All the students in the class knew what the weight of the glass of water exactly was.
<extra_id_2>The teacher had a good way of making his lesson clear and easy to be understood.
<extra_id_3>All the students can understand the teacher's lesson.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_2>
|
<extra_id_5>"If I had one million yuan, I would buy you a palace! Do I have one million yuan? No, I don't! so I only can spend ten fen on this short message, sending you my best wishes! " Today, SMS--Short Message Service is popular, and China Mobile says that every second, there are 410 messages being sent. Look around you! People are watching their mobiles, smiling or laughing. Thumbs are pressing buttons, bring happiness to their friends. The humor of the words shows how beautiful language is! Through SMS, we know the weather report, share jokes and news, express love and friendship. "Thumb Culture" is becoming more and more popular. It is reported that 67% of young people like to "Short" to greet each other. Internet SMS will provide more convenience to people. I am grateful for the progress because SMS saves me much money. Just on the tip of thumb, so much joy can be found! What can people do through SMS?
<extra_id_0>Buy a palace.
<extra_id_1>Provide food.
<extra_id_2>Learn foreign language.
<extra_id_3>Send messages.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>Poetry, one of the essential art forms of literature, is a brief and easy way to express our feelings. Moreover, everyone understands it in their own way. Some find relief in poems; some read them simply for peace; some read poems for simple artistic pleasure. There are some special features of poetry, which make it quite different from other forms of literature. First of all, poems have rhythmic patterns. Generally most parts of a poem follow the same form of rhythm. Poems may have rhyme, but they don't have to. The lines are neatly arranged together so that they express a particular feeling or emotion. There can be various types of poems but according to the pattern or the form, there are mainly three types: Lyrics: The lyric mainly concentrates on human thoughts and emotions rather than a story. Lyrics always bear song-like appeal. These are mainly short poems. Popular lyric poem forms are the elegy, the ode and the sonnet. William Shakespeare, Edmund Waller and Keats are some of the greatest lyric writers of all times. Narrative poems: This type of poetry tells a story. Narrative poems are usually long poems. Epics and ballads fall under this type. Some of the greatest epic poets are John Milton, Dante, Edgar Allan Poe, Alexander Pope, William Shakespe are, etc.. Dramatic poems: Any drama that is written in verse is a dramatic poem. These poems generally tell a story. Black verse, dramatic monologue and closet drama belong to this type. William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson are some of the greatest dramatic poets. Whatever the form is, one thing, which cannot be denied, is that poetry is one of the most powerful tools to express our feelings. We can know from the text that _ .
<extra_id_0>poems are weak in showing feelings
<extra_id_1>some poets write more than one type of poem
<extra_id_2>narrative poems are shorter than lyric poems
<extra_id_3>the sonnet and the ballad belong to the same type
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>Reading is not the only way to gain knowledge of the work in the past. There is another large reservoir which may be called experience, and the college students will find that every craftsman has something he can teach and will generally teach gladly to any college student who does not look down upon them. The information from them differs from that in textbooks and papers chiefly in that its theoretical part -- the explanations of why things happen -- is frequently quite fantastic . But the demonstration and report of what happens, and how it happens are correct even if the reports are in completely unscientific terms. Presently the college students will learn, in this case also, what to accept and what to reject. One important thing for a college student to remember is that if Aristotle could talk to the fisherman, so can he. Another source of knowledge is the vast store of traditional practices handed down from father to son , or mother to daughter, of old country customs ,of folklore . All this is very difficult for a college student to examine, for much knowledge and personal experience is needed here to separate good plants from wild grass.The college students should learn to realize and remember how much of real value science has found in _ and how often scientific discoveries of what had existed in this area long age. The main idea of this passage is about _ .
<extra_id_0>what to learn from the parents
<extra_id_1>how to gain knowledge
<extra_id_2>why to learn from craftsman
<extra_id_3>how to deal with experience
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>The OM Man and the Sea ,for which Hemingway was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, is one of the most influential novels of the literary treasure of the world. Famously known for his brief and short sentences ,Hemingway created ah interesting and unique style of writing that still appeal to readers today. Santiago was an aged Cuban fisherman, and many thought that he could no longer fish. For eighty-four days ,he set out to sea and returned empty-handed. So unlucky was he that the parents of his young, devoted apprentice and friend , Manolin , forced the boy to leave the old man in order to fish in a more profitable boat On the eighty-fifth day ,the fisherman set out into the open sea to go fishing. At noon ,a big Marlin took hold of one of the lines, but the fish was far too big for him to handle. Santiago let the fish have enough line, so that it wouIdn9t break his pole; but he and his boat were dragged out to sea for three days. Finally ,the fish grew tired. Santiago killed it Even this final victory didn't end his journey. He was still far, far out to sea. To make matters worse, Santiago dragged the Marlin behind the boat and the fish blood attracted sharks. Santiago did his best to beat the sharks away ,but his efforts were not enough, The sharks ate the flesh off the Marlin ,and Santiago was left with only the bones. Santiago was tired out He got back home with nothing to show for his pains but the skeletal remains of a large Marlin. Even with just the bare remains of the fish, the experience changed him, and charged the opinions others had of him. Manolin , who had been worried over the old man's absence, was moved to tears when he found Santiago safe in his bed, When the old man woke ,the two agreed to fish as partners once more. With Santiago5S struggle to catch the Marlin and his journey home ,Santiago's courage was obvious as he faced challenges that just didn't seem to end. He didn't give up and even though he felt he had been very unlucky, there was hope to keep going on. He was destroyed but not defeated. Who is the hero of The old Man and the Sea?
<extra_id_0>Hemingway.
<extra_id_1>Santiago.
<extra_id_2>Manolin.
<extra_id_3>Marlin.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
<extra_id_5>People visit other countries for many reasons.Some travel on business;others travel to visit interesting places that are only found in other countries,such as the Taj Mahal in India. Wherever you go, and for whatever reason,it is important to be safe.While the majority of people you will meet when traveling are sure to be friendly and welcoming, there are dangers--theft being the most common.Just as in your home country, do not expect everyone you meet to be friendly and helpful.It is important to prepare for your trip in advance, and to take precautions while you are traveling. As you prepare for your trip, make sure you have the right paperwork.You don't want to get to your destination only to find you have the wrong visa,or worse,that your passport is about to _ .Also, make sure you travel with proper medical insurance, so that if you are sick during your travels,you will be able to get treatment.If you want to drive while you are abroad,make sure you have an international driver's license. Buy a guidebook and read about the local customs of the country you are going to.Also, try to learn a few basic words and phrases. When you get to your destination, use official transport.Always go to bus and taxi stands; don't accept rides from strangers who offer you a lift.If there is no meter in the taxi, agree on a price before you get in.If you prefer to stay in cheap hotels while traveling,make sure you can lock the door of your room from the inside.If you are traveling with valuables such as jewelry, or a lot of cash, you should ask about a safe for storing them in.Finally, remember to smile.Smiling is the friendliest and most sincere form of communication, and is sure to be understood in any part of the world! Where can you read this kind of passage?
<extra_id_0>Economy
<extra_id_1>Education
<extra_id_2>Sports
<extra_id_3>Tourism
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>One Saturday morning, Apple Inc's iPad table computer went on sale in the United States stores across the country. The iPad can be bought in more than 200 U.S. Apple stores from Apple. Many fans even waited overnight outside some Apple stores, hoping to be the first to get one. Dozens of the people were waiting before the door opened at 9:00 a.m. Hiro Kishimoto, a Japanese computer researcher who had a meeting in San Francisco, came as early as 5:00 a.m. He wanted to read books and magazines with the iPad. " It's much more comfortable than a laptop . Because the laptop is too heavy to carry all the time, when you are in the living rooms, maybe the iPad is the best one to use." He said. The iPad models that hit the U.S. Market on Saturday with price starting from 499 dollars, only have Wi Fi link to the Internet. Apple models that have both Wi Fi and 3G will be on sale in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Swizland and the UK in late April. With a 9.7 -inch touch screen like books and magazines, iPad can let users finish many tasks including making the web, watching videos, playing games and reding e-books. Apple is trying to remake the tablet computer. The iPad doesn't support Adobe's Flash software that is used to watch many of the videos on the web. " It is short of a keyboard, a mouse, USB ports and mwlti-tasking." some researchers said. Hiro Kishimoto _ .
<extra_id_0>is from San Francisco
<extra_id_1>came to an Apple store at 5:00 p.m.
<extra_id_2>wanted to buy an iPhone there
<extra_id_3>thought laptops were too heavy
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>A lot of people think that volcanoes may only exist in tall mountains that tower above us, but a lot of volcanoes
<extra_id_0>fall into the oceans
<extra_id_1>are water leaking volcanoes
<extra_id_2>erupt into the sea
<extra_id_3>are found and erupt beneath the water
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_3>
|
<extra_id_5>As you know, the great American writer Jack London was often in need of money when he began writing his books. He worked hard but it didn't help him. Once he promised a New York magazine to write a story for it, but he was busy at that time and could not keep his promise. The boss of the magazine wrote letters to Jack London several times to ask him to send the story. At last he went to Jack London's room and left a note . "Dear Jack London, if I don't get the story in twenty-four hours, I'll come to your room and kick you downstairs, and I always keep my promise." Jack London read the note and answered, "Dear Dick, if I could do my work with my feet like you, I could keep my promise, too." Why couldn't Jack London write a story for a New York magazine as he promised?
<extra_id_0>Because he didn't have money.
<extra_id_1>Because he was too busy.
<extra_id_2>Because he didn't like the boss.
<extra_id_3>Because he didn't feel well.
<extra_id_4>
|
<extra_id_1>
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.